Capítulo 52: Chapter 51: Integrating into the family
"Are you sure you're alright-"
"I'll be fine Ricky, I'll see you later." Maria kissed Ricky's cheek before returning to Betty's side, sighing at this and turned to Lucky waiting in the car.
Walking around, he opened the car door and got in before the black cars immediately sped off.
"We are heading to management." Lucky spoke, subtly informing Ricky that he was about to be introduced to the family's internal matters, signaling a deeper level of trust and involvement in the Luciano operations.
"Holy sh*t, really?" Ricky, still surprised by the notion despite their heartfelt talk, asked for clarification as Lucky patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Really." Lucky's smile lingered as Ricky nodded, but a sudden thought from his earlier conversation with Henry this morning flashed through his mind.
"Hey pops, do you know about trust and holding companies?" Ricky inquired, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice.
He'd never given much thought to trusts and holding companies until Henry mentioned them, and now the unfamiliarity gnawed at him.
"Of course, I'm not an idiot." Lucky brushed it off as if it were nothing, but Ricky gave him a puzzled look.
"Listen dumbass, I want our family to have generational wealth so of course I made a trust for you." Lucky shook his head, a hint of frustration crossing his face as he was reminded just how clueless his son could be at times.
"You did?" Ricky asked, his confusion evident, but Lucky only nodded in response.
"I set up an irrevocable trust with me as an advisor to operate it until I deem you ready to control it fully. All my assets are already in it, including the ownership shares of the bank, along with others, are all located in the trust." Lucky informed Ricky, explaining that he had been self-educating on these matters ever since he adopted him.
Initially, Lucky had been prepared to let his last name die with him, but with Ricky now in the picture, he was determined to ensure that his family legacy would endure and thrive for generations to come.
"What about my buildings-"
"There in your name so I couldn't touch them." Lucky, already knowing where this conversation was heading, interrupted Ricky.
"Well, what do you think I should do?" Ricky asked, his curiosity piqued, while Lucky shot him a sidelong glance.
"Well, what do you want to do?" Lucky first asked, needing to ensure Ricky had some level of understanding and involvement.
"I wanted to invest in a company with the clean forty thousand-"
"What companies?" Lucky interrupted, but Ricky responded with a blank expression, clearly confused.
"Ford?" Ricky instinctively said, Lucky rolling his eyes at his naive son's amateur business skills.
"Listen-"
*SIGH*
'Y'know what, no, you'll have to learn failure.' Lucky thought to himself just as he was about to lecture him until he had another idea.
Lucky had originally set up a holding company to invest in the volatile market during the Great Depression.
However, after seeing the opportunity of creating a bank, he decided to put his chips in that basket instead, so the holding company's funds were just sitting there.
"I already made a holding company called 'Luciano Financial' and I'll let you use it to invest your forty thousand in the stock market. Hell, I'll even do the paperwork to get the bank to transfer that money into funds to the holding company." Lucky gave him an opportunity since he thought of this as a learning experience.
Lucky knew Ricky wouldn't be a business genius overnight, but from his observations, Ricky seemed to learn more from failure than from success.
Deciding to accelerate Ricky's growth, Lucky resolved to push him through some deliberate failures, hoping it would force him into improvement.
"Wow, thanks pops." Ricky thought about Lucky's offer and saw no reason to refuse it.
"Also, your clubs are businesses that need constant oversight. It would be better to place them under the holding company within the trust rather than the trust itself. I'll make you the controller of the holding company," Lucky patted his shoulder, reaffirming himself that this upcoming failure was for his own good.
"Boss, we're here." The driver instructed, but Ricky looked puzzled, as they were parked across the street from Italiano's.
"We moved our operations to this building." Lucky anticipated Ricky's question as they both exited the car and walked side by side.
"Listen up, your rank is Caporegime and a meeting is being held today on which operations you will be handling for the family." Lucky spoke quietly so only Ricky could hear.
"There will be plenty of options, but you should focus on protection rackets in Harlem. It's straightforward, and everyone down there already holds you in high regard," Lucky advised Ricky who frowned slightly, considering the implications.
'That seems boring.' Ricky frowned, Lucky frowning at his son's frown.
"I swear I'll beat the living sh*t out of you if you pick something like drug smuggling-"
"Slick!" Genovese smiled as he stood, opening the door and extending his hand for a handshake.
"It's good to see ya, I'm glad you're finally coming into the family." Genovese said warmly, though Ricky's raised eyebrow betrayed his suspicion of the clear insincerity as he detected it as a lie.
"Y'know, I'm really proud of what you've done for the family so far and I've been itching to see you enter the fold." Genovese spoke with apparent glee, but Ricky's confusion deepened as he struggled to grasp the underlying meaning.
'Does he not like me?' Ricky thought about his limited interactions with Genovese, realizing they hadn't had any conflicts for him to have anything against him
However Ricky's assessment was spot on; Genovese had indeed started to harbor animosity towards him.
Genovese was originally positioned to inherit leadership of the family from Lucky once it was his time to pass the torch.
However, Lucky's clear favoritism towards Ricky had stirred resentment within Genovese over the years.
In Mafia families, the leader's position holds immense power, not just in authority but also in preserving the family's name and legacy.
While the family's name might change over time with its leader, the core identity and values remain, often passed down through generations of leadership.
Genovese's ambition to have his name on the door and lead the family was increasingly threatened by Ricky's sudden rise and Lucky's overt favoritism towards him.
Initially, Genovese didn't harbor resentment towards Ricky, but as Ricky began to demonstrate his value to the family, Genovese's wariness grew.
This sentiment escalated to full-blown resentment, especially when Lucky highlighted Ricky's connection to the Vatican, which garnered significant respect and support within the family.
Despite any personal feelings, members of the family couldn't even openly oppose Ricky without going against the church, which tilted the balance of power further in Ricky's favor.
'You damn f*cking runt, I'll show you your place just you wait.' Genvose thought through gritted teeth as he purposely led Ricky into the room before Lucky could warn him anymore.
Upon entering, Ricky noticed about fifty high-ranking members of the family gathered in the room.
Lucky had been aggressively recruiting members over the past two years, a strategy that some of the other dons viewed with skepticism.
