Chapter 539 Taking advantage of the fire (below) [big chapter]
"Albert, we haven't seen each other for five or six years, right?"!
Bai Zhentian looked at Albert with a smile and said, "You look good. It seems that the air in Sicily is very good and very suitable for people to live in..."
Bai Zhentian knew that in recent years, the power of the Luciano Mafia family had been in the hands of Alessandro. As Alessandro's father, Albert lived in Italy for eight months of the year.
His hometown is Sicily.
A trace of unhappiness flashed in Albert's eyes, but he covered it up well and said with a smile: "The air there is really good, Bai. I'll invite you to be my guest when you have time!"
There is a proverb in Western countries, which roughly means that rights are more addictive than drugs.
This was the case for Albert. After being in charge of the family for decades, he was unexpectedly usurped by his son. Returning to Sicily was not Albert's junior high school, so after hearing Bai Zhentian's words, the mafia godfather was naturally unhappy.
"Okay, I will definitely go when I have time!"
Bai Zhentian burst out laughing when he heard this. The reason why he said that was actually to remind Albert that the Luciano family now is different from before.
"Bai, come and try our Italian specialties. It's not like you have delicious food in China!"
Albert has been in charge of the Luciano family for so many years, so naturally he is not an easy person. When he saw the dishes starting to be served in the kitchen, he immediately said: "This beef stew stewed with red lantern peppers is a specialty of Milan, as well as sausages."
, tastes very good.”
"Old friend, aren't you too stingy?"
Seeing the beef sausage and pasta on the table, Bai Zhentian said dissatisfiedly: "Truffles are produced in Italy. I said you don't have any, and they are not as good as the restaurant in this MGM hotel."
Bai Zhentian was feeling unhappy after being brutally stabbed by Qin Feng yesterday. Seeing that all the dishes served here were ordinary Italian dishes, he immediately became dissatisfied.
"Bai, I came here in a hurry. I wonder if the ingredients are prepared here?"
Albert gave a wry smile. He had long known that Bai Zhentian from Hongmen was very difficult to deal with, but now that he saw it, he really lived up to his reputation and was so picky about food.
In order to show his sincerity, Albert waved to the waiter and asked in front of Bai Zhentian. Unfortunately, there were no expensive truffles here.
"Old friend, there is really nothing we can do."
Albert spread his hands and said, "How about this? When I go back, I will send you a pound of truffles, and they are all top-quality white truffles. What do you think?"
"A pound?" Bai Zhentian shouted exaggeratedly: "Albert, given our friendship, we should give at least five pounds, right?"
"Five pounds? Bai, do you think truffles are cabbage sold in the market?" After hearing Bai Zhentian's words, Albert's eyes suddenly widened, and he wanted to strangle Bai Zhentian in front of him to death.
You know, the value of truffles is higher than gold, and a pound of truffles costs tens of thousands of dollars. Who would have thought that this greedy Chinese would not be satisfied?
"Okay, then give me two kilograms!"
Bai Zhentian took a step back and muttered: "Let's just eat whatever we want today. Albert, when you come to San Francisco another day, I'll treat you to Chinese delicacies..."
He said to eat whatever he wanted, but Bai Zhentian's hand movements were not slow at all, he took the knife and fork and put half of the braised beef in front of him into his own bowl.
As for the other half of the plate, Qin Feng had already eaten it up. If Bai Zhentian had been slower, he might have lost even the smaller half.
"Hey, brother, are you so hungry? Didn't I treat you to a big dinner yesterday?" Bai Zhentian expressed his dissatisfaction with Qin Feng's silent behavior of lowering his head and eating wildly.
"Not hungry!"
Qin Feng's mouth was full of food at this time. How could he have time to talk nonsense with Bai Zhentian? He raised his head and replied, then Zhongshou stuffed another sausage into his mouth. He saw that the plate of sausage was almost finished by him.
"Hey, I told you to leave two for me!" Seeing that the sausages were almost gone, Bai Zhentian stretched out his fork and put it on the plate. The old and the young actually started fighting over the food on the table.
"What...what's going on? Are all the people in Hongmen hungry?"
Albert and Alfonso were dumbfounded by Qin Feng and Bai Zhentian's actions. Before they could recover, the table of food had been cleared away by the two of them.
"Uh, old friend, I'm really hungry. Look, the food is gone."
Picking up a napkin and wiping his mouth gracefully, Bai Zhentian looked at Albert, as if the person who just devoured it was not him at all.
