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

Chapter 49 The Rebellious Boy

In Luca's memory, Brian was a typical traitor, but not to the gang, but to the federal government. Compared to Downey, Brian readily betrayed the FBI and chose to help criminals.

This wasn't a choice made out of self-interest, but rather out of friendship.

He went undercover in a biker gang to fight crime, but ended up becoming good friends with the gang leader and even dating his sister, forming a deep bond with the two siblings. In the end, when surrounded by the police, he personally let his brother go.

From then on, the two brothers continued to write their legend, driving their cars to the skies and across the land, making a name for themselves internationally, and building a loving family together!
—Fight for your family!
Luca has already started planning how to poach this traitor from the FBI.

A rare SSR!

003, that's it!

While Luca was observing Brian, Brian was also observing Luca while chatting.

Aside from Hollywood stars, this was the first time Brian had ever met a man more handsome than himself in real life.

Before coming here, he had read and learned a lot about Luca the Pigeon, but the other party's contradictory identity and behavior made it impossible for him to judge the Pigeon's character and personality.

Luca brought up the topic of work: "Brian, you're from Los Angeles, why did you come to New York to look for a job?"

"Um"

Brian explained, "The drivers' union in Los Angeles has really bad benefits. I've heard that the unions on the East Coast offer much better treatment, and they've fought for a lot of benefits for their workers."

Brian delivered his prepared speech.

The Truck Drivers International Brotherhood is a large national union with a president who wields immense power and manages billions of dollars in retirement funds. It also has numerous branches in various cities and regions, each under the leadership of a different branch president.

The current chairman has a good relationship with the Mafia, and the Mafia often colludes with the union chairman to embezzle funds to invest in other industries and reap huge profits.

The most typical example is Las Vegas, the gambling city—the Mafia played a significant role in its transformation from a desert town into a gambling metropolis, and Jewish gangs also benefited greatly.

As for the former chairman of the truckers' union, he was arrested by the Department of Justice and is still in prison. If Luca wants to build a bond with him, he'll have to visit him in prison.
Right now, Brian was rambling on and on about unions, and Luca's toes twitched, making him wonder if the kid was trying to find evidence about the Mafia and the truck unions.
Good, good, this skill of man and car becoming one really means you can lend a hand to any car?

At the end of their conversation, Luca got up and saw Brian to the door.

"I'll discuss the specifics with you in detail after the club opens."

Luca grasped his hand, his palm warm, his voice strong, “As long as you work hard, you can earn a salary from me that's enough to live on in New York. You're new to New York, so if you have any difficulties in life, you can tell me. My employees can get the help they need from me.”

"Greco, it's me."

"Call me Old Pigeon if you like this job."

Brian felt the warmth of the hand, a sign of the other person's kindness; he also felt the rough calluses, a testament to the other person's past.

A strange, lingering sense of trust filled Brian's heart, making him feel at ease. He nodded, "Thank you, Old Pigeon. I'll call you if I need anything."

[Bond: Follow]

Watching Brian's departing figure, Luca's smile gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

To be honest, Luca had no idea about Brian's appearance. This timing was also completely out of Brian's original storyline. Who knows what kind of story Brian would have in store for him in New York?

The only thing that made Luca feel relieved was that Brian valued friendship too much, even more than his job responsibilities, and was a boy who was much more straightforward and simple than Lao Zuo.

Luca smiled.

Perhaps he won't even need to take the initiative; Brian will take the initiative to get close to him and gain his trust.

Two days later.

Jordan and Donnie were invited to the SSR Club.

Jordan showed great interest in Luca's desire to get involved in Wall Street—his biggest weakness was the lack of backing and capital, unlike other major investment banks on Wall Street, which all had powerful backers.

His stock brokerage firm's success was largely due to a lucky break. The big investment banks initially didn't pay much attention to the market for low-priced penny stocks because junk stocks are hard to sell. Poor people don't have much money, and rich people are cunning. Who would they sell to? Who would they make money from?
—On the importance of eloquence.

Jordan is now thinking about a transformation. Those phone-bombing scams are a bit too low-level, and he needs to develop some new investment businesses.

"Old Pigeon, I remember you just said last time that the concept of the Internet is bullshit."

In the top-floor office, Jordan sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking at Luca with a teasing expression. "So, you're going to invest in the internet now?"

"When enough people talk about it, even bullshit can fly," Luca retorted. "Didn't you tell me that the important thing is to make the韭菜 (a metaphor for easily exploited people) believe it?"

Jordan laughed, "I've been following this news lately. In the first half of this year, there were only ten or twenty million internet users worldwide, but now there are already more than thirty million. At this rate of growth, it could break 1 million next year."

This scoundrel spouts nonsense, but privately he's keeping an eye on any opportunity to profit. The internet is undoubtedly one of the hottest trends right now, but it's also a massive bubble, utterly hollow inside. Because very few companies are profitable now; they're all burning money to gamble on the future.

The two discussed many business matters in detail before finally getting down to business—the FBI.

“Old Pigeon, I’ve already transferred that money away from Sorel,” Jordan said worriedly. “But he still has quite a few records of money laundering on my part. These dark histories are hard to erase unless…”

He made a throat-slitting gesture and looked at Luca expectantly.

