"Uhhh...I have no idea of what that is.." Aefia sat up properly with a curious look on her face. It was normal since she was, indeed, just a child and new to the industry.
"First of all, let me tell you about our company." Her uncle started speaking. "I am the boss of this company as you know and we are a group of Mafias. They call me by boss here, you will have to adapt to it too. We deal with corrupted governers across the country."
"I have no hint." Aefia got up with her bag of chips due to her boredom. She started walking to the direction of the lobby when she turned around and asked, "Why not you explain all those to me when I am a bit older? Also, what do you mean by corrupted governers? Are you really a group of Mafias or a group of politicians?"
"..." Her uncle thought for a while. How do I explain it to a eight-year old kid? She isn't at an age to understand whatever we are doing. What if she takes it at a negative viewpoint?
"Let's take a walk through the hall that leads to my office. I will tell you about what a Mafia company does and it's Family. Maybe you will have a better understanding of our company after that." Her uncle started walking to the direction of the elevator.
"The company does not merely engage in commerce; it is a parasitic organism, its roots dug deep into the legitimate world it slowly strangles.
"Its true business is the mastery of fear, maintaining an invisible kingdom fueled by extortion, the misery of illegal gambling, the slow ruin of loan sharking, and the enforced silence of protection rackets. Its fundamental purpose is absolute territorial control and the corrosion of any authority that might challenge its writ.
"Membership is a covenant sealed in silence and blood, a permanent commitment to the life—a grim existence where loyalty is the only currency and betrayal is answered with terminal finality.
"The structure itself is not a system of management, but a chain of command designed to deflect consequence from the few at the top. The apex is occupied by the Boss, the Don, an isolated figure whose decisions are final and often lethal.
"In this case, its me. The boss or the don exists in a privileged darkness, merely issuing the decrees that ensure the Family's survival and growth. Directly beneath him is the Underboss, the Boss's shadow and executor. This second-in-command is the vital conduit, translating the Boss's silent will into actionable malice and ensuring that the organization's brutality is applied consistently and effectively to those who defy it.
"Yet, every tyrant needs a mind that calculates risk, and that role belongs to the Consigliere. Not a general, but a prophet of doom, this advisor anticipates the external threats—the law, rivals, or internal collapse—guiding the Boss away from costly errors with cold, rational counsel. Beneath this layer of ultimate power are the Capos which is the Captains.
"They are the masters of the street, each commanding a regime—a cadre of Soldiers or Made Men. These Capos collect the toll of fear, managing the immediate criminality and ensuring the steady flow of illicit funds upward. The Soldiers themselves are the foundation: the nameless, hardened instruments of violence, whose only escape from the Family's service is often the earth itself." Her uncle finished explaining.
"That doesn't sound like your company." Aefia protested while thinking. Her eyes were watery from preventing her yawns from coming out. Mom said yawning makes you more sleepy. I can't sleep when the boss of the Mafias is speaking. The description is creepy the way he said it. I only knew they kill and slaughter for fun.
Aefia's mind swam on itself as she recalled whatever her uncle had told her. She questioned herself, if seeking help from her uncle was really a good choice. But now it was too late. She held the badge from earlier, out in front of her.
The badge was a greenish-gold colour with a rectangular-shaped plate which had two blue ribbons hanging from the ends. On the rectangular plate was written 'Assassin and Spy, Aefia'.
Seriously? What even does this mean? I am an assassin and a spy? It's like saying milk and cereal in one, which is actually a bit disgusting when kept like that for a long time. I am just a child, don't expect me to do two jobs at once, uncle!
She looked up at the pictures hanging on the wall of the hall. Each of them showing a previously-rivaling company with her uncle's company, smiling and holding a piece of paper. With closer look, it was a contract.
"Uncle is it hard being a member of the Mafia?" Aefia asked with slight hesitation.
"The daily life of a Mafia Boss or Don is less about hands-on crime and more about management, arbitration, and security. The Boss is the CEO of the criminal family, and their authority is nearly absolute.
"Their day involves a relentless series of private meetings, often held in secure locations like a legitimate business office to maintain a facade or a trusted social club. The core activity is resolving disputes between lower-ranking members and crews, as well as approving major strategic decisions—whether to engage in a new racket like drug trafficking or bid rigging, sanction a murder which only they have the sole power to do, or negotiate with other families.
"The Boss rarely gives direct orders to a Soldier; instead, they communicate through their Underboss and Consigliere counselor, who act as deputies and advisors. A significant portion of their time is spent ensuring the 'tribute' money earned by all levels of the family flows upwards efficiently, as the Boss receives a cut of every criminal enterprise.
"While the life can be lavish, the Boss must maintain constant vigilance—both from law enforcement and internal threats—as their position makes them a primary target. Ultimately, the Boss's main job is to maintain the family's stability, power, and profitability.
"The day-to-day reality for a Soldier, a fully initiated made man, is far less glamorous and often more menial and monotonous. The Soldier's main responsibility is to generate revenue for the family and pass a portion of it up to their Caporegime which is a Capo.
"They are essentially perpetually 'on-call', their activities revolving around the family's core rackets. This might involve:
Collections, driving around to collect 'protection' or extortion money from businesses, or weekly payments on loan-sharking debts.
"Enforcement, serving as muscle, which involves acts of intimidation, threats, or occasional violence to resolve disputes and maintain the family's reputation for fear.
"Running Rackets, operating a low-level illegal enterprise, such as bookmaking, which is illegal gambling, or a small-scale fencing operation for stolen goods.
