Without a doubt, Stan had to die.
It wasn't just because he had offended the Lucchese family.
If Stan continued his madness, he would eventually provoke Leon and Mathilda. That collision would trigger a chain of bloodshed, spiraling into tragedy—ending with Stan dead and Leon dying in retaliation.
That outcome, Luca absolutely couldn't allow.
Just like that, his rare card would be destroyed?
What a waste.
Leon was a gem—strong, disciplined, obedient. A professional to the bone. He didn't drink, didn't gamble, didn't chase women. He didn't even negotiate rewards. If Luca remembered correctly, Leon handed over nearly all his earnings to his middleman and kept only a tiny portion for basic living expenses.
Frugal.
Stable.
Perfect material.
And Stan? That rabid narcotics officer was destined to drag him into mutual destruction.
Unacceptable.
Luca Greco—Peace Ambassador of the Lucchese family—loved making friends.
And he especially loved keeping valuable ones alive.
"I will save Leon and Mathilda's fate," Luca muttered with quiet conviction.
Still… it was a pity.
Stan's card wasn't bad at all.
__________________________________________________________________________
Character Card: Norman Stansfield – Rank S
Source: Léon: The Professional
Bond: Strangers
Skills:
Beethoven's Madness
– +20% Combat Power while listening to classical music
– If the music is interrupted, an additional +20% Combat Power
– After the climax ends, −50% Combat Power
– Cooldown: 3 hours
Learning Requirement: Close Friend Bond + 50 Skill Fragments
Wolf's Sense of Smell
– +20% drug detection efficiency
– +20% probability of detecting enemy disguises
Learning Requirement: Close Friend Bond + 50 Skill Fragments
__________________________________________________________________________
Two skills.
To be honest, Luca wasn't impressed.
Not outstanding. Not terrible. Mediocre—but functional.
The first skill required background music.
Unfortunately, Luca was a man of action. He didn't understand Beethoven things. He certainly wasn't going to carry a portable record player into a gunfight.
The second skill was more interesting.
Stan's nose was sharp. In the original trajectory of events, Leon nearly escaped—until Stan detected him and shot him in the back.
That alone made it troublesome.
As for drug detection?
Luca wasn't a narcotics officer.
He ran peace through leverage, alliances, and selective elimination—not evidence lockers.
The real issue was different.
These skills were unattainable.
Bond Requirement: Close Friend.
Develop a close friendship with Stan?
Impossible.
Luca was Lucchese.
Stan was corrupt DEA.
They were natural enemies. Worse, Stan was paranoid, unstable, neurotic. He trusted no one. The idea of earning his genuine trust was laughable.
For dangerous characters whose bonds could not be cultivated, Luca followed a simple rule:
Distance.
Or elimination.
Peace required pruning.
There was, for example, a certain psychiatrist locked away in a Pennsylvania mental institution—a man with refined taste in human flesh. An SSR card, undoubtedly. But Luca had zero interest in befriending someone who might one day marinate him in Chianti.
Some people were better left uncollected.
Or buried.
---
The Next Afternoon — Bronx Pizza Shop
The smell of grease and tomato sauce lingered in the cramped shop.
Luca sat across from Jimmy and Henry, casually folding his napkin.
"How much do you know about Stan?" Luca asked. "The narcotics officer."
This mission required more than a bullet.
They needed intelligence.
And the missing goods.
Jimmy wiped his mouth. "He's DEA team leader. Has a few agents under him."
Henry spat angrily, "That bastard's a dealer. If I'd known the DEA hired drug dealers, I would've applied."
Jimmy scoffed. "He sells seized drugs immediately. Double-crossing is his specialty."
Henry added, "Half the gangs in New York get supply through him. Safe. Reliable. No police knocking."
Luca fell silent.
The largest drug distributor in New York… working inside the DEA.
America truly rewarded efficiency.
Why struggle on a Mexican border when you could operate with federal immunity?
Luca smiled gently.
"Find out which gangs he supplies," he instructed. "And locate the stash house. They can't be storing it inside the DEA. There must be a safe house."
Jimmy nodded.
Henry's eyes gleamed. "We robbing them? They've seized tons of product. That's a fortune."
