Niall had said everything that needed to be said, even some things that were a bit ahead of the curve. The rest was up to Charlie Luciano's judgment.
After Niall left, Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky sat down together. There had been so much going on today, from morning till afternoon, and dinner time was almost here. The two of them hadn't even had a hot meal yet.
But with so much going on and the stakes so high, they couldn't afford to relax. Once they entered the mafia world—a world full of opportunities—they had to keep their hearts as strong as the mafia required.
As they sat together, they reflected on what Niall had said about the relationship between Japan and the United States. They had a vague understanding of the issue, but it wasn't as clear to them as it was to Niall. They knew that, while there was no direct military conflict between the two countries at the moment, the underlying tension had never stopped.
For example, in the movie Pearl Harbor, there's a scene where a Japanese-owned barbershop is located near a U.S. military airbase. The Japanese barbers would have been able to observe U.S. military aircraft—how many planes there were, how much reserve they had, how often they practiced takeoffs and landings, and so on.
Do you think the barbershop owner simply watched these things casually every day? Or did he take careful notes, compile them, and secretly send the information to Tokyo?
It's obvious, right?
However, Charlie Luciano didn't have that much cash to go around. The three million dollars from the Japanese could significantly alleviate the financial situation of the Italian mafia.
Moreover, since this money had been brought openly to the auction, it was clean and could withstand scrutiny. Using it wouldn't be problematic. It was far easier than trying to pool cash from other gray industries and laundering the money repeatedly.
"Maybe we can approach this from a different angle," Meyer Lansky said as he looked out at the setting sun.
"How do you mean?" Charlie Luciano was a bit uncertain.
"A Japanese fund under U.S. surveillance is better than one that isn't, right? Which would the government approve of more?" Meyer Lansky asked.
"Hm! So, you're saying…"
"Let's first get feedback from New York and Washington."
Meyer Lansky didn't elaborate further. His idea wasn't fully formed yet. After all, in mafia business, one person's word wasn't enough; they needed official approval before taking action.
Charlie Luciano, who always sought to avoid direct confrontation with the government, knew that any transaction with the government could avoid legal troubles. He had a lot of influential contacts in the Great Lakes region. These were people with whom he dealt in money and allure, but sometimes these relationships felt remarkably "pure."
There was no need to go directly to the top—after all, the president was a very busy man, dealing with the vast expanse of U.S. territory. Carson's little issue wouldn't even reach his desk. If he could get someone beneath him to understand the matter and keep an eye on it, that would be enough.
Furthermore, the U.S. had many intelligence agencies, with the Army, Navy, and even the Treasury Department and State Department running their own. Some states even had their own agencies. The chaos in management worked in favor of people like Charlie Luciano, who could operate in the middle.
The two of them used their connections to inform intermediaries, passing along what they needed to ask to higher-ups. Because the issue was a bit tricky, they even used some money to get a vague answer.
In the end, the feedback was that they didn't oppose it. The Japanese money could remain as an "informant line." When it wasn't needed, it would stay put. When it became necessary, someone would come to them.
Moreover, if the Japanese capital caused any trouble with the authorities, they wouldn't intervene. Unless the Japanese fund could serve a purpose for the U.S. government, only then would someone step in to handle it.
Well, that's that! They took the risk themselves. But Charlie Luciano knew. If it was ever needed, they would remember the favor. If it wasn't, and some department caused trouble, they wouldn't come asking for help.
With that, it was effectively an approval. Charlie Luciano didn't reject Gold Mountain's suggestion. He accepted the three million dollars, but only gave 30% of the shares. The Japanese had essentially paid two million for the shares, with the remaining one million earmarked for constructing a luxury hotel, casino, and entertainment facilities, as well as for training staff.
The property—once built—would belong to the Japanese, and the Italian mafia wouldn't take advantage of them. Gold Mountain agreed to this arrangement, and the money was quickly transferred.
After this, Yamamoto Isoroku, who had been behind Gold Mountain, left Carson and sailed back to Japan from San Francisco. The competition for the Las Vegas casino license was also finally settled.
Niall, upon hearing this news, didn't quite understand Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky's decision. But they didn't offer much explanation and simply invited him to dinner.
What did they eat?
Italian meatballs!
Being invited to share homemade Italian meatballs was a sign that the Italians had completely accepted you as one of their own. Italian meatballs were typically made with a mixture of beef, chicken, and pork, with each family having its own recipe.
Charlie Luciano's chef was an excellent Italian cook. The meatballs were first fried, then boiled, and combined perfectly with the sauce. Whether eaten over pasta or with bread, it was delicious.
The two of them served Niall meatballs and didn't mention the casino business again. Niall realized that his suggestion had not been adopted. He sighed and didn't say anything more. Being invited to dinner meant they saw him as a brother, acknowledging his advice, and that was the end of it.
The subsequent land transactions and the entire planning and construction of Las Vegas were handled by professionals. The Italian mafia had a well-organized structure, even employing lawyers and accountants who were quite skilled.
After finishing these matters, Charlie Luciano still had to serve two months in prison. For now, there would be no major actions. Niall had been away from Chicago for two months and wasn't sure how Fredrick's hotel operations were doing there.
After all that, Niall had learned a lot and had no more attachment. Boarding the return train, he bid farewell to Carson and headed back to Chicago, feeling lighter.