Chapter 150: Future Plans
The awarding ceremony ended an hour later. After receiving the Medal of Honor, Cillian was immediately handed a pouch of gold worth five hundred gold coins. There weren’t any banknotes to use because the many banks had been destroyed by the attack as a casualty.
Unable to put the bag of gold coins in his Inventory, Cillian decided to carry it himself and thought about keeping half of it as his secret stash while using the other half for his daily expenses.
’Money...’
The smell of money on his hands as he opened the pouch brought Cillian happiness. It was almost like the time he received his first-ever merit from his club.
"Uh..."
Scott watched Cillian smell the money Fergus had given him with a strange expression. At that moment, the two of them were alone in the room after Cillian had suddenly asked to speak with him about wanting to say something important.
Because his schedule was becoming packed for the next few months at the very least, Scott could definitely say that he would become very busy once he started tomorrow.
That’s why, whatever important information Cillian was about to tell him, the only time they could talk about it was right now.
Cillian stopped admiring his first-ever paycheck, a definitely worthwhile payment for all the hard work he had done in this territory.
Well, it wasn’t like he was expecting a reward in the first place, but when Scott said that this was necessary, Cillian obviously had to agree right away.
Then, he came to the topic right away.
"You’re coming back to work, sir Scott?"
Scott couldn’t help but frown when he realized that Cillian’s way of speaking was far from his usual tone. It was more like he was forcing himself to be respectful, and Scott suspected it had something to do with wanting to ask him for something.
Scott’s experience as a General Strategist for Khalish Viola had already been tested and proven. Whatever Cillian was trying to pull wasn’t going to work.
"Cillian, I’m not in the mood for jokes. You can just say whatever you wanted to say and I’ll hear you out."
’Ugh, I guess some flattery won’t work on this guy.’
Cillian felt that his chances of convincing Scott had dropped after he was caught only putting on an act. But that didn’t mean the plan he was about to tell Scott was a joke to begin with.
"Scott, are you interested in taking over the Underworld?"
Scott, who felt like Cillian had just become serious, couldn’t help but frown at that bold statement.
Before asking anything else, Scott came up with the most urgent question at the moment.
"Are you planning on trying to take over the Underworld now that Khalish is gone and Viola is in a state of chaos?"
’He gets straight to the point instead of saying unnecessary things. Good, you’re better than I thought. I really love dealing with smart people.’
Cillian pondered inwardly before nodding.
"If possible, yes."
He interlocked his fingers.
"Scott, your responsibility as a General Strategist for Viola was already gone after Khalish himself died. I don’t know why you’re still planning to restore this place. It can’t be restored anymore. Well, even if it can, it’ll take years or even decades. That’s not even the worst part. Look, two weeks have passed, and no nearby family has come to offer us any help."
During the two weeks they had been given without any further problems arising, Scott had tried his best to plan for the safety of the entire Viola.
He helped the people in need, created a scenario where people could find hope by using their image since they had been the most active during the operation, and handled many more things.
Scott tried to restore this place using the riches that Viola had left behind, but it all went to waste.
Not only had the Shepherds destroyed Viola physically, but everyone here was beyond exhausted, barely managing to wake up the next morning just to find something to eat.
The situation at Viola is not good.
"This place is already hopeless."
Those people with little to no status under their names will have a painful life in Viola.
Scott gritted his teeth and clenched his fist as he was about to retort, but Cillian beat him to it.
"The only place left that hasn’t been affected much by the previous attack is the Underworld. I’m sure many families will start moving there or try to establish some influence there. In fact, some people will definitely try to settle there. The value of the Underworld, which had been stagnant before, will increase exponentially."
Cillian wasn’t a major in business, but he knew how it worked just by understanding the basic logic of supply and demand. Definitely, taking over the Underworld was something worth focusing on, as everyone would realize its value immediately once they arrived in Viola.
The Viola Family will disappear, leaving only a free city where it is rampant with gangs and people from the Underworld.
For a while, Scott remained silent. Even so, the more he thought about it, the more Cillian’s words began to make sense.
"How are you so sure that the other families are not helping? Aren’t you jumping to conclusions a bit too much?"
"Hey, you’re a smart person. Instead of helping other families out of generosity, wouldn’t it be better if it’s gone? After all, it’s better to take a weakened territory rather than rebuilding it?"
Scott clicked his tongue. What Cillian said made sense, and Scott was angry.
Not because it had been two weeks since the people who had remained in Viola had been rebuilding this place, hoping to receive some help from the authorities, primarily the seven-now-six Great Families, but because Cillian was probably right about what the other families were thinking and how they could benefit from it.
Even thinking about what they were actually planning was exhausting on its own. That’s why it was better to focus on themselves here.
After remaining silent for a moment as he thought about Cillian’s plan, having been given a few clues by him, Scott said.
"Do you want to control the whole gang of the Underworld?"
There was a hint of shock in Scott’s voice, and his conclusion was immediately confirmed by the smile on Cillian’s face as he continued.
"Obviously, if it’s possible. After all, this will benefit us in the future, and I’m obviously not the only one who would be doing it. We have helpers. Additionally, as I keep saying, the only reason this is even possible in the first place is because the Viola Family is gone. They probably knew everything there was to know about the Underworld."
After Cillian finished speaking, Scott glared at him. Then, after a few moments of silence, he slowly began to accept the situation with a sigh.
No, he had already accepted the situation that had befallen Viola. He just needed someone to push him, and Cillian was the one who had given him a clear path forward.
But if this wasn’t enough to satisfy Scott, Cillian would give him another push
"Do you want revenge on the Shepherds, Scott?"
Hearing Cillian’s confident reply, Scott couldn’t help but look at him with interest before noticing him whispering something into his ear.
"The Xesie is working with the Shepherds."
Scott slowly widened his eyes when he heard this information from the very mouth of this kid, but he didn’t doubt him just yet. After all, Cillian wasn’t the type of person to blabber worthless information, especially if he had to whisper it to avoid it being leaked outside.
"You’re the only one I’ve said this information to for now."
Cillian confidently said before he went back to sit down.
This was the start of building ’walls,’ only this time, they were meant to destroy one of the families. That’s why he was starting early.
And Cillian would make sure it happened.
’We’re in this together now.’