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

Chapter 69 A New Gamble Begins

The war on drugs has not yet completely subsided, and the newly reshuffled New York City government is busy purging its own ranks. Meanwhile, across the country, in other cities, anti-drug efforts have also made significant progress.

Dominic had helped Frank distribute his goods to the West Coast, and there were connections between them. The police followed the trail and uncovered a number of gophers that were destroying crops.

Luca began to orchestrate the gasoline tax scam and outlined the relevant plans. Jordan had already prepared a number of offshore companies registered in Panama, but the key personnel still needed a group of "scapegoats."

After the gasoline company goes bankrupt due to tax evasion, its负责人 (responsible person/manager) will need to flee the United States. Luka is unlikely to appear, nor can he flee, so some Russians, Irish, or Armenians will be needed as scapegoats.
Russians are the most suitable, because this business was started by Russians. They started gasoline companies very early on and discovered loopholes in them.

However, their influence in the political and business circles on the East Coast is not as strong as that of the Mafia, especially the labor unions. They simply cannot get involved. The gas stations and companies they currently operate are still relatively small in scale, and they have not dug deep enough loopholes.

Russians are more adept at engaging in ruthless and illegal businesses, such as the source of gasoline—oil, or cat housing, drugs, human trafficking, and arms. They have established extremely large criminal networks on both the east and west coasts.

Luka wants to build a gas station and a company, and he will need to cooperate with the Russians to complement each other's resources, grow the business together, and create new glories.

Perhaps we can even deal with the elusive Night Demon.

Early September is a very special time period.

school starts.

In New York State, schools typically start in late August or early September. Matilda, who had been having a wild and carefree summer, had to pack her backpack and head to school.

"Breakfast." Luca, dressed in casual home clothes, handed Matilda a packaged sandwich and a carton of milk.

"Luca, I don't want to go to school."

"The Mafia does not accept members without a degree."

“You’re trying to scare me again. I heard from Uncle Marigio that you didn’t even graduate from elementary school, but I have a higher level of education than you.”

"."

Lore!

The peace ambassador was deeply offended. With a dark expression, he pushed Matilda from behind and, amidst the children's silvery laughter, chased her out the door as if she were someone else.

"First day of the new semester, don't be late."

"Luca, will you take me?"

Matilda clung to Luca's arm, pouting and refusing to let go, "It's been so long since I've ridden in your car."

Luca, with a sour face, remained unmoved: "Brian is waiting for you downstairs. I've arranged for him to be your personal driver, to pick you up and drop you off at school."

Matilda: "."

Brian, that blondie, just laughs like an idiot all day long; I don't know what he finds so funny.

Brian looked at himself in the car's rearview mirror, combed his yellow curly hair, and gave a slightly stiff smile.

Great! I've already become Pigeon Sister's personal driver—I've taken the undercover job a step further, and who knows, I might be able to walk into Pigeon's house someday.

Although the development direction is a bit off, at least it can still be driven.

My heavily modified sports car, with its impressive roar, will surely attract a bunch of admiring and envious glances from the kids when I drive past the school gate.

Just then, Nancy called.

"Brian, are you free tonight? Yusuf's men came to see you again last night, wanting to challenge you to a showdown in Brooklyn."

"Yousef?"

That good-for-nothing heir of the Russian mafia?
Brian looked at him with disdain; he was just a lousy car thief!
Ever since he became famous at the Brooklyn underground racetrack, this guy has been coming up to him wanting to buy his car. He's been challenging him to races, and he's lost to him several times. He comes back again and loses again, each time with a different sports car, which he doesn't know where he stole from.

Let him change it!

If your skills aren't up to par, you can't possibly beat yourself!

"What time tonight?" Brian asked confidently. "Tell him to prepare the bets! Don't try to renege on them if he loses!"

"Remember to be there on time at 10 o'clock."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Nancy tidied herself up and rode her motorcycle straight to school.

She hasn't graduated from university yet.

