Humm~~~
A tanker truck rumbled past the road outside the villa, the driver smiling casually behind the wheel. From the yard came the occasional barking of a dog, which only made Joe Gallo more irritated.
He stood in a corner of the courtyard, completely ignored by everyone—like some disposable lackey.
"Gallo, are you still painting these days?" Luca asked casually while tossing the frisbee.
"What philosophers have you been reading lately? Recommend a few. I'm thinking about studying some philosophy myself."
Gallo sneered.
"You dragged me all the way here just to ask what books I'm reading?"
"It's almost Christmas. Go read the Bible. Maybe God will teach you a lesson."
"When we joined the Family, we burned the holy image during the oath ceremony. Didn't you do the same?"
Luca shook his head slightly.
"From that moment on, we stopped believing in religion. We stopped caring about nations or governments. Our only faith was the Family."
"So what's the point of reading the Bible?"
"Do you really think salvation is written in that book?"
A Bible could hide a pickaxe capable of digging through a prison wall.
Or it could hide a knife.
Or even a gun.
Gallo stepped forward with a grim expression.
"Family faith?"
"Luca, someone as ruthless as you—do you really care about family?"
"Do you even have real friends?"
"Stop pretending."
"You and Carlo Gambino are the same kind of people."
"You make friends everywhere, earn people's trust, and then use them for your schemes."
"You don't have family. You don't have factions."
"You only have your own interests."
Luca smiled faintly.
"Gallo, Gambino has outmaneuvered you too many times. And after everything that's happened recently, I understand why you don't trust me."
Gallo gave a disdainful snort.
Luca sat down in a chair and pulled out an Oreo cookie, casually taking a bite.
"I do enjoy making friends," he said calmly. "But when I treat friends as mirrors, I become complacent. That's why I also gain many rivals."
"Only when I treat my enemies as mirrors can I remain invincible."
He looked directly at Gallo.
"Gallo, we can be friends or enemies."
"No matter what you are to me, I can always get what I want from you."
Gallo froze slightly.
At that moment, a tall man walked out of the house.
He wore a small round hat and carried a heavy box in one hand.
Thud.
The box landed heavily on the ground.
Gallo scoffed.
"What's this? The coffin you prepared for me?"
"Planning to chop me into pieces and bury me?"
Luca shook his head.
"Do you remember our agreement?"
"You helped me deal with the truck drivers' union, and I promised to give you one million dollars a week."
"But your family fell into civil war, and you went into hiding. We never had the chance to settle the payments."
"Now the civil war is over. Everything has calmed down."
Leon stepped forward and opened the two boxes.
Stacks of green banknotes filled them.
Gallo's eyelids twitched.
What the hell was Luca planning?
"It's been over a month since we made that deal," Luca said with a smile.
"Gallo, here's five million dollars. One million per week."
"It's all yours."
"Who said the civil war is over?" Gallo snapped.
"Did anyone ask for my permission?"
He turned his gaze away from the money.
"The benefits you received from Persico are far greater than five million."
"And now you think you can buy me off with this pocket change?"
"Not just now," Luca replied calmly.
"In the future as well."
"Every week from now on, you'll receive another million."
Gallo stared at him suspiciously.
This man had kidnapped him… just to give him money?
He couldn't figure out Luca's intentions anymore.
"Luca, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"You're right," Luca said.
"The civil war isn't over yet."
He spread his hands.
"Supporting Persico wasn't my idea. It was Gambino's request."
"Persico paid a huge price. The Commission had to reward him with something—like the position of boss—so he could experience what it feels like."
"That's what the other families want."
"Peace."
"No more chaos."
Luca's smile widened slightly.
"But a peaceful Colombo family… isn't what I want."
"Only war lets me make more money."
"Only war lets me bleed the Colombo family dry."
He leaned forward.
"So, Gallo… I want you to keep fighting Persico."
"You need money? I'll give you money."
"You need weapons? I'll give you weapons."
"I want the Colombo family trapped in an endless civil war."
Gallo's pupils shrank instantly.
Yes.
This made perfect sense.
This was exactly the kind of thing someone like Luca would do.
So Luca had pulled him out of the FBI's hands just for this.
Madman.
Gallo suddenly realized something.
Luca was the real madman.
He was even willing to defy the Commission just to support Gallo and devour the Colombo family.
For a long moment, Gallo stood there stunned.
Luca laughed.
"Gallo, right now I'm the only one standing on your side."
"You started the Profaci family civil war. You even tried to challenge the Commission and reshuffle its leadership."
"That idea was insane."
"But I like it."
"I've disliked those old bastards for a long time."
"We could work together."
"We could overthrow the Commission."
Gallo was completely speechless.
That damn Dove!
Excitement surged uncontrollably inside him.
He knew Luca was telling the truth.
That had been his plan all along.
If Luca supported him…
Maybe—
Gallo took a deep breath.
"Dove… I didn't realize you were even crazier than I am."
"You pretend to be Gambino's friend while secretly cooperating with me."
"Aren't you afraid Gambino will find out and kill you?"
"There are too many people in this world who want to kill me," Luca said casually.
"But none of them have succeeded."
"Gambino will definitely die before I do."
"He's terminally ill."
