What the Underboss Wants
The Underboss—excluding the Thumb's leader, the Don, and fellow Consiglieres of similar stature—is a being no one in Thumb dares to gaze upon lightly. They oversee the branches in each district of the City, with one assigned per branch. They command the supreme authority over all subordinate organizations and members in their branch, like a field marshal. The Underboss relays the Don's directives through Thumb members and subordinate organization executives in their branch while receiving performance reports from those groups. In other words, aside from the Thumb's leader, the Don, they are the de facto supreme commander. Unless one is at least a Grade 1 Fixer level, it's no exaggeration to say their faction's power and influence rivals an entire army.
A dark-colored vehicle pulled into the courtyard of a mansion. The door opened, and a man in a red cape and hat stepped out, passing by those bowing their heads to him.
"You may raise your heads."
At his words, the Bonyatelli Family Head lifted his gaze.
"It's been far too long, my friend."
The Underboss smiled, but the Family Head received him with stiff yet courteous speech.
"Welcome. We've been expecting you."
"My friend, this visit is purely as a friend, not as an Underboss. For my sake, if nothing else, let's dispense with the formalities today."
The Family Head simply nodded at the Underboss's words.
"This way to my office, please."
The Underboss and the Bonyatelli Family Head sat facing each other on the office sofas. Was it because the Underboss permitted eye contact? Or was this yet another order from the Underboss? The Family Head simply followed the hierarchy's chain of command.
The Underboss set down his teacup and spoke.
"Valentina... she possesses truly exceptional swordsmanship."
"......"
"If that girl sets her mind to it, ascending to an Underboss position will be only a matter of time."
For the first time, the Family Head posed a question to the Underboss.
"Why do you think that?"
The Underboss chuckled softly in response.
"What do you think the reason is?"
At the Underboss's question, the Family Head pondered briefly before replying.
"Because she's begun to observe proper etiquette?"
The Underboss seemed slightly surprised by the Family Head's words but shook his head.
"There is no one in Thumb with greater ambition than that girl. Even if Thumb gathers only those with fierce desires for advancement, in all my years, I've never seen anyone with ambition surpassing hers. She might even sit in an Underboss seat and become the Don's most trusted confidante."
For the first time, the Family Head's eyes wavered.
"And besides, there aren't many particularly strong Underbosses among us, are there? An Underboss's strength lies in their formidable faction and intelligence networks, not raw power. If we Underbosses fought fairly one-on-one, we'd probably rank at the bottom among Grade 1 Fixers... though that's hardly weak. Anyway, if Valentina became an Underboss, for example, we might all end up getting thrashed by her day and night. Hahaha!"
The Underboss laughed as if genuinely amused, but the Family Head's expression soured.
"As for the special heirloom under the Bonyatelli Family's management, the Prevision Eye—you plan to pass it to Valentina along with the Family Head position, yes?"
"......I intend to give it to her the moment she becomes a Capo."
"Hahaha, what a stingy parent. But if Valentina becomes an Underboss, she'll inherit the Family Head seat, bullet production rights, and the family treasure, the Prevision Eye. How many Underbosses in Thumb could stand against her then...?"
"......"
"No matter how mighty Thumb's forces are, producing bullets is like their lifeline. And if she receives the Prevision Eye implant, who knows how much stronger she'll become with her Palermo swordsmanship?"
"Get to the point."
"Come now... I'm advising you as a friend. Ahem..."
The Underboss looked at his old friend and spoke.
"I want to become Valentina's guardian."
"What are you saying...?"
"Exactly as it sounds. An Underboss of Thumb sponsoring and investing in a future Underboss. Think of it as stocks—stocks. I'll gladly become another sturdy father figure for your daughter."
"Don't set your sights on my daughter."
"Tsk tsk... Even if the Bonyatelli Family sends talented personnel skilled in bullet-making and Palermo swordsmanship, if you keep snapping at me like this, I won't stay silent..."
The Underboss spoke playfully, but anyone else hearing it would have felt their legs buckle.
"Anyway, about your daughter. Have you prepared a gift?"
"......"
