The war on drugs had not yet fully subsided, and the newly reshuffled New York City government was busy purging its own ranks.
Meanwhile, across the country, anti-drug operations in other cities had also made significant progress.
Dominic had once helped Frank distribute goods to the West Coast, and there were connections between them. Following the trail, the police uncovered a number of gophers who had been quietly destroying crops.
Luca began orchestrating the gasoline tax scam and outlined the relevant plans.
Jordan had already prepared several offshore companies registered in Panama, but the key personnel still required a group of "scapegoats."
Once the gasoline company inevitably went bankrupt due to tax evasion, its responsible manager would need to flee the United States.
Luca was unlikely to appear publicly, and he certainly couldn't flee, so some Russians, Irishmen, or Armenians would be needed to take the fall.
Among them, Russians were the most suitable.
This business had originally been pioneered by Russians. They had started gasoline companies early on and discovered the loopholes in the system.
However, their influence in East Coast political and business circles was nowhere near as strong as the Mafia's—especially when it came to labor unions.
They simply couldn't compete in that arena.
The gas stations and companies they currently operated were still relatively small in scale, and they hadn't dug deeply enough into the loopholes yet.
Russians were far more skilled at ruthless and illegal businesses—things like controlling the gasoline supply chain, oil, cat houses, drugs, human trafficking, and arms trafficking.
They had already established enormous criminal networks on both the East and West Coasts.
Luca wanted to build gas stations and a company. To do that, he would need to cooperate with the Russians, complement each other's resources, expand the business together, and create a new era of glory.
Perhaps they might even deal with the elusive Baba Yaga.
---
Early September was a very special time of year.
School season.
In New York State, schools typically started in late August or early September.
Matilda, who had spent a wild and carefree summer, now had to pack her backpack and head back to school.
"Breakfast."
Luca, dressed in casual home clothes, handed Matilda a packaged sandwich and a carton of milk.
"Luca, I don't want to go to school."
"The Mafia doesn't accept members without a degree."
"You're trying to scare me again. I heard from Uncle Mariggio that you didn't even graduate elementary school, but I already have a higher level of education than you."
"."
Lore!
The Dove of Peace was deeply offended.
With a dark expression, he shoved Matilda forward from behind and chased her out the door as her bright, silvery laughter echoed through the house.
"First day of the new semester. Don't be late."
"Luca, will you take me?"
Matilda clung to Luca's arm, pouting stubbornly.
"It's been so long since I've ridden in your car."
Luca's face turned sour, completely unmoved.
"Brian is waiting for you downstairs. I've arranged for him to be your personal driver. He'll take you to school and bring you back."
Matilda: "."
Brian. That blond idiot who laughs all day.
No one knew what he found so funny.
Brian looked at himself in the rearview mirror, combing his blond curly hair and practicing a slightly stiff smile.
Perfect!
I've already become Dove dri—no, Dove Sister's—personal driver.
My undercover mission has advanced another step!
Who knows? Maybe one day I'll even walk straight into the Dove's house.
Although the direction of this operation feels a bit… off, at least it's still moving forward.
My heavily modified sports car will roar like thunder.
When I drive past the school gate, it'll definitely attract a bunch of admiring and jealous looks from the kids.
Just then, Nancy called.
"Brian, are you free tonight? Iosef's men came to see you again last night. They want to challenge you to another race in Brooklyn."
"Iosef?"
That useless heir of the Russian Tassarov Mafia?
Brian snorted with disdain.
He was nothing more than a lousy car thief.
Ever since Brian made a name for himself at the Brooklyn underground racetrack, the guy had been pestering him constantly—trying to buy his car.
When Brian refused, he started challenging him to races.
He had already lost to Brian several times.
Every time he came back with a different sports car—God knows which poor soul he stole it from.
Let him keep switching cars.
If your skills aren't good enough, you'll never beat me.
"What time tonight?" Brian asked confidently.
"Tell him to prepare the bets. And don't even think about backing out if he loses!"
"Ten o'clock. Be there on time."
