LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The First Mission
Luca stepped out of the hospital into the biting night air, his movements slow and deliberate. The painkillers were doing their job, but he could still feel the dull ache of his wounds with every step. The city lights glimmered ahead, an indifferent witness to his rebirth.
He tightened the straps of his coat around him, hiding the bloodstained shirt beneath. The world around him seemed sharper, clearer. The faint chatter of street vendors, the distant hum of a car engine—everything stood out as if amplified.
The glowing interface still hovered faintly in his vision, flickering occasionally like an old TV screen. A small timer in the corner counted down from 48 hours, a constant reminder of his looming mission.
Reclaim the Moretti Family's gambling den from Viper Syndicate control.
The words echoed in his mind. He had no weapons, no backup, and no plan. The system had given him a map, but it wasn't enough.
"You want me to take down an entire Viper-controlled den alone?" he muttered under his breath, drawing strange looks from a passing couple.
The system responded instantly, its mechanical tone calm and precise. The tools you need will be provided. Your success depends on your resolve and strategy. You are more capable than you believe, Luca Moretti.
Luca's jaw tightened. He didn't trust the system, not yet, but it had already saved his life once. He had little choice but to play along.
---
Location: Luca's Apartment
Luca's small one-bedroom apartment was exactly as he had left it: a mess of crumpled papers, empty liquor bottles, and a pistol hidden beneath his couch cushions. He locked the door behind him and immediately retrieved the weapon, checking the magazine. Five bullets.
"It'll have to do," he muttered.
As he sat on the worn-out couch, the system's interface shifted, displaying a new screen labeled Resources. Beneath it, a message flashed:
Starter Pack Unlocked. Claim Now.
Before Luca could question it, a sharp knock on his door startled him. His gun was in his hand before he even realized it, the safety off.
"Who is it?" he barked.
"It's Marco," came the reply, his voice muffled through the door.
Luca relaxed slightly. Marco was a trusted friend and one of the few loyal members left in the Moretti Family. Still, Luca kept the gun in hand as he opened the door.
Marco stepped in, his bulky frame filling the small space. His face was a mixture of relief and worry as he took in Luca's appearance.
"Jesus, Luca. You look like you crawled out of a grave," Marco said, shutting the door behind him.
"Feels like I did," Luca replied dryly.
Marco handed him a small bag. "Some clothes and a burner phone. Thought you might need it after what happened."
Luca accepted the bag with a nod, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean, 'what happened'? How much do you know?"
Marco hesitated, his gaze darting to the window. "Word on the street is the Vipers tried to take you out. Boss is pissed. He's saying it's time we hit back, but half the crew is too scared to move. They think we're finished."
"We're not finished," Luca growled, his voice hard.
Marco raised an eyebrow. "You sound sure of that. Got a plan?"
Luca hesitated, glancing at the interface still hovering faintly in his vision. Could he trust Marco with the truth? The system seemed to read his thoughts.
Trust is a valuable asset. Choose wisely.
"Not yet," Luca finally said, sidestepping the question. "But I will. Tell the old man to hold off on any retaliation. This isn't over."
Marco nodded slowly, though his expression remained skeptical. "Alright, but you'd better have something soon. The Vipers aren't gonna wait for us to get our act together."
After Marco left, Luca focused on the interface again. The Starter Pack option was still flashing, taunting him. With a deep breath, he selected it.
The screen flickered, and suddenly, a small black duffel bag materialized on the floor in front of him. Luca jumped to his feet, his gun trained on the mysterious object.
"What the hell…"
Starter Pack Claimed. Contents: 1x Tactical Knife, 1x Suppressed Handgun (Fully Loaded), 1x Set of Basic Armor, 5x Smoke Grenades, 1x Communication Device.
Cautiously, Luca unzipped the bag. Inside, just as the system described, were the tools of a professional hitman. He held up the body armor, a lightweight vest that seemed far more durable than its thin material suggested. The suppressed handgun felt perfectly balanced in his grip.
"Alright," Luca muttered, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe you're not completely useless."
---
Location: The Gambling Den
The Moretti Family's gambling den was a shadow of its former self. Once a bustling hub of illicit activity, it was now under Viper Syndicate control. Their men loitered outside, smoking and laughing, their arrogance on full display.
Luca crouched in the shadows of an adjacent building, his new armor snug beneath his coat. The map provided by the system had highlighted key entry points and guard patrols, giving him a clear path to the den's security hub.
Mission Tip: Eliminate guards quietly to avoid reinforcements.
"Yeah, no kidding," Luca muttered, gripping the tactical knife.
He waited until one of the guards wandered off to relieve himself in the alley. Moving like a shadow, Luca crept up behind him and clamped a hand over the man's mouth. The knife flashed once, clean and precise, and the guard crumpled to the ground without a sound.
Stealth Kill: +10 XP.
The words flashed in Luca's vision, but he barely registered them. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he dragged the body into the shadows and continued toward the building.
Inside, the den was a maze of smoky rooms and flashing lights. Luca moved quickly, taking out two more guards with the same ruthless efficiency. Each time, the system rewarded him with small bursts of XP, but his focus remained on the mission.
Finally, he reached the security hub. A single guard sat at the desk, his back to the door. Luca didn't hesitate, his suppressed handgun spitting once.
Objective Complete: Security Disabled.
With the cameras down, Luca signaled Marco through the communication device. Within minutes, a small crew of Moretti men stormed the den, overwhelming the remaining Vipers.
By the time the dust settled, the den was theirs again.
Luca stood in the center of the room, bloodied but triumphant, as Marco approached.