While it increased their manpower, it also meant spending a significant amount on their pay, which could have been allocated to other ventures.
It also led to the family being stretched thin, and maintaining close-knit relationships was crucial for the success of their operations.
While family loyalty was essential, an exceptionally tight-knit group was considered vital above all else.
Despite the tension surrounding Ricky's introduction and the looming division between factions, the high-ranking members knew the stakes were high.
When Lucky entered the room, he raised his hand, signaling for everyone to take their seats though their gazes remained on Ricky.
"I'm sure you all know my son, so let's skip the pleasantries. I'm announcing him as the newest Capo in the family," Lucky declared, gesturing toward Ricky as the other high-ranking members nodded in acknowledgement and respect.
"Now, due to his numerous achievements, I've decided to let him decide what field he wants to focus his efforts in." Lucky then gave him the floor as Genovese widened his eyes though before he could say anything, Ricky moved forward.
Then with a dumbest smile, Ricky walked in front of all these members as Lucky had a sudden foreboding feeling.
"I will be focusing on drug smuggling." Ricky spoke the very thing that Lucky told him not to say.
"You motherf-" Lucky held his cane up only to have Genovese suddenly step forward.
"Of course Slick would want to go after one of our most risky fields!" Genovese announced as the other members were confused since they expected him to pick something easier, like the protection racket.
Ricky selected drug smuggling, partly because it was one of the things his father had explicitly advised against.
It was as if he was drawn to the very things Lucky wanted him to avoid, finding them more intriguing than anything else.
Or at least, that was what he would tell people when asked.
In truth, however, Ricky's choice stemmed from a deeper motivation: he wanted to prove to Lucky that bringing him into the family wasn't a mistake, and that he was worthy of all the trust placed in him while being able to bear the responsibility always held in high regard for him.
"Aye Slick, I know you're young and all, but are you sure bout this?" An older fella asked with slight concern after seeing the maddening glare from Lucky.
"Yeah why not-" Ricky shrugged light heartedly, Lucky's vein almost snapping on his forehead.
"IMA KILL YOU!" Lucky rushed at Ricky only to have Genovese hold him back as the other members immediately stood up.
"Oh come on pops." Ricky sighed dodging backwards as Lucky tried to swing his cane at him.
"You know what, fine, FINE." Lucky stopped while adjusting his hair as Ricky showed surprise.
"You think you're hot stuff just because you've had a few lucky breaks?" Lucky's voice was edged with a dangerous amusement.
He laughed maniacally, his eyes glinting with a sinister light as the room fell into an uneasy silence, with even Genovese visibly tensing at the volatile mood.
"We've been having trouble getting our product from Mexico to here, thanks to the government cracking down on the border." Lucky's tone grew more intense, his frustration palpable.
The other members exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes widening at the gravity of the situation.
"Cool." Ricky smiled with some light hearted mannerisms as Lucky burst out in a sarcastical parade of laughter.
"Oh it's cool, it'll be very 'cool' when I get to bail you out of a Texas prison!" Lucky pointed his cane at Ricky.
"You really don't believe I can do it, do you." Ricky slowly started to loss his smile as Lucky had a vein form on his forehead.
"Slick, we've been cut off for the last year and have lost well over 700,000 in cash alone while trying to get the weed over the board." A member, who was previously involved in the smuggling ring, informed him.
"Fine then I'll bring back 700,000 worth of it." Ricky boldly proclaimed his readiness to tackle the challenge, his confidence unwavering.
Genovese, sensing an opportunity to gain favor, grinned from ear to ear, while Lucky, overwhelmed by the mounting pressure, clutched his head in frustration.
"I need a drink." Lucky pulled out a flask as the others were reeling in from what he was saying.
"Slick you can't-"
"Alright Slick, we all believe in you so I'll even help you out and contact our guy Guerra." Genovose smiled though Ricky could feel it was the truth as he shrugged.
"Great."
Later that day,
Lucky and Ricky were driving back to the house before Lucky finally turned towards his idiotic son.
"Why do you always do this, huh?" Lucky was on the cusp of starting his lecture as Ricky sighed.
"What happened to respecting me?" Ricky turned back to Lucky to freeze before shaking his head.
"No, no, no, don't act like-"
"Listen pops, I know you want to help me succeed, but when you were my age were you simply trying to make ends?" Ricky asked as Lucky immediately shut his trap since he'd be lying.
Lucky paused to reflect and realized the hypocrisy in his own stance.
When he was Ricky's age, he had been robbing cargo ships and trucks with nothing more than a beat-up car and an old pistol.
Now, here he was, judging Ricky for stepping into the same treacherous world he once navigated with far less.
"And I get that you're only trying to protect me, but how many times are you going to say you're going to include me before trying to immediately exclude me." Ricky said as he was beginning to feel a hint of frustration.
Although Lucky included him in various activities, he would often turn around and attempt to isolate him, claiming it was all for his protection.
Lucky opened his mouth to retort but slowly closed it as Ricky made another compelling point and with a reluctant nod, Lucky conceded the argument.
"Fine, but let's make a wager." Lucky suddenly proposed a bet, immediately making Ricky intrigued.
"If you win, I'll let you do f*ck all in the family and hold the reins freely but if you fail, you're gonna be on my leash, capish?" Lucky gave the conditions, holding out his hand as Ricky grabbed it immediately.
"Deal."
Ricky had unwavering confidence in his own abilities, while Lucky feared that Ricky's arrogance would ultimately lead to his downfall.
"You know who you remind me of." Lucky suddenly spoke up after releasing Ricky's hand, causing Ricky to tilt his head in curiosity.
"You?" Ricky presumed but Lucky started out laughing hysterically.
"No way, you're an idiot." Lucky shook his head before wiping his eyes.
"No Capone, you're like a spitting image of him when he was younger." Lucky spoke, prompting Ricky to raise an eyebrow in response.
"Y'know Capone was even richer than you, right?" Ricky taunted but Lucky scoffed at this well known fact.
"And look where he's now, in the slammer." Lucky waved Ricky's notion aside.
"Capone was trying to get rich quick, I'm trying to build something real." Lucky pointed at Ricky as he looked out the window.
"I'm trying to build a foundation and that Capone always prioritized short-term gains while I'm always looking at the long-term options." Lucky shook his finger in a lecturing way but Ricky shrugged his shoulder.
