Chapter 8 - Wake Up As Mafia Boss

The young Don stepped, two meters, forward to Chief Zamor, who was happily doting his children. A beautiful smile was emitted in both side, the parent and the children embraced each other with pure love no hidden. Although he witnessed something genuine, his mind and body didn't feel anything divine. It was something he never expected that he was starting to act not as an ordinary civilian but a villain in crime.

'There's smile have a sweet aroma, I do hope they finally recover from that trauma.' Hermes, closed eyes, quoted in his mind. The gust of wind passed by, the grass danced as graceful as the faces of all people witnessed the reunion.

The chief noticed the young Don's presence, slowly checked his compresence. He stood up, grabbed his twins behind his waist, cautiously faced him. Despite his friendly approached the chief, his lime eyes were telling not to get too close. He thought he needed to compose or impose. Like, father and children, both had shown him the same result and he began to feel it was his fault. He heaved a sigh, scratching his hair from irritation and shrugged off his emotion.

"Seriously, are we going to stare each other and do nothing?" he calmly spoke, but feel afraid that the Chief might get insulted from his joke.

"Whoever you are, sir. I sincerely thank you for saving my life from your friend. I'd really appreciate what you did earlier," He said, lowering his head towards Hermes with due respect. "I apologize for being too wary against you. It is my first time seeing someone dressed like that."

"Hoo~, then I am deeply pleased to accept your apology. I also want to apologize for what my servant did to you earlier." He, lowered his head, ignored the statement about his clothes but deep inside he wanted to punch him because of his insult. What's wrong for wearing something like he had? There's nothing wrong with that according to his opinion. He based his clothes on the same casual suits of the merchants traveling abroad.

Seeing a young man in a weird outfit but his choice of words was venerable, with a powerful servant behind him, the chief guessed that the person he was talking right now was a noble and honorable person. But why he's hiding his face was still unknown. But it was better for both parties to not meddle more related to their past.

As the young Don approached them with his hands raised up, the chief gave in and started to believe that the person he faced was worth to trust.

'May my appearance won't let myself get killed. This person I'm facing is one of the NPC in the game that is a master of this Village guild. He is a more important person on this island than am I and no one is capable to give thoughts and guidelines to the beginners except this man. I must earn his acknowledgment and earn his trust.' He concluded, putting a fake smile as a casual teenager met his old acquaintance.

"Please to meet you," Hermes lowered his head and put his hand on his c.h.e.s.t in a noble manner. "My name is Aljen the merchant from Southern Cimeria Continent. Please don't be afraid of me, Village Chief. You don't have to worry. Take a look, I'm unarmed. I don't bring no harm to your people." Hermes introduced, offering his right hand to be shaken. Yet, his acquaintanceship was still ungranted for a few seconds.

The sudden mode had frozen. It was not because of the young Don's casual introduction. But because of the certain word he mentioned in his second sentence. Chief Zamor, surprised, stared him on cold gaze when Hermes mentioned his real position in the village. He hadn't introduced himself as the village chief yet, but how exactly he knew about it was still uncertain. He had become even warier with doubt, but it quickly disappeared when his little daughter, showed sympathy, pulled his sleeves to believe the man. July whispered him the person in front of them was telling the truth that he was a nice guy. Chief Zamor looked at his son, nodding in agreement to trust him.

"Well then, looks like my twins are telling me to trust you though. Frankly, I don't want to trust someone dress like that." Chief Zamor pointed out the young Don's clothes. "But considering how my children want me no to doubt your genuine offer of acquaintanceship. I have no choice but to believe," Chief Zamor explicitly said to him. His eyes turned normal and began to show a friendly sight. "Don't get me wrong. I only believe what you said but it was nothing sort of 'trust' on it. Got it?"

Hermes nodded and grinned. 'Thank you, kids. My plan works. Cuteness is the key to this success! The young Don's eyes gracefully glowed in pure happiness. But again, the clothes? Really?' He clapped his hands twice and he continued, "Alright, it seems we settle down. Right?"

The chief replied in a nod. Hermes turned his half-side his face behind, signaled his servant to put down his hostility. He ordered Justin to apologize for what he did, as well. But even Justin unwillingly wanted to refuse, he gave in and obeyed his order.