"No...it doesn't matter, I...I'll make the kitchen better!" Albert came back to his senses and stammered.
"Well, let them have more, we are not full yet!" Qin Feng took a toothpick and said while picking his teeth, looking exactly like a street gangster.
"Alfonso, let them serve another table for six people..." Albert glanced at Bai Zhentian and saw that he nodded, so he asked his son to notify the kitchen.
At this time, Bai Zhentian was already 80% full. He picked up the tea set in front of him and poured a cup of tea for several people, then said: "Old friend, I am going to participate in a gambling game with an Arab prince recently. I wonder if you are interested?
"
"Bet? Bai, you know I never gamble."
Albert shook his head and faced Bai Zhentian. His patience was almost at its limit. The New York Mafia was now at a time of life and death. How could he have the time to gamble with Bai Zhentian?
"That's such a pity, old friend, the people participating in the gambling game are all big shots..." Bai Zhentian had a regretful expression on his face, as if he wanted to persuade Albert again.
"Okay, Bai, let's talk about business."
Albert finally couldn't stand Bai Zhentian's nonsense and said, "Bai, I believe you have guessed a little bit about why I invited you here, right?"
"What do you mean by inviting me here?"
Bai Zhentian seemed to be stunned for a moment when he heard this, and said with a confused look on his face: "Old friend, you asked me here this time, isn't it because we haven't seen each other for many years, do you miss me? Besides this, do you have other meanings?"
"I...I miss you so much!"
After hearing Bai Zhentian's words, Albert spit out the cup of tea he had just drank. He had no friendship with Bai Zhentian at first, and they had not communicated with each other for five or six years, and they had not even made a phone call.
And even if Albert had a relationship with Bai Zhentian, he still liked women, otherwise he wouldn't have kept a Russian mistress to ejaculate Alejandro's unfaithful son.
"I'm glad to see you, old friend!"
Seeing Albert's face flushed, Bai Zhentian poured him another cup of tea and said: "Don't get excited, we are all old, and we will have plenty of time in the future! Let's sit down and drink tea and chat!"!
"Should I talk about your sister?"
Albert was so depressed that he almost vomited blood. He had always been known as a ruthless and shady Mafia family, but he didn't expect to meet a more shameless guy today.
Taking a deep breath, Albert calmed down and said, "Okay, Bai, you know why I'm looking for you."
"What's the matter? If you don't tell me, how will I know?"
Even Qin Feng couldn't stand Bai Zhentian's smiling look. This old guy was so good at pretending that he reached out to ask for benefits from others, and insisted on asking others to tell him.
"Bai, do you know what happened recently?" Albert understood that the other party was pretending to be deaf, so he simply asked directly.
"What happened recently? Oh, I know."
Bai Zhentian looked like he suddenly realized something and said: "Old friend, you are talking about the recent war with Yamaguchi, right?"
Seeing Albert nod, Bai Zhentian continued: "I have long disliked the Japanese. Fortunately, you Italians have formed an alliance with them..."
That Mussolini back then was simply out of his mind. How could he form an alliance with the Japanese? He suffered a big loss in the end, right?"
"Stop, stop!"
Hearing that Bai Zhentian brought the topic to World War II, Albert's forehead suddenly showed blue veins. He would really suspect that Bai Zhentian had a problem with his IQ. He could change the topic in less than three sentences.
"Bai, I'm looking for you this time because I want to cooperate with your family."
Seeing that Bai Zhentian was so difficult to deal with, Albert didn't care so much anymore and said straight to the point: "You also know that this incident caused us a lot of losses, and I even lost a son because of it. Bai, I need you." friendship..."
"My friendship? Don't you want Hongmen to help defend the territory?"
Bai Zhentian laughed and said: "Old friend, this is no problem at all. If you want people, you still need guns. As long as you say a word, I will help you right away..."
"NQNO'bai, I don't need either of these!"
Bai Zhentian's words shocked Albert. He had received a stern ultimatum from the US government. If the gang wars taking place across the United States did not end, the Mafia would no longer have a place to survive in the United States.
Albert knows that although the United States is about laws, the laws are also made for the rich.
But the United States is also a country of rogues. When the law cannot solve the problem, they act unscrupulously. The wars that just ended in Iraq and Yugoslavia are the best proof.
So at this juncture, how could Albert dare to stir up trouble? If so, he would really push the Mafia to a point of no return.
"Old friend, what kind of help do you need from me?" Bai Zhentian spread his hands and asked in confusion.
