Chapter 9: The Lone Killer
After tracking down Norman's contact and getting some leads, the next steps became much easier.
Luca Greco followed the person all the way to a car repair shop, then quietly stopped not far away to observe the situation.
Soon after, Henry and Jimmy also arrived at the scene and got into Luca Greco's car.
"See that guy? Bald, black jacket, jeans," Luca Greco pointed inside the car repair shop, "He's connected to Stan."
The two good fellows were greatly surprised. Others had investigated for so long without finding anything, so how had Luca Greco managed to find this out?
He truly lived up to his reputation as a top assassin who could thrive at the Continental Hotel.
"Luca Greco, nothing can escape your eyes, you even found this out!" Henry immediately flattered him.
Jimmy was more concerned about the guy, "Who is he?"
"Not sure," Luca Greco shook his head. "That's your task. Next, you need to find out his identity and who he's in contact with. Find Stan's drug custodian, then tell me all this information. I'll handle the rest."
The two immediately accepted the mission.
Luca Greco then asked another question, feigning ignorance: "Are you familiar with the Harlem area? Do you know whose blue magic this is?"
"There's so much of it. blue magic is the most popular thing right now. All those rich kids buy it because of its high purity, you can inject it directly."
Jimmy rattled off the names of several bars, clubs, laundromats, and restaurants in New York, all of which were selling blue magic.
"Most blue magic has over 50% purity, and the price is very cheap. Many New Yorkers now only recognize this brand; other drugs are especially hard to sell."
"Exactly," Henry added, "Last time, I had to take that batch of drugs out of town to sell it. It's very hard to compete with blue magic locally."
Luca Greco was silent for a moment.
Damn it, they've even managed to create a brand effect for this stuff?
Very good, as expected of an A-card male protagonist with two skills.
It seems Frank's business has grown very large. If this continues, it won't be long before it attracts the attention of the American government.
Which, in the original plot, was the federal anti-drug operation targeting drug crimes in New York.
Luca Greco felt a sense of crisis.
According to the original plot, Frank was eventually arrested and exposed three-quarters of the New York DEA police, almost wiping out the New York DEA.
And those police officers continued to expose others, causing unrest among various families and gangs in New York.
This is a major crisis.
If things go wrong, Maurizio and Luca Greco might also be implicated.
Luca Greco had to find a way to cut ties early.
He never wanted to touch this stuff, and many people in his family also avoided this business because the sentencing was too severe. In the face of such heavy sentences, sometimes even the Mafia's code of silence was useless.
Human hearts are unpredictable.
But Luca Greco happened to follow Maurizio, a capo who had been in this business for many years. Luca Greco inevitably came into contact with it while working for Maurizio.
However, Luca Greco was very careful. He never participated in offline transactions himself, always giving the stolen goods to other family members.
He'd rather take a smaller cut of the money than get too deeply involved.
"I need to prepare in advance," Luca Greco thought. "Once Stan's matter is over and I officially join the family, I'll have a certain degree of autonomy. From then on, I won't touch this stuff with Maurizio, not even handling it indirectly."
Over the next few days, intelligence continuously flowed into Luca Greco's hands.
The identity of that contact person was also clarified: he was a dismissed anti-drug police officer. And it now seemed that he was still secretly working for Stan.
Besides the contact's identity, some other locations where Stan hid drugs were also uncovered.
But Jimmy and Henry didn't dare to act; the opponent's "force value" was a bit too high.
That's easy; Luca Greco will handle it.
However, before taking action, Luca Greco first found the middleman for pasta, "Tony," paid for an order, and specifically requested Leon to do the job.
Aloof? Hard to develop bonds? Then just place an order directly. They're all killers; they'll get to know each other eventually.
That afternoon, Leon packed his gear, picked up his case, and left home, preparing to head to the designated mission location for rendezvous.
He heard Tony say that this mission was special—the employer would also be participating.
Leon expressed great incomprehension and even wanted to refuse the mission.
He was used to working alone and didn't like collaborating with others.
But Tony was very insistent.
The employer offered such a high price; if you don't take the mission, where will I get my final payment?
Take it! You must take it!
