Calione Prepares for War
That night, the grand conference room of the Calione mansion was filled for the first time in ages with all the bosses and executives of the families operating domestically.
And seated at the head of the table as chairman of this meeting was the boss who oversaw all of Calione's families. Don Vito Calione.
"We will now commence the emergency executive meeting hosted by Eugene Han Calione."
Like a judge announcing the start of a trial, he rapped the gavel placed before him.
As this was my first time hosting a meeting as both an executive and Calione's heir, bringing up anything ordinary could have invited doubts about my qualifications as successor. But I was utterly confident.
Well, anyone seeing this with their own eyes wouldn't have a choice but to agree.
"I am Eugene Han Calione, the host, proposer of the agenda, and requester of this gathering. Thank you all for making the time to be here."
The bosses attending this meeting on behalf of their families, including myself, numbered six in total.
The Move Family, which handled cleanup duties.
The Bivalt Family, managing the central region's coastlines.
The Piro Family, overseeing Busan.
The Kowalnoz Family, which doubled as a hunter guild.
The Familia Family, newly established by me at Seoul Hero Academy.
And the supreme commander over them all, Don Vito Calione of Calione.
With executives from each family also in attendance, the total headcount was even higher.
"The reason I called you all here is because I've obtained critical information."
I scanned the faces of everyone seated at the table as I spoke.
Unlike the first executive meeting where we'd met, their expressions were now deadly serious as they listened intently.
They were uncles who overflowed with warmth in private settings, but the moment I convened this meeting with an agenda, they began evaluating me strictly on professional terms.
So, by the end of this meeting—what judgment would they pass?
With that thought, I played the prepared video.
A propaganda video from Plague, the worldwide criminal and highest-ranking executive of the Villain Union.
The executives' faces lit up with interest as he appeared on screen—until now, only his face and position had been known.
"This video was anonymously sent to government agencies, hinting at a terrorist attack targeting the Republic of Korea. And there's only one reason I'm showing it to you all: the Calione territories are included in the Villain Union's terror targets."
The bosses and executives exchanged puzzled looks.
"Our territories are part of their terror plans?"
The one raising the question was the boss of the Kowalnoz Family.
Calione dominated the global underworld, making contact with the Villain Union inevitable—and thus, they maintained something akin to a non-aggression pact, not touching each other.
To be precise, the Villain Union avoided us.
But.
"This comes from a Villain Union informant, so it's confirmed. Even Father... the Don has verified it."
As Latte had said when we rescued her, they no longer intended to honor the non-aggression with Calione.
If they were turning hostile, that was one thing—but considering the story ahead, we had to prepare in advance.
"We must prepare for terror attacks. Increase patrol numbers in each district and create an environment ready for immediate response."
At that moment, Leg Move, boss of the Move Family, raised his hand.
"There's no guarantee when this terror will happen. It could just be a threat video, right?"
As he said, the video hadn't specified a time or location for the attack.
It only declared that despair would come to Korea.
As I moved to explain, Antonio, boss of the Bivalt Family, spoke first.
"But it's also true that a large number of villains have infiltrated recently. If they want to launch terror, what's stopping them?"
"That's exactly why there's no proof they're targeting us Calione. We just need to protect our own families—stirring things up could provoke them unnecessarily."
"Isn't that too passive? What if they hit us first?!"
"It's just speculation! Why would they attack Calione first—what do they even gain?!"
"That's why we prepare!"
Voices began rising gradually.
"Prepare? Preparation is fine, but if we mobilize, the civilians in our districts will panic. And you think the government will sit idle if we ramp up large-scale activities?!"
"Then inform the civilians in advance—"
The back-and-forth heated up.
And just as the bosses' tones escalated—
"—Quiet."
A single word.
From beside me, a single word rang out, and the air grew heavy, pressing down on the entire room.
Cold sweat beaded on their brows as the two men slowly turned toward the voice.
Through the thick cigar smoke, glowing red eyes flickered.
"My son, Eugene Han Calione's statement is not yet finished."
Tap.
Ash from Father's cigar fell onto the table from his hand.
"Mind your manners. Leg. Antonio."
Father issued his warning, naming the two family bosses directly.