"Sir, I apologize for the terror I commit. As per the request of my boss, his words are absolute. Be grateful that I don't need to slay - *cough* I mean, I have no right to refuse," the butler said, showing the chief his fake smile.

"R-r-right." the chief was still worried and afraid, starting to reply with wryly smile. "We're the one to blame. It is not our intention to make war with you two, my men were performing their duty to protect the village. It is our fault to misunderstand your sudden visit. We will make sure it won't happen again." the chief approached the butler and offered his hand to be shaken.

The butler was looking at his hand in disgust and his boss knew he was going to kill the man if he didn't make a move again. He rushed to his side and grabbed his hand, shaking in honor.

The chief was confused. He grinned and shook his hand, too, with p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. "The honor is mine."

The young Don and the chief had finally lowered their guard for their own safety.

"Is there something we can do? Something that good as our payment for what we did?" the chief made the first word.

"Uh, eh, uh… I don't know… yet." the young Don couldn't think anything. "I guess nothing?"\

Chief Zamor was surprised. But he couldn't let someone like him not to get rewarded and repaid.

"Hmm, I've got an idea, Mr. Aljen. How about you and your servant come with me to our house? A place to stay for a short while. Both of you must be tired from a long journey. Think of this as our repayment. What do you think?" he asked. "Right, kids?"

The twins nodded thrice in unison. July stepped closer, showed her round eyes and cute smile to the young Don. Looking at their pity and cute stare, shining brightly like a sun, he couldn't refuse their offer. Hermes gave in.

'Oooh, shit. But whatever, I just need to think of it as a good opportunity to get in inside the village. What great timing! It was not part of my plan but I think it'll work.' He grinned and clenched his fist. Even it was a simple smile, for Justin, he saw his boss smirked in pure evil. Inside Justin's imagination, his eyes showed of chaos and despair that would bring the villager's end and destruction.

"Oooh, that was the plan, Boss. I will go in the flow as well." Justin murmured, quietly laughing.

"Follow me. I'll show you the way, Mr. Aljen, and Mr. Justin." Chief Zamor asked, leading them to his wagon nearby.

"Sure, with p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. Aah," Hermes stopped the village chief for a second. "... before we go, do you have a small map of your village?"

"Yeah, I do have one," he draws out from his pocket a small folded paper.

"Can you mark the location of your clinic or hospital and your home? It'll be a great help." The village chief, confused, marked the locations of the location he asked earlier before he gave it to him. "What're you going to do with that?

"Justin." As Hermes called his butler, he quickly took the paper and listened to his command. "Can you take care of those men, you knocked down earlier? Use the car to bring their bodies to the nearest clinic. And after that, rendezvous to his home." Hermes ordered to Justin.

'You know what you need to do.' Hermes signaled him with a chin up.

Reading his boss mind of what he wanted him to do, he put his hand on his c.h.e.s.t and lowered his head, "Yes, boss. As you wish." He quickly disappeared and picked up one by one all of the injured people around the area. And the bodies, unconscious or not, were thrown on the top of the roof of the vehicle.

As they walked towards the wagon, the chief saw his friend and quickly ran on him.

"Ubert, can you still walk?" Chief Zamor asked, helping him to stand up.

"Good, then go to the clinic for now. Get yourself heal for a while. I will bring one of the guests to my house."

"Yes Chief, I will. You don't have to say it. Aah, my back."

It's your fault from the beginning, Mr. Ubert. If you didn't shoot us then this mess won't happen. Hermes thought while following Chief Zamor and the twins to their house.

January 1, 1811

Camelia Family Households, Neue Fiona Village

3:30:12 PM

The young Don was carried by a wagon, sitting on the right side beside the twins and Chief Zamor on the left, holding a baton. He witnessed the beauty of the structure of the concrete wall and its passage there were two guards guarding the gate. They recognized the face of their leader when they checked the passengers. Chief Zamor told them to let a vehicle passed through when it entered the gate. He told them a black-haired butler was one of his guests. Passing through the gate made the young Don's eyes glowed in excitement and opened his mouth in awe as he saw a lot of people walking in the streets, vendors selling their products whilst the children played with their tricks. There were parasol hanging around the place and some colorful parols in each side of the windows of every store. Whenever they went, the citizens greeted Chief, like their king, as he mannerly replied them with a raise of his hand, signing his regal reply. It took several pass gate and an hour to arrive at a certain destination. When they arrived in the household of Camelia family, Hermes recalled the memories of the game setting. He remembered the house had some connection to multiple quests which he couldn't describe yet and one of the important key factors in the game for highlighting the flag of his own death.

