2025-02-02 18:54:56Carrick, now called V5, pretended to be brainwashed. He stared blankly at Doctor Ambrose. The doctor smiled, happy with Carrick's condition.
"You're doing well, V5," Doctor Ambrose said. "You'll be a great asset for Rambosia." He nodded to the guards.
One guard, a tall man with a scar, stepped forward. "Sir, may I talk to you?" he asked quietly.
Doctor Ambrose frowned. "What is it, Victor?"
Victor looked at Carrick before speaking. "I think we should be careful. He's not as brainwashed as we think."
Doctor Ambrose laughed. "That's impossible. The treatment always works. V5 will do what we say."
Carrick's mind raced, remembering the system's warning to level up quickly. He knew he had to play along, but he also needed to find a way to escape and start his journey to become a Mafia Lord. He knew if he remained here, he would be nothing but an experimental subject, a guinea pig for this mysterious organization.
As the guards closed in, Carrick noticed a small, almost unnoticeable nod from Victor. It was a signal, but from whom? Carrick could not help but wonder. He had spent enough time with his family to know when a conspiracy was going on.
Suddenly, alarms blared, and the room shook. "What's happening?" Doctor Ambrose shouted in confusion. The Rambosia hideout was unknown to Major Mafia families, so who would dare attack them?
Victor reacted immediately and drew his gun. "We're under attack. Get V5 to safety!"
Carrick saw his chance. What just happened made him understand that this Victor wasn't loyal to Rambosia, perhaps Victor could be his way out of this sick place. He pretended to stumble, falling to the ground. As the guards rushed to help him, Carrick whispered to Victor, "Who are you working for?"
Victor's eyes locked onto Carrick's. "Meet me in the east wing tonight. Come alone."
With that, Victor dragged Carrick away, into the chaos. Carrick saw a new group of people dressed in a different uniform shooting at the guards.
*
Disguised as a Rambosia guard, Victor pulled Carrick through the winding corridors of Rambosia's secret facility. They dodged bullets and leaping flames, the sound of shattering glass and screams filling the air.
"What's happening?" Carrick shouted above the din.
"Rebellion," Victor replied, his gun firing at unseen targets. "We have to get out, now!"
They burst through a door, slamming it shut behind them. Carrick found himself in a cramped, dimly lit room filled with computer screens and wires. The room seemed like a tech storage room.
"Who are you?" Carrick demanded, his eyes locked on Victor. Before he could decide on anything, he needed to know who Victor was.. what if he was working for his father and was here to finish the job those men couldn't.
Victor ripped off his mask, revealing a scarred face and piercing blue eyes. "I'm Victor Alistair, former helmsman of the Alistair Family. My family was almost wiped out by the joint forces of the Gale family and Giovanni family. And you, V5, might just be the key to our survival."
"What do you mean I'm the key to your survival?" Carrick questioned, but suddenly a ding sounded in his head.
«Ding!
<<System suggests Host should make use of the individual 'Victor' and escape Rambosia.>>
"I will tell you all you want to know, but for now. I have infiltrated Rambosia's mainframe," Victor said as he lifted his face from the computer screen, his voice urgent. "We must escape now. The facility will self-destruct in five minutes."
Carrick's heart raced. "How do we get out?"
Victor handed Carrick a small device. "This is a neural disruptor. It will disrupt any brainwash action that may have been taken against you, and it will also disrupt the aim of those guards, in other words, they won't be able to land a single bullet on us as their aims will be way off. Press the red button to also neutralize their weapons as they are making use of electrical powered laser guns."
Carrick took the device, his mind racing. "What about you?"
Victor smiled grimly. "I'll draw off Rambosia's forces so as to lessen the attention on you. You don't have to worry, I'll be right behind you."
The countdown began, echoing through the room. Carrick and Victor shared a nod before bursting into action.
Carrick charged into the corridor, neural disruptor in hand. The Rambosia guards closed in, aiming their guns at him, they didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Carrick dodged and weaved, the disruptor emitting a high-pitched whine as it neutralized the guards' mental sense as well as their weapons. The guards pulled the triggers but only the clicking sound was heard.
