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

Chapter 177 Surprise
That evening, the maritime incident gradually spread to the top levels of the FBI in New York and Boston, but then mysteriously subsided.

Boston tried to play dirty tricks, but New York slapped them hard in the face.

But going back to the core issue, it's still that Costello, this double agent, never considered the Boston FBI as one of his own, but only as a tool to help him develop his power. If those military chips really fell into the hands of the Chinese gang during the transaction, and were caught red-handed by the FBI, no one could protect them.

Shortly after the FBI ship docked in New York, Costello received a questioning call from the FBI.

"Costro! Who the hell did you sell those chips to?" the FBI agent yelled into the phone. "Fuck you! If you had really given those Chinese people chips, we could have caught them tonight!"

Costello was silent for a moment, then slowly chuckled and said, "Looks like this scam has been exposed."

"Answer my question, who did you sell it to?"

"I'm sorry, I'm a person of integrity, how could I possibly betray my buyer?"

"You bastard! Don't forget who's protecting you in Boston. Would you be doing so well without the FBI? How many enemies have we taken care of for you over the years? Do you want us to cancel our agreement with you? For what you've done, you deserve two life sentences!"

"Get this straight, it's not you helping me eliminate the enemy, it's me helping you fight crime."

Costello said calmly, "You want to deal with those Italians in the North District? Without my help, you'll never catch them in this lifetime."

There was a moment of silence on the phone, then he burst out cursing: "Then why don't you give us the Italians' intelligence!"

"This is negotiable, but can I at least get a good night's sleep tonight?"

Another heated argument ensued, mostly from the FBI's impotent rage, with Costello's tone remaining flippant throughout.

After hanging up the phone, he turned around and looked at the tall man standing behind him holding a silenced pistol.

To be honest, Costello was very puzzled. He had just gotten home when a killer was standing behind the door. When he turned on the light, he was almost scared to death.

Costello sighed, "Did you hear that? I didn't leak any information about your boss, so could you take the gun off my forehead?"

Lyon expressionlessly took out his phone, dialed a number, and handed it to Costello. "Answer it."

Costello picked up his phone, and Luca's calm voice came through, "Good evening, Mr. Costello. Did you enjoy the surprise?"

“I wonder if there’s some misunderstanding between us that hasn’t been cleared up?” Costello said calmly. “Our cooperation has always been pleasant. I really can’t figure out what conflict could have caused your assassin to go to such lengths to stake out my house all night.”

“Didn’t you just call the FBI? That’s the biggest problem. My partner is an FBI informant. I can’t stand it.”

"..." Costello frowned. Before the FBI even called him, Leon was already pointing a gun at him. In other words, Luca already knew he was an FBI informant.
How did he know?
Did the Boston FBI leak information?
This is extremely serious. Shouldn't the FBI always be very protective of its informants? Especially someone like me, a gang leader, and yet the FBI can't even hide my informant identity?

“But I never sold any information about you to the FBI. In fact, I don’t have much information about you either. We’re not from the same place at all, and we’ve only met once.”

"I can't trust you, and I can't trust the FBI in Boston."

On the other end of the phone, Luca sat in the club's office, the whiteboard behind him already covered with photos of Boston-related people, while a cross was drawn over Costello's photo.

In Luca's eyes, this guy's value lay in the fact that he had trained several undercover agents to infiltrate the Boston police force, and then used this transaction to successfully arouse the Boston police's suspicion, leading them to suspect that there were moles within their ranks and instigate a war of traitors.

At this point, Costello's "mission" was complete; keeping him around would only cause trouble for the internal power struggle and the battle for the South Side of Boston.

"Taming" the entire Irish gang in the South District—this was Luca's plan from the beginning.

Costello is an obstacle; the boss is still around, so how can he subdue the gang? And how can he subdue the undercover agents within the police force?
With their leader gone, the leaderless Winter Mountain Gang will begin a power struggle for leadership.
Luca then has the opportunity to install the puppet he wants in power, both a puppet of the mafia and a puppet within the police force.
However, Luca was still missing something—the audio tapes of his conversations with the undercover police officers. These were the key to Costello's control over those undercover agents, who themselves were unaware that their boss had tricked them.

When Luca revealed the details of the undercover agent and the tape recording over the phone, Costello's previously calm face turned completely incredulous, his eyes filled with extreme fear.

How did Luca know?
Knowing he was an FBI informant is one thing, there are many ways information can be leaked, but why did he also know he had an undercover agent within the police department? He even knew about the recording tape!
That thing was clearly known only to me; I had never told anyone else!

A sense of dread, stemming from the unknown, crept into Costello's heart. With a look of utter disbelief, he looked around, even suspecting that Luca had installed a camera in his house. "Does that guy have supernatural powers? How does he know so much?"

Prophet? Devil?
“The undercover agent is Colin Sullivan, and there’s another one named…” Luca said the names of the two undercover police officers.

Colin is quite capable, a rising star in the police department, and has even joined the special investigation team; while the other is of average ability and remains an unknown nobody.