"Bai, I need Hongmen to come forward and help us maintain the existing order in cities such as Las Vegas, Washington, and New York..."
With Albert's face, after saying the above words, he felt a fever on his face. It always sounded a bit ridiculous that outsiders were required to maintain order in their gang's traditional territory.
But Albert had no choice. After the fight between the Mafia and the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Mafia's power everywhere was extremely weak.
Under this situation, many local small gangs have begun to take action, and the Mafia's drug business and network have been severely hit.
The main profit point of the Mafia in the United States is drugs. This is a matter of life and death for the Mafia. Albert cannot sit back and watch this happen no matter what.
However, the five major mafia families in New York are now closely watched by relevant US departments, and they are unable to send people from their base in Italy. So after thinking about it, Albert can only find allies.
"Help you maintain order?" Bai Zhentian raised his eyebrows and said, "Old friend, I can't agree to this?"
"Why?"
Albert didn't expect Bai Zhentian to refuse so simply, and said quickly: "Bai, we can pay a sufficient price. Whether it is 500 million or one billion U.S. dollars, you can make a price!"
The Mafia's drug business in the United States amounts to 40 billion U.S. dollars a year, and the Luciano family can account for one-tenth of it, which is 4 billion U.S. dollars.
They have been operating in the United States for decades and have built a huge sales network. Now this network is facing destruction, so Albert is worried.
So Albert was willing to pay any price for this. Several hundred million dollars was just something he said casually, and Albert didn't expect it to be negotiated so easily.
"It's not about money."
Bai Zhentian shook his head and said: "Old friend, you know that Hongmen has not been involved in the drug business since the 1970s and 1980s. We cannot break this rule..."
In the early days, Hongmen often went to war with the Mafia and other organizations because of the drug business.
But when the current president took office, he adjusted Hongmen's development strategy. He invested large sums of money into legitimate business and ended drug sales in the United States.
Of course, Hongmen now also has a drug business, but it has done business in Europe and other countries. This not only avoids risks, but also allows relevant US departments to relax their monitoring of them.
Of course, Albert knew this, which was why he dared to let Hongmen help them temporarily take over the territory, because he was not afraid that Hongmen would go into the drug business after taking over the territory.
"Bai·I believe that in this world, everything can be discussed."
Albert interrupted Bai Zhentian who was chattering and said seriously: "I am very sincere today. I can consider any conditions you put forward..."
"Consideration doesn't mean I agree!" Bai Zhentian glanced sideways at Albert. After talking to him for so long, the old fox finally spoke up.
"Bai, then you have to speak out and listen first."
Albert smiled bitterly. If Hongmen asked for a hundred million dollars, he really couldn't agree because the money he earned in his early years had already been invested in various fields.
"Okay, then I'll say it, but if I say it, old friend, you have to give me this face!" Bai Zhentian smiled, and he probably whetted the other party's appetite.
If you continue to talk nonsense, I'm afraid Albert will really become anxious, which will not be worth the loss, because in the United States, there are still some weak gangs such as the Mexican Gang and the Vietnamese Gang.
"You said..." Albert nodded.
"I don't want money, not a penny!" Bai Zhentian said.
"No money? Then what do you want? A drug sales network?" After hearing Bai Zhentian's words, Albert's face really changed for the first time. "No, I said before, Hongmen will not be involved in drugs in the United States.
Business.”!●Zhentian’s words made Albert’s heart return to his stomach.
"I want some shares of your organization in Las Vegas!"
But Bai Zhentian's next words made Albert stand up from his chair, waved his hands and said: "Bai, this is impossible, you have to know that our shares in Las Vegas cannot be transferred.
of……"
Although the drug business is the lifeblood of the Mafia, the shares in the Las Vegas casino are also extremely important to the Mafia organization.
Because Albert needs casinos to launder money, launder the billions of dollars in funds every year, and then invest them in legitimate businesses in various countries.
Without the operation of the casino, the large amount of black money that Albert earns every year will become black money, and may only be smuggled to his villa in Italy to wait to mold.
"Old friend, don't get excited."
Bai Zhentian had already anticipated Albert's reaction and said calmly: "You have shares in more than one casino in Las Vegas. I don't want the shares in the MGM Casino, but the shares in the Taj Mahal Casino are right.
It’s not that important to you, right?”
The Taj that Bai Zhentian said.
Mahal Casino is an Indian-style casino, even larger than the Luxor Casino, with nearly 10,000 employees alone.
"Huh? You know we have shares in the Taj Mahal Casino?"
