Chapter 186 — Another Deal

Damian ignored him, addressing Gia directly.

"Do it. I’ll send you the additional information you want within the week."

Another pause appeared.

Then Gia’s presence withdrew, her consciousness leaving the communication channel.

The acceptance was implicit in her departure.

Damian turned to face the Unnamed Four, his expression showing determination despite the exhaustion written across his features.

"I know my Mafia is weak compared to what you’re running from. So you can become members in name only if you want. Just hide in Tranquil City.

Gia will protect your information, and no person in this city can hide from the Mafia’s surveillance network. Even if your enemies come looking, they won’t be able to find you."

Castor’s calculating expression showed something approaching respect.

"Actually, we originally chose this city because we wanted to seek help from the old headmaster of Stormhold Academy.

Old Kaiser doesn’t involve himself in the Federation’s internal affairs typically, but everyone knows he’s powerful enough to provide sanctuary if he chooses."

He paused.

"When we found out your identity today, we thought saving his disciple might earn us favor enough to request protection. But... it seems that won’t be necessary now. You’ve solved our problem through different means."

Damian smiled slightly, the expression tired but genuine.

"Thank you for saving my life."

Yara stepped forward, her healing-focused demeanor showing unexpected steel.

"Since we’re seeking your help to hide our traces anyway – which you’re clearly paying a significant price for through your deal with Gia – I think we should also contribute something."

She gestured to her companions.

"We’ll help with those orphanages of yours. We will make sure the children and the families under Mafia protection stay safe.

The Mafia clearly needs time to grow. And we can help you all to the best of our abilities."

The other three nodded agreement, their smiles genuine.

Damian was surprised, feeling something shift inside his chest.

For the first time, he felt like maybe he’d gained actual allies.

Not subordinates or followers, but people who could stand beside him as equals.

What Damian didn’t realize – couldn’t realize in this moment – was that when people learned about this encounter in the future, they would mark it as the actual founding moment of his Mafia.

Not the Academy recruitment or the Iron Barrel massacre or even the territorial expansion.

But this: four legendary fugitives joining a sixteen-year-old’s criminal organization because he’d offered them sanctuary without demanding anything in return.

This was when the Mafia stopped being a local gang and started becoming something that would shake the Federation’s foundations.

****

[Unknown Location ]

A group of high-ranking intelligence operatives sat around a holographic display, their attention focused on tracking data that had been their priority for months.

Their target were... the Unnamed Four.

Four fugitives who’d embarrassed multiple Noble families, eliminated dozens of elite operatives, and somehow always managed to disappear before capture.

"Sir! We’ve got confirmed sightings in Tranquil City! Multiple CCTV cameras caught their faces! We can finally–"

The subordinate’s excited voice cut off abruptly.

Because... the holographic display flickered and then went dark.

"What? What happened? Restore the connection!"

The lead operative – a stern man with military bearing – stood up, his voice sharp with concern.

"I’m trying, sir! But the data is... it’s being deleted! It’s actually being erased from the servers!"

Frantic typing, desperate attempts to access backup systems and many emergency protocols were activated.

But everything was futile.

Videos of the Unnamed Four: deleted.

CCTV footage showing their movements: gone.

Witness reports filed through official channels: vanished.

Even archived information from previous sightings was disappearing, the digital trail being systematically eliminated by something beyond their ability to counter.

"What the hell is happening?!"

The leader activated his own communication device, addressing his personal AI assistant.

"Status report! Why is all our data on the Unnamed Four being deleted?"

The AI’s response came immediately, emotionless and clinical.

"Information access denied. Your authority level is insufficient to view, modify, or restore the deleted data."

"..."

Complete silence filled the room.

Then the leader’s face went pale, understanding dawning with horrible clarity.

"Insufficient... authority?"

"Correct. The data has been classified at SS rank security level. Only individuals with SS rank clearance or higher can access information regarding the specified targets."

The leader stood frozen for several seconds.

Then his control shattered completely.

BOOM

He turned and struck the reinforced wall with Aura-enhanced strength, the concrete exploding into dust, the impact creating a crater three meters across.

"WHICH IMPERIAL FAMILY IS HELPING THOSE BASTARDS?!"

His voice was a roar of frustration and disbelief.

"Only they have the influence to classify information at SS rank! Only they can order Gia to hide data like this!"

He turned to glare at his subordinates.

"Was it the Murdocks?! Those hypocritical bastards who preach about justice while protecting commoners?! Or the Ashfords playing political games?!"

One of his men stepped forward carefully, his voice cautious.

"...Sir, please mind your words. Imperial families are not to be disrespected, even in private. If word gets back that you spoke of them this way..."

"..."

The threat didn’t need completion.

The leader took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm, his professional discipline reasserting itself despite the rage.

"Years! We’ve spent years trying to track them down! Years of resources invested, operatives lost and family honor staked on capturing these fugitives. And just when we were finally close, just when we almost had them..."

He looked at the blank holographic display showing nothing but empty screens where data should have been.

"It’s all wasted... Everything. We didn’t even manage to find their actual names. Just the nickname ’Unnamed Four’ that the underworld gave them."

His fist clenched helplessly.

"And now we never will."

****

[Multiple Locations - Noble Family Intelligence Networks]

Similar scenes played out across the Federation simultaneously.

The Noble families who’d lost children to "accidents" that they suspected were Mafia connected, had been monitoring information flows carefully.

Watching for patterns. Tracking Mafia member identities and building cases for coordinated strikes against the organization.

All that data vanished in the same instant.

Mafia member identities: deleted.

Family connections: erased.

Operational locations: corrupted.

Even basic information like how many members the organization had became inaccessible, classified beyond their authority to view.

Analysts stared at blank screens in disbelief.

Intelligence directors made frantic calls to higher authorities, demanding explanations.

And slowly and terrifyingly, the same conclusion spread through all of them:

Someone with Imperial-level influence had decided to protect the Mafia.

Which meant that the stakes had fundamentally changed.

What had been a conflict between Nobles and uppity commoners had just escalated into something involving powers they couldn’t directly challenge.

The Mafia wasn’t just a criminal organization anymore.

It was protected by someone who could give orders to Gia herself.

And that made it untouchable through conventional means.