You can't expect everyone to be suited for officialdom.

Upon hearing this, Costello's gaze froze. This was beyond his comprehension. Luca's prophetic words shattered his understanding; he simply couldn't fathom how the other knew.

"You have evidence against those undercover agents. If they disobey you, you can betray them to the FBI at any time. Don't deny it, I know what you're really thinking. The only reason you're still alive and listening to me is because of those tapes, understand?"

Luca dropped the pretense and threatened directly: "Where are those tapes hidden? Think it over. You only have one chance to answer. If my brother doesn't find them, you're dead, and you'll be reduced to ashes along with your house."

Costello sensed his impending doom and remained silent for a few seconds: "Pigeon, we have no grudges against each other, and I can guarantee I won't betray you to the FBI."

Luca laughed: "Are you going to reason with me now? The FBI is searching the world for the chip, and I don't want them coming to my door. Costello, you're not stupid. You should understand my thinking. How long you live now depends on my patience."

Costello sighed. The FBI was a double-edged sword. He had been invincible in Boston with it, but it was also about to slit his own throat.

He understands many things, but there are some he doesn't.

"I'm curious, how did you know I had an undercover agent in the police force?" "I also know that the police have planted an undercover agent among you."

"..." After tonight's deal, Costello already knew someone around him had leaked information. "Do you know who it is?"

"Billy."

"Oh, so it's this kid. I trusted him quite a bit."

Costello muttered to himself, then suddenly realized what Luca wanted to do with those tapes.

This guy wanted to continue using that evidence to control the undercover agents within the police station; otherwise, these tapes would be meaningless to Luca.

Costello: "Colin Sullivan is my adopted son. I've spent nearly twenty years raising him. Colin calls me Dad, he's my son! You come here and try to take all my fruits!"

Father? Parricide? Luca scoffed, his patience dwindling. "You're testing my patience, and it won't change your fate."

"Luca! If you kill me, you'll never get those tapes!"

"Do you think the only way to open a safe is with a combination?"

"."

Costello's expression changed slightly. He wanted to explain something, but the call had already ended. Leon, who was standing next to him, glanced at the time and pointed the gun at Costello's forehead again.

"No, buddy, how much did Luca pay you? I'll give you double."

biu!

A bloody hole appeared in his forehead, and Costello died on the sofa.

Costello's body wasn't discovered until the following morning by the Winter Mountain Gang's underlings. Unable to contact their boss, they went to his house, only to find him dead, and the safe inside was gone.

Police investigated the scene afterward but found no further clues.

All that can be determined is that this was a home invasion murder and robbery; the identity of the murderer remains unknown.

Costello's death made the situation in the entire South Side of Boston unpredictable. The largest Irish gang was leaderless, and other gangs such as the Killing and Mullin began to stir.

Meanwhile, the fates of two other people also took an unexpected turn—Billy and Colin, the undercover duo who were destined to clash.

At this moment, the street in front of Costello's house was cordoned off, and a group of Winter Mountain gang members stood outside watching the police carry out a body covered with a white sheet.

Billy's gaze in the crowd was blank and shocked.

Costello is dead? Does that mean my undercover mission is over? Can I reinstate my police identity?
Nice!

Billy was overjoyed and immediately wanted to call his boss to have his status restored.

Inside the cordon, Colin walked to the stretcher, lifted the white sheet, and glanced at his "father's" body, his eyes filled with an indescribable tremor.

He found that he wasn't so sad; instead, he felt a sense of relief.

This is a wonderful surprise!
With Costello dead, he no longer needed to secretly pass messages to the mob, and no one in the world would know he was an undercover agent. From now on, he would be a clean-cut policeman with a bright future!

With such strong abilities and high emotional intelligence in officialdom, he has risen through the ranks in just a few years, his promotions are like a rocket. With such capabilities, why bother with gangs? Wouldn't it be better to be a policeman or a bureau chief?!
—The seed that had long been buried in my heart has now sprouted and grown strong.

“Father, I will find out who the murderer is.” Colin’s lips unconsciously curled into a smile. “Your body will also become a stepping stone for my progress.”

"We can have a party tonight," Colin thought.

You ordered Leon to kill a notorious drug lord; you upheld the peace of South Boston.

[Gain Skill Points x10]

[Gained 5 Skill Fragments]

Inside an oil refinery in New York State.

A group of mafia henchmen disguised themselves as workers and used factory equipment to open the safe. The hard outer shell of the safe was destroyed and melted, revealing what was inside.

There was a pile of cash, gold bars, some brown paper bags and audio tapes, and Luca even found a few gold coins from the Continental Hotel.

Luca was most interested in the tape, took it out and listened to it, and confirmed that it was a conversation between Colin and Costello.

enough.

"Is this what fatherly love is? Recording conversations, are you worried your son won't hear them after you die?"

Luca sighed with gratitude at how thoughtful his father was, and realized that he, as his stepfather, had to continue maintaining their father-son relationship.

(End of this chapter)