"Damn, Luca," Marco said, shaking his head. "You really pulled it off."
Luca didn't reply. The timer in his vision had disappeared, replaced by a new message.
Mission Complete. Reward Unlocked: Enhanced Persuasion.
As the Moretti crew cheered around him, Luca felt a strange warmth in his chest. The system wasn't just a tool—it was a weapon. And he intended to use it to its fullest.
The Moretti Family's gambling den reeked of stale alcohol, burnt tobacco, and the coppery tang of blood. The flashing lights from the slot machines cast eerie shadows over the bodies of the Viper Syndicate guards scattered across the floor.
Luca stood in the center of the chaos, breathing heavily. The adrenaline that had fueled him through the night began to wane, leaving him acutely aware of his aching wounds. He wiped a streak of blood—none of it his own—from his face and holstered his suppressed handgun.
The Moretti crew had swarmed the building, sweeping through the remaining rooms and securing the territory. Marco stood nearby, shouting orders to the others, his voice cutting through the hum of broken electronics.
"Luca!" Marco called, approaching with a grim smile. "We've got the place back. It's ours again."
Luca nodded, his gaze sweeping over the room. "Any casualties?"
"None on our side," Marco said. "A couple of the boys took hits, but nothing serious. Vipers didn't stand a chance after you took out their security."
Luca's jaw tightened at the mention of the Vipers. The ambush in the alley had nearly ended him, and now, standing here in what was once their stronghold, he felt no satisfaction—only a deep, simmering anger.
"They'll retaliate," Luca said quietly. "This was just the first move. They'll come back harder."
Marco's grin faltered. "You really think they'll bother? We sent a pretty loud message tonight."
Luca turned to face him, his expression cold. "The Viper Syndicate doesn't let things slide. They'll come for blood."
Marco hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. What's the plan, then?"
Before Luca could respond, the system's interface flickered into view. A new notification appeared, its words clear and unyielding:
Mission Aftermath: Strengthen Family Morale. Reward: Tactical Planning Skill. Penalty for failure: Decreased Loyalty.
Luca frowned. He didn't need a system to tell him that morale was critical. The Moretti Family was hanging by a thread, its members fractured and fearful. If they didn't solidify their unity now, the Vipers wouldn't need to strike—they'd implode on their own.
"Call everyone," Luca said, his voice firm. "We need a meeting. The family needs to know what happened here tonight—and what's coming next."
Marco raised an eyebrow. "Everyone? Even the old man?"
"Especially the old man," Luca said. "He needs to see this for himself."
---
Location: Moretti Family Safehouse
The safehouse was one of the last remnants of the Moretti Family's former glory. Hidden beneath an unassuming bakery, it was a dimly lit room with a long wooden table at its center. A faded map of the city was pinned to the wall, marking territories lost and retained.
The room was filled with tension as the remaining members of the family gathered. Old Don Moretti sat at the head of the table, his once-powerful frame now hunched with age. His sharp eyes flicked to Luca as he entered, a mixture of relief and suspicion in his gaze.
"Luca," the Don said, his voice gravelly. "Marco told me what happened. Is it true? You took the gambling den back from the Vipers?"
Luca nodded, taking a seat near the head of the table. "It's true. We've reclaimed it, but it won't mean anything if we don't prepare for what's next."
Murmurs spread through the room. The younger members of the family looked to Luca with a mixture of admiration and doubt, while the older ones exchanged skeptical glances.
"You expect us to believe you took on the Vipers and won, just like that?" one of the lieutenants asked, his tone laced with disbelief. "We've been losing ground for months. What makes you think we can hold it now?"
Luca's eyes narrowed. The system's notification flashed briefly in his vision, reminding him of his task: Strengthen Family Morale.
"You're right to question me," Luca said, his voice steady. "We've been losing because we've been acting like we've already lost. But tonight, we proved that we're not finished—not if we stand together."
He leaned forward, his gaze sweeping across the room. "The Vipers want us to believe we're weak. They want us to roll over and hand them everything we've built. But I'm not going to let that happen. And if any of you still have loyalty to this family, neither will you."
The room fell silent. Even the old Don seemed taken aback by the fire in Luca's voice.
After a moment, Marco spoke up, his voice loud and confident. "He's right. We've got a shot at turning this around, but only if we stop second-guessing ourselves. Luca's got a plan, and I say we follow it."
One by one, the other members began nodding, their resolve slowly hardening. The air in the room shifted, the weight of defeat lifting just slightly.
The Don finally spoke, his voice low but firm. "Luca. If you're going to lead us in this fight, you'd better be ready to see it through. No half-measures. No mistakes."
Luca met the old man's gaze, his expression unwavering. "I'm ready."
The system's interface appeared again, the words glowing brightly in his vision.
Mission Complete. Reward Unlocked: Tactical Planning Skill.
A sudden rush of knowledge filled Luca's mind—strategies, formations, contingencies. It was as if he had spent years studying the art of war. He took a deep breath, steadying himself as the sensation faded.
"We'll hit the Vipers before they can regroup," Luca said, his voice calm and calculated. "But first, we secure our own territory. Every asset, every ally. We consolidate our strength, and then we strike."
The room erupted in murmurs of agreement. The Moretti Family wasn't whole, but tonight, they had taken a step toward rebuilding.
As the meeting adjourned, Don Moretti stopped Luca near the door. "You've done well, boy," the old man said quietly. "But power comes at a price. Be careful how much you're willing to pay."
Luca nodded, though the weight of the system's presence pressed heavily on his mind. He was no stranger to sacrifice, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the true cost of his newfound power had yet to reveal itself.