The Tyrant Billionaire

Chapter 308: Chapter 308 The Mafia Commission

Hardy received several phone calls. The first was from the old Godfather, who informed him that Barzini was planning to convene a meeting of the Mafia families to discuss the situation in San Francisco. Hardy and the old Godfather talked for nearly an hour.

After that, Hardy received a few more calls from the heads of the Lucchese family in Miami, the Bruno family in Philadelphia, the Marcello family in New Orleans, and others.

These were all shareholders of the "Venetian Grand Hotel" and were very concerned about the events that might unfold.

Hardy explained with a smile, "It's not that the Los Angeles gang is trying to take over territories. The main issue is the internal conflict within the Selton family, which created a power vacuum. Those Latino guys want to take advantage of it. Do you really think I will just sit by and do nothing?"

"Although the Los Angeles Gang isn't a member of the Mafia Commission, it's still rooted in the Mafia. I've always thought of us as one big family. Don't you agree?"

Hardy asked rhetorically.

The heads of the Mafia families felt quite comfortable hearing Hardy express his desire to be part of the Mafia family.

"But you know, the Commission has always been reluctant to accept non Italian members. I understand that, but it's a bit disheartening. I believe that if an enterprise wants to grow, it should embrace diversity. If possible, the Los Angeles gang would very much like to join the Commission."

It's challenging to convene a full meeting of the Mafia Commission, especially since it involves gathering more than twenty family heads. A week later, these heads finally gathered in New York.

Vito Corleone entered the conference hall with Tom. When the other family heads and advisors saw the old Godfather come in, many stood up to greet him.

"Vito, how have you been lately?" someone asked with a smile.

"Very well, thank you. Cunio often invites me to go hunting. I even shot a deer a few days ago," the old Godfather replied with a smile.

The head of the Cunio family laughed and said, "That was the biggest deer on my farm, and he took it down with one shot. I imagine the rest of the herd will run far away now, and it won't be easy to hunt them again."

The others laughed along.

Tom followed behind the old Godfather.

He had only one feeling: respect.

These family heads had grown even more respectful of the Godfather than before.

At the last Commission meeting, the Godfather had been like a wounded lion, surrounded and attacked by a pack of hyenas. But now, all these people had replaced their scowls with smiles.

Tom understood very well why this change had occurred.

It was all because of Hardy.

Although Hardy was not a member of the Mafia Commission and wasn't even part of the Mafia, he had a strong influence over the Mafia.

The Corleone family's recovery to its current state could be entirely attributed to Hardy.

The head of the Barzini family, Emilio Barzini, entered the conference hall along with the heads of the Tattaglia family, Philip, and the Stracci family, Corbo. When they saw the old Godfather chatting and laughing with the others, their expressions darkened even more.

Barzini, the rotating chairman, took his seat at the head of the table.

The other family heads found their seats, and the meeting began.

Barzini glanced at the twenty or so heads present and finally looked at an empty seat, saying, "Gentlemen, have you noticed that our Commission is missing one family head?"

Everyone looked toward the empty seat in unison, knowing that Barzini was referring to Leibel Selton of San Francisco. They also knew why this Commission meeting had been called today.

With a stern expression, Barzini said, "Someone has taken over the Selton family's territory. I'm sure you've all received word. It's the Los Angeles gang. I called this meeting to discuss how to reclaim San Francisco's territory.

"The Selton family is a member of the Commission. When they joined, we made it clear in our bylaws that the Commission would resolve internal family disputes and establish a mutual defense alliance. If any external forces threaten our interests, we must band together to fight the enemy.

"The Selton family has been wiped out, and their territory seized. I called the Commission members here to discuss how to handle this matter. I propose going to war against the Los Angeles gang!"

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Barzini finished speaking and looked around at the others.

The atmosphere in the room was tense.

None of the heads sitting here were fools. They all knew who was involved in this situation. Was it really so easy to go to war with the Los Angeles gang?

The Los Angeles gang was Hardy's.

Many of those present had invested large sums of cash, hundreds of thousands, into the Venetian casino. That was all their family's liquid cash. They weren't foolish enough to ruin their investment by starting a feud with Hardy over Selton.

Many of their gazes drifted toward the old Godfather, Vito Corleone.

The old Godfather looked at Barzini and asked calmly, "Barzini, I'd like to know what reason you have for going to war with the Los Angeles gang?"

"Because they attacked the Selton family and seized San Francisco's territory," Barzini replied coldly.

The old Godfather shook his head slightly, "But what I heard is that the Selton family had an internal conflict. Selton's men fought with his second in command, Trotto's men, resulting in heavy casualties. The survivors were all arrested by the police. It doesn't seem like the Los Angeles gang had anything to do with it."

The head of the Lucchese family nodded, "I heard the same. It seems that the second in command, Trotto, tried to stage a coup. Selton's men failed to kill him, and then both sides started fighting."

The head of the Lucchese family curled his lip disdainfully and said, "To run a family into such a mess, Selton is truly incompetent."

Barzini, with a stern expression, said, "I suspect the whole thing is a conspiracy by the Los Angeles gang."

"And why do you say that?" the old Godfather asked.

"Because they benefited the most from it," Barzini replied.