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

Chapter 121 The Referee Who Best Preserves Peace
An FBI outpost in New York.

Harry and several of his Omega colleagues are working with the FBI to gather evidence related to the criminals—he has been raiding a Colombo location these past few days, secretly helping the FBI solve the case with remarkable efficiency.

They didn't encounter that bald guy again, and the operation went much more smoothly. They swept through like butter, handcuffing one Mafia after another.

He's currently cooperating with the FBI in interrogating these criminals. Many are uncooperative; Harry even considered using truth serum, but that's a common tactic used by spies, not exactly honorable, and inconvenient to use here, since the criminals will ultimately face the courtroom.

"Harry! Luca the pigeon is here!"

A colleague suddenly approached him, "I'm not sure if he knows your real identity now. Should you avoid him for a while?"

Harry was taken aback: "What are the pigeons doing here?"

Colleague: "He came with a lawyer; it seems he wants to talk to the Mafia."

Harry felt a bit uneasy. Logically, his infiltration mission had already been interrupted, so even if he was exposed, it wouldn't matter much. But he still felt a bit awkward. After all, he had become a peace envoy and gained the approval of many people in Italy.

“Forget it, I’ve been involved in so many operations, with the Mafia’s information channels, he should have already figured it out.” Harry shook his head and said, “Pigeon hasn’t contacted me recently, he must know my identity.”

But at most, they would only know that they are an FBI agent; they wouldn't know about their other identity as a spy for Omega.

Harry soon met Luca. Before the meeting, he had thought about what words to use and what attitude to adopt when facing Luca, but after seeing Luca's warm smile, he realized that he didn't need to explain much.

"Old Pigeon, I thought you'd be surprised to see me here."

"Are you now running to the FBI to defend peace?" Luca joked. "You're my peace envoy. I wouldn't be surprised if you appeared anywhere. Even if one day you were on the African battlefield fighting international terrorist organizations, I would only feel gratified because you would bring peace to more places."

Harry: "."

Luca: "What you're doing now is not much different from what I asked you to do in the Bronx, is it? It's all about making the city more stable."

Harry shrugged: "From that perspective, haha, it does seem like there isn't much difference. But in the FBI, you know, things are a bit more restrictive. Sometimes even if I take out a handgun, I can't actually fire it unless absolutely necessary."

The two exchanged a smile, but the smile on Harry's face vanished instantly the next second. "Pigeon, now tell me your purpose for coming here. To defend peace? The Colombo family is at peace now, and I don't think they need your help."

With the five families in cahoots, Harry couldn't help but think that Luca was there to bail out Persico and his group. Someone like Pigeon, who was very good at mediating disputes, might actually be able to offend Persico and his people.

At that moment, Harry thought of the Bronx behind Luca again. He was so popular there, with the power of an entire district behind him, as well as other families, each with different influence in their respective districts, not to mention the Gambino, a powerful figure who could control everything.

The Mafia has been deeply entrenched in New York for so many years. If the New York Police Department had handled this case, Persico and his gang would have definitely escaped punishment.

Fortunately, it was the FBI.

The FBI, under the Department of Justice, wields far more power than local police departments. Furthermore, the FBI is the Mafia's arch-enemy, and the Mafia has virtually no resources within the FBI.

This is the only way to ensure that the purge of the Colombo family is carried out with minimal influence from local New York political forces.

Faced with Harry's questioning, Luca shook his head: "Harry, I thought you had done so much for me and knew me very well."

Harry was slightly taken aback.

Luca smirked: "Everything I've made you do has been to uphold peace, including that night when you went to capture Scarpa."

Harry was jolted, as if struck by lightning, a look of deep confusion and shock flashing in his eyes.

Everyone already knows that Scarpa is now an informant. Harry has also realized that the police and the FBI did not fail to capture Scarpa that night, but rather captured him, quickly turned him to their side, and then released him back to continue his undercover work.

So what role did I play that night? If I had captured Scarpa, Scarpa wouldn't have been caught by the FBI and become an informant! At the time, I wasn't thinking about turning Scarpa against his own side; I just wanted to get information out of him.

What exactly does the pigeon mean by defending peace?
Harry's mind went blank for a moment.

Meanwhile, Luca's lawyer, Rich Roberts, couldn't help but find Harry's bewildered expression somewhat amusing.

Another bewildered person has fallen into the "trap" of the old pigeon.

In the early stages of the drug war, Old Pigeon had planned many steps from the beginning and then quietly watched as the police gradually caught Frank. It wasn't until the very end that Richie realized just how much Old Pigeon had helped him.

He stepped forward and said to Harry, "We came for peace. Peace, of course, is an outcome that satisfies both sides, so that we can accept it peacefully."

"A satisfactory ending? What is that?"

Harry didn't know Richie, the key figure who turned Scapa, nor did he know just how talented Richie was in turning people.

“Of course, we should make Persico confess and plead guilty,” Richie laughed.

Harry stared at the two men as if he'd seen a ghost. "You're a mafia boss and a lawyer, and you want to get another mafia boss to confess?"

Moments later, Luca and Richie met Persico in an interrogation room—a room Denham had specially prepared to fully protect citizens' right to privacy.

