The following day, the SSR Club officially opened.
This was an extremely important day for Luca. He arrived early in the morning to oversee preparations and personally host a banquet for guests from every corner of the city. Many staff members came to help, along with Matilda. Following Luca's instructions, they worked with the waiters to arrange pots of Silver Queen plants along the entrance corridor so guests would see them the moment they stepped inside.
As a result, many guests immediately felt relaxed and uplifted as they entered.
"So many Silver Queens!"
"The atmosphere here is incredible. It reminds me of the last time I went to the Maldives with my wife. The beach air there and the air here feel just as refreshing."
"I was about to complain to my buddy about something, but now all I want is a drink."
"Looks like we've got ourselves a new regular hangout."
Luxury cars pulled up outside the hotel one after another. Familiar faces stepped out. Luca, dressed in a sharp suit, greeted guests in the first-floor lobby. Jimmy stood at his side.
"This is the confirmed attendance list for the opening ceremony," Jimmy said, handing him a form.
The list included family acquaintances such as Marigio, Dominic, and White Tiger, along with other family members. In addition, several political and business figures connected to the family would attend to show their support—adding prestige to the Lucchese family name.
After all, this club had cost millions to build.
The Lucchese family hadn't expected Luca to go this far. They assumed he was just opening a typical bar or nightclub. None of them imagined he would create something on this scale. It was now the largest clubhouse in the family's New York territory.
Was Luca trying to turn this into a money-printing machine?
Many in the family thought so. And since it looked profitable, they decided to support their "little brother," calling in friends to show up. This place would become a new gathering hub for the family.
Luca welcomed everyone warmly—even though they were, technically speaking, all mobsters.
Once open, his club would attract a colorful collection of characters—not billionaires from ultra-exclusive international clubs. Those elite establishments required insider recommendations, share buy-ins, yacht ownership, racing cars, land investments, asset verification—the whole secret-society experience.
Where would SSR-level characters like Leon get that kind of money?
Or were they expecting someone like Lefty to magically produce a six-figure annual membership fee?
From the very beginning, Luca had no intention of making this a top-tier aristocratic club. Mid-to-high-end was enough. Once he accumulated stronger connections and elevated his status, he could integrate more resources and gradually move upward.
First step: get people in the door.
"Hmm…"
Luca scanned the list and quickly located the name of the underboss—Dominic. He stared at it for quite some time.
Just then, Matilda, wearing a princess dress, ran up to him.
"Luca! The Silver Queens are all set up. Anything else I can help with?"
"Thank you for your hard work, Lucky Matilda," Luca said, smiling as he handed her a piece of candy. "Go play with your brother Brian and your sister Nancy—they should be at the bar. You're the leader of the biker gang, so you've got to take care of your little brothers."
"I'm looking for Leon," Matilda said, glancing around. "I didn't see him when we were moving the Silver Queens. I wanted to ask him about his secret to raising them."
Luca smiled and shook his head. "He has other responsibilities. He's head of security today. He's in charge of protecting every guest."
"Ohhh." Matilda reached up and smoothed the wrinkles on Luca's suit. "Go, Luca! The Peace Ambassador looks so handsome today—like a prince riding a white horse!"
From afternoon to evening, guests arrived one after another.
Jordan and his friends showed up, along with retired detective William Somerset. The veteran detective had been personally invited by Luca over the phone.
"Oh, I didn't expect your club to be this large," William said half-jokingly. "I made a mistake that night. I should've accepted your invitation."
"It's not too late," Luca replied with a smile. "I really need a mature and steady front desk manager. William, you're perfect for the job."
William froze for a moment. He had been joking. Luca clearly was not.
"I'll need to discuss this with my family," he said more cautiously this time. "I'll get back to you soon."
---
Afterward, Donnie and Lefty arrived.
"I had plans with Sonny," Lefty said, hugging Luca with a puzzled expression. "But I can't reach him. We even went to his house—nothing. Dove, I swear, once I find him, I'm going to teach him a lesson. He actually missed the grand opening of the Good Friends Club. That's practically a felony!"
"He probably had something important to take care of," Luca replied calmly.
Then he looked at Donnie. "Did you bring enough money today? There are plenty of people in the casino waiting for you to donate."
Donnie's heart skipped.
Gambling again? How much of our department budget has this place absorbed already?! That snake Jimmy definitely cheats.
"I hope my luck's better today," Donnie forced a smile. "Wouldn't want to ruin your opening celebration."
