Virel was still in disbelief.
He couldn't help but look at Anya's face again.
Even though he knew Anya would never lie.
She was his most proud disciple, as cold and precise as a machine, with no thoughts or ideas of her own beyond executing orders.
Yet he still...
"I need to make a call," he finally said.
"Go ahead." Ethan understood his intention and didn't stop him.
The news of Joan's assassination must have swept through the underworld of Wenster like a storm, just like when his father was assassinated.
By tomorrow morning, everyone will know that the last heir of the Bolita Clan has returned, bringing blood and fire.
He walked freely around the remodeled shooting range.
Through the knowledge granted by power, he knew just how professionally this range was built.
He also saw all sorts of firearms hanging on the wall illuminated by lanterns beside him.
It was like a small armory.
"Anya, do you know about the Name?"
Anya could be trusted.
"The Name?" Anya looked a bit confused but then quickly nodded, "I've heard of it, but not much. Young Master, have you inherited Al's Name?"
"Tell me about it later." Ethan didn't answer, just said this.
He continued to look at the firearms on the wall and soon discovered a problem.
There were long guns and short guns on the wall, but none of the submachine guns he was familiar with.
Following the authority granted by his Name, he also couldn't trace any knowledge about this aspect of firearms.
Could it be that submachine guns hadn't been invented in this world?
Just then, footsteps sounded; it was Virel returning, almost running back, evidently extremely excited.
"Young Master! Young Master Ethan!" Before he even reached the bottom of the stairs, he couldn't help but shout excitedly.
"You actually killed Joan! That son of a bitch! How did you do it?"
His face was flushed, looking as if he were drunk under the dim light of the wine cellar.
"Because I inherited the family Name."
Ethan slowly raised his left hand, revealing the ring on his ring finger encased in black mud and thorns.
Seeing this ring, Virel stopped, his expression turned solemn and serious. He tidied his hair, straightened his collar, and finally walked respectfully and slowly to Ethan.
He took Ethan's left hand and kissed the ring.
This was an ancient Mafia tradition; if one wished to be loyal to a family leader, they would kiss the family's emblem as a sign of submission.
"Will you offer me your loyalty and blood, Virel?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well."
For a moment, Ethan felt his 'True God's Name' gently wriggle as if it had devoured and digested something, growing slightly stronger.
Killing Joan was like a strong wind, sweeping through everyone's hearts, and also solidly establishing Ethan's position as the leader of the Bolita Clan.
Even if he didn't have that ring, Virel would still willingly kiss his hand.
"Young Master, what should we do next? Including Virel Tavern and me, there are seventeen of us. These men were all trained by me; they're skilled and their marksmanship is great. Shall we take advantage of our victory and assault Cappreya's lair?"
Virel's face was red, truly like someone who had drunk old wine, passionate as a young man, yet his attitude was very respectful.
"No, Virel, don't rush. I need to know more about Cappreya's intelligence. After Joan's death, who will take his place, Fred?" Ethan's arrival time was still too short, information severely insufficient.
"Fred, that damned traitor!" Virel gritted his teeth at this name, "He is strong, but he doesn't carry the Cappreya surname. Joan has a brother named Palon, he should succeed as leader, but Palon is a wastrel indulging in alcohol and women, and Cappreya has only risen for ten years, not solidly established, yet Fred took away many elites from the family, afraid he'd eventually usurp the position."
At this point, Virel fell silent. After a while, he spoke again.
"Young Master, with Joan dead tonight, Cappreya would definitely be on high alert. Let me notify the other family leaders to convene overnight and gather forces before making a move."
"No." Ethan shook his head, saying, "Tonight it is, Virel. You just said your men are skilled and excellent in marksmanship. Can they die for the family?"
"Of course." Virel heard this and straightened his chest, and even his hunched back didn't seem as bent, "They are always ready to sacrifice for Bolita. In fact, tonight we've already planned to do so."
"Very good. Depart in fifteen minutes." Ethan glanced at Anya and added, "Anya, notify all family leaders in my name, meeting tomorrow morning at nine, at the company."
The Bolita Clan also had legitimate businesses, with Bolita Venture Capital Company being one of them.
Hearing this order, Virel paused, then quickly left, seemingly thoughtful.
Fifteen minutes later, Ethan was back in the Klaus Long Spear.
Anya was driving; it was just the two of them in the car, with Virel leading others in separate cars headed for the Cappreya family lair.
"You can tell me about the Name now." Ethan looked at the night's color outside the window, which hadn't dimmed much, and spoke slowly.
His heart was calm, incredibly calm. If someone had told him a day ago that one night he'd risk killing someone and then continue assaulting knowing the enemy's forewarning, he'd definitely think it was just an impossible tale.
But now, he was doing something seemingly impossible.
Was it the influence of power, or was he such a person all along, only unaware? Except for the initial wild heartbeat, he completely adapted to this bloodthirsty night life, even slightly enjoying it.
Closing his eyes, he could smell the strong scent of alcohol in the air, those distant songs, laughter, cries, and shouts, clearer than before.
Perhaps due to tomorrow's start of Prohibition, people were unwilling to part with the God of Wine, choosing to revel all night, not letting this night end.
"The Name... should actually be the True Name." Anya said, watching the road ahead, "People of the Old Continent call it God-given names, God's grace, while people of the New Continent either fearfully and disdainfully refer to it as witchcraft and evil or are obsessively covetous, calling it the True Name, the Real Name, the Original Name, with which one can see the reality of the world."