Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Hit

The streets of the city were alive with their usual nocturnal chaos. Neon lights flickered over cracked pavements, and the low hum of traffic blended with the faint laughter of drunks spilling out of late-night bars. Luca Moretti pulled his coat tighter around him as a cold wind swept through the alleyway. The weight of the gun tucked against his side was a familiar comfort, but tonight, even that did little to soothe the unease prickling at the back of his neck.

Luca was an enforcer for the Moretti Family, a once-powerful mafia organization now struggling to keep its grip on the city. His role was simple: keep the family's interests secure by any means necessary. Tonight, he had been tasked with delivering a message to a rival gang that had been encroaching on Moretti turf. The message had been delivered, but the look in the rival gang leader's eyes still haunted him.

"They won't let this slide," Luca muttered under his breath. His boots echoed against the wet concrete as he made his way through the dimly lit alley. The moonlight barely reached the ground, casting the space in an oppressive gloom.

Suddenly, a shadow moved in his periphery. Instinct kicked in, and Luca's hand went to his gun, but he wasn't fast enough. A sharp crack echoed in the alley as the first bullet tore through his side. The force sent him stumbling against the wall.

"Ambush," he thought, gritting his teeth as pain radiated through his body.

Two figures emerged from the darkness, their faces obscured by hoods. Another shot rang out, hitting Luca in the shoulder and driving him to his knees. Blood poured from his wounds, pooling beneath him as he struggled to stay conscious.

"This is for messing with the Viper Syndicate," one of the attackers sneered, raising his gun for the finishing blow.

Luca's vision blurred, and the world seemed to tilt around him. He felt his strength ebbing away, the cold concrete beneath him growing warmer with his blood. As the darkness closed in, he thought of his family—the Moretti Family—and the old Don who had trusted him to protect their legacy.

"I can't... die here," he whispered.

Then, as if the universe had heard his plea, time seemed to freeze. The gunmen's movements slowed until they were suspended mid-action, their bullets hanging in the air like dark stars. The shadows in the alley deepened, coalescing into a form that loomed over Luca.

A voice, low and resonant, filled the space.

"Luca Moretti. Do you wish to live?"

Luca's breath hitched. The pain in his body dulled, replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread. He couldn't see where the voice came from, but it seemed to echo in his very mind.

"Yes," he croaked, his voice barely audible.

"To live, you must serve," the voice continued. "I offer you power beyond your imagination. Strength, influence, and control. But it comes at a cost: your unwavering loyalty. Do you accept?"

Luca hesitated, his mind racing. He had always been a man who valued loyalty, but what was loyalty to some disembodied voice in the face of death? His life was slipping away, and with it, any chance to protect the Moretti Family.

"I accept," he rasped, the words tasting like iron in his mouth.

The shadows surged forward, enveloping him in a suffocating embrace. For a moment, there was nothing but darkness and the sensation of falling. Then, a blinding light pierced through the void, and a strange warmth filled his chest.

When Luca opened his eyes, he wasn't in the alley anymore. The sterile smell of disinfectant hit him first, followed by the soft beeping of monitors. He was lying in a hospital bed, his body swathed in bandages.

"What the hell…" he muttered, his voice hoarse.

"You're awake."

Luca turned his head to see a nurse standing by the door, her expression a mixture of surprise and relief. "You're lucky to be alive. Someone found you in an alley and called for help. You've been out for three days."

Three days. The words rattled in his mind as he tried to piece everything together. His last memory was of the voice and the overwhelming darkness.

As the nurse left to fetch the doctor, Luca noticed something strange in the corner of his vision. A faint, glowing text hovered in the air, as if projected onto a screen only he could see.

"Crime Lord System Activated."

"What…?" he whispered, staring at the words. They pulsed faintly before disappearing, replaced by a new message.

Welcome, Luca Moretti. Your rise to power begins now.

Before he could react, a flurry of information flooded his mind. It felt as though a thousand books had been opened at once, their knowledge pouring into him. Words like "missions," "rewards," and "abilities" flashed in his thoughts, accompanied by cryptic images of violence and dominance.

"What is this?" he demanded, his voice trembling.

The system responded with a calm, mechanical tone. You have been chosen to ascend as the ultimate crime lord. Through me, you will gain the tools necessary to dominate. Each mission you complete will bring you closer to unparalleled power. However, beware: all power demands sacrifice.

Luca sat frozen, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him. His first instinct was to dismiss it as some hallucination from the trauma, but everything felt too real—the clarity of the voice, the vividness of the interface.

"What kind of missions?" he asked cautiously.

Your first mission: Reclaim the Moretti Family's gambling den from Viper Syndicate control. Reward: Enhanced Persuasion. Penalty for failure: Reduced Influence. Time limit: 48 hours.

Luca clenched his fists. The Moretti gambling den had been seized by the Vipers weeks ago, a humiliating blow to the family's reputation. If this system was real, it might be his chance to turn things around.

As he processed the task, a small screen appeared in his vision, displaying a map of the city. A blinking red dot marked the location of the gambling den, along with detailed notes on its layout and security.

"This is insane," he muttered.

But deep down, he knew he had no choice. The Moretti Family was on the brink of collapse, and he had sworn to protect it. If this system was the key to survival, he would use it.

Gritting his teeth, Luca swung his legs over the side of the bed. Pain shot through his body, but he ignored it. He had work to do, and the clock was ticking.

As he dressed in the spare clothes left on the chair, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His reflection was pale and battered, but his eyes burned with a new intensity.

For better or worse, Luca Moretti's journey to power had begun.