"Her birthday is coming up soon, isn't it? As a parent, as a father, you should show her at least one gentle side. You're not the type to ignore your child all day claiming to be busy, then suddenly expect parental treatment under the guise of family glory, are you...?"
"I need no such treatment. Children are not dolls or tools for a parent's success. As long as the family's glory is elevated, I can hand this seat to my daughter without hesitation."
"Hahaha, you speak as if Valentina is guaranteed to become the next Bonyatelli Family Head!!"
For the first time, the Family Head cracked a faint smile.
"Of course. Whose daughter is she?"
......
Once the situation settled, Valentina wiped the filthy blood from her bastard sword.
Normally, Lucio would handle this... Oh right, I haven't met Golden Bough yet—it's way too early.
After cleaning all the grimy blood from her blade, the Night Awl members approached her.
"Big Sis, that was incredible!!"
"If it weren't for you, Big Sis, we'd be Blood Bags like these bastards by now. Thank you so much!"
Who said you could call me Big Sis? You're making up nicknames on your own.
Well, 'Big Bro' wouldn't fit anyway. I lost that brotherly vibe ages ago. With these ripe melons up top(?), no one's calling me 'hyung' anymore.
Valentina glanced at the members and uttered a single word.
"Good work."
They grew even more excited at her response, praising her name.
"Even if you become Thumb's Capo someday, you'll always be the one we eternally praise!"
At their loyal display, Valentina nodded in satisfaction.
"You lot, tone it down. What if the boss finds out you're acting like this?"
Capitano Allan scolded them, and Valentina teased him playfully.
"What's wrong? Jealous because you didn't get to shine in this fight?"
Her teasing made Allan's cheeks flush slightly, but he replied nonchalantly.
"Jealous? Quite the opposite. Since you handled everything, Miss, our crew racked up achievements without lifting a finger."
"You... keep climbing, huh?"
"You're the future Family Head, but not yet the current one."
"It's confirmed, you know? Keep it up, and I'll beat the dust off you."
As they bantered, one member suddenly screamed.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
Valentina, Allan, and the others turned to see long tentacles draining blood from his veins through his body, withering him away as he died.
Fuck, was the cleanup sloppy?
Valentina rushed to sever the tentacles, but it was too late. The rabbit revived.
She sneered mockingly at Valentina.
"I can't disappoint Daddy like this!!! Come on, let's go!!"
Valentina spat curses and lunged at the rabbit, but Allan blocked her path.
"Hey, you bastard, move it— this is fucking dangerous right now!"
"Big Sis, leave this to me."
Allan advanced on the Blood Fiend. She laughed at him, raising the surrounding Blood Bags once more.
"Hahaha! You think you can beat me alone...? Even a stray dog would laugh!"
The Blood Bags surrounded Allan, but he dodged fluidly with his crutches, closing in on the rabbit. One of her arms flew off in a merce.
The rabbit panicked momentarily but tried to form a weapon from blood again—only for Allan to sever her remaining arm, foiling it.
His stiletto doppio pierced the Blood Fiend's heart, then with another merce, he jammed the blade fully into her ribcage, twisting it out.
She collapsed, vomiting blood.
She should have. But a hand burst from behind Allan, clawing at his guts.
Valentina's swift intervention stopped it cold.
"Fuck. I told you not to go solo and play hero."
At her scolding, Allan hastily tore his shirt for an emergency bandage on his abdomen.
"You okay, Allan?"
He just nodded.
"These Blood Fiend bastards... there's more than one."
As Valentina said, two more Blood Fiends in animal masks stared them down. One was a female in a pig mask, the other a male in a dog mask.
They looked at the fallen rabbit Blood Fiend and spoke.
"Isabella. What are you doing lying there like an idiot? If Father knew he turned a fool like you into a Blood Fiend, he'd be heartbroken. Get up now."
As the Blood Fiend commanded, the rabbit rose, dripping blood.
"Good. Now it's your turn."
With those words, the two masked unknowns charged Valentina and Allan. She dodged easily, but the injured Allan couldn't.
"Urgh..."
"Baaahhh!!!"
The sheep-masked Blood Fiend rammed Allan head-on.
Fuck. What the hell is going on?