"Anyways forget about everything, tell me about your day." Lucky smiled as Ricky then started recounting the day before he let out a boastering laughter.
"You really pulled out a gun on them, that's hilarious!" Lucky slammed his hand on his knee as Ricky nodded while pulling out his revolver.
"Why does it look so beat up?" Lucky asked after seeing the chippings and scratches Ricky caused modifications.
"I took it apart and made it better." Ricky simply said though once he did, Lucky snatched it from his hands before reaching into his coat.
"No way, Slick." Lucky went full dad mode and handed his pistol to Ricky while holstering the one he just took.
"Ain't no way you are gonna convince me that you simply took this revolver and made it 'better'." Lucky spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, aware that if people didn't know of his skill, they might not fully appreciate it.
Ricky frowned, feeling an unsettling itch at the back of his head as he held the gun but this time, it was stronger, more insistent than before.
"Oh don't be like that, you can play around with chicks but guns, guns is where I draw the line." Lucky said as he opened the door to see Ricky's gerbil wearing his armor.
"YOUNG RICKY, OUR TRAINING CONTINUES!" Alexander roared outwards, Chester flapping his wings while Lucky shook his head.
"I swear that kid's like a magnet for weirdness." Lucky simply walked by the gerbil as Ricky wasn't paying attention to Alexander but the pistol in his hand.
"Oh hey Alexander-"
"CEASE YOUR WORDS, WE START NOW!"
Later that night at the Cotton Club, Jake was snoring at his desk, buried under a mountain of papers, when the door suddenly swung open.
"JAKE!"
"HUH!" Jake's sleeping face jerked upright, a paper stuck to his cheek, as he looked up groggily at Ricky.
"PUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ricky erupted into maniacal laughter as he saw Jake reach for his gun.
Unfazed by the threat, Ricky strolled over to the seat in front of Jake, who was still a little out of it, and took a seat.
"S-Slick!?" Jake was confused and shocked at his arrival as Ricky saluted.
"How was your nap?" Ricky asked, his amusement evident, as Jake hurriedly peeled the paper stuck to his face.
*Ahem*
"I was simply taking a quick power nap." Jake scratched his chin knowing his excuse was poor but Ricky didn't care.
"Whatever, you want to come with me to Mexico?" Ricky asked with anticipation but Jake gave him a weird look.
"Why Mexico?" Jake asked, then paused as a realization hit him, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Slick no-"
"Yes."
"You can't-"
"I will."
"SLICK!" Jake yelled at Ricky who started laughing knowing he couldn't stop him.
"So you in?" Ricky asked, but Jake sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"No Slick, I'm not 'in' since I got to do all of this." Jake spread his arms while Ricky rubbed his chin, trying to think of a solution to bring him along.
*Snap*
"Then delegate it." Ricky came up with a brilliant idea and Jake rolled his eyes.
"It's not that simple." Jake said to Ricky, who frowned, realizing that it really was that simple.
However, upon seeing Jake's expression, he merely shrugged while knowing that this tough cracker wouldn't relent.
"Welp, tell me if you change your mind and do you want some help with- '' Ricky left the door open as he picked up a piece of paper, only for Jake to quickly snatch it away.
"I can handle it Slick, I don't need any help." Jake scratched his head while setting different papers in different areas as Ricky walked to the door.
Looking back, Ricky saw Jake absorbed in his work and although he frowned at the sight, he didn't want to be as controlling as his father, so he simply turned and left.
"Aye Chores, Barko." Ricky dashed up to Chores, who was working as a bouncer, and Barko, who was there for moral support.
"Wanna go to Mexico?" Ricky asked Chores who went to reply with a hard 'no' but stopped himself.
"You know what, I will." Chores said calmly, surprising both Barko and Ricky with his unexpected initiative.
"Really?" Ricky asked since he thought he'd have to at least convince him.
"Usually I wouldn't simply be swayed by your statement, however, I've never traveled unless it was against my own will, so I want to travel on my own volition." Chores poetically said and Barko nodded his head.
"Then if Chores is in, then I'm in." Barko agreed, making Ricky smirk while patting his shoulder along with scratching Barko's head.
"Alright then, I'll come get you when it's time." Ricky left without even giving a set date, a signature move of his, though neither of them seemed bothered by it at this point.
He rubbed his eyes wearily as he headed back to the mansion, collapsing onto his bed without bothering to remove his shirt.
The necklace around his neck glinted in the faint moonlight but the circular black stone, at the center, remained untouched by the light, appearing completely hollow.
Until a pulse of energy radiated from within it.
Meanwhile At The Vatican,
"Are we seriously doing this, he's just a brat-"
"You violated the rules and you need to pay the price, Abraham." Father Sebastion cut him off as they walked down a long hallway towards the inner council.
The hallway was lined with paintings of historical figures, each rendered as heroic icons, their legacies immortalized through the gaze of the Vatican.
*Sigh*
"Rules schmules." Abraham scoffed, walking past a particular painting though instead of continuing as he usually does, he stopped.
"You've gotta be sh*tting me." Abraham's jaw dropped as he paced backward, his incredulity evident from what he glimpsed in his peripheral vision.
Meanwhile, Father Sebastian scoffed, his disdain clear while thinking Abraham was about to make a fuss over nothing once more.
"Must you use such vulgar language in such a holy place-"
"LOOK!" Abraham screeched, prompting Father Sebastian to angrily turn toward him, his ire focused on the man pointing at a large painting.
"WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT-by the grace of the gods." Father Sebastian exhaled a small breath of cold air, staring at the painting in a daze.
"I KNEW IT, I KNEW HE SEEMED FAMILIAR!" Abraham put his hands on his head, showing an ironic smile while they were in complete shock.
"This-...this explains everything." Father Sebastion whispered to himself as Abraham started laughing.
"Of course it was that damn bloodline, it's almost as cursed as mine!" Abraham covered his eyes as he shouted in a hysterical manner.
"We must make haste; the inner council needs to know that another candidate for the position has appeared," Father Sebastian said urgently, rushing toward the room without a second glance at Abraham, who flinched.
"H-Hey wait for me!" Abraham, who was at first unwilling, eagerly rushed knowing chaos would unfold.
