Chapter 2085: The Mafia

Shopping abroad isn't as troublesome as one might think. After all, prices are clearly marked, and as long as you have money in your card, you can buy anything.

Just like Zhao Fusheng and his bodyguards, they quickly bought a large pile of things.

"This won't do."

Looking at the items everyone was carrying, Zhao Fusheng said helplessly, "Let's put them in the car first."

The bodyguards all laughed. They were all men, and when it came to shopping, they really had no talent.

Buy, buy, buy.

That was the characteristic of all men when shopping.

They didn't haggle or pick carefully; basically, they just went with whatever caught their eye.

"Alright, that's it."

After loading everything into the car, Zhao Fusheng said to the bodyguards, "Let's head back."

"Okay."

They all exchanged glances, and finally the shift leader nodded.

After all, they were in a foreign land, unfamiliar with the place. They knew that their main job was just to accompany Zhao Fusheng.

"By the way, does anyone here understand Italian?"

Zhao Fusheng asked casually.

He hadn't really noticed this before. It was only when he sat in the car that he remembered that just now, one of his bodyguards had spoken in Italian with someone here.

That was pretty impressive!

Logically, most of the people around him were military veterans, but being proficient in Italian was quite unexpected.

"I do." A bodyguard sitting in the back raised his hand.

"How did you learn?" Zhao Fusheng was quite surprised.

"I participated in a covert operation before and picked up a bit." The man said apologetically.

Zhao Fusheng blinked and gave a thumbs up.

Now that was talent!

Just then, a commotion broke out ahead.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Gunfire!"

The bodyguards reacted quickly. The convoy stopped, and weapons appeared in their hands instantly.

Abroad, they felt more at ease than in China because they could apply for gun permits. As soon as they left the country, Zhao Fusheng had arranged for them to carry weapons.

After all, being abroad, safety came first.

"What's going on?"

Zhao Fusheng was also startled, but he remained calm, crouching behind the car seats under the protection of his bodyguards.

"I'll go listen."

The bodyguard who knew Italian got out of the car and cautiously looked into the distance.

"Old Jiang, what's happening?"

The leader asked.

"Looks like the Sicilian Mafia." The bodyguard called Old Jiang said. "Probably a vendetta."

"Holy shit!"

Zhao Fusheng exclaimed.

The Mafia?

Anyone who had seen The Godfather knew that Italy's most famous exports, besides football, were the Sicilian Mafia.

"Why aren't they wearing suits?"

Zhao Fusheng peeked and asked curiously.

"Probably an assassination."

As the commotion ahead gradually subsided, the convoy quickly detoured and headed elsewhere.

They were Chinese, so naturally they had no interest in getting involved in Italian conflicts.

"Speaking of which, these Mafia guys are pretty cool."

Zhao Fusheng said with a smile from inside the car. "In the movies, they're always in suits and ties, much better than those gangsters in our domestic films."

Everyone in the car laughed. Old Jiang, who knew Italian, shook his head and said, "Chairman, those gangsters in our country are just low-level thugs. They get tattoos of dragons or Guan Yu, not caring if they can bear the burden."

"Yeah."

The others in the car nodded in agreement, as they knew a bit more.

"The Mafia."

Zhao Fusheng smiled along with them but didn't say anything more.

Throughout the ride, he kept thinking about the Mafia.

Originally, Zhao Fusheng had considered expanding his business in Italy, since his parents were here and he owned an island.

But after witnessing the gunfight today, he hesitated.

When he got home, he gave the gifts to Fan Baobao and his mother. As expected, everyone was delighted and very satisfied with his behavior of buying gifts even when away.

Back upstairs, Zhao Fusheng dialed Liu Yiming's number.

"Look into the situation of the Italian Mafia." Zhao Fusheng instructed Liu Yiming.

Although Liu Yiming was a bit surprised, he nodded and agreed.

Soon, he sent the information to Zhao Fusheng's email.

Looking at the data in his email, Zhao Fusheng remained silent for a long time.

