The System appeared without warning.
Luke was halfway through sketching an old fig tree when the world seemed to dim around the edges, as if someone had lowered the contrast on reality itself. The pencil paused mid-line.
He didn't startle this time.
He had learned.
A familiar, emotionless calm settled over him as translucent text unfolded before his eyes.
[World of Remorse — New Mission Identified]
Target Archetype:The Betrayed PatriarchReference World:The Godfather TrilogyIdentity to be Assumed: Michael Corleone
Luke's breath slowed.
Michael Corleone.
The man who had wanted nothing to do with the family business. The war hero who had sworn he was different. The son who took the throne to protect those he loved—only to watch everything rot in his hands.
Luke closed his sketchbook gently.
He already knew how this story ended.
Old. Alone. Sitting in a chair beneath the Sicilian sun, memories heavier than his failing body. His daughter dead by an assassin's bullet meant for him. His brother Fredo murdered on his order—an act he never truly escaped.
A king who won everything and lost even more.
The interface shifted.
[Wish List — Core Regrets Detected]
Primary Wish:• Witness the Corleone family prosper legitimately.
Secondary Wish:• Prevent my daughter's assassination.
Tertiary Wish:• Die at peace with my brother Fredo.
Luke exhaled slowly.
"That's… ambitious," he murmured.
Legitimacy was the dream Michael chased his entire life—and the very thing that destabilized his empire. Criminal roots did not simply vanish because a man wished them gone. Every move toward legality created enemies inside and outside the family.
And Fredo…
Luke's gaze hardened.
Fredo was weakness, betrayal, and blood all tangled together. To forgive him meant endangering everything. To kill him meant destroying the last pieces of Michael's soul.
There was no clean path.
As if responding to his thoughts, another line of text surfaced.
[Mission Constraint — Authenticity Challenge]
• You must operate as Michael Corleone• Public persona: ruthless, calculating crime boss• Internal objective: dismantle the criminal empire from within• Overt mercy or premature withdrawal will result in narrative instability
Luke leaned back against the tree.
"So I have to play the devil," he said quietly, "while trying to become a saint."
This world wouldn't reject hesitation.
It would punish weakness.
Michael Corleone survived by being feared. Any sudden change in temperament—too soft, too idealistic—would invite betrayal long before Luke could secure a legitimate future.
And unlike Jack Dawson, Michael was not selfless.
He was cold.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Luke closed his eyes.
Agency versus fate, he thought. This is what you meant, isn't it?
The System did not answer.
That night, Luke prepared.
He did not pack bags or write farewells. Instead, he prepared his mind.
He replayed the trilogy in fragments—the baptism scene, the restaurant murder, the closed door on Kay's face. He studied Michael's stillness, his silences, the way he spoke less as he gained power.
Power was not loud.
Power waited.
Luke reviewed the Karma Store late into the night.
[Karma Store — Strategic Enhancements]
• Cold Decision-Making — 150 KP
Emotional suppression under pressureReduced hesitation during lethal choices
• Organizational Mastery — 200 KP
Understanding of hierarchical power structuresEnhanced control over complex organizations
• Negotiation & Psychological Pressure — 120 KP
Reading intentLeveraging fear, loyalty, and debt
Luke stared at the options.
Jack had required warmth.Michael would require restraint.
And cruelty—applied precisely.
Luke did not purchase anything yet.
Instead, he stood, walked outside, and looked across the sleeping village. Lantern light glowed softly behind paper windows. Somewhere, a baby cried, quickly soothed.
This was what legitimacy looked like.
Ordinary lives untouched by violence.
"I'll bring you there," Luke said under his breath—whether to Michael, the System, or himself, he wasn't sure. "Even if you don't believe it's possible."
The System shimmered faintly, as if acknowledging his resolve.
[World of Remorse — Synchronization Pending]Entry Point: Before Michael's consolidation of powerStatus: Awaiting user readiness
Luke returned to his room and sat on the edge of the bed.
This time, when he closed his eyes, he did not think of fog or freezing water.
He thought of shadows, suits, whispered orders, and a man who mistook control for salvation.
And when the darkness finally took him—
Luke was ready to become Michael Corleone.