Jersey City
Truck Drivers Union — Teamsters Local 560.
Today was a special day.
More than two weeks after the death of the previous president, Pro, a new president was finally arriving to take over the union.
Until now, the union had been temporarily managed by Pro's former subordinates.
Inside the president's office.
Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with thin cheeks and black-rimmed glasses.
His name is Salvatore Briggillo, nicknamed "Sally Bug."
He had once been Pro's henchman and personal assassin, handling all kinds of dirty work.
Although officially just a low-ranking partner, Sally had always been highly trusted by Pro.
He was similar to Jimmy beside Luca—someone who handled business operations openly while secretly dealing with darker matters.
Back when Pro was rising to power, many people had competed for the position of union president.
But one by one they had been eliminated by Sally Bug.
That was how Pro had smoothly taken control of the union.
Yet Sally Bug never expected that Pro himself would also end up dead.
Being a union president was a dangerous job.
You either ended up in prison…or in a coffin.
"Fitzsimmons."
Sally spun around in his chair and stared directly at the fat man in front of him.
"According to the rules, after Pro's death I should become the next union president."
"I'm the vice president."
"And yet you parachute some outsider into the position?"
"You don't respect me at all."
The fat man's face twitched slightly.
This man was Frank Fitzsimmons.
Damn it.
Why were so many union leaders also killers?
Beside him sat Frank Sheeran, the quiet Irish Painter.
Frank tried to smooth things over.
"Sally, we all regret Pro's death. He fought hard for many benefits for the workers."
"We also believe you're capable of leading the union."
"But the appointment of the new president—Luca—was a joint decision."
"His gasoline company and gas stations are exactly the kind of partners the union urgently needs right now."
Fitz forced a laugh and rubbed his large belly.
"You can remain vice president."
"Luca the Dove is easy to work with."
"I'm sure the two of you will get along well."
"And his businesses will bring in far more money than Pro's operations ever did."
"As president, I can earn as much money as I want from the union."
Sally sneered.
"Why should I cooperate with some outsider?"
"As long as I control the union, any gasoline company that wants transportation services must go through me."
His eyes glinted coldly.
After finally getting rid of Pro…why should he hand the position to someone else?
The murderous aura in Salvatore's gaze made Fitz and Frank exchange uneasy glances.
This man clearly wasn't someone who could be persuaded easily.
"The appointment has already been made."
Fitz shrugged helplessly.
"It's also the decision of the Mafias."
"You don't really have another option."
Sally slowly adjusted his glasses.
Then he stood up from the chairman's seat and walked toward them.
"You never gave me another option."
"You people sit high above everything."
"With a single word you decide who becomes union leader."
"But me?"
"I climbed from the bottom step by step."
He pointed outside.
"Most of the people in this union are my friends."
"All the truck drivers here know me."
"During holidays their families even bring me gifts."
"Jersey City is my home."
"And nobody loves it more than I do."
With that, Sally strode out of the office.
Fitz watched him leave, worry written across his face.
Then he turned to Frank.
"What family is he even from?"
"He just controls some local gangs."
"He's acting this arrogant… he must have the Genovese crime family backing him."
Originally, the Lucchese crime family had also wanted to control the union.
During negotiations among the Mafia leadership, the Lucchese family ultimately won.
Which was exactly why Fitz decided to cooperate with them.
After all—
their businesses made far more money.
Seven-figure weekly profits.
Who could compete with that?
Pro's old union businesses certainly couldn't.
---
"Fuck Pro and Sally," Fitz muttered.
"Those two bastard only knew how to bleed workers dry."
"They went way too far."
Frank sighed softly.
His mind drifted back to memories.
He remembered the words of Jimmy Hoffa.
Pro had completely lost control.
He stole money from every worker.
Extorted trucking companies.
Constantly threatened others.
And completely destroyed the union's reputation.
Pro and Sally didn't love the union at all.
To them, it was just a money-printing machine.
In Frank's memory, only Hoffa had truly cared about the union.
Even though Hoffa also cooperated with the Mafia…
he genuinely fought for workers' rights and benefits.
That was why workers across the country supported him.
That was why he became a nationally famous union leader.
Even presidential families treated him with respect.
Because Hoffa controlled an enormous voting base.
Enough to influence elections.
Frank thought again of his old friend.
The only reason he himself became president of Local 326 was because Hoffa disliked Pro and wanted someone to check his power.
But Hoffa eventually went to prison.
And the union fell completely into the hands of Fitz and Pro.
Now Pro was dead.
Yet another Mafia had arrived.
Who knew what kind of chaos this one would bring?
Frank snapped out of his thoughts.
He looked at Fitz.
"Do you know what Luca the Dove plans to do with the union?"
Fitz spread his hands.
"How would I know?"
"As long as he doesn't dissolve the union, it's fine."
"Without the union, where would these workers even find jobs?"
Frank nodded.
Then the two men left the office.
---
Inside the union hall.
Hundreds of truck drivers had gathered.
But the atmosphere was not lively.
It was tense.
Many workers wore old badges with Pro's portrait.
A clear declaration of loyalty.
They were supporters of the old faction.
