SSR Club.
Luca sat at the club bar when a notification popped up on the panel in front of him.
__________________________________________________________________________
[Ding! You hired assassins and provided intelligence, resulting in the deaths of 21 Mafia hitmen, the arrest of 5, and the defection of one boss. You upheld peace in New York]
[Gain Skill Points ×30]
[Gain 15 Skill Fragments]
[Body Flexibility +5%]
[Remaining Skill Fragments: 48]
__________________________________________________________________________
Luca cracked his knuckles and immediately felt that his dexterity had improved slightly.
Wait.
It seemed like his tongue had become more flexible too?
This small reward was actually pretty good.
He poured himself a glass of wine when the phone on the table rang.
It was Denham.
Denham said, "Scarpa has been taken care of. He agreed to become an FBI informant."
Luca wasn't surprised at all.
Scarpa was a traitor by nature.
In the original storyline, he cooperated with the FBI for decades, constantly betraying intelligence to them while also using the FBI as a weapon against his rivals and opposing factions.
The Colombo family had fought countless civil wars before and after this. This wasn't the first time for Joe Gallo, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Those repeated internal wars tore the Colombo family apart, leaving them battered and severely weakened.
Meanwhile, due to Scarpa's betrayal, many members of the Colombo family were arrested, including the boss himself. Dozens—sometimes even hundreds—of people were imprisoned during later civil wars.
Scarpa, under FBI protection, served only 30 days of what should have been a decades-long sentence.
He sacrificed most of the Colombo family to save his own life.
Even so, he still couldn't escape the final death sentence of AIDS.
Now Luca intended to bring that sacrificial ceremony forward.
He wanted to use this civil war to completely crush the Colombo family.
Last time, the drug war sent a group of corrupt police officers to prison.
This time, it would send a group of Mafia members instead.
That way the civil war would be resolved, and the system's peace rewards could be maximized.
The Dove of Peace continued speaking quietly on the phone.
"Remember what I told you last time? A spy has infiltrated your side."
"His goal is to use you to capture Gallo and the Yacov faction."
"But I'm not sure who it is."
"Be careful of strangers approaching you recently."
Harry's face flashed through Luca's mind.
Luca thought silently:
You FBI guys are really something.
You gave me an SSR card before, and now you're giving me another one.
Are you running an SSR wholesale business?
The Peace Ambassador certainly wouldn't mind receiving a few more.
Maybe they could even send over Tom Cruise next.
---
Not long after hanging up the phone, Luca met Harry, who had returned to report.
Harry observed Luca sitting calmly with a glass of wine in his hand.
But he couldn't read anything from the man's expression.
His mind raced.
How should he explain the failed operation?
How could he continue cooperating with the Dove of Peace and extract more information?
Before he could speak, Luca pointed to the seat across from him.
"Sit."
"I've already heard the news. It seems tonight's mission didn't go very smoothly."
"Sorry. The mission failed."
Harry sighed, pretending to be frustrated.
"I swear I was almost there when the police suddenly showed up. If it weren't for the police—"
"There's no need to explain."
Luca interrupted calmly.
"I'm not your employer. I only provided you with information."
"That was your mission, not mine."
"Besides, explanations won't change the result."
Luca handed Harry a glass of wine.
"Harry, you don't seem like a professional assassin."
"Because real assassins only care about targets and results. They don't beg for forgiveness."
The Silver Queen wine on the table released a faint fragrance.
Harry accepted the glass.
His thoughts slowly calmed.
"I just hope this incident doesn't affect our cooperation."
"You've already wasted one piece of intelligence."
Luca chuckled inwardly.
He pulled out an Oreo, took a bite, and continued.
"Harry, you should know that intelligence like this can't simply be bought with money."
"I used many resources to locate Scarpa."
"And you wasted that opportunity."
Harry fell silent.
He used to brag about how flawless he was, how he never made mistakes.
Now thinking about it made him feel slightly embarrassed.
"I can promise that tonight's incident will never happen again."
Harry lowered his head slightly, adopting the humble posture of an assassin seeking cooperation.
"Please give me another chance."
"Once trust between people breaks, it's very difficult to repair."
Harry's heart skipped a beat.
But Luca continued.
"However, I'm willing to give you another chance."
"Because you became a member of the club."
"That means you approve of this place."
Harry paused.
Then Luca slowly smiled.
"I opened the SSR Club to make friends."
"Almost every customer here respects the club—and respects me."
"They treat me like a friend."
"Harry, whether you like the fine wine here or the beautiful women, as long as you respect me and the club, you can receive help from me."
Making friends?
Harry couldn't deny that he liked this place.
At the same time, he felt a sense of trust from Luca that he had never experienced before.
The Mafia boss in front of him wasn't quite like the ones he knew.
For the first time, Harry felt genuine curiosity about Luca.
Not just professional interest for a mission.
Harry laughed and climbed the ladder.
"Looks like I'll need a higher-level membership."
__________________________________________________________________________
[Character Card: Harry Trask]
[Rank: SSR]
[Source: True Lies]
Skill:
[Role-Playing]
Description: Master the art of impersonation to seamlessly blend into any persona.
Effects: Increases trust from strangers by 15% and reduces the chance of identity exposure by 30%.
Requirements: Bond Level: Close Friend or higher.
Cost: 80 Skill Fragments.
[Tango of Passion]
Description: Use the rhythm of the tango to captivate and charm your partner.
Effects: Increases the efficiency of gaining affection from the opposite sex by 30% while dancing.
Requirements: Bond Level: Friend or higher.
Cost: 50 Skill Fragments.
