From the center of the main hall, a figure stood with a microphone, ready to address the assembly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to the Romano family, we have all gathered here today to introduce ourselves. It was their brilliant idea to unite all underworld figures and facilitate mutual acquaintance. Over the past years, the underworld's economic growth and personnel have surged by a staggering 200%, an unprecedented expansion that has led to the creation of billions of dollars in wealth. Let us now welcome the leaders of the four major families, gathered here together!" the announcer's voice reverberated through the hall, eliciting excitement and anticipation from the crowd.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I gulped "Billions?!"
As the crowd erupted in excitement and applause, four imposing figures began their descent from the upper floors. The spectators cheered and clapped as if in the presence of divine beings. Amidst this display of power and grandeur, my gaze fixated on an ethereal lady, gracefully descending the stairs. In an instant, my heart raced, and a strange mixture of emotions surged within me. She exuded an enchanting allure, leaving me utterly captivated. "Is it possible for such an angelic person to exist?" I wondered in awe. Our eyes met briefly, and a subtle wink from her ignited a spark inside me. It was a moment of love at first sight, though I had yet to realize the significance.
The crowd interpreted her wink as a gesture to all, but my heart was certain it was meant for me. I knew that she was the head of the weird Ladies Family as Adem said.
Realizing I needed to focus and stay composed, I managed to tear my gaze away and turned my attention to the other leaders.
Among them was a young man in his mid-twenties, with fiery red hair and demonic red eyes, wearing stylish glasses that exuded a cunning aura.
An elderly man, in his eighties and on the brink of death, maintained a dignified appearance in his well-tailored suit.
Then there was Adem, a refined middle-aged man, appearing remarkably composed.
And, of course, there was the angelic woman who had captured my heart. The center of my fascination. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, perhaps thirties, and commanded the leadership of the Ladies Family with grace and beauty.
Once the leaders assembled in the middle of the two grand staircase, The announcer handed the microphone to the man in his twenties with striking red eyes and hair.
Tapping the microphone to test its functionality, the man cleared his throat and began to speak. "Ahem, My name is Dominic Romano, the don of the Romano Family." he declared with confidence. "I have organized this gathering to foster deeper connections among us, while also providing a chance for new associates to explore the possibility of establishing valuable business partnerships. While outsiders might expect constant conflict among mafia factions competing for territory, we are fortunate that our parents, and perhaps even our grandparents, resolved their wars and established the territories we currently possess. Of course a greedy, power-hungry leader might be born and start unnecessary wars between us, but for now we wish to continue this peace and make money together!"
The crowd cheered in agreement, and the microphone passed to Adem Krasniqi. He spoke calmly and eloquently "Hello, My name is Adem Krasniqi, and I am happy to hear Dominic think that way because I completely share his opinion," he said warmly. "Please do enjoy your evenings, ladies and gentlemen."
However, the atmosphere shifted drastically as the microphone found its way into the hands of The old man who was in the verge of death "Diego Diablos" his voice cold and deep, "I must admit, I find the ideas Domininc and Adem were discussing to be nothing short of nonsensical. The human nature, inherently, is one of greed, always yearning to possess everything for oneself. And because we were cursed with that nature, humanity, was, is and always will be at war with each other. While we may appear to be in a state of peace, it is solely because it serves our own interests. I can assure you that if an opportunity arose, Adem and Dominic would betray each and every one of us for their own gains." With that, he concluded his speech.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence, while Adem and Dominic glared at Diego with unbridled rage.
Diego remained unfazed by the demonic stares directed at him by the two dons, seemingly undeterred by the intensity of their hostility. Diego calmly passed the microphone to the next person. The angelic woman "Greetings. You may address me as Albedo," she uttered, her words dripping with a chilling and unapologetic tone.
Ending their speeches, a sudden rush of people surged forward, flocking to the dons to engage in negotiations and discussions. In the midst of the commotion, I found myself stranded at the back, feeling somewhat overlooked and isolated.
I sighed, reaching for my phone to check for available bus routes, so I could leave. However, before I could start walking away and reach for the door, I heard Adem's voice amplified through the microphone. Intrigued, I turned my head to listen.
"Calm down, everyone!" Adem's voice boomed, causing the crowd to pause and take a step back. "I want to introduce you all to a close friend of mine... Please welcome The Nameless!"
My mouth fell open in astonishment, and my glass slipped from my hand, shattering as it hit the floor. People began looking around, puzzled, as they tried to figure out who this mysterious person was. Slowly, I stepped forward from the shadows, radiating an aura of confidence. The crowd instinctively made way for me, suspicion evident on their faces. With deliberate steps, I walked up to the dons, standing beside them, facing the crowd with a sense of authority.
"My name, as Adem mentioned, is The Nameless!" I announced, raising my arms like a king. "I am the one and only leader of The Hidden World organization. I import drugs from Germany for all of you to enjoy! For now, my exclusive business partner is Adem Krasniqi, but that might change in the near future!" I concluded, delivering a short speech, filled with lies and self-promotion, hoping to capture the intrigue and attention of potential partners. I saw the faces of the people and especially the minister of health who had initially declined my presence transform into expressions tinged with regret as they knew they missed a huge opportunity.
Dominic followed up, "Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the rest of the evening," offering a slight bow before he started heading upstairs.
As I began walking away, preparing to blend into the crowd again, Adem suddenly grabbed my shoulder. "The Nameless, my best buddy, come upstairs. The other dons are quite interested in meeting you."
Excitement filled my eyes, hidden behind my mask, and without hesitation, I ascended the stairs with the rest of the dons. Upon reaching the top, the guards stared at me, but I simply raised my middle finger, boldly expressing my disdain for their earlier refusal to allow me to use the restroom. We continued down the hall, flanked by armed guards on both sides.
Trailing behind the dons, I couldn't resist stealing glances at Albedo's ass.
Finally, we arrived at a door guarded by two imposing figures. As the door opened, we stepped inside. To my surprise, the room was relatively ordinary, save for the two exquisite couches positioned in the center and facing each other. Remarkably, there were no guards within the room, a testament to the trust shared among the dons.
As everyone settled into their seats on the couches, two dons per couch, I found myself without a place to sit. Taking initiative, I grabbed a chair and positioned it in front of the couches, a bold move that made me look like the leader. The dons and Adem turned their heads toward me, surprised by my arrogance.