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

Chapter 62 Opening and Closing
The following day, the SSR Club opened.

This was a very important day for Luca. He arrived at the club early in the morning to oversee related matters and host a banquet for guests from all sides.

Many club staff members, along with Matilda, came to help, working with the waiters to move and arrange pots of Silver Queen, as Luca had instructed, around the entrance corridor so that everyone could see them as soon as they entered.

Therefore, many guests felt a sense of ease and joy as they entered the gate.

"So many Silver Queens!"

"The environment here is very nice. It reminds me of the last time I went on vacation to the Maldives with my wife. The beaches there and the air here are equally refreshing."

“I felt it too. I was just thinking of complaining to my buddy, but now all I want to do is pour myself a drink.”

"Looks like we have another new venue for our gatherings."

Luxury cars pulled up in front of the hotel, and many familiar faces arrived.

Luca, dressed in a suit, greeted the guests from all walks of life in the lobby on the first floor.

Jimmy was by his side.

"This is the list of those who have confirmed their attendance at the opening ceremony."

Jimmy handed Luca a form with many family acquaintances listed, such as Marigio, Dominic, and the White Tiger, as well as other family members who would also be present.

Furthermore, some political and business figures associated with the family would also come to show their support, giving the Lucchese family face.

It's a club that has invested millions of dollars, after all.

The Luches family hadn't expected Luca to go to such lengths; they thought it was just an ordinary pub or nightclub. Little did they know that Luca would create such a grand spectacle.

It's considered the largest clubhouse in the family in New York.

Is Luca trying to become a cash cow? Many in the family came to this conclusion and decided to support their brother and call on their friends to lend a hand.

This place will become a new gathering place for family members.

Luca welcomed them warmly, even though they were all a bunch of mafia members.

His club, once open for business, will face a diverse group of "oddballs and freaks," rather than aiming to compete with top international clubs for the wealthy.

Despite SSR Club's investment of tens of millions, it was all spent on hardware, which is nothing for a top club.

Those top clubs have very high entry barriers, and they are not open to the public. They are very secretive and low-key, and you need to be recommended by insiders, and then buy shares, land, yachts and racing cars, and verify your assets before you can get in.

Where do SSR characters like Leon and the blond guy get so much money and resources to join the club?
Or are we hoping that a poor guy like Lao Zuo can come up with a six-figure annual fee?
From the beginning, Luca didn't intend to make it too top-tier; mid-to-high-end would be enough. Once the club has more powerful high-level connections and Luca's status rises, he can then integrate resources and gradually develop towards the top.

First, lure people in.

“Hmm,” Luca looked at the names on the list and quickly found the name of the second boss, Dominic.

He stared intently at the name for a long time, until Matilda, dressed in a princess dress, ran to Luca's side. "Luca, the Silver Queen is set up. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Lucky Matilda." Luca smiled and handed her a candy. "Go play with your brother Brian and sister Nancy. They should be at the bar. You're the leader of the biker gang, so you have to take care of your little brothers."

"I'm looking for Lyon."

Matilda looked around. "Where is he? I didn't see him when we were moving the Silver Queen. I was hoping to ask him for his secrets on raising Silver Queens."

Luca smiled and shook his head: "He has other jobs too. He's the head of security, and he's responsible for protecting the safety of every guest today."

"Oh fine."

Matilda patted the wrinkles on Luca's suit and exclaimed, "Go Luca! The peace ambassador looks very handsome today, like a prince on a white horse!"

From afternoon to evening, the guests arrived one by one.

For example, Jordan and his friends, and the retired William Somerset.

The veteran detective was personally invited by Luca via phone.

“Oh, I didn’t expect your club to be so big.” William followed Luca through the door and said half-jokingly, “I made a mistake that night; I should have accepted your invitation.”

“It’s not too late now,” Luca said with a smile. “I really need a mature and steady front desk manager. William, you’re perfect for the job.”