"You're a dead man, V5!" a guard snarled, charging at him with a knife. The guard was quick to realize something was wrong with his gun, but instead of panicking, he decided to first take out Carrick
Carrick sidestepped, using the guard's momentum against him. The guard crashed into the wall, unconscious.
<<Ding! Congratulations to host for neutralizing a level 3 hostile individual. 200 XP awarded to Host. System suggests the host to kill hostile forces in order to reap maximum XP and level up quickly>> the mechanical voice sounded in his head.
Carrick stared at the unconscious guard, he had never killed a fellow human before. He was about to refuse when he felt his emotion calming down, he realized it was the Ever-Calm passive skill taking effect. He slowly walked over to the guard, picked up the knife that was on the ground and calmly slit the guard's throat. The guard twitched a few moments before becoming still.
«Ding! Congratulations to Host for killing a level 3 hostile individual. 500 XP and 250 gold coins awarded to Host.»
Carrick stared at the small blood puddle in front of him. For someone who just killed a fellow human for the first time, he was awfully calm as if nothing happened.
"Well, it's either them or me, and besides, a weak hearted person can't become a Mafia Lord." He said to himself and smiled. At the moment, he was seeing the guards as XP points and a stepping stone. A smile played on his lips.
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BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 5: LEVEL UP
More guards came and surrounded Carrick. He stood strong, holding his disruptor tightly.One guard sneered at him. "You're trapped. Give up now and we might go easy on you." The guards had seen the previous experiments of previous subjects, they were always so weak. This guard couldn't see the reason the doctors wasted so much money and time experimenting on such useless people. Now facing against Carrick, he believed Carrick will be the same as the previous subjects.Carrick on the hand, remembered all the times he had given in to the Gale family. He had always stepped down and tried to stay quiet just to stay alive.But what did he get for being quiet? His brother hated him. His own father had tried to kill him.Carrick's eyes narrowed. He made a promise to himself: he would never give in again."I'd rather die," Carrick said, his voice firm and his smile cold.«Ding!New skills acquired!Undying Resolve (non upgradable)Description: In desperate times, Host's resolve to persevere w
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 6: THE ALISTAIR FAMILY
Carrick and Victor escaped from the Rambosia facility and ran until they reached a busy road. They hailed a taxi and Victor told the driver, "Take us to Ancroft city."The driver smiled slyly and said, "That'll be $200 each."Victor hesitated, but Carrick simply got into the taxi. Victor followed, looking worried. "I only have $500 on me, and we need to buy food too," he said.Carrick smiled and reassured Victor, "Don't worry about it."Then, Carrick silently asked the Erebus system, "Can I use the gold coins as real money?" «Ding! Yes. Host just needs to will a few coins to materialize in his hand and it will be so. Note, one gold coin is equivalent to ten dollars.» Carrick smiled at the system's response. * Ancroft city was in front of a mountain. Victor's family mansion was hidden in the mountain. "Welcome to our humble abode," Victor said, one could sense pride in his voice. As they walked on the stone steps towards the mansion, Victor thought it will be best to play the role
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 7: FACE OFF
Carrick sat in the armory, getting ready for the ambush operation. Victor had chosen a small team of 20 people, including Carrick.Carrick knew that revealing his identity could jeopardize the mission. So, he decided to wear a mask to conceal his face.Before heading out, Carrick checked in with the Erebus system. "System, show me my stats," he requested. «Ding! STAT (System for Transfer and Analysis of Tactical data): Host: Carrick Gale Age: 18 Status: Healthy Attributes: Strength (STR); 35 Intelligence (INT); 40 Agility (AGI); 35 Vitality (VIT); 40 Endurance (END); 40 Charisma (CHA); 25 Combat stats: Attack power (ATK); 45 Defense (DEF); 40 Health points (HP); 100% Mana points (MP); 300 Accuracy (ACC); 60% Evasion (EVA); 55% Performance metrics: Experience points (XP); 1,400 Level; 3 (1,400/20,000) Skills: Revitalization (passive, upgradable) lvl 3 Ever-Calm (passive, non upgradable) Undying Resolve (active, non upgradable) Weapon master (passive, upgradab
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 8: FACE-OFF
