LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Tactical Genius
The Moretti Family's safe house was alive with activity. Men moved in and out of the room, carrying maps, weapons, and reports as Luca stood at the center of the chaos, his sharp gaze fixed on the table before him. Spread out across its surface was a map of the city, marked with pins, circles, and hastily scribbled notes. Every mark represented an opportunity, a risk, or a target in the unfolding war against the Viper Syndicate.
Marco and Sal hovered nearby, both looking battered but determined after the Vipers' ambush. Luca had barely rested since escaping the nightclub; his mind was consumed with plans for revenge.
"Boss, we can't just charge in," Marco said, breaking the tense silence. "The Vipers have fortified their main hideouts. They're expecting us to retaliate."
Sal snorted. "So what? We sit around and let them think they've won?"
"Enough," Luca snapped, silencing them both. "We're not charging in, and we're not sitting around. We're going to outthink them."
The system interface shimmered faintly in his vision, a soothing contrast to the chaos around him.
System Update: New Skill Unlocked – Tactical Genius.
Skill Description: Gain enhanced predictive abilities to anticipate enemy strategies and devise effective countermeasures.
Objective: Use Tactical Genius to neutralize the Viper Syndicate.
Luca's lips curled into a faint smile. The system had proven its worth time and time again, but this—this was a game-changer.
---
He closed his eyes, focusing on the map. As he activated the new skill, the room seemed to fade away. In its place, he saw a simulation of the city, the pieces of the conflict arranged like a chessboard. The Viper Syndicate's movements, defenses, and potential counterattacks unfolded before him in vivid detail.
The system highlighted weak points in their supply chain, underprotected safehouses, and even patterns in their patrols. A complex, multilayered plan began to form in his mind, each step fitting together like a puzzle.
---
When he opened his eyes, the room was exactly as he'd left it, but Luca was different. His confidence was unshakable, his vision crystal clear.
"Listen up," he said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "We're going to hit them where it hurts, but we're not going to do it all at once. This isn't just about revenge—it's about dismantling their entire operation."
Marco and Sal exchanged a glance but said nothing, waiting for Luca to elaborate.
"We start with their supply chain," Luca continued, pointing to a cluster of warehouses marked on the map. "They've been moving drugs and weapons through these locations. We'll hit them hard and fast, cutting off their income and resources."
Sal nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Now you're talking."
"But that's just the beginning," Luca said. "Once their supply chain is crippled, we'll target their communications. They've got runners and informants all over the city—we'll take them out, one by one, until the Vipers can't even send a message without us knowing about it."
Marco frowned. "That's going to take time. What if they strike back while we're working on this?"
"They will," Luca said matter-of-factly. "That's why we'll set traps. We'll make it look like we're vulnerable, draw them into ambushes, and bleed them dry. By the time we're done, they won't have the manpower or the morale to fight back."
---
The plan was as bold as it was ruthless, and over the next few hours, Luca laid out every detail. His lieutenants listened intently, their initial skepticism replaced by admiration for his brilliance. Even Marco, who was often quick to question Luca's decisions, seemed fully on board.
When the meeting finally adjourned, Luca remained behind, staring at the map as if he could will the Vipers' downfall into existence.
System Notification: Plan Established. Probability of Success: 87%.
Luca allowed himself a small smile. It wasn't a guarantee, but it was as close as he could hope for.
---
The first phase of the plan went into motion the following night. Sal led a team to the docks, where the Vipers had been using a series of unmarked warehouses to store their goods. With the system's guidance, they timed their attack perfectly, striking just as the Vipers were unloading a shipment of weapons.
The fight was brutal but brief. Caught off guard, the Vipers didn't stand a chance. By the time reinforcements arrived, the warehouses were engulfed in flames, their contents destroyed.
Luca's phone buzzed as Sal sent him a quick update: Docks cleared. No casualties on our side. Moving to the next target.
---
Meanwhile, Marco led another team into the heart of the slums, where the Vipers' runners operated. Using information supplied by the system, they intercepted and eliminated several key operatives, crippling the gang's ability to coordinate.
By the end of the night, the Viper Syndicate had suffered significant losses, and the Moretti Family hadn't lost a single man.
---
Back at the safe house, Luca reviewed the reports with grim satisfaction. The plan was working, but he knew the Vipers wouldn't take this lying down. They would retaliate, and when they did, they would come at him with everything they had.
System Notification: Enemy Retaliation Expected. Prepare Countermeasures.
Luca's mind was already racing with possibilities. He would use their aggression against them, turning every attack into an opportunity to tighten his grip on the city.
"They're going to come for us," Marco said, echoing Luca's thoughts.
"Let them," Luca replied, his voice cold and steady. "We'll be ready."
---
Over the next few days, the Moretti Family executed Luca's plan with ruthless efficiency. Safehouses were raided, supply lines were severed, and key Viper leaders were assassinated. Each victory brought them closer to total dominance, but it also escalated the conflict.
The Vipers struck back with increasing desperation, launching attacks on Moretti-controlled territories. But thanks to Luca's Tactical Genius, every move they made played directly into his hands.
---
By the end of the week, the Viper Syndicate was a shadow of its former self. Their leaders were in hiding, their resources depleted, and their morale shattered. The city was on the brink of a new era, with the Moretti Family poised to take control.
As Luca stood on the rooftop of the safe house, gazing out at the city skyline, the system delivered its final update for the night.
System Notification: Phase One Complete. Enemy Forces Significantly Weakened.
Luca's fists clenched at his sides, his resolve stronger than ever. The war was far from over, but for the first time, he could see the endgame.
"This city will be ours," he murmured, the words a promise to himself and to the system that had guided him this far.
Behind him, Marco and Sal approached, their faces grim but hopeful.
"What's next, boss?" Marco asked.
Luca turned to face them, his expression unreadable. "Next, we finish what we started. The Vipers made their move, and now it's our turn."
The fight was far from over, but Luca Moretti was ready. With the system by his side, he would crush the Viper Syndicate and secure his place as the undisputed king of the underworld.