Chapter 214
Chapter 214
As I lay in bed wondering what to do with them, I couldn't come up with a solution.
"It wont be easy to find people who can handle this stuff."
Since most of these materials are not ordinary, the number of people who can handle them is very limited.
Even those who can handle them are often a bit stubborn and have their own agendas.
In many cases, even Corleones name and fortune are not recognized.
In other words, it's only through quests.
"Eh, I don't know."
Eventually, I gave up grumbling to myself and stood up from the bed and left the room.
"Sir, where are you going?"
He was sweeping the hallway, but when he saw me, he shook his head.
"I'm going to see my godfather for a moment."
The person I'm about to meet is my godfather, Consigliere, the brains of Corleone.
I thought to myself, "Wouldn't he be able to help me in a situation like this?
If I can't make equipment worthy of my name, I'll just have to accept a quest for something else, right?
"Ah. Consigliere should be in his office right now, as I just brought him some refreshments."
"Really? Thank you."
I was relieved to see that my godfather wasn't sleeping.
I made my way to his study, where a faint glow of illumination peeked through the frosted glass in the door.
I took a breath, straightened my hair, and knocked.
"Godfather. It's Eugene."
A moment later, I heard my godfather's voice from inside.
"Come in."
I turned the doorknob and stepped inside to see my godfather stretching.
"I see you're still at work."
"Better than usual, though. So, what's up?"
The dark circles under his eyes were definitely less pronounced than usual, so he must have been working a tad less intensely lately.
I sat down across from him and got straight to the point.
"I'd like to be introduced to a maestro or meister you know."
The maestro who made me the DisPater is in Seoul, and he specializes in dressmaking.
It wasn't a piece of equipment I wanted to enhance, so I needed someone else.
"A new craftsman?"
My godfather's eyes widened when he heard my words.
"I have just the person to introduce you to! I was having a hard time because of that but it worked out well!"
His reaction was very positive.
It was a very good omen for the quest.
I checked the window in front of me and beamed.
Now all I had to do was match the right response to the story.
"I'm sad to hear you've been having trouble, but if there's anything I can do to help, I'd be happy to."
He nods, clearly pleased with my response.
"Great, great, great, give me a minute."
With that, he begins to sift through a mountain of paperwork.
After a few moments, the papers are plucked from his hand and placed on the table.
"You. Why don't you visit your hometown?"
?
* * *
The rest is history.
I didn't think it would be close since it was a spontaneous quest, but Italy!
Italy, where my family is from!
The word "Italy" in a sentence that reminded me of a homecoming, somehow made me feel differently.
I hadn't thought about it until now, butisn't bad.'
At best, I was looking for something domestic, not international.
But now I'm Corleones eldest son.
I don't have to go crazy on my first vacation and lay the groundwork like I did with the other characters.
Plus, the craftsmen in Italy. I knew they'd be great enough to make the best equipment.
I can't believe I didn't think of that, I must have fallen into a mannerism.
"Haaahhhsleepy."
I looked across the room to see Latte yawning with a sleepy expression on her face.
She's chewing on a peanut, staring blankly out the window.
"Latte?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you following me?"
"UhI have a mission in Italy too?"
It turns out she was on the same flight as me because she too had business in Italy.
The academy was on vacation, which meant that the "on-campus" caf, Cielo Notturno, was closed, so it was natural for her to be sent on another mission, but there was one problem.
This is not a family plane, but my private plane.
"What?!"
The thing is, the airplane we're on right now is my private plane.
Of course, it's not that the family doesn't have a private plane.
However, I bought it with an eye toward the future, knowing that my father and godfather might need to travel abroad at any moment.
It was a decision I was able to make because I had recently made a lot of money.
I still can't forget the way Haru's eyes lit up when I asked her to buy it.
Anyway
For family missions, dont you take an additional aircraft rather than a private plane?
UhThatcan you give me a ride? We have a bond from working together at the Academy! Right!
In response, the bag of peanuts she was holding trembled as she looked at me. It was like looking at a frightened mouse.
"Hmmm, I'm torn."
"Please don'tairplanes are hardand it's not convenient to take the kids!"
-Phew!
She hugged the guinea pigs tightly and was now in tears.
Seeing her reaction, I smirked and replied.
"Just kidding. Since we're going the same way, let's go together."
"Oh, my dear master, my merciful master, my wonderful master!"
"You don't have to go too far."
"Oh, yes."
And so the flight to Italy began.
