Chapter 182 — Godfather

"Alessio. Gather everyone. All the children from all eight orphanages alongside all the caretakers... I need to speak with them."

"Master?"

"Just do it. Find a large enough venue and get it done within three hours."

Alessio didn’t question further, just pulled out his communication device and started issuing orders with the authority of someone much more responsible.

****

[Three Hours Later - Community Hall - Outer Region]

The massive hall had been constructed months ago as part of the Mafia’s infrastructure development, designed to host large gatherings.

Now... it held eight thousand children and their caretakers, the space filled with nervous energy and curiosity.

There was bustling and noise everywhere!

Mike had been characteristically prepared, arranging a full banquet spread along the walls – enough food to feed everyone present with leftovers.

The Mafia’s core members stood along the sides.

Zavier was still hollow-eyed but present. Ariana, Ronan, Edrin, Lysa, Marcus and Selena were there alongside him. They never left him alone since his parents passed.

The veterans – Pavel, Katya and Marco looked tired as they had to arrange all this in a hurry.

And scattered throughout were local media representatives, small outlets that served Tranquil City specifically with their cameras recording.

They had somehow gotten the news that the mysterious Sir of the Mafia was going to show up today.

They were dying to know the identity of their saviour!

Thud Thud Thud

Damian stepped onto the raised stage at the front.

"..."

Silence fell immediately as thousands of eyes focused on him.

He looked out at the sea of faces – mostly young children, some teenagers, all of them waiting for him to speak.

Then he spoke, his voice clear and carrying without needing amplification.

"My name is Damian Valcor. I’m first-year student at the Stormhold Academy and the disciple of the Academy’s Headmaster. Some of you might recognize me from the Demon attack incident or the portal emergence in the Northern region."

Hush Hush

Whispers rippled through the crowd as children turned to their caretakers for confirmation.

They already felt that Damian looked familiar.

"But I have a personal connection with all of you that matters more than any of those titles... I’m the one responsible for saving you from Tranquil City’s streets."

"..."

The whispers stopped.

"Ever since I arrived here, I’ve seen how common people suffered in this city. And how the government doesn’t help at all. Instead of fixing problems, they ignore them. For decades, this city was in chaos because of gang wars... I ended all of that."

His voice was matter-of-fact, stating truth without pride.

"But... It doesn’t make me a savior. Don’t mistake me for being such a messiah. I just happen to have a soft spot for starving children who have no one else to rely on.

Maybe because I’m young as well or maybe because I understand what it’s like to be powerless and alone."

"..."

The hall was completely silent now, everyone hanging on his words.

"The first child I saved was Alessio."

He gestured toward where Alessio stood, the boy’s eyes already tearing up.

"But after that, I only gave orders. The Mafia, under Alessio’s leadership, reached all of you. I hear he’s become your big brother. I’m happy about that."

’I was able to help Master!’

Alessio looked at Damian with gratitude, his hard work finally acknowledged by his Master.

"Today I learned that nobody comes to adopt you. That people stay away from the orphanages because of the Mafia connection. That you’re stuck without families despite everything we’ve provided.

I never thought that people would have such fear of my organization that they would shun those who were already shunned by the society."

The children’s expressions turned sad, several looking down at their feet.

Damian’s voice grew stronger.

"But it doesn’t matter anymore. I have made my decision. Today, I – Damian Valcor, leader of the Mafia – declare myself Godfather to every orphan in this city!"

Shock rippled through the crowd.

"I will feed you, I will give you the resources you need, I will look out for you. You don’t need anyone else to adopt you because the Mafia is your family!

The Mafia was, is, and will remain dedicated to the people of this Federation, no matter who stands in our way!"

His voice rose, filling the hall.

"But make no mistake – the Mafia is not a charity. I say this constantly: I’m not a saint and it’s the truth. So I will also say this – the Mafia will be your family until you’re fifteen years old. After that, you’ll have a choice to make."

He paused, making sure everyone was listening.

"Leave to join an Academy and never come back. Or... become a permanent member of the Mafia."

His expression became serious.

"Those who choose the Mafia will live for it and die for it. There’s no middle ground. Your life will be spent achieving our goals, protecting the people we’ve promised to protect and building something that lasts beyond any individual."

His voice dropped slightly but lost none of its intensity.

"So that one day, when the children of today become the men and women of tomorrow, the fire of our ideals shapes the entire Federation!"

He spread his arms.

"The government has failed you! The rich have ignored you! The Nobles exploit you! You’ve been rejected by everyone who should have helped! But today, I – your Godfather – stand before you ready to embrace you all."

His crimson eyes swept across the crowd.

"I have selfish reasons! I won’t lie about that! I seek your future, I seek your loyalty and I seek your support for my cause! But I come without deception, with my hands open and ready to accept you as family."

His voice rose to a shout.

"So I ask all of you... Will you accept me as your Godfather?! Will you become part of the Mafia family?!"

"..."

Silence for three heartbeats.

Then... the hall erupted.

"GODFATHER! GODFATHER! GODFATHER!"

Thousands of voices shouted in unison, children crying and screaming, caretakers wiping tears and the sound shaking the building’s foundation.

The Mafia members along the walls felt something shift in their chests!

Their cause which had started from the delusional words of Damian, now meant much more!

Zavier, who’d lost everything, felt warmth spreading through the cold void where his family had been!

Mike, who’d seen countless speeches in forty years, found himself believing despite his cynicism!

Ariana gripped her katana and understood for the first time why she’d chosen to follow Damian!

’This is our leader. Someone who never lies, never wavers and never pretends to be something he’s not.

Someone who tells the truth even when it’s uncomfortable and takes responsibility even when it hurts.’

The media representatives recorded everything, their cameras capturing a moment that would define Tranquil City’s future.

And across the city, people watching on local broadcasts stopped what they were doing.

In homes, families gathered around screens showing a teenager declaring himself father to eight thousand orphans.

In businesses, workers paused to watch.

In police stations, officers saw their unofficial leader finally reveal himself publicly.

"He’s really just a student?"

"Damian Valcor is the Mafia leader? The one who killed those Demons and survived the portal?"

"He’s been running everything this whole time?!"

The Mayor of Tranquil City sat in his office watching the broadcast, a tired smile on his face.

"This isn’t my city anymore. Maybe it was before, but now? It will always be his."

In a pub in the Core Region, four strangers watched the same broadcast with wide eyes.

"It wasn’t a fucking Noble?!"

"A student. A fucking sixteen-year-old student built all of this?!"

"And he’s recruiting from orphanages. Building loyalty from childhood. That’s..."

"Brilliant... Absolutely brilliant!"

The broadcast shifted to news anchors scrambling to process the revelation.

"BREAKING: Damian Valcor Revealed as Mafia Leader"

"Student Who Fought Demons Declares Himself Godfather to Thousands"

"Tranquil City’s Transformation: Criminal Organization or Social Revolution?"

On the stage, Damian watched the children celebrate, watched his Mafia members stand taller, watched something he’d built for selfish reasons become something larger than himself.

And despite everything – despite the guilt, despite the losses, despite knowing more suffering waited ahead – he smiled.

Because this was real.

This was what mattered.

And maybe, just maybe... it was worth the cost.