Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 160: The Quiet Before the Storm

To think that a child had been born solely as a tool in this man’s schemes... even a soldier like himself couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity.

The Master swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze thoughtful. "Hmm... If the boy is only six years old, there’s still time to mold him. At that age, shaping his mind would be relatively simple. But he is a Di Malvento. Can we truly treat him as though he were just another disposable pawn?"

The Master stroked his chin thoughtfully before casting a brief glance over his shoulder.

"You’ve seen the child in person, haven’t you? What do you think? Is he as cunning as his brother?"

The unexpected question was received as an honor, and the subordinate bowed his head lightly.

Reflecting on the child he had observed in the Del Fiore estate’s garden, he shook his head slightly.

"No, my lord. Quite the opposite. Far from resembling the Di Malventos—or any mafia lineage for that matter—the boy seemed hopelessly dull. If given the right push, he could easily be subdued."

The image of the Del Fiore heir cradling the trembling child resurfaced in his mind.

The boy showed no sign of wit or physical prowess, at least not at first glance.

Stripped of his ethereal beauty, he was merely an ordinary child.

Yet, it was precisely this innocence that made him vulnerable—an easy lure for monsters.

A soul so untainted, living in the shadows of the criminal underworld, would inevitably attract the filthiest beasts.

After hearing this analysis, the Master’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

"Then it seems his value is beyond question. We shall use him to turn the Del Fiores to our will."

"I’m deeply honored that you see potential in my grandson!" the vulgar man across the room interjected, his voice grating. "My family is always at your service, my lord. Please, continue to favor us in the future."

The man’s obsequious tone grated on everyone’s nerves, even the master, whose smile tightened ever so slightly.

Although the subordinate said nothing, he internally sighed at the man’s obliviousness.

The man was useful—his rank, his connections, and his scheme of planting family within the Di Malvento lineage were all assets.

Yet his inability to read the room was insufferable.

In truth, the man was a fool.

How long could such a pawn remain useful?

He clung to the delusion of being a loyal "vassal" to his Master, blind to the fact that in his Master’s eyes, all who served were mere expendables.

"Ah, I’m counting on you," the Master replied in a detached tone devoid of emotion.

As expected, the man erupted in joy, oblivious to the coldness behind the words.

That day, Rocco found himself glaring at a newspaper with furrowed brows.

The headline on the front page, printed in bold letters, demanded his full attention.

<<A Tale Like Romeo and Juliet?! A Scandalous Love Affair Between Two Feuding Families!>>

Romeo and Juliet.

He recognized the phrase—he’d seen it in his previous life.

The very same headline had appeared in the original story.

Of course, back then, the scandal’s central figures weren’t Rocco and Laxus—it was Laxus and Sylas.

As Rocco sat frowning at the baseless and absurd article in the newspaper, the cause of all his troubles leaned in beside him, seated close enough for their shoulders to touch.

With a cheerful smile, Laxus gently pulled Rocco into a side hug.

"Rocco, don’t make such a scary face. Look, I brought cookies. Your favorite chocolate cookies—do you want one?"

"Choco!"

A chocolate cookie suddenly filled Rocco’s view and effectively blocking his glare at the newspaper.

At the sight of his favorite treat, Rocco’s mouth watered.

Forgetting all about the article, he quickly took a bite.

Munch, munch—delicious.

"Mmm, munch... Laxus, the cookies from your house are always so good. I love them."

"Hmm? Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Could you say that again?"

"Huh? I said they’re good, so I love them."

"Ahh...! Rocco’s cuteness attacks are as devastating as ever...!"

As Laxus squirmed in exaggerated delight, Rocco gave him a slightly exasperated look.

Ignoring Laxus’s antics, Rocco continued munching on his cookie.

With a sigh, he found himself reflecting on how strange this situation was.

It had been a month since the infamous soirée.

Even for Rocco, who was no stranger to assassination attempts and chaotic encounters as a mafia child, the events of the past month had been so intense they left him feeling utterly drained.

Finally, things had begun to settle down—hence the current calm moment.

When Rocco thought about it, nearly six months had passed since he first steeled himself for his six-year-old birthday party.

At this rate, with a few more incidents here and there, his seventh birthday would arrive before he knew it.

And with all the gossip about the supposed "grand romance" between the two great mafia families, as highlighted in that ridiculous newspaper article, things were busier than ever.

After all, Rocco had somehow ended up visiting the Del Fiore estate regularly, thanks to Laxus’s invitations.

Laxus had pleaded with him, tears in his usually smiling eyes, saying, "Let me take responsibility for dragging you into all this! Please, please...!"

Faced with such heartfelt desperation, Rocco couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

Despite Sylas and Marcus’s vehement opposition—"Don’t get involved with the Del Fiores any further!"—Rocco had stubbornly stood his ground and won the argument.

After all, Rocco wanted to protect his family too, and more importantly, he just couldn’t resist when Laxus was crying.

"...Hey, Laxus."

"Yeah? What’s up?"

Rocco had just finished munching on his chocolate cookie, his thoughts swirling, when a question suddenly popped into his mind.

"Do you think the mastermind has given up? They haven’t done anything lately... If so, maybe you don’t need to take responsibility anymore."

"Rocco."

"...Huh?"

Come to think of it, things had been peaceful lately.

There hadn’t been anything you could really call an "incident."