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

Chapter 150 The Godfather
It's common knowledge that the Mafia and truck driver unions are colluding, and many union members have even joined the gangs as peripheral partners. But the only Mafia member to have risen to the position of chairman has been Pro and now Luca, both from the same union.

Luca's ties with the unions were far closer than those of other Mafia members; his petrol tax business thrived thanks to truck drivers.

With a stable eight-figure weekly income, if Hoffa's rise to power negatively impacts the business, Luca will disagree, and neither will his partners. Furthermore, various families are investing in projects heavily reliant on union retirement funds. Will Hoffa be as accommodating as Fitz?

“Luca, aren’t you repairing the furniture store?” Hoffa said. “You support me, of course I support you! I’ve seen everything you’ve done on the East Coast, and I’m very grateful for all the benefits you’ve secured for the workers! If I become chairman, you can get my promise that I will continue to support your business.”

This was Hoffa's sincerity, but it didn't hold much appeal for Luca, because Fitz could do the same thing, and was more obedient and controllable.

"What about the other families?" Luca asked the most crucial question. "I have many people behind me. Can you, like Fitz, unconditionally open up the union's retirement fund to us?"

"This is impossible."

“If you are willing to support me, then you should also support the community of interests that I represent.”

“Luca, you’re the first mafia member I’ve ever met who actually works for the benefit of his guild brothers. Pro, that guy, has been the boss for so many years and he’s never done this. When a guild brother dies in a car accident, all he does is exploit his insurance payout. I thought you were different from them, that you were somewhat different.”

Hofa's gaze held an indescribable disappointment. "Actually, you're no different."

Luca smiled.

His attempts to persuade Hofa to abdicate failed, so he gave up on verbally urging him to step down.

Hoffa is an extremely stubborn person who cannot be persuaded by interests. You can't convince him by arguing with him. In the original story, so many people couldn't make him give up.

Something that even the biggest bosses can't do.
The defeat was expected by Luca.

You can't expect everyone to be obsessed with money, nor can you expect everyone to be cowardly, afraid of power, or afraid of death. Luca can share his desires with every truck driver, so that everyone can work together towards a common goal, but he can't impose his desires on Hoffa.

How could any parent who deeply loves their child entrust their child to someone else?
However, this matter failed. There was another matter. Luca said calmly, "Mr. Hoffa, it seems that our ideas differ."

"That's why I sometimes really dislike dealing with you Mafia members, because you always put your own and your family's needs first, while everyone else—whether partners, friends, or even relatives—has to take a backseat!"

Hoffa stood up and sneered, "Sorry, I didn't mean you're selfish. I mean you're unwilling to compromise or back down for your friends!"

Luca, unusually, did not refute him.

The Mafia's actions need no explanation, so there's a reason why New York is cold – because it's home to five different families.

“Mr. Hoffa, wait a moment.”

Luca said, "I have another suggestion for you. Regarding the competition between you and Fitz, it's all up to you. If you want to get votes, campaign, give speeches, that's fine, but we don't want to see anyone's car explode again, nor do we want to attend anyone's funeral."

"You should say that to Fitz; he's the one who blew up my friend's yacht first!"

“I have warned him that he will not use any more extreme methods!”

Luca narrowed his eyes. "Mr. Hoffa, if you want to win the workers' votes, you should go and negotiate with them, get their votes, that's your base."

Hoffa took a deep breath. "As long as you can get that motherfucker Fitz to stop, I won't threaten him with bombs!"

Luca nodded: "You can get my assurance! Election games have proper rules, I said! And I expect both of you to abide by them!"

You stopped the violent clashes between Jimmy Hoffa and Fitz. You have made an initial contribution to the peace efforts of the truck drivers' union.

[Gain Skill Points x10]

[Gained 5 Skill Fragments]

[Remaining Skill Fragments: 215]

The meeting ended in a less than pleasant manner.

As Hoffa walked out of the club, freed from the Silver Queen's restraint, his already displeased mood flared up, and he blurted out, "Damn it!"

"Frank, did you see that? These mafia members would never support me. Talking to them is pointless! That bastard Fitz betrayed everything, spreading his legs like a whore, letting these mafia members humiliate him! Fuck them! A bunch of bastards!"

Hofa grumbled and cursed for a long time, and Frank listened to his complaints with a sense of helplessness.

To be fair, he also hoped that Hofa would retire, that his old friend would live a good life and enjoy his later years, and not get involved in these disputes anymore. But he also knew that his old friend was hard to persuade.

If this continues, what will happen?
Hopefully, Hoffa will lose the election. That would be good for everyone. Once the election is over, Hoffa will have no reason to keep making a fuss.

Bobby Marshall also heard Hoffa's complaints. After everyone got into the car, Bobby volunteered again, "Uncle Jimmy, is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Forget it." Hoffa waved his hand with a headache. Since they agreed not to resolve the issue with violence, then the election with Fitz would be a matter of each person having the ability to win.

He then asked Frank, "Will Russell help us?"

Russell Bufalino, Frank's friend and boss, and the head of the Bufalino family. It was through Russell's introduction that Frank met Hoffa.

The original storyline featured these three as the "Big Three," who had a friendship that lasted for decades, until things changed, people changed, and the old friends passed away.

Faced with Hoffa's question, Frank hesitated, unsure how to begin. Russell is a big boss in the Mafia; of course he's considering the Mafia's interests. How could he possibly want you to take over?
Hoffa asked, "Can we get Luca removed from his position as president?"

"This is too complicated."

Frank comforted his friend, "If they agree, I'd certainly be willing to help you, but..."

"Yes, it's too complicated."

Hoffa sighed, "Shall we give it a try?"