Within this place, there was a powerful item that will help one of the love targets, Arata Kingsman, in his quest to defeat him. He hadn't forgotten the moment Arata Kingsman managed to take it successfully and convinced the village chief to commence the rebellion against the Archnemesis family. He wished to grab it before the others take it so he could use it for his own safety but according to the game, you needed at least spent a hundred dollars to get it. Should the special item reach by filthy hand, will make the rate of his death flag to descend.

'I just hope it won't happen before I leave this island.' He wiped out his sweat from his face by his handkerchief.

"Thanks for having me here," Hermes said, entering the house. He removed his shoes and put on the slippers offered by Chief Zamor.

They went to the living room and Chief Zamor asked him to sit down in the chair he liked.

"Thanks, I will choose this one then," Hermes sat down in the small foamed chair near to the wooden table.

"I will make some coffee then. Please wait for a minute." Chief Zamor moved to the kitchen, leaving him alone in the room.

"Aaah thanks." Hermes earnestly said.

Hermes looked around while staying in his chair. The living room was still the same as the real-life settings in the real world. As he gazed the beautiful structure and design of the place, his fingers moved like dice as he hummed.

"Here you go. A cup of coffee for you, sir." Chief Zamor came back, putting down their coffees in the table.

He put one in front of Hermes and the other in his side. He sat down in the opposite. He took a sip of his coffee and started a conversation.

"Don't worry about the taste. I didn't add any poison in your cup." Chief Zamor said, smiling at him while drinking his coffee again.

"Haha, I'm glad you like it. Well, the coffee was made from a rare bean called Dark Scily Beans that could be only found inside the Dark Scily Forest." Chief Zamor took a sip, put his arm over the top of his chair behind.

"Wow, that was amazing. I hope I could bring one in my home too." Hermes scanned his coffee and took a sip for another time. He was honored to taste something rare that help his mind to relax.

"Well, you may take one of our sacks of Dark Scily Beans in your home if you like." the chief offered.

"Really?" Hermes' eyes sparked when he heard the good offer. "Make it two then."

"Of course, if that's what you want who am I to refuse?" the chief grinned and muttered, "You're really still a child, huh."

"Thank you then, Chief Zamor." Hermes didn't hear his last voice because he was overjoyed to the taste.

"Well then," Chief Zamor put down his cup to the table, sitting crossed legs and put his hands in the top of his left leg. "Let's start to talk in the real one, mister. How did you know about my position in this village? I didn't even carelessly spout out in that place my real identity. Who are you then?" He stared him in cold gaze but the young Don already knew he would pick up the topic. He then put down his cup to the table slowly and started to think first before he answered his typical question. He sat down properly with his hands relaxed in both sides of the chair and cross-legged.

"Well, " the young Don smiled and continued, "Your name was so popular on the other side. We're a traveling merchant from Southern Cimeria Desert. Don't underestimate our intel from other fellow members. To be frank, I already knew your background, as well."

It was not a lie. Hermes already knew not only his past life but also his future.

"Thanks, sir," said the young don, gulp the cup of coffee for the last time.

"Hmm… now you know exactly who am I. We can easily move on to the next topic. Gah," He scratched his chin, "You're informants are really dangerous. No one can really know my real position except my citizens."

"Don't worry, sir. Y' don't need to worry as am I not going to spread your true position to other states."

"Let's stop being too formal. You may call me Chief Zamor. Everyone calls me like that." he suggested.

'Right on the track, a good thing, before I moved here, I read a lot of books regarding this world. Also, thanks to the twins leaked out a good intel. This is definitely good in my case then.'

"Aah sure, Chief Zamor. It's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e." the young Don slightly put his hands on his l.a.p. "It's a fair trade if I am the only one being questioned. Right? I want to return the favor." He took a deep breath and asked, "May I ask why there are several guards in your borders? I heard a lot of the history of this village but I am totally certain that those men are not part of any syndicates."

His deep question made the atmosphere froze for a short period. The Chief Zamor sighed and replied, "Well, Mr. Aljen. You're really a very observative person. Yes, those men are not part of any syndicates. They are formerly produced by us."