"OK."
After hanging up, Nancy tidied herself up and rode her motorcycle straight to school.
She hadn't graduated from university yet.
In her spare time, Nancy also worked part-time at the SSR Club.
She had found a job as a waitress at the club bar to earn tuition money and support her younger brother.
Usually, she relied on her neighbor Uncle Bill to help take care of her disabled brother.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to handle everything alone.
People joined racer gangs not only for the thrill—but also to make money through gambling.
---
After arriving at school, Nancy hurried to the classroom with her backpack.
As she walked through the gate, a curly-haired boy whistled at her with a mischievous grin.
Nancy rolled her eyes and walked straight past him.
Curly chuckled.
"The girls at your school are seriously hot~~~ Dude, you're living in paradise."
"I regret not sending you out here back then. If I hadn't gotten expelled, maybe I could've gotten into this school too and been classmates with these hot girls."
"You wouldn't do that. Otherwise we wouldn't be friends."
"Hahaha, Mike. You've seen right through my greatest weakness."
The two young men walked out of the school gate together.
"Come on, I'll take you somewhere good."
Curly rubbed his hands excitedly.
"There's a club called SSR in the Bronx. They just opened a casino there."
"I've been there twice."
"It's full of Italians with terrible card skills. They can't read people's expressions, and they have zero technique. When they get good hands, they just bet blindly."
"They can't even tell if I've cheated!"
"That place is basically an ATM machine."
"Dude, with your skills and our teamwork, going there would be like picking up money from the ground."
Mike was tempted.
But he still shook his head.
"Worm, I already told you. I don't play cards anymore."
A year ago, he had lost all his tuition and living expenses at a Russian casino.
After that, he had to work as a truck driver just to survive.
For six entire months, Mike didn't touch a deck of cards.
He quit gambling.
Until his childhood friend—nicknamed Worm—was released from prison.
That very night, persuaded by Worm, they crushed a group of newbies and won one or two thousand dollars.
Mike swore it was only because he didn't want to disappoint his friend who had just gotten out of prison.
It definitely wasn't because he wanted to make a comeback.
Worm stared at him with a knowing smile.
"Mike, from childhood to now, nobody understands you better than I do."
"Playing cards is your true talent."
"It's instinct."
"It flows in your blood."
"Even if a wolf loses its fangs, it never forgets how to hunt with its claws."
"Dude."
"You can't quit."
This time, Worm still couldn't convince Mike.
So he came to the SSR Club alone.
He absolutely loved this place.
Not just because the gamblers here were terrible.
But because the atmosphere was peaceful.
Even people who lost money often just went to the bar for a drink instead of starting fights.
Many conflicts were avoided.
Worm stepped through the gate, spread his arms wide, and took a deep breath.
"Ahhh… this damn intoxicating smell."
He noticed a young man in black watering a Silver Queen plant.
He looked like a waiter.
Worm glanced at the time.
---
2 PM.
"Hey buddy, are there any poker games running right now?"
"There shouldn't be many people at this hour."
Luca checked the time.
"But it shouldn't be a problem to gather two or three tables."
Worm grinned.
"I like the Silver Queen you planted."
Then he took out a $10 bill and stuffed it into Luca's pocket.
"We should put a few more pots in the casino."
Luca: "..."
Buddy.
This is the first tip I've ever received in my life.
Luca pulled the money from his pocket and watched the young man walk away with a strange expression.
"You give me a tip… and think you can cheat in my casino?"
Doves also like to fish with worms as his bait.
__________________________________________________________________________
[Character Card Discovered: Lester "Worm" Murphy (Unlocked)]
Rank: B
Source: Rounders
Skill: Thousand Door Ghost Hand
Bond: Strangers
__________________________________________________________________________
Luca smiled slightly.
Two interesting kids had appeared.
A cynical gambler.
And a college student dreaming of conquering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Both were professional card players.
If Jordan played against them, he could probably win a few games.
Because they knew how to throw a match.
Harvesting leeks should be done slowly.