Carrick entered the meeting room, where the morning sunlight shone brightly. The Alistair family elders and Victor were already seated, looking serious.Victor spoke firmly, "Carrick, thank you for coming. We have new information about the Gale Family."He explained, "They're moving a new shipment to their warehouse. We think it contains more of those special energy cells we found recently."Just two nights ago, they had attacked the Gale Family's convoy and raided their warehouse. What they found surprised them: most of the crates held blocks of energy cells, not just gold. Carrick's eyes narrowed. "What's so special about these energy cells?" Victor leaned forward. "They have the potential to produce new, highly advanced weapons. We can't let the Gale Family get their hands on that kind of power, once they make use of these energy cells, they will be unstoppable amongst the Mafia community. We need to get that power for ourselves." The elders nodded in agreement. "We need to take
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 9: TRAP
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BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 10: BUILDING A PRIVATE ARMY
Carrick sat in Victor's office, sipping his whiskey. He was angry and frustrated about the failed rescue mission. The quiet office couldn't calm him down.He couldn't believe Domino had tricked him again. Now Carrick worried about his mother's safety. He imagined her suffering at the hands of Domino and the Gale family.Victor looked serious, his eyes showing their failure. "Carrick, I'm sorry. We didn't expect Domino to be so prepared."Carrick stared out the window, his voice filled with frustration. "It's not your fault, Victor. I knew the risks. But I won't give up."Carrick had a secret reason for not giving up, but he kept it hidden from Victor. He had the system with him. And besides, he wanted to get his beloved mother out of the hands of the Hale Family.Victor leaned forward, his elbows on the desk. "We'll regroup, plan again. We won't let Domino win."Regroup and plan again? Not a chance. Carrick had already received a message from the System that he needed to build up his
BANG BANG BANG Chapter 12: THE STORY OF MAXIMUS PERCH
Carrick leaned forward, his sharp eyes studying Maximus. The leader of the Killer-Wolves Mercenary Guild wasn’t just some war-hardened soldier, there was something deeper behind those cold, calculating eyes. Something that felt eerily familiar. "You’ve piqued my interest, Maximus," Carrick said. "Go ahead, tell me your story." Maximus smirked and leaned back in his chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass. The dim lighting of the Helios Hotel suite cast long shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable. "You remind me of myself, Carrick," he began, his voice laced with amusement. "A young man with a vendetta, a thirst for power, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. That’s dangerous." Carrick smirked but said nothing. He was more than willing to let Maximus continue. "I wasn’t always the leader of KWE," Maximus said. "I was born into a military family in Moscow. My father was a Spetsnaz operative, a legend in his time. Cold. Calculated.
BANG BANG BANG CHAPTER 13: BLOOD IN THE SHADOWS
Carrick stepped out of the Helios Hotel, his mind buzzing with possibilities. Partnering with Maximus Perch and the KWE Mercenary Guild was a massive step toward building the Zenith Family into an unstoppable force. But the text message Maximus had received lingered in his thoughts."Aurum Zenith is dangerous. Take him out before it’s too late."Someone was watching. Someone powerful enough to try and strike before he could rise too far.Carrick lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply as he scanned the city streets. It was late, but the underworld never slept. He needed to move. If someone was coming for him, he’d strike first.«Ding! New Mission: Identify and eliminate the unknown threat.»«Reward: +5,000 EXP, Skill Upgrade – Shadow Steps.»Carrick smirked. So, the game had already begun.Thirty Minutes Later.Carrick waited in the shadows near an abandoned warehouse, his phone buzzing in his hand. He had sent out a few feelers, Jack Harris, Alex, and Lila were already digging for informati
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CHAPTER 102: NO REST FOR KINGS
The streets of the city seemed quieter than usual as Carrick stood on the balcony of the Gale estate, but he knew better. It wasn’t peace...it was fear. Fear gripped every corner, every alleyway, every rival family. Carrick Gale wasn’t a rumor anymore. He was reality. But power like this came with a cost. He could feel it pressing against his back like the cold barrel of a loaded gun.Inside the estate, the council room was already filling up.Marco was the first to speak as Carrick entered, his voice laced with concern. “Enzo and the others are downstairs. They want to pledge formally.”Darius yawned and leaned against the wall. “Good. Let’s not keep them waiting.”Carrick adjusted his cufflinks calmly. “Bring them in.”Moments later, Enzo entered, followed by a dozen men. They were all hardened men, bloodied from years under Moreno’s shadow, but tonight, they looked like schoolboys waiting for a principal’s verdict.Enzo cleared his throat nervously. “Boss... I mean, Carrick, sir...
