Forming a Team

"Find five good people from the list of meritorious soldiers to replace those royalty suckers." Ordered, The Don.

"Yes, Don Ardito." The underboss bowed toward The Don and took his leave to do what he was told.

Ardito then continued the meeting with the remaining people. They discuss which business of the royal family they will attack first and how to defend themselves against retaliation from the royal family.

One needs to know that even the Veneziale Family was not the gang that had the influence to cover the whole country, but the influence they had within this city was enough for the royal family to think twice before doing anything to them.

Even though the fighting forces in the Veneziale family took a large hit by clashing with Daniel last night, the number of associations and the assassin from the underworld under their payroll and connection with was enough to tire the low-level mage and kill them off.

After they had a clash with Daniel last night. Ardito immediately contacted the Syndicate Union to hire a specialist regarding the matter and how to deal with the people in the Curtained World as his new Consigliere.

As for his old Consigliere, he was now on the way to England to find a good Butler school for his son.

While the meeting was still on way, the door of the meeting room was open and a man in a black suit humbly walked into the meeting room.

"Sir, Mr.Magitek and his people have arrived. I have Anne entertaining them in the VIP guest room right now. Shall I inform him that you are still in the middle of a meeting Mr.Veneziale?" The same guard who worked last night said to The Don.

Ardito looked at the clock on the wall and noticed that it was nearly 2 PM.

[It seems that the meeting took longer than I thought.] Ardito thought before he stood up.

"The meeting will continue tomorrow. Go back and rest, everyone." Said The Don before turning toward one of the Capos who was the father of one of his son's friends that made a mess yesterday.

"Cooper, tell the kitchen to prepare a feast. We need to receive Mr.Magitek and his people as best as we can."

"Yes! Mr. Veneziale." The Capos replied and immediately went out of the meeting to do what he was told.

"Mr. Luciano, please follow me. It's time for you to shine." Said The Don.

"Yes, Don Ardito" Luciano nodded and followed behind.

—

At the VIP Guest room, Ardito led his Consigliere to the room and the first thing they noticed was a large red head muscular man in a black biker outfit who stood behind the man in a blue suit who was sitting on a Sofa watching the animal documentary while munching on the cookies.

Two other people are sitting near the man in a blue suit. One of them is a kind-looking man in a white suit who is sipping tea while enjoying a conversation with Anne the Maid.

The other one was a grumpy-looking but beautiful female black hair secretary with a ponytail in a black business suit. She was typing in her notebook non-stop.

Ardito was about to enter the room but was stopped by Luciano who held his arm tight and pulled him back, away from the door.

"What's the matter, Mr.Luciano?" Ardito asks.

Luciano didn't say anything, He was looking at the people in the room once again before whispering to Ardito's ears.

"In the room, the female secretary is a Vampire, and a noble lineage at that, because she didn't even flinch when faced with sunlight. The muscle man in a biker outfit should be a werewolf, and the ancient lineage werewolf, beware of his temper and make sure to not anger him." Luciano gives the info about the people in the room to The Don

"What about the man in a white suit?" The Don inquired.

Luciano looks past the glass door into the room once again then tell Ardito.

"He should be an exorcist, No… he should be… a paladin at least. Should come from the Vatican." Answer Luciano.

"Vatican? Paladin?" Ardito Repeated in confusion.

"Mr.Magitek said that he doesn't care about the haunted property right? He should come to cleanse those haunted properties for him. As for Paladin, this guy was far stronger than a normal exorcist and could go toe to toe with a noble vampire and even won." Luciano explained.

Ardito nodded repeatedly as he digested the info he got from his Consigliere.

"Let us go in, we can not keep them waiting, can we?" Said Ardito, before leading the way to the VIP guest room.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Magitek. Are these the people you mentioned on the phone?" Ardito greeted Daniel, who set his teacup down on the table.

"Greetings, Mr. Veneziale. Let me introduce you to my people, then." Daniel greets Ardito and then begins to introduce Maria, who is still typing incessantly on the keyboard.

"This is Maria..." Daniel was about to say more, but Maria quickly stopped typing and bowed to Daniel first, as if to apologize.

"There's no need for you to introduce us yourself, my lord, let me do it for you." Said Maria, sliding her notebook from her lap onto the table and standing up.

"I'm Maria, As you have been informed by that man. I'm a Vampire, infiltration, and counterintelligence specialist." Maria said as she shook hands with Ardito.