In her spare time, Nancy also works part-time at the SSR Club—she found a part-time job as a waitress at the club's bar to earn tuition fees and support her younger brother.

She usually relies on her neighbor Uncle Biao to help take care of her disabled younger brother, otherwise she wouldn't be able to manage on her own.

People join biker gangs not only because they enjoy the thrill, but also to earn some money through gambling.

Upon arriving at school, Nancy hurriedly carried her schoolbag to the classroom.

As she walked through the gate, a curly-haired boy with a frivolous smile whistled at her.

Nancy rolled her eyes at the other person and strode away.

Curly chuckled: "The girls at your school are so hot~~~ Dude, you're living in paradise. I regret not sending you out back then, otherwise I wouldn't have been expelled from school, and maybe I could have gotten into this school and been classmates with these hot girls."

"You wouldn't do that, otherwise we wouldn't be friends."

"Hahaha, Mike, you've seen through my biggest weakness."

The two young men walked out of the school gate together.

"Come on, I'll take you to a nice place."

Curly rubbed his hands excitedly, “There’s a club called SSR in the Bronx, and they just opened a casino there. I’ve been there twice. It’s full of Italians with terrible card skills. They don’t know how to read other people’s expressions, and they don’t have any skills. When they get a good hand, they just bet blindly. They can’t tell if I’ve cheated anything!”
"That place is teeming with easy money! Dude, with your skills and our teamwork, going there is like picking up cash!"

Mike was tempted, but shook his head and refused: "Bug, I've already said I don't play cards anymore."

A year ago, he lost all his tuition and living expenses at a Russian casino, and afterwards had to work as a truck driver to earn money to make ends meet.

For a full six months, Mike stopped playing cards.

Quit gambling!

Until his childhood friend, nicknamed "Bug," was released from prison.

That very night, he broke his vow and, persuaded by the recently released Chongzi, they went together to crush a bunch of newbies and won a thousand or two.

Mike swore that he just didn't want to spoil his good friend who had just been released from prison, and it was definitely not because he wanted to make a comeback.

The bug stared at Mike with an ambiguous smile. "Mike, from childhood to adulthood, no one knows you better than me. Playing cards is what you're best at; it's an instinct flowing in your blood. Even if a wolf's fangs are broken, it won't forget to hunt with its claws!"

Dude, you can't quit.

This time, Bug still couldn't convince Mike, and he had to come to the SSR Club alone.

He absolutely loves this place!

It wasn't just because the people here were bad at gambling, but also because the atmosphere was very peaceful, which he liked. Apart from a very few gamblers who were blinded by their losses, many people weren't too upset about losing money and were even in the mood to go to the bar for a drink to relax.

Many conflicts were avoided.

In this atmosphere, the insects no longer wanted to leave.

Stepping through the gate, the insect opened its arms and took a deep breath, "This damn intoxicating scent."

He noticed that a young man dressed in black was watering the Silver Queen plant, and he seemed to be a waiter there.

The bug glanced at the time; it was 2 PM. "Dude, are there any card games going on at the casino right now?"

"There shouldn't be many people at this time."

Luca checked the time and said, "It shouldn't be a problem to get two or three tables together."

The insect smiled and said, "I like the Silver Queen you planted."

Then he took out a $10 bill and stuffed it into Luca's pocket, saying, "We can put a few more pots in the casino."

Luca: "."

Not buddy.

This is the first time in my life I've ever received a tip.

Luca pulled some money from his pocket, watching the young man's retreating figure with a strange expression. "Give me a tip, and you think you can cheat in my place?"

Pigeons also like to eat insects.

[Character Card Discovered: Lester Murphy]

Leicester: B

[Source: The King of Gamblers]

[Skill: Thousand Door Ghost Hand]

[Bond: Strangers]

Skills at the card table.

Luca smiled slightly; it seemed two rather interesting children were about to appear.

A cynical gambler, a college student dreaming of conquering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, and also a professional poker player.

