The Mafia Empire
Chapter 1: Chapter 1 A Dream Awakened

Julian Kesma was the third boy in the Kesma family. Above him were two older brothers and an older sister, and below him were three younger brothers and two younger sisters. It could be said that, by Julian's generation, the Kesma family was quite prosperous.

However, unfortunately, the Kesma name wasn't one of prestige or deep-rooted background. The so-called "family" was merely a good-natured joke made by the villagers, directed at Mr. Kesma, a farmer, simply because he had so many children.

Yes, Julian was merely a farmer's son. Every day, he had to complete backbreaking labor just to enjoy a tiny bit of free time after dinner.

If nothing unexpected happened, Julian would likely, at the age of twenty, offer a dowry of a mule or two to marry a woman from the countryside—one with a face full of freckles and hands as rough as his own, a woman who could match his skill in farm work.

Afterward, his father would drive him out of the house, and with the help of his siblings, Julian would build a small wooden cabin as close to home as possible. Then, just like his farmer father, he would live his life.

By day, he would expand the farmland as much as possible, taking care of crops that weren't particularly hard to manage. By night, he would focus his efforts on his wife's belly, hoping to have enough children to eventually lighten his load.

Nearly all farmers lived such uneventful lives. There might be a brief glimmer of excitement in their simple lives, but it was like a fleeting sparkle in the sunlight—hardly noticeable.

But this only happened when nothing went wrong, and our story begins when a small unexpected event happens to Julian!

"Oh my Lord! How did this happen?" Mrs. Kesma covered her mouth, staring in disbelief as her eldest and second sons dragged an unconscious Julian from the wagon.

Clearly, his head was injured, with a dried bloodstain on his forehead. If he hadn't knocked his head on a stone after drinking his father's wine, perhaps it was another misadventure like raiding a bird's nest.

In a place far from the city, there wasn't much in the way of entertainment, except for the time after dark. Most young men filled their free time with drinking, gambling, or sneaking peeks at girls. If possible, they might also try to replace some wild game to treat their meager appetites.

Mason, the eldest son, wiped the sweat from his brow with his rolled-up sleeve and gave a bitter smile as he explained. Simply put, after finishing their work, the three brothers had sneaked off to laze around on the haystacks. A stone, from who knows where, hit Julian on the forehead, and he had been unconscious since.

Tears welled up in Mrs. Kesma's eyes as she walked over to Julian, gently smoothing his hair. Her rough hand stroked his still-youthful face. "My poor Julian..." When she looked up again, her gaze became fierce. "Do you know who threw the stone?"

In the countryside, if a woman had a "lady-like" demeanor, she probably wouldn't live past thirty, succumbing to a quiet despair. Never underestimate the destructive power of country folk. The constant hard labor gave them sharp tongues and a wild nature far beyond what they seemed capable of.

Brawls—more so than mere shouting matches—were the real entertainment here, often erupting over trivial matters.

Mason scratched his head awkwardly. He hadn't seen who threw it.

Mrs. Kesma called him useless before instructing the brothers to carry Julian back to his squeaky bed.

They didn't call a priest or a doctor—not because they couldn't afford it, but because they had to wait. If Julian didn't wake up in a day or two, they would invite the town's only priest or the toothless doctor to examine him.

City folks might see this as neglect or worse, but in the countryside, this was the only sensible way.

Unless absolutely necessary, not a single coin would be spent!

While unconscious, Julian had a dream—a complex one, full of strange and wonderful things, an indescribable journey. When something called a bullet pierced the dreamer, he awoke.

And his first words upon waking stirred waves in the family's long-standing peace.

"I'm going to the city!"

Mr. Kesma sat cross-legged on a hard wooden chair, smoking a cigarette until it burned out. He flicked the last bit to the floor and crushed it with his foot. When he looked up again, the family members all sat with slightly bowed heads, their expressions serious and respectful.

Mr. Kesma was the true ruler of this household. Without him, none of them would be here. In the ignorance of the countryside, his authority was higher than the law or the church.

"You... want to go to the city?" Mr. Kesma tried to soften his tone, though he thought it was the most foolish idea. The city wasn't a place anyone could go. If the countryside was a peaceful nest, the city was hell—a den of devils. Every second there was torment.

Even breathing seemed to cost money.

No money?

Then you'd end up a beggar, hoping for a kind soul's charity. Worse yet, someone might snatch you up to work in the northern mines. Strong young men like Julian were exactly what the mine owners looked for.

Facing his father's question, Julian nodded seriously. "Yes, Father. I'm going to the city. I can't waste my life away here. Life is precious, and if it doesn't shine brilliantly, living isn't any better than dying."

"You can't even read! Once you get to the city, you'll be like a blind man with open eyes. You won't be able to read street signs, newspapers, or even job postings!"

Even though Mr. Kesma tried to discourage him, Julian had already made up his mind. He couldn't stay here and rot like a walking corpse. He needed to create a life for himself.

Just like that poor soul in his dream—even if it meant losing everything, even if it ended with a bullet, Julian would let his brilliance shine.