Persico, thinking Luca was there to rescue him, exclaimed excitedly, "Luca, you're here to help me, right? What did the committee say? They said they're willing to give up some more benefits if it means I win in court!"

If you win the case, my reward will be greatly reduced. How can that be allowed? Luca shook his head: "The committee has given up on you."

"..." Persico looked desperate. "No! You can't do this! I'm the head of the Colombo family, and I have a seat on the committee! We're all in this together!"

Luca said calmly, "Then you should thank Scarpa. He helped the FBI gather too much evidence. You have no chance of winning in court. Persico, it's not that we don't want to help you, but we are powerless to do so."

"Then what the hell are you doing here?!"

Persico roared in fury, "Are you here to laugh at me? To see a big boss who's been in power for less than a month go to jail? The shortest-serving boss in Mafia history?! You pigeon! I paid so much to get this position, and it's all over in less than a month! No! I refuse to accept this!"
You must help me! You, Gambino, and the other families on the committee! You've all ganged up on the Colombo family, you're full and ready to eat your fill. Now don't even think about standing by and doing nothing, or you'll all be heading to hell with me!
"You left me with no choice back then, you pigeon; now I'll leave you with no other choice!"

Luca smiled.

This is what Gambino is worried about: once the rule of silence is broken collectively, even the big bosses want to fall into depravity, and Persico has even more evidence in his hands, such as the Colombo family's past collaborations with other families, many illegal businesses, and so on. Once Persico exposes himself, the other families will be severely punished, if not wiped out.

Persico will harm the interests of all the other families!

Was this going too far? Luca remained unfazed. Gambino wasn't even dead yet, so how could Persico cause any trouble?

"Who said you have no choice now?"

Luca said calmly, "You still have a choice. Even if you go to prison, the committee can still keep you in your position as the big boss. This is my and the committee's promise to you. As long as you live, the Colombo family will always be yours and will never change hands. As for who you want to choose to act as your representative for the family, that's your business. You can arrange it as you wish."

Persico: "."

What the hell is this? Being the boss in prison?
Although he can still keep his position as the big boss, being stuck in prison and remotely controlling things is just too frustrating!

Looking at Persico's unpredictable expression, Luca thought to himself, "You were originally the 'prison boss.' In the original story, Persico ruled the Colombo family for decades, during which time he was imprisoned multiple times. For a long time, he remotely controlled the family from prison, earning him the honorary title of 'Godfather Behind Bars.'"

This guy served a total of over 50 years in prison, and when he died in prison, he hadn't finished serving his sentence.

Luca is simply helping him exaggerate his crimes many times over.

—Going to jail is a common fate for many mafia bosses.

“Persico, the choice is yours,” Luca said with a smile. “Shut your mouth, spend some time comfortably in prison, and then come out to continue being your big boss. Or you can betray us, and I can guarantee you’ll die before Jesus’ birthday.”

Persico clenched his fist.

Luca continued to raise the stakes, patting Richie on the shoulder, "Now let me introduce you to this top New York lawyer, who is also Frank's lawyer. Frank was originally sentenced to 70 years, but with Richie's help, his sentence has been reduced to less than 40 years. I can say with certainty that in a few years, perhaps at the moment the new century begins, Frank will be able to stand under the Statue of Liberty and take a picture."

A glimmer of hope flickered in Persico's eyes as he looked at Richie with suspicion. "You really helped Frank reduce his sentence by several decades?"

That notorious drug lord, whose criminal status in the drug market far surpasses that of any Mafia family, how could such a heinous criminal be granted such a reduced sentence?
Richie tossed his phone on the table. “You can call and ask around, or you can ask Frank in person when you’re in jail.”

Persico actually picked up his phone and used his connections to inquire, and the result was exactly as Richie had said—Frank had shown good behavior in reform, his sentence had been significantly reduced, and he might be able to get out early in a few years.

Richie stared at Persico. "You're the same. As long as you cooperate with me in prison, you can come out in a few years and continue being a big boss."

Luca ate an Oreo and spread his hands: "Look, Persico, I still gave you a lot of choices and even found you such a great lawyer. I never push people to the brink. I only choose a way that benefits both of us because I prefer peace."

Persico: "."

He used to really hate the phrase "harmony is precious," but now he finds it quite pleasant to hear.

Spending a few years in prison, remotely controlling the family, and being able to continue controlling the outcome after release seems to be the best arrangement for him.

Persico gave a wry smile.
It seems like Luca gave him a choice, but all the others are "wrong" options; choosing the wrong one means death!

What the hell else can we choose?
"I choose to prioritize peace."

Persico sighed.

Luca extended his hand: "It's a pleasure to cooperate, Mr. Persico. Let's keep things peaceful and everyone will be happy."

Persico couldn't laugh. He sighed, took Luca's hand, and said, "Pigeon, you are the best referee I've ever met at upholding peace."

You resolved the conflict between Persico and the committee, and forced Persico to confess his crimes. You upheld the peace within the Mafia.

[Gain Skill Points x10]

[Gained 5 Skill Fragments]

Luca knew that this small reward was just the beginning. Once Persico stopped resisting, the entire Colombo family would face a major purge.

At that time, more than three-digit Colombo members will be sent to prison.

The biggest wave of rewards is coming soon.

Luca is really looking forward to it, wondering what good stuff he'll get this time.

(End of this chapter)