Not long after, Mariggio arrived. He pulled Luca aside, his expression complicated.
"I don't want to dampen your big day," he began, "but what happened last night made Dominic very unhappy."
"I had no idea the family hired the Deadly Vipers," Luca replied grimly. "I was supposed to quietly walk in and deal with Richie Roberts and Carmine Galante. Instead, they turned it into a full-blown gang shootout."
"Dominic thinks you've been too hesitant."
"He contacted the Deadly Vipers directly," Marigio sighed.
Luca narrowed his eyes.
Underboss… are you really that desperate to protect your drug business?
"Uncle Mariggio," Luca said quietly, "I suddenly remembered something. When I was a kid, I got caught during a robbery and went to jail for several months."
"I remember."
"When I got out, you told me not to hate the police. We're playing cat and mouse. As long as they follow the rules, arrest us legally, don't fabricate evidence—that's their skill."
"I did say that."
Marigio understood immediately.
When the Commission was established, there was a rule: official members were not to be executed lightly unless they violated family rules egregiously. Killing someone like Richie—an official investigator playing by the system—would provoke massive federal retaliation.
Both sides survived because they followed unspoken limits.
"If Dominic keeps doing this," Luca said, "our family won't last."
Marigio let out a dry chuckle. "Is that why you haven't acted?"
"I'm not opposed to killing," Luca shrugged. "But I prefer peace."
He leaned closer.
"The Commission only approved Carma Galante's execution, right? The hit on Richie Roberts—that was Dominic's idea?"
Marigio stiffened slightly. "That's what Dominic told me. I wasn't at the meeting."
Something felt wrong.
The Deadly Vipers had only communicated with Dominic—not the Commission.
"We can't question orders from above," Marigio said helplessly.
"I understand." Luca hugged him. "Come inside. Today's a day to celebrate."
---
In a scenic part of New Jersey, a classic manor stood quietly.
Dominic and his wife exited the house and got into their car, heading toward the club. He held his phone in his hand.
"Frank, relax. It's not that bad yet. We'll talk when we arrive."
Frank's voice was cold. "I just want to know when this trouble will end."
"I'd also like to know when your next shipment arrives," Dominic replied calmly. "Nothing stops business."
He knew Frank's supply came from Asia—but not how it moved so smoothly into New York. Even the Bonanno family, with decades of control over import-export channels, couldn't move volume like that.
If he could secure Frank's channels…
Dominic felt a surge of ambition. He would elevate the Lucchese family. He would prove to the old boss that drugs were pure gold.
As for Frank?
Once the channels were secured, Frank would become irrelevant.
The New York drug market didn't need an outsider controlling it.
Dominic let out a cold laugh.
Times have changed.
---
Boom!
Ceremonial cannons fired. Colorful confetti filled the air.
Luca stepped forward with a bright smile and warmly embraced Uncle Bill.
"Luca! Congratulations! Wishing you a prosperous opening!"
Behind Uncle Bill stood a professional lion dance troupe from Chinatown, drums booming thunderously. The festive performance caught the attention of many European and American guests.
Many of them glanced at Uncle Bill—the energetic Hong Kong man chatting enthusiastically with Luca—and quietly wondered which syndicate he represented.
"Uncle Bill, Aunt Whitney, welcome!"
"Luca, your club is much more luxurious than I imagined!" Uncle Bill exclaimed, clicking his tongue.
"Remember what you told Matilda? Treat the supermarket like your own home," Luca grinned. "This club is your home too. We're family. Peace above all."
"Hahaha! Peace is the most important thing~~!"
At that moment, the system panel unfolded:
__________________________________________________________________________
[Ding! You teamed up with Leon to eliminate a drug lord; you defended your family and the peace of New York!]
[Gain 20 Skill Points]
[Gain 10 Skill Fragments]
[Muscle Endurance +5%]
[Remaining Skill Fragments: 75]
__________________________________________________________________________
The SSR sign gleamed in the warm sunlight.
The colorful lion leapt and soared, its mane shaking, eyes blinking, neck stretching proudly. The drums pounded like a heartbeat.
A red carpet extended from the roadside to Luca's feet.
Guests stepped forward one by one to congratulate him, each repeating his favorite phrase.
"Dove of Peace~~ Peace is the most important thing!"
There is no such thing as good killing.
And there is no such thing as bad peace.
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Ehem, As you may know, this 5 chapters is last chapters of the week, tomorrow is my day off. So, yeah.
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