The painting, however, remained steadfastly mounted on the wall, as it had for centuries, with the figure within it presenting itself boastfully.
A knightly figure emerged for anyone who gazed upon the masterpiece, his armor clad in deep black with striking red undertones.
The man in the painting looked eerily similar to Ricky, almost like a twin as their resemblance was uncanny.
However, while Ricky had short, slick black hair and green eyes, this figure sported long blond hair and light blue eyes.
Beneath the magnificent mounted painting was a carving ingrained in solid gold, the inscriptions of his name commanding respect as if by divine decree.
'Sir Percival, The Black Knight.'
Author Note: I've seen all your comments, questions, critisms, and suggestions, but I'm in a bad mood after dying in RLCraft and losing all my sh*t. I don't think I'm in the right mindset to respond right now, so I'm going to take some time to cool down and will address most of it tomorrow.
Capítulo 53: Chapter 52: Pure Frustration
3 weeks later,
Three weeks had passed since Ricky had coasted by, and now he found himself seated across from the most intimidating man in America, John D. Rockefeller.
*Sigh*
Ricky sighed, having spent the last hour sitting in Rockefeller's childhood home while Chester repeatedly refreshed the Genjutsu.
Between training under Alexander, spending time with Maria, making half-hearted attempts to seduce Ms. Collins, barely putting in any effort at school, slacking off during Skull and Bones meetings, delegating all his tasks to his underlings, and shirking every other responsibility, Ricky was coasting through life with a careless ease.
However, lately, Ricky had become increasingly tense, caught in an unexpected dry spell that left him feeling more agitated by the day.
These slumps usually every so often, but this time, the lack of action was starting to grate on him.
It was as if his polarity had been flipped in the opposite direction, his usual antics acting as repellent.
It had gotten so bad that Ricky found himself trying to break the streak by revisiting past flings, despite his earlier resolve to give them space.
For Alina, it was still too soon, but with another, he felt he'd let her simmer long enough and finally, Ricky decided it was time to confront Dolly.
*Flashback*
Ricky, wearing his usual greaser attire that complemented the era, held a bouquet of daisies that matched Dolly's silky blond hair.
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
'Remember Ricky, you're not desperate until you exhaust all options and she's still one of them.' Ricky, clearly aware of his cold streak, urged himself while the door slowly creaked open.
"R-Ricky?" Dolly's eyes shrunk, instinctively ducking half of her body behind the door.
Even then, Ricky's smile curved into a sleazy grin as he took in how beautiful Dolly had become since he last saw her, radiating an exuberant glow that made his pants tighten.
"Hey beautiful, can I come it-" Ricky was already stepping into the doorway, poised to make his move and finally loosen his clogged and rusted gears, until Dolly bit her lip.
"NO-" Dolly suddenly yelled, Ricky flinching at this sudden declaration.
*COUGH*
"I-I mean, not right now." Dolly couldn't even look Ricky in the eye, ashamed at what she had done with him.
"Did I do something wrong?" Ricky asked, confused at why he gave this reaction until he realized something.
'Did she find out about Sammy?' Ricky thought, knowing that his family was responsible for his death.
However, Dolly simply clutched the door tightly, her eyes welling with tears while showing it wasn't anger that held her back, but it was guilt that froze her.
Everyone was different, and situations were perceived in their own unique ways and for some, they could overlook Ricky's actual age, as he neither looked nor behaved like it.
But for others it was different.
Dolly was too pure for her own good and from the moment she intertwined her body with his, she believed she had wronged him.
In her mind, she was the one taking advantage of Ricky, and with a recent revelation, she could hardly stand to face herself in the mirror.
Ironically, it was this very innocence that had drawn Ricky to her in the first place, yet it was also what now kept them apart.
Dolly's misguided guilt had completely twisted the situation against herself, proposing Ricky as the victim and her being away from him was supposed to benefit the very person who acted first.
*Sniff*
"I'm so sorry Ricky, for what I did to you." Dolly's eyes watered, looking at Ricky who was frozen at the sudden twist in the situation.
"What-"
"I-I defiled you, I was supposed to look out for you as an adult and I took advantage of that trust, and I'm so sorry." Dolly choked on her own tears, Ricky completely flabbergasted at what happened as he thought of something.
'Wait a second, am being cock blocked by sincerity?' Ricky suddenly thought, scratching his head but shaking his head.
"Dolly you didn't do anything, I came here-"
"Oh Ricky, sweet innocent Ricky." Dolly rubbed her eyes, laughing a bit while Ricky looked around as if this was a practical joke.
'Innocent?!?!?!?!' Ricky thought, baffled since he'd been cursed out by a school of nuns before.
"One day, you're going to make a woman so happy and just being a part of your life has been such a blessing." Dolly's face showed a gentle and sad smile, looking down at the ground.
"But I don't want to be the reason that stops you from reaching a brighter future." Dolly closed her eyes, RIcky shaking his head along with the flowers in his hand.
"Dolly, I swear by the heavens themselves that you were not the one that took advantage of me-"
"Goodbye Ricky." Dolly steeled her bleeding heart, closing the door as Ricky showed his face in the constantly diminished slither.
"Dolly, Dolly, don't close the door, Dolly-"
However, the door was abruptly shut in Ricky's face as he stood there, momentarily shocked and frozen, much like the door behind him, and he lightly thumped his head against it.
'Oh my god, no way that just happened.' Ricky thought, chuckling softly at an experience he had never encountered, even in his past life.
'F*cking cold streak.'
*FLASHBACK END*
Trying to put this evident fact behind him, Ricky put his focus on preparing for his drug smuggling mission in Mexico, knowing he had to act quickly to avoid missing his window of opportunity.
*Yawn*
"Do you have any fours?" Ricky asked Alexander, who frowned and slid the card of his own size over to him.
"Man, you haven't even gotten a smidge better." Ricky made a snarky comment, causing Alexander to frown even deeper.
"Your words of discouragement do not quell my fighting spirit in the least."
"Do you have any three's?"
"...." Alexander was speechless, staring at the lone card left in his hand, a three.
Ricky hesitated before slowly taking the card, though Alexander clung to the edges until it was forcibly pried away.