Fitz whispered nervously:
"I suggested Luca postpone taking office."
"But he insisted on today."
"Even after half a month, these people still haven't forgotten Pro."
The people who missed him most were the ones who had benefited from him.
Frank looked around.
Most workers were silent.
No badges.
No slogans.
Just dull eyes.
As if nothing would ever change.
One leader left.
Another arrived.
The union stayed the same.
Suddenly someone shouted.
"Fuck Luca! Get out of Local 560!"
The hall instantly exploded.
Workers jumped to their feet.
Some slammed fists on tables.
Others raised banners.
"We demand fair wages!"
"Down with corrupt union leaders!"
"These bastard treat us like slaves!"
"Fourteen hours of driving every day and we still can't feed our families!"
"Meanwhile Luca drives luxury cars and drinks expensive wine!"
"Fuck the Mafia!"
"Get out of the union!"
Some even carried pre-written banners.
The hall became complete chaos.
A group rushed toward the gates.
Some held hammers.
The crowd poured into the street like an overturned anthill.
Fitz and Frank exchanged stunned looks.
Frank sighed.
"This situation… is getting out of control."
Fitz wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I told Luca to pick a smaller union."
"But he insisted on Local 560."
"His reason?"
"Jersey City is close to New York."
"He didn't want to travel too far."
Frank "…That's actually a pretty reasonable reason."
---
Outside the building.
Workers stood on the street protesting loudly.
Passersby stopped to watch.
Among the crowd, Sally shouted the loudest.
Like a dog suddenly without its master.
Frank walked to the roadside.
In the distance, he saw a convoy of black cars approaching.
Inside the leading car.
Brian looked at the noisy scene ahead and grinned.
"Looks like everyone's welcoming us."
"When I join the union I'll teach these drivers how to drift trucks."
Luca rolled his eyes.
"Look again."
"Does that look like a welcome?"
Brian squinted.
Then his face went pale.
Those banners…
were all protest slogans.
If he stepped out now—
he might actually get beaten.
Luca slowly rolled down the window.
He observed the crowd coldly.
He had dressed carefully today.
His hair neatly trimmed.
His custom black suit highlighting the lines of his muscles.
His eyes were calm.
Like a hunter watching prey.
When the convoy stopped, Jimmy stepped out first with several men in black.
They surrounded Luca's car.
Blocking the protesters.
__________________________________________________________________________
"System, Buy Labor Extortion"
[Ding! Buying Skill Labor Extortion]
[Fragment – 40]
[Skill successfully added]
Labor Extortion
Truck-driver union intimidation effect +10%
Money-laundering conversion rate through unions +10%
[Remaining Skill Fragments: 16]
__________________________________________________________________________
The car door opened.
Before anyone even saw Luca clearly—
just the sight of his long legs stepping out caused many workers to instinctively shiver.
Some gang members suddenly felt their legs weaken.
Fear spread through the crowd.
Everyone subconsciously stepped back.
Luca walked directly toward Sally.
He calmly took the hammer from his hand.
Then lightly patted his shoulder.
"A hammer is a good tool."
"If used correctly, it builds houses."
"But if used incorrectly…"
"It only destroys things."
He looked around at the crowd.
"Tell me."
"Do you want to smash your own jobs…"
"and go home crying in your wives' arms?"
"Or do you want to use those hammers…"
"to build bigger, faster, and more profitable trucks?"
The crowd fell silent.
Partly fear.
Partly because Jimmy and the others had revealed their guns.
Some workers instinctively stepped backward.
Luca stared directly into their eyes until they lowered their heads.
"I know what you're thinking."
"Oh look—another capitalist in a fancy suit."
"Another rich man trying to trick us."
"But!"
Luca raised his hands.
They were covered with scars and calluses.
"Look at my hands."
"They're the same as yours."
"I've been covered in engine oil."
"My hands have blistered and bled."
"I used to hold a steering wheel for more than ten hours a day."
"My father and I even joined strikes."
"Company thugs broke his leg."
"But he still shouted from the ground—"
"Don't surrender!"
"Today you boycott me."
"And I respect that."
"It means you're still men."
"You haven't been completely domesticated by capitalism."
"But you're wrong about one thing."
"I'm not here to be your boss."
"I'm here to lead a war."
"I'm here today for only three things."
"Fairness, Fairness, And more damn fairness."
"From today onward—"
"If even one cent is deducted from a truck driver's wages… I'll personally lead people to block the company gates."
"If any boss threatens your safety… I'll shut their entire business down."
"So now you have a choice."
"Pick up your hammers and follow me into this war… And I'll lead you to victory."
"Or carry those fucking banners back home… and use them as your burial shrouds."
The street became completely silent.
Luca alone suppressed the entire crowd.
He walked calmly toward the union hall.
Workers unconsciously stepped aside.
Watching his back as he entered.
Then one worker followed him inside.
Then another.
Soon more and more people entered the hall.
"I want to see what kind of fairness this is."
Frank heard someone whisper those words.
For the first time in a long while—
even his serious face showed a trace of anticipation.
He thought quietly.
Yes.
I want to see that too.
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