Chapter 334 — Welcome Back

[Tranquil City]

Alessio stood at the platform edge, hands in his suit pockets, watching the horizon.

Armored trucks sat in formation behind him, crimson M emblems catching afternoon sun. Mafia members leaned against vehicles, checking weapons and talking low.

’Master’s coming back.’

The Federation had released files about the portal. Official reports compiled from survivor testimony after ACC President Eleanor’s black cube tore reality open and swallowed two hundred fifty students.

Alessio had read them twice.

His Master killed Nobles who used commoners as shields and executed cowards while fighting creatures no one had documented before.

Two hundred ten students had died and only Forty survived.

Because of his Master.

Around him, Mafia members were nervous. Whispers about whether their leader had changed, whether something inside that portal had broken him, whether–

Alessio didn’t care.

’So what if the Master ate creatures?... all these people have never suffered. I used to eat rats as well...’

Whoooosh

The hypersonic train appeared, silver bullet cutting air, slowing to nothing.

"Get ready." Alessio’s voice rang clear.

The casual atmosphere vanished. Members straightened, adjusted suits and formed lines. This was their leader coming home.

The doors of the train opened.

And Damian Valcor stepped onto the platform.

Alessio’s breath stopped.

He wore black suit, perfectly tailored, crimson hair tied back, movements fluid, controlled and carrying none of the awkwardness he used to have.

But it was the presence that hit.

There was no Aura being released and no visible skills being used either.

Just the pressure his being radiated, made all of them straighten up.

Behind him came someone Alessio had never seen.

A girl in an elegant silver dress, black hair catching light, silver eyes scanning everything. Her movements were graceful and natural, carrying herself with quiet confidence.

She was striking in a way that made people look twice.

Alessio stepped forward, his small frame still thin despite months of good food, and dropped to one knee.

"Master."

Behind him, fifty voices in unison:

"Godfather!"

Damian walked toward them, footsteps silent, crimson eyes scanning the assembled group with that same calm intensity.

He stopped in front of Alessio, hand settling on the boy’s shoulder.

"Get up... We talked about this many times."

Alessio rose, eyes meeting Master’s face, looking for changes.

But all he saw was the same person who rescued him from the streets.

"Welcome back, Master."

Damian’s expression softened slightly.

"Good to be back."

****

Luna stood behind Damian, silver eyes tracking every person, her Empath skill flooding her senses with truth.

They were afraid of Damian.

The fear of standing before something beyond understanding, something that had crossed lines they couldn’t imagine crossing.

But underneath, she felt loyalty and it was absolute. Binding them to Damian in ways that went beyond allegiance.

They’d follow him despite their fear, or... Maybe because of it.

And respect... They believed in him, trusted him and saw him as worthy.

Her gaze found the small figure still near Damian.

Alessio.

His emotional state was almost overwhelming.

Pure and unshakable loyalty that bordered on worship. There was no fear, nor any doubt... Just absolute conviction.

’He really would die for Damian without hesitation.’

Damian turned, gestured toward her.

"Luna, come."

She stepped forward, aware of dozens of eyes tracking her movement.

And something shifted in the air as she moved closer to the assembled group.

****

Among the Mafia members, confusion rippled through the ranks.

One of them, a scarred veteran who’d fought in gang wars, felt his grip on his weapon loosen involuntarily.

His instinctive wariness of strangers, drilled into him through years of violence, simply... evaporated.

’What the...’

He looked at the black-haired girl and felt safe. Like she was someone he could trust with his life despite having never met her.

Another member, a woman who’d lost family to betrayal and swore never to trust easily again, found herself wanting to step forward and introduce herself.

’This doesn’t make sense. I don’t know her.’

But the feeling persisted. Warm and reassuring and impossible to shake.

Throughout the formation, Mafia members exchanged glances, clearly uncomfortable with their own reactions.

****

Damian’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind catching the pattern.

His people were cautious, paranoid even. Years of operating in the criminal underworld had taught them to trust no one outside their circle.

Yet they were looking at Luna like she was already part of their family.

’Something’s off...’

He’d noticed this before, ever since Luna awakened, people seemed unusually friendly toward her when she went out. Store owners who were typically curt became chatty and strangers on the street smiled more readily. He’d attributed it to her gentle nature and genuine kindness at first.

This was different.

This was immediate and universal and stronger than natural charisma should allow.

"This is Luna Valcor... She’ll be attending Stormhold Academy starting next week."

It was a simple introduction.

But Damian watched carefully as his people’s body language shifted. Shoulders relaxing, expressions softening and defensive postures easing.

Like Luna’s presence itself was disarming them without any conscious effort on her part.

’What is this? Is it her Empath skill affecting them somehow? Or something else?’

Alessio approached, his young face serious.

He bowed to Luna, gesture formal and precise.

"Mistress... I’m Alessio."

The title hung there.

Luna’s eyes widened, snapping to Damian.

’Mistress?!’

Damian’s expression didn’t change, but internally he was cataloging Alessio’s behavior.

The boy’s absolute loyalty to Damian was unchangeable, Luna’s presence couldn’t override that core conviction.

But Alessio’s usual guardedness around strangers had vanished completely. He was speaking to Luna with the same trust he’d show to Damian himself.

Alessio continued, earnest.

"Master saved my life one year ago and gave me a name when I had none. Everything I am exists because he gave me that chance."

His voice carried absolute conviction.

"If you’re important to the Master, you’re important to us. Anything you need, Mistress, just ask."

Luna looked at this fifteen-year-old who spoke like someone much older and whose devotion shouldn’t be possible from someone so young.

"You don’t need to call me that... Luna’s fine."

Alessio shook his head, expression firm.

"Master’s family deserves proper respect... You’re Mistress."

There was no room for argument. Alessio had already decided.

Damian made a small sound that might have been amusement, though his mind was elsewhere.

"He’s stubborn... You’ll adapt."