The sun had barely risen over the city, casting a pale orange glow through the curtains of the Barone household. Inside, the atmosphere was far from peaceful. Vince sat at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee in silence, but his mind was anything but calm. His thoughts were fixed on the system's constant stream of updates and the impending confrontation.
A day had passed since he started his rigorous training under the Mafia System. The results were nothing short of extraordinary. His body felt more powerful, faster, and resilient. The aches and pains of his previous life were gone, replaced by a sense of vigor he had never experienced.
[Character Stats]
Strength (STR): 18 (+6)
Agility (AGI): 16 (+6)
Stamina/Endurance (STA/END): 12(+4)
Vitality/Health (VIT/HP): 20 (+5)
Intelligence (INT): 20
Wisdom (WIS): 18
Luck (LCK): 12 (+1)
Perception (PER): 18 (+4)
Charisma (CHA): 15 (+2)
Dexterity (DEX): 14 (+5)
Spirit (SP): 19 (+3)
Control: 13 (+3)
Reputation/Infamy: Locked
He looked at the updated stats, feeling the changes in his body. Every punch he threw during training felt more lethal, every dodge more precise. The system had taught him a martial art so advanced, so deadly, that it transcended anything known to mankind. The Void Edge Martial Arts—a fusion of every combat style that existed, countering all known forms of attack, and rendering the opponent helpless. With this, Vince was practically untouchable, unless, of course, someone decided to launch a missile at him.
"Your proficiency is still growing. At your current level, you can handle any hand-to-hand combat, even armed opponents, with ease," the system informed him, its voice as calm as ever.
Vince's lips curved into a grin. "That's more than enough for what I need right now."
His thoughts drifted back to the thugs who would soon come knocking on his family's door. They were small-time, nothing compared to the forces he would later face, but in his past life, they were the first to stain his family's peace with fear and violence.
They weren't just here for money. They had other, darker intentions—intentions Vince was all too aware of.
The scene shifted, and we see the thugs on their way to the Barone house. Five of them walked confidently down the street, their leader, Tony, smirking as he spat on the ground. The scent of cheap cologne clung to the air as they laughed and joked about the 'easy money' they were about to collect.
"We told 'em ten grand, right?" Tony snickered, lighting a cigarette. "I say we make it a hundred now. Tell 'em it's interest. What are they gonna do? Beg?"
"Yeah, and maybe we take a little extra from their pretty daughter, Sofia," one of them added, drawing lewd laughter from the others.
Tony grinned. "Exactly. Ain't like anyone's gonna stop us. That kid brother of hers? He's nothing. This'll be quick."
They had no idea what awaited them.
Back at the bank, Vince withdrew a hefty sum of $500,000. He had no intention of negotiating with the thugs, but the money was a fallback—a peace offering in case he needed to buy time. In his previous life, he had lacked resources, but now, he was overprepared for any scenario.
As he walked out of the bank, his mind was laser-focused on the task at hand. He had no intention of letting these scum harm his family. The system had prepared him well, and he had already devised a plan to deal with the thugs swiftly.
"The local thugs are connected to larger crime syndicates," the system reminded him. "Some of these people are linked to the disappearance of your father and the death of your family in your previous life."
Vince's jaw clenched. It all made sense now. These thugs were just the front—pawns for a larger game. If he wanted answers, he needed to start with them.
"I'll get to them, one step at a time," Vince muttered to himself.
When Vince arrived home, however, it was too late. The thugs were already there, their filthy boots stomping on the wooden floor of the living room as they sneered at his mother, Rosa, and his sister, Sofia. His mother was standing in front of Sofia, trying to shield her from their vile gazes.
"I told you, we don't have the money yet!" Rosa pleaded, her voice shaking.
Tony sneered, stepping closer. "Oh, you'll find it. Or maybe your daughter here can find some other way to pay us back."
The others laughed as Tony reached out, grabbing Rosa by the arm. She flinched but didn't back down. "Leave my family alone," she said firmly, her voice cracking under the pressure.
"Or what?" Tony spat, his fingers digging into her arm harder.
Vince's grip tightened on the envelope of cash in his hand as he approached the door. His blood boiled seeing the scene before him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had prepared for this moment, and he knew that rushing in recklessly would only put his family at greater risk.
For now, he needed to observe. He slipped through the back door, positioning himself to enter the living room without being seen immediately. Time seemed to slow as he watched Tony's men crowd around his mother and sister, their disgusting intentions clear.
"Please, just leave," Sofia begged, tears welling in her eyes.
Tony laughed darkly. "Oh, we'll leave, sweetheart. After we've had our fun."
His patience was at its limit. Just as one of the men grabbed Sofia by the wrist, intending to drag her into another room, Vince stepped into the doorway, his face as calm as a storm brewing over the ocean.
"Let go of her."
The thugs turned in unison, their expressions momentarily stunned by Vince's sudden appearance. He had arrived faster than they expected, and they hadn't even heard him coming.
Tony's eyes narrowed. "Oh, look who's here. The little kid brother thinks he can stop us?"
But Vince's eyes weren't filled with the fear they had anticipated. Instead, they gleamed with cold calculation.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with."
As Tony and his men chuckled, Vince's hand slowly moved behind his back, and he felt the comforting weight of his gun. His other hand clenched into a fist, remembering the lethal martial arts the system had just drilled into his mind.
The final moments of this chapter lingered as the tension in the room thickened, the thugs oblivious to the deadly storm they had just provoked.