Frank shook his head: "They won't agree to me doing that."

Hoffa: "Frank, could you talk to him? Just talk to him briefly."

Frank didn't know what to say.

Meanwhile, Luca also informed Fat Tony that the violence had stopped. Upon hearing the news, Tony smiled and praised Luca, saying he had done a good job. He said Luca liked to play it safe and maintain a semblance of peace, especially since his own interests hadn't been affected yet. Let Hoffa and Fitz compete as they please; Hoffa couldn't possibly win the election through legitimate means anyway.

Fitz had the support of the entire Mafia committee, but what did Hoffa have? He had a feud with the president's family. Although that president was dead, the political family was still around, and many of them disliked Hoffa.

At least Fitz knew to go golfing with the Attorney General to maintain a balance of interests among various parties.

When it comes to selling "buttocks," Fitz is a professional.

On the surface, this union civil war seems to be won by Fitz's overwhelming advantage, but Luca knows that some things are not so easy to end.

The Mafia hasn't decided to kill Hoffa yet, but the execution order will come sooner or later, and Luca needs to start preparing for this historic assassination.

Time passed quickly.

There are minor incidents but no major ones in New York, while undercurrents are swirling in Washington and other East Coast cities.

In his spare time, Luca began to extend his reach into Massachusetts, quietly "invading" the gang territory there through the gasoline tax business and unions.

He had figured out the situation of the Boston double undercover agent—the undercover agent in the police department was on the surface working diligently to solve cases, and with the help of the gang, he had made a lot of contributions and also helped the gang eliminate some of its rivals.

The undercover agent in the gang is currently just a small fry, but according to the original plot, he will soon be able to infiltrate the organization.

Compared to the two rival undercover agents in Hong Kong, the undercover agents in Boston didn't complain for three years after three years; they were dealt with in less than a year, which was quite simple and brutal, and in the end, they all died.

It doesn't feel like falling into the deepest hell.

Luca still needs to figure out how to get involved; he remembers there's also a conflict involving Chinese gangs.

If handled well, he could easily take over a large area of ​​gang territory in Boston and expand his influence.

Before we knew it, it was already mid-May.

During this time, Hoffa and Fitz did not have any violent conflict. Fitz was very obedient and behaved quite well, knowing that he had the upper hand.

But Hoffa did something that many members of the Mafia never expected.

This guy actually dared to publicly expose Fitz's collaboration with the Mafia in an interview!
For a moment, apart from Luca who remained relatively calm, the entire Mafia was furious!
SSR Club.

This time, there were more Mafia members watching TV than usual. In addition to Fat Tony and Marigio, Luca also met Russell, the big boss of the Bufalino family, and Frank, who accompanied him.

Frank considered Hoffa a friend and was willing to help him, but on certain important issues, he always sided with the Mafia—Russell had helped him during his most difficult time, a favor Frank would never forget.

At that moment, on the television screen, Hoffa appeared on a television interview program, where he made outrageous remarks:

Host: "Do you think Fitz should continue to serve as president of the truck drivers' union?"

Hoffa: "Absolutely not! Fitz sold the union to his gang brothers, and the gangs control him. That means the gangs control our retirement funds, with tens or hundreds of billions of dollars borrowed by them at low or even no interest rates to invest in illegal industries."

Hoffa: "This can't go on! It's time to oust Fitz!"

There were many more unpleasant words that followed, making everyone present look quite grim.

Going along with the crowd is one thing, but what the hell do you mean by exposing this to the entire nation?
Are they afraid that our Mafia won't suffer?
Fat Tony's brows were furrowed so deeply they were almost vertical. Even though he liked to smooth things over, he was cursing Hoffa to death in his heart in this situation.

Tony looked at Russell Bufalino: "Is this guy fucking serious?"

Russell remained calm. As a member of an out-of-town family and an old friend of Hoffa, he tried his best to ease the tension: "Jimmy isn't telling the truth. It's all just campaign propaganda. It's all a show."

Frank chimed in, "It's just talk, not true."

Tony said in a deep voice, "I don't care if he's putting on a show or not, he can't talk like that! Especially in front of a national audience! Fakle has to shut his mouth!"

Luca echoed Tony: "Hoffa should take his pension and go to Florida with his grandson to relax. I've reminded him before, but he doesn't seem to listen to me."

Russell, the little old man, glanced at Luca. "We'll relay your words to him again, and he'll know what to do."

[Character Card: Russell Bufalino]

Russell: SR

[Source: The Irishman]

[Skills: Libra Execution; Blood Pact Investment; Gangster Godfather]

[Bond: Follow]

Russell, one of the 12 seats on the Mafia Commission, is based in Pittston, west of New York, and his influence extends throughout Pennsylvania from that city.

He was somewhat involved in the Mangano family's affairs; after the barbershop assassination, Gambino successfully rose to power. As for Russell's exact role in it, few people know.

However, he always maintained good relations with the New York and Philadelphia Mafia, had a very wide network of connections, and was one of the few bosses who was not assassinated. He eventually died of old age in prison due to illness.

In the original storyline, he ordered the painters to execute countless people, including Joe Gallo and Jimmy Hoffa.

However, due to the numerous butterfly effects, the Gallo incident had little to do with the painter.

But Russell cannot stand idly by in this Hoffa incident. He is too deeply involved with Hoffa and will not hesitate to carry out the New York Mafia's orders to kill Jimmy Hoffa, in order to prove that he is always on the side of the committee, not Hoffa.

Looking at Russell's skills, Luca thought to himself that Russell's skills were clearly more suitable for him than Hoffa's two guild skills.

And it fits perfectly.

A mob godfather.
That's what Luca wants.

(End of this chapter)