Mobilizing Against the Proxies
Hoping we get along! Wait... did I just hear that wrong? This guy definitely said his name was Calisto.
"So you're finally here. Didn't Mellow teach underlings like you the importance of keeping time?"
Morrison sneered, and Calisto offered a small smile as he bowed at the waist.
"My apologies... It's just so different from my usual work environment. If you could graciously overlook it... I promise I won't disappoint you again."
"Fine... as long as you get it. Anyway, why'd the Ring Finger only send one guy—you? I figured they'd at least spare six."
"Maestro said I'd outperform six of his students."
"...."
"My skills are still quite lacking... but I'll do my utmost to satisfy you all."
He gazed politely at the underboss, his demeanor impeccably formal and refined.
"...If you're like that, I won't make an issue of it. But... if so much as a single hair on Valentina here gets hurt... it'll be your body getting dismantled that day. I'd rather it never come to me killing you."
"...So you're Valentina... What a noble-sounding name... Ah! To think there's someone here who can teach me such profound lessons and the virtues of beauty... Truly, the grace of Maestro once more..."
"....."
".....Anyway, get along nicely."
With those curt words, Morrison left without a backward glance.
"Hey, I—"
Before Valentina could even finish, he shut the door and was gone.
An awkward silence hung in the air after Morrison departed.
....
Someone was already waiting where Morrison arrived.
Kalo. The newly minted underboss of Thumb, and his old comrade-in-arms.
Their bond stretched back to Kalo's days as a Soldato and through his Capo years—a tough, enduring connection.
"Skip the greetings between us. Straight to business."
"....Index Finger..?"
"Yeah. Looks like we gotta handle this ourselves."
"Ha... Kalo, just order your affiliates to deal with it. Why bother with the hassle your—"
Morrison grumbled lazily, but Kalo cut him off with a single word.
"Underboss... it's about that psycho bastard who single-handedly crippled about 17 guys from Cortancio Basio's affiliate."
"!?"
"That's why I'm consulting you. No matter how batshit crazy the guy is, who would've thought there'd really be someone targeting only underboss affiliates."
"How do you know it's Index Finger?"
"You think Thumb's affiliates are just full of random nobodies? Of course we only gather proven outfits. The problem... is their Proxies."
"Proxies, huh..."
Proxies. They held ranks equivalent to Capos in Thumb, big brothers/sisters in Middle Finger, and Dozents in Ring Finger.
Every one of them was strong, their power proven solely through skill.
"Did the Proxies massacre an affiliate...? Goddamn psychos. All because of some Oracle Command or whatever, acting like total maniacs..?"
"At this rate, all of Thumb's affiliates are gonna get wiped out. That's why I'm proposing this."
"What?"
"You and me leading Thumb's main force to wipe 'em out. What do you say? I already know your sniping's good enough to drop a hawk mid-flight."
Morrison eyed the hand Kalo extended.
"Show Index Finger's Proxies that their little purge means nothing to Thumb... and put down the troublemakers fast."
"...Sigh... take someone else. Guys like Martin or Fabio are way more flexible. You even said once I'm the least Thumb-like guy around."
"Heh, you don't get it. I just hate your rotten mindset—not your skills. I've never said your sniping sucks. Prove it."
"Can't you go without me..?"
"The Don ordered you and me specifically to lead the force and take 'em out."
"!?...The Don..?"
"Yeah... head clicking into gear now? The Don said Thumb's affiliates alone can't handle Index Proxies, so take the main force yourself."
"......"
"If that's the Don's will, we follow. The others?"
"Don's got other jobs for them. Probably more important than this."
"....."
"You know better than anyone how humanely gracious the Don is to those he's favored. Our repayment? Simple obedience."
"Hoo... Proxies, huh... Gonna be a pain in the ass dealing with those fuckers..."
"Then meet here in exactly two hours. Arm up as heavy as you can by then."
"Wait, if it's the Don's order from the start, I'd have followed. Why not just tell me his will outright?"
"The Don knows you went through hell last time. He's kind like that—considering you, Morrison. Repay his grace and trust with your life."
Morrison recalled his first meeting with the Don.
