In a huge yet dim room that barely has any light despite just being noon, several men gather.
Sounds of someone howling in pain fill the same room but because the room is soundproof, no sound can be heard from the room's exterior. All kinds of torturing weapons are hung on the long walls as if they were a part of the room decoration.
Despite one middle-aged man grunting and writhing in pain inside the room, everyone else there does not even flinch, let alone take pity on him. Instead, they are happy to give him more pain. The look on their faces says so.
"P -Please stop," the middle-aged man who is being tortured finally pleads in a trembling voice. "I w -will tell y -you everything!"
His tormentors do not listen to him but the captive doubts that he could take anymore! He has already been suffering for days after all!
As his last resort, the captive turns his attention to the young man who is quietly standing next to the only window in the dim room. With his hands in his pocket, the young man simply stares out of the closed windows as if a man wasn't almost tortured to death just a few steps away from him!
"I b -beg you, Don Alessio! Please... I will say everything!" The captive pleads with the young man who doesn't even seem to hear his plea. Even if the young man heard, he doesn't appear interested.
As the torture keeps going on, the screams and howls become lower and lower until they are just muffled pleas. Then finally, the young man next to the window who is addressed as 'Don Alessio' turns to the men who are inflicting pain without mercy. "That's enough."
Two words are all it takes for the men to put an end to whatever they are doing. As Alessio makes his way to them, they all lower their gaze and respectfully take several steps backward.
"He is losing his consciousness," Alessio nonchalantly remarks when he observes his captive. There isn't a hint of pity or guilt in his eyes when he orders, "I don't have time to lose. Wake him."
One of the men hurriedly goes to the other part of the room and returns with a bucket of water which he splashes on the captive without hesitation. This action only wakes the captive a bit but it is enough for his heartless captor.
Alessio takes a seat on the smoke chair which is arranged for him and with a single gesture from another young man who is standing on his right, the men quickly release the captive from his bonds and make him kneel before the young Don.
"How does it feel to be the one waiting, Evaldo?" Alessio asks the captive, mentioning the time earlier when he ignored his pleas and made him wait on purpose. "That is a punishment for stubbornly keeping your mouth shut and making me wait for days. Because of your useless stubbornness, I even have to come here while many other important tasks await me out there."
"I -"
"Think before you speak," Alessio DeFazio warns the captive named Evaldo. "If even a single lie escapes your lips, what do you think will happen? You know I'm not that forgiving, don't you?" Crossing his legs, his eyes that are devoid of any emotion are fixated on his captive who shudders at his threat.
"I won't lie!" Evaldo's voice is weak but he is shouting for all he is worth. "Please... trust me."
The young Don gently taps his fingers on the armrest several times but the sounds could be clearly heard as there is complete silence in the room. "That we will see," he finally says. "Now tell me. When and where is the meeting?"
Since he takes over as the Don of the DeFazio crime family a few years back, Alessio focuses on strengthening his family's power in the Mafia world and establishing it as the most powerful crime family in the country. Of course, this is also possible because of the help from the Corbello crime family, their closest allies.
And now, those crime families they oppress are trying to get back into power by arranging some meetings behind his back.
Those fools.
Do they really think that he will have no idea about it? He isn't called the Boss of the Bosses without a reason!
Recalling all these only make Alessio's blood boil, but...
"Elentrus."
His heart skips a beat when Evaldo mutters the name of the country that he has half-forgotten. A country where he was born and raised.
"The meeting will be held in Elentrus a week later," Evaldo mutters in a voice that is barely above a whisper. "I'm telling the truth. You can go and see it for yourself."
The usually composed Boss of the Mafia is now squeezing the armrest of the smoke chair where he sits, However, his face is still unreadable.
Elentrus... does he want to go there?
"Say the details." It is the young man who is standing on Alessio's right who speaks up.
"That's all I know," Evaldo replies, almost panicking. "You know how cautious Don Egidio is. He will never share the details with anyone while there is still a week left!"
The young man who spoke up earlier observes Evaldo and then tries to walk closer, but...
"Loris." Alessio stops him by muttering his name.
"Let's say that you tell the truth for now and that the information is enough for you to live," Alessio says to the captive. "If it's true, you will be free but if not, you will pay for it with your life."
With that said, he nods at Loris who quickly orders the men to take Evaldo out of the room. In less than a minute, Alessio and Loris are the only ones in the dim room.
Without saying anything, Loris walks to the right to switch on the light, but...
"Don't."
He hears Alessio's voice and he feels like his guess was right. The Don isn't himself since Evaldo mentioned Elentrus country. Loris knows that his master was born and raised in Elentrus until he was 16 but these are all he knows.
And now, the way the Don behaves has him curious despite knowing that it isn't his place to ask.
How was his life in Elentrus?
Not switching on the lights as Alessio ordered, Loris stands still in his place without saying anything. Then he notices the Don rising from his seat.
"Call Elio and tell him that we've got the information," Alessio commands. "Let's leave this place first. We have a trip to plan."