Chapter 39
Killian took down one attacker after another who rushed at him, even without using any weapons.
From a distance, someone aimed a gun at Killian, but Messina’s attack was quicker.
“It’s not some small fry like you who should kill Killian. It should be me. How wasteful would it be if he died now?”
After easily dispatching the enemy, Messina returned to her original seat.
“Messina, you can’t be killing people here,” Jed reprimanded.
Messina frowned.
“You told me not to just sit still earlier.”
“I said that because I was worried about how you were watching from across the river like a bystander.”
“Cut the crap. Then what do you want me to do? Take off my clothes and cheer?”
Messina grumbled but then spotted Nigel. He hadn’t taken anyone’s side and had been watching the situation with a bored expression. He glanced at his watch and then walked toward the chapel entrance.
Sam’s subordinates easily opened the door for Nigel and the Giuliano men who were behind him.
“What? Aren’t those guys on the same team?” Messina clicked her tongue as she watched them obediently following Nigel’s orders. It was obvious that Sam had helped with the rebellion.
“Honestly, the real snakes aren’t the Gottio people, but those Giuliano bastards.”
“What benefit could they possibly get from helping Sam?” Jed asked.
Messina grimaced.
“Why are you asking me? I’m not some strategist.”
But Jed’s question made her curious.
“You’re smarter than me, so figure it out. Those Giuliano guys never move unless it benefits them.”
“Got it.”
Meanwhile, Knox and Chambers were each fighting against one capo from the opposing side.
“Hey, Chambers, this is the gun that guy was holding.”
Knox spun the gun he took from the enemy around his finger and stomped on the man’s head.
“Is this a gun the Gottio family uses, or is it one used by traitors?”
“It’s still a lever-action manual type,” Chambers examined it with interest.
“They’re useless both in skill and equipment, so they miss every shot and get caught like this.”
Knox tossed the gun away and drew a knife, pressing it against the man’s neck.
“W-wait! Please spare me! My family’s waiting for me at home!”
Unfortunately, Knox was not the type to be swayed by such words. He ignored the plea and kindly untied the cravat around the man’s neck.
“You should’ve thought of your family sooner.”
“My wife and newborn baby are at home!”
Knox scowled.
“What? Even someone like you is married with kids? That’s disgusting.”
Let’s see… it’s been over two years since I’ve even dated anyone. As Knox tightened his grip, the man screamed with wide eyes.
“Please, save me, damn it!”
“I’ll only cut shallow enough not to kill you.”
“Ughhh!”
The knife didn’t go in deeply, but seeing the blood flowing from his neck, the man fainted.
“How pathetic.”
Wiping blood from the knife, Knox asked Chambers,
“Who else do we need to deal with? The bald guy?”
“Don’t say that. He’s one of Andymion’s subordinates.”
“All dressed in black, it’s confusing. Why is it so complicated?”
Chambers replied disdainfully,
“I don’t understand why you’re confused. Isn’t the triangular handkerchief enough to tell them apart?”
“It’s a hassle to check all that during a fight.”
“If it’s a hassle, why bother breathing?”
“You breathe even if you don’t think about it. What are you talking about?”
While the two were joking, thanks to the Starr family, Andymion was already overwhelmingly dominant.
Near the chapel entrance, civilians were being detained to prevent them from calling the guards, and most of Sam’s subordinates were bound and kneeling near the altar.
Sam was clearly at a disadvantage, but he wore a calm expression throughout. Seeing this, Andymion clenched his gun tightly.
“Do you think you’ll survive even after breaking your father’s last will?”
“Just live comfortably like you always have. Can you even handle being the boss?”
“You’re crazy to covet the boss’s position without even being blood of Gottio.”
Sam sneered lightly and aimed his reloaded gun at Andymion’s head.
“Don’t act tough in front of me when you’re just riding on your bloodline. And after seeing all the evidence, don’t you believe it? Vito Gottio loved our mother.”
Angered by this, Andymion drew his gun and aimed it at Sam.
“Don’t insult my father! If you talk nonsense, I’ll kill you.”
They were about ten steps apart.
Andymion, with B-grade magic power, had a high hit rate, but Sam was C-grade and had already fired a magic bullet once, making his aim less reliable.
Yet, Sam’s relaxed expression felt unsettling.
‘He must have some backup.’
At that moment, one of Sam’s men rushed to him with a worried look and whispered. Hearing this, a look of dismay appeared on Sam’s face.
“What? Where did all of that go?”
“We definitely prepared it, but someone must have known and made it disappear without a trace.”
At this point, they were supposed to throw smoke bombs and take out Andymion’s group. Since Sam and his men had protective eye drops, they could move freely in the smoke.
“How dare someone betray me…”
While Sam was confused by the ruined plan, Andymion quickly aimed at the target.
Bang!
“Dodge!”
Seeing the magic bullet fired, a man quickly grabbed Sam and threw himself to the ground. Before he could even open his eyes properly from the impact, Killian instantly subdued Sam.
“What now?”
Killian asked Andymion as he handed over Sam.
“Since he tried to kill the next boss, of course, we have to cut his life line.”
Andymion regretted missing the magic bullet and reloaded.
“Mr. Andymion.”
At that moment, someone from the group called out to Andymion. It was Kyle, one of Gottio’s capos.
“What face do you have to call me with? Begging for your life?”
Andymion sneered but Kyle continued quietly.
“Look at all these people kneeling. Most of the Gottio family executives have already turned their backs on you. What meaning does it have to be the boss now?”
Andymion paused at the harsh words, but he couldn’t back down. The next boss position was the legacy his father trusted him with.
He steadied himself, recalling the father who had always supported him.
“Then look at Sam you guys were going to serve. A weakling with only a C-grade who you were going to make boss? Wasn’t it that you wanted a puppet?”
At that, Sam, bleeding from his forehead, shouted,
“Andymion, what have you accomplished purely on your own? Do you think you could’ve created a favorable situation without Starr’s help?”
The executives who had been dissatisfied with Andymion also gave him hostile looks and added,
“Sam fought alongside us in every duel, went to jail for the organization’s sake. As long as he is a direct descendant of Gottio, we have no choice but to accept him as the boss.”
“…You’re all insane.”
But no matter how much he denied it, their words were true.
Andymion fell into despair as he confirmed that most of the people who worked with his father had turned their backs on him.
Even if he took the boss seat, since the skilled men who ran Gottio’s business had been purged, it would be hard for the Gottio family to regain its former glory.
As he pondered whether to continue fighting, Maria, who had been standing quietly behind, stepped forward.
“If Sam and that guy are proven not to be direct descendants of Gottio, will you withdraw your intentions?”
“Maria…”
Andymion panicked and grabbed Maria’s arm.
“I asked if you would withdraw your intentions and serve Mr. Andymion again.”
The executives exchanged glances. If Sam wasn’t a direct descendant, no matter how talented he was, he could never become boss.
“How do you plan to prove you’re not a real son?”
Unable to answer, Sam anxiously pressed Emily.
“He’ll be here soon. The one who will prove you’re not of Gottio blood.”
Maria looked confidently toward the chapel door.
