American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 179 Methods for Solving the Problem

Crown Hotel Ballroom.

Beta's footsteps were completely absorbed by the thick carpet. The entire floor was emptied except for members of the Frank family, Madame Frank, and the representative sent by the Fabio family.

This is a restaurant in New York that truly belongs to the upper class.

The twenty-foot-high dome is painted with Renaissance frescoes, and the wings of angels appear and disappear in the light. The entire space is filled with the fragrance of cedarwood and white musk.

The banquet tables were covered with Irish linen tablecloths, and the silver cutlery was all 19th-century antiques, with the Crown Hotel’s signature coat of arms engraved on the handles of each fork.

Unlike those noisy restaurants that rely on influencer marketing, the Crowne Plaza Hotel's ballroom adheres to the most traditional aristocratic etiquette: photography with mobile phones is strictly prohibited, and membership is by invitation only. While New York's nouveau riche dine under the flashing lights, the truly wealthy prefer the absolute privacy here.

The air was filled with the aroma of truffles and aged cognac.

The silver cutlery gleamed in the candlelight, and the wine in the crystal glasses shimmered with an amber glow. There were no camera shutters to disturb the peace, no whispering whispers to spy on the guests, only the soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain.

Here, every detail is designed to protect privacy, from the heavy velvet curtains to the well-trained waiters, all of which highlight the unique status of this palatial restaurant.

Private, prestigious, and inviolable.

Beta entered the restaurant, but McCree was stopped by a Frank family guard. Beta stopped, turned to look at the guard, and glanced at his face.

With just a glance, the guard immediately bowed and stepped back, making way for McCree.

As McCray passed by, he took off his sunglasses and gently patted the other man on the shoulder: "That's how you should be in this business. It's just a pity you lack a bit of shrewdness."

Beta walked straight to the only table in the banquet hall that was lit up.

Madame Frank sat in the second seat, wearing a dark green silk dress with an emerald brooch gleaming at her neckline.

At the other end of the table sat the representative of the Fabio family, an eccentric man who was unforgettable.

As Madame Frank saw Beta enter the banquet hall, she rose from her chair, her silk gown swaying gently. She gave a slight nod, her posture respectful yet exuding elegance. The representative of the Fabio family also rose, impeccably dressed in a black suit, and bowed in greeting.

Beta walked straight to the head seat, with McCree standing behind him, his hands clasped in front of him, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

Only after Beta took his seat did Frankie sit down again, and then Representative Fabio followed suit.

Beta didn't speak, but casually raised her hand, indicating that Mrs. Frank could begin.

Madame Frank took a deep breath, her voice filled with suppressed anger: "My youngest son, and that brat from your Fabio family... young master, went to the club together the night before last, and haven't come back since."

She paused briefly: "The next day I couldn't find anyone anywhere, but your young master hurriedly returned to Philadelphia in a private helicopter at three in the morning."

She turned to Beta and nodded slightly, then stared intently at the Fabio family representative: "I asked Mr. Wick to come here for this meeting. I only have one question: where is my son? Your Fabio family must give me an answer."

Beta's gaze fell on the representative of the Fabio family, his eyes calm yet filled with pressure.

He knew perfectly well that he would side with Madame Frank at today's meeting. After all, she represented the interests of the Antonio family, while he didn't care about the bald man opposite him at all.

Raymond, the representative of the Fabio family, looked at Beta and Mrs. Frank in turn: "Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Raymond, and I work for the Fabio family." His gaze shifted between the two women, and his tone was cautious: "In fact, we are also trying to find out exactly what happened that night. But at present... there is no clear conclusion."

He paused briefly, then continued, "Upon receiving the notification from Mr. Wick on behalf of the Antonio family, the family immediately sent me here. In short, we haven't quite figured out what's going on in this matter yet."

Mrs. Frank slammed her hand on the table, making the cups and saucers rattle.

Her eyes reddened, and her voice trembled with emotion: "I invited Mr. Wick here, not to hear these excuses!"

She stared intently at Raymond: "Either bring my son back safely, or have one of your Fabio family brats come and explain himself to me. If neither is possible, then let's go to war! There is no third way."

Beta slowly raised his eyes to look at Raymond: "Our sitting here to talk is just one of many ways to resolve this matter."

He paused for a moment: "For the Frank or Fabio families, waging war against the underworld families of another city might be extremely difficult and costly. But for the Antonio family, it's nothing."

Beta leaned forward slightly: "The only reason I'm here today is out of my protection and trust in the Frank family, and to show that I don't want to escalate the situation. But if you continue to respond with this perfunctory attitude, I will no longer play by the rules."

He looked Raymond straight in the eye and said, word by word, "So tell me the truth, or let the Antonio family settle this matter for the Frank family themselves."

Raymond was silent for a moment, then repeated, "We... haven't found out the truth yet."

Beta nodded slowly: "It seems this is your answer."

Beta stood up, the wrinkles in his trousers smoothing out: "This concludes today's meeting."

He looked down at Raymond: "You don't actually think that the Antonio family's plans will be stopped by such a clumsy lie, do you?"

Beta turned to Mrs. Frank: "From now on, the Antonio family will take over this matter."

After saying that, he turned around, and McCree followed closely behind.

After Beta finished speaking, he turned around, and McCree immediately followed.

As the two walked down the corridor, Beta instructed McCree, "Have Sterling pinpoint the exact coordinates of that brat from the Fabio family. The three of you form a team, allocate sufficient firepower, and bring him back to New York tonight."

McCree quickly stepped forward and opened the car door for Beta.

Beta leaned into the car and continued giving orders through the window: "Have Fulton practice his interrogation techniques. Since the Fabio family has chosen to remain silent, we need to teach their young master to speak."

McCree nodded: "Understood. Should we involve the mute?"

Beta said, "If she's willing to take my order."

McCree nodded again: "Bring it back secretly, or...?"

Beta smiled and said, "We need to let the Fabio family know who invited their precious young master away. Otherwise, they won't know what the Antonio family's style of doing things is like."

(End of this chapter)