American variety show: The Godfather, the Peace Ambassador, what the heck?

Chapter 117 Friend or Enemy

hum~~~
A tanker truck passed by the villa on the road outside, with a smiling truck driver on board; the occasional barking of dogs came from the villa's yard, making Gallo increasingly irritable.

He stood in a corner of the courtyard, ignored by everyone, like a lackey.

"Gallo, are you still painting lately?" Luca asked while tossing a frisbee. "What philosophers' books have you been reading? Recommend a few; I'm planning to study them too."

Gallo sneered, "You dragged me here just to ask what book I'm reading? It's almost Christmas, go read the Bible, God will teach you a lesson!"

"When I joined the family, I burned the sacred image. Didn't you do the same?"

Luca shook his head. "From that time on, we stopped believing in any religion, and we no longer cared about the nation or government. Our only faith was in our family. What's the point of reading the Bible? Do you believe the path to salvation lies within it?"

The Bible can contain a pickaxe that can pierce through a prison, or it can contain a knife or a gun.

Gallo stepped forward with a grim face. "Family faith? Luca, someone as ruthless as you, do you really care about your family? Do you really have any friends? Stop pretending! You and Gambino are the same kind of people. You make friends everywhere and gain other people's trust, just to make your schemes easier! You have no family, no faction, only your own interests!"

Luca smiled faintly: "Gallo, you've been outmaneuvered by Gambino too many times, and a lot has happened recently. I understand that you don't trust me."

Gallo gave a disdainful sneer.

Luca sat down in the chair, took out an Oreo and ate it. "I do enjoy making friends. But I become complacent when I see my friends as a mirror. So I also encounter many rivals. Only when I see my enemies as a mirror can I be invincible. Gallo, we can be friends or enemies. No matter who you are to me, I can get what I want from you."

Gallo was slightly taken aback.

At this moment, a tall man came out of the house. He was wearing a small round hat and carrying a heavy box in one hand.

With a thud, the box landed heavily on the ground.

Gallo scoffed, "Is this the coffin prepared for me? Are you planning to dismember me and bury me?"

Luca shook his head: "Do you remember our agreement? You helped me solve the truck driver union's problems, and I would give you a million dollars a week. But before, your family was in the civil war, and you went into hiding, so we couldn't communicate about many things. Now that the civil war is over, everything has settled down."

Lyon opened the two boxes, revealing large denominations of green banknotes inside, which made Gallo's eyelids twitch.

What exactly is Luca trying to do?
“It’s been more than a month since we made this agreement,” Luca laughed. “Gallo, here’s 500 million, 100 million a week, it’s all yours.”

"Who the hell said the civil war is over? Did they get my permission?"

Gallo looked away from the box and said sternly, "The benefits you got from Persico are far more than 500 million. Now you think you can get rid of me with this little bit of money?"

“Not just now, but also in the future.” Luca maintained a faint smile, remaining unperturbed no matter how furious Gallo became. “Every week in the future, I will give you a million.”

Gallo's gaze immediately turned suspicious. This guy had captured him just to give him money?

He really couldn't figure out Luca's purpose anymore.

"Luca, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"You're right, the civil war isn't over yet."

Luca spread his hands. "Supporting Persico was not my subjective wish, but Gambino's request. Persico has given so much, the committee has to give him a little something in return, such as the throne of the big boss, so that he can experience what it's like to be the big boss."

This is the opinion of the other families; they want peace and don't want to see any more chaos.

But a peaceful Colombo family isn't what I want. Only war allows me to make more money and bleed the Colombo family dry. 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 to be locked in an endless civil war!

Upon hearing this, Gallo's pupils contracted sharply.

That's right! Everything is correct!
This is exactly the kind of thing someone like Luca would do!
So Luca got himself out of the FBI's clutches today for all of this.

madman!

Gallo suddenly realized that Luca was the real madman, willing to defy the committee's will to support him in order to devour the Colombo family!
For a moment, Gallo opened his mouth slightly, remaining stunned for a long time.

Luca laughed and said, "Gallo, now I'm the only one on your side. You instigated the Profasi family's civil war and even interfered with the Committee, trying to reshuffle its leadership. It was a crazy idea, but I like it. I've long disliked those people. We can unite and overthrow the Committee's rule!"

Gallo was completely stunned. That pigeon! Then, an uncontrollable frenzy and excitement welled up from the depths of his heart.

He knew that Luca was telling the truth; that was indeed his plan back then.

If Luca had his back, maybe...
Gallo took a deep breath. "Pigeon, I didn't realize you were even crazier than me. You're feigning friendship with Gambino while simultaneously seeking cooperation with me. Aren't you afraid that Gambino will find out and kill you?"

"There are too many people in this world who want to kill me, but no one can do it."

Luca said nonchalantly, "Gambino will definitely go to hell before I die. He's terminally ill, and even without assassins, he won't live for more than a few years. Once he's dead, the power structure of the five major New York families will be reshuffled, and then the two of us can jointly dominate the committee and rule New York together!"

