Chapter 202: Chapter 202 The Mafia Situation After The War
Philip, the boss of the Tattaglia family, approached Barzini and said, "Jon Hardy is close to the Corleone family. With him around, our business on the West Coast is finished. We should join forces to take him down."
Barzini, a shrewd old man, squinted his eyes and remained silent for a long time.
"Barzini, what are you thinking?" Philip urged.
Barzini shook his head, "I received information that Jon Hardy has unified all the forces in Los Angeles. He not only has the Los City gang but also HD Security, which can exercise police powers at will. This is very tricky."
"How many people can we send to the West Coast? One hundred, two hundred, or even five hundred? His Los City gang now has at least 500 men, most of whom are veterans. HD Security has even more, with 1,500 men, and they are even more combat ready."
This information came from Raymond. Barzini and Raymond made a deal: Raymond wanted the interests in Los Angeles, and they wanted the interests in Las Vegas. But in the end, neither got what they wanted.
All plans were disrupted by Hardy.
Raymond sought revenge and sent people to investigate in Las Vegas. This information wasn't hard to find. Barzini then realized that Los Angeles had a powerful new king.
Considering Hardy's strategic and meticulous planning, with almost no flaws, Barzini knew that Hardy was a deep thinking guy, not easily dealt with.
If he rashly sent people to kill Hardy and failed, it could invite a crazy retaliation.
Barzini wasn't foolish. Hardy had many veterans under him. If a few were sent over, Barzini could be taken out by an unknown sniper bullet.
"Are we just going to let him destroy our business without any response? How will we stand in the future?" Philip shouted angrily.
Barzini shook his head.
"Philip, everything we do is for business and profit. Sometimes, when we know something is impossible, we must learn to let go and not act rashly," Barzini advised.
"So, what now?" Philip asked.
Barzini thought for a moment.
"We've been fighting for so long and have both suffered significant losses. I think it's time to sit down and talk. Continuing like this benefits no one."
"I'll call Vito. We should convene a Mafia Commission meeting. The commission was established to resolve internal conflicts within the Mafia. We can discuss things at the meeting."
He called the old godfather and chatted like old friends.
"Vito, I think it's time to stop. Continuing benefits no one. What do you think?" Barzini said.
During this time, the Corleone family suffered the most, as they fought against the other four families with just one family. Their operations were almost entirely halted, with no income for months, many deaths, and a constant state of readiness for combat.
The old godfather felt more pressure than the other families.
His eldest son Sonny was killed, Michael was attacked, and even Fredo faced assassination attempts. In order to protect his two sons, the old godfather kept them all in the manor.
For this reason, Michael's business was affected.
Michael could only make remote calls to command the old TV factory and the construction of the new TV factory, because he might be assassinated if he went out.
If it weren't for this, the old godfather would not ask Hardy for help. Taking down the casinos of the four major families in Las Vegas was actually showing strength in another way, telling the other party that he still had a very powerful foreign aid and that the Corleone family had not yet collapsed.
Now that Barzini called, it was exactly what the old godfather wanted.
His life was nearing its end, and he didn't want his remaining two sons to die too.
For Vito, who had experienced so many deaths and farewells, making peace was the best outcome.
"Vito, let's stop fighting and live in peace as we did before. What do you say?" Barzini suggested.
After some thought, the old godfather nodded.
"Alright, let's stop fighting. I'll convene the Commission."
After hanging up the phone,
The old godfather thought for a while, called Hardy, and told him that the Head of the Barzini family wanted to discuss peace with him.
"Hardy, thank you. I think this meeting will discuss issues related to vendettas and drugs. Do you have anything to say?"
Hardy thought for a moment and said. "The four major families originally wanted to occupy the Flamingo Casino. Now I have taken it back. When Sigel was alive, I bought 61% of the shares of the Flamingo Casino, and the other three families each had 13%."
"Mr. Vito help me tell them that if they are willing to sell their shares, I am willing to buy them. If they are not willing to sell, then please continue to invest. I will continue to build the Flamingo Casino and make it more luxurious and larger than Sigel imagined."
"Of course, if someone has bad intentions, you can pass my words: 'it won't be Los Angeles nor Las Vegas the main battle field but New York."
Hardy's last sentence was a naked threat and intimidation, and it was to intimidate the four major families in their own court in New York.
Hardy was way more powerful than what the Mafia families thought at the beginning. What's even more intimidating about him is his age, such a young impulsive and hot blooded youth having so much power in his hand. No one among the major families wanted to start a bitter war with him.
...
A week later.
At the Corleone Manor.
The old Godfather shaved carefully in front of the mirror, meticulously combing his hair and applying pomade to make it look more presentable.
He couldn't let his opponents see him in a disheveled state.
He had to show everyone that he was still the formidable Vito Corleone of the past.
Entering the living room, Tom, Michael, and Fredo were all there. The old Godfather looked at his three children and smiled.
"Don't worry, this meeting won't be dangerous. They won't act during a peace talk; otherwise, it would break the fundamental rules of the Commission."
"Tom, come with me," the old Godfather said.