If Jordan were to face these two, he would probably win a few games, because they know how to throw the game.

Harvesting leeks should be done slowly. When you encounter a fat sheep, you should gently cut off its wool one clump after another, rather than directly skinning it.

If Luca remembers correctly, the two of them owed some money to the Russian gang and were planning to win money by playing cards to pay off their debt.

"Jimmy!"

Luca called Jimmy over and told him to keep an eye on the bug. "As long as he doesn't go too far, you don't need to do anything. Just a friendly reminder: there are a lot of Mafia members at the poker table. If he's smart, he'll know what to do."

"I understand."

Jimmy nodded, wondering what tricks Old Pigeon was up to this time.
"Old Pigeon, would you like me to water your plants?"

"I'll do it myself."

"."

Just then, two more guests arrived.

Oren Ishii and El the One-Eyed.

During this time, the two of them were busy with business at the Red Flower Restaurant, and occasionally they would accept Luca's invitation to visit the SSR Club.

There's a small problem to deal with—Carma Galant of Bonano has gone into hiding.

According to the information that Ishii Oren relayed to Luca, the old man seems to have left New York, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.

Luca wasn't in a hurry; Black Sonny would keep an eye on things, he was more eager than anyone else.

— That old man Galant is still secretly communicating with the committee, trying to delay and reconcile, but it's too late, there's no room for negotiation. The other families have already divided the spoils, and the Bonanno family is starting to stir again.

Galant can only die.

"Ms. Ishii."

Luca went to greet him, thinking to himself, "This time they won't give me a tip, will they?"

“Every time I come here, I see you watering the flowers.”

Today, Ishii Oren wore a white top and black bottom haori and held a samurai sword in her hand, exuding both gentleness and strength.

Do you really like the Silver Queen?

“I plan to develop it into a long-term hobby,” Luca said with anticipation. “Just like when I asked you for advice on Japanese swordsmanship, I hope to gain more from the process.”

Luca is currently learning Japanese swordsmanship from Oren Ishii—the skills of the Yakuza Empress, two of which are related to Japanese swordsmanship.

Having more skills is never a bad thing; once you've mastered the basics, you can use skill points to hone them.

It also allows me to get closer to Oren Ishii.

The Deadly Viper organization is comprised entirely of masters of Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese swordsmanship, but relatively speaking, Ishii Oren's skills are definitely far superior to El's.

Even Black Mamba might not be as strong as Ishii Oren. The female warrior's strength lies in her aura skills and that divine samurai sword that can cut through iron like mud.

Luca thought to himself that once he learned how to do it, he would behead anyone who insulted his Sicilian bloodline.

This strike is even more powerful than American Iaijutsu!

"Jimmy, help me water the plants." Luca handed him the watering can; he was off to practice swordsmanship with the woman.

Jimmy: "."

"Your club makes people feel very comfortable."

Ishii Oren followed Luca into the elevator and headed to the gym upstairs.

Even more obsessed with killing than Luca, she found inner peace here, and even felt a sense of "Zen".

It would be even better if there were a tea room here.

The two went into the gym together. Luca changed into casual clothes, took out a samurai sword he had bought last month, and practiced techniques with Ishii Oren.

Luca Greco

【技能：枪械精通LV7、暗杀精通LV6→LV7、格斗精通LV6→LV7、驾驶精通LV4→LV6、日本剑术LV1，无耻之徒、贪婪之徒.（略）】

[Current skill points: 0]

[Remaining Skill Fragments: 192]

[Unlocked Skills (Not Yet Learned): Motorbike Phantom, Crime Reconstruction, Upright and Unyielding]

The casino downstairs.

Not wanting to be a third wheel upstairs, El walked in alone.

He exchanged $10,000 for chips and then went to the poker table.

The insect raised its head and whistled, "Hey beautiful, wanna play together?"

El pulled out his little notebook and grinned:
"Okay."

(End of this chapter)