Luca quipped, "You're more like a killer than I am. You kill people at the drop of a hat. You've harvested too many leeks, now you want to harvest heads?"

Jordan tanked: "Anyway, I've done everything I can, there's no other way. The FBI just keeps pressing on this point, and that Denham guy probably already has a lot of evidence behind the scenes. Old Pigeon, to be honest with you, I'm a little worried now."

Luca smiled slightly.

When others say they are a little worried, they are actually very worried.

Seeing Luka's unwavering smile, Jordan sighed helplessly: "Okay, okay, actually I'm more than a little worried."

Luca was still smiling. When others said they were more than a little worried, they were actually almost at their wits' end.

"As long as you can help me solve this problem, no matter what you do, whether it's taking down Sorel or Denham, you're definitely better at solving problems than I am."

Jordan gave Donnie a look, and the latter pulled out several large boxes: "Here's 400 million! Consider the extra 100 million as an express fee!"

Luca didn't even lift his eyelids.

Killing Denham was the worst idea, Luca thought to himself. He still needed to learn Denham's skills, so it was a shame to make Denham owe him a favor. Killing Sorel was an option; that guy laundered money for drug dealers. Both the Japanese Red Flower Restaurant and Sorel were big fish.

If handled properly, it might even help Denham move up in the FBI, and build up some connections so that he owes more favors. The FBI and Brian also have some connections, so if Brian betrays them in the future and the FBI comes looking for trouble, it will be time for Denham to "take action".

Pulling himself back to reality, Luca didn't even glance at the money. "Belford, do you remember what I said when I first brought you to the SSR Club? That was our first collaboration, and what I needed most was your friendship and trust. After we became friends..."

Luca narrowed his eyes: "Your enemy will also be my enemy!"

Jordan and Donnie left the office empty-handed.

Donnie whispered to Jordan, "Weren't we supposed to be friends? He's so ruthless when it comes to taking money, he doesn't even blink."

Orator Jordan didn't mind, saying, "How can we become friends if we don't exchange benefits a few times? Let's go. Since Old Pigeon has taken the money, he'll find a way to resolve this."

He raised his hand and looked at a membership card in his palm.

SR001.

A smile spread across Jordan's face as he tucked the membership card into his pocket. "001! Looks like I'm the first member of the SSR Club!"

Donnie asked in confusion, "Isn't it the SSR Club? Your number is missing an 'S'."

Jordan: "."

I hadn't even noticed until you pointed it out.

What does it mean if there's one less "S"?

With an awkward laugh, Jordan patted Donnie's butt. "Let's go, we'll contact Sorel and get him from Switzerland to the US first. The rest is up to Old Pigeon."

Brian's temporary accommodation was arranged by the FBI in a detached house in the Bronx.

Brian wasn't picky about where he lived, except for one thing—it had to have a large garage so he could park and make modifications.

We can take our time with the undercover work and such.

But you can't drive any slower!
Only speed can ignite the passion of life, and only a surge of adrenaline can prove one's existence!

Wow!
The garage door rolled up, letting in bright light, and a green Mitsubishi Eclipse, covered in graffiti, gradually revealed its lurking, menacing nature.

"Dude~~~"

Brian stroked the car body with obvious affection, his hand sliding from the hood to the door as if caressing a young girl's skin. "Come with me, let's show New Yorkers the speed of us Los Angeles folks!"

Brian decided to put work aside for a while and go for a drive.

Wuhu~~
Over the next few days, the club began to gradually prepare for its opening, with the initial opening date set for the end of July, July 30th.

Lyon started raising Silver Queen cacti with some of his employees, and after Luca learned the skills, he also started raising one.

The big boss is raising them himself, so if the subordinates have any sense, they'll surely follow suit and put one in their office too.
In no time, the entire club was filled with Silver Queen flowers.

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Luca even considered making the image of the Silver Queen the club's logo—the club's totem plant!
In addition, Luca also kept a potted plant at home.

Luca, who had never grown flowers and plants before, surprised Matilda with this action.

Is raising silver queen jewels a popular hobby lately?

After dinner, Matilda lay on the sofa, her little hands supporting her cheeks, watching Luca squat by the window again, carefully tending to the green potted plant with a handkerchief and a watering can.

Matilda asked curiously, "I saw Uncle Jimmy and many people in the club raising them, and there's a teacher named Lyon who teaches them how to raise them."

Luca sprinkles water: "Do you know what the Silver Queen flower symbolizes?"

"Ok?"

“I admire him,” Luca said. “His pursuit of beautiful things and his respect for others make him a very gentle person. He treats the Silver Queen as a friend and takes such good care of plants. I think he will be able to help me protect the club in the future.”

"I can also help you protect the club."

"Of course, you are my lucky star."

“But you only water the Silver Queen.” Matilda turned to the side, striking a seductive pose. “If you want me to grow up faster, you should water me too.”

"Okay."

Luca, grinning mischievously, grabbed a spray bottle and ran over to spray Matilda with water. The little brat screamed and begged for mercy, laughing loudly and boisterously like a frantic kitten.

Suddenly, she reached out and put her arm around Luca's neck, staring intently into his eyes.

“Luca, I want to settle down here with you.”

Matilda touched Luca's chest, "And then you grow up."

(End of this chapter)