Chapter 319

Chapter 319

To be honest, Mote wasn’t surprised by much of what had happened so far.

The fall of the border city?

It was entirely possible, he thought. Even if the city was built as a fortress, the opponent was ‘those’ dark spirits.

The gates being breached in an instant and the enemy flooding in?

That didn’t surprise him either, after all, they were just a bunch of bugs that he could sweep away.

But then.

-Well, what the hell is going on?

The technique he has devoted his heart and soul to create.

He could not help but marvel that the sun that was supposed to light this city had been snuffed out in a single blow.

-Who the hell are you.......?

For the first time, Mote’s usually stoic voice trembled.

Ignis and Fira looked bewildered, as they had never seen him like this before.

Then, the man who had been watching the spirits tugged at the gloves on his hands once more and answered in a nonchalant voice.

“Vito Corleone.”

-Snap.

The leather glove clung to his hand.

With a satisfied smile, he turned his gaze back to Mote and answered.

“I’m the child’s father.”

A reply more reassuring than any words could have been.

* * *

The key to this operation had finally arrived.

In fact, if this were a normal mission, I would never have asked for his help.

Without the involvement of other officers or people, the outcome would truly be directly on my shoulders but this situation was different.

This was a dangerous mission with many variables, and I was not alone.

It was also a war in the name of Corleone.

Was it right to refuse to accept the support I could get to further my cause?

Was it right to weigh the lives of others on a scale, calculating how much it would benefit me?

I was already a Corleone, and these were already my family.

“You can’t weigh the lives of your family.”.

This mission was never meant to be for me, but for Corleone.

“My son, I see the brightest one there is the boss.”

“......please, Father.”

“Hehe. Well, I’m always happy to oblige a favor like that.”

My father chuckled and took off his bowler hat and put it in the subspace.

“......I’ve been cooped up in my study lately, so this will be a good way to warm up.”

The way he spoke, with a casual roll of his shoulders as if he were going for a drink, made the fire in Ignis head burn even more fiercely.

-How dare that damned human look down on us! Get out of the way, More! He’s the one I’m-─

-Don’t go, Ignis. You’re no match for him.

But Mote pushed himself forward, blocking Ignis’ way.

Ignis asked him what he was talking about.

-You didn’t step forward before, but you’re stepping forward now. When the hell am I supposed to?!

-When I’m tying him up.

-......What?

-I’m restraining him. In the meantime, you and Fira go after the enemy, it’s the best we can do.

-What? What the hell is he?

-......Monster. Perhaps the equivalent of a spirit king.

-Him?!

It’s quite rude to call him that front of his son.

Still, in the end, they were right. Now that my father is here, the only way they can improve their odds is to take me hostage.

We might be able to hold out with our current numbers, but the damage to the organization and the Dark Spirits would be considerable.

But I can’t stand by and let that happen, can I?

I had just dealt with a wind spirit at school, so I knew I could handle it.

Jin-woo ability kicked in, and the wind began to die down.

It wasn’t quite as much control as it had been, but it was enough.

“Han Seo-joon, you and Gamauchi will keep him from descending unchecked.”

Hearing my order, the two men nodded wordlessly and grabbed their respective weapons.

Han Seo-joon with a knife, Gamauchi with a massive pistol larger than his palm.

They fired in unison.

“Black Hand, take your chance and cast a shroud over the Wind Spirit, but until then, you can help those two.”

-Understood.

One by one, the members found their place and finally, the one with the most important ability.

“Sasha.”

“Master.”

“You, predict which direction he will fly.”

“......?”

She tilts her head as if she doesn’t know what I mean.

I shrugged it off and drew my shotgun, slowly charging it with Aura.

“Literally. I want you to predict the direction you think he’s going to fly. Like you usually trust your ‘gut’.”

‘Billy the Kid’s Shotgun’ slowly begins to turn red.

The fear, notoriety, and respect it has earned from the war so far, all in one place.

The expanding aura begins to encroach on the weapon.

[Bloodline Ability: “Corleone” takes control of “Billy the Kid’s Shotgun”].

Longer barrels and more compressed aura.

The once plain, old-fashioned design of the shotgun is now painted completely red, with elaborate patterns and skulls bursting forth.

It’s true form was revealed.

“Point confidently in one direction, for I will only pull the trigger in that direction.”

I reassure Sasha, who is still hesitant.

Sasha looks up from her bowed head and replies.

“There.”

Above her head, where there was nothing but I didn’t doubt it.

“Okay.”

The muzzle of Billy the Kid’s shotgun, which had absorbed enough Aura to make my shoulders stiffen, pointed skyward.

With a click, the trigger was pulled, and the hammer, which had been drawn back far enough, sent a jolt through the condensed Aura.

───────────!!

A massive explosion erupted, reminiscent of my father’s blow, and shot skyward.

From a distance, it would have looked like nothing more than a bright red pillar rising into the sky but the result was immediate.

-Crunch!!!

The creature that had been hiding in the sky was falling towards the ground with its left shoulder grasped.

Was it one shoulder for that attack? It’s not easy to catch him in one hit at that level.

“I’ll make sure to finish him off.”

I throw the shotgun, which is red and spewing smoke from its barrel, and raise my fist.

At the end of it, a storm of aura begins to rush in.

Zing──!

Red sparks fly as my fists clash.

“So, you won’t run away this time, will you?”

Han Seo-joon takes a position behind him in case he runs away.

The other surround him, making sure he doesn’t escape.

-Wait, wait! This is......! You cowards, you’re going as a group!

Realizing his situation, he cries out.

However he’s mistaken, this is a war, not a match.

“Too bad I’m a villain now, not a hero.”

We were just fighting like the Mafia.

“Overpower.”