Chapter 1

Mickey, an 18-year-old aspiring to join the Blodders family, a respected and long-standing institution in America. Mickey's father was one of the 12 illustrious leaders of the family, and Mickey is determined to follow in his footsteps. The Blodders family has a five-layer hierarchical structure: regular members, officers, captains, leaders, and the ultimate leader. The family values loyalty, honor, and respect. Mickey is eager to prove himself and carry on the family legacy.

Mickey stood in the shadow of his father's office, the weight of legacy pressing down on his shoulders. At 18, he was already hardened by the streets. His resolve was ironclad, his eyes cold with the ambition to rise within the Blodders family—a fortress of power and respect, thriving on secrecy and loyalty. His father, one of the 12 illustrious leaders, had set a high bar, and Mickey was determined to surpass it.

The Blodders family's underground network was a testament to their influence, a labyrinthine empire where loyalty, honor, and respect reigned supreme. The family's five-layer hierarchical structure—from regular members to the ultimate leader—demanded a relentless pursuit of excellence. Mickey's mind was a steel trap, focused only on proving himself. Failure was not an option.

Standing at the threshold of his journey, Mickey knew the road ahead was fraught with challenges. But his father's legacy and the family's values were the fire that fueled his ambition. Little did he know, the path to power was not just a test of strength but a trial by fire, where betrayal and blood would be his constant companions

The dinner table was set with precision, the dim glow of the chandelier casting soft shadows on the polished surface. Giorgio sat at the head, his fingers gently tapping the rim of his glass. Mickey, his 18-year-old son, sat opposite him, his eyes steady but filled with the curiosity of one who was on the brink of understanding something greater than himself.

"You've always known the importance of family, Mickey," Giorgio said, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of years of experience. He watched his son intently, as if searching for something deep within him.

Mickey met his father's gaze, his expression unwavering. "I know, Father. I've always understood."

Giorgio leaned forward, the flicker of the chandelier reflecting off his dark, calculating eyes. "Good. Because what I'm about to tell you is not a decision to be taken lightly. The Blodders family has a code. A set of rules that must be followed, if you ever hope to rise within it. And you... I know you are capable of more than just following. I believe you are destined to lead."

Mickey felt a flicker of something in his chest-pride, perhaps. But the moment was fleeting. Giorgio never spoke lightly, and this was no exception.

"I've arranged for you to undergo the tests, Mickey," Giorgio continued, his tone shifting. "Tests that will decide whether you're worthy of joining the Blodders. They will test your strength, your resolve, your loyalty-and your ability to withstand what the world will throw at you. And I will be the one to conduct them."

Mickey didn't flinch. "I'm ready."

Giorgio's lips curled slightly, the hint of a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He stood, motioning for Mickey to follow him as they left the table. "Let's see if you truly are."

---

The night air was thick with tension as they drove through the winding streets of the city. The sound of tires on pavement was the only noise that filled the silence between them. Giorgio kept his eyes focused ahead, but Mickey knew his father's mind was elsewhere-probably calculating something, as always.

Without warning, the calm was shattered. The car was violently rocked as the first shot rang out, followed by a barrage of gunfire from all directions. The BJ gang had ambushed them-fifty men, all trained, all ruthless. Mickey's instincts kicked in immediately. He had no time to process-just to act.

He kicked the door open, rolling out of the car with the fluidity of a predator on the hunt. The night exploded around him, gunfire cutting through the darkness like a storm. But Mickey was already in motion, his body moving with unnatural speed and precision. He darted from shadow to shadow, his every move calculated, his every shot deadly. The men of the BJ gang had no chance to react. One by one, they fell, their lives snuffed out by Mickey's unrelenting focus.

Through the chaos, Giorgio remained unharmed, his eyes watching Mickey with an unreadable expression. When the last of the gang members fell, the sound of silence returned, but it wasn't comforting-it was an ominous reminder of what had just occurred.

"You did well," Giorgio said, his voice cold, as he stood and brushed the dust from his suit. "But that was just the beginning."

---

They continued their journey, but as they neared their next destination, another test awaited. The quiet hum of the car's engine seemed to lull Mickey into a false sense of calm. That's when it came-a faint whisper, almost imperceptible. The sound of a gunshot, the glint of a rifle scope in the distance.

