Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

San Pietro Chapel, outside Corleone Estate, Sicily.

The sky was so overcast it seemed about to collapse, and fine rain wove a gray net that enveloped the ancient building standing halfway up the mountain.

For the Corleone family, this place is like a sacred site. For half a century, the baptism of new family members, the oaths of key members, and even the funerals of past godfathers have all been held in this seemingly unassuming Catholic chapel that embodies the soul of the family.

Father Antonio still comes here to worship today.

Despite the family's turbulent situation and the loss of his prestige due to the theft of the account books, he still had to send a signal to the outside world in this way: the Corleone family was still functioning normally, and the Godfather was still the devout and powerful Godfather.

Of course, more than anything, it's about seeking solace for the soul and hoping to receive guidance from God.

Outside the church, rainwater washed over the stone pavement.

A figure dressed in a black tactical raincoat and wearing a black mask emerged from the woods like a ghost.

Rick Peng, codename "Brandy".

He wasn't carrying heavy firepower; instead, he held two M1911s that he had modified himself. Rain dripped from the brim of his hat, but it couldn't conceal the chilling calmness in his eyes.

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That's the look in a hunter's eyes when he sees his prey.

"The outer perimeter has been cleared," Gin (Xiao Zhuang)'s voice came through the earpiece. "Luca's men have withdrawn all the sentries from the outer perimeter. Now, only those ten assassins remain inside."

"receive."

Peng Yixing replied indifferently and cut off the communication.

He walked to the side door of the church, where there should have been two guards, but now it was empty. Just as agreed beforehand, Luca, the third-in-command of the Mafia, had voluntarily withdrawn the first line of defense.

"call……"

Peng Yixing took a deep breath; the air was filled with the damp smell of earth and the faint scent of sandalwood wafting from the church.

He pushed open the slightly ajar wooden door.

……

The church's foyer was dim and quiet.

Ten solemn-faced assassins in black suits were scattered around, vigilantly watching every corner. They were the Godfather's last line of defense, killing machines selected from the most brutal training camp in Sicily.

"Something's not right," Dante, the leader of the suicide squad, frowned and whispered into his headset, "Why are the guys outside so quiet? They're usually talking about Napoli football at this time, aren't they?"

All I could hear in the headset was a hissing static.

"We need to be careful," Carlo whispered into his headset. "Everyone, go to Level One alert..."

"Pfft-pfft!"

A very faint sound, like the cork of a champagne bottle being popped, was heard.

Carlo turned around abruptly.

A bodyguard standing at the end of the corridor stiffened for a moment, and a bloody hole appeared between his eyebrows.

There wasn't even a sound of him falling; the assassin's brainstem was instantly pierced, and his body slid softly down the wall.

Enemy attack!!!

Carlo was about to yell.

But the black phantom had already rushed in.

Peng Yixing was too fast. He wasn't running; he was dancing a deadly waltz. Every step he took was in his opponent's blind spot, and every time he raised his hand, it was accompanied by two almost overlapping gunshots.

Double Tap (double-shot rapid firing).

"Pfft-pfft!"

The assassin had just peeked out from behind the pillar on the left when two bullets pierced his left eye.

"Pfft-pfft!"

The assassin on the right, who was about to draw his gun, suddenly had two bloody flowers bloom on his chest as his heart was blown apart.

Peng Yixing fired while moving, the M1911 spitting out faint flashes of fire. His hand was frighteningly steady, as if this was not just a killing spree, but a live-fire demonstration of IPSC combat.

Just five seconds.

Apart from Carlo, the remaining nine assassins all fell in pools of blood.

Each person had only two bullet holes. Either between the eyebrows or in the heart. Precise, efficient, and without any unnecessary movements.

"You devil...you're a devil!!"

Carlo stared at the corpses strewn across the ground, his eyes bloodshot with rage. He roared as he raised his shotgun, ready to pull the trigger.

"Pfft-pfft!"

Peng Yixing fired the first shot.

Carlo felt a sharp pain in his chest. The immense impact sent him flying backward, crashing heavily into the church door before sliding to the ground.

Blood stained his chest.

Peng Yixing glanced coldly at Carlo, who was lying on the ground.

Both shots hit the heart in the left chest with pinpoint accuracy; in cases of acute copper poisoning, even a miracle would be futile.

After confirming that there were no survivors, Peng Yixing stepped over the corpses scattered on the ground and pushed open the door leading to the main chapel.

……

Inside the chapel.

The candlelight flickered.

The Godfather Antonio remained kneeling before the statue, his back to the door, seemingly oblivious to the massacre outside.

"You've arrived."

Antonio's voice, aged and calm, echoed in the empty church, "Faster than I expected."

Peng Yixing didn't say anything, but quietly walked to a spot five meters behind him, his gun lowered.

"The ten children outside...are they all dead?" Antonio asked.

"He's dead."

Peng Yixing's voice, processed by a voice changer, sounded somewhat distorted, "Quickly, very peacefully."

"Yeah... your marksmanship is excellent, I didn't even hear many screams."

Antonio slowly stood up and turned around.

It was a face full of authority, yet etched with weariness. He looked at the fully armed, masked man before him, his usually cloudy eyes now unusually sharp.

"This wasn't an invasion by an outsider," Antonio glanced at the corpses on the ground. "The first layer of guards disappeared too quietly. My cousin... Luca, how much did he give you?"

Peng Yixing remained silent for a second.

"He didn't give me money," Peng Yixing said calmly. "He gave me a chance, a chance to kill you."

"It really is him..." Antonio sighed, a bitter smile on his face. "Ha, that ungrateful wolf finally couldn't resist. Did he think killing me would secure his position? Foolish..."

