Daniel heard what Simon said, but he was not going to give up. He also had his own opinions, so he changed the topic again and asked: "Simon, how do you plan to deal with tonight's matter?"
Simon had no intention of persuading him.
No matter what Daniel wants to learn, Sofia will definitely give him the best conditions.
Following the boy's question back to tonight's incident, he didn't answer directly, but asked: "Have you seen "The Godfather"?"
Daniel shook his head: "However, I recently watched "The Wire"."
Simon smiled and didn't ask how Daniel entered the theater. No one would doubt the boy's appearance if he said he was seventeen or eighteen years old. He just asked, "Tell me how you feel?"
Daniel thought for a while, looked at Simon with bright eyes, and pointedly said: "Even the most ferocious criminals have their own ties."
Simon nodded and asked again: "Do you sympathize with Neil and the others played by De Niro?"
Daniel hesitated a little, but said honestly: "I really hope that Neil can take Edie away in the end."
Simon said: "This is the charm of the movie. If you have watched "The Godfather", you will definitely identify with Brando's Vito Corleone. However, the reality is not like this. The real Italian Mafia is cold-blooded. And they are brutal. In order to compete for territory, they will eradicate their competitors, even pregnant women and children. In order to frighten the authorities, they dare to attack high-level government officials and even throw the 8-year-old child of an official alive into a vat of sulfuric acid. Just now Two years ago, in order to kill an Italian judge who had launched many anti-mafia campaigns, they planted a ton of explosives in the path of the judge."
The assassination of Italian judge Giovanni Falco in 1992 shocked the world and even triggered a protest strike by millions of people.
After this incident, the Italian government, faced with strong pressure from the media and public opinion, began to quickly pass a large number of bills specifically targeting the Mafia, and launched a nationwide anti-Mafia movement, which is still continuing today.
After Simon finished speaking, he noticed the change in Daniel's expression and smiled: "Are you scared?"
Daniel pursed his lips and looked at the smile of the young man next to him. He calmed down a bit and did not answer the question.
Simon didn't press the boy for a response.
The reason why the Mafia is feared by most people, including many politicians and wealthy people, lies in their unscrupulousness.
Moreover, Italy was one of the first countries in the world to abolish the death penalty, which made the Mafia even more unscrupulous. In some countries where the death penalty is imposed, murder must be punished with death. In Italy, murderers are punished with life imprisonment at most, and many people who are charged with murder are only sentenced to five or six years.
This creates some kind of implicit strong imbalance.
The mafia can 'sentence' its opponents to death at will, and has almost the power of life and death, but others cannot easily do this to them. Even the official can only arrest those who are almost universally known to the mafia if there is conclusive evidence. Party boss.
Thinking like this, Simon said: "Actually, tonight's matter can be easily solved. We only need to compromise with the 'Ndrangheta and clarify that we have no intention of acquiring Versace. Then, this matter will be over."
Daniel's expression changed slightly, and he noticed that Simon was still looking at him, and quickly said: "In fact, it won't pass, right?"
Simon still had a smile on his face and said: "It's hard to say. We have compromised and the 'Ndrangheta's goal has been achieved. Maybe it will no longer embarrass Melisandre's company and threaten us. However, there is another possibility. When they discover that Simon Westeros, who has hundreds of billions of dollars, will also be afraid of the Mafia, no different from those billionaires hiding in bulletproof cars surrounded by a group of bodyguards, it just so happens that Melisandre & Co. The subsidiaries owned by Gucci, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Christie's auction houses are very suitable for money laundering. The Westeros system also has large investments in Italy. Danny, do you think that if it were you, would you want to go further? , how many more pieces of meat can be cut from this super fat sheep?"
Daniel's mouth moved, but he did not speak, but nodded slightly.