After hearing Bai Zhentian's words, Albert couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. They were indeed in Taj.
Mahal Casino holds a 2.1 percent stake.
It's just that these shares are too small, and he doesn't have much say on the casino's board of directors. Albert can't control the board of directors to help them launder money. It can only be regarded as a pure investment.
Of course, even though it only holds 2.1% of the shares, if converted into U.S. dollars, these shares are worth billions.
Bai Zhentian stared into Albert's eyes and said: "Old friend, this is just a small request. It's up to you whether you agree or not!"
"Is this a small request?" Albert glared back. Shares worth billions of dollars were actually just a small request in Bai Zhentian's mouth?
Bai Zhentian shook his head and said, "Compared to your organization's losses in drug channels, this is really nothing, right?"
After hearing Qin Feng's words, Albert sighed and said: "Bai, even if you can get this share, you still can't control the Indians at Taj Mahal Casino. They are very stubborn."
Taj.
Mahal Casino was originally invested and built by Indians. Although over the years, the casino's equity has become very loose, the Indian consortium still holds 8% of the shares and has a large say.
"Haha, you don't need to worry about this." Bai Zhentian smiled faintly and said, "We in Hongmen are only interested in the gambling industry, and we don't want to control any casinos."
"Believe me, you really are a ghost."
Albert rolled his eyes when he heard this. Over the years, Hongmen has been trying to get involved in the Las Vegas casinos. Almost everyone knows that, but the traditional forces in Las Vegas have long been formed and they cannot enter.
Moreover, those Western gambling tycoons are also very repulsive to Chinese people entering the gambling industry because of the gambling king of Macao Island, so Hongmen has never found any good opportunities.
"Helping friends is also a virtue..."
Bai Zhentian said: "Old friend, as long as you agree, I guarantee that your organization's traditional territories across the United States will not be challenged."
Naturally, Bai Zhentian didn't want Taj for no reason.
Mahal shares that is because from Taj.
Since the opening of Mahal Casino in 1990, Hongmen has been secretly acquiring shares in the casino.
In nearly ten years, Hongmen has absorbed 4.5% of the shares from various small shareholders. If Albert’s shares are added to it, then Hongmen’s shares in the Taj Casino
, will reach six point six.
Don't underestimate these 6.6% shares. In the case of Taj Casino's loose equity, 6.6% of the shares are already a force that cannot be ignored in the board of directors. They can't do things that Albert can't do.
But it can be done.
As long as it has a say on the board of directors, Hongmen can send some of its own people to serve as top executives of the casino. Although it cannot completely control the casino, it is not a problem to launder some black money every year.
"I need to think about it, Bai, you really are like a lion with your mouth wide open."
Albert kept comparing the gains and losses in his mind. He found that no matter how he calculated it, the drug business occupied an absolutely important position. If the drug business collapsed, the losses would be far beyond what the casino's annual dividends of hundreds of millions could make up for.
Thinking of this, Albert's face kept changing. He was naturally unwilling to hand over billions of dollars of shares.
"Old friend, you can take your time and think about it, I'm not in a hurry.
Bai Zhentian drank tea slowly and said leisurely: "I heard that the Vietnamese gang in Washington has been very rampant recently. They have provoked both your mafia and the Yamaguchi group?"
Bai Zhentian got the news yesterday that the Vietnamese gang driven out of San Francisco by Hongmen robbed the drug business of three nightclubs in Washington yesterday. He heard that some people died in the conflict.
"Bai, you...you are taking advantage of the situation!" After hearing these words from Bai Zhentian, Albert finally broke out, slapped the table and said, "You...you are going too far."
"Hey, old friend, don't be angry!"
Seeing that Albert's face was distorted with anger, Bai Zhentian said slowly: "Aren't we discussing this? You can completely disagree with my request. There is no loss for us..."
"You...you, okay, let me think about it again!" Although Bai Zhentian's voice was quiet, it defeated Albert at once and made him sit back heavily on the chair.
Because what Bai Zhentian said is right, he asked for this matter. If the other party doesn't take advantage of the situation, then he is not a gangster, but a charity worker.
"Sir, there is another sturgeon. Can we serve it now?"
While Albert was struggling, a chef carrying a plate appeared at the door of the kitchen, but his chef's hat seemed a bit too big, covering most of his face.
"Huh? There's something wrong with this person."
Just when the chef opened his mouth to speak, Qin Feng's goosebumps suddenly exploded and his body tensed up. This was his instinctive reaction to danger.