"The bitter taste of defeat, we meet again." Alexander sat on the old table while Ricky began shuffling the cards.
"Another bout?" Ricky asked before Alexander shot right back to his feet.
"I SHALL!"
10 minutes later,
"The bitter taste of defeat, we meet again." Alexander repeated his earlier words like a broken record, collapsing back onto the table in frustration.
Though it might seem cruel to crush Alexander's spirit repeatedly, Ricky preferred this over dealing with the smug Alexander who boasted about his victories time and time again.
*Huff*
*Huff*
*Huff*
"Done." Chester fell back, but Ricky was prepared and easily caught him, while Rockefeller's eyes remained hazy.
"Then let's get out of here." Ricky stood up with Chester in tow as Alexander scurried up his arm and settled on his shoulder.
"Although you have won this battle, the war-"
"Yeah I know 'The war is still everlasting as long as I draw breath' I get it Alexander." Ricky said, knowing what the gerbil would say while walking out the backdoor.
"Am I-....am I becoming predictable?" Alexander asked, still hesitant, reflecting on how the biggest weakness of a general in war is being predictable, a notion that continues to haunt his persona to this day.
"Yes." Ricky and Chester were ruthless in their response, causing Alexander to dramatically collapse onto Ricky's shoulder as he got into the car.
Sliding down Ricky's arm, Alexander rolled onto the passenger seat, while Chester hopped into the back.
"Oh how my mighty self has fallen to the grip of hellish fate sisters-"
As they drove back, Alexander began his dramatic tirade, but Ricky simply ignored him.
For a straight hour of driving, Alexander poetically voiced his struggles, while Ricky's eyebrows twitched in constant irritation.
"GOD DAMMIT ALEXANDER, SHUT THE F*CK UP!" Ricky lashed out at Alexander, who flinched as Chester cracked one eye open briefly before shutting it again.
"You dare talk to your master like so? When I was under Aristotle-"
"You never went out of line and followed whatever he said to the letter, I know BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS SAY THE SAME SH*T!" Ricky yelled, but Alexander merely scoffed, crossing his arms.
"I do not-"
"Yesterday, when I missed a shot and you gave me slack for it, I responded with a snarky remark, and you said the same damn thing!" Ricky hit his head on the steering wheel in frustration, while Alexander frowned.
"You should be grateful to learn from such an excellent general, someone who has carved his name in the annals of history and-" Alexander puffed out his furry chest, raising his paw in a dignified manner.
"Yes Alexander, you've been a great teacher." Ricky interrupted Alexander since these words didn't simply come out of his ass, but had merit.
Ricky not only learned from Alexander but also discovered his own ability to acquire skills independently.
"Beginner Archery" had appeared on his skill list, along with "Beginner Swordsmanship" and "Beginner Spearmanship," though he focused more on practicing archery than the other two.
However, the biggest takeaway for Ricky was the realization that he could acquire genuine attributes through hard work, rather than through trivial pursuits like impressing women.
It was purely by accident that Ricky found himself in a bind when Ms. Collins assigned a book report.
He had never put much effort into his classes, except for hers, driven by his desire to eventually get into her pants by forming a pent-up feeling within her by his touch culminated by a favorable impression.
Although he slacked off, he managed a B in her class, the only thing holding him back from an A was his poor test-taking skills.
Ms. Collins, an avid history buff, focused heavily on homework assignments and regularly assigned book reports.
With everyone suddenly occupied, Ricky was actually forced to handle his own homework for once.
However, instead of giving up, maybe prompted by the cold streak, he went out of his way to get a decent grade, diving into reading, researching, and writing.
To his surprise, the effort led to a sudden improvement that left him stunned, particularly when he finished his report on Benedict McCornwick.
*Ding*
+1 Intelligence
Ricky wasn't surprised by how poor his intelligence stat was compared to his other attributes.
However, he remained at a loss for how to improve it until now which made him even more aggrieved that it couldn't be easier to gain like other attributes from the missions.
Ricky also wondered why he wasn't improving on the physical front since he effectively trained with Alexander every day.
But the reason for his stagnation was that Alexander was still trying to develop an effective training regimen to match his evolving physique, which seemed to change every other week.
"Am I really becoming predictable?" Alexander rubbed his chin as he had thought they were messing with him at first.
*Sigh*
"I don't know Alexander, I just think you should switch it up-"
*WEOWEOWEO*
"DAMMIT!" Ricky slammed his steering wheel at the sight of the flashing lights, but instead of stopping, he slammed on the gas.
There was no one on the back road, and Ricky wasn't in the mood for common sense as his frustration from Alexander's incessant blabbering drove him to act even more recklessly than usual.
"Ricky, you should pull over. Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony." Chester said, since while he was recovering, he had been learning about the customs of this world and had become quite intrigued by its laws.
In his own words, Chester described American laws as a 'perplexity,' noting that they seemed straightforward until one observed how those who defined the very terms applied them in such fascinating ways.
This complexity was why he had become so fascinated with lawyers and the laws in which they twist.
"Ricky, as I just mentioned, evading the police is a class C felony, punishable by a maxim of five years in prison." Chester tiredly informed Ricky, earning a puzzled look from both him and Alexander.
"What?" Chester asked, and Ricky glanced at Alexander, who merely shrugged.
*Sigh*
"I knew I shouldn't have given you those stupid law books or whatever they're called-"
"'Consolidated Laws of New York' and it's not stupid but informative and insightful." Chester defended himself while Ricky checked the rearview mirror, noting that the cop was steadily closing in on their rear bumper.
"I'm glad I didn't personally invest in this piece of junk Ford after all." Ricky thought to himself, considering the car a piece of junk.
However, Ricky shifted his focus to the wheel of the cop car, just as an invisible spike suddenly appeared on the road.
*POP*
The tires exploded, causing the cop car to swerve sharply to the right and plummet into a ditch.
"Attempted vehicular manslaughter is-"
"Yeah, I get it." Ricky waved his hand at Chester, who peeked over the dashboard.
As the image faded, Chester clearly saw the cops stumbling out of the wrecked vehicle.
"In the pursuit of virtue, heedless recklessness is the harbinger of one's own undoing. For in the reckless abandon of reason, we relinquish the reins of prudence, steering our destiny towards the treacherous cliffs of self-destruction." - Aristotle.
