Operation: Winning Sylas's Trust
Teaming up with his father, Sylas would orchestrate an assassination for the two of them.
This current operation, however, was designed to upend the process entirely.
Specifically, Rocco's aim was to prevent the development of the grudge Sylas was supposed to harbor against him, a critical step in the chain of events that was leading to his doom.
Two actions were necessary to achieve this.
First, Rocco needed to make it abundantly clear to Sylas—and to everyone else in the main family—that there was no bond or alliance whatsoever between him and his mother.
Second, to minimize the chances of being disliked or resented, he would have to shower Sylas with as much goodwill as possible, selling every ounce of charm he could muster.
The earlier shrimp incident had already helped serve the first objective.