The sterile white walls of the hospital room were a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions brewing within Vince. Rosa and Sofia were resting peacefully, their breathing steady and calm, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Across from Vince sat Uncle Giovanni, his face a mixture of warmth and gravity.
"You remind me so much of your father," Giovanni said, a wistful smile playing on his lips. "Raffaele 'Rafe' Barone—a man larger than life. Persistent, kind, and utterly fearless. He didn't know where to draw the line, though. That was his greatest strength…and his ultimate flaw."
Vince sat up straighter, eager to hear more about the father he barely remembered.
"Your father wasn't just another man in the underworld," Giovanni continued. "He was a lion among jackals, the pillar of justice in a world ruled by corruption. They called him 'The Judge' or 'The Monarch.' He hunted the guilty, brought down entire criminal enterprises, and carved his name into the annals of the underworld." Giovanni's voice grew somber. "But power attracts enemies. He stood alone, Vince, against foxes, wolves, and jackals—parasites who feared what he stood for."
Vince's hands clenched into fists, anger bubbling within him. "What happened to him?"
Giovanni sighed, his expression darkening. "Betrayal. By his most trusted ally. Riccardo 'The Reaper' Leone. He was your father's closest companion, a man who shared his ideals—or so we thought. But greed and ambition corrupted him. Riccardo struck when your father least expected it, cutting him down and taking everything he had built."
Vince's mind raced. His father's death wasn't just a tragedy; it was a warning. The underworld wasn't just a game of power—it was a battlefield where trust was a weakness.
Giovanni stood, placing a reassuring hand on Vince's shoulder. "I need to go. Jack is still out there, and his trail is fresh. But remember this, Vince: you have the same fire your father had. Don't let it consume you. Use it to light your path."
As Giovanni left, Vince opened his system, seeking clarity amid the chaos.
System Alert:
Objective: Become a major shareholder in one of the following ethical companies from your past life:
Aurelia InnovationsVirtuCorp IndustriesSilver Horizon Investments
Reward: ???
Revised Objective:
Become a major shareholder in all three companies.
Vince's eyes widened. "The system is…listening to me?" he muttered. He had been contemplating taking control of all three companies, and now the system had updated the quest accordingly.
"It's adapting," he realized. "Responding to my thoughts, my ambitions." A wry smile crossed his face. "This could be the key to everything."
The Thugs' Hideout
In a dimly lit room, a group of bruised and battered thugs sat around a table. They nursed their wounds, the sting of humiliation still fresh.
"Boss isn't going to like this," one of them muttered, glancing nervously toward the far end of the room.
A young man leaned back in his chair, his sharp features illuminated by the faint glow of a single overhead bulb. He was barely older than Vince, but his presence exuded a dangerous confidence.
"Vince Barone," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "He thinks he can humiliate my men and walk away unscathed?"
The thugs exchanged uneasy glances, their fear of their boss palpable.
The young man's lips curled into a menacing grin. "Let him think he's won. We'll remind him who truly runs this city." He leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with malice. "Prepare the ambush. Make sure he doesn't see it coming."
One of the thugs hesitated. "Boss, are you sure? He's not just anyone—"
The young man's laugh cut him off, echoing through the room. "That's exactly why I want him. If we take him down, our organization's name will spread like wildfire."
Vince's Resolve
Back in his room, Vince sat at his desk, his mind buzzing with ideas. He had already decided his next move. The system's guidance was invaluable, but he needed to think ahead.
His thoughts turned to the corrupt politicians and corporations he had despised in his past life. They were parasites, draining the world of its integrity. But now, he had the tools to fight back.
He accessed the system, searching for new skills.
Skill Unlocked: Cyber Warfare
Description: Learn the art of hacking to infiltrate and dismantle corrupt organizations.
A grin spread across Vince's face. "Perfect."
He envisioned a future where he could expose dirty politicians, bankrupt criminal enterprises, and even hack into the darkest corners of the web. But first, he needed to complete the system's quest.
Once he controlled the ethical companies, he would create a secret organization—one that would rule the underworld from the shadows, invisible but omnipotent. It would be the ultimate weapon against corruption and chaos.
And this time, Vince wouldn't stand alone.