"Oh," Hermes put down the cup on the table. "Then in what ground? I mean, why did you guys armed yourself? I'm sorry for digging too much. But I'm really curious about it."

"Why're you interested? Can you give me an equivalent expense for this information?"

"I'm planning to invest in this village. I have a lot of connection abroad and I know it'll be an accommodated profit for both parties. That's why I want to know everything about this place before I do that. Fairtrade, right?"

Chief Zamor, dropped a sweat from his face, spoke, "Have you heard the family name of Archnemesis? The family who was using its power and influence to destroy their enemies and make a profit for their own glory." He had no other options left. That offer the young Don mentioned was a really interesting feat for their village.

But for Hermes, it was a great deal because he could acc.u.mulate more details about them. All he wanted was to uncover more problems with this place and brought them a certain solution about it. If he did that, he was surely increased his approval ratings thereafter. He was still aiming for the heart of the citizens.

'Hmm, this is kinda interesting. Chief Zamor is talking the same phrases in the game setting. Wait, isn't it like I am now stealing the leading quest of the protagonist? Nah, I shouldn't think too much. Well whatever, let's hear it for now.' Hermes put a noble face while remaining cautious to his next reply.

"Yeah, I kinda heard the infamous family of Archnemesis. They were originally a western family came from the Land of Amerigo who just captured the western part of this island from the previous Don hundred years ago. Why did you start to openly ask that question to me? Now that you mention their name, I'm kind of interested to hear the story between this village and the Archnemesis Crime Family."

"After the Mafia wars between Corleon and Archnemesis, peace across the entire Scily spread. However, when the family members except the youngest son died from the war, everything changed. For the last five years, the youngest son named Hermes terrorized the whole village by sending his mercenaries to raid us. Almost half of the population of the village decided to run away and leave this place. But unfortunately, the fugitives were murdered by his orders, henceforth, no one followed their path. I don't understand why he needs to do those things to his own people. So, we decided to rearm ourselves to prevent it to happen again. We started to trade some materials and made our own rifles and types of equipment to defend ourselves secretly from that kid. This new year, we have almost readied to free ourselves and murdered the new Don of Archnemesis family. But we need someone with great leadership to lead us to victory."

'Oh my goodness, what kind of person you are Hermes Archnemesis? I didn't expect how cruel this character I possessed right now.' Hermes began to drop a lot of sweat from his face. But he still put an effort to keep his face like normal on Chief Zamor.

"S-s-so, are you guys planning to do it?" Hermes asked, starting to sweat in his face.

"Not exactly, if the young boy changed his way, we won't do such a thing. This is just a temporary strategy…. " He stopped, rethinking what he wanted to include. "Hmm…"

"Good then… " Hermes relieved from what he heard. He took another sip after.

".... We want to ravish that kid and killed him on sight whenever if possible."

"... Eh?" Hermes was stunned, covered his mouth to prevent the leak of the coffee inside, and his eyes opened wide in fear when he heard his resentment. He swallowed all of it and began to petrify.

"We want to execute in front of everyone that sluggish, stupid and mad Don in his mansion. If we have enough manpower, we would go to his mansion and began to siege it. Burn it down until only his bones can be seen in his place. Right now, that's one of the reasons we started to guard our own boundary to make sure his men won't be able to go back in this place. Arson, protection rackets, and assassination were now banned in this place. We don't want to become part of his ideas for his own childish ways. If possible we want to be separate from his turf and became an independent village as I said earlier. We want to convert our village into a town."

Hermes gulped when he heard it. Shaking for fear, he couldn't say any words.

'Eeeh? Seriously, this is kinda different from what I know in the story.' Hermes remained smiling while keeping himself jump of surprised.

If that happened it would follow the same route of the story but in an afferent scenario, the Village Chief started a rebellion to make his village an independent place from the Archnemesis while executing him in front of everyone was not part of the storyline. In his case, the world he lived in was still different and there were several parts he didn't expect to witness. Hermes only recalled that the villagers didn't hate so much the Archnemesis family and also they didn't even try to equip themselves. They used some wooden stick and magics to defend themselves when Arata Kingsman appeared in this place.

Hermes couldn't believe what was he discovered lately. The only person he knew who screwed the whole gaming plot of the world, would be ….

'Stump G, what are you planning right now? You're totally screwing the whole plot of the story.' He turned his face, from left, bit his lips.