"Why did you say you did this?" Jonas asked Bill at the base.
"Kill Christopher?" Bill paused, contemplating. "The idea is to stir up tension between the Soprano family and the Akomo Apple family, making them confront each other and weaken themselves."
"I understand that, but why go after the Sopranos?" Jonas pressed, puzzled by Sean's motives. "Why kill the Sopranos and let Tony slip away?"
"With so many members of the Soprano family dead, how can they possibly stand against the Appler family without falling apart?"
"I can't figure it out," Bill admitted, throwing up his hands in frustration. "You can ask him when the boss arrives."
After all, Dimio has maintained power for decades. Do you really think combining the Soprano and Appler families will bring Dimio down? Sean entered, pushing the door open.
"Boss," Jonas and Bill greeted him, standing up.
"How's it going?" Sean asked, nodding at Bill.
"It's all done as you instructed. The brothers have all withdrawn," Bill replied.
"Good," Sean said, sitting down. "Everyone needs to stay put for a while. We must keep a low profile—no unnecessary attention."
"Jonas, make sure the gang members stay in line and avoid any trouble," he instructed.
"Remember!" Sean emphasized. "This is about Dimio. Akomo Apler is in a precarious position, especially with the scandal involving his daughter-in-law. People are on edge right now, and we can't afford to get caught in the crossfire."
Jonas and Bill exchanged looks, both realizing the gravity of Sean's words.
"This is getting ruthless; it's almost like self-sabotage," Jonas muttered.
After a moment, Sean laid out his plan. He needed to be clear and straightforward; there was no room for unpredictability now.
Jonas and Bill were his trusted allies. In the future, Jonas would lead the gang's operations while Bill would oversee security. Sean knew he had to develop their strategic thinking.
The Dimio Group has been intertwined with political and business spheres for decades. If the Appler family collapses, someone will take their place. As long as the group's unity is maintained, Dimio cannot fall. If something were to happen, would Director Wells come to our aid?
Both Jonas and Bill shook their heads, knowing that Sean had been growing closer to Wells.
"So from the beginning, I never intended for the Sopranos and Applers to destroy each other. That approach is futile," Sean clarified.
"Then why implicate the Soprano family?" Bill asked, confused. He was the one who carried out the hit, yet it was clearly a setup.
"Whoever orchestrated this did it for personal gain," Sean said, glaring at Bill. "You need to remember that you have to believe in the narrative. If you doubt it yourself, how can you expect others to believe it?"
Bill's face twitched. He had always been straightforward, coming from a military background with little education.
"It's just that a nephew died. Even if there was a close bond, Akomo Apple has the influence to get Tony to discuss matters. Even if Tony resists, other families in the Dimio Group would pressure for peace. There's a reason for this 'committee'—as long as both sides can negotiate, oddities will emerge. No matter how well it's concealed, there's one key detail: why was the private doctor so certain Christopher would buy information? It doesn't add up!"
"Even if we can't find a flaw, we can offer compensation to make the Soprano family overlook it. The scandal concerning his daughter-in-law won't break Akomo. He's a criminal leader, not a celebrity. His strength is not just in reputation but in his capabilities."
"Thus, the Soprano family has no room for negotiation. With so many losses, their power has greatly diminished, yet Tony narrowly escaped death."
"At this point, Akomo knows he's being set up, but there's nothing he can do. The animosity runs deep. He feels compelled to eliminate the threat completely."
"If Tony wants to avoid losing his entire family, he must unite with the other Dimio families to protect himself."
"My role is to stay behind the scenes, controlling the pace of their conflict, ensuring they tear each other apart until the Dimio criminal group collapses."
"When Dimio is completely divided, that's when we will seize control of New Jersey," Sean explained his strategy to both men.
It was only then that Bill and Jonas grasped the complexity of Sean's plan. Their expressions conveyed a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Being a leader really requires a ruthless heart," Jonas thought.
If Sean had known their thoughts, he might have scolded them.
"Now, let's put Dimio aside for a moment and allow events to unfold," Sean said, crossing his legs and pulling out a cigarette case. He offered it to the others, and Bill lit one for Sean.
Taking a deep breath, Sean shifted the topic. "Tell me about the private lottery. It's been running for half a month. How's the income looking?"
"It's been a quick way to make money!" Jonas said, his enthusiasm evident. "In the past month, we've had four Powerball draws and two Mega Millions draws—six in total. We've brought in nearly $400,000. With Powerball and Mega Millions set to draw four times a week moving forward, we could be looking at monthly earnings that rival bootlegging."
Jonas calculated aloud. "With about 800,000 to 1,000,000 people in the surrounding area, and roughly 10% buying tickets, we could easily hit a monthly income of $1 million, especially since we distribute cash immediately and avoid taxes."
"If we expand this to the whole state..." He paused, excitement building. "The Dimio Group is really asking for trouble—blocking people's access to money is like killing their families!"
"We plan to launch several more lotteries soon, which should boost our revenue even further," Jonas added with a grin.
"Hold on!" Sean interjected, raising a finger. "Don't get ahead of yourself with the lottery. Wells invited me to play golf today, and he hinted at something. I suspect it's related to this. We'll need to reassess our approach after I meet with him."
Jonas nodded, understanding the need for caution.
Just then, the desk phone rang. Sean pressed the speakerphone button. "Sir, Mr. Lamb is here."
"Let him in," Sean replied, hanging up. Jonas and Bill stood up as the door opened.
Lamb entered, and after exchanging greetings, Jonas and Bill stepped back.
"I've gathered information about the New York Knicks situation," Lamb said as he took a seat.
Sean leaned forward, attentive. "What do you have for us?"