Chapter 12: Another Skill Acquired

Old William was nearing retirement, and the arrival of David would soon lead him into the most haunting case of his career.

Luca, however, was unfazed. The killers that the pair of detectives couldn't handle, he could. And he’d pick up some system rewards along the way.

Before that, it was time to wrap things up with Stansfield.

The drugs had been recovered, and Norman was dead. The source of Matilda’s pain was gone, and the home that had been a cage for her was now falling apart—which, for her, was a form of liberation.

Matilda could now start a new life. As for Stansfield, his mission was complete. It was time for him to die.

***

Downstairs at the apartment building, David Mills got into William’s car, and they headed toward Wall Street.

Two days ago, there was a shooting on 38th Street; a German man was killed. This morning, another shooting occurred on Wall Street, claiming the life of a stockbroker. Both men were gunned down while walking down the street, mid-phone call. There was no social connection between them, but since both were snipers' victims, the police were investigating the cases together.

"Mills, let’s go back to Wall Street, check the surveillance from nearby shops, and see if we can find any leads."

"I hope we find something." David shrugged, not holding out much hope. The murders were too bizarre; the killer was clearly a long-range sniper. What could local surveillance possibly reveal?

The only thing that interested him was the firm the stockbroker worked for. He had heard the owner was very wealthy and quite notorious on Wall Street. What was his nickname? The Wolf of Wall Street?

***

Two nights later, at a Japanese restaurant in New York, a rather harmonious scene unfolded in a private room. Narcotics officers and gang members sat together, enjoying dinner in high spirits. The police handed over the goods, and the gang paid the money. Everyone was happy.

In the room next door, Luca and Leon were also eating.

Luca pulled out a photo and handed it to Leon. "The guy is next door. We’ll coordinate: kill everyone inside. Japanese, whoever—if they move, kill them. No survivors."

The photo was of Stansfield.

Leon nodded. "Okay."

"Twenty thousand per head."

"Okay."

"Stay safe."

"Okay."

"Can you say anything other than 'okay'?"

"Okay."

"..."

Luca fell silent. It was just like replying "Got it" to a boss. Whatever, as long as it worked!

The two drew their weapons and headed for the door.

"Ready to freeze them!"

"Okay!"

The door swung open. Luca and Leon walked into the room together, wearing sunglasses—Luca in large, square ones, and Leon in small, round ones. Luca felt he looked cooler, especially when firing his weapon.

*Biu! Biu! Biu!*

Three silenced shots struck the three Japanese bodyguards at the door. That was Leon. Luca was more direct: he tossed a grenade into the room, and after the blast, he charged in with a submachine gun, spraying the room.

*Gangster Godfather skin activated!*

In less than ten seconds, everyone inside was dead. Leon followed to finish the job, searched the room, and said, "Stansfield isn't here."

Luca noticed the broken window and raised an eyebrow in surprise. *Oh? An S-tier card, is he? Hard to kill, indeed.*

*But I’m holding an SSR card. You think you can run? Also, note to self: tell the Japanese restaurant not to use these paper-thin windows next time.*

"He went out the window! After him!"

The two leaped through the window. Not far ahead, Stansfield, wearing a grey suit, was limping away in a panic. Several men in black suits emerged from the shadows—some with guns, some with katanas.

Luca smiled. *Splendid. Truly the respectable bushido spirit.*

"You want to use swords, huh? Baka! Taste my American Iaijutsu!"

*Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!*

Luca moved nimbly between covers, every shot claiming a life. Leon, meanwhile, had become a ghost, his movements fluid and erratic. Every shot from his silencer took down an enemy. They cut through the gang members like a scythe through wheat.

The Japanese gunmen panicked and fled. Luca didn't bother chasing; his eyes were only on Stansfield.

But Leon was faster.

*Biu!*

A single bullet hit Stansfield in the back. The mighty S-tier card collapsed weakly to the ground. Luca found it ironic: in the original story, Stansfield hunted Leon and shot him in the back. Now, the roles were reversed. Their fates had been inverted by Luca.

Luca walked up to finish him off. Stansfield struggled to reach into his coat, turning his head. "I am..."

*Bang!*

A bloody hole appeared in his forehead. Stansfield’s blood-stained hand fell limp, revealing a police badge in his palm, which was immediately crushed under a black boot.

"Motherfucker, you’re not fit to be a cop."

Luca kicked the badge away.