William was taken aback. He had been joking, but he hadn't expected Luca to be serious.

This is the second time I've been invited.

“I need to discuss this with my family,” William replied more cautiously this time. “I will get back to you as soon as possible.”

Afterwards, Downey and Lao Zuo also arrived at the club.

“I had also made plans with Sonny, but I can’t get in touch with him.”

Old Zuo hugged Luca, looking puzzled, and said, "We even went to his house to look for him, but we couldn't find him. Pigeon, I swear, once I get in touch with him, I'll teach him a lesson! He actually missed the opening ceremony of the Good Friends Club, such an important event!"

"He probably has something important to take care of."

Luca then looked at the undercover agent Downey beside him, "Did you bring enough money today? There are quite a few customers at the casino waiting for you to rob them."

Downey's heart skipped a beat. Gambling again? How much of my budget has your club won?! That bastard Jimmy definitely cheated!

"I hope my luck will be better today," Downey smiled, "to share in the joy of your grand opening."

Shortly after the two went inside, Marigio arrived.

He pulled Lucara aside with a complicated expression. "I didn't want to say anything bad about your opening, but what happened last night made Dominic very unhappy."

“I had no idea that my family had hired a deadly viper.”

Luca's expression was also grim. "Their appearance completely disrupted my plans. I was supposed to just quietly walk into the club and silently take care of Richie and Galant, but they turned the assassination into a gang shootout!"

"Dominic is getting impatient with your indecisiveness."

"He found another organization called Deadly Vipers," Marigio sighed.

Luca narrowed his eyes slightly.

Second boss, second boss, are you really that desperate to keep your drug business?

Why do you have to resort to killing to solve problems?
“Uncle Marigio,” Luca said quietly, “I suddenly remembered something. When I was little, I was robbed with someone and we were caught on the spot by the police. I was locked up for several months before being released.” “I remember, that was your first time in jail.”

“When I got out, you told me not to hate the police, because we were playing a cat-and-mouse game with them. Everyone was doing their job and serving their own interests. As long as the police acted according to the rules, arrested us according to the law, and did not fabricate evidence or frame us, it was their skill to catch us.”

“I did say that.” Marigio understood the implication in Luca’s words, and his gaze became even more complicated.

He also understood that Dominic's desire to execute Garant was understandable, as the man had betrayed the committee's interests; but executing Richie would violate certain Mafia rules.

When the National Committee was first established, there was a rule that official members should not be killed lightly unless they broke the rules and acted recklessly, like Stan and Truber.

The reason is similar to that of "no drug trafficking": killing official members would provoke fierce resistance from the federal government and significantly increase the police budget to combat the Mafia.

Luca couldn't help but recall the original plot. No matter how much Richie investigated, he didn't get the Mafia to issue an execution order, nor did he suffer an assassination. Both sides played the game within the rules, and who won and who lost depended on their abilities, rather than directly killing the game players.

The authorities are still sending infiltrators to gather evidence bit by bit, instead of directly deploying the army to wipe out the Mafia.

If both sides turn the game into a direct killing spree, the situation will be extremely dire, and the city will descend into complete chaos.

“If Dominic does this, our family won’t go far,” Luca said.

Marigio chuckled: "Is this why you haven't made a move yet?"

"I'm not against killing, but I want peace even more."

Luca shrugged, then suddenly leaned close to Marigio's ear, "Uncle, actually the committee only approved the execution order for Carma Galant. The assassination of Richie Roberts wasn't the other families' intention, right? It was only Dominic's idea?"

Marigio stiffened slightly, his expression turning suspicious. He belatedly realized, "Luca, you mean I'm not sure? That's what Dominic said when he called. I don't know the specifics of the meeting."

“Uncle Marigio, I’m not blaming you, I just think this execution order is a bit strange.”

Luca recalled his conversation with Ishii Oren and the other woman last night. The Deadly Viper organization had only communicated with Dominic, not the committee.

