Plots and Schemes

Nico looked at the scenery passing by his car's window, deep in thought. From time to time, his eyes shone with a hint of excitement and anticipation. After David had told him that the mysterious party that had burned their storehouse in Hell's Kitchen might very well be related to the Cosmopolitan, he was over the moon.

The knowledge regarding that elusive organization was strongly guarded in New York, but he had always considered himself to be a widely connected man in the underworld, so naturally, he'd heard a rumor or two about them.

It wasn't until a few months back when he had overheard the consigliere of the family, Marcel, talking about the Cosmopolitan with the underboss, Angelo, that he was able to confirm its existence. He knew that the family wanted membership in the organization to gain an upper hand against the Buccantis.

Although—on the surface, at least—the war between the families had ceased, there were still strong undercurrents. After all, after having been beaten to such an extent by the Buccantis, how could the Rosetti family take it lying down?

That was why the result of David's investigation was so crucial. If Nico were to give this valuable piece of intel to the consigliere, his standing in the family would naturally elevate. Thus, he'd been trying to get a meeting with the consigliere ever since David had informed him of his findings.

But it took him a couple of months just to get a ten-minute meeting with the consigliere. One could imagine just how busy Marcel must be, or he had simply forgotten about the meeting and delayed it out of general procrastination.

Nico believed it to be the latter. After all, he knew just how much of an incompetent idiot the consigliere was. However, none of that mattered now. Once he gave the buffoon information regarding the Cosmopolitan, he would be sure to receive some benefits.

After he reached his destination, Nico stepped out and entered Marcel's house in Staten Island. He directly climbed to the second floor and entered the study, which also served as Marcel's office.

After entering the study, Nico respectfully greeted Marcel, who was sitting at his table and eating a slice of chocolate croissant. "Good morning, boss."

Marcel picked up a croissant and replied without looking, "What is it, Nico? I don't have much time, make it quick."

Nico couldn't help but inwardly curse, 'You good for nothing son of a bitch!' However, on the surface, he displayed a submissive smile and replied, "Boss, you're aware that one of our storehouses caught fire a few months back, yes?"

Marcel grumbled, "Get to the fuckin' point."

Nico's eyebrow twitched, but he maintained a respectful demeanor and continued, "Long story short, the person behind the fire is related to the Cosmopolitan Club."

CLINK!

The spoon in Marcel's hand fell to the floor and he stared at Nico with a dumbfounded look. "What the fuck did you just say?"

Nico nodded, a trace of smugness flashing past his eyes. "A few months back there was a huge fight in Hell's Kitchen, which resulted in one of our storehouses getting burned. But the strange thing was that we didn't find any clues about the people involved in the fight—"

"Stop, stop, stop!" Marcel got to his feet, walked toward Nico, and grabbed his shoulders. "That name… how do you know of that place!?" The shock in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Nico's lips curled up into a slight smirk. "I naturally have my ways, boss."

Marcel intently stared at Nico, trying to catch the other party lacking. In the end, he sighed and turned around. He had thought he'd be able to catch Nico lying by staring into his eyes, just like he'd seen in movies. However, he failed. Either that, or he simply didn't know what to do.

He walked toward the window with his hands clasped behind his back. "Tell me everything."

'You idiot, I was telling you everything but you keep interrupting,' Nico cursed in his mind as he clenched his fists. He took a deep breath, then recounted everything that had happened from the beginning, all the way to David finding the mysterious party's trail at the Cosmopolitan.

After listening to the report, Marcel stayed silent for a long time. Nico didn't dare to disturb him, but in the reflection in the window, he saw a wide grin on the consigliere's face.

Marcel muttered in excitement, "This is the perfect opportunity to get the family into the Cosmopolitan." Although he'd heard Nico say that the guards at the Cosmopolitan had strictly warned David never to come back again, he conveniently ignored it.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, how could he ignore it just because of something a random security guard had said? He turned around and looked at Nico, asking, "You said that punk David found this intel?"

Nico respectfully nodded. Although he didn't like the kid, he had to give credit where credit was due. Moreover, he didn't want to lie to the higher-ups. Lying would only lead to having to lie even more in the future, and that would surely bring trouble.

Marcel suddenly began laughing. "Cut David out from this. You and I will take the credit." He didn't have anything against the kid, but he didn't like him all that much, either.

Moreover, he knew that the underboss, Angelo, had detested David ever since the day the boy was made. David's expressionless face that day had truly struck Angelo's nerves for some reason.

As for Marcel, the heavy bootlicker that he was, how could he support David when Angelo hated him? So he wouldn't even bat an eye while trying to snatch credit from David. Needless to say, this was the Cosmopolitan they were talking about; it was a big deal!

Nico was slightly taken aback by the consigliere's decision. He was under the impression that all the higher-ups had a very good impression of David, but it seemed not all of them did. His lips curled up into a sly smile as he replied, "As you say, boss."

He was more than happy to kick David down and take the limelight off of him. The two of them sat down on the couch and began discussing what their next steps should be and how they should approach the Cosmopolitan.

After hammering out the details, Marcel lit up a Cuban cigar and began to smoke. He then looked at Nico and smirked. "Since you've brought such wonderful news to me, I'll let you in on something."

"What is it, boss?" Nico displayed a fawning smile.

"The Don's daughter is getting married to a very important person from overseas," Marcel inhaled the smoke and then blew it out in a ring. "By that time, if the family's become a member of the Cosmopolitan, we'll have a slightly stronger bargaining chip. You understand what I'm saying, Nico?"

Nico, being the shrewd man that he was, instantly began making connections in his mind. For the Rosetti family to have an increase, even if only a slight one, in their bargaining power after just becoming a member of the Cosmopolitan only went to show just how powerful and influential the organization was.

It wasn't uncommon for the five families to use marriages to build an alliance. Nico focused on the keyword: 'overseas'. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he exclaimed, "Don't tell me! The Don's daughter is getting married to…."

Marcel laughed loudly, "You're a smart man, Nico. I like you. We can present the Cosmopolitan membership to the don as a gift. He'll be sure to reward us greatly."

Nico nodded with great enthusiasm. "You're absolutely right, boss."

Marcel felt that Nico was very pleasing to the eye. Hence, he generously said, "Continue serving me well, Nico. Money, fame, power... you name it, everything will be in your hands."

Nico inwardly sneered. He knew better than to follow a fool, but this fool just so happened to have the boss's ear. Thus, he decided to lick Marcel's boots for as long as possible until the idiot had served his usefulness.

Then he'd find another person to leech from, all the way until, one day, he would finally reach the top. Nico was a very ambitious man, and for his ambitions, he would do anything, even if it meant that others would step all over his pride.

Marcel suddenly remembered about the person to whom all the credit should rightfully go and added, "And give that kid some money as a reward." His eyes glinted with a crafty gleam. "I still have some use for him."

[Countdown: 200 days…]