After enjoying drinks, food, and a couple of movies on the calm private plane, we arrived in Italy.
I thought I'd have someone to talk to along the way, but I was practically flying solo because Latte fell asleep and never woke up.
Apparently, she hadn't slept in four days.
After hearing the reason, I couldn't help but forgive her.
* * *
It was a bright morning when I arrived.
Is this jet lag?
The plane landed on a small private airstrip in Sicily, Italy.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the mission, the people who should greet me are nowhere to be seen.
Latte asks, stretching as soon as her feet hit the ground.
"I think I'm going straight to the mission. What about you?"
"Oh, I think I'm heading to the Italian headquarters of Corleone."
Saying that, she bends down toward me, carrying a pack the size of her body.
"Well, I'll be going, then, Master, and I hope to see you back in good health!"
"Yeah, take care."
With that, I started walking, watching the back of Latte's head as she disappeared with a sweeping stride.
It's a long way to my destination, so I grab an Uber.
Olive groves peek through the trees and walls.
The sun beating down on me and the smell of exotic dreadlocks definitely tells me that this is a foreign country.
It's definitely less densely populated and there are fewer cars, so the air is different.
My stomach feels empty.
I finally arrived at the small town in the Italian countryside.
As I walked up to the statue in the center of town, I saw an old man leaning back against the statue in silence, smoking a stiff pipe.
The old man was the Italian maestro I was looking for.
It was Ludvio Marco.
As I slowly walked towards him, I made eye contact with him.
When he sees me, he smiles broadly.
"Hahahahaha, you're really Corleones boy. No, you're a rip-off of Corleones money!"
He chuckles and opens his arms while I smile brightly, naturally accepting his hug.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting so long Maestro."
"Hahaha, not a long wait, I'm supposed to be feeding pigeons in a place like this!"
With that, the hug ended and he held out his hand toward me.
"Im Ludvio Marco, once a shoemaker."
"Eugene Han Corleone, heir to the Corleone family and son of Vito Corleone. It's an honor to meet you, Maestro."
His hands were gnarled, rough, and firm, a testament to his past years.
"Come, let us go to my house. Its quite a distance, so youll have to walk diligently!
Apparently, his house was on a cliff by the coast, some distance from the village.
I slowly make your way to his house, returning his warm smile as he greets me like a long-lost grandson.
"By the way, you go inside first, there are some people who will be angry if I smoke inside the house."
"Yes, I will."
As I walked into the room, leaving him to light his pipe, something suddenly jumped out at me.
"Whack!"
* * *
I sighed as I looked at the figure of the girl lying on the bed, then looked at Ludvio, who stood beside me in disbelief.
He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Anyway, this is what I get for trying to make fun of an old man."
Ludvio also seemed to have been hit once or twice, so he looked rather relieved.
"I apologize, sir. I didn't realize you had a granddaughter."
How should I know that she was waiting for him inside the house?
I didn't feel any animosity, so I didn't think anything of it.
But
"Huh? Shes not my granddaughter?"
"?"
Apparently, she's not his granddaughter.
"Why was a woman who isn't your granddaughter at Mr. Ludvio's house?"
He looks bitter at my question, then slowly approaches the child and strokes her hair.
"She used to live in the village we were in. Nowjust comes to help this poor old man, she's always been like that."
There must be some kind of connection since it was clear that Ludvio cared for this girl very much.
As I watched him stroke her head in silence.
"Grandpa, you're in trouble!"
The little girl squealed, jumping up.
"Ha, Grandpa, Corleone, Corleone!"
"what?"
"Corleone has come for Grandpa! Quick, quick, we have to run away-."
Uh.
"Me?"
I say cautiously, and she creaks her neck and turns her head like a broken doll.
"Huh? Huh?"
She suddenly stands up, her face growing redder and redder, and stands in front of Ludvio with clenched fists.
Ha, I came here because I had some business to do with your grandfather! Oh, mafia!
Well, I am mafia.
I'm not sure how to react here.
"Elena, stop it. He is my guest."
"?"
Ludvio, standing behind the girl called Elena, was the first to speak.
She turned her head as if to ask what he was talking about.
"Is grandfatherCorleone?"
"Yes. I thought it was time for me to change, too."
With that he steps in front of me.
"Have you heard the nature of the request?"
"To reclaim the stolen workshop, is that correct?"
He nods at my question and slowly extends his hand.
His face has suddenly changed from that of a kindly grandfather to that of a tycoon who has overcome a great deal of adversity.
"Good. Let's talk business."