Chapter 1: Goodfellas!
1996, New York, USA.
Inside a supermarket on Arthur Street, Bronx.
A black man had just rushed out of the door with items he’d acquired for 0 yuan, the excitement still on his face, when a gun suddenly appeared from the side and pressed against his temple.
“Bro, calm down, don’t shoot.”
The black man raised his hands in terror. In his peripheral vision, the person holding the gun was a tall, handsome white man with a prominent nose and well-defined features.
Luca Greco’s expression was relaxed and casual. He tilted his head towards the supermarket entrance, motioning for the black man to go inside. He then prodded him with the gun all the way to the cashier counter. “When you buy things, you have to pay, right? Are you going to pay yourself, or should I break your hand and help you pay?”
The black man was dumbfounded.
He thought it was an enemy, but it was just because he didn’t pay for the items?
What a small matter.
“I’ll pay, I’ll pay right now.” The black man quickly pulled out a wad of crumpled bills from his pocket and handed them to Luca. “Bro, this is all the money I have.”
“I told you to pay the supermarket, why are you giving it to me?”
“...”
The black man was speechless. “Bro, are you New York Police? So righteous?”
Intimidated by Luca’s imposing presence, the black man swallowed hard, quickly pulled out his wallet, and, under the cashier’s accustomed gaze, swiftly placed a handful of change on the counter. “Keep the change!”
“Remember to pay for things next time!” Luca smiled warmly, but his eyes held no warmth whatsoever. “Remember, this supermarket is Lucchese Family territory. If I catch you doing a 0-yuan purchase again, you can save your money for your next life!”
“Yes, yes, Mister.”
“Get out.”
The black man scurried out of the supermarket, only letting out a sigh of relief once he was far away, still feeling a lingering fear.
This was Lucchese Family territory?
He looked back at the supermarket’s name, thinking that he would never come here for 0-yuan purchases again.
【You stopped a 0-yuan purchase and defended the peace of the supermarket】
【Gained Skill Points X3】
Inside the supermarket owner’s office, Luca Greco glanced at the prompt on his panel, then continued to chat and drink tea amicably with the Chinese Uncle Biao in front of him.
“Luca, I’m truly grateful to you.” Uncle Biao wore a warm and friendly smile. “Ever since you warned those hooligans, very few blind fools have dared to come and harass the supermarket recently! Thanks to you, otherwise, I really couldn’t keep this business going.”
Originally, he had planned to sell the supermarket, and then after getting married, take his wife to the countryside to open a farm and live a leisurely rural life, no longer struggling in the big city.
Doing business in a place like New York was simply too difficult without a backer.
Until the last two months, Luca came to the supermarket, stepped up and taught a lesson to a group of 0-yuan purchasing hooligans, supporting the supermarket. After that, few hooligans dared to freeload at the supermarket.
“I should pay you guys. I can’t just let you help for free, can I? Otherwise, I’d feel really bad.” Uncle Biao looked at Luca with a worried expression.
He had made this request before, but Luca had refused.
This once made Uncle Biao wonder if he had ulterior motives.
That was the Lucchese Family, one of New York’s five major underground families.
“Talking about money hurts feelings, doesn’t it?” Luca waved his hand nonchalantly. “From a young age, I’ve always liked to right wrongs and act chivalrously. My father taught me from a young age that everything should be about peace and harmony brings wealth. I’ve remembered that saying until now. Uncle Biao, if you still consider me a friend, don’t talk about money with me.”
Uncle Biao’s expression was a bit hard to maintain. “You’re a Sicilian, what’s with ‘peace and harmony’?”
However, he judged people by their actions, not their intentions. In the past few months, Luca often brought people to protect the supermarket, preventing multiple disturbances. Moreover, Luca never asked for a single cent of protection money from the supermarket, and even paid for his own purchases, being more law-abiding than the New York Police.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have accepted Luca’s Mafia identity and become a close friend despite their age difference.
“Of course, you’re my friend.” Uncle Biao said with a smile, “Alright! No money talk then. Tonight, I’ll treat you. I’ll book a restaurant, and we’ll have a good gathering, drinking until we drop.”
“Good, until we drop!”
Luca smiled and raised his teacup.
In front of him, information popped up on the panel.
