As Lucas arrived at the farmhouse, he stepped out of his car and was immediately greeted by the group. He noticed One Eye standing with Lion and Tiger, and nearby was Vlad, who seemed eager to see him. Beside Vlad stood Jose, who appeared indifferent. Lucas knew that Jose didn’t trust him yet.
“Are you Jose?” Lucas asked, his voice calm but firm.
Jose merely nodded, glancing at Lucas with a hint of skepticism. “Are you the leader of this alliance?” he questioned, his tone challenging.
Before Lucas could respond, One Eye interjected, “Show some respect, Jose. Big Boss is not someone to be taken lightly.”
Lucas raised a hand to stop One Eye. “It’s alright,” he said, turning his attention back to Jose. “Yes, I am the leader of the alliance.”
Jose smirked, clearly unimpressed. “You think you’re tough, huh? How about a hand-to-hand combat to prove it?”
One Eye, visibly irritated, stepped forward. “You think you can just challenge him like that? You’re nothing but a small pup barking at a lion.”
Jose sneered at One Eye. “And you’re just a little lapdog,” he retorted.
Lucas watched the exchange with amusement, a slight grin on his face. “If you can defeat my ‘dog,’ then you can face me,” he said, nodding towards One Eye.
Jose’s eyes narrowed. “Are you underestimating me?” he asked, but he accepted the challenge nonetheless.
The two men moved to an open space, ready to fight. Jose, confident in his abilities, charged forward. One Eye remained calm, waiting for the right moment. As Jose launched his attack, One Eye skillfully dodged, his movements precise and calculated.
The fight dragged on, with Jose growing increasingly frustrated as he failed to land a hit. One Eye taunted him, “Is that all you’ve got?”
Angered, Jose admitted, “You’re good, I’ll give you that. But stop dodging and fight me!”
One Eye chuckled, “Are you sure you want me to attack?” His smile was unsettling.
Jose, resolute, taunted back, “Bring it on!”
With a nod, One Eye warned, “Don’t blame me for being rough,” before launching his attack. In a swift motion, he struck Jose with a single, powerful punch. Jose staggered, surprised by One Eye’s speed and strength, and fell to the ground, dazed.
Lucas, who had been watching from the sidelines, clapped his hands, signaling the end of the fight. “So, Jose, are you convinced now? Do you still want to face me?”
Jose, shaken by the unexpected defeat, nodded meekly. “I’m convinced,” he admitted, his bravado gone.
Vlad approached, patting Jose on the shoulder with a knowing smile. “I warned you, didn’t I?” he said, shaking his head in amusement.
Jose swallowed hard, nodding at Vlad. The reality of Vlad’s descriptions hit him-if One Eye, a newcomer under Lucas, was this formidable, what could Lucas himself be capable of? The thought sent a shiver down his spine, erasing any remnants of his earlier confidence. He couldn’t help but wonder about the full extent of the power under Lucas’s command. If everyone was as strong or even stronger, their chances against the Sicilian Mafia seemed promising.
Lucas’s voice broke through his thoughts, calling everyone to gather. “We came to the farmhouse to discuss the main topic,” he announced, leading the way inside. The farmhouse had been prepared by One Eye, and the men took their seats around a large round table.
Jose, now more respectful and aware of Lucas’s authority, listened intently. His earlier skepticism had transformed into admiration. Lucas began outlining the plan. “We won’t make any rash moves,” he stated. “The Sicilian, Costa, and the remaining Abate family members are currently on an expedition. We need to wait for their return before taking action.”
He turned his gaze to Jose. “Since you’re the next in line to be Don when the remaining members return, gather all the information you can about the Sicilian Familia’s expedition. Our next steps depend on what you find. But rest assured, whatever you uncover about your people won’t be a hindrance; instead, it will be a tool for our future actions.”
Jose nodded, promising Lucas that he would bring the entire Abate Familia under his influence. “I’ll tell them the Sicilians set us up, which is why we were divided. The first half was a trap, leading to their annihilation, including Anton, our Under Boss. The Don was killed at the villa because the other party knew he was alone. I’ll explain that I was away on business, as ordered by the Don, when the villa incident occurred.”
Lucas listened to Jose’s plan and nodded in agreement. “This way, the Abate’s anger towards the Sicilians will intensify,” he remarked.
The discussion continued, focusing on how this alliance would be communicated to their respective territories. Vladimir was to take his place as the new Don of the Mercado family, while Jose would rise as the new Don of the Abate Familia. Each individual in the room grasped the gravity of their responsibilities as they discussed their plans for the upcoming events.
As the meeting concluded, Lucas looked around the table, his eyes meeting each of theirs. “Let’s make sure we’re ready when the time comes.”
Lucas stood up, “Dismissed! Just wait for our next meeting, I will send people to train and strengthen your men. For now, since Vlad’s territory is the only one that’s settled, I will prioritize strengthening his team. I believe, like One Eye and others, their abilities will quickly improve in no time,” he said before looking at Jose, “Inform me once you have sorted out Abate Familia’s men, and once you do, I will immediately send people to help you progress.” Then, looking at Vlad and Jose, “The training I will give you is more than the hellish training I gave to One Eye’s group, but rest assured, the results will be worth it in just a few weeks!”
“Yes Sir!” Vlad and Jose replied in unison before standing up.
Lucas nodded before turning around. As he exited, One Eye followed behind him with Lion and Tiger. “How was the training with your group?” Lucas asked.
“Big Boss,” One Eye replied. “The level of our people has greatly improved, and whatever orders you have, we are ready to face them.”
“Big Boss, if given the chance, I would like to show you the progress of our combo with Tiger,” Lion eagerly said.
Tiger nodded, “Big Boss, if you have any further adjustments, please let us know. We are ready to follow and fight immediately,” he said firmly.
“Fear not, I have something prepared for you. Just wait a few more days, and you will be able to test the results of your training,” Lucas said calmly.
“Yes Sir!” the three of them simultaneously replied. “You can count on us, Sir, with just one call, all the men will be ready.” One Eye assured.
Lucas nodded before waving and bidding farewell. Vlad and Jose also emerged at this time, after exchanging a few more words inside the farmhouse.
Respectfully, everyone saluted as they watched Lucas drive away until he disappeared from their sight. One Eye looked at Jose and Vlad, “I will testify; the training that the Big Boss will conduct is extremely intense, but I assure you that your strength will greatly increase in the shortest time possible, not just physically but also mentally,” One Eye said confidently.
Both Vlad and Jose had no doubts, especially Vlad, as he had seen this person’s capabilities several times. Jose, on the other hand, was eager. He thought he had reached the peak of his strength, but after facing One Eye, he could not fathom surpassing his current abilities. Both were excited to go home and report this to their respective territories.