Two days later, Luke stepped off the ship in a brigadier general's dress uniform, surrounded by an entourage.
The open area at Palermo Harbor was packed with Mafia members who had come to welcome him.
A group of fierce-looking thugs in suits stood in neat rows, with Alessandro at their head.
Eisenhower's Anglo-American Allied forces had already taken over Italy and begun hunting down fascists attempting a comeback, just as Mussolini had once purged the Mafia.
The wheel of fortune had turned, and now it was the Mafia's turn to strike back.
"General..."
Glancing at Luke's shoulder marks and the retinue behind him, Alessandro cautiously changed his form of address.
The Mafia boss still wore the same humble expression as before, though he was even more respectful now.
Following Luke might have been the wisest decision he had ever made.
Two weeks ago, Luke had only been an Allied captain. Now, he had already been promoted to brigadier general.
His rise through the ranks was like riding a rocket!
Moreover, Luke was now the universally recognized War Hero of the Allied Nations, a legendary figure who had led his troops to conquer Italy!
Such a world-shaking achievement would still be eagerly discussed even a hundred years from now.
Alessandro felt that being part of it was no different from having his name recorded in history.
For a gangster to receive such an honor, what greater glory could there be!
"Madam Marlena is still staying at the same hotel. Once she learned you had returned to Sicily, she began preparing a welcome for you."
Alessandro bent slightly at the waist. He knew times had changed, and even his attitude toward Marlena had become more respectful.
"Why didn't she come to the harbor?"
Luke lifted his head and looked toward the crowds gathered beyond the docks.
Many of them were eagerly hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure Roosevelt and Churchill had called "Superman."
"Madam Marlena said it would be inappropriate for her to appear with you in public, General."
Alessandro lowered his head.
Luke's eyes flickered, and the corner of his mouth rose. "I understand. Cosa, are you satisfied with your life now?"
"I'm very satisfied! The sheriff appointed to the town treats me with great respect, and the governor of Palermo even came to visit me yesterday. I owe it all to you."
Alessandro nodded.
He had gained both power and status.
In Sicily now, everyone who saw him would take off their hats and respectfully call him "sir."
Even the head of the Camorra Family did the same.
Luke swept his gaze over the fierce-looking Mafia members and spoke as he walked. "I can give you another chance to choose. After the war ends, the Allied Nations have differing opinions on how Italy should be handled."
"America believes Italy should be placed under United Nations trusteeship, while the British care only about their overseas colonies and want to swallow up this cake. The Soviet Union believes joint trusteeship by the three nations would be more prudent. For now, no one can persuade the others."
Alessandro frowned in thought. The country's future would determine the Mafia's path forward.
Once Luke got into the car, he continued, "No matter the outcome, the Mafia families are destined to decline. You are merely products of an unstable society. Once order is restored, the state will crack down on you, just as Mussolini did after taking power to win public support."
"Cosa, I acknowledge your abilities. So, you can choose to remain in Sicily, continue enjoying your life, and manage a family..."
"Or you can come with me to North America, where there are more opportunities."
After saying that, Luke closed his eyes, seeming to rest while also waiting for an answer.
Alessandro considered it for a long time, his expression shifting constantly.
They remained silent all the way until they reached the hotel, when he finally made his decision.
"General, being able to follow you is my greatest honor!"
Luke merely smiled as he stepped out of the car and said nothing more.
This time, when Luke returned to New York with the Howling Commandos, he no longer needed to stay in his old house in Brooklyn.
Instead, he was warmly welcomed by influential dignitaries and high-ranking officials, then moved into a luxurious room at the Waldorf Hotel.
It was the world's first skyscraper hotel and carried considerable historical significance.
When it was first completed, President Hoover had even delivered a special congratulatory speech from his Cabinet office at the White House.
Just as he had said, the Waldorf Hotel was a landmark of New York. It had always been favored by political leaders from various nations and had witnessed many historic events.
For instance, after World War II ended, representatives from America, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union had signed the "World Peace Agreement" in a suite within its tower.
That tower was no ordinary place either. It had hosted the King of Monaco, the Queen of England ****** and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
Now, Luke had the good fortune to stay in a tower suite at the Waldorf Hotel, just like countless famous figures before him.
"This really is..."
Marlena looked up at the bright, glittering crystal chandelier and the luxurious furnishings, as though she had fallen into a dream.
She had never imagined that someone from the Sicilian countryside like herself would one day live in such a place.
Happiness had come so suddenly that Marlena could hardly believe it.
And now, no man dared stare at her with undisguised greed anymore.
All because she was Luke's lover.
Power and status had given shelter to a pitiful woman whose fate should have been tragic.
"You can settle down here for now. Cosa will keep you safe."
Luke leaned back into the soft sofa, with Marlena sitting on his lap.
Alessandro had brought around three hundred men with him as he followed Luke out of Sicily and onto the unfamiliar continent of North America.
Their countrymen had long since made names for themselves, moving through high-end venues and mingling with politicians and Hollywood stars.
"I never trust gangs, but sometimes they can handle dirty work for you. The Mafia members who crossed the ocean to America have no one else to rely on. They can only cling tightly to me."
Luke breathed in the delicate fragrance of the mature woman's hair and spoke leisurely.
He was already a brigadier general. After defeating the Axis Powers and Hydra, he might advance even further and become the youngest major general in federal history.
But status did not represent everything. He needed money, connections, and a deeply intertwined web of interests to support him.
The Mafia could serve as one cornerstone during this special period.
Luke had set his sights on Las Vegas, Nevada, a gold mine waiting to be developed.
Years earlier, America had been in the midst of the Great Depression. To stimulate the economy and survive the crisis, the Nevada legislature passed a bill legalizing gambling.
From then on, Las Vegas became a gambling city, though it was still far from achieving the fame it would have in later generations.
Having once run with the Irish Mob, Luke had no desire to get involved in the immensely profitable businesses of smuggling and drugs.
They would bring too much unnecessary trouble. Eventually, he might even end up in the awkward position of constantly cleaning up the Mafia's messes.
But Las Vegas's gambling, hotels, and security industry were all fields where the Mafia could truly shine.
If they got involved before the gambling city developed, they should be able to reap some unexpected rewards.
In the original timeline, Las Vegas had also been paved by Benjamin Siegel, another Mafia member. He raised six million dollars to build the Flamingo Hotel and a large casino, drawing wealthy tycoons from all over the world.
"You always see so far ahead."
Marlena spoke admiringly, and soon afterward, she was laid down on the sofa.
Her black wavy hair spread out like lotus petals, and a faint blush colored her beautiful face.
"It's daytime..."
Marlena said weakly.
"Don't misunderstand. I just thought this sofa was soft and wanted to test its quality."
Luke's words were perfectly serious, but his hands moved with practiced skill.
Beyond the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, the faint sound of car horns drifted in.
PS: Thank you to Qidian Space for the 5,000-point reward, Seeker of Immortality for 1,000 points, World-Ending Demon for 1,000 points, Mama1234 for 1,000 points, The Moon Who Wants to Help You Because I Love You for 500 points, Qingfeng's Dojo for 100 points, Behold All Mountains and Rivers for 100 points, Mu Xiaoyao for 100 points, Addicted Me for 100 points, Anima for 100 points, I Just Want a Name but It's So Hard for 100 points, hearts~
PS2: The author has fallen down and needs bookmarks, recommendations, and investments to get back up~
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