[You and Leon killed 8 corrupt cops and 12 gang members... You have eradicated a tumor from the DEA and defended the peace in New York.]
[Obtained Skill Points x20]
[Obtained Skill Fragments x20]
[Current Skill Fragments: 74]
[Scalp follicle cell activity increased by 50%. You will no longer worry about hair loss or baldness.]

Luca rubbed his head. This was a pretty good skill—balding was a major concern for many Italians. It looked like he could keep his luscious locks forever.

***

Half an hour later, the police arrived. David, newly transferred to New York, saw the carnage and his jaw dropped. *Oh shit! Do New Yorkers play this rough? They even dare to kill DEA agents?*

He looked at the calm Old William and asked nervously, "Tell me the truth, do cases this bad happen often in New York?"

"Not often. Occasionally."

"So many police died, all shot!"

"You'll get used to it if you stay long enough." William was clearly accustomed to it. "Because of the Continental Hotel, New York has the highest number of assassins in the state, and consequently, the highest police mortality rate. But as long as you don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong and don't touch things you shouldn't, nobody will bother you."

He crouched down and picked up the badge from Stansfield’s hand. "Stansfield was most likely killed by a gang vendetta. This guy often used his DEA status to hijack drug shipments. A lot of gangs in New York hated him; his death was only a matter of time."

"Wait, isn't that what narcotics officers are supposed to do? It's their duty."

"But Stansfield was a drug dealer himself. He'd just resell the drugs to other gangs."

"..."

*City folks really know how to play.* David, from a small northern town, felt the bizarre and chaotic nature of the metropolis.

Old William looked at his partner's young, anxious face and shook his head. *Young man, don't be impulsive. Stay steady.*

***

Shortly after, having bid farewell to Leon, Luca arrived at Marigio’s bar with the recovered goods.

Marigio gave Luca a warm bear hug, patting his back and calling him a "good guy" three times. *Beautiful work! You really are the Ambassador of Peace!*

"Luca! You've done a great service! Wait for word. Within three days, you'll receive notice from the Family! Don't say I didn't warn you: buy a high-end suit, dress sharp. The Don will personally conduct your induction ceremony."

Nearby, two "true good guys" looked on with unconcealed envy. Henry had wanted to join the mob since he was a kid but was still only an associate. Jimmy made good money but didn't have the full trust of the Capo and couldn't be "made" due to his bloodline.

For Luca to become a made man was now a certainty. It was everything they dreamed of.

The two came over to toast Luca, especially Jimmy, who seemed more excited than Luca himself. *I must hold onto Luca's coattails.*

After leaving the bar, Luca brought Jimmy and Henry to his car and tossed them the excess goods. "There’s over a million in goods here. Same rule: give me a million when it's moved, and you two split the rest."

Faced with Luca's generosity, Henry showered him with flattery. Jimmy, beside himself with excitement, didn't forget about the induction. "Luca, when you become a made man, I'm hosting! At my bar! We're going to celebrate properly! Party all night long!"

Jimmy was good at making money—bars, garment factories, and so on... though the factories surely held some "unclean" goods.

[Bond: Friends]

Checking his panel, Luca saw that his bond with Jimmy had reached the level of "superficial friends." Perfect. He could learn his skill.

[Spend 20 Skill Fragments to redeem "Greedy One"?]
[Yes/No]

Yes!

[Redemption successful. Skill added.]
[Greedy One: Each time you receive illicit income, the laundering conversion rate increases by 5%. Police investigation trigger probability -10%. After liquidating teammates, illicit income conversion rate increases by an additional 15%.]
[Remaining Skill Fragments: 54]

The conversion rate didn't mean extra money out of thin air, but rather that he would lose less during the money laundering process, yielding more legal profit. As for liquidating teammates to boost the rate... the skill was absurd, but Luca was satisfied. The conversion rate wasn't the most important part—the reduced police investigation probability was the real prize.

That would be very useful for business once he was a made man.

***

Three days later, on a quiet evening, Luca received word from Marigio: wear a suit tomorrow and join him for a secret mission.

Luca had a feeling his "lucky day" had arrived. It was the induction ceremony.

Before attending, he had one more thing to handle: the arrangements for the kid, Matilda.

Since her "family was destroyed and father killed," Matilda had moved away with her stepmother. Luca had spoken to her on the phone a few times, but they hadn't met.

Until today, when Matilda arrived, backpack in tow, and found Luca.

She had run away from home.