I Went Out Yesterday and Caught a Cold...

"As for the Losoloya Family, I don't know who is right and who is wrong in your conflict with the Bellone Family, but regardless, you should all be responsible for your actions..."

"The Bellone Family is in charge of logistics, so you should take on the main attack... As for your expenses, they will be covered by me... and the Saluzzo Family."

Salvadore's voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone's eyebrows twitch.

It's important to understand that the resources required for combat and logistics vary from family to family. The Losoloya Family controls the underground boxing ring in Siracusa. Although the family is very powerful in combat, the logistical costs of mobilizing them are enormous.

The fact that the Texas Family has now stepped forward to cover the logistical costs is undoubtedly a tremendous support for them!

Anyone with a modicum of sense present could realize who was losing and who was gaining between the Losoloya Family and Bellone Family.

Isn't this blatant favoritism?!

For a moment, everyone turned to look at the Bellone Family standing to the side.

Bellone clearly hadn't expected that the mighty Texas would speak up at this moment.

But for him, Texas's motives for making that choice were no longer important.

The important thing is that he no longer needs to engage in direct combat.

That way, I won't have to confront that woman...

This is good news for them.

So he nodded.

I have no objection.

"Neither do we."

Seeing that both sides had agreed, the other family members naturally did not object and nodded in agreement as well.

At this point, Salvadore also gradually fell silent.

Saluzzo, standing to the side, also gave Salvadore a strange look.

Although the two had been friends for many years, he sometimes couldn't understand what this guy was thinking.

The only thing that's certain is that this guy has always had a sharp eye.

Since that's the case, then I don't need to worry about anything.

Only...

"Wait a minute..."

A deep roar came out, and everyone paused slightly.

They looked up.

It was the Wolf Lord of the Losoloya Family, who was standing to the side.

It opened its mouth.

Its very first sentence was aimed directly at Zaro, who was standing to the side.

"Aren't you going to say anything, Zaro?"

As a member of the Wolf Pack, he knew his companions all too well.

Zaro is definitely not the type to silently accept a loss.

In particular, it was already at odds with Rob was behind the Texas Family.

Not to mention that the Texas Family's current plans are unfavorable to them.

Even if it were advantageous, Zaro should have argued against it.

But at this moment, it remained as quiet as if it hadn't heard anything at all...

This made the other Wolf Lord realize that something was amiss.

"Do I need you to tell me what I want to say?"

Zaro grinned.

Although he appeared utterly pathetic in front of Maria, he remained the same arrogant fellow in front of the other Wolf Lord.

"Or do you think there's a problem with this plan?"

"..."

The other party remained silent.

Although Zaro spoke very bluntly, he had to admit that the proposal put forward by the Texas Family was indeed advantageous to them.

It spoke up because Zaro's unusual silence made it feel that something was wrong.

Seeing that Zaro remained arrogant, it became even more bewildered.

If it didn't suddenly change its personality, then why didn't it say anything just now?

What exactly happened in between?

As for the answer to this question, it was clear that only a few people present knew the answer.

But clearly, none of them would share this answer with anyone else.

The family alliance has never been a monolithic entity...

It was in this atmosphere that Saluzzo stood up once again.

He looked at everyone present, his eyes slowly narrowing.

After a moment, he took a deep breath.

"In that case, let's agree to it this way."

"Saluzzo, Texas, the Bellone Family is in charge of logistics."

"The Losoloya Family is in charge of the front lines."

"The remaining families will proceed as planned from the previous action schedule."

"The Wolf Lord are responsible for dealing with those Sankta."

"The assassination will officially begin in one week!"

Chapter 221 I caught a cold after going out yesterday...

The family banquets have always been known for their efficiency.

In just over ten minutes, everything was decided.

Of course, the affirmation from the Texas Family and the Saluzzo Family was also indispensable.

As some of the most powerful families among the twelve families of Siracusa, their words often have a decisive effect.

After the meeting ended, the other family members left one after another, but Salvadore and Saluzzo did not leave immediately.

He simply got up and walked with his old friend into the Saluzzo Family's cellar, watching as the other man took out a precious bottle of red wine that he had given him long ago.