A tranquilizer dart whizzed past Mickey's ear, missing him by mere inches. But he wasn't surprised. His eyes immediately locked onto the sniper's position, his senses heightened, his mind calculating the trajectory, the distance. He knew exactly where the shot had come from and, without hesitation, he moved, his body darting to the side, narrowly avoiding another dart that would have sent him to sleep.

"Good," Giorgio muttered from the driver's seat, a small hint of approval in his voice. "You sensed it before it happened. That's the mark of a true predator."

---

The final test was simple in theory, but grueling in execution. Giorgio led Mickey to a secluded stretch of road. "Five hours," Giorgio said, his voice firm. "Run. No breaks, no slowing down. Keep up a speed of at least 50 kilometers per hour."

Mickey didn't hesitate. His legs started moving, the sound of his footsteps pounding against the asphalt in rhythm with his heartbeat. For hours, he ran, the world around him blurring as he pushed forward, his body seemingly immune to fatigue. The night stretched on, but Mickey felt no weariness. His muscles burned, but they never faltered. Time seemed to lose meaning as he ran, his mind focused entirely on the path ahead, his father's challenge pushing him forward.

---

When he finally returned to Giorgio, the older man was waiting by the car, a small but genuine smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"You've done it," Giorgio said. "You've proven that you're capable of more than just surviving in this world. But know this-what lies ahead is far more dangerous than anything you've faced tonight. The world of gangs is a world of psychopaths and killers. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. You'll be tested in ways you can't even imagine."

Mickey stood tall, his breath steady, his body already recovering. He met his father's gaze, his eyes hardening with determination.

"I'm ready," he said simply.

Giorgio nodded, the smile on his lips fading. "We'll see if you still feel that way when the real tests begin."

As Giorgio's car moved through the dark streets, Mickey scanned the surroundings through the window. He knew that what awaited him after passing his father's tests would be something completely different. He had successfully completed the three trials, but now he felt the weight of the moment-meeting the Blodders family.

They arrived at an abandoned spot, nothing around them but an empty void. Mickey glanced at his father, puzzled. "Where's the headquarters?"

Giorgio replied with his deep voice, filled with the confidence that came from years of experience within the family: "It's here, but not in the way you imagine."

Before Mickey could respond, the ground beneath them trembled strangely, and a deep mechanical hum resonated from below. The sound was coming from underground, like a massive machine working relentlessly. Mickey was taken aback, but Giorgio nodded without surprise, saying, "This is Blodders. It's all thanks to Farro's inventions that this headquarters remains undetectable."

Giorgio opened the car door and walked with Mickey along a path leading to a subterranean entrance that felt like it pierced the very earth. The lights around them dimmed as they descended deeper, and the floor seemed endless beneath their feet. They had moved into a place that could never be reached by the eyes of the world-a hidden world, built through unique technologies. This was the reality of Blodders.

Inside the headquarters, the technology was so advanced that Mickey felt as though he had entered a completely different world. Giant screens displayed live data, and electronic systems were at work, coordinating every aspect of the organization. Among all this, a young man about Mickey's age was effortlessly navigating the equipment, as though he were part of the infrastructure itself. This was Tony, who greeted Mickey with a friendly smile.

"Welcome to the heart of Blodders," Tony said, placing his hand on Mickey's shoulder. "Everything you see here was created by the genius Alvaro. You'll see inventions you never thought possible."

As Mickey walked with Tony, he noticed strange details-metallic walls, flickering lights, and complex security systems surrounding everything. He felt like he was in a world that was nothing like the one he knew.

At one point, Mickey approached Giorgio and asked, trying to piece things together: "Is he the Alvaro I know? The one who took care of me when I was young?"

Giorgio replied firmly, a slight smile on his face: "Yes, it's the same Alvaro. He asked me to hide his involvement with this family until the right time, and that time is now. Alvaro is the one who built this headquarters and provided us with inventions that put us at the top."

Mickey felt a sense of shock, but at the same time, there was an underlying mystery that made his heart beat faster. He didn't yet know the full truth about Farro, but he was sure of one thing: this person had played a pivotal role in shaping Mickey's life, and he wouldn't be in this world without leaving a significant mark.

Eventually, Tony took the opportunity to invite Mickey for a short walk outside to talk informally. Away from the security systems, away from the genius surrounding them, Tony wanted to have a friendly chat with new members of the family