Alexander quoted one of the many sayings of Aristotle, as the gerbil was a walking encyclopedia of quotes.
"Uh huh." Ricky didn't even react, as it seemed like Aristotle had a quote for everything.
"You should heed my warning, young Ricky: a wise man listens to others, while a foolish man is the one who only talks." Alexander invented the quote on the spot, and Ricky nodded in agreement.
"That was pretty good, you're getting better at your quotes." Ricky complimented Alexander who fist pumped and jumped on the leather seat.
Ricky arrived at the house in the dead of midnight, carrying Chester. As he turned on the lights, he found Lucky frozen mid-action.
"Pops?"
"Slick?"
"..."
"..."
"W-What are you doing at this hour?" Lucky quickly put down the cookie and wiped the crumbs from his hands.
"Me, what are you doing?" Ricky asked as they both stared at each other for a while as if neither wanted to admit their wrongdoings.
"...."
"If I turn the light back off, will this conversation go away?" Ricky asked, but before he could get an answer, he slowly reached for the light and turned it off.
"What was that?" Alexander weirdly asked though Ricky only shrugged, making his way up the spiral staircase.
"Who knows." Ricky rubbed his eyes as he went through his routine in the bathroom before climbing into bed.
Chester hopped over to his nest outside the window, a cozy spot he had fashioned for himself.
Meanwhile, Alexander relaxed in his specially made bed, draped in fine Egyptian cotton sheets.
Ricky sighed, a sense of foreboding settling over him and despite his apprehension, he covered his face and, eventually, closed his eyes, slipping into REM sleep.
"F*CK!" Ricky yelled as he found himself in the godforsaken throne room that had been haunting his sleep.
The room was adorned with serene, elegant features, yet everything paled in comparison to the magnificent golden throne at its center.
On this throne sat a beautiful woman leaning on her hand, gazing at a man bleeding out on the luxurious floor beneath their feet.
"You will never win-AHHHHHH!" The man stubbornly spoke before the dagger, impaled into his side, twisted even deeper as a pained screech was let out in response.
"Oh, must you torture him when we're conversing?" The woman asked, though a keen ear would detect the hint of annoyance in her tone.
"I apologize, but chivalry makes me want to vomit." A man sneered as he stepped over his victim, a pool of blood spreading out around him.
"Where is the ebony-"
"I've already cast it away." The man snickered with a lasting defiance, seeing first hand the woman's face contort in rage as she stood up.
*SIGH*
Ricky simply sat down on the floor with a bored gaze, looking at the tapestry that littered the ceiling without caring for the scene playing out.
'I wonder how long it takes to paint all of that?' Ricky curiously thought, gazing at the subtle carvings.
At first, Ricky was unsettled by finding himself in this place every time he closed his eyes and now, he had simply grown flat-out bored of it.
Ricky had tried to wake up and break free of this throne room, however it was no use as he always appeared back.
Ricky began to amuse himself by trying to catch glimpses under the skirt of the drop-dead gorgeous women in the room.
However, he quickly grew bored when he realized it was impossible to succeed.
"You must prevail, you must find the eb-"
"You must prevail, you must find the ebony blade."
Ricky's eyes widened as he noticed that the dying man was always cut off before finishing his words.
His head whipped to the side, and instead of focusing on the bleeding man, everything around him began to melt away.
"The what?" Ricky shot to his feet and inquired about the dying man, having never managed to get any further than this before.
"The cursed blade, the blade that can cut through anything as it slowly corrupts any user and causes a lust for violence, bloodshed, and death." The man prophetically spoke towards Ricky, leaning down and started poking his cheek.
Ricky didn't say anything but was surprised to find that he could actually touch the man, his hand not passing through as it usually did.
"Find the Ebony blade, become its successor, slay the one who wishes for humanity to fall, and save our bloodline from that wretched blade's curse." The man begged Ricky, but the latter shook his head.
"Nah, that seems annoying and tiring." Ricky immediately rejected his offer as he gazed around the white space.
"You cannot run away from your destiny-"
"I've run away from child support, I think I can run away from a stupid sword." Ricky yawned as the man slowly stood to his feet.
"Descendent, the blade will reach the hands of another one of my descendants who will unleash it upon thousands of innocent souls, you must stop him so that the axis doesn't tip-" The man spoke in prophetic terms, but Ricky merely shrugged.
"I'd rather not." Ricky turned around only to see the bloodied man there.
"This is your fate-"
"Listen, if it were any other day, I'd go along with whatever the hell this is. But I'm exhausted and fed up with this crappy, vague memory of yours," Ricky scoffed, his frustration mounting as the man grabbed his shoulder.
"Our blood is connected to the ebony blade, touch its handle and all will be revealed-" The bloodied man stared at his cross, Ricky ignoring his words and following his line of sight.
"You say that, but you're staring at the cross, which is weird. Is this cross the reason I keep ending up here?" Ricky asked, and he got his answer when the man hesitated.
"DESCENDANT IT IS YOUR DESTINY-" The man hurriedly yelled right into Ricky's ear, but Ricky remained indifferent to the desperate plea.
Ricky didn't even let him finish as he grabbed the necklace hanging from his neck and yanked it, his eyes snapping open.
*GASP*
"Ugh." Ricky frowned as he hopped out of bed, pulled out his inventory key, and opened the door.
Then without any care, he then threw the cross into the storage room before isolating the cross in a controlled and safe environment.
"Now, time for bed." Ricky jumped back into bed and drifted into an undisturbed sleep and hours later, he woke up without the usual cold sweat or gasping for breath.
Letting out a long, relieved stretch, he felt a newfound sense of peace.
"Alright, today's the day, Alexander." Ricky stood up with a happy grin, while Alexander continued to rub his eyes, still waking up.
"It must have been that damn cross causing this cold streak," Ricky said with a grin, rubbing his hands though Chester and Alexander were unconvinced.
"Now that it's gone, it's time for Ricky to get some." Ricky hopped to his feet, and Chester flew into the room, perching next to Alexander.
"You seem very sure of yourself." Chester commented with not even a single sliver of confidence and Ricky simply laughed.
