Chapter 4: SSR!
Without a doubt, Stan had to die.
Not only because Stan offended the Lucchese Family. If Stan continued to act crazy, he might eventually provoke Leon and Matilda, leading to a series of tragedies, and ultimately perish with Leon.
This was something Luca absolutely could not tolerate.
Just like that, my rare card would be wasted?
How simple a killer was Leon? He was strong and obedient, and he didn't even take “payment” for killing people—if Luca remembered correctly, all of Leon's assassination fees were kept by that middleman, and he only kept a small portion for daily living expenses.
Luca didn't want such a thrifty killer to be killed by Stan.
He coveted his skills!
I, Luca, the Peace Ambassador, who loves making friends, Greco!
Let me, the Peace Ambassador, save the fates of Leon and the little loli!
It's just a pity about Stan's two skills.
【Stan】
【Beethoven's Madness: When listening to classical music, combat power +20%; if the music is interrupted, combat power an additional +20%; after the song's climax ends, combat power -50% (Cooldown: 3 hours)】
【Learning Requirements: Bond must reach close friend or above; Skill Fragments X50;】
【Wolf's Scent: Efficiency in searching for drugs +20%, probability of discovering enemy disguise +20%】
【Learning Requirements: Bond must reach close friend or above; Skill Fragments X50】
Stan, this S card, has two skills.
To be honest, Luca felt these two skills were mediocre, tasteless if kept, but a pity to discard.
The first skill required a self-provided BGM to be used, and Luca was a coarse man who couldn't appreciate Beethoven or Mozart.
As for the second skill, only the effect of detecting disguises was decent. Stan's sense of smell was indeed very keen. In the original plot, Leon was about to escape, but Stan discovered him and killed him with a shot to the back.
As for the ability to search for drugs... he wasn't a narcotics officer, so what was the use of that ability?
There was a main problem: these two skills couldn't be learned.
Want to develop a bond with Stan to become a close friend?
It was already impossible.
Because Luca was from the Lucchese Family, there was already a conflict between them; and with Stan's suspicious and neurotic personality, how could he trust him? And even become an intimate close friend?
What an international joke.
For such dangerous characters with whom a bond could not be developed, Luca either kept his distance or eliminated them directly to maintain peace.
For example, there was a mental hospital in Pennsylvania that held a psychiatrist who liked to eat people.
Luca didn't want to get involved with such extremely dangerous characters, even if they were SSR cards.
You treat them as friends, but they treat you as ingredients.
Roasted brain flowers, anyone?
The next day, in the afternoon.
Inside a pizza shop in the Bronx.
Luca ate while asking the two good fellows, “How much do you know about Stan, this narcotics officer?”
This mission was a bit complicated; not only did they have to kill someone, but they also had to retrieve the lost goods.
“He's a team supervisor for the DEA,” Jimmy explained. “He has several narcotics agents under him.”
“Damn cop! That guy is a drug dealer!” Henry cursed, grumbling, “If I had known the DEA also took in drug dealers, I would've gone and become a cop there too.”
Jimmy also sneered, “Stan understands dirty dealing better than we do. He turns around and sells the drugs he seizes to others.”
“That guy is considered one of New York's biggest drug dealers. Many gangs get their supplies from him.”
“Mainly, it's very safe to cooperate with him. You don't have to worry about the police showing up, and transactions are guaranteed.”
Luca: “...”
New York's biggest drug dealer is actually in the DEA? Very good, very good, worthy of America.
Old White should have come to New York to cooperate with Stan, why stay on the Mexican border and have a love-hate relationship with Gus Fring?
He looked at the two good fellows who were eating pizza, a kind smile on his face: “You two find someone to investigate and see which gangs Stan is cooperating with.”
Luca instructed, “Also, find out where Stan and those police officers are keeping the drugs. They can't possibly keep them at the DEA, can they? There should be a safe house for storing drugs.”
Jimmy nodded and said alright.
Henry excitedly said, “Are we going to rob them? Right, they've seized so many drugs, we'll snatch them and make a fortune!”
Henry's eyes lit up. This was something he was good at. In the past, the three good fellows had made their fortune by robbing and extorting, even daring to rob an airport.
Luca's smile grew even kinder.
As expected of good fellows who robbed on the road and even dared to rob an airport. Just for that courage, Luca had to give them a thumbs up.
Two days later, in the morning.
Inside an apartment building in the Bronx.
A commotion came from the corridor. Matilda curiously pushed open her front door and looked at the residents across the hall.
At the main entrance, a group of renovation workers were busy, moving brand new furniture into the room.
New neighbors so soon?
Matilda looked puzzled.
