Chapter 37
The Rizzano cyber division initiated a massive, aggressive counter-offensive. They utilized the decrypted data fragments from Elias's terminal to trace the origin of the cryptocurrency payments. It took three days of relentless, high-level digital warfare, but they finally cracked the proxy servers hiding The Architect’s location.
Alessandro sat in the tactical command center, reviewing the data.
"He isn't a rival Mafia boss, Alessandro," Dante reported, his expression bewildered. "He’s a corporate hedge fund manager. A billionaire named Sterling Vance. He operates out of a highly secure private island compound in the Caribbean."
Alessandro’s cold, intimidating eyes narrowed. "A corporate suit? Why is a hedge fund manager playing games with my syndicate?"
"Vance heavily shorted the shipping companies that rely on our ports," Dante explained, pulling up financial charts. "When you secured the routes and stabilized the region after the Falcone war, his investments collapsed. He lost billions. He blames you for his financial ruin. He hired the mercenaries to test our defenses, hoping to destabilize the syndicate and tank the logistics markets again."
Alessandro let out a dark, humorless laugh. "He attacked my home over a stock portfolio."
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The sheer, arrogant stupidity of the billionaire enraged Alessandro more than any traditional Mafia vendetta. Sterling Vance believed his wealth and geographic isolation made him untouchable. He believed he could treat the Rizzano family like a line item on a balance sheet.
"Prepare the jet," Alessandro commanded softly, a terrifying, sociopathic calm washing over him. "We are going to the Caribbean. I am going to show Mr. Vance the difference between a hostile takeover and a slaughter."
