Capítulo 13: Daily Task and Status
Tom Hagen's car had just pulled away from the Corleone Family mansion. As the vehicle merged onto the road, Tom glanced at Lorenzo in the rearview mirror.
There was something about Lorenzo that had caught Don Corleone's eye, sparking Tom's curiosity about the young man as well.
"Why did your friend get beaten up?" Tom initiated a conversation, aware that the journey to Manhattan's Lower East Side would take an hour, if not more.
Lorenzo started to recount the events, "It all started at the armaments factory where we work on the assembly line," as Tom listened intently.
The fact that Lorenzo, a young man, was employed at an armaments factory didn't surprise Tom in the least, considering the country was at war.
"How long have you two been working there?" he inquired.
"It's been about two weeks since we started," Lorenzo replied.
Tom nodded, his expression one of understanding.
Lorenzo pressed on with his tale, mentioning, "There's this guy at the factory, Antonio, who's got ties to the mafia, specifically the Barzini family."
Tom raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback. "A Barzini underling?"
It seemed to Tom that Lorenzo was hinting at something significant—perhaps suggesting that this Barzini associate was behind the assault on his friend. The mention of the Barzini family piqued Tom's interest, given their notorious rivalry with his own, the Corleone family.
Lorenzo watched Tom closely, gauging his reaction.
Lorenzo's choice to divulge the full story stemmed from a desire to shed light on the Barzini family's movements. He believed that a conflict with the Corleones was inevitable, considering he was somewhat familiar with the narrative arc of "The Godfather." Whether or not their reality would unfold according to the script of "The Godfather" was still uncertain to Lorenzo, but he sensed the brewing storm.
"Yes, Antonio is connected to the Barzini family," Lorenzo confirmed with a nod, then added, "Just yesterday, my friend Adam Leverson saw Antonio and a bunch of guys lifting weapons right out of the armory's stock."
Tom was visibly taken aback. "The Barzini's have the gall to pilfer weapons from the factory?"
"Exactly." Lorenzo nodded, slightly entertained by Tom's shock. In the criminal underworld, no act of lawlessness comes as a surprise.
He brushed off Tom's astonishment as he went on, "Once Antonio and a group of men, likely Barzini goons, realized Adam had spotted them, they viciously attacked my friend."
As Tom navigated the car, he absorbed Lorenzo's story with intense focus. The gears in his mind turned: "The Barzini family stealing weapons... they're definitely up to something big. I need to bring this up with Don Corleone..."
Noticing Tom lost in thought, Lorenzo waited until Tom spoke with heartfelt gratitude, "Thank you for sharing this with me, Lorenzo."
"It's no trouble at all," Lorenzo replied, a smile playing on his lips. He hoped his insights would sharpen the Corleones' vigilance against the Barzinis.
For Lorenzo, the Barzinis weren't just a threat to the Corleones; they had become personal adversaries. His friend's beating was one thing, but the Barzinis' strong presence in the Lower East Side of Manhattan posed a broader challenge. Lorenzo's ambitions of establishing his own power base meant crossing paths with them was inevitable.
Lost in these reflections, they continued their journey, which stretched just over two hours, before arriving in the Lower East Side of New York.
Lorenzo opened the door and stepped out, turning to Tom, "Thanks for the ride, Tom."
"No worries," Tom replied with a smile. "Which hospital is your friend at?"
"It's Mount Sinai Hospital," Lorenzo informed him.
"His name's Adam Leverson, right?" Tom confirmed.
Lorenzo nodded, recalling he had mentioned Adam's name earlier when explaining the incident.
"I'll head over there now and take care of his medical bills," Tom announced.
Lorenzo's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much. And I'm sorry for all this hassle."
Tom waved off the apology, still smiling. "It's no hassle at all, Lorenzo. I'm just doing what Don Corleone asked of me."
They continued chatting by the car's open window for a short while longer before Lorenzo said, "I won't keep you any longer. See you around, Tom."
"Sure thing. See you soon," Tom nodded, then rolled up the window and drove away.
Lorenzo watched the car fade into the distance, then turned and ambled through the neighborhood, eventually arriving at the run-down building housing his modest apartment. Exhaustion washed over him, a mix of physical frailty and the day's relentless demands. Collapsing onto his small bed, sleep claimed him instantly, bypassing dinner—not by choice, but necessity, as he scrimped to cover next week's rent.
---
As morning light spilled into New York, rays of sunlight sneaked into Lorenzo's cramped apartment, heralding a new day.
Yet, Lorenzo remained in the grips of sleep, oblivious to the ticking clock edging him closer to his workday.
Suddenly, a sharp [Ding! Task received!] shattered the silence. The sterile voice of his alarm jolted Lorenzo from his slumber, a reluctant awakening.
Despite yearning for more sleep, he knew laziness was a luxury he couldn't afford. With a sigh, he forced himself up, ready to face another day.
As Lorenzo rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he squinted at the digital interface floating before him and murmured, "A new task? What's this about?"
The system, sensing his curiosity, flashed a new message into view: [Daily Task: Your physical condition is dire—strength and charm attributes are at rock bottom! A Don thrives not just on wit but on wellness.