Simon said: "So, back to your question just now, how am I going to deal with this matter? Danny, when I just told you this, I just want you to understand that you should not have any illusions about the Mafia or any other type of gang. , they are the dark side of this world, a group of unscrupulous outlaws. They are definitely not messengers of justice, and they are not worthy of any respect. However, for us, there is no need to have any fear of the Mafia. The Mafia Violence and killing make people surrender, but if someone uses the same method to deal with them, even more violently and bloody, then the so-called outlaws are actually a group of sheep. Back then, Mussolini put 94 cannons on Outside the mafia's lair, those arrogant gang godfathers have no choice but to be arrested. Danny, you have to know that a super plutocrat with hundreds of billions of dollars in assets has no less power than the Mussolini government back then. The Mafia uses violence, we can do the same, and be more violent than them. Not only that, we can also use the power of the government, we also have the power of money, we even control our own army. So, Danny, you will now Fear?"
Daniel quickly shook his head this time.
However, there was obviously something else in the boy's eyes when he looked at Simon.
Simon understood what this was, put away the coldness that had involuntarily emitted from his words just now, and said in a gentle tone: "Danny, maybe you are resisting my relationship with your mother in your heart. However, you, and Gemma, are in my heart." Your status is the same as that of Mel and others, and I also regard you as a member of the Westeros family. In order to protect you, I will not hesitate to launch a war."
Daniel dodged Simon's gaze for a moment, then quickly looked over and said seriously: "Thank you, Simon."
Sofia arrived in New York before six o'clock the next morning.
The woman looked calm on the surface, but the hug lasted much longer after seeing her parents and children.
After breakfast, facing Simon's inquiry, Sophia said in a very calm tone that a man should take care of this kind of thing, and she couldn't handle it as a woman.
After being together for so many years, Sofia knew Simon's behavior very well.
The most cherished family member is threatened, and the woman who has never lacked determination and ability in her bones has no intention of stopping the little man who has been touched to release the violence in his bones.
It is not yet known why Fessey’s address was leaked, but Sophia quietly moved her family to Simon’s farm estate outside Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend.
Ohio, which is located in the inland United States, is very well hidden, unlike the coastal areas where dragons and snakes are mixed. Columbus is also the base area where the Wexner family has been operating for a long time. There are intricate relationships in all aspects, including Columbus's underground forces. You can get news at the slightest sign of trouble.
The most important point is that the Westeros system's military base in North America is located in Ohio.
If necessary, Simon can mobilize hundreds of heavily armed special forces nearby.
Feisi's family temporarily moved to Ohio, and after the weekend, Sophia returned to Europe to continue working, but Simon increased the security force several times.
Regarding the warning from the 'Ndrangheta, after discussion, Sofia did not intend to give any response.
In fact, after the article in the Italian "Corriere della Sera" was published, Melisandre clarified the next day and stated that she had no intention to acquire Versace. It's just that this clarification may not have fallen into the ears of some people, or the other party may not believe it at all and just think it is a usual smokescreen during corporate acquisition negotiations.
On the other hand, it was always calm in Los Angeles, and the Dume Point Manor did not receive any messy things.
However, Simon will not show mercy.
The relationship between Sophia and himself is almost universally known, and Melisandre is a very important part of the Westeros system. Any threat from either side will be regarded by Simon as a provocation to the entire Westeros system.
A new week also happens to be the beginning of August.
There seemed to be a quick calm after a slight ripple in Greenwich last Friday, but a turbulence was quickly brewing beneath the surface.
The Westeros family's ever-expanding intelligence network is once again on full mobilization.
Especially on the European side, Sofia has been in charge of this matter from very early on. The original European intelligence network has been dormant. On the weekend after the incident happened, hundreds of people quietly came from various European countries for the first time. Gather towards Calabria, a region in southern Italy bordering Sicily.
Calabria is the birthplace of the 'Ndrangheta in Italy.
To be precise, the 'Ndrangheta is not a unified organization, but a mafia alliance formed by multiple families. There are constant internal disputes, and there were even two large-scale intra-gang wars during the period.