Gallo: "."

Damn it, while he was still dreaming of becoming a big boss, Luca was already planning to rule New York.

If one could seize the right to Gambino, it would be equivalent to seizing a seat at the High Table, becoming one of the twelve supreme figures in the global underworld.

Is this Luca's real purpose?
Gallo swallowed hard, his hands trembling with excitement.

Luca stood up and walked over. "Gallo, cooperating with me now is your only option. At least I can help you fight against Persico, and the Colombo family will one day be back in your hands." At this moment, Gallo looked at Luca with deep apprehension. "Luca, how can you expect me to trust you?"

"I rescued you from the FBI, and now I'm giving you $500 million. Isn't that enough to prove my sincerity?"

Luca's smile faded. "If it weren't for me, you'd be in the FBI's hands by now. You'd have completely lost your chance to fight Persico. Guess how many years the judge would sentence you to? When you get out of prison, with your head full of white hair, will you still be able to pull the trigger? How many members of the new Colombo family will still be willing to follow your orders?"

Gallo looked at Luca with a complicated expression, his inner balance beginning to tip.

He knew that he didn't have many choices left.

If I don't agree, these two boxes might actually become coffins to hold body parts.

Luca patted him on the shoulder. “We should be close to our friends, but even closer to our enemies, Gallo. We are both enemies and friends, but at least for this moment, we share the same goal.”

The touch on his shoulder suddenly reminded Gallo of the first time he met the big boss when he was young. When he swore an oath, the other party had patted him on the shoulder and given him the same instructions.

Gallo's gaze wavered for a moment. In that instant, he seemed to see a glimpse of Gambino in Luca—a younger, stronger, more ruthless, and more cunning godfather.

After a few seconds of silence, Gallo grinned: "Luca, I don't want to be your enemy, but I don't want to be your friend either. However, we should become partners who know each other well. You fulfill my wishes, and I will fulfill your dreams."

"This is the most sincere sentence I've heard today."

The two embraced, and Luca patted Gallo on the back, watching the Border Collie playing on the lawn, and whispered, "Gallo, have a safe journey."

[Bond: Friends]

[Seize power] Unlocked.

[Skill Fragment -100]

[Skill added]

[Power grab: You have repeatedly violated and broken the rules of the Mafia, and have assassinated, kidnapped, and extorted high-ranking Mafia figures on multiple occasions. You are notorious for your ruthless behavior, and all Mafia members are terrified of you.]

Your deterrent effect on all Mafia members +10%; when the target is of higher status than you, the deterrent effect is increased by an additional 10%.

Gallo left with two boxes of money, seen off by Arthur and several mechanics.

Arthur and Gallo were still sitting in the back of the car.

Arthur maintained his cold expression, but Gallo's state of mind had changed drastically. On the way there, he was filled with doubt and worry, but as he left, a raging fire of ambition burned fiercely within him.

"The FBI is looking for you everywhere right now, and we will take you to a safe place."

Arthur explained, "You can arrange it yourself when the time comes."

Gallo nodded: "Okay, can I have my phone back now? I need to contact my subordinates."

When he arrived, all his cell phones were confiscated, and he was thoroughly searched.

Arthur said coldly, "I'll give it to you when we leave."

Gallo sighed helplessly, "Fine."

Soon, the car left Jersey City and arrived at the outskirts of Jersey City, and the roads became increasingly remote.

When they reached a desolate highway, the car stopped, and Arthur handed his phone to Gallo. "Get out of the car. I'll drop you off here."

After Gallo got out of the car, he went straight to the trunk, intending to take the money, but at that moment, the car suddenly drove away.

Gallo shouted anxiously, "Wait! My money is still in the car!"

Seemingly having heard his words, the car turned around and came back. Gallo breathed a sigh of relief and went to greet the assassins, who were rather clumsy in their actions.

boom!
The car, without slowing down in the slightest and with the accelerator locked, crashed into Gallo, sending him flying several meters away.

The wheel ran over Gallo's body.

Gallo heard the sound of his internal organs and bones shattering.

Even as he died, his last thought was: These murderous bastards! I'll haunt them even as a ghost!
Inside the car, the mechanic driving chuckled and said, "Is this guy an idiot? What do you mean 'his money'? That's our bounty."

Arthur Bishaw took out his phone and dialed Luca's number: "The target is dead."

Luca: "It's been a pleasure working with you, Mr. Bishaw. Come visit New York sometime. And please give my regards to your mentor. Tell him that a friend in New York misses him."

Arthur curled his lips into a cool smile. "I'll bring it, and you're welcome to visit New Orleans."

[Bond: Familiarity]

Blood splattered all over the ground. Gallo lay there, his eyes wide open in death, watching the car that carried his dreams and regrets drive away and gradually disappear at the end of the road.

(End of this chapter)