Chapter 16
The destruction of the two major Mafia hubs shook the entire nation. Every news channel was buzzing with the same headline: The downfall of Haru and his empire. Haru was the youngest grandson of Ley Hon, the absolute patriarch of the city's most powerful Mafia families. For the oppressed poor, it was a day of celebration—the Mafia Hunters had finally struck a blow against the titans.
The law, a mere puppet in the hands of the Mafia, vowed to track down the culprits. Yet, the Mafia Hunters were ghosts, moving through the shadows with surgical precision. For an entire month, Aroon—Haru's father—tossed the city upside down, but found nothing.
Amidst this chaos, Ranzo lived a double life. He had just finished his final exams, securing the top position and winning the rare "Best Student of the Year" award.
Friday arrived. The school auditorium was packed. Ranzo's parents, Marine, his teammates Sanko and Sukome, and even Lady Cold—disguised in the crowd—had come to witness his moment of glory. As Ranzo walked onto the stage, the spotlight caught the sharp angles of his face. He accepted the award with a humble grace that masked the lethal hunter within.
He stepped to the microphone. First, he looked at his parents, whose heads were held high with pride. Then, his gaze landed on Marine. She was looking at him with eyes full of pure joy, her world seemingly centered on him. Ranzo gave her a subtle, warm smile before addressing the crowd.
"I owe this achievement to my teachers, whose guidance was invaluable, and to my parents, who provided the foundation for me to stand here today. Many students will follow in my footsteps, but it takes relentless hard work. To my teachers... I will miss your wisdom in the years to come. And as for this award... I heard that ten years ago, a girl named Rami won this. I've always wondered what kind of person she became."
Suddenly, a woman stood up from the back of the hall. "Well, take a look! I'm right here!"
It was Rami. At thirty, she possessed a radiance that defied age. Her eyes were a deep, mesmerizing brown, and her hair shone like polished mahogany. Her style was impeccable, radiating an aura of elite confidence. She slid her black sunglasses up onto her head and walked toward the stage with a sharp, rhythmic click of her heels.
Ranzo remained expressionless as she approached. She reached the stage and extended a hand, her attitude dripping with superiority. "Nice to meet you. And for the record—I'm not married, and I certainly don't have kids."
Ranzo's mind whirled. So this is the legendary Rami? I expected someone refined, but she's... a handful.
An old alumnus shouted from the crowd, "Hey Ranzo! Shake her hand! Rami doesn't give many guys that chance!"
But just as Ranzo reached out, Rami pulled her hand back with a smirk. "Too slow. Your time is up."
Ranzo didn't flinch. He simply turned back to the audience, his own aura of cool indifference taking over. "I'll take my leave then." He walked off the stage without giving Rami a second glance.
Rami stood there, stunned by his coldness. Oh wow... he's exactly my type.
Later, in the school grounds, Ranzo was mobbed by students. He laughed, tossed his black cap into the air, and soaked in the moment with his friends. Sanko and Sukome fought their way through the crowd.
"I knew you'd nail it!" Sanko beamed. "Tonight's party is on me!"
"A celebration is definitely in order, Master Ace," Sukome added, her eyes gleaming.
"If I have time tonight, we'll party," Ranzo said. "But first, I have another ceremony to attend."
"Another one?" Sukome asked, confused.
"The Vincenti Boutique Awards," Ranzo said with a touch of pride. "Marine is being honored as the Best Fashion Designer. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
He spotted his family and ran over to them. His parents were glowing, and Marine was radiating happiness. "I knew you'd win it this year, Marine," Ranzo said softly.
Marine looked deep into his eyes. "It only happened because you were standing behind me, Ranzo. You're the reason I made it this far."
Their father, Zaydan, cleared his throat playfully. "Is all the praise reserved for your brother? What about us?"
Marine laughed. "If I start praising you two, we'll be here until sunset! We have a ceremony to get to!"
Watching the happy family from afar, Lady Cold smiled to herself and vanished into the shadows.
An hour later, at the boutique gala, the atmosphere changed. As Marine was called to the stage, a tall, striking man entered the hall. He moved with an effortless elegance, wearing a suit that Marine herself had designed.
The announcer's voice boomed: "To present the award to Miss Marine Vincenti, we have the city's premier business tycoon—Mr. Wansoor!"
Wansoor was twenty-seven, incredibly handsome, and possessed a legendary obsession with fashion and beauty. The crowd gasped; a man of his stature rarely appeared at such events. He stepped onto the stage, took the award, and handed it to Marine with a captivating smile. "Congratulations, most beautiful lady."
Marine, feeling his intense gaze, took the award and looked away, remaining silent.
Ranzo, watching from the wings, felt a sudden chill. He suppressed his emotions, but his eyes never left Wansoor.
Wansoor turned to the audience. "True beauty deserves to be honored in gold. These clothes I wear were crafted by the gifted hands of Miss Marine. In my entire life, I have never seen a designer with her vision. I wear only her designs."
Then, he turned back to Marine. In front of the entire elite society, he dropped to one knee, placing one hand over his heart and extending the other toward her.
"Beautiful lady, I came here today for one reason: to tell you what is in my heart. I am in love with your creations... and with your very soul."
A deafening silence fell over the hall. The shock was absolute. Wansoor had just proposed to Marine in public. Her parents were frozen in disbelief.
But Ranzo... Ranzo's eyes transformed. The warmth was gone, replaced by the predatory glint of a killer. His hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.
How dare you... he thought, his blood turning to ice. You've just signed your death warrant.