【Character Card Unlocked: Uncle Biao】
【Uncle Biao: D】
【Source: “Red Zone”】
【Skills: None】
【Bond: Close Friend】
【Luca Greco】
【Skills: Firearms Mastery LV5, Assassination Mastery LV6, Combat Mastery LV5, Driving Mastery LV4, Fishing LV2】
【Current Skill Points: 5】
【Current Skill Fragments: 18】
This 【Peace Ambassador】 system was awakened by Luca a year ago, when Luca had just broken the mystery of his birth and awakened his memories of a past life.
As the system’s name suggests, as long as Luca defends peace, he can gain many rewards, such as the most common Skill Points, which can be used to increase the proficiency of various skills.
There are also Ability Fragments. After collecting a certain number, they can be used to exchange for and learn the abilities of various Character Cards.
Character Cards range from D to SSR. The stronger the Character Card, the more abilities it possesses. D-level Character Cards basically have no learnable abilities.
Currently, Luca doesn’t know many SSR cards, but Uncle Biao has a nephew far away in Hong Kong. That must be an SSR card, right?
This was also the reason Luca deliberately approached Uncle Biao and built a good relationship with him.
Only when the bond reaches a certain level can the abilities on a Character Card be unlocked. For that great nephew in Hong Kong whom he has never met, Luca has been preparing for a long time.
He eagerly awaited the arrival of that furniture city’s God of War.
After sitting in the supermarket for a while, Luca got up to leave. Just as he left the supermarket, a tall man walked in.
He had a tall and straight figure, wearing a long trench coat, a small round hat, and sunglasses, and carrying a large box.
His expression was cold, and he moved silently, like a ghost.
Luca drove around New York for half a circle, stopping along the way to collect high-interest loans from a few gamblers—this was one of his daily tasks, collecting debts for the Family.
On the way back, his car passed through a three-way intersection. At the intersection, a tall building stood tall.
—The New York Continental Hotel, from “John Wick,” a chain hotel providing one-stop services for assassins.
Behind the Continental Hotel was a Council composed of twelve crime bosses, ruling most of the criminal organizations in the underground crime world.
In this American integrated world dominated by underground forces, the High Table was undoubtedly the supreme authority in the underground crime world, revered by all members, including John Wick.
John Wick, nicknamed “Baba Yaga,” “The Boogeyman,” “Kill my dog, I kill your whole family,” “Slow-motion God of War,” “King of Chaos.”
Undoubtedly, that was an SSR card.
Although Luca hadn’t met Baba Yaga yet, he had already heard of his great name in the underground world, and he had also heard of Baba Yaga’s old friend, Caine, who was nicknamed “Blind Killer,” “10 punches per second, Master Ip.”
That was most likely an SSR card as well.
These SSR cards were all Luca’s collection goals.
The car stopped outside a bar.
This was one of the Lucchese Family’s properties, managed by one of the Family bosses—Maurizio.
A boss, in the Family, was considered middle-level, a position similar to a squad leader or local gang leader, overseeing a group of “soldiers” and peripheral members.
Currently, Luca was only a peripheral member, but due to his outstanding performance and his father’s connections, he got along well with Maurizio.
Entering the bar, Luca expertly made his way to a round table in the corner. The view here was excellent, allowing him to see the entire hall.
A slightly overweight middle-aged man sat behind the table. Seeing Luca arrive, he lazily lifted his eyelids, glanced at him, and patted the seat next to him, motioning for Luca to sit down.
Luca handed over the collected debts and bills to him, a thick stack of cash. Maurizio didn’t count it carefully, just weighed it in his hand, then pulled out a small portion and handed it to Luca.
“Why did it take you so long today? Did you run into trouble?” Maurizio asked.
Luca took the money and said with a smile, “I righted some wrongs on the way, teaching a lesson to a few hooligans who didn’t pay for their purchases.”
Maurizio: “...”
“Bro, you’re even bothering with such trivial matters? So righteous, why don’t you become New York Police?”
In the past year, Luca’s titles of “Peace Ambassador,” “Peace and Harmony,” “Mediator,” and “Conciliator” had spread throughout the Bronx. Many people knew about this warm-hearted member who loved to right wrongs and meddle in others’ business.
Some people disliked him, but due to the Lucchese Family behind him, they didn’t dare to lay a hand on Luca. Even if they dared, they couldn’t beat Luca.
Eventually, when many small gangs had conflicts, they would even proactively seek Luca to mediate, and many businesses and shops even proactively paid protection money to the Lucchese Family.
