The Mafia Empire

The problem was, this product wasn't being made at the farm.

The subtle differences in flavor hinted that whoever was producing First Love was likely a professional with well-equipped facilities. They had purchased Snow Elf, then performed a second round of processing, resulting in a more refined taste and upscale packaging to sell at a higher price. They hadn't done much—just added a few flavorings and swapped out the packaging.

These people were talented!

Julian looked up at Dave. "Can we find them?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "I think it's possible. If they're using Snow Elf as a base, it means that to expand, they'll need to buy a lot more Snow Elf."

Julian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "First, pull the order sheets for the last four weeks and see if there's been a noticeable increase in any bar's sales. Then send people to the bars and check if there have been any unusually lavish customers buying multiple bottles of Snow Elf at once.

"If we manage to find them, don't harm anyone. Just bring them in." Julian rapped his knuckles on the table twice. "Get to it!"

Dave gave a slight bow, then left quickly. Julian looked at the beautifully packaged bottle on the table, shaking his head with a smile. Was this a display of their skills or a direct challenge to Julian?

The next two days passed without incident—steady shipments, steady payments, with barely a ripple—until Julian's new suit was delivered.

Heidler had repeatedly invited him to meet, wanting to discuss the future of their association. To be honest, Julian didn't want too much to do with this collaborator, but he did need someone "special" to keep him updated on information from the higher-ups, just in case someone influential in Ternell City or Kanros State took an interest in him and moved against him without his knowledge.

Information, whether in development or in war, is a vital factor. Falling behind means enduring a string of disadvantages. As long as Heidler hadn't yet given up on Julian or the association, he'd use this opportunity as much as he could.

Changing into the suit Dumas had sewn himself, Julian didn't feel as though he'd suddenly become an elite member of society. In fact, he found it less comfortable than his usual attire. The slight restriction made him feel a bit restless, almost with an urge to break free. But he knew this suit, costing hundreds of dollars, wasn't meant for escape games.

Once again, he climbed into the same car. This time, there was no one telling him what to do or what not to do—just silence the whole way.

When he arrived, Julian got out and gave Lamas, who wore a particularly serious expression, a meaningful glance before turning and leaving.

Julian held grudges.

As a child, the neighbor's dog had eaten his stool and bitten his backside while he was doing his business. He spent nearly a month preparing a small trap for it. Farmers in the countryside often had to protect themselves from wild animals, so trap-making was a common skill. Julian dug a simple spiked pit, then lured the dog over with a special scent.

He watched the dog panic as it fell into the trap, listening to its desperate cries. Standing at the edge, he waited a long time, watching until the dog took its last breath, then ran home, screaming, to tell Mr. Kesma what had happened.

That evening, they enjoyed a delicious and rather special dinner.

Julian held grudges.

This time, when he met Heidler, there was a hint less arrogance in Heidler's demeanor. To him, Ternell might just be a temporary stop in his career, a place he'd leave once his term ended. But here, and now, the young man before him had taught him the true spelling of "miracle"—spelled "Julian."

Heidler personally poured Julian a drink, then sat down across from him, swirling his glass and lifting it slightly. "To the omnipotent power of money!"

"That's a truth I can agree with!" Julian lifted his glass and took a small sip.

Setting down his glass, Heidler crossed one leg over the other, pressing his fingertips together and resting them on his knee. "Come work for me!"

During this time, Julian's dazzling performance was so striking that even Heidler found it hard to ignore. Initially, when the conflict between Julian and Wood broke out, Heidler's instinct was to abandon Julian entirely, never see him again, and certainly not step in to save his life if he failed.

In Heidler's view, Julian's reckless conflict with Wood was foolish. Wood had established himself here for years; how could a newcomer like Julian expect to topple him so easily? Anyone worthy of being called a mogul had a bloody history behind them.

Heidler had predicted Julian wouldn't last a week—that he'd end up a corpse floating down the Agate River or vanish without a trace, as if he'd never been there.

But then, a surprising reversal left Heidler wide-eyed. He couldn't understand how Wood, who was undeniably powerful, lost without even exerting a fraction of his strength, while Julian—this seemingly lucky kid—emerged as the final victor.

Then Gador committed suicide at the police station, with all signs pointing back to Julian. It was then that Heidler began to thoroughly examine Julian, scrutinizing his every move.

He concluded that Julian was ruthless, opportunistic, and skilled at seizing chances. His decisiveness was beyond his years, more reminiscent of an old hand who had experienced multiple ups and downs.

Heidler finally understood what made Julian remarkable—his skill in understanding human nature and his keen sense of timing. He had exploited the deaths of Wood's associates to provoke Wood, forcing him to confront Julian. In gang circles, there was an old saying: "Rise by me, fall by me." In simple terms, it meant not involving others, including family, in conflicts.

If Wood had slowed down, strategically pacing himself in confrontations rather than rushing into battle with Julian, who was always prepared, he might have won. Julian couldn't have withstood more than three or five confrontations.

But Wood was overconfident, which gave Julian the opportunity to settle it in a single fight. One could say Wood's arrogance led to his downfall, but it could also be said that Julian lit the perfect spark for his own victory.