"I know in my very loins that I'm going to taste Maria, I just know it." Ricky fist pumped as he strolled into the bathroom.
It was questionable whether this was the right decision to make since a sure fire bet would be to encounter someone he'd already done the deed with like Alina.
However unlike Dolly, Alina was a little looser as he had been slowly easing himself back into her life by sending her varying gifts and or flowers.
But unlike the others, Ricky had been incredibly patient with Maria and had been tentatively waiting for the day which he assumed would be today.
After school, they planned to visit a local carnival, and Ricky intended to cap off the evening by taking her to Makeout Point.
There, he hoped to reap the rewards of his tireless efforts and finally make a woman of Maria.
As Ricky finished his morning routine, he received a disappointed look from Chester, who subtly felt that Ricky was using Maria.
Chester had really taken a liking to her, appreciating how Maria showered him with admiration and treated him as the beautiful soul he believed himself to be.
"Good luck my dear student, shall you feast on the sweet purity of that girl-ow~" Alexander raised a paw in an encouraging tone yet Chetser hit his side with a slight peck.
"I shall!" Ricky let out a boisterous exclamation as Alexander's face lit up.
"HAZA-OW!"
Walking down the stairs, he saw his father reading the paper and drinking a cup of coffee before he sighed when seeing Ricky.
"I haven't even disappointed you today?" Ricky asked as he placed a plate down across from Lucky.
"You invested all your money into coca cola, really?" Lucky scrunched his eyebrows while Ricky shrugged.
"I didn't know any of the other companies on the list you gave me so I picked the only one I knew." Ricky admitted honestly that, despite Lucky providing him with an informative list, he only remembered one item from his past life: Coca-Cola.
Ricky also attempted to recall any big-name companies, but it was challenging.
His past life had been mostly spent in dive bars, casinos, illegal gambling dens, and with women, leaving him with limited knowledge.
But despite this, he was making an effort to at least try and remember anything at all.
*SIGH*
"That's why the list was so informative-nevermind." Lucky was about to say something but decided against it, instead burying his head in the sports catalog.
"We should buy a sports team." Ricky suddenly spoke up, causing Lucky to lower the paper and raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"That's-...…..that's actually a good way to launder money." Lucky was about to say something but then realized he could pamper the books with more people than there were and no one would actually count them.
"That's a really good idea." Lucky took out a little notebook and started writing something down before looking back up.
"Baseball, right?" Lucky asked, but Ricky simply shrugged.
"Yeah sure." Ricky took a bite of his eggs while Lucky began pondering which team to choose.
"We can't strong arm the yank's since their huge cause of that Babe Ruth, what do you think of the New York Giants?" Lucky asked as Ricky tilted his head.
"The football team?" Ricky asked, and Lucky tilted his head in response.
"Football, that crappy sport?" Lucky set down his glasses and gazed at Ricky weirdly.
"Crappy?" Ricky was also confused until he remembered that he hadn't heard about football at all.
"And Baseball isn't the most boring sport ever?" Ricky retorted but Lucky only gave him a weird look.
Baseball was enormous here in New York, or at least it seemed to be during this era, since he'd never encountered anyone who didn't bring it up in conversation.
"Nevermind." Ricky saw Lucky wasn't about to budge; he had better things to worry about and Lucky started writing something back down in his notebook.
"It might cost a pretty penny," Lucky said with a smirk, already deep in thought.
"But from the rumors I've heard about Charles, the owner of the New York Giants, and the American soccer league, I'm confident we could strike a deal." Lucky began mapping out his plans while Ricky rose from his seat.
"Have fun with your little girlfriend tonight." Lucky didn't look up from his notebook, but a wry smile crept across his face as he saw Ricky mimic his actions.
"Oh, I will."
Ricky enjoyed a pleasant drive to school, the frustration from yesterday completely behind him. He parked his car in a teacher's spot, unbothered by the stares he drew.
Whistling a cheerful tune, he turned his gaze to the front entrance, only to let out a deep sigh.
'God f*cking dammit.'
"Betty please, give me a second!" Joseph pleaded desperately, gripping Betty's arm tightly as his urgency only served to make her eyes well up with tears.
"You're hurting me~" Betty whined, trying to break free from Joseph's grip as she wriggled around without avail.
Unfortunately for Ricky, Maria had started to fill that void Ruth left in her heart with Betty as their friendship started to form.
The problem with this was that Joseph literally seethed at the sight of Ricky causing so many annoying interactions between them.
Ricky hated being dragged into tedious problems that didn't concern him, but it seemed he couldn't escape this problem's grasp no matter how much he fought and resisted.
"LET GO-AHH~" Betty tried to jerk away from Joseph's hold, but he let go just as she stumbled backward.
Both Betty and Joseph's eyes widened in shock as she began to free-fall down the long staircase.
*DING*
[Mission Received: Betty Eagen]
Difficulty: Medium
Character Sheet: C
Description: Betty Eagan is the youngest daughter of the founder of American cast iron pipe and is the fiance of Joseph. The previous sentence has been used to describe Betty for as long as she can remember. The overshadowing of her other siblings and her fiance's demanding personality has made her a shy and unapproachable woman who rarely ever talks to other men, at least, until you indirectly caused a rift in their relationship.
Objective: She's engaged but there's no ring so it's not entirely cheating if you look at it an obtuse way so why not breed her.
Reward: 50,000 IP
Main Mission:
Impregnante Once:
Rewards: 100 Gacha or Betty's Skills
Impregnate Twice:
Rewards: ?????????
Additional Missions:
Impregnate Betty while she's still engaged to Joseph(Incomplete):
Reward: Epic/Rare Coupon
Impregnate Betty with Joseph in the premises(Incomplete):
Reward: Epic/Rare Item
Bonus Missions:
???????????????????
???????????????????
???????????????????
???????????????????
???????????????????
???????????????????
'Whatever, why not.'
"Gotcha." Ricky grabbed Betty who went pale in fear, her eyes turning down the long stairway to see not her demise but Ricky's embrace.
"You alright?" Ricky asked though once he did, Betty started to ugly cry at the possibility of her falling and hurting herself while Joseph remained frozen.
*Sigh*
Ricky helped Betty to her feet before handing her his backpack to which she unconsciously took as Ricky started loosening his shoulder.