Your mission: incorporate jogging into your day. Jog to the train station as part of your commute. After work, take the jog back through your neighborhood on your way home.
Reward: +1 Attribute Point. Bonus: Completing this daily task will rejuvenate you, easing exhaustion and nourishing your body as if you'd eaten a hearty meal.]
Lorenzo blinked in surprise at the task laid out before him. "Looks like it's time for work," he noted, glancing at the system's clock and realizing he was running late. With a sense of urgency, he prepared to face the day, task in mind.
Stepping out of his cramped apartment and the dilapidated tenement, Lorenzo set off at a jog toward the train station, earnestly ticking off the requirements of his [Daily Task].
Skipping his usual stop at the deli due to time constraints, he made a mental note to swing by after his day's commitments, post-task completion.
---
At the armament factory, Lorenzo clocked in slightly late. Thankfully, his solid reputation cushioned the tardiness, and his foreman overlooked the slip. Back at his station, Lorenzo resumed his role in the weapon assembly line.
Laboring from the early morning until 3 PM earned him six dollars. He left the factory, caught his usual train, and upon reaching his neighborhood, jogged the final stretch home. As he slowed to a stop, the system's mechanical voice announced in his mind, [Congratulations! You've completed the Daily Task! Reward: +1 Attribute Point, Bonus], marking a satisfying end to a rigorous day.
After the system bestowed its rewards, Lorenzo felt the weariness and hunger that had saturated his body start to evaporate, replaced by a sensation of renewal and tranquility.
"This feels amazing," Lorenzo whispered to himself, a smile creeping across his face as he discovered another reward from the system: (1 Attribute Point).
Curious, he queried, "System, what's the deal with this (Attribute Point)? How do I use it?"
[Host, the (Attribute Point) can be allocated within your status. To view your current status, simply say, "Status".]
"Status?" Lorenzo echoed, prompting another interface to materialize before him:
[Name: Lorenzo Lupo
Age: 16
Family: None
HP: 100/100
---
Attribute Status:
STRENGTH: 1
AGILITY: 1
INTELLIGENCE: 1
STAMINA: 1
CHARM: 1
LUCK: 1
Attribute Point: 1]
Confronted with his stats, Lorenzo was taken aback by the stark reality of his physical condition—far below what he had imagined.
The system, picking up on his contemplation, clarified, [Host, the attributes set at 1 are merely the starting point. They can be enhanced with Attribute Points. While 1 is the baseline, the maximum for any attribute is 10, at least until you advance to level 2, whereupon higher limits may be unlocked.]
Reflecting on this, Lorenzo stroked his chin thoughtfully, "So, being at 1 doesn't mean I'm exceptionally weak; it's just the starting line."
After mulling over his newfound understanding of the system, Lorenzo decided to step out of his apartment and visit Deborah at the deli.
Upon reaching the deli, he flagged down Fat Moe. "Hey, Fat Moe, could I get a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup?"
Recognizing Lorenzo, a regular, Fat Moe was quick to respond, "Sure thing." However, just as he was about to prepare the order, Lorenzo inquired, "Hey, is Deborah around? I was looking for her."
Fat Moe gave Lorenzo a curious glance. "Yeah, she's in her usual spot, practicing her dance— wait, why do you ask?"
"Just curious. Please, the soup," Lorenzo deflected, not wanting to delve into details.
With a raised eyebrow, Fat Moe turned to fulfill the order.
Lorenzo took the opportunity to scan the lively scene of the deli, with patrons engrossed in their meals and conversations. Stealthily, he approached the room where Deborah was practicing. Peeking in first to make sure he was right, he saw her there, lost in her dance.
Lorenzo glanced around cautiously before slipping inside the room.
Deborah, deeply engrossed in her dance, didn't seem to notice his entrance, her movements fluid and focused as if she was in a world of her own.
Finding a spot to the side, Lorenzo settled down to watch her, captivated by her grace.
Eventually, Deborah stopped dancing and turned to find Lorenzo watching from the sidelines. "Well, look who's here," she remarked, her voice carrying a subtle edge of irritation that Lorenzo picked up on.
"You sound upset. What's wrong?" he asked, his tone light, teasing.
"I'm not upset," Deborah countered, resuming her dance, her focus back on her movements as if to emphasize her point.
Lorenzo remained seated, puzzled by Deborah's apparent discontent...
After a brief pause in her dance, Deborah halted again, turning towards Lorenzo with a seemingly offhand question, "Where were you yesterday afternoon?"
"Why do you ask?" Lorenzo queried, curious about the sudden interest.
"It's nothing," Deborah replied, her tone laced with a touch of annoyance.
"So, you're upset because you didn't see me here yesterday?" Lorenzo pieced together, a realization dawning on him.
"Why would I be upset? We've only recently met," Deborah retorted, attempting to downplay her feelings.
Yet, despite her words, Deborah was indeed a bit displeased with Lorenzo. She had found herself waiting for him at the deli, a place he frequented after work. His absence the previous day had left her unexpectedly disappointed, a fact she wasn't fully ready to admit.
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