I was left grappling with a flood of new thoughts.
In this world, countries didn't exist as I knew them. Instead, it was a vast network of organized crime syndicates that held power and authority. Mafias acted as the de facto governments, enforcing their own rules and hierarchies.
However, I couldn't understand if the Mafias were similar at all to the ones I imagined. Are Mafias the bad guys?
What struck me most was that there were smaller groups called Gangs that coexisted with the bigger ones.
One would think that if there were smaller groups like these next to a bigger behemoth, they would be overtaken quite quickly, but it wasn't that simple.
The Maxwell Mafia I was a part of was in control of over half of the Boston area, but there was a much more massive structure above that seemed to have been preventing us from spreading further.
An organization that controlled half of the continent, just like a massive country.
For some reason, I didn't know much about it. I suppose that this counterpart of me wasn't in on what was happening behind the scenes.
I had no idea what it was, but what I knew was that the Maxwell Mafia got to this point because of the strength that my father and his people possessed.
My theory was that this organization enforced rules and punished those who overstepped.
That would mean that they held huge power. Just like a country's government.
"Sir, you seem lost in thought. Are you sure you're okay?" Rick's voice broke through my musings.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied. "You said we were headed to the base? Is it far?"
Rick smiled. "No, not far at all. In fact... we're already here."
I peered out of the window of the limousine and saw towering skyscrapers.
I was confused about how there could be all this technology to build those modern glass skyscrapers and yet, based on Rick's response when I brought them up yesterday, there were no firearms.
A moment later, the limousine came to a stop, and Rick swiftly opened the door, waiting for me to exit. I followed him and stepped out of the car.
We were parked directly in front of a massive skyscraper, dwarfing the surrounding buildings.
At least four imposing security guards stood at attention by the entrance, each seemingly larger than the last. But what caught me off guard was the presence of a blonde woman among them. No matter how you look at it, it was unusual to see a woman in such a position, especially one with a small build like hers.
"Follow me, Sir." Rick said, walking up to the entrance.
I couldn't help but notice the subtle bows of respect from both the security personnel and passersby. I assumed that Rick was a high-ranking person here.
Above the entrance, a symbol caught my eye; two red wings spread wide.
"Why is everyone bowing to you?" I asked Rick quietly, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Were they forced to do this?"
For some reason, it struck the wrong nerve. I did not want anyone to be forced to do something like that.
Rick turned to me, his expression serious. "Look here," he said, pointing to the red highlight in his hair. "Only Maxwell Mafia Pioneers can have this on their hair. They bow to us because they understand the significance of what we do. They are not forced to do it. Remember that."
'What the hell would be so important to bow for? Did he save their lives or something?'
"What is it that you do?" I asked Rick, but he remained tight-lipped.
The first floor of this skyscraper was spacious, with marble floors and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There were restaurants and nice places to sit. Most of the people that I saw were dressed similarly to Rick.
I decided to test something. I closed my eyes and waited for a moment. I wanted to see if those squiggly lines and lights would appear again. And sure enough, they did. But I could only see maybe two or three instances of them, including Rick.
At the end of the lobby, there was a sleek welcome desk with a person ready to help.
Rick didn't even glance toward the receptionist's desk; he strode straight past it and headed for the elevator. I followed closely behind him, feeling a surge of curiosity.
"Is the entire skyscraper owned by the Mafia?" I asked another question.
Rick seemed a bit annoyed at my questions. Well, I would be too, kind of, but it wasn't my fault that I couldn't remember these things.
"Don't be so hasty," he replied as he pressed the button for the top floor. The doors closed, and the elevator began its ascent. "You will learn about everything in due time."
I swallowed nervously. "Should I be scared?"
Rick's hand tightened around my arm. "That will depend on how you perform..."
As the elevator doors opened, I was greeted by a surprising sight. There were people in suits, and they were holding this massive banner that seemed to stretch from one end of the room to the other.
They were waving it up and down like they were cheering at a baseball game or something.
Then, out of nowhere, they all started yelling at the top of their lungs.
""Happy Birthday, Young Master! Happy Birthday, Young Master!""
I blinked a few times, trying to process what was happening.
The banner that they were holding read, "Happy 18th Birthday to Young Master. We wish you a fast recovery. We expect great things from you."
I was dumbfounded.
'What had I gotten myself into?'
As the man approached, I noticed he was a bit on the heavier side, with a bald head and a long scar running across his scalp. He looked like he had been through a lot.
Before I could react, he enveloped me in a bear hug, squeezing so tightly that I couldn't even catch my breath. I felt his tears soaking into my shirt as he mumbled something incoherent.
"Uh, excuse me... who are you?" I managed to choke out, struggling to free myself from his grasp.
But he just held on tighter, his sobs growing louder. "Gray! I'm so sorry..." he whimpered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm your uncle, Gray!"
Finally, he released me from his grip and placed his hand on my arm, locking eyes with me. He was about my height, but much more massive, like a giant teddy bear.
"I heard that you lost your memories," he said through all the sobbing. "If I was there, Gray... I would have taken those lightning strikes on my chest for you!"
I was getting a bit emotional looking at the man. I felt more sorry for him than for myself.
For the next five minutes, everyone crowded around me, greeting me warmly and introducing themselves. It felt like they all knew me so well like we were one big family.
Unfortunately, I couldn't recognize any of them.
I learned that my uncle, who hugged me so tightly, was called Henry.
Throughout this, Rick stood silently by, observing the interactions as if waiting for something.
Then, suddenly, Rick's voice cut through the chatter. "Alright! Everyone! Disperse!"
I glanced over at Rick, wondering what in the fuck was he planning to do.
Everyone around me nodded in understanding. These mothasuckers were in on this!
They put some space between me and them, standing in a circle around me.
"Benjamin! You will give Young Master his first lesson." Rick gestured toward one of the men.
Benjamin was a man with dark, straight hair that fell to his shoulders. He had a small but athletic build and was dressed in a suit. When Rick called out to him, he promptly removed his black jacket and threw it to the floor.
He closed the distance between us like a battering ram. He lowered his center of gravity and stepped toward my lead leg. In a rapid motion, he secured a grip on the back of my knee, locking his arms together.
He launched his body into mine and drew my lower body towards him, disrupting my balance. As his weight pressed against me. In a forceful motion, he slammed me down.
"BOOM!"
My body hit the wooden floor.
I felt my organs shift inside me as my back absorbed the force of the impact. My mouth opened into a silent void, revealing my even, white teeth.
His knees secured a firm grip on either side of my torso. His weight pressed down evenly.
I started rambling, moving, turning, trying to shift his weight, and pushing at his knees, arms, and body. But he countered my every movement.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I cried out, feeling helpless under his grip.
To my surprise, Rick came up to us, leaned over to me, and laughed.
"Nothing personal, Young Master. But you'll need some training."
It seemed to amuse him that I was so weak and it rubbed me the wrong way.