He immediately sensed that something was wrong.

“We have no right to question orders from above,” Marigio said helplessly. “Luca, you should know the family rules. We can’t make things too ugly.”

"I see."

Luca hugged Marigio again and whispered, "Uncle, come in. Today is a day to celebrate. Let's not talk about these unpleasant things."

In a picturesque area of ​​New Jersey, there sits a classic manor.

Dominic and his wife walked out the door together, got into their car, and headed to the club.

He was holding a cell phone in his hand:
"Frank, relax. The situation isn't that bad yet. We can talk about it when we get to the club."

Frank's voice was serious. "All I want to know now is when will all this trouble go away?"

"I also want to know when your next shipment will arrive. Nothing can stop our business."

Dominic was quite curious.

He knows so far that Frank's goods come from Asia, but he doesn't know the guy's sourcing channels.

How did they manage to transport such a large quantity of drugs from Asia to New York in such a brazen manner?
Even the Bonano family, who have been in the drug business for so many years and control a large number of import and export channels, have not been able to achieve this.

If we could get hold of Frank's connections...
Dominic was filled with fervor, envisioning himself leading the Lucchese family to new heights and taking over the Bonanno family's long-standing dominance in the drug trade.

He will then have a greater say in the family, and he will prove to that stubborn old man, the big boss, that the drug business you're unwilling to do is pure gold! It can bring enormous wealth to the family!
Then the big boss can retire, and Dominic will take over the Lucchese family!

As for Frank?
The New York drug market doesn't need a black leader!
Italians don't need to bow down to Black people! Once the channels are in hand, Frank will naturally become dust in history.

To be honest, Dominic really admires that old bastard Garant. His drug business was almost bankrupt, but he still refused to bow down and cooperate with Frank. That old man is a typical conservative and stubborn old fogey. Damn it, how come such a remnant is still alive?!

Old man, times have changed!
Dominic gave a cold laugh.

boom!
As the cannons fired and colorful ribbons fluttered, Luca, bathed in a joyous atmosphere, stepped forward and warmly embraced Uncle Biao.

"Luca, congratulations! Wishing you a prosperous opening!"

Uncle Biao was holding a ceremonial cannon, followed by a lion dance troupe playing drums and gongs. They were all skilled performers invited from Chinatown.

The lively atmosphere attracted the attention of many Europeans and Americans. Many people looked at the yellow-skinned uncle who was chatting enthusiastically with Luca and couldn't help but wonder which mafia boss this was.

Could he be the leader of some Asian gang?

"Uncle Biao, Sister-in-law Biao, welcome!" Luca led the two through the gate.

"Luca, your club is much more luxurious than I imagined!" Uncle Biao turned his head and looked around, clicking his tongue in amazement. "I've never been to such a high-class place before."

"Uncle Biao, do you remember what you told Matilda before? Treat the supermarket like your own home! The club is your home too, we're all family, let's keep the peace!"

"Hahaha, peace is the most important thing~~ peace is the most important thing~~~ then I won't be polite!"

Amidst laughter, the panel unfolded before Luca's eyes.

[You teamed up with Leon to kill a drug lord; you defended your family and the peace of New York!]

[Gain 20 skill points]

[Gained 10 Skill Fragments]

[Muscle Endurance +5%]

[Remaining Skill Fragments: 75]

The SSR sign gleamed in the warm sunlight, and the young man's straight figure resembled a cold gun barrel.

The colorful lion head leaps and soars, the thunderous drumbeats pounding against its chest, the lion's body is agile, shaking its mane, blinking its eyes, and craning its neck, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Club staff bustled about, parking, greeting guests, and providing reception services. A red carpet stretched from the roadside to Luca's feet at the gate.

Guests came forward to congratulate Luca, and then uttered the peace ambassador's favorite phrase.

"Old Pigeon~~ Peace is the most important thing!"

There is no such thing as good killing, nor is there such thing as bad peace.

(End of this chapter)