CHAPTER 101. CEMENTING POWER
The night was far from over. Even as the flames from the Moreno estate flickered in the distance, Carrick knew this was only the beginning. Killing Moreno was a statement, a warning to any who still doubted his claim to power. But power wasn’t just about eliminating enemies...it was about control. Total control.As they drove back to the Gale estate, the tension inside the car was thick. Marco sat in silence, staring out the window, while Elias tapped his fingers against his knee impatiently.Darius finally spoke up, his usual smirk in place. “Well, that was fun. Can’t say I’ll miss Moreno. Guy was a snake.”Victor nodded in agreement. “Still, his connections ran deep. His men won’t just disappear. Some will scatter, but others will look for new leadership.”Carrick, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Victor. “Then we absorb them before someone else does.”Marco scoffed. “And you think they’ll just join you willingly?”Carrick smirked. “Everyone has a price.”Elias leaned forwa
CHAPTER 100: THE CLAIMS
The night air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood. The docks, once a battleground of betrayal, had fallen into silence. The echoes of gunfire had faded, replaced by the occasional groan of the wounded and the distant wail of police sirens.Carrick stood over his father’s lifeless body, his gun still warm in his grip. For a moment, he felt nothing. No satisfaction, no sorrow...just a hollow stillness.Marco stared at Zachary’s corpse, his expression unreadable. He had always been his father’s favored son, yet he didn’t speak. Perhaps he finally realized that Zachary had never truly loved either of them...only power.Darius stepped forward, nudging Zachary’s body with his boot. “Well, that’s that. Should we celebrate? Or are we mourning?”Carrick exhaled slowly, holstering his gun. “Neither. We’re not done.”Victor wiped blood from his sleeve. “You mean taking over the Gale Empire?”Carrick turned to him, his gaze sharp. “That’s exactly what I mean.”Elias chuckled, crossing
CHAPTER 99. UNDESERVING OF FORGIVENESS
Carrick sat motionless, his fingers drumming lightly on the wooden surface of his desk. His piercing gaze remained fixed on Marco, who stood before him with an uncharacteristic tension in his shoulders.“So, let me get this straight,” Carrick said, his voice slow, deliberate. “You came all the way here… to warn me about our father?”Marco exhaled, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Yes.”Carrick leaned back in his chair, studying his brother with cold amusement. “That’s interesting. Because the last time we spoke, you were quite happy to watch me die.”A flicker of guilt crossed Marco’s face. “I didn’t come here to argue, Carrick.”Victor, standing near the door with his arms crossed, scoffed. “Then what exactly do you want? Forgiveness? A fresh start?”Marco’s gaze darted to Victor before settling back on Carrick. “I don’t expect either of those things.”Carrick exhaled, shaking his head. “Then why the hell should I believe a word you say?”Marco took a step forward, his fists clen
CHAPTER 98. LINGERING SHADOW
The weight of the city pressed down on Carrick’s shoulders. The war had been won, but there was no peace...not yet.From his penthouse office, he watched the skyline, the lights of New Manhattan twinkling like stars. This was his city now. His empire. And yet, his enemy still lived.Zachary Gale had not disappeared. He had not begged for mercy.And that made him a problem.The soft hum of the city below was a deceptive lullaby, masking the storm brewing in the underworld. Carrick exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk. He had stripped Zachary of his wealth, his power, and his men. But the man was still standing, still plotting. That was a mistake Carrick intended to correct.The door to his office creaked open.Elias stepped inside, his usual cocky smirk absent. “We have a situation.”Carrick turned, his sharp gaze locking onto him. “Go on.”Elias placed a file on the desk and flipped it open. “Zachary’s been making moves. He’s been seen meeting with former