Yesterday, the old lady across the hall moved out overnight, and she even happily gave Matilda a large bag of pastries when she left.
And now, so quickly, someone was moving in today.
Looking at the exquisite designer furniture, Matilda couldn't understand how such things appeared in a slum.
“Why aren't you going to school yet?”
Suddenly, a stern roar came from behind her. Matilda turned around and saw her father's bloated face.
“Are you skipping school again?” Norman demanded loudly. “I prepaid your tuition for a year, so you could study hard, not so you could hide at home and secretly smoke! The school calls me every day, telling me to bring you to school! If you miss any more, all the tuition I prepaid will be confiscated by the school!”
A hint of annoyance flashed in Matilda's eyes. She said indifferently, “Then you bring me.”
“Don't you have legs?” Norman said impatiently. “Don't test my patience, get to school right now!”
“I forgot the way.”
“Then go back to your room and do your homework!”
“Done.”
“Is that so?!” Norman's face was furious. “Then go help your sister clean this damn house!”
He raised his palm and mercilessly slapped his own daughter.
Matilda instinctively closed her eyes, but after waiting for a long time, the familiar stinging pain did not come.
She opened her eyes and saw a tall, handsome man had appeared beside her at some point. He grabbed her father's wrist, rendering him immobile.
“Can you be a little quieter? I don't want to be kept awake by my neighbors on my first day of moving in.”
Luca had a gentle smile on his face. He looked at Matilda, “Is this guy your distant, wicked relative you haven't seen in years? I only remember those unlucky relatives being so harsh on children.”
Matilda couldn't help but laugh.
Norman cursed, “I'm teaching my kid a lesson, what's it to you? Let go!”
Struggling in vain, Norman's other hand reached into his waistband, pulled out a small knife, and tried to threaten Luca. However, as soon as the knife was extended, Norman felt a blur before his eyes, a sharp pain in his wrist, and the knife in his palm was already in Luca's hand.
“Fu—”
Looking at the small knife held to his throat, Norman swallowed the rest of the word.
Beside them, Matilda also looked at Luca in surprise, seemingly not expecting this gentle-looking man to be so formidable; she hadn't even seen how the knife was taken.
Luca rubbed his brow, “I'm a very light sleeper; even the slightest noise can wake me up. I don't want my sweet dreams disturbed by my neighbors.”
He noticed the bruise on Matilda's forehead and the cut on her lip, and his gaze, turning back to Norman, suddenly dropped in temperature.
“I also have many bad habits. Besides being a light sleeper, I can't stand seeing people hit children! This isn't the first time you've hit a child, but remember, this is the last time! The next time you dare to lay a hand on them, I guarantee this knife will cut your throat before the child cries!”
The cold knife tapped Norman's face. The father, who often abused his child, was so scared he didn't dare to move. The other's cold gaze seemed sharper than the knife, making his cheeks sting.
“Did you hear me clearly?” Luca's fingers pressed slightly.
“I... I understand.” Norman felt the coldness on his neck, his voice trembling, “I promise, I will never hit the child again.”
Looking at his pathetic state, Luca felt disdain. If this guy wasn't Stan's informant and drug custodian, Luca would have killed him right then.
To extract more information, Luca decided to let him live a bit longer.
Besides, the little loli was still watching.
It wasn't until Luca turned and walked into the door across the hall that Norman finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Luca disappear, the suppressed anger in his heart erupted once more. Norman raised his hand again, “You son of a bitch!”
“Go ahead and hit me.”
Matilda stared coldly at her father: “I'll tell him everything, and you can just wait to be killed!”
She was utterly disappointed in her father; even if he died, she wouldn't feel sad. In this dysfunctional stepfamily, the only person she cared about was her 4-year-old brother.
Norman's slap ultimately didn't land. He cursed several times in a fit of rage, then stormed into the house in impotent fury.
Matilda, only 12 years old, curled her lips in disdain, pulled a loose cigarette stolen from her father out of her pocket, then walked towards the room across the hall and knocked on the door.
With the cigarette dangling, leaning languidly against the doorframe, she looked at the handsome man who opened the door, “Neighbor, can I borrow a light?”
【You stopped an act of domestic violence and instilled fear in Matilda's father. You defended the peace of your neighbor's family.】
【Obtained Skill Points X4】
【Obtained Skill Fragments X1】
【Discovered Character Card: Matilda (Unlocked)】
【Matilda: SSR】
【Source: Leon: The Professional】
【Skills: Trauma Imprint, Handy, Harmless Disguise, Forbidden Dependence, Advanced Lucky Aura】
【Bond: Stranger】
Luca: “...”
The problematic girl is an SSR card? And has five skills?!
Holy cow!