Those who had been raising their voices moments ago hurriedly bowed toward him.
"I apologize for my rudeness, Don."
"...Please forgive us."
Despite their apologies, silence hung heavy in the conference room.
The other executives and bosses wore tense expressions as well.
Father nodded silently at the pair, and only then did they straighten up and sit.
The room fell silent once more.
Father glanced at me briefly.
"Then, the agenda proposer, continue."
"...Yes, Boss."
Thanks to the brief incident, even those who had been distracted now focused entirely on me.
A rare chance to captivate these strong-ego individuals.
And seizing this opportunity was my job.
They needed to grasp the danger to change their minds.
"If the informant is correct... Plague doesn't make empty threats or false provocations."
He was that kind of man.
A villain with a twisted ideology that true humanity required wiping out most of mankind.
Believing only the survivors of countless plagues and wars could build a new world.
"He sees himself as the plague, the filter to strain humanity—the one who must bear original sin like Jesus."
With a madman like that issuing a declaration of war, there could be no doubt.
"The Villain Union's executives stake their lives on absurd beliefs. This time, they even showed their faces to make this video. Which means—they will carry out the terror."
And that terror would spread nationwide, starting with an imminent incident.
Good or evil.
For self or for all.
In this unavoidable war, what choice would we make?
My answer, as a Calione, was simple.
"We must monitor villains in each district. Watch for unregistered Awakeners. Identify those who sneaked in evading government eyes."
Calione... must prepare for real war.
At my final words, every face in the room turned grave.
They were beginning to sense the weight of the situation.
"Alright, let's summarize."
Father, holding his cigar, spoke first.
"If Eugene is right, Calione will suffer losses sooner or later. We have a duty to protect those who rely on us. But."
His low gaze swept the room.
"This is typically the government's domain. It's far beyond just managing our districts. There will be backlash, naturally. We must consider the balance of power."
Then, we begin voting on this agenda.
With that, Father deeply inhaled his cigar and exhaled smoke, gray wisps rising above his head.
The cigar in his hand had burned to the line, as if its life had ended.
"Those families who believe Calione must prepare for war—raise your hands."
Executives and bosses from each family began raising their hands.
One, two, three.
Hands kept going up.
Finally, the vote concluded.
"Good. It's decided."
And among them was even the Move Family boss who had questioned the need for preparations moments ago.
Staring in stunned surprise at the outcome he hadn't anticipated—
"—Calione does not let wolves that target the family live."
Parnello Ramichi, closest to Father and with hand raised, intoned gravely.
And simultaneously—
""Calione does not let wolves that target the family live!""
Everyone chorused after him, as Father ground out his cigar in the ashtray with a faint smile.
"Unanimous."
Then, he slammed his raised hand down with a thud!
"As you say, Calione does not let wolves that target the family live. Return to your families and relay this. From now on, Calione prepares for war."
Father said this, then looked to Parnello.
"Parnello. Take that video to Calione's intelligence command room and spread it across the internet so everyone knows. They have the right to protect their own families too—don't let the government play them."
"As the Don commands."
Parnello bowed and promptly left the conference room.
"Bivalt."
"Yes, Boss."
"Strengthen patrols around the ports, investigate recent infiltrators, compile a roster of any Awakeners among them."
"Understood, Boss. It shall be done."
"Move. Devote all efforts to locating where they've infiltrated Korea."
"Got it."
"Kowalnoz. If they're hiding, they'll likely be in dungeons. Survey and inspect all dungeons in the capital region."
"It shall be done."
"Piro. If they're planning terror, they'll need supplies. Monitor black market trends closely for anything suspicious."
"Understood, Don."
In an instant, Father issued commands to every family boss present.
One by one called, until only I remained.
"Eugene."
"Yes, Don."
"...Suspend the nighttime heir training for now and focus more on maintaining security in the Foreign Quarter. Others' safety matters, but these people rely solely on us."
"...I will, sir."
Having heard my response too, Father patted my shoulder and stood.
All eyes on him were unwavering.
Awaiting the declaration of war from their father, boss, and Don.
"Prepare for war. Calione."
With that one phrase, Calione's war to protect family and Famiglia began.