Part 18: The Leader's Joke

Title:

Mastermind - The Mafia Prince

Written By : Reviline James Wang

Genre:

Young Mafia| Action | Thriller |Humor| Gangster

A Moment of Lightness

The tension in the air was palpable as Shiro and his team huddled around a makeshift table in their hideout. The royal family was still on their tail, and every move they made seemed to be calculated in the shadows. The mood in the room was heavy, and everyone could feel the weight of the situation. But then, as if sensing the growing stress, Shiro leaned back in his chair with an exaggerated stretch, breaking the silence.

"You know," he began, his tone light, "if the royal family were any more obsessed with keeping secrets, they'd make a great mafia themselves."

The team exchanged puzzled glances. Renji raised an eyebrow, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. Shiro's jokes were always unpredictable, and it was his way of cutting through the tension.

"You're telling me," she said, trying to hold back a laugh. "But I think they've already got enough drama with their own mess. They don't need a mafia to add to it."

Shiro grinned, flashing his signature mischievous smile. "True, true. But maybe we should offer them a job-one of those 'honorary member' positions where you get a title but never actually do any work. It's perfect for them."

The Team's Response

The room erupted into chuckles. Even the stoic members of the team, like Akira and Ryuu, couldn't help but crack a smile. For a moment, it felt like they weren't in the middle of a high-stakes operation but just a bunch of friends trying to get through the day with a bit of humor. It was rare, but Shiro had a way of lightening the mood when things felt too dark.

Renji, still smiling, nudged Shiro with her elbow. "Honestly, I'm more interested in what your next 'brilliant' idea is. What's your plan for the royal family, Mr. Genius?"

Shiro leaned forward, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, it's simple. We make them think we're just a bunch of jokers. Let them underestimate us. They won't know what hit them when we strike. Meanwhile, we get to have a bit of fun while we're at it."

The rest of the team burst out laughing, the sound filling the room. Even in the darkest times, Shiro knew how to remind them that they weren't just fighting for survival—they were fighting for their future.

A Pause for Strategy

The laughter eventually died down, and the team returned to their planning. Shiro's lighthearted moment had broken the tension, but he knew it was time to get back to business.

"Alright, alright," he said, wiping away the last remnants of his grin. "Enough jokes. We've got a job to do."

He pulled out a tablet and began analyzing the data they had stolen from the royal archives. "But just so you know, the royal family has no idea what they're about to walk into. They think we're just some small-time gang. But I don't know if they realize they've just pissed off the wrong people."

The Unexpected Call

Just as the team began strategizing, Shiro's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, raising an eyebrow.

"Speaking of unexpected," he muttered, answering the call without hesitation. "Hello?"

The voice on the other end was calm, almost too calm. "Fujiwara, you think you've won? You've barely scratched the surface."

Shiro smirked. He recognized the voice immediately. It was a member of the royal family's inner circle. The challenge in the man's voice was unmistakable.

"Nice to hear from you, Your Highness," Shiro said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I was just telling my team how much you all love keeping secrets. And let me guess

you're calling to surrender, right?"

The man on the other end chuckled darkly. "I don't surrender. But I'd be careful if I were you. You may have exposed some secrets, but we still hold all the cards."

Shiro's grin widened. "Funny, I don't recall being the one on the losing end here. You see, when we take down your little empire, I'm going to make sure I leave a mark. And trust me, it'll be unforgettable."

The man paused for a moment. "You think you can bring down everything I've built? You're mistaken, Fujiwara. You're just a kid playing in a game too big for you."

Shiro's eyes flickered with amusement. "Kid? Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I forgot. You're the grown-up who's about to get his empire crushed by a bunch of jokers."

He hung up the phone before the man could respond, a satisfied smirk lingering on his face.

The Team's Reaction

Renji let out a low whistle. "Did you just

did you really call him a kid? To his face?"

Shiro shrugged, his grin never fading. "I mean, someone has to put him in his place. Might as well be me."

Akira leaned back in his chair, looking impressed. "I'm starting to think we should just let you do all the talking. You're way better at it than I am."

Shiro winked. "I've got this whole 'charm and menace' thing down to an art. But don't worry, I'm saving the heavy lifting for when we hit the royal family where it hurts."

Plotting the Next Move

Shiro's tone grew serious again as he focused on the tablet in front of him. "But enough of the jokes. We've got work to do. The next step is setting up our final move. We'll need to infiltrate their private network, get access to their financial transactions, and expose the truth to the world. Once we do that, they'll have nowhere to hide."

He turned to his team, their eyes glued to him with unwavering trust.

"And then, we make them regret ever underestimating the Tensai-kai."

Shiro uses humor to lighten the mood within his team, cracking jokes about the royal family and the game they're playing. But despite the lighthearted atmosphere, Shiro remains focused on the task at hand

exposing the royal family's darkest secrets. He engages in a phone call with a member of the royal family, taunting them with his confidence and reminding them that they've underestimated him. As Shiro sets the stage for the next phase of their plan, the tension builds once again, but his team is ready to follow him every step of the way.