Stern at times, yet kind. Merciless sometimes, merciful others.
Who knew if a chance to repay him would ever come in this lifetime.
"See you in two hours, then."
"All devices are powered off. Beep... connecting now."
"....."
Kalo leaned against the wall in silence as his repeated calls went unanswered.
"Yo, I'm here."
His friend Morrison arrived, bringing several men with him.
"All your guys?"
"Yeah. This is Maria, that's Heron, and over here..."
"Enough, enough. Save the intros, you lot."
Capos were Thumb's mid-tier officers, their strength varying wildly.
Uniquely, Thumb subdivided Capos in detail: Primo (|), Secondo (||), Terzo (|||), Quarto (||||), and so on.
The closest to underbosses—and what gamers knew as "made men"—were Quarto (||||), proving Thumb harbored powerhouses rivaling other syndicates.
"Three Terzo (|||)... and one Quarto (||||). Not bad—you brought elites. Enough to smack around some Proxies."
"So, the plan..?"
Kalo grinned at Morrison's question.
"Thumb's got one thing it does best, right..?"
What Thumb did best? Plenty.
Extorting wingfolk with protection fees even they struggled to pay. Gouging top dollar as mercenaries. Mass-producing ammo to overwhelm with firepower...
But what everyone knew Thumb excelled at most? Zerg rushes.
Meaning, no one stood against a dogpile.
"Tonight, we'll give the city one hell of a nightmare."
"Sigh... the guy whining about underboss this, that... now talking city's nightmare. You think dropping multiple Proxies is a cakewalk? If they catch us instead, we're fucked."
"We'll dogpile first—game over. Index bastards'll shy from a straight fight. That's why they're slinking around like sneaky assassins."
At Kalo's gesture, his loyal subordinates emerged from hiding.
"These are Dennis, Boris, Katril... fresh off Soldato probation. Lower rank than your crew, maybe... but my boys might just be superior."
Dennis and Katril said nothing, eyes closed, offering no retort to their superior.
"Boris... how old are you this year?"
"Nineteen, sir..."
"Good. This'll be a fine lesson. Time to sort the pecking order between Thumb and Index."
"Hoo... anyway, the other underbosses helping?"
"Nah. Too busy—hung up on me."
".....Heading out with no affiliates, just us and a few Capos..?"
"Like I said, the Don figures affiliates don't even touch Proxy toes. We're green underbosses too. Ever faced an Index Proxy head-on?"
"...Nah."
"Exactly. Gotta play it smart."
"But back in the day, when those Proxy pricks were strutting around... this sniper rifle blew their heads clean off."
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
Kalo addressed his men.
"More bodies, the better. No more talk—move out now."
No time to boost morale. Urgency was key.
Process the bastards quick, ease the Don's mind even a day sooner, show results.
....
Their steps were heavy.
No intent for all-out war with Index.
But if Proxies overstepped, as underbosses—as Thumb's pride—they needed stomping.
Waiting where Kalo signaled, they ran into the loitering foes.
"Fuck..."
Kalo's shock was warranted. Normally, one Proxy trailed by six attendants.
But disbelief twisted his face soon after.
At least 21 Proxies—maybe more.
Index ranks by white cloak length from their looms.
These cloaks dragged so long, feet vanished beneath.
Underboss-level... hell, even a squad of Grade 1 Fixers would call it a death trap.
One Proxy locked eyes with Kalo and spoke.
"Per Oracle Command, we'll leave Thumb's fresh underboss Kalo half-crippled."
With that, the Proxy drew his blade.
Fuck—this was a staged kill zone.
Kalo urgently ordered Boris, his men, the Soldati, and Capos.
"Tighten formation! Block this spot—no gaps, not one."
The half-assed Soldati scrambled to hold off attendants.
Proxies rampaged like martial arts masters on the battlefield, relentlessly targeting Capo hearts.
Capos focused on defense, shielding Kalo.
The real issue? Over 20 of these pains-in-the-ass Proxies.
"Goddamn it..."
One Capo swore, parrying an attendant's sword.
But it was the Capo sliced clean in two.
War had begun.
No running now.