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

Chapter 128: Take it as your own
Andrew is currently still in custody, and the police have specifically requested an extension. The main reason is that this isn't his first time in jail; this time he was caught red-handed, and he can't afford bail or a lawyer. The government-appointed legal aid lawyers aren't very reliable either, so the police have no choice but to extend his detention until the trial.

Inside the detention center, Andrew sat on a cold chair, looking utterly hopeless, scratching his head and sighing.

"When they saw I was in trouble, not a single one came to help me! Those bastards, and I even threw them a party for Christmas with dinner and drinks!"

"That's so disloyal!"

Andrew looked dejected. His brothers and sisters from the biker gang had come to the police station to help, but as soon as they heard that it was Old Pigeon who had arrested the person, they all immediately withdrew their helping hands.

Damn, stealing is one thing, but getting caught red-handed by Old Pigeon is practically suicide.
When Andrew saw his brothers all take a step back, he was heartbroken.

"Andrew!" The warden's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door. "Come out, someone wants to see you."

Inside the hall next door.

David held a file related to Andrew in his hand: "This guy is a repeat offender. He was arrested for theft when he was 15, and then arrested six or seven more times. He's stolen quite a few cars before; he's made a significant contribution to the Bronx's used car industry. Old Pigeon, do you know this guy?"

"Unfamiliar."

Luca came over and asked, "How many years will he probably get this time?"

“The stolen items weren’t very valuable, but he has a criminal record, so he’ll probably get at least a year or two in prison.”

David wouldn't have paid much attention to these petty theft cases that had already been solved, unless Lao Ge brought them up himself; the New York bombing was the more important case at the moment.

The previous Mafia civil war, no matter how fierce, at least didn't affect innocent bystanders. This bombing is completely different in nature and can now be defined as a terrorist attack.

This was David's first time dealing with such a major case.

"Old Pigeon, do you have any leads on this bombing case?" David's mind was a bit of a mess. "I really don't understand what the killer was trying to do. Was it just to mess with McLean?"

They're after the gold, and Luca is still figuring out how to get involved.

The case was very short-lived; from the explosion in the morning to the case being solved that evening, it only took one day.

Simon has planted briefcase bombs throughout the city and has also left behind a number of informants. The key issue is that they can remotely detonate the bombs, giving them the upper hand. If their heist plan is thwarted, Luca is unsure whether they might, in a fit of rage, disregard the rules and detonate the bombs, injuring innocent civilians.

This is not the situation Luca wanted to see.

We can only wait until McClain and Ah-Qiang go to play games and defuse the bombs. Once the killer loses these threatening methods, Luca won't be so lenient.
Luca gradually formed a rough plan in his mind.

"You can think about it from a different perspective."

Luca comforted David, "The initiative is in the killer's hands, but he's been delaying the detonation of the bomb and instead created these complicated rules, which means the explosion isn't his main objective. If he wanted to deal with McLean, he could have just done it directly; there's no need for such a complicated process that makes the whole city aware of it. Criminals' confessions are often lies; they definitely have other motives."

David thought for a moment, "Does he want to use the bomb as a threat to negotiate some terms with our police?"

Luca shook his head. "You underestimate them. Apart from the Federal Reserve, no one can come up with $1400 billion in cash all at once. Even the police aren't qualified to negotiate."

"Let's see what McLean and Ah-Qiang do. The killer won't play games with us forever. We'll find out their motives soon."

A moment later, Andrew was brought before Luca and David.

Upon seeing Luca, the white-haired man's legs trembled: "Old Pigeon, I've been in the detention center for the past few days, and I haven't done anything!"

Do you know how long you'll be sentenced this time?

Luca stared at him: "Andrew, this isn't the first time you've been arrested. You pleaded guilty and apologized in court, and you underwent rehabilitation in prison, but you continued to steal after you got out. The judge won't tolerate you committing crimes again and again."

David chimed in, playing the bad cop: "Five years! This time you'll have at least five years! You little scoundrel, I'm telling you, you're finished!"

Five years? Andrew's face turned as white as his hair. "I only stole a wallet and a phone this time, which only amounted to a few thousand dollars! I've asked my lawyer, and I won't be in jail for long!"

“A lawyer is a lawyer, and a judge is a judge,” David sneered. “You need to understand, the one who delivers the verdict is the one with the gavel. Guess what we’d ask him to do?”

Andrew's legs went completely weak, and he slumped into the chair. "No, you can't do this. I was wrong, I was really wrong, please give me another chance! I promise I won't do it again!"

“That depends on whether you cooperate or not.” David’s tone softened. “I originally planned to put you in prison for at least five years, but Mr. Greco came to me and pleaded with me. It wasn’t me who gave you the chance, but Mr. Greco.”

Andrew's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Luca. "Old Pigeon, are you here to save me?"

"That depends on your performance."

