Chapter 22: An Offer That Can’t Be Refused

Marco sat at the table of the Venosa Cafe, his eyes staring into space. Franco and Salvo were sitting across from him, looking at him expectantly.

"So? Was it a trip to hell?" Franco asked as he sipped his coffee.

Marco didn't answer, just took out a cigarette, lit it, and slowly exhaled the smoke.

"Oh, that's not good." Salvo said, raising his eyebrows. "Marco smokes when he's about to say something crazy."

"He's about to make a stupid decision." Franco commented.

Marco finally looked at them, then said in a low voice, "We've been offered something… something that could change the course of the entire game."

Franco and Salvo exchanged glances.

"What are you talking about?" Franco said.

Marco rested his elbows on the table, then said, "There's a man named Valerio Rossi. He says he's working with a secret agency… Their goal is to end the game completely."

"End the game?" Salvo said in surprise.

"Yes. And not only that, they want to eliminate all ten mafia bosses."

Franco raised his eyebrows. "That's crazy."

"That's suicide." Salvo added.

"That's real." Marco said seriously. "Valerio knows everything about us. He knows we robbed the bank, that Colombo is with us, and that we're looking for a way to take over the game."

Franco was silent for a moment, then said, "And he wants us to be part of their crazy plan?"

"Exactly."

Salvo burst out laughing. "Man, we barely managed to rob a bank without dying! And now we want to go to war with the mafia bosses?!"

Marco threw his cigarette into the ashtray. "That's why I said it's not easy."

Franco thought for a moment, then said, "If this guy is serious, he either has a hellish plan, or he wants us to be cannon fodder in a bigger battle than us."

Marco nodded. "That's why we have to be smart. We can't jump into this madness without knowing more."

"So… what's our next move?" Salvo asked.

Marco looked at them and said with a slight smile, "We'll play our own game."

Emergency Meeting

The next day, Marco, Franco, Salvo, and Columbo gathered in a small room inside the café, where no one else was there.

"Well, I heard the story." Columbo said after Marco finished explaining the encounter with Valerio.

"And you, genius, what do you think?" Franco asked, crossing his arms.

Columbo smiled. "I think Valerio isn't just some random person. If he knows everything about us, that means he has very powerful sources."

"That's what scares me." Marco said.

Columbo nodded. "Well, if we're going to consider cooperating with this guy, we need to know more about who he's working with."

"Also, why now?" Salvo said. "Why haven't they made a move before?"

Franco looked at Marco. "Did he tell you anything about the real reason they're making a move now?"

Marco shook his head. "No, but he said the game was coming to an end."

"Maybe he knows something we don't." Columbo said as he opened his laptop.

Moments later, he started searching for Valerio Rossi, but there was no record of him online.

"What a ghost." Salvo said as he looked at the screen.

"That means he's either a very powerful person hiding his identity, or he's just a fake name." Franco said.

"Either way, we need to know the truth." Marco said, crossing his fingers. "And we'll start looking for anyone who might have information on this guy."

The Double Game

Hours later, Marco was standing in front of a fancy building in the middle of the city, where an old acquaintance of his, a corrupt informant named Diego Cavani, worked for the highest bidder.

When Marco entered, he found him sitting behind his desk, his feet on the table, smoking a cigar.

"Marco! I haven't seen you in a while." Diego said with a sly smile.

"I have a question." Marco said directly.

Diego sighed. "Ah, always straight to the point. Go ahead, ask."

Marco sat down in front of him, then said, "What do you know about a guy named Valerio Rossi?"

At the name, Diego's expression changed, and he slowly put out his cigar.

"Valerio Rossi, then?" he said in a low voice.

Marco noticed the tension in his voice.

"If you know something, you'd better tell me now."

Diego half smiled, then said, "Marco, you're playing with fire."

Marco didn't answer, just continued to stare at him.

Diego sighed. "Okay, I'll tell you what I know, but it'll cost you."

"How much?"

Diego thought for a moment, then said, "Let's say… a future favor."

Marco nodded. "Agreed."

Diego approached him, then said in a low voice, "Valerio Rossi isn't just an ordinary man. He's a ghost, but he works with people more powerful than you can imagine. And if he's gotten close to you… that means something serious is happening in the shadows."

Marco felt a cold shiver run through his body.

"What do you mean?"

Diego gave a small smile, then said,

"I mean, this game you're playing… is no longer just a mafia game."