Once Ardito heard what Maria said, He was startled but did not let it show in his eyes. Because once the door of the VIP guest room was shut, the sound outside should not be heard by anyone inside the VIP guest room.

This shows whether the vampire's hearing capabilities are far better than humans' or she had already bugged the places. She said herself that she was an infiltration specialist and counterintelligence specialist after all.

Maria then turned toward Richard.

"This is father Richard, from the Vatican. He is a preacher and expert at negotiating."

Richard stood up and shook hands with Ardito.

"God bless you, Mr. Veneziale."

"You too, father." Ardito smiled widely; he felt strangely at ease and fondness when hearing Richard's voice. It's like he was talking to a long-time friend whom he could trust.

"And lastly." Maria looks toward enthusiastic muscle heads who quickly come to the front and hug Ardito tightly.

"Gah!"

Ardito let out a groan, he swore that he heard something broken, and a sharp pain on his rip registered in his brain.

"Nice to meet you! Mr.Ardito Nice to meet you! HAHAHA!" James laughs loudly while repeatedly slapping Ardito's back.

Pow!

A hooked left punch comes right at James's face, hitting him half nose half mouth, knocking him down to the floor and rescuing Ardito before his second rib begins to crack.

Maria, who just knocked James to the ground, turned toward Ardito without any frown and her eyebrows twitching as if this was a normal thing.

"As you can see Mr. Ardito. He is a werewolf and our muscles, Who… unfortunately, also have too much muscle on his head.

I suggest you not give him any job that uses the slightest bit of brain cells to him, but if you happen to have some problem that can't be solved with the brain or on the negotiation table. He is your guy."

Maria introduces the redhead who is standing up from the ground as his bloody nose has already healed.

"Mr. Ardito. I apologized for my subordinate behavior." Daniel waved his hand and a soothing light shone on Ardito's body, healing his cracked rib cage and all of his health problems.

Card: Healing Light

Picture: A priest waved his hand and a light shone on the body of a wounded soldier.

Rarity: Common

Type: Spell

Mana Cost: 1 Light 1 Non-Element

Description:

Gain 2 Life, Draw a card

Flavor text: As the light shines, both fresh injury and hidden threats to one health vanish.

Ardito felt that the pain from his cracked rib had vanished and his body was lighter, his mind clearer and he felt refreshed as if all of his health problems had vanished.

"After this, you can do a check-up at the hospital and see if your health problems still remain." Said, Daniel.

"Thank you, Mr.Magitek." Ardito thanked Daniel but then he noticed that the vampire name Maria was gazing at him as if she wanted to stare a hole into him.

"Our lord values you very much. Whatever he wants you to do. Do not disappoint him." Maria warned Ardito then sat down on the sofa and continued her work on the notebook.

"C'mon, Maria. Don't do that. Mr.Veneziale, please sit down first." Richard quickly smoothed the tension and gestured for Ardito to sit down.

"Mr. Veneziale," Daniel called out.

"Yes, Mr.Magitek, How may I help you?"

"How long do you think it will take for you to complete our deal?" Daniel inquired.

"If we were to take a bite of the royal family business in this city. I need at least a month." Answered Ardito.

"What If I let my people work alongside you and put them under your command?" Daniel asked again.

Ardito looks at the three people who come with the powerful mage in front of him. A rush of excitement entered his mind.

"Mr. Magitek, You mean… I can…" Ardito wants to say that he can order these supernatural beings as he sees fit but he didn't dare to voice it out himself so he could only use his hand and suggestive voice.

"Yes, You can order them as you see fit during this time, You can even bring them to help you gain some power and influence from the other gang. But don't take it for granted and give them the respect they deserve." Daniel instructed.

"Ohhhhh! That… that was, of course, Mr.Magitek. I'll cherish this opportunity. If I could get help from your subordinates, I'm sure it would take less than a month! No! I'll complete the deal within a week!" Ardito reassures him with a wide smile.

He could be these three supernatural beings to help him smash and grab some territory from his enemy!? This is like a dream coming true for him!

Daniel nodded in satisfaction then continued.

"Then, During this time, at least before I got my new workshop. I'll stay here as a guest, in case some of the Royal family magicians decide to pay a visit when James is outside doing what you want him to do." Daniel stated. He decided to give his help to the man in front.

"Ohhhh! Thank you very much! Mr. Magitek." Ardito was excited at the opportunity, now he even has a powerful mage to defend his home. It's like the manpower he lost during the clash with this powerful mage was just a price for gaining his help, and it was even a very small price for him to pay!