"Even without assassins, he won't live more than a few years."
"When he dies, the power structure of the Five Families will change."
"And when that happens…"
Luca smiled.
"You and I will dominate the Commission."
"We'll rule New York together."
Gallo fell silent.
Damn it.
He was still dreaming about becoming boss, while Luca was already planning to rule the entire city.
If someone could seize Gambino's power, it would be like claiming a seat at the High Table—becoming one of the twelve supreme rulers of the global underworld.
Was this Luca's true goal?
Gallo swallowed hard, his hands trembling with excitement.
Luca walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Gallo, cooperating with me is your only option now."
"At least I can help you fight Persico."
"One day, the Colombo family will return to your hands."
Gallo looked at him cautiously.
"Luca… how do you expect me to trust you?"
"I rescued you from the FBI."
"And I just gave you five million dollars."
"Isn't that proof enough?"
Luca's smile slowly disappeared.
"If it weren't for me, you'd already be in FBI custody."
"You'd have completely lost your chance to fight Persico."
"How many years do you think the judge would give you?"
"When you finally walk out of prison—with white hair and shaking hands—will you still be able to pull a trigger?"
"And how many members of the new Colombo family would still obey you?"
Gallo's expression became complicated.
The balance in his heart began tipping.
He knew he didn't have many choices left.
If he refused…
Those two boxes might really become his coffins.
Luca patted his shoulder.
"We should stay close to our friends… but even closer to our enemies."
"Gallo, we are both enemies and friends."
"But right now, we share the same goal."
The touch on his shoulder reminded Gallo of something.
The day he swore his oath.
The boss had patted his shoulder and spoken similar words.
For a brief moment, Gallo saw a shadow of Carlo Gambino in Luca.
But Luca was younger.
Stronger.
More ruthless.
And far more cunning.
After several seconds of silence, Gallo finally grinned.
"Luca, I don't want to be your enemy."
"But I don't want to be your friend either."
"However… we can become partners who understand each other."
"You fulfill my wishes."
"And I'll fulfill your ambitions."
Luca nodded.
"That's the most sincere sentence I've heard all day."
The two men embraced.
Luca patted Gallo on the back while watching the Border Collie running across the lawn.
Then he whispered softly.
"Gallo… have a safe trip."
[Bond: Friends]
__________________________________________________________________________
[New Skill Unlocked — Seize Power]
"Redeem the skill"
[Skill Fragment −100]
[Skill Redeem Succesfully]
Seize Power:
Description:
You have repeatedly violated Mafia rules, assassinating, kidnapping, and extorting high-ranking Mafia figures. Your ruthless reputation has spread across the underworld.
Effect:
• Intimidation against all Mafia members +10%
• When facing targets with higher status, intimidation increases by an additional +10%
__________________________________________________________________________
Gallo left with the two boxes of money, escorted by Arthur Bishop and several mechanics.
Arthur and Gallo sat in the back seat of the car.
Arthur remained cold and expressionless.
Gallo, however, felt completely different.
When he arrived earlier, his heart had been full of doubt and anxiety.
Now, a blazing fire of ambition burned inside him.
"The FBI is searching for you everywhere," Arthur explained calmly.
"We'll take you somewhere safe. After that, you can make your own arrangements."
Gallo nodded.
"Fine."
"Can I have my phone back now? I need to contact my people."
When he had arrived earlier, all his phones were confiscated and he had been thoroughly searched.
Arthur replied coldly.
"You'll get it when we reach the drop-off point."
Gallo sighed.
"Fine."
Soon the car left Jersey City, heading toward the outskirts.
The roads grew increasingly deserted.
Eventually, they reached a remote highway.
The car stopped.
Arthur handed him the phone.
"Get out."
"This is where you're getting off."
Gallo stepped out and walked straight toward the trunk to grab the money.
At that moment—
The car suddenly accelerated away.
"Wait!" Gallo shouted.
"My money is still in the car!"
As if hearing him, the car turned around and drove back.
Gallo breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward.
The assassins looked oddly clumsy as they approached.
BOOM!
The car didn't slow down at all.
With the accelerator locked down, it slammed directly into Gallo and launched him several meters through the air.
The wheels crushed his body.
Gallo heard the sickening sound of bones and organs shattering.
Even as he died, his final thought flashed through his mind.
You murderous bastards…
I'll haunt you to the grave and beyond.
Inside the car, the mechanic driving chuckled.
"Is this guy stupid?"
"'His money'?"
"That's our bounty."
Arthur Bishop calmly pulled out his phone and dialed Luca.
"The target is dead."
Luca replied with a smile in his voice.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Bishop."
"If you're ever in New York, come visit."
"And please send my regards to your mentor."
"Tell him a friend in New York misses him."
Arthur's lips curled into a faint smile.
"I'll pass along the message."
"And you're welcome to visit New Orleans anytime."
[Bond: Familiar]
Blood spread across the asphalt.
Joe Gallo lay motionless on the road, his eyes wide open.
He watched the car that carried away his dreams and ambitions disappear slowly at the end of the highway.
================================================================================
Support me on P Site/OrbisTranslation, just three bucks for 15 advance chapter.
For each 100 Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters