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

Chapter 93: Arrange another gunman

Joe Gallo's story is more legendary than Joe Colombo's, and he became famous much earlier.

“I had heard of Mr. Gallo’s name when I first joined the Mafia.”

Luca leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and talked on and on, “Back then, in all of New York, who hadn’t heard of ‘Blonde Joe’? Who didn’t know ‘Crazy Joe’? You were surrounded by big shots and big stars. Those actresses loved you to the point of madness. The actresses that every man in America dreamed of were lying between your legs moaning.”

Even the federal government can't do anything about you. After all, at the federal hearing, you called the court a casino, saying that casinos can only keep gamblers in, how can they restrain a big shot like you?

Everything Luca said is true.

Gallo, that madman, has been in the media, slept with many famous and beautiful female celebrities, and his behavior is extremely high-profile and flamboyant.

He has done far too many crazy things to count, including, but not limited to, the murder of the previous head of the Gambino family, the last head of the family before the name change—this is what Gallo himself boasted about to enhance his reputation, but its veracity is unknown.

Luca didn't know either; he figured the only way to find out the details was to ask Gambino himself.

Gallo always used these deeds as bragging rights, never caring about keeping a low profile. The more others feared him, the better. Now, hearing how well Luca knew him, he inexplicably found the kid a little more agreeable.

Luca changed the subject, "But what are you now? In all these years you've been in prison, nobody outside is talking about your deeds anymore. Everyone's talking about Colombo, about his position as chairman of the Italian-American Alliance, about how many Italians he helped, and how many rights he fought for. Italians admire him, nobody mentions you anymore."

Mr. Gallo, look at yourself. You've fallen so low that you're hanging out with black gangs.

Or do you really enjoy the admiring gazes of those artsy young people?
You've become history, why bother crawling out of the dust? A strong wind can't move the emblem of the People's Assembly, but it can make you vanish without a trace.

Each sentence was more heartbreaking than the last.

Gallo hates being compared to Colombo the most, and he was so angry that he wanted to shoot Luca.

Gallo's gaze was sinister: "You killed so many people, and then you sit in front of me just to humiliate me?"

“Where is the oil?” Luca asked. “You’ve stolen my stuff. The Russians are now cooperating with the Luches family.”

Gallo frowned. "What the hell is that?"
He was only released from prison this year. After being imprisoned for so many years, many people and things in the underworld have changed.

How could Russians cooperate with Italians?

Thinking of what his underlings had just gone through, Gallo took a deep breath: "I didn't know about this beforehand. I'll give you back the oil, and we'll call it even!"

"And one more thing, from now on you can't touch anything related to trucks! The truck drivers' union is also my partner."

"."

Gallo suddenly realized what was going on. He was crazy, but not stupid. "Did that bastard Pro send you to warn me? It could only be him. Fitz doesn't have the guts!"

Luca didn't deny it, and said slowly, "Pro just thinks you went too far. It's fine to want to make money, but you can't take it from your own family. And you shouldn't have talked to him like that, calling his wife a whore and his daughter a prostitute. Pro isn't some nobody, it's absolutely wrong of you to say that."

"Bullshit! I never cursed him like that!"

Gallo cursed, "I haven't seen him in person recently! That guy's been avoiding me!"

“Is that so?” Luca shrugged. “Perhaps I’m mistaken, or maybe it was Fitz or someone else who said it. Anyway, Mr. Gallo, I’ve delivered the message. Let’s keep to ourselves and not interfere with each other. Are you willing to make peace?”

Gallo lit a cigarette with a sullen face.

Luca stared at him for a few seconds. "Mr. Gallo, do you want money, or do you not want to just bow down in obscurity? You've only been out of prison a short time, and you're already making so many moves, trying to attract all the attention in New York?"

Gallo looked up in surprise, his mind drifting back to the time he had met Gambino a while ago.

—The other party has said something similar.

'You, Joe Gallo, were the most promising person to become the head of the Proface family, but now it's called the Colombo family. You and I, this old man with a heart condition, are about to leave this era, gradually be forgotten, and finally become a few dry sentences in the history book.'

They call me "Don" now, but how will posterity judge me, Gambino? And how will they comment on you, Joe Gallo?

"Mr. Gallo, your drawing is quite good."

Luca suddenly brought up the topic of art, "Even though you've left the mainstream of the Mafia, there are so many artsy young people in New York talking about you right now, aren't there?"

But as the saying goes, many artists are crazy; you can't understand what's going on in their heads.
Luca suddenly brought up the topic of art and literature, and Gallo, whose attention had been diverted, nodded and patiently discussed with Luca the paintings and philosophical books he had created in prison.

“When I read Sartre in prison, my fellow inmates often laughed at me; when they read my verdict, I laughed at them.”

Gallo glanced at the paintings on the surrounding walls and smirked. "Pigeon, someone like you should understand that writers and painters like to lie with their pens, but only with a butcher's knife can the truth be revealed."

Luca watched him with interest, the latter spreading his arms wide. "Colombo, Gambino, Vincent."

He read out the names of one family tycoon after another, “When these old geezers are sitting on the committee counting money, they all look like accountants, but when it comes to actually firing a gun, they’re all Parkinson’s patients!”

"Do you want me to stop?"

Gallo sneered at Luca, "Now I know where your nickname 'Butcher' comes from, but do you know where my nickname 'Crazy Joe' comes from?"

[Bond: Follow]

[Gallo: C]

[Power grab: You have repeatedly violated and broken the rules of the Mafia, and have assassinated, kidnapped, and extorted high-ranking Mafia figures on multiple occasions. You are notorious for your ruthless behavior, and all Mafia members are terrified of you.]

Your deterrent effect on Mafia members +10%; when the target is of higher status than you, the deterrent effect is increased by an additional 10%.

[Learning Requirements: Affinity level of Friends or higher; Requires 100 Skill Fragments]

To be honest, Luca is very interested in Gallo's skill.

It's incredible that it can make high-ranking figures even more wary!
As expected of Crazy Joe.

It's a miracle that this guy is still alive after doing so many things that violate the committee's rules and having such a high-profile style.

“Luca, go back and tell Pro to stay out of my business! Or you can kill me right now!” Joe Gallo straightened his collar and sneered, “I always have one more suit than bullet holes!”

Luca raised an eyebrow slightly. "How did this guy suddenly go crazy after we talked about philosophy and art?"
Holy crap, what a thought process!

"Tell me your conditions," Luca changed the subject. "How can you reconcile with Pro?"

Gallo scoffed: "That guy's dead and we're settling things off? Or you can just hand over the money!"

Luca narrowed his eyes slightly. "You said it yourself."
"Mr. Gallo, do you know why I'm here?"

Luca's words caught Gallo's attention. Under Gallo's astonished gaze, the peace ambassador unwrapped an Oreo and slowly ate one.

Skill activates!
Luca: "It's all because of business."

He briefly explained the cooperation between the gasoline company and the union, as the gasoline needed to be transported by tanker truck drivers. In this era without navigation, every experienced truck driver was a living map.

"If I don't cooperate with Pro, my business will be finished."

Luca sat up straight. "Fitz wouldn't dare block my business, but Pro would. Anyone who goes against him goes bankrupt!"

He pulled out his pistol and slammed it on the table in front of him. "Mr. Gallo, the choice is yours now. Tell me what to do: kill you to eliminate Pro's worries, or make peace with Pro? I just hope my business won't be affected in any way. If killing you can solve the problem, believe me, I will do it."

Gallo stared at the gun on the table, a thoughtful expression on his face. So that's how it is? It seems Luca and Pro aren't really on the same page; Luca just wants business.
With the trust bonus from [Trust] and [Oreo]'s misjudgment, Gallo felt he had roughly figured out Luca's thoughts—he was just a violent killer who did business for money.

If Luca can cooperate with Pro, why can't he cooperate with himself?

"So, you went through all that trouble, killing so many people in Harlem, just for this trivial matter?"

Gallo sneered, "Do you know why Pro doesn't dare to come see me in person? Because he's afraid of me! There are hardly any people in all of New York who dare to negotiate with me! Even Gambino has to call me Blonde Joe when he sees me, because I helped him before!"

"You're really good at bragging," Luca said seriously. "Right now, I just want to know your choice."

"I can help you."

Gallo grinned, a smug look on his face. He picked up the bottle and poured himself a drink. "You just want business. What's the truck drivers' union? Back when I was working with Jimmy Hoffa, Pro was just a nobody!"

Luca: "How can you help me?"

Gallo: "You don't need to worry about what I do. Give me some time, and you'll see the results. Nobody will block your tanker truck then! But in exchange, your business has to pay me a share, at least 20 a week!"

"You're seriously underestimating my business." Luca pulled out another Oreo, looking hesitant. "Listen, Gallo, I didn't want to get involved in anything between you and Pro. I just want to do business. If you can get my tanker trucks moving freely, I can even give you a million a week!"

Gallo's eyes lit up. A million a week? Shit's business is that profitable?

Luca: "But whether you can do it or not, I don't want my business to be affected in any way. Pro can't take your anger out on me because of what you did, do you understand what I mean? Pro needs an explanation tonight!"

Gallo pondered for a moment, then asked suspiciously, "A million a week, are you sure?"

“I can give you 50 tonight! If my business grows bigger and I have more tankers, I can make more than 100 million a week.”

Luca's sincere words instilled a sense of trust in Gallo, and a smile gradually spread across Gallo's face. "Haha, okay! I promise you! Tonight, I'll make peace with that bastard!"

The two shook hands with smiles on their faces.

You resolved the conflict between Pro and Gallo. You upheld the peace of the truck drivers' union.

[Gain 10 skill points]

[Gained 5 Skill Fragments]

[Remaining Skill Fragments: 49]

A golf course estate in New Jersey.

Pro hung up the phone, looking quite surprised.

Shit! Gallo actually sued for peace!

"Fitz!"

Pro looked at the fat man lying next to him enjoying a massage from a beautiful woman, "Gallo agreed to reconcile with us! That Pigeon kid actually convinced him! Fuck! Those two violent lunatics, Pigeon actually got Gallo to prioritize peace! This is incredible, so many people in New York couldn't convince Gallo, but Pigeon actually did it!"

Fitz looked equally incredulous: "How is this possible? That madman Gallo never listens to advice! How did the pigeon manage that?"

"How the hell would I know?"

Pro muttered, "His title of peace ambassador is truly well-deserved; he even managed to persuade Gallo. It's unbelievable."

"Impressive," Fitz muttered. "It's such a waste that Pigeon is such a smooth talker and not a diplomat for the United States."

Pro: "."

In any case, it's good that they can reconcile.

Finally, that bastard Gallo disappeared from his business. Pigeon did a really good job!
[Bond: Familiarity]

Harlem district.

Gallo, upon returning to the area, summoned his trusted confidants.

"I promised Pro that we should prioritize peace. Let's all behave ourselves for the next few days and not try to rob the union's trucks."

"Then, at the mass rally, arrange for another gunman."

(End of this chapter)