"W-W-W-Wait Ricky-" Joseph immediately snapped out of it as he took two steps back in fear.
*BAM*
Ricky socked him right in the face as Joseph almost bent backwards, collapsing onto the ground before Ricky strolled back to Betty and reached for his backpack.
"Ricky?" Maria asked in a questioning tone, and Ricky froze as he glanced at Maria, then turned his gaze back to the unfolding scene.
To the passing eye, it looked as if Betty was being robbed by Ricky which didn't help with the constant whispering around him.
"It's not what it looks like I-'' Ricky immediately started trying to explain as Maria's lips started to twitch.
*PFFFT*
"I know." Maria began to laugh softly as she approached Betty, patting her on the back and offering support as a true friend.
"I just wanted to tease you~" Maria winked at Ricky who looked surprised at this sudden interaction but wasn't against it.
"Tease away my dear sweet Maria-"
*Sniff*
"MARIA~" Betty let out a wail, hugging Maria as Ricky's eyebrow twitched while looking at the wall of Betty form between them.
'I should've let her fall.' Ricky forced a smile as he walked to Maria's side.
"Are we still up for tonight?" Ricky whispered in a tone that Maria could only hear as she blushed but gave him a reassuring nod.
"Then I'll see you later." Ricky backed away while giving her a wink since he didn't want to be in the vicinity of Betty's crying.
Ricky strolled to class, flashing a smile at Ms. Collins, who was already seated at her desk, grading papers.
"Good morning Ms. Collins." Ricky cheerfully said, her entire body shivering at his sight as her lips instinctively quivered before she immediately regained herself.
Ricky had been focusing his 'Wet to the touch' on the tuff cracker that was Ms. Collins as he would constantly use any excuse to touch her.
It got to the point where by his mere touch, without using the skill, Ms. Collins would start to blush which made Ricky all the more pleased but she wasn't ripe enough to pick.
Ms. Collins adjusted her glasses and nodded at Ricky, who took a seat in the front row instead of his usual spot in the back.
The class went on with Ricky trying to make eye contact with Ms. Collins as she desperately tried to avoid his area of view.
The entire day, Ricky had purposely paid attention as he had been doing for the past week while trying to answer questions, even the ones he didn't know weren't spared as Ms. Collins had no choice to interact with him.
*RING*
As the bell rang, students rushed to the door, eager to dive into their Friday plans while Ricky walked over to Ms. Collins.
"Ms. Collins, I have a question." Ricky leaned down as Ms. Collins tried to make eye contact with him but failed, his eyes greedily scanning her body.
"Y-Yes Ricky." Ms. Collins nervously adjusted herself as Ricky's hands slowly placed a piece of paper on her desk.
"I'd like to make a tutoring session next friday, if that's alright with you that is?" Ricky smiled warmly at Ms. Collins who hesitated but nodded.
"I'm free in the morning-"
"After school is the only time that works for me." Ricky swerved the conversation into his favor as Ms. Collins brought out her appointment book but closed her eyes at the time slot after school.
"It looks like you're free." Ricky didn't even wait for the confirmation and spoke for her before she finally started to write down his name.
"See you then." Ricky backed up until Ms. Collins looked up, smiling at her before promptly leaving the classroom.
Ms. Collins stared at the doorway for a while before she took off her glasses and set them down next to her.
*Thud*
Then, she slumped onto her desk, hitting her forehead against the stained wood table with a deep sigh.
Side-eyeing the door, seeing no one was there, she slithered her hands down and under her skirt before her hands had carried a wet spot forming on her white panties.
'I'm horrible.'
After enduring another hour of the tedious Skull and Bones meeting, Ricky found himself mostly watching Maria, who wore a nervous smile throughout.
As the meeting drew to a close, Ricky couldn't shake a foreboding feeling.
Maria was the first to approach him afterward, grabbing his coat with a determined expression.
"Ricky, about our date." Maria immediately uttered the only words Ricky didn't want to hear, shattering his previously cheerful mood and leaving him visibly frustrated.
"Yeah?" Ricky side-eyed Betty on the side with an intense glare as she ducked her head like a scared puppy.
"Can we have it after you come back from your trip?" Maria asked, and something within Ricky shattered. Maintaining his fake smile felt like the most challenging endeavor of his life.
"I'm so sorry, and I'm such a bad girlfriend." Maria said in a rush, panic rising as she saw Ricky's clearly irritated and slightly devastated expression.
"I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll give my everything to make it right." Maria desperately tried to calm him, hoping to ease his frustration.
"It's-...it's fine." Ricky nodded, laughing off his anger that boiled within his very being.
"It's because of that bastard Joseph that all of our plans went to sh*t." Ricky decided to swerve the blame onto someone else as Joseph on the side flinched in horror.
"Woah Ricky, calm down." Henry obviously heard him and Ricky started to laugh.
"Calm, I'm completely calm." Ricky let out in a murderous tone, gazing towards Joseph who fell out of his seat.
"Oh Joseph, he's really going to kill you." Jerry whispered from the side to fan the flames.
"Ricky I promise I'll make it up to ten fold~"
Just as Ricky was about to charge at the frightened Joseph, Maria wrapped her arms around his back, holding him back.
"Okay." Ricky forced a wide and toothy smile, turning around to take Maria into a kiss.
Ricky's aggression was palpable as he seized Maria's lips with his own, catching her off guard.
Initially, she stiffened in surprise, but as his passionate kiss deepened, she slowly began to melt into his embrace.
For the next five minutes, Ricky, oblivious to his surroundings, kissed Maria with a fervent intensity.
The room became thick with an air of discomfort as their public display of affection continued unabated, leaving those around them feeling increasingly uneasy.
Letting go, Maria let out steamy breaths as Ricky caressed her cheek with serious blue balls.
"I'll see you after my trip, alright?" Ricky walked out of the room with a smile, leaving without saying another word.
As soon as he was out of sight, his smile faded, replaced by a look of deep frustration while slamming his fist into one of the lockers.
*BAM*
In a sudden burst of anger, Ricky's fist left a print in the wall, the force of his blow echoing his frustration.
The anger he felt at everything that was happening had coalesced into a furious and reckless expression, his rage now evident in every tense muscle.
'F*CK!'
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