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Chapter 123
Mateo had never lived a blessed life—not even from the moment he was born.
His mother was the daughter of a mafia boss, and his father was the illegitimate son of a noble family.
The boss of the Juliano family, Carson, had opposed their union from the start. He discreetly disposed of his daughter’s boyfriend without a trace and even imprisoned his daughter by force.
But, unfortunately for him, there was already a life growing inside her belly.
Carson, who had planned to marry his daughter into a noble family, had no choice but to abandon that plan.
A grandson was eventually born, but Carson resented and hated the child who had ruined all his carefully crafted plans.
Because of that baby, his daughter became an unwed mother, and Carson had to give up his dream of expanding the organization by forging ties with a noble house.
After the child was born, Carson never once held him. And since the boss acted that way, Mateo was treated as a nuisance wherever he went.
The only person capable of giving Mateo love—his mother—had long since lost her mind after losing her lover.
Even so, Mateo wasn’t the type of child who craved affection or care.
When he tormented people, committed arson, and killed animals, his grandfather cleaned up after him every time. As long as Carson did that much, it was enough for Mateo.
His mother, even in her unstable mental state, repeatedly told him one thing:
“You will become the next boss of the Juliano family.”
Growing stronger felt good. In his mind, being boss of the Juliano family meant occupying the highest position in the underworld.
If he rose to that rank, he would live even more freely. No one—absolutely no one—would dare to say anything to him.
Then one day—
Carson took Mateo by the hand and walked into the estate of Count Blois.
Even if one was a mafia boss, it would be inappropriate to throw out someone of such standing, so the Count reluctantly allowed Carson and his grandson into the mansion.
“Let’s hear what brings you here.”
“This mansion is truly beautiful. Does the lady of the house manage the garden herself?”
The Count looked at the two with eyes full of contempt.
An all-too-familiar look.
The look people always gave him.
Whenever Mateo received that gaze, he felt an urge to snap their necks.
The only reason he was holding back now was because he wasn’t yet strong enough to handle the consequences.
“I don’t have much time, so I can’t stay seated for long.”
“Oh? What a pity. Now that we’re about to become in-laws, I had hoped we could speak more.”
“In-laws? What on earth are you talking about?”
The Count openly showed his displeasure and raised his voice.
Carson only laughed loudly at the reaction.
Who would have thought the Blois family’s lineage would be cut off? The family’s only remaining descendant was now his grandson.
“This child is my grandchild. His name is Mateo and he is ten this year.”
Trying to force an introduction, Carson grabbed Mateo’s reluctant arm and pulled him forward.
“Greet him. He’s your uncle.”
“Hello, Uncle.”
The Count stared at the two, dumbfounded.
“What in the world are you talking about…?”
“Didn’t the late Count father an illegitimate child?”
Having an unexpected half-brother had been the greatest disgrace—and deepest wound—in the Count’s life.
“Why bring that up now? I must ask you to leave. I won’t listen to this any further.”
“Oh, but you will. This child is that man’s son.”
Carson pushed Mateo closer toward the Count.
“And you have no heirs, do you? I hear from the physicians that you’re infertile.”
“You insolent—!”
Unable to endure any longer, the Count shot to his feet and called for his butler.
“Get out at once. I won’t tolerate another word!”
“Count. You’d better listen while I’m still speaking politely.”
Carson’s murderous aura made the Count instinctively sink back into his seat.
“Even if he’s illegitimate, he’s still the Count’s brother. That brother impregnated my daughter and ran off. And yet you take no responsibility?”
“I told you—I have no idea where that bastard went!”
Naturally. Carson had killed him himself and thrown the body into the sea. The Count could spend his whole life searching and still never find the corpse.
“And how do I know this brat is truly of Blois blood?”
“Such a simple matter. There’s a magical tool that can confirm lineage.”
The Count ground his teeth in frustration.
“Let’s go to the temple together. I’ll even cover the cost. Why adopt a distant relative to continue the Blois line when there’s such a close blood relative right here?”
A distant relative’s child would’ve been far better.
But the Count knew he didn’t have the power to fight a mafia organization.
