Was It Really an Accident?

Salvadore spoke first, his smiling face appearing harmless.

"To be honest, I'm a little surprised to see you here... I heard you're a nobleman from Victoria, but I didn't know you were acquainted with that Madam Sicily."

"... She is a very insightful woman."

Maria turned her head to look at Salvadore in front of her, her words full of implications.

Although she had only just opened her mouth, Maria instantly realized that the Madam Sicily was right; this little fellow was full of courage and ability.

It should be noted that her identity as Victoria noblewoman was only fabricated by Madam Sicily this morning to help her out of an awkward situation; almost no one in the hall knew it.

But Salvadore said it the very first time they met...

Maria turned her head and looked at Rob beside her.

Rob, however, simply smiled as always, revealing nothing.

"You seem to know a lot."

Not wanting to waste any more time on the other party, Maria turned her head and looked at Salvadore in front of her.

"I don't know much, just what I heard from gatherings with friends."

Salvadore also had a smiling face.

"Actually, I'm quite curious, as a nobleman, why would you come to a family gathering?" he said, his eyes slightly opening... they were eyes that were extremely similar to Texas's.

But unlike Texas, whose eyes were filled with her own goals, his eyes held a fiercer fire. "I've heard... Victoria doesn't seem to value our families very much?"

"... I simply accepted a friend's invitation in a personal capacity, just as I don't like to declare where I come from."

Faced with the other party's blatant probing, Maria remained calm and spoke in a composed manner.

She could tell that although this guy knew her identity, he wasn't like Uncle Soro of the Sicily Family, who was filled with fear of his identity. His first thought was to come and test her.

Maria's words were also impeccable.

Because this aligns with her actions.

Her sudden appearance, her sudden conversation with Madam Sicily, her sudden appearance at the banquet... all seemed to serve as evidence that Maria did not wish to publicize her noble status.

But Salvadore clearly wasn't going to give up.

"You and Madam Sicily had a past relationship? That must be an impressive story."

Perhaps.

Maria didn't give the other side many chances.

Although this little guy is full of ability, he is still too inexperienced for Maria, who is at a truly high level.

A few simple, vague sentences, along with some ambiguous words, were enough to avoid the remaining questions from the medium.

Salvadore clearly wanted to confirm whether Maria's noble status was genuine, but unfortunately, Maria never gave him that opportunity.

After several attempts to test the waters, he had to admit that he had met his match.

"You are truly a mysterious lady."

He hung his head, looking somewhat dejected.

At this moment, Rob finally spoke.

"Salvadore, some of your friends are still waiting for you."

"... I see."

Realizing that his strategist had said it was time to retreat, Salvadore nodded in agreement.

"I hope that if we have the opportunity, we can also gain your friendship."

After saying this, he bowed slightly to Maria and then decisively left.

Rob followed closely behind.

But before he left, he glanced at Maria one more time.

Maria sensed, though not instinctively, that the cunning wolf was plotting something from the complex look in his eyes.

She didn't care about these people's plans, but she promised Madam Sicily that she would protect the child.

They don't care what they want to do.

But if things really escalate...

Maria narrowed her eyes and silently took a glass of orange-yellow wine from the tray held by the waiter beside her and tasted it.

Fortunately, things didn't turn out the worst. Salvadore was really just there to socialize, moving among different groups of people and constantly interacting with all sorts of people.

From long-awaited greetings to reunions... all sorts of situations have occurred.

However, it's clear that he handles interpersonal relationships exceptionally well. While everyone else wears a fake smile, his smile is far more genuine than the others'.

This was a talent unique to him, and coincidentally, he discovered his talent and made good use of it.

Maria could clearly see that many family members were secretly telling her their family's opinions on the dinner party.

Maria could even hear several families stating that they would definitely support the Texas Family.

This surprised Maria.

You have to understand, although he is very capable, there are plenty of capable people in this world.

Very few people can truly unleash their full potential.

Perhaps... this is why Rob, who previously despised the choices his companions made, is now by this child's side...

Maria was lost in thought, slightly distracted.

In that very short time, a sudden change occurred in the venue!

"Bang!"

Salvadore's body flew backward and crashed heavily into a nearby dining table, shattering glass and ceramic items all over the floor.

Such violence immediately drew everyone's attention.

Their gazes shifted.

