Every night, as the purple glow of the fires lit up the streets of Rome, Choi Seong-jae's power in the city grew stronger. He seemed like a ruthless chess player, methodically destroying pieces as he moved closer to his ultimate goal: the crown.
After making an alliance with the Salvatore family, capturing the port was only a matter of time. The operation was swift and clear, just like everything Son Jae had planned. The smuggling ships were now flying the Contarello flag, and the flow of money to the treasury clan had increased by leaps and bounds.
The Materazzi family, deprived of their port, were in a desperate position. Their influence in the city had plummeted, their allies had abandoned them, and their enemies were ready for the final blow.
Son Jae gave them no time for respite. He intensified the impact on his casinos, brothels, and other lucrative businesses, depriving them of their last sources of income. The Sigum fighters from Korea positioned themselves as true professionals, ruthlessly massacring their enemies and capturing new territory.
Rome trembled with fear, but at the same time admired Sung-Jae. His cruelty and attentiveness, his ability to achieve his goals, caused both terror and respect. He became the new king of the city, his name was a whisper, but his power was felt everywhere.
But not everyone was pleased with this development. Old Don Contarello, watching his grandson seize power in Rome, had conflicting feelings. On the one hand, he was proud of Song Jae, admiring his talents and abilities. On the other hand, he was intimidated by his ruthlessness and lack of control.
In his current office, hung with portraits of his ancestors, Don Contarello sat in an armchair, thinking about the future. He sipped an old brandy while looking at the paintings. The smoke from his cigar rose slowly to the ceiling, and old images flashed through his mind.
"Son Jae is a beast," he thought. - "Strong, intelligent, dangerous. He can revive our family, restore it to its former glory. But he can also destroy everything I've created throughout my life."
Don Contarello believes that controlling the economy. Son Jae acted on his own without asking his opinion, without listening to his opinions. His grandson was seizing power, but also forcing him out of the game.
"I have to stop him," Don decided. - "I have to take back control of the repairs. I can't afford to have him destroy our family."
But how to do that? Son Jae was too strong, too smart. He was several steps ahead of him.
Don Contarello knew he needed to find an ally to help him survive Son Jae. He began to search among his old friends and associates, those he could trust.
Meanwhile, Son Jae continued to expand his power in Rome. After taking over the port, he took it upon himself to fight corruption by identifying and punishing corrupt officials, police officers, and judges.
This caused a stir of discontent among those who were used to living off bribes and kickbacks. They acted against Son Jae, to stop him by any means necessary.
However, Son Jae was prepared for this. He created his own system of justice, where the guilty were assigned quickly and fairly. His men would identify the corrupt, bring them to Son Jae, and he would personally sentence them.
"I will bring order to this city," Sung-Jae said. - "I will cleanse Rome of filth and corruption. I will make it better than it has ever been."
His words resonated with the hearts of ordinary people who were tired of lawlessness and arbitrariness. They saw in Son Jae the hope for a safe life, for justice and order.
But Son Jae knew that he could not rely only on the support of ordinary people. He needed allies in the highest echelons of power, those who would help him protect his interests and promote his ideas.
He began to seek contacts with influential politicians and businessmen, making lucrative deals and promising them support in their endeavors. Soon, he was able to secure several key figures who were willing to cooperate with them for their mutual benefit.
With the support of these people, Son Jae was able to consolidate his power in Rome and increase his influence in other regions of Italy. He became one of the most influential people in the country, and his name was known by everyone from ordinary laborers to high-ranking officials.
But Son Jae realized that power was only an illusion, that things could change at any moment. He knew he had many enemies waiting for his hour to wound him with a blow.
And he was ready for it. He waited for them, preparing for the last, decisive battle for Rome. That time, however, his short grandfather was on the side of his enemies, and his old fears were awakened in him.