The Leader's Prank - A Joke in the Midst of Chaos.

The day after Shiro's serious conversation with the royal family's inner circle, the team gathered once again in their hideout. It had been a hectic few days, and the pressure was mounting. They were on the brink of infiltrating the royal family's systems, but Shiro knew all too well that the best way to keep morale high was to inject a bit of fun into their otherwise intense mission.

As usual, Shiro was sitting at the center of the room, his ever-present grin on his face as he tinkered with his tablet, pretending to be absorbed in his work. The rest of the team Renji, Ryuu, Akira, and the others

were all busy preparing for the next stage of their operation. But Shiro had something else in mind.

He glanced around the room, eyes gleaming with mischief. He knew that there was one person who was always serious about their plans Ryuu. Ryuu had a reputation for being the most composed and disciplined member of the team, and Shiro had spent the last few days mentally planning the perfect prank.

The Setup

Shiro quietly began to hack into the communication systems of their hideout, targeting Ryuu's personal phone. He typed in a few rapid commands, and before long, he had set up a fake emergency alert system. The message was simple but effective:

"URGENT: The Royal Family is aware of your operations. Immediate action required. A high-ranking official has been captured. Proceed with the extraction mission."

Shiro smirked, knowing that Ryuu, with his tendency to overthink everything, would take the bait without a second thought.

The Prank Begins

As expected, it didn't take long for Ryuu to notice the emergency alert on his phone. He straightened up immediately, his eyes narrowing as he read the message. His hand moved to his earpiece, ready to report the situation to Shiro, who was still pretending to be busy with his work.

"Shiro," Ryuu called out, his tone serious. "There's an emergency. A royal official has been captured. We need to move now."

Shiro barely contained his laughter as he turned to face Ryuu with a deadpan expression. "What? Who told you that?"

"It's in the alert system," Ryuu replied, his eyes not leaving the screen of his phone. "It's urgent. This could be our chance to strike."

Shiro slowly stood up, wiping a mock serious expression off his face. "Alright, alright, calm down, Ryuu. Let's figure this out."

He motioned for Ryuu to follow him to the other side of the room, where the rest of the team had gathered, looking equally concerned.

"Guys, gather up," Shiro announced, raising his voice. "We've got an emergency on our hands. We need to move fast."

The room fell silent as the team gathered around, all eyes on Shiro. He scanned the room, trying to keep his face neutral, but his eyes betrayed him he was clearly enjoying the moment.

"Shiro, is this… for real?" Akira asked, his eyes flicking between Shiro and Ryuu, who was practically vibrating with anxious energy.

Shiro gave a theatrical sigh. "Well, it was, but it looks like it's just an automated message. A little glitch in the system. No need for the panic, Ryuu."

The Reveal

The moment Ryuu's face froze, Shiro couldn't hold it in anymore. A grin spread across his face, and he burst out laughing. "Gotcha!"

The whole team erupted in laughter, with Akira and Renji laughing the hardest.

Ryuu, who had been so convinced, stood there for a moment, his face slowly turning red as the realization set in. "Wait… what?" He looked from Shiro to the rest of the team. "You're telling me this was just a joke?"

Shiro, wiping away tears of laughter, gave him a casual shrug. "Yeah, it was a prank. Had to lighten the mood a little. You know, keep you on your toes."

Renji doubled over in laughter, holding her stomach. "I can't believe you fell for that, Ryuu! You were about to mobilize the entire team based on a fake alert!"

Ryuu groaned, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward in the tiniest of smiles. "I can't believe I let you get me like that. I'm going to get you back, Shiro. Just wait."

Shiro raised an eyebrow, still grinning. "Oh, I'm sure you will. But you're going to have to be faster than that to catch me off guard."

The Aftermath

As the laughter died down, the team continued preparing for the mission, but the atmosphere was noticeably lighter. Ryuu, despite his initial embarrassment, couldn't help but laugh along with them. Even he knew that Shiro's pranks, though sometimes frustrating, were one of the reasons their team remained so tightly knit.

Later that evening, when the team was discussing their next move, Shiro leaned back in his chair with an exaggerated yawn. "You know, guys, we've worked hard all day. Maybe we should take a break before we head out."

Ryuu shot him a sideways glance. "Are you planning another prank, Shiro?"

Shiro looked innocent, his hands up in mock surrender. "Me? Never. But, hey, let me know if you need help with any more alerts. I'm your guy."

Shiro lightens the mood of the team by pulling off a classic prank on Ryuu, the most serious member of their group. He hacks into their communication system and sends a fake emergency alert, causing Ryuu to react with intense urgency. The prank is revealed to be just a joke, much to Ryuu's embarrassment, but the team shares a good laugh, strengthening their bond. The chapter highlights Shiro's ability to keep things lighthearted, even in the midst of high-stakes operations, reminding everyone that, despite their serious work, they're still a team that enjoys each other's company.