Chapter 40: Planting a Mole in the Fortress? (Seeking Follow-up Reads and Votes)

In the New York underworld, there are two legends: one is the Night Demon, the other is the Butcher. The Night Demon is famous for his off-the-charts combat prowess—everyone he targets ends up dead.

The Butcher wasn't originally that famous, but ever since he transformed into "The Dove," he has become a legend in the underworld. Perhaps it is the sheer contrast—a headsman turning into a peace dove—that has led many to speculate whether Luca has converted to religion.

The manager’s eyes flickered with fear; he was well aware of the Butcher's methods. Gritting his teeth, he tried to argue, "But they beat up my staff for no reason. How do you account for that?"

"Hmm?" Luca glanced back. Several Mafia members immediately jumped in to explain.

"That waiter disrespected us! He insisted we take off our shoes!"

"Who the hell takes off their shoes to eat? Sicilians never take off their shoes while dining!"

"It’s an insult to us!"

Luca blinked. Was there a strict rule among Sicilians about not taking off shoes while eating? Well, there was now—at least in Japanese restaurants.

Luca turned back to warn the manager, "Did you hear that? It’s just a clash of cultural customs between different peoples. A mere misunderstanding."

*A cultural clash, my foot!* The manager’s expression shifted. But since he had been offered a way out, should he take it? With the Butcher here, there was no way he’d get the upper hand today.

Hiding the venom in his eyes, the manager waved his men away. "Fine, Dove, I’ll give you this face. I’ll abide by your rules this time! But I hope that the next time you come to a Japanese restaurant to eat, you will first observe Japanese rules!"

...

[You have prevented a gang conflict and defended the peace of the restaurant...]
[Skill Points +6]
[Skill Shards +2]
[Remaining Skill Shards: 33]

At this moment, the group had relocated to an Italian restaurant. Several members of the Bonanno family were chatting enthusiastically with Luca, thanking him for his timely intervention.

"Hahaha, did you guys see the look on those Japanese guys' faces when the Dove announced his name? It was like they had just seen their Emperor!"

Lefty raised a glass to Luca. "That’s the prestige of Luca the Dove! There isn’t a soul in New York who doesn't know him!"

Lefty was a textbook "gangster" rather than a "cash cow," possessing a thick, street-hardened aura. Loyal and upright, he had spent decades in the Mafia, following the rules, staying true to his brothers, and even sending money to the wives of imprisoned associates—properly sending money and taking care of them. Adultery was rare in the Mafia. Yet, he remained a low-level soldier, dreaming that one day a big boss would notice him and help him rise to the top.

In Luca’s memory, aside from the non-drug-dealing Lefty Ruggiero, the most rule-abiding Mafia member was the fiercely loyal Lefty. Seeing the man alive and kicking, Luca broke into a warm smile, draping an arm around Lefty’s shoulder as they drank.

"Lefty, back when my father was alive, I often heard him talk about you. He told me so many stories... he held you in high regard. When I was born, he even wanted you to be my godfather."

"Old Greco? I remember that guy." Lefty sighed with nostalgia. "Back when we were partners, we even hijacked a brewery truck together... I never thought he’d leave us so early. Dove, your father would be so proud to see you doing so well in heaven."

Donnie listened intently from the side, recording everything. Although these were trivial matters, they were highly useful for constructing a criminal profile. It was the first time he learned that Luca was following in his father’s footsteps—two generations of Mafia.

"Dove," Black Sonny raised his glass, "I owe you one for today. If you need help, just call me."

This guy was a "D-rank" card. Though he lacked special skills, in the original plot, he relied on his connection with a high-ranking prisoner and his ruthless methods to rise as a captain in the Bonanno family. More friends meant more paths, so Luca chatted politely with Black Sonny as well.

By the end of the meal, the bond with Lefty had reached [Familiar], while the bonds with Black Sonny and Donnie had reached [Attentive]. It was clear who was the most straightforward.

[Donnie: A]
[Bond: Attentive]

[Infiltrator: When you are undercover in a criminal organization, your identity is harder to detect, exposure probability -25%; when eavesdropping, the exposure probability of your equipment -20%]
[Learning Requirement: Bond must reach Close Friend or higher; requires 60 Skill Shards]

[Jewelry Appraisal: You can distinguish the authenticity of jewelry more accurately, intuition for jewelry +30%]
[Learning Requirement: Bond must reach Friend or higher; requires 30 Skill Shards]

...

[Lefty: B]
[Bond: Familiar]

[Emotional Corrosion: When you form a bond with your subordinates, each level of bond increases their loyalty by an additional 5%; if your subordinate is an undercover agent, once the bond reaches Close Friend, loyalty increases by an additional 10%]
[Learning Requirement: Bond must reach Close Friend or higher; requires 60 Skill Shards]

Luca felt a surge of emotion. *Lefty, oh Lefty, you truly are the upright Mafioso who made even the FBI willing to spare you. You nearly turned the FBI’s only undercover agent into a traitor just through emotional bonds.*

*Absolutely incredible!*

Luca thought this skill was fantastic; increasing subordinate loyalty was rare and essential for a Godfather. *Good, good, good. You’ve paved a wide road for yourself, Lefty; the Ambassador of Peace is very fond of you.*

As for Donnie, the "Infiltrator" skill was tailor-made for undercover work. Luca didn't need the first half, but the second half—reducing the risk of eavesdropping equipment exposure—was decent. It was worth pursuing.

