At this moment, Luca looked at the two smiling guys and was speechless.
These two guys are truly shameless and despicable.
In his previous life's memories, Henry was caught by the police for drug trafficking. In order to avoid being arrested, he became a witness for the police, betraying his boss and the family.
Jimmy? Jimmy robbed airports. When greed got in the way, he cleaned house. One by one. Partners disappeared. Problems solved.
And Tommy…
Tommy had been a hurricane in a cheap suit. Fast trigger. Faster temper. He killed a family member.
The family buried him for it.
The three together had been a legendary disaster.
But why are there only two? Where's the other one?.
---
"Come on," Marigio said, gesturing for them to sit. "Let me introduce you properly."
After brief pleasantries, he nodded toward the photograph in Luca's hand.
"They know Kahn well. They know where he operates. If you need information, ask them."
Then he added firmly, "From now on, you follow Luca's orders."
Jimmy, already in his forties and far older than Luca, leaned forward with a foxlike smile.
"Who in the Bronx hasn't heard of Luca? The Peace Ambassador himself. It'd be an honor."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Unlike himself, Luca is a pure-blooded Sicilian.
Sooner or later, Luca would be a official family member also known as a made man.
Best to invest early.
Henry quickly raised his glass. "My honor, sir."
Luca clinked glasses politely.
Just don't betray me, he thought.
He discreetly opened the system panel.
__________________________________________________________________________
Character Card: Henry Hill – Rank C
Source: Goodfellas
Skill: Shameless Scoundrel
– +10% police trust during communication
– +40% police trust when testifying as an informant
Learning Requirement: Friend Bond + 20 Fragments
Character Card: James 'Jimmy' Conway – Rank C
Source: Goodfellas
Skill: Greedy One
– +5% conversion rate of illicit income
– −10% probability of police investigation
– +15% bonus conversion rate after eliminating accomplices
Learning Requirement: Friend Bond + 20 Fragments
__________________________________________________________________________
Luca: "…"
Why did a mafia associate have this ability?
Luca blinked slowly.
Incredible.
Both abilities specialized in betrayal.
What a pair of talents.
After several bottles of wine, the atmosphere loosened. After allm wined loosened tongue.
Without Luca making any effort, Jimmy and Henry actively tried to build rapport. If Luca became a made man, their own status would rise by association.
"I heard you two work under Pauli?" Luca asked casually.
Henry gave a dry smile.
Pauli was cautious—too cautious. He forbade drug trafficking. He had even warned Henry to stay away from Jimmy.
Jimmy smoked quietly, eyes unreadable.
He had worked for Pauli for over twenty years. No matter how much money he earned for the family, his bloodline barred him from full membership.
Luca's offhand mention stirred complicated thoughts in both men.
"Oh right," Luca added. "Didn't you have a partner? Tommy?"
Henry and Jimmy exchanged a glance.
"Tommy passed away," Jimmy said flatly. "Last week."
Executed.
Luca felt a flicker of regret.
Likely a C-rank card. Possibly useful.
Now the trio had become a duo.
He raised his glass. "May he rest in peace."
They drank.
When conversation shifted back to Kahn Jones, Jimmy explained:
"He ships product into the Bronx every Tuesday. Deals with Russians. Sometimes Japanese crews. He's got professional shooters."
Mediocre fighters like Jimmy and Henry weren't his match.
Luca looked at Kahn's photo.
The face felt strangely familiar.
Where had he seen it before?
___
Next Tuesday – A Hotel in the Bronx
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Jones."
Kahn Jones waddled into the elevator, surrounded by armed bodyguards. Some remained downstairs.
Across the street, Luca watched from a parked black sedan.
The familiarity deepened when he saw Kahn in person.
Yet no character card appeared.
Strange.
Jimmy turned around from the passenger seat. "What's the plan?"
Luca calmly attached a suppressor to his pistol.
"You two stay here. I'll handle it."
Henry nearly choked. "Alone? There are at least ten men with him!"
Luca smiled.
"Peace is good for everyone. I'm sure Mr. Jones will be reasonable."
Henry stared at the suppressor.
Peace?
Then why you do that so professionally?
Jimmy leaned forward. "I'll come with you."
"No," Luca said calmly. "You'd slow me down. Watch for the police."
He stepped out of the car and disappeared into the hotel.
Henry swallowed. "You think he'll be okay?"
Jimmy exhaled.
"You know what his nickname was before Peace Ambassador?"
Henry blinked.
"The Butcher."
___
Thirty minutes later, the hallway outside Kahn's suite smelled like iron and cordite.
Bodies lined the walls. Clean shots. Efficient.
No theatrics.
Luca stood behind Kahn, one hand holding a gun to the man's temple, the other dialing Marigio.
Kahn's hands were shaking.
"There's product inside," Kahn babbled. "Pure. Untouched. You can have it."
"I told you," Luca said calmly, "I came to talk."
Even thought you start the shooting first.
That part didn't need saying.
The phone connected.
"Marigio," came the voice.
Kahn swallowed as Luca pressed the phone to his ear.
"You were told to leave New York," Marigio said. No anger. Just fact.
"I'm leaving," Kahn said quickly. "Tonight. I swear."
Killing him would start a family problem. Committees didn't like family problems.
"Take his shipment," Marigio instructed. "Make him understand. Then let him crawl away."
The call ended.
Luca leaned close to Kahn.
"Peace," he said softly. "You believe in peace, Mr. Jones?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Good."
The gun disappeared from Kahn's temple.
When he turned around, Luca was gone.
So was the suitcase.
Kahn stood alone among his dead men.
He wouldn't come back to New York.
Not while Luca Greco breathed.
___
[You eliminated nine armed drug traffickers.]
[You defended New York's underworld peace.]
Skill Points +15
Skill Fragments +5
Luca invested everything into Firearms Mastery.
Firearms Proficiency: LV5 (72/100)
Total Fragments: 23.
Enough to learn a skill—once friendship levels rose.
He descended the fire escape when his phone vibrated.
"Luca!" Jimmy's voice crackled. "DEA's here! Get out!"
DEA?
Luca stepped to a corridor window and looked down.
Several unmarked vehicles surrounded the building.
A blond man in a gray suit stepped out, wearing wired earphones. Calm. Unsettling.
The system panel flickered.
__________________________________________________________________________
Character Card Discovered: Norman Stansfield – Rank S
Source: Léon: The Professional
Skills: Beethoven's Madness, Wolf's Scent
Bond: Stranger
__________________________________________________________________________
Luca's expression hardened.
Not just DEA.
That psychopath.
Things just became… complicated.
---
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