America: John Wick 1924

Chapter 73 The Rossi Family's Recruitment, Li Yu's Refusal [Bonus Chapter, Please Read!]

Li Yu lowered his eyelids, his gaze sharp:
"Oh? You want to hire me?"

Sam nodded:
"That's right. After learning that you single-handedly killed the Lavrov brothers, Don Rossi became extremely interested in you."

"I have come to visit you tonight on behalf of Don Rossi, to sincerely invite you to join our family."

Here we go again… Li Yu couldn’t help but think to himself.

Li Yu never expected that the chain reaction triggered by the "killing of the Lavrov brothers" would not end!

Following the information broker (Nekoyashiki), another big shot has been attracted to the attention of a powerful figure—a mafia boss, no less.

Li Yu was not surprised by the Rossi family's offer to recruit him.

Ultimately, the Mafia is essentially a violent organization—violence is both their calling card and the source of their power!

Although Li Yu still didn't think the Lavrov brothers were any formidable opponents, after personally experiencing the favor shown to them by Nekoyashiki, Sheriff Johnson, and others, he had silently accepted the fact that "these two unlucky brothers are indeed top-notch killers."

For the Mafia, which reveres violence, a tough guy who can easily kill top assassins naturally has extremely high recruitment value.

Sam hadn't finished speaking:
“Mr. Li, Don Rossi sincerely wants to invite you to join our family. To show his sincerity, he is willing to offer you a monthly salary of five thousand dollars.”

Upon hearing this number, Janet nearly gasped in surprise.

A monthly salary of five thousand US dollars... in the United States at that time, that was definitely considered an extremely high salary!

It's important to know that in the United States today, the average monthly salary for a worker is only two or three hundred dollars.

With such a high salary, you can easily achieve a series of life goals such as buying a car and a house after just a few months of work.

A foreign worker who isn't even Italian can earn such a high salary... Sam's earlier statement about "showing sincerity" was not just empty talk.

However, Li Yu remained unmoved by this enormous sum, which would have tempted countless people.

“Mr. Duval, I’m Chinese, you know. If I remember correctly, haven’t you always only recruited Italians?”

Only Italians can become members of the Italian Mafia—even ordinary people who aren't involved in the underworld know this unspoken rule.

Sam smiled slightly:
"Don Rossi has a heart as vast as the ocean."

"Whether they are Black or Chinese, he will give important positions to anyone with talent."

"This is the fundamental reason why our family has been able to grow so rapidly."

Li Yu suppressed a laugh upon hearing this.

Although Sam spoke very nicely, repeatedly inviting Li Yu to "join the family," Li Yu was not swayed by him.

He had watched many gangster movies before and was very familiar with the rules of the Italian Mafia.

The Italian Mafia places great emphasis on blood ties.

Foreigners like Li Yu could never become core members of the family; they could only serve the family as "foreign laborers" forever, only fit to do dirty, tiring, and hard work.

To put it simply, no matter how hard Li Yu works or how many achievements he makes, he can only be an "outer disciple" for life and can never become an "inner disciple" of the sect.

If Li Yu agreed to work for Don Rossi, the Rossi family members might treat him well, but they would never consider him one of their own.

Li Yu would never accept this kind of shitty job where "you do my work but don't even look at me properly."

Moreover, he had no liking for the Mafia and never wanted to have anything to do with them throughout his life.

So, Li Yu spread his hands and said without hesitation:
“Mr. Duval, please convey to Don Rossi: Thank you very much for your kind offer, but I really enjoy my current job and have no plans to change jobs for the time being.” Before Sam could even speak after Li Yu finished speaking, one of his bodyguards behind him interjected:
"Hey! Kid, are you turning down Don Rossi's invitation?"

As he spoke, he furrowed his brows, making his fleshy face appear even more ferocious.

Li Yu turned his head to the side and stared directly at the other person without fear.

"What? Now even deaf people can be bodyguards?"

The other party might be playing the "good cop, bad cop" role.

The best strategy for dealing with a "bad cop" is to respond with a firm stance! Never show weakness!
Although the other party was from the Rossi family, Li Yu didn't take it seriously—even offending "San Francisco's strongest mafia" was no big deal; it was just a matter of raising a gun, drawing a knife, and fighting!
As expected, in response to Li Yu's blunt reply, the other party's face instantly turned dark red, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light.

However, before he could react, Sam slowly turned his head to the side and glanced at him... In that instant, a sharp killing intent emanated from him!
"Henry, did I give you permission to speak?"

After being glared at by Sam, the bodyguard called "Henry" immediately shivered several times, his face showing fear. He hurriedly lowered his head, looking down at his nose and his mind.

Sam looked away from him and met Li Yu's gaze again.

His ability to switch expressions was truly adept. In the blink of an eye, he transformed back into the kind-faced young lawyer.

"Mr. Li, I'm very sorry, he's new here and doesn't know how to be polite. Please forgive him."

After offering a brief apology, Sam adopted a serious expression.

“Mr. Li, are you sure? Are you really going to refuse Don Rossi’s invitation? Let me remind you, not everyone can gain Don Rossi’s favor.”

Li Yu nodded, his firm tone remaining unchanged:

"I'm pretty sure I don't have any plans to change jobs for the time being. I'm sorry to have made you come all this way for nothing."

As Li Yu finished speaking, a deathly silence descended between the two of them.

Li Yu said no more.

Sam remained silent for a long time.

About ten seconds later, Sam took a deep breath:

"...I understand. Since you have no intention of working for Don Rossi, I will not force you."

"Although we are not meant to be for now, it doesn't mean it will always be so. The doors of the Rossi family will always be open to you. If you change your mind, please feel free to call the number on this business card at any time."

Li Yu said calmly:
"Yes, I will—if I have the opportunity."

The negotiations were over... Sam, having no reason to linger any longer, quickly put on his top hat and got up to leave.

No sooner had they stepped out the door than Li Yu tore the business card Sam had just handed over to shreds and tossed it into the trash can at his feet.

……

……

After Sam plopped into the back seat of the car, he said expressionlessly to Henry, who was driving:
“Henry, I understand your loyalty to His Excellency (Don Rossi), but please stop doing this. Don’t frighten His Excellency’s guests.”

Henry started the car engine and said softly:

"I'm very sorry. I just wanted to scare that guy and make him reconsider your invitation."

(End of this chapter)