"Young man," Antonio straightened his dusty suit, his last vestige of dignity as a godfather, "Give me a dignified death. I don't want my blood splattered on icons, nor do I want to be beaten to death like a dog."

As he spoke, Antonio pulled a dagger inlaid with rubies from his pocket.

It was a symbol of family power and a token of authority for godfathers throughout history.

Peng Yixing looked at this old tycoon.

"Can."

Peng Yixing took a step back, but the gun barrel was still not lowered.

"Thanks."

Antonio took a deep breath and looked at Jesus on the cross one last time.

"May the Lord forgive my sins."

"Pfft."

Without hesitation, he swung the dagger and slashed vertically along the artery in his left wrist.

Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing at the feet of the statue.

Antonio swayed, but he managed to stay upright and continued making the same motion on his right wrist. Then he slowly sat back down in his chair, letting his life ebb away with his blood.

"Tell Luca..." Antonio's voice grew weaker and weaker, "I've reserved a place for him in hell..."

A few minutes later.

Antonio Corleone, the Godfather, bowed his head and died.

Peng Yixing looked at the old man's body, carefully cleaned up his traces, and then turned and left.

And not far behind him was a pile of corpses.

Dante, who should have been "dead," twitched his fingers slightly. His consciousness awoke amidst excruciating pain, and he vaguely heard the conversation he had just heard.

"Luca..."

Dante clung to that name in his heart, hatred burning like wildfire within his dying body.

……

At the same time.

Luca's private villa in Rome.

This luxury mansion, located halfway up the mountain, was now under extremely tight security.

Inside and outside the villa, hundreds of heavily armed Mafia elites had the area completely surrounded. Heavy machine guns were mounted on the roof, and snipers were lying in ambush in the bushes.

Luca sat on the sofa in the living room, holding a glass of whiskey in his hand, but his hand was shaking so badly that he spilled the whiskey several times.

He's gambling.

This was the biggest gamble of his life.

If the assassination fails and the Godfather retaliates, he will die without a burial place today. So he brought all his wealth, preparing for a desperate fight.

"Ring ring—"

The red phone on the table suddenly rang.

Luca jolted, nearly dropping his glass. He took a deep breath and shakily picked up the receiver.

"Feed?"

"Your Excellency, you can prepare your funeral eulogy now," Sofia's languid yet alluring voice came from the other end of the phone. "Antonio has rested in the Lord's embrace. And... he died with dignity, it was suicide."

"Really?!" Luca jumped to his feet, his eyes gleaming with wild joy. "Are you sure he's dead?!"

"Absolutely true! My assassin has left; there was no one left alive except for that one survivor. Oh, and don't forget our agreement."

"No problem! No problem!" Luca hung up the phone and laughed heartily.

"Hahahaha!! Dead! That old geezer is finally dead!!"

He smashed the wine glass, and the fear on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a ferocious arrogance.

"Someone come here!!"

Luca roared.

Several trusted subordinates rushed in.

Luca, who was laughing wildly just moments before, instantly put on a look of utter grief, tears streaming down his face – an acting performance worthy of an Oscar winner.

"Brothers! Tragedy! Utter tragedy!"

Luca pounded his chest, tears streaming down his face, "I just received news that our Godfather... Lord Antonio, was assassinated by his enemies while attending church! It was that damned King Kong who did it!"

"What?!"

His men were terrified.

"The Godfather, for the sake of his family's honor and unwilling to be dishonored, has committed suicide as a martyr!" Luca drew his pistol and fired three shots into the ceiling. "If this grudge isn't avenged, I, Luca, swear I'm not human!! Issue my orders! Assemble all the men and go to the church to collect the Godfather's body! We must avenge the Godfather!!"

"Revenge! Revenge!!"

Inside and outside the villa, hundreds of mafia members, unaware of the truth, were stirred up and their roars were deafening.

As Luca watched this scene, a sinister smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

Under the guise of revenge, he could legitimately take over the Godfather's remaining power and purge those disobedient old ministers.

After tonight, he will be the new king.

……

Late at night, at the Rome Forensic Center.

This is where unidentified corpses and bodies awaiting autopsy are stored. The air conditioning is blasting, creating a gloomy and terrifying atmosphere.

Inside the morgue, rows of stainless steel tables were covered with white sheets.

"Damn it, why are so many corpses being delivered tonight? Are they all from the Mafia?"

An elderly forensic doctor with glasses and gray hair complained as he lifted one of the white sheets.

Lying below was Dante, covered in blood.

"Tsk tsk, shot in the heart, dead meat."

The elderly forensic doctor picked up his scalpel, preparing to conduct a routine autopsy.

Just then.

A cold hand suddenly grabbed his wrist!

"Ah!! A ghost!!"

The old forensic doctor was so frightened that he dropped his scalpel on the ground with a clatter.

"Shut up……"

The corpse opened its eyes.

Dante's face was as pale as paper, and his lips were cracked, signs of blood loss. But his eyes shone with a frightening light, the flames of vengeance burning within them.

"Help me..."

With all his might, Dante pulled a blood-stained gold watch from his pocket and shoved it into the old forensic doctor's hand. "Save me...this watch...and my Swiss bank account...it's all yours..."

"You...you're not dead?!"

The old forensic doctor examined his chest with trembling hands and discovered that although the bullet had pierced his chest, it had not hit his heart.

"Dextrocardia? God, you're a lucky bastard."

The old forensic doctor looked at the gold watch in his hand, then at the dying yet murderous man; greed ultimately triumphed over fear.

"Listen, if I save you, you'll be dead. Understand?" the old forensic doctor whispered. "On the report, you'll die from a ruptured heart."

"make a deal……"

Dante forced a bitter smile. "I am a dead man."

"A... demon that has crawled back from hell to claim a life."

Outside the window, a bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky.

The rain in Rome intensified.