[Flying Horse]
Description: Exceptional mastery over equestrian arts and high-speed riding.
Effects: Increases riding speed by 20% and significantly improves obstacle avoidance.
Requirements: Riding Skill: LV5 | Bond Level: Friend or higher.
Cost: 50 Skill Fragments.
[Mr. Universe]
Description: Converts physical conditioning and bodybuilding standards into raw power.
Effects: Scales combat power based on physique, up to a maximum of +20%.
Requirements: Bond Level: Friend or higher.
Cost: 50 Skill Fragments.
[The True Lies]
Description: A pinnacle skill forged from a decade of absolute deception.
Effects: Grants extreme persuasiveness; lies are virtually indistinguishable from the truth, increasing target trust by 50%.
Requirements: Bond Level: Partner or higher.
Cost: 300 Skill Fragments.
[Bond: Familiar]
__________________________________________________________________________
This was truly a lie that felt real.
How could someone make something fake sound so convincingly true?
Among the five skills, aside from horseback riding—which Luca felt wasn't very useful—the others were extremely good.
Especially the Mr. Universe skill.
Once learned, it immediately increased combat power.
And it was permanent.
Luca believed his physique should already contribute quite a lot to his fighting strength.
His muscles weren't huge, but they were well-defined.
That should at least add 10% combat power.
With more training, it could increase even further.
And then there was that Tango of Passion skill.
Luca swirled the wine in his glass.
"We absolutely have to get this skill."
"It's practically a god-tier ability for building relationships with women."
It looked like the club would have to host more dances from now on.
Maybe he should invite O-Ren Ishii and Elle Driver first.
After Harry left, Mr. Nobody arrived at the club with his dog.
"Dove of Peace! Tonight really wasn't my fault!"
Mr. Nobody explained quickly.
"No one expected the police to show up."
"I was the one who called them," Luca said calmly.
"What bothers me isn't that the police ruined the mission."
"What bothers me is that I refuse to be a sucker."
"The intelligence I bought for a high price wasn't unique."
"The police got the same information easily."
"I'm even starting to suspect your information came from them."
"Or maybe you sold it to them too?"
"That's nonsense!"
Mr. Nobody immediately protested.
"That was information I found myself!"
"I have my own rules."
"I never cooperate with the police, and I never sell the same information to multiple buyers."
"Mr. Nobody, I don't want the trust we've worked so hard to build to crack."
Luca pulled out a box from beneath the table.
"There's one million dollars here."
"Consider it a deposit."
"I'll give you the rest after you find Gallo."
Mr. Nobody's expression changed instantly.
He grabbed the box.
But it wouldn't move.
Luca's hand was pressing down on it.
"Mr. Nobody," Luca said slowly, his eyes sharp.
"I hope you won't betray my trust."
"You probably don't want to know what happens to people who deceive me."
"Dove … don't worry."
Mr. Nobody swallowed hard.
"I guarantee I'm 100% sincere."
"You just need to wait quietly ... You'll know Gallo's whereabouts soon."
Luca released the box.
Mr. Nobody dragged it toward himself and opened it.
Bright green stacks of cash filled the inside.
A huge weight lifted from his chest.
At least we secured one million this time.
As for the final payment…
While he was thinking about it, Luca suddenly asked:
"How did you train your dog?"
"Huh?"
Mr. Nobody looked up.
Luca was feeding his dog a strip of beef jerky.
"I want a dog too."
"The club needs a few guard dogs."
That instantly got Mr. Nobody talking.
He enthusiastically explained dog training techniques—feeding commands, habit formation, breed selection, why German Shepherds were excellent working dogs, and how owners must spend time bonding with their animals.
While listening, Luca imagined something strange.
Walking down the street with a dog on a leash.
Doves flying overhead.
Snakes hidden in his sleeves.
Carrying an entire zoo wherever he went.
"Interested in training a few dogs for me?" Luca asked.
"The club needs them."
"I'll pay you."
Mr. Nobody instinctively asked:
"How much?"
"Name your price."
"I don't know much about dog trainers."
Mr. Nobody hesitated.
Training dogs was easy.
But was this business… or friendship?
He loved dogs deeply.
After thinking for a moment he said:
"Dove, you're a man of your word."
"I'll take the deposit."
"I'll train the dogs for free."
"But I have one condition."
"Go ahead."
"Dogs are our good friends."
"They're loyal, brave, and they never betray their owners."
A gentle look appeared in Mr. Nobody's eyes as the dog licked his hand.
"Dove, you'll treat every dog well… right?"
Luca nodded.
"Of course."
"Everyone in the club knows I never harm dogs."
"Good."
Mr. Nobody smiled.
"Then leave the dog training to me."
[Bond: Familiar]
---
Meanwhile Harry returned to base and immediately asked his colleagues about the situation.
"Did the FBI bring him back?"
"Where is he?"
His colleague snapped angrily.
"We didn't catch Scarpa at all!"
"Those useless cops let him escape!"
Harry froze.
"???"
Damn.
I overestimated the police.
The NYPD really is a bunch of useless bastards.
Scarpa, who had successfully "escaped," quietly returned to hiding within the Gallo faction.
His task now was simple.
Collect evidence on everyone in the family.
Every faction.
Even the neutral ones.
Everyone.
Scarpa could feel a storm approaching.
He had already provided Denham with plenty of evidence.
Enough to convict many people.
But the FBI still wasn't satisfied.
If this continued…
Was the Colombo family really doomed?
Scarpa sighed.
What civil war?
Someone clearly intended to wipe out the entire family in one single strike.
And Scarpa…
Would become a Pentito to his own family.
"I'm sorry ... I just want to live."
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