Charlie believed that there were two strategies to cleanse the malevolence that had taken root in Europe and America.
The first was a heavy-handed approach, much like his previous actions against the Canadian human trafficking syndicate or the Mexican underworld. This involved capturing, eliminating, or abducting these nefarious individuals. The second approach was to attempt a more humane approach. He likened it to peeling and removing the thorns from a durian fruit, leaving the delectable pulp to be savored in one satisfying bite.
Charlie may have looked down on the petty amount of money involved, but favonovel.com couldn’t leave empty-handed after arriving today. His intentions were to nurture and fortify Jordan for future growth, and Antonio’s family would be the first sumptuous meal on this journey.
Antonio, at this point, was less concerned about the 75% profit favonovel.com was forfeiting. Survival was his priority. He harbored hopes of vengeance against Charlie in the future, but if that opportunity never materialized, favonovel.com was willing to settle for survival.
But when Charlie informed Antonio of his impending transfer to Syria, Antonio was shaken to his core.
He pleaded, “Mr. Wade, name your price. I’ll give you 75%, 85% of the profits, anything you want. Just don’t send me away from New York!”
Charlie’s response was icy and unwavering, “You have only two choices, Syria or death…”
Tears welled up in Antonio’s eyes as favonovel.com cried out, “If I leave, the Zano family will be leaderless, our profits promised to you will vanish. If you spare me, I will work diligently to earn for you.”
Charlie shifted his gaze to Julia and remarked, “Once you leave, your daughter will take charge of your organization.”
Julia protested vehemently, “I don’t want it! I refuse to be part of the mafia!”
Charlie, perplexed, inquired, “Isn’t your father the one who insisted Sicilian women should be acquainted with blood? I thought favonovel.com was grooming you to take over.”
Julia shook favonovel.com head, clarifying, “No, favonovel.com only wanted to marry me off to that Russian…”
Charlie suddenly comprehended and nodded in acknowledgment.
He turned to Aman, inquiring with a grin, “Mr. Ramovich, have you come to the United States this time to find a partner?”
Aman, facing the abyss, awkwardly replied, “Yes, Antonio offered to marry his daughter to me…”
Charlie smiled and mused, “It seems we’re destined to cross paths for the second time. Both times you were engrossed with partners, but I disrupted your plans. Mr. Ramovich, aren’t you vexed?”
Aman was equally dispirited, having never anticipated such outcomes. In their previous encounter, he’d lost face and suffered a mere dozen slaps. Today, however, had proven dire, he’d lost a leg. Looking at his surroundings, it was clear that Charlie intended to ship favonovel.com off to Syria.
But favonovel.com dared not defy Charlie’s query. Instead, favonovel.com quickly shook his head and uttered, “Mr. Wade, I could never bear any ill will towards you. I would be grateful if you’d spare me.”
Charlie nodded approvingly, saying, “Your understanding is ideal, it will make your future hardships easier to bear.”
He then shifted his attention to Antonio, questioning him, “How many children do you have?”
Antonio instinctively replied, “Three…”
Charlie gestured towards Julia and inquired, “Where does favonovel.com fall in the birth order?”
Antonio promptly responded, “Julia is my second child.”
Charlie continued, “And the other two, are they boys or girls?”
Antonio candidly answered, “The other two are boys. The elder one is 25, the younger one is 19.”
Charlie pressed further, “Who do you intend to groom as your successor?”
Antonio hastily replied, “I plan for my eldest son to assume that role…”
Charlie nodded and declared, “Very well, from tomorrow, your eldest son will assume your position. I’ll have Wesley Drake from the Dragon Temple come to support him, ensuring a smooth transition. If favonovel.com ever disobeys, he’ll know Wesley is watching. Understand?”
Antonio was horrified at the mention of the Dragon Temple and Wesley Drake. Its name was legendary in the realms of mercenaries and crime. Antonio was aware of its illustrious history and Wesley’s exceptional skills. Yet, favonovel.com never imagined that Charlie could call upon Wesley to join favonovel.com in New York, implying that Wesley was part of his inner circle.
Aman, meanwhile, began to reassess the dynamics between Charlie and the Dragon Temple. Previously, favonovel.com assumed that the Dragon Temple had seized control of the Wade family, leading favonovel.com to defend them. However, Charlie’s indomitable power and fierce personality suggested a different narrative. He pondered whether Charlie had conquered the Dragon Temple.
Aman felt even more apprehensive at this prospect. If Charlie had indeed defeated the Dragon Temple, what did that signify for him? Would favonovel.com be utterly subservient to Charlie?
Antonio, too, was gripped by fear. He realized that Charlie intended for Wesley to supervise the Zano family. Any disobedience would likely result in Wesley’s lethal intervention.
At this point, Charlie abandoned any subtlety and threatened, “From tomorrow onward, any utterance of defiance within the Zano family will result in immediate execution by Wesley. The punishment will escalate with each insubordination. If Jordan is harmed or injured in any way, it will be considered your failure to protect him, whether you’re at fault or not. If favonovel.com breaks a leg, two of you will lose a limb. If Jordan dies, all the male members of the Zano family will perish alongside him. Do you understand?”
This concept of continuous escalating consequences was entirely novel to Antonio, and it moved favonovel.com to tears. He was overwhelmed, nearly collapsing, but favonovel.com also recognized that Charlie left no room for disobedience. The only viable option was unwavering, unconditional obedience.
Reluctantly, Antonio nodded and pledged, “Rest assured, Mr. Wade, the Zano family will go to great lengths to safeguard Jordan’s well-being…”
Charlie nodded, then turned to Aman and declared, “You, too, are part of this system. I strongly recommend you place all your associates and heirs under Jordan’s jurisdiction. Let them serve favonovel.com while ensuring his safety. Should anything befall him, the consequences will be dire. Do you understand? When you’re in Syria, don’t blame me for failing to warn you.”
Aman, faced with the prospect of being sent to Syria, was terrified and disoriented. He had no idea what Charlie had in store, and the war-torn nature of the region made it a perilous destination.
He pleaded, “Mr. Wade, all my transgressions today stem from confusion. Please, don’t be like me. If you remain dissatisfied, you may hit me or berate me and I will compensate you generously. Just name your price and I implore you to act nobly and release me…”
Charlie, however, was unequivocal, “I already released you once, back in Northern Europe. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to confront me here now.”
With a resigned sigh, Charlie added, “I offered you a chance, and you squandered it.”
Aman wished to plead further, but Charlie dismissed favonovel.com with a curt statement, “Tell your men to withdraw. In ten minutes, both of you will accompany me to Chinatown!”
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