Henry was talented in robbery. Airports, armored trucks—audacious and reckless.
Luca's smile widened, almost warm.
Admirable courage.
Useful courage.
Two days later, they would move.
But fate moved first.
---
Two Days Later — Morning, Bronx Apartment Building
Noise filled the hallway.
Matilda opened her door, peeking across.
Renovation workers carried luxurious designer furniture into the unit opposite hers.
Yesterday, the old lady had left overnight. Before leaving, she had stuffed snacks into Matilda's hands with trembling kindness.
And now—new tenants.
In this slum?
Suspicious.
"Why aren't you at school?"
Her father's voice exploded behind her.
Mr. Landos's fleshy face twisted with irritation.
"Skipped again? I prepaid a year of tuition! The school calls me daily! Miss one more class and they'll confiscate everything!"
"I forgot the way," she said flatly.
"Then stay inside!"
He raised his hand.
She closed her eyes.
The slap never came.
When she opened them, a tall man stood beside her.
Hand gripping her father's wrist.
Immovable.
"Could you lower your volume?" the man said mildly. "It's my first day here. I prefer peaceful mornings."
He smiled down at Matilda.
"Is this some distant relative? Only relatives behave so generously with discipline."
She laughed.
Mr. Lando's struggled, failed, and reached for a knife.
A blur.
Pain.
The knife was suddenly in the stranger's hand.
Cold steel touched Norman's throat.
"I sleep lightly," the man continued. "Noise irritates me."
His gaze shifted to the bruise on Matilda's forehead.
His smile faded.
"I also dislike people who hit children."
His voice remained calm.
"If you touch them again, this knife will open your throat before the child makes a sound."
Mr. Lando's trembled.
"I understand…"
Luca released him and returned to his apartment.
He didn't kill him.
Not yet.
Stan's informant.
Drug custodian.
Information source.
Peace required patience.
In the room, he exhaled in relief—then rage returned.
He raised his hand again.
"Go ahead," Matilda said coldly. "I'll tell him. And then you die."
The slap never landed.
Minutes later, she stood outside Luca's door, cigarette between her lips.
Knock.
Door opened.
She leaned against the frame lazily.
"Uncle neighbor," she said, "can I borrow a lighter?"
Luca stared at the interface.
__________________________________________________________________________
[You prevented domestic violence.]
[Peace in neighboring unit upheld.]
[Skill Points +4]
[Skill Fragment +1]
Character Card Discovered: Matilda Lando – Rank SSR
Source: Léon: The Professional
Bond: Strangers
Trauma Imprint
For every deeply bonded individual (family, trusted partner) who dies, combat power permanently +5%.
Learning Requirement: Partner Bond or above + 150 Skill Fragments.
Dexterity
+20% efficiency when learning assassin-related skills.
Learning Requirement: Close Friend + 50 Skill Fragments.
Harmless Disguise
When approaching targets disguised as a harmless identity (student, courier, etc.), target alertness -20%.
Learning Requirement: Close Friend + 50 Skill Fragments.
Forbidden Dependency
When fighting alongside a Symbiotic Partner: Combat Power +50%.
If partner is in danger: +100%.
If partner dies: Permanent +100%.
Learning Requirement: Achieve Symbiosis Bond + 300 Skill Fragments.
Advanced Lucky Aura
When encountering major trouble, you will suffer setbacks—but ultimately resolve the crisis through improbable fortune.
(The greater the trouble, the stronger the initial setbacks.)
Learning Requirement: Symbiosis Bond + 3000 Skill Fragments.
__________________________________________________________________________
Matilda is SSR Character with Five skills.
Five.
His eyelid twitched.
This problematic child… is SSR?
And not low-tier SSR.
Trauma Mark.
Advanced Lucky Aura.
Those skill names alone were outrageous.
He looked at the cigarette between her fingers.
She didn't look legendary.
She looked broken.
Which, sometimes, was far more valuable.
Luca slowly smiled.
Perhaps eliminating Stansfield wasn't the only variable worth adjusting.
Perhaps this wasn't just about saving Leon.
Perhaps—
The Butcher had just discovered a far rarer card than he expected.
And Luca Greco never ignored rare assets.
Never.
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