Luca said, "If you behave well, you can serve fewer years in prison, maybe a year or two. Andrew, this is your last chance, whether you seize it or not is up to you."

Ten minutes later, Andrew was bailed out by Luca and walked out of the detention center with Luca.

He was very uneasy at that moment, not knowing what Old Pigeon wanted him to do.

Luca asked casually, "Do you know why I got you out?"

Andrew shook his head.

"Because you still possess some valuable abilities."

Luca led him to the roadside. "Recently, a lot of outsiders have come to Little Italy. They've broken our local rules, which makes me very unhappy. Your trial is in two weeks. In these two weeks, I need you to go to Little Italy and find those petty thieves for me. If you can do it, I'll plead with the judge and get you a shorter sentence." "Yes, yes, yes! I can definitely do it!" Andrew quickly promised, as if afraid Luca would change his mind. "Old Pigeon, you can rest assured and leave it to me. I can definitely catch those thieves for you. I know their methods better than anyone!"

Luca laughed and said, "Andrew, I also believe you can teach those people to follow the rules. You did a good job. After you get out of prison, you can come to the SSR Club to find me. You have the opportunity to become our friend."

Upon hearing this, Andrew's breathing quickened.

Our friends? That's just joining the Mafia!

Joining the mafia is definitely more promising than joining the biker gang. Even a peripheral partner has a higher status than the biker gang leader!
Shit! What a blessing in disguise!
Andrew's legs were no longer weak, but his back bent low: "Old Pigeon! I'd be happy to serve you! From now on, whatever you ask me to do, I'll do! I swear I won't steal anymore!"

Luca took out a roll of US dollars, worth five or six thousand, and handed it to Andrew. "Go back to Little Italy. No police will bother you these next few days. Andrew, don't let me down. I usually only trust my friends."

Looking at the money in his hand, Andrew was slightly stunned. He suddenly felt that this sum of money was heavier than any he had ever received before. Old Pigeon's reputation in Little Italy was well-known, and now he held a high position of power. He never thought that he could gain the trust of his older brother one day.

Andrew laughed and said, "Old Pigeon, just wait for my good news."

[Bond: Friends]

[Take it for yourself] Unlocked.

[Skill Fragment -40]

[Skill added]

[Remaining Skill Fragments: 178]

Andrew disappeared at the end of the street, and a tall figure silently appeared behind Luca.

Lyon said, "Luca, everyone is in position."

Luca nodded: "Let's go to Wall Street and have a look at Jordan's company."

Meanwhile, McLean and Ah-Qiang arrived at the agreed-upon game location and engaged in another boring puzzle game, which gave McLean a headache because it turned out to be a riddle.

Simon: "I was on my way to Ives when I met a man with seven wives. Each wife had seven bags, and each bag contained seven cats. Each cat had seven kittens. How many people were on their way to Ives? You have 30 seconds to answer. There's a bomb in the trash can. If you run out of time..."

McLean's head was about to explode; what a load of rubbish math problem.

A-Qiang quickly calculated in his mind and arrived at the answer, stating confidently, "The total is 2401!"

McLean was astonished: "Is this the racial talent of you Asians? You can do math problems so fast?"

Ah Qiang: "This is much simpler than learning martial arts, but the correct answer should be 1, because he asked how many people went to Ives, and it's obvious that he was the only one."

McLean's gaze changed, and he hugged Ah-Qiang and kissed him hard: "Ah-Qiang, you're so smart, you're a genius!"

Ah Qiang was speechless; it was the first time someone had ever praised him for being smart.

The two quickly called back, and Simon then gave them another location. He had planted a bomb on the 3 subway line and demanded that they get to the Wall Street subway station within half an hour. He also restricted them to using any means of transportation other than civilian vehicles.

Do not notify the police, do not evacuate the passengers!
Otherwise, the bomb will destroy the entire train!

McLean looked desperate: "With the current traffic conditions, it won't take half an hour to get to Wall Street!"

Wall Street.

Luca got out of the car, glanced at the subway station next to him, and then looked up at the Federal Reserve Building not far away.

The tunnels of the Wall Street subway station are just a few walls away from the Federal Reserve's underground vault. The bombs on the subway are bound to explode. Simon wants to destroy the Wall Street subway station, then openly disguise himself as a construction crew to enter and repair it, taking the opportunity to drill through the wall leading to the vault.

That bomb was powerful enough to collapse the ground.

"Leon, take a few men down there and evacuate the passengers from the subway station."

"Uh"

This was the first time Lyon had encountered a mission like this. "How are we supposed to evacuate them?"

"Didn't you bring a gun?" Luca retorted. "If a wolf enters a flock of sheep, aren't the sheep just waiting to be eaten?"

Lyon: "."

Luca: "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Since the robbers wouldn't let the police get involved, Luca had to use his own methods to rescue them.

Seeing Lyon leave with his men, Luca also turned and left.

"I'll still have to clean up your messes."

(End of this chapter)