The attackers were quickly discovered.

It's a member of the Sicily Family from Siracusa!

Chapter 108 Was it really an accident?

The turmoil lasted only a moment.

Before anyone could react, Salvadore's body had already crashed to the ground.

After a moment of stunned silence, the family members he brought with them rushed to their parents' side almost immediately to inquire about the situation.

Rob, standing silently beside them, displayed a clear stance of resistance.

"Is this the Sicily Family's way of hospitality?"

Rob spoke loudly, making sure everyone could hear him.

"We came with good intentions, and this is how we are treated?"

"Salvadore, the patriarch of our Texas Family!"

"Does your attack on him mean that the Sicily Family wants to go to war with the Texas Family?!"

Rob's loud and clear voice quickly put the Sicily Family in the spotlight.

The invited family members around them began to whisper among themselves.

"What happened?"

"It seems the Sicily family attacked the head of the Texas Family."

"Ah, this... Is it because the Texas Family took their contract, so they're angry?"

"Even so, isn't it inappropriate to make a move here? Besides, he even attended the banquet, so he probably didn't intend to take it all for himself. At most, he just wanted to exchange some resources from the Sicily family, which is nothing... So why did he make a move?"

"This Sicily Family... aren't they a bit...?"

Discussions and questions arose one after another. Although no one explicitly stated their dislike for the Sicily Family, their words all revealed their wariness of them.

After all, it was obvious to anyone with eyes to see that this dinner hosted by the Sicily Family was a planned assassination attempt for the Texas Family.

Even so, Salvadore, as the head of the family, still attended, which indicates that the Texas Family wanted to back down.

Logically speaking, even if they look down on the Texas family, the Sicily Family should still give the Texas Family some face on the surface... after all, the Texas family is now acting under the family's name.

Even the weakest family is still a family, not a gang!

But the current situation is clearly not what it should be.

Whether this was an accident or simply a sign of disdain, a belief that the Texas Family had no room for negotiation, remains to be seen, depending on how the Sicily Family handles the situation.

Unfortunately, with Madam Sicily absent, there is no one to take charge.

All fingers were pointed at the Sicily Family representative named Soro.

Just as everyone was eagerly awaiting his explanation, the obese man named Soro fell silent.

He stared blankly at his fist, seemingly a little dazed.

When he turned around, he could see Rob's eyes, which held a half-smile, blocking his way.

Scarlet and brutal.

He had no recollection of what had just happened; he only felt his emotions explode in an instant.

Salvadore just said a few words casually...

But for some reason, anger erupted within him as if it were out of control.

After a moment's thought, he had already reached this conclusion.

What should we do next?

His mind went blank.

But then, members of the Texas Family stepped forward.

Their eyes were downcast, like those of enraged wolves.

Except for one person who was tending to the injured Salvadore, everyone else stared intently at Soro in front of them.

If the other party doesn't give them a reasonable explanation... then they will defend the honor of the Texas Family, even at the cost of their lives!

Clearly, it would be difficult to get the arrogant and conceited Soro to apologize to the Texas Family, which is obviously not as powerful as him.

He simply stood there silently, without saying a word.

"I hope you can provide a reasonable explanation... otherwise, we should interpret it as a signal that the Sicily Family does not welcome us..."

Rob continued speaking, his words carrying a hint of coercion.

Soro, however, frowned.

He didn't understand why the other person would say such a thing.

Texas is a newly established family that was only recently recognized.

The Sicily Family, though not particularly prominent among the families, has been famous for a long time.

The clash between these two factors will inevitably result in a one-sided outcome.

Logically speaking, even if it was to save face, they should have only pressed him a few times and then stopped.

But Rob's attitude clearly indicated that he wanted to completely break ties with Sicily...

Where did they get their courage?

Soro fell into thought, but in that brief moment, he missed the best time to express his opinion.

Those around them, seeing that the Sicily Family did not deny it, all changed their expressions.

It's important to understand that all the families present had been defeated in the struggles of Siracusa, but the Sicily Family... well, they weren't.

In this respect, they naturally felt closer to the Texas Family, which had grown up in Columbia, and considered them to be on the same side, rather than to this Sicily Family from Siracusa, who were simply trying to establish a foothold here in advance.

Does this silence mean that the Sicily Family has always intended to break ties with them?