The Italian Mafia had always been world-renowned. Unlike in the movies, the real-life Italian Mafia was hidden in all levels of society, with ever-changing identities.

They could be a newspaper stand clerk, or an art investor attending a fashion party. They could be the kindly old man taking a walk on your street, or an indignant politician in government, or a refined intellectual.

Even more, they could be a priest in a Catholic church, or a financial tycoon on the cover of Time magazine...

In short, the Mafia's real face was ever-changing, which was one of the difficulties for Italians in combating them.

The Italian government had considered cracking down on this organization, but it was fraught with difficulties.

First, the Mafia had极强的报复心和耐心. If someone stood in their way, their solution was simple: kill that person. If they couldn't kill him, they would kill his family, even women and children.

Don't think that leaving or waiting a while would escape misfortune. The Mafia's death list was always in effect. Even if the boss who gave the order died or went to prison, someone else would continue to carry out the assassination.

Nor should one think that a condemned person protected by bodyguards and soldiers could find refuge. The Mafia would lurk in the shadows like hungry wolves, waiting for any opportunity to strike.

Similarly, the Mafia's assassinations applied equally to their own members. If someone betrayed or informed the police, even in prison with the strictest protection, they would not escape death.

Because the Mafia was everywhere, penetrating every crack.

Additionally, the Mafia had a strict code of secrecy internally.

Although this code was unwritten, for half a century, almost no internal member had violated it.

Naturally, there were occasional defectors or traitors, but their fates were not good, often involving their entire families.

If a stubborn police officer or judge wanted to thoroughly investigate the Mafia, it would inevitably involve politics, business, and even the Vatican. That person would be isolated, restricted in power, or even transferred.

Of course, there was also the Mafia's deadly pursuit. Ordinary investigations, like seizing a kilogram of cocaine on a merchant ship, would result in a few scapegoats being caught. The Mafia never lacked positions; they had an endless supply of replacements.

This country, from top to bottom, was infiltrated by various organizations.

"Italy is doomed."

Zhao Fusheng made his judgment after reading the information.

No one knew better than him what a country became when its government lost its autonomy.

South Korea and Mexico were the most obvious examples.

Shaking his head, Zhao Fusheng ultimately abandoned some of his earlier ideas.

No wonder Italy's economy was declining, with political corruption and gangs rampant, wealth concentrated in the hands of a few. It would be strange if such a country didn't have problems.

"What are you doing?"

Just then, Fan Baobao came upstairs and saw Zhao Fusheng sitting there staring blankly at the computer. She asked curiously.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. "Nothing, just company stuff."

"Oh."

Fan Baobao was a bit surprised but nodded.

Generally, she rarely interfered in Zhao Fusheng's company matters.

"Let's eat."

Seeing Zhao Fusheng still in a daze, Fan Baobao said to him.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, saved the data on his computer, and went downstairs to eat.

...

...

The gunfight he encountered today had a profound impact on Zhao Fusheng.

"Dad, do you think the Mafia might come to our island to collect protection money?"

After dinner, while his mother and mother-in-law took the kids out to play, Zhao Fusheng asked his father.

"You know, it's possible."

Zhao's father thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng, "I've heard that the Italian Mafia is particularly rampant."

"Yeah, today I..."

Zhao Fusheng then recounted his experience today to his father.

Finally, Zhao Fusheng said, "How about this: I'll have Zhang Qian transfer some people over, and we'll fortify this place. What do you think?"

"I think that's a good idea."

Zhao's father pondered for a moment and nodded.

For the father and son, nothing was more important than the safety of their family.

If it were just himself, Zhao's mother, or Li Yuan, Zhao's father might not care much. They were old and frail; even if the Mafia came and demanded more than 100,000 euros, Zhao's father would tell Zhao Fusheng to let them kill the hostages.

But with his precious grandchildren here, it was different.

For Zhao's father, his grandson and granddaughter were now his life. As the two little ones grew day by day, he was overjoyed and couldn't bear to let them suffer any grievance.

Thus, Zhao Fusheng's proposal quickly gained his father's approval.