“If you refuse to accept this child into the Blois family, I’ll make sure you’re publicly disgraced. It would be wiser to choose carefully.”
“What? What do you mean?!”
“I’ll file a lawsuit saying the Blois family refuses to take responsibility for a child born after trifling with a woman.”
He couldn’t allow such a disgraceful rumor to spread. If it did, his newly started business ventures could collapse before they even took off.
“We’ll even support the Blois family’s business. Isn’t cooperation mutually beneficial?”
The threat was unmistakable—refuse, and not only would there be a lawsuit, but the Juliano family would sabotage all future business deals.
In the end, the Count had no choice but to adopt the nephew he never wanted.
“Grandfather, you’re leaving me here?”
Mateo ran out of the mansion and grabbed Carson’s arm.
“I’m the only heir of the Juliano family!”
He had never once wanted to become some stuffy noble. The only position he desired was the boss of the Juliano family.
“That’s exactly why you must stay here. If you inherit the Blois title, it will benefit our organization.”
Carson coldly shook off Mateo’s hand.
“And who ever told you that you were the only heir?”
“What?”
Carson had another child with a mistress. That child—yes. But his daughter’s son, a boy whose mother had lost her mind, would never be his successor.
“You will stay here quietly and do as I say. Stop causing trouble.”
He heartlessly boarded the carriage and left Mateo behind.
Mateo watched his grandfather’s retreating figure, eyes burning with rage.
He could endure being ignored by his grandfather. He could tolerate being belittled by the organization. After all, he was destined to become the boss of the Juliano family.
“But if you’re going to stab me in the back like this… things will be different, Grandfather.”
That was the moment the misfortunes of both the Juliano family and the Blois family began.
When Mateo believed he had grown strong enough, he began eliminating everyone who stood in the way of his ambitions.
The position of boss of the Juliano family hadn’t been obtained easily.
He killed his own blood, slaughtered the subordinates who had belittled him, and seized the title through blood and struggle.
He poured everything he had into raising the Juliano family to the strongest position so that no one would ever dare ignore him again.
He had succeeded in taking everything he wanted. But then…
“We failed to acquire District 3.”
“District 10 as well.”
Mateo, who had never once tasted defeat, began to crumble the moment Killian appeared.
“Vanscent’s top club revenue now belongs to Delina House.”
“We’ve even lost our key clients.”
Just a few years prior, the Star Family was an unheard-of, newly formed mafia organization.
Yet that group of nobodies had beaten the strongest Juliano family? It shredded Mateo’s pride. Especially since it happened after he became boss—utterly unacceptable.
He suspected his subordinates were whispering behind his back:
If Carson were still boss… or if another successor had led the Juliano family… such a new organization could never have defeated them.
Mateo hated Killian with a burning, obsessive rage.
If Killian died, Mateo would be the strongest man in the underworld.
There couldn’t be two kings under the same sky.
“Sir Mateo, today’s paper.”
The day after the attack on Delina House, an article appeared titled:
<The Hidden Identity of Count Enoch Blois!>
“They chose quite a headline.”
Mateo calmly read the article line by line.
“Getting this much attention doesn’t feel bad at all.”
Until now, he had hidden the fact that he was the boss of the Juliano family to protect the Blois family’s business.
But now that both the Emperor and the Pope were backing him, there was no reason to hide anymore.
Proof of that? Even when he roamed freely committing crimes, no one dared throw him in prison.
Oddly enough, public interest in Enoch Blois only grew after his true identity was revealed.
The contrast between the seemingly harmless Count and the underworld kingpin was unexpectedly appealing.
“Maybe Marilyn found this side of me interesting too.”
Mateo hummed lightly as he muttered to himself.
“This is no time to be relaxed.”
Nigel spoke in a grave tone.
“His Majesty is furious that you failed to properly deal with Killian. He has summoned you to the palace.”
“That impatient bastard…”
Mateo irritably folded the newspaper and approached the mirror. The wounds Killian had inflicted were still visible.
“Bring someone skilled enough to cover these properly.”
Even now, with an imperial summons awaiting him, Mateo worried only about appearing weaker than Killian.
“Well then… shall I go and put a leash—no, death—around Killian’s neck?”