Because when they paid, people actually took care of things, and it truly prevented harassment from other blind hooligans.
More effective than the New York Police! Those hooligans didn’t listen to the New York Police, but they absolutely dared not defy these underworld figures.
—Luca would give those hooligans a reason they couldn’t refuse.
As a result, the Lucchese Family’s reputation and public image improved significantly.
This left Maurizio speechless. After decades in the game, it was the first time he had gained a good reputation among the public.
“Luca, how many years have you been with me?”
“12 years. Since my father went to prison when I was 10, I’ve been following you.”
Luca answered truthfully.
He was born into an Italian-American family. Both of his parents were Sicilians, with their bloodline buff maxed out.
His father was a soldier in the Lucchese Family, having been involved in it his whole life until he was murdered in prison.
As for Luca’s mother, unable to endure such a life in her early years, she chose to divorce when Luca was only 4 years old, leaving New York alone, her whereabouts unknown.
Luca being able to follow Maurizio was also thanks to his father’s “guarantee.” When his father went to prison, he entrusted Luca to Maurizio, hoping that Luca would “grow up strong” under the Family’s influence.
“It’s already been 12 years.” Maurizio sighed with emotion. “When your father brought you here, you were just a little kid who hadn’t even fully grown. Now you’ve become a Peace Ambassador who can stand on his own.”
When mentioning “Peace Ambassador,” Maurizio’s expression almost broke.
Suppressing the urge to complain, Maurizio continued:
“You’ve done a lot for the Family over the years, making great contributions and proving your loyalty and ability. With your qualifications, you can become an official Family member.”
Maurizio’s chubby face was full of admiration. He handed Luca a photo. “Now I have a task for you. As long as you handle it well, I’ll introduce you to become an official Family member!”
Finally, this day has come.
Luca was overjoyed inside. He was about to become a full member with an official position!
Becoming an official member undoubtedly provided a significant layer of protection. If others tried to harm him in the future, they would be facing the entire Lucchese Family and would have to consider the cost of doing so!
Just as killing is not allowed inside the Continental Hotel, once someone dies inside the hotel, the killer will be hunted down by the High Table Council, pursued to the ends of the earth until they are ground to dust.
Luca also wanted such protection.
Then, step by step, he would climb up, striving to control the entire Family!
And then, using the Family as a stepping stone, find an opportunity to join the High Table Council behind the Continental Hotel, extending his reach worldwide.
Having a seat on the High Table in the future was one of Luca’s goals.
Doesn’t defending the peace of the underground world count as peace?
If your fists aren’t hard enough and your voice isn’t loud enough, how can you defend peace?
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Luca looked at the photo: “Who is this?”
The photo showed a fat man with a round face, squinting eyes, and a fierce appearance.
“Cain Jones.” Maurizio’s cigarette-holding mouth curled into a cold sneer. “This guy is an out-of-town drug dealer who doesn’t follow the rules and is distributing his product on our territory. I sent someone to talk to him before, but this guy doesn’t respect me!”
Luca picked up the photo. “What do you need me to do? Kill him?”
“He has an outside Family background, killing him would be very troublesome. I just want to talk to him.” Maurizio shrugged, “But he’s too arrogant. I think only you can make him calm down and have a good talk with me.”
Since the “Committee” was established by the various families decades ago, the chaotic fighting among families ended. A series of rules for “maintaining peace and common development” were formulated. Since then, Family members have been forbidden from internal infighting—at least not openly.
Luca nodded in understanding.
“Oh, by the way, I also found a few Family associates for you. They should be able to help you.”
Maurizio stretched his neck and shouted to two men drinking nearby, “Jimmy, Henry! Come here!”
Luca looked back and saw two tall, thin white men walking over.
A prompt popped up on the panel.
【Character Card Discovered: Henry Hill (Unlocks Soon)】
【Henry: C】
【Source: “Goodfellas”】
【Skill: Scoundrel】
【Bond: Stranger】
【Character Card Discovered: James “Jimmy” Conway (Unlocks Soon)】
【Jimmy: C】
【Source: “Goodfellas”】
【Skill: Greedy Bastard】
【Bond: Stranger】
Luca’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Goodfellas! I’m calling them Goodfellas!
Boss, you found these two unreliable guys who would stab me in the back at any moment to help me?