"To avoid attention, many Soldiers hold a seemingly legitimate job—often in businesses controlled by the family, like construction, trash hauling, or vending machines—which also serves as a crucial mechanism for laundering money.
"Unlike the Boss, the Soldier's earnings can be highly variable, and their life is defined by loyalty to the Omertà which is the code of silence, the ever-present threat of violence, and the tedious waiting for orders from their Capo."
"That sounds like..." Aefia searched for words. Did I miscalculate my steps and enter a trap? I am in serious trouble when I get home. I don't know how to respond my mother. It was better to die than run here for help.
"Aefia, you are so silent that it's making me feel a bit uncomfortable. You don't think that's how our company operates right?" Her uncle asked her when he saw her worried face.
"But didn't you say you were a bunch of Mafias? You haven't explained about my position or about which rank I am. I don't want to engage in all those illegal actions. I just want to learn self-defense, therefore I prefer to drop the position." Aefia finally faced her fear and asked the question on her mind.
Maybe the teenage member from earlier was warning me about this. I should've listened and followed his orders, but I also don't want to be a slave to any members of this company.
"I knew you would think of our company at negative aspects. Let me assure you that our company is not like that. Your position isn't low-ranking so you don't have to worry about it. Your mom knows about this position too." Her uncle gave Aefia a gentle smile.
"Our company may be a group of Mafias but remember I told you that our company fights against corrupted governers? We deal with politicians who are causing the economy to plummet.
"Our group itself is known as 'The Mafias' but we aren't like that. It was due to a few powerful corrupted governers who spread rumors about our company. One of them was that we killed innocent lives, which is most definitely not true. It was later found that those politicians were only looking for fame.
"Because of that, some governers tried to place verdicts on our company, and that is when we decided that we had to raise in power in order to ward-off any further accusations. That was also when we had to commit a crime.
"Besides that, no one from our team ever stepped out to go drug-selling or gambling. It is against our own company rules that a member does that and also behind the boss's back."
"Oh, sorry for the earlier assumptions then. If my position isn't low-ranking, am I equivalent to one of the eight members that I saw earlier?" Aefia asked relieved.
At least I don't do any criminal acts, I will stay under this company and solve mysteries like a detective from a mystery novel.
Aefia leaped around the room at her thoughts for a few minutes before realizing her uncle was watching her with a curious look.
"Did you hear any of what I just said?" Her uncle asked.
"Sorry, I was taken away by my thoughts." Aefia replied.
"I will say it again and for the last time... Yes, you are now one of the most dependent member of the now nine high-ranking members of 'The Mafias'. So you will have to make sure you stay on-call in the future. For now, since you are still a kid, you won't be asked to take on big missions. Instead, you will be solving mysteries in your office and provide us with your findings."
"Alright!" Then a few questions came into Aefia's mind. "Uncle, where am I going to sleep for tonight? And what about going home? And I have school tomorrow."
"Give it a break, your mom will handle the things back at home. Your head is injured, do you still want to go to school? And you can sleep at my office. Your office is currently dust-covered and it will be cleaned by tomorrow." Her uncle answered.
Aefia ran towards the door to her uncle's office and threw open the door. She hoped onto the sofa and fell asleep, not giving a care to her running uncle.
"Ow..my back! I can't run like you kids anymore, Aefia!" Her uncle entered a few minutes later.
Seeing that she was asleep, he decided to gather the documents of the minor cases and set it out on his table, to give Aefia the next morning as her first mission.
In total, there were five folders. Each were colour-coded based on which document needed more attention. For instance, red needed urgent attention. Aefia was a clever kid, so her uncle decided to leave the matter to Aefia for solving later on.
***
Aefia woke up at ten the next morning and walked out of the room to head to the cafeteria. When she came back, her face was stained with red from the beans she had eaten for breakfast.
Her uncle entered the office at eleven after a meeting and told Aefia about the files and the things that needed to be done. They both walked to Aefia's new office room afterwards.
The room had a desk and a chair with shelves lining each side of the walls. The office was the size of her laundry room back at her house. It was an estimated sixty-five square feet.
It's alright, its not like I will live here. Afterall, I will need to adapt to small space like this in the future as a spy. Though I will be honest, my bedroom was the size of a living room.
I don't know why I am complaining about the space and size, I am supposed to be solving cases, not living a luxurious life around the office.
Aefia took the files and walked up to her desk. Her desk had every office stationary necessary, starting from pencil, erasers, pens and stapler. She looked at the colour-coded files and thought of which one to start with.
"Oh and your due date for one case is in five days. I think you can figure it out already." Her uncle said before departing. Since she was now a high-ranking member of a mafia group, her uncle decided Aefia needed a few bodyguards by her side.
I told uncle that I wanted to learn self-defense, not sitting at a desk and solving mysteries. I am not Sherlack Halmes, of course. But that's also my only queue to staying away from home I guess.
She took out the red file's documents and started reading the written contents. When she was done, she took out a piece of blank A4 paper and drew a mind-map.
***
An hour and half later, a knock sounded at the door to the boss's office. One of her uncle's bodyguards came in. "Sir, the new member wants to meet with you. She says she wants to talk about the case you handed her this morning."
"Let her in." Her uncle replied while getting up. He pushed all the documents he had been going through, aside and put away his stationaries in order to clear the table.
Aefia entered while holding the red folder. "I have solved the case for this folder...unc-boss." Aefia gave an excited smile.
She handed the piece of paper showing a mind-map. "The answer is simple, in my father's company, the one managing the finances is the culprit."
Her uncle smiled at her.