Sometimes I really don't understand what you're thinking.

Saluzzo said, prying open the cork with his bare hands, pouring each of them a glass, and grabbing some biscuits for dessert.

"You and Madam Sicily actually know each other, don't you?"

Saluzzo, sitting to the side, asked.

"That was a long time ago. She did me a huge favor, so I've always been grateful to her... and I still am." Facing his old friend, Salvadore made no attempt to hide his feelings, simply raising his glass and smiling.

"What? Are you worried that I'll betray the family's power?"

"How can I not worry?" Saluzzo rolled his eyes at him. "You've always only cared about your own family. Given the right conditions, you certainly wouldn't care about other families..."

"What you're saying really hurts me." Salvadore swirled his glass, but he didn't drink a drop of this wine, which held such a special place in his heart.

"At least, in this situation, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to share information with my friends."

"So... things really have changed?"

Saluzzo looked at the other person, his brows furrowing slightly.

Earlier in the meeting, he had already noticed that his old friend's behavior had been somewhat unusual.

The other side seemed to be working very hard to push the plan forward, but they interrupted themselves several times, pulling themselves and their main force away from the battlefield and turning to take on the seemingly most thankless logistical work.

It's important to understand that since the emergence of clans, the distribution of post-war gains has always been based on the performance on the front lines.

His actions now undoubtedly minimize the interests of both families...

This is very strange.

If it's about suppressing his own family, he could understand it as the other party wanting to preserve more of their strength.

Suppressing oneself might simply be a matter of perspective, a desire to prevent the Saluzzo Family from becoming too powerful—this isn't something the other side has been doing for a short time, and neither has he.

But this time, not only did he not make a move, he was also suppressed from doing so?

Is the benefit being given to other unfamiliar families?

This is not the Salvadore I know.

He must have obtained some secret he didn't know about!

"I do know something."

Facing his old friend, Salvadore didn't hide anything, but instead of telling him directly, he turned around and looked at him curiously.

"Before explaining all this, what do you think... the current relationship between the family and the Gray Hall is like?"

"... Which answer would you like to hear?"

"I am now just Salvadore."

"Oh well."

Saluzzo let out a soft "hey," and sat down in the chair, his body stiff.

The two old men, whose combined age was over a hundred, were drinking their wine slowly like innocent children.

"I actually think the existence of the Gray Hall is quite good."

"Hmm?" Salvadore, somewhat curious.

"After the Gray Hall was established, your Saluzzo Family suffered the most, right? I remember you were quite resentful back then, so why do you think things are fine now?"

"I was young then." Saluzzo shook his head.

While the existence of the Gray Hall undeniably diluted the families' power, it also made Siracusa a safer place.

At least, the fate of the family head is no longer limited to being killed.

While it's not possible to leave without any ties, one could easily live a few years of peaceful life if one wished.

This is a rare good thing for old men like them who hold high positions of power.

Moreover, because the Gray Hall had intervened in almost every corner of Siracusa, the intensity of the infighting between families had decreased considerably.

Perhaps the hot-blooded young people look forward to the battles and honors that the older generation talks about, but those who have actually witnessed countless deaths actually hope for a more peaceful life.

Even though they once despised this kind of tranquility.

The only problem is that under such rules, it is almost impossible for a family myth like the Texas Family, which rose from obscurity to prominence in just one or two generations, to emerge again.

Other families have far fewer opportunities for advancement... which is why they are so actively advocating for the overthrow of the Gray Hall.

The existence of the Gray Hall limited their ability to perform.

It's laughable, really.

In the past, Age of Families, many powerful clan leaders called for peace, but in today's relatively peaceful era, a large number of clans are eager for bloodshed.

This is indeed a dark humor very characteristic of Siracusa.

"So I think the current situation is just right. The family controls enough, and the Gray Hall won't lose any more. Everyone is doing their own thing. The Gray Hall can't take any more, and the family head can't cause any more trouble... Not a penny more, not a penny less."

Saluzzo said, taking another sip of red wine.

In his view, the current situation is the best option.

The number of families is neither too many nor too few, and the number of families in the Gray Hall is just right.

Just keep going like this.