When you encounter a fat sheep, you shear the wool gently—little by little.
You don't skin it alive all at once.
If Luca remembered correctly, the two of them owed money to the Russian gang.
They planned to win enough gambling money to pay their debts.
"Jimmy."
Luca called Jimmy over and told him to keep an eye on Worm.
"As long as he doesn't go too far, leave him alone."
"Just give him a friendly reminder."
"There are plenty of Mafia members at the poker tables."
"If he's smart, he'll understand."
"I understand."
Jimmy nodded, wondering what scheme the Dove was planning this time.
"Dove, do you want me to water your plants?"
"I'll do it myself."
"..."
---
Just then, two more guests arrived.
O-Ren Ishii.
And Elle One-Eye.
Recently, the two had been busy managing business at the Red Flower Restaurant, but occasionally they accepted Luca's invitations to visit the SSR Club.
There was also a small issue to handle.
Carmine Galante of the Bonanno family had disappeared.
According to the information O-Ren Ishii passed to Luca, the old man had likely left New York.
His whereabouts were currently unknown.
Luca wasn't in a hurry.
Sonny Black would keep an eye on the situation.
In fact, he was more anxious than anyone.
That old man Galante was still secretly communicating with the Commission, trying to delay things and negotiate reconciliation.
But it was already too late.
There was no room for negotiation.
The other families had already divided the spoils.
The Bonanno family was starting to stir again.
Galante could only die.
"Ms. Ishii."
Luca walked over to greet her, silently thinking:
Please don't give me another tip…
"Every time I come here, you're watering flowers."
Today, O-Ren Ishii wore a white top and black-bottom haori, with a samurai sword at her waist.
She radiated both elegance and lethal strength.
"Do you really like the Silver Queen that much?"
"I plan to develop it into a long-term hobby," Luca said with a smile.
"Just like when I asked you for guidance in Japanese swordsmanship."
"I hope to gain something from the process."
Luca was currently learning Japanese swordsmanship from O-Ren Ishii.
Two of the Yakuza Empress's abilities were related to swordsmanship.
Having more skills was never a bad thing.
Once he mastered the basics, he could use skill points to upgrade them.
And it also gave him more chances to interact with O-Ren Ishii.
The Deadly Viper organization was filled with masters of Chinese kung fu and Japanese swordsmanship.
But comparatively speaking, O-Ren Ishii's skills were far superior to Elle's.
Even the Black Mamba might not match her.
Her strength lay in her aura and her divine samurai sword that could cut through iron like mud.
Luca thought to himself:
Once I learn this properly, I'll cut down anyone who insults my Sicilian bloodline.
This technique is even stronger than American Iaijutsu.
"Jimmy, water the plants."
Luca handed him the watering can.
He was going to practice swordsmanship.
Jimmy: "..."
"Your club feels very comfortable."
O-Ren Ishii followed Luca into the elevator toward the gym upstairs.
She was even more obsessed with killing than Luca.
Yet here, she strangely felt peace.
Even something like Zen.
If there were a tea room here, it would be perfect.
The two entered the gym.
Luca changed clothes, picked up the samurai sword he bought last month, and began practicing with O-Ren Ishii.
__________________________________________________________________________
Luca Greco
[Skills:
Firearms Mastery LV7
Assassination Mastery LV6 → LV7
Combat Mastery LV6 → LV7
Driving Mastery LV4 → LV6
Japanese Swordsmanship LV1
Shameless Rogue
Greedy Rogue
(… omitted)]
Current Skill Points: 0
Remaining Skill Fragments: 192
Unlocked Skills (Not Yet Learned):
Motorbike Phantom
Crime Reconstruction
Upright and Unyielding
__________________________________________________________________________
---
Downstairs in the casino.
Not wanting to be a third wheel upstairs, Elle walked in alone.
She exchanged $10,000 for chips and sat at a poker table.
Worm looked up and whistled.
"Hey beautiful, want to play?"
Elle pulled out her little notebook and grinned.
"Okay."
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