CHAPTER 97: A THRONE WITHOUT CHAINS
The night was long, but the war was over.Carrick Gale stood at the window of his penthouse, staring at the city that now belonged to him. The Gale Family was finished. His father, Zachary, had been exposed, abandoned, and stripped of power.But victory didn’t feel the way he expected.The weight of his actions settled in his chest. He had fought, plotted, and won, but there was no celebration, no moment of relief. Because now, the real work began.Behind him, Victor Alistair poured himself a drink. “You’re too quiet,” he said. “I figured you’d be enjoying this.”Carrick turned slightly, his face unreadable. “What’s there to enjoy?”Victor raised an eyebrow. “You crushed Zachary. His allies turned against him. His own men left him to rot. His empire is in flames. That’s exactly what you wanted.”Carrick exhaled. “And yet, he’s still breathing.”Victor chuckled. “Barely. Word is, he’s been trying to cut deals with anyone who’ll listen, but no one trusts him anymore. He’s got nothing le
CHAPTER 96: NO WAY OUT
The night was silent, but Carrick knew it wouldn’t last.The storm was coming.Zachary had made his move, attacking their businesses and setting up an ambush. Now, it was Carrick’s turn to respond.But this time, he wasn’t just going to fight.He was going to cripple Zachary Gale.Carrick leaned against the desk, his fingers drumming against the wood as he studied the information Elias had pulled from Zachary’s private ledger. The room was dimly lit, and the tension in the air was thick.Victor, standing with his arms crossed, broke the silence first.“So, let me get this straight...Zachary’s been stealing from his own people?”Elias nodded, his expression smug. “Yep. Skimming profits from his allies, running deals under the table, and...oh, this is the best part...he’s been making side agreements with rival families.”Darius let out a low whistle. “That’s suicide.”Carrick smirked. “It is. Once his allies find out, they’ll tear him apart.”Victor leaned forward. “How do we make sure
Chapter 95. Striking First
The dim light of the safe house cast elongated shadows across the room, adding to the weight of the tense silence. Carrick paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back, his mind racing through the next steps. Every second they wasted was another opportunity for Zachary to strike first. He refused to let that happen. His mother was resting in the adjacent room, exhaustion clear on her face. She had endured enough suffering at the hands of the Gale family. Carrick had sworn to end that. Victor leaned against the table, arms crossed, watching Carrick. “We need to move fast. That attack wasn’t just a warning...it was a declaration of war.” Darius, seated in the corner, methodically checked his gun, his movements smooth, almost mechanical. “We should have seen this coming. Zachary doesn’t sit back and lick his wounds. He strikes back...hard.” Carrick stopped pacing and turned to Elias, who was glued to his laptop. “What’s the status of the bank accounts?” Elias didn’t look
CHAPTER 94: A WAR IGNITED
The black SUV sped down the highway, its tires cutting through the night as Carrick sat in the backseat, his mother’s hand gripped tightly in his. His heart was still hammering in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins from the firefight they had barely escaped. His mother, pale but composed, turned to him. “Carrick, you shouldn’t have come for me.” Carrick’s eyes flashed with anger. “How could I not? Zachary was using you to get to me.” She shook her head. “And now he will be furious. You’ve just declared war.” Victor, who sat in the front passenger seat, let out a dry chuckle. “War was inevitable. We just fired the first real shot.” Darius, behind the wheel, glanced in the rearview mirror. “No tails so far, but we should still move fast. Zachary won’t let this slide.” Carrick turned back to his mother. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head. “No, but... I saw Marco before we left.” Her voice trembled slightly. “Carrick, he won’t stop. He will come after you. He ha