Out of consideration for Tony, who had looked after him for many years, Leon finally bit the bullet and accepted. He swore that when the time came, he wouldn't say another word to the employer beyond the mission.
"It's you?"
Outside a community, Leon looked at Luca Greco, who was wearing sunglasses, and was stunned for a full three seconds.
How is it my neighbor?
Leon's first reaction was that it was a trick, and that his identity had been exposed, so he had to move quickly and change his hideout.
And this guy, was he deliberately approaching me?
Should I find an opportunity to eliminate him?
Noticing Leon's half-step backward movement, Luca Greco smiled and said, "What a coincidence, neighbor, we meet again."
Leon stared at Luca Greco warily, his muscles tensed and ready to act.
People came and went on the street, and the two stood in the middle of the crowd, confronting each other.
"This is no coincidence," Leon said, puzzled. "First, you moved next door to me, and now you've found me through a mission. What exactly do you want?"
"Of course, I'm here to save your destiny!" Luca Greco patiently explained:
"I knew about you through Tony. You can confirm this with Tony; he knows exactly who I am. I mean, I'm not a cop, and I have no ill intentions.
As for moving next door to you, that really was just a coincidence. My target was Norman across the hall; that guy is a drug dealer. You've been neighbors with them for so long, you must know, right?"
Leon was half-convinced.
Luca Greco pulled out his phone, called Tony, then walked forward and handed him the phone. "You can talk to Tony; he'll tell you everything you want to know."
Tony was Leon's most trusted person.
When Leon arrived in New York, USA, at 19, Tony took him in and looked after him until now.
Aside from Tony, Leon had no other friends.
Leon took the phone and reconfirmed the information with Tony on the other end, learning the whole story and Luca Greco's true identity.
Only then did Leon tentatively believe Luca Greco's words.
He didn't want to ask anything more. Since Tony said it was fine, then it was fine—Tony wouldn't harm him, just as Tony kept his money, saying it was safer with him than in an American bank.
Luca Greco took the phone from his hand and smiled, "Neighbor, can we get acquainted now? Luca Greco."
Leon shook Luca Greco's hand, "Leon."
【Leon (SSR)】
【Bond: Stranger】
【silver queen: The silver queen you plant can purify some negative emotions from within (Prerequisite: Plant silver queen evergreen, personally care for it)】
【Learning Requirement: Bond reaches Friend or higher; requires Skill Fragments X50】
【Ring Trick: Critical hit chance for grenades, bombs, and other thrown explosives +30%, more likely to cause fatal injuries】
【Learning Requirement: Bond reaches Close Friend or higher; requires Skill Fragments X80】
【Shadow Assault: When hidden in shadows, you make less noise, and the enemy's chance of discovering you -20%】
【Learning Requirement: Bond reaches Close Friend or higher; requires Skill Fragments X80】
【Lone Killer: When the number of bonded characters (Close Friend or higher) is 0, combat power +100%; for each additional bond (Close Friend or higher), combat power -10%; when the number of bonded characters (Close Friend or higher) reaches 10, this skill automatically disappears】
【Learning Requirement: Bond reaches Partner or higher; requires Skill Fragments X150】
【Oath of Protection: When you protect your companion (Close Friend or higher), combat power +30%; when protecting a partner, combat power +50%; when protecting a symbiotic person, combat power +100%;】
【Learning Requirement: Bond reaches Partner or higher; requires Skill Fragments X200】
Another five luxurious skill gift packs.
The silver queen skill should be related to Leon's love for growing potted plants. That "silver queen" was his only friend, and also a companion and spiritual symbol in lonely times.
There's not much to say about the assassin skills; learning them will definitely enhance strength.
And the Oath of Protection skill... in the original plot, Leon sacrificed himself to protect Matilda. The actions of that not-so-cold killer were truly moving.
This could be considered a divine skill; it can greatly increase strength without sacrificing teammates.
Overall, except for the "lone wolf" skill Lone Killer, all other skills made Luca Greco, as an assassin, very satisfied.
Luca Greco grinned, revealing his clean, straight teeth.
Leon, I've decided to be your friend!