With that thought, Luca cast a subtle glance at Donnie. *Maybe this guy is wearing a wire right now.* Not taking off his shoes? Hidden in the soles?

Undercover agent Donnie had no idea he had been exposed; his "divine skill" was completely useless in front of the cheating Luca. He took the initiative to cozy up to Luca, demonstrating his value. "I have a knack for jewelry appraisal. Old Dove, if you have any goods you're unsure about, I can help you check them. I can tell if they're real or fake at a glance."

Before going undercover, he had been sent by the FBI for specialized training in jewelry appraisal! Donnie was extremely confident in his professionalism. Luca didn't doubt Donnie’s appraisal skills, but he did suspect the guy was carrying a wire...

He replied cautiously, "I'll come to you if I need to."

*If Donnie’s heart can be swayed by Lefty, can’t it be swayed by me, the Ambassador of Peace?* If he could recruit him as a subordinate, he could use Lefty’s loyalty skill to weld his heart shut. If that still didn't turn Donnie, Luca would simply have to sacrifice him.

...

After the meal, Lefty left with Luca. He suddenly remembered he wanted to pay respects to Luca’s father—though he didn't actually know where he was buried. In the underworld, talk is cheap; one can brag about anything, but ask for details, and they know nothing.

Luca knew that because they hadn't been in the same family, his father and Lefty were just "so-so." Besides, his godparent was Mariggiò; his father never thought of looking for Lefty. He also knew Lefty was dirt poor and likely looking for a way to get rich through him.

Since a rare card was actively trying to build a connection, how could Luca refuse? Luca had already mapped out a path for Lefty and Black Sonny’s crew: drugs.

*Go hijack Frank’s goods.* The Bonanno family had such a poor relationship with Frank that these money-hungry "gangsters" wouldn't refuse; they might even get the family’s backing. And Luca the "Cash Cow" knew many unknown secrets about Frank—more than Frank’s own right-hand men.

So... if two major drug cartels didn't start a war, how would it be easy for the police to take action?

...

On the other side, Donnie returned home. He did 100 push-ups in one go to vent his violent impulses—when he beat up the Japanese men earlier, as a law enforcement officer, he had actually recognized his own identity as a Mafia member for a split second.

This terrified him. If he got too deep into the role, even after his undercover mission ended, the psychological shadow would be hard to shake.

After exercising, he took out his eavesdropping device and played the recordings, listening to the curses of Sonny, Lefty, and the others from the fight.

"You like shoes, you son of a—! Fuck!"
"Dog-wolf-raised bastard!"
"Watch out, Donnie!"
"Beat him to death, Donnie!"

Sighing, Donnie put the recording equipment away. Outside the window, the night was as deep and dark as Donnie’s eyes.

...

The next day.

Donnie secretly received instructions from his superiors to meet at a restaurant alone. He thought it was just a routine intel handover, but to his surprise, another high-ranking FBI official from Washington was present.

"Your operation is already showing results," the official explained. "Headquarters decided to send me to this city of sin."

"Sent to monitor me?" Years of underworld experience had given Donnie an unruly, defiant tone.

"To ensure you have backup so you don't miss any opportunities." The official explained calmly, "Also, an agent from Los Angeles, Brian O'Conner, is beginning his infiltration."

"An LA agent?"

"He’s building a cover in the street racing scene in LA. It might be easier for him there, but he needs underworld background and experience." The official tried to persuade Donnie. "The Bureau needs you to infiltrate as quickly as possible and gain trust. When the time comes, if you vouch for Brian, he can join the Mafia smoothly."

*Fuck!* Donnie’s face shifted. *I’ve only just found my footing, and you want to stuff someone else in? Do you have any idea how dangerous the Mafia is? Those ruthless thugs beat people up over a disagreement and shoot whenever they feel like it!*

He had to be extremely careful on his own; if there were two of them, what if they were exposed... Donnie couldn't even imagine it.

He immediately refused: "I won't vouch for someone I don't know."

The superior on the side urged him, "It's no big deal. You just need to get in deep and vouch for him... We can have him show up and hang out with you guys for a while."

"I vouch for him? If he's exposed, I'll be executed!!"

"Brian is the same. We are all operating at the risk of our lives."

Donnie’s expression kept changing. He stood up and left, refusing tactfully: "I need to think about it."

*Brian O'Conner? Street racing? The Mafia drives vintage cars, who the hell races?!*

*Go back where you came from! Don't come to the Mafia to go undercover, this is a fucking dangerous mission! If you must go undercover... why not just go look for the Dove? That guy seems easier to talk to, doesn't he?*