The fact that it can be called a 'war' also shows the intensity of the dispute.
The most recent 'Ndrangheta civil war lasted for six years from 1985 to 1991. Fierce gang fighting resulted in a conservative death toll of more than 600 officially recorded.
The person behind the delivery of the threatening package to the Feisi family was quickly identified.
The Stefano family, one of the six most powerful families in the 'Ndrangheta at this stage, was also a major participant in the second 'Ndrangheta civil war.
There are undercurrents surging in private, but on the surface many things are business as usual.
Hollywood.
In a box office week from the end of July to the beginning of August, the most eye-catching movie was undoubtedly "The Wire."
This well-received crime action film has become the first and possibly the only film this summer to see its box office drop next week after a large-scale opening.
Compared with the first week, in the second week after the release of "The Wire", due to the continuous fermentation of word-of-mouth and the continuous spread of the topic of "God watching movies", the box office not only did not fall, but increased by 9%.
The reverse decline of 9% may not be significant, but the box office revenue of US$25.06 million in the next week allowed "The Wire" to directly surpass all other competitors in the same period and win the box office championship that week in one fell swoop. This may also be the case this year. The only movie in the summer that did not do well at the box office in the first week but relied on strong momentum to top the box office.
After two weeks of release, the cumulative box office of "The Wire" reached US$47.99 million.
The biweekly box office figures of close to 50 million US dollars, combined with the inevitable long-term trend of "The Wire", mean that this crime action film is almost bound to become another member of the 100 million dollar box office club on the North American box office list.
The runner-up position fell to the phenomenal "Forrest Gump".
In its fifth week of release, the box office of "Forrest Gump" dropped by 19%, and it collected another US$24.76 million, with a cumulative box office of US$195.49 million, and the 200 million mark is just around the corner.
MGM's "Alien" opened last week at No. 3 on the charts.
Speaking of which, the plot of "Alien" does not have any outstanding features. It is just an imitation of "Alien". The media reputation is not even good, only 4.3 points.
However, Natasha Henstridge, who does not appear in many scenes but is stunning, has inadvertently become the biggest highlight of the film.
For the already very mature American film market, it is not easy to make money by selling meat. For many commercially successful large-scale erotic films, compared with the huge base of films of the same type, the probability of being a hit is much lower than that of serious commercial films.
Moreover, "Alien" is not a pornographic film to be precise.
The success of this movie obviously has a lot of luck involved. It can only be said that the character is just right and it successfully attracted the audience's attention. After the success of "Alien", the former Natasha Henstridge continued to shoot several movies where she dared to take off her clothes and show off, but she did not make any splash again.
In any case, the box office of "Alien" reached US$24.39 million in the first seven days of its opening, and the number of theaters exceeding 10,000 in the first week has also reached the level of a blockbuster movie.
As a follow-up commercial film with a general reputation and few highlights, such results have met everyone's expectations.
The box office of US$24.39 million in the first week means that the total domestic box office of this science fiction thriller can be at least about US$60 million, which is enough to recoup most of the investment in production and promotion, and it can enter the profit cycle with a little overseas operation.
Moreover, because of the much-talked-about nudity scene, the video tape prospects of this film are even better than the theatrical release, and it is very worthy of collection.
In the past, the "Alien" series continued to release multiple sequels despite the failure of the second one at the box office. Later, it simply stopped releasing in theaters and went directly to the video channel. This is the reason.
Compared with other major Hollywood studios, which produced at least three or four films this summer, MGM only had two films, "Speed" and "Alien," but both of them were considered to be full.
Due to the strength of "The Wire", "Forrest Gump" and "Alien", "The Pursuit" starring Harrison Ford dropped directly from the top spot last week to fourth place on the list in its second week of release. Location, the box office dropped as much as 41% in a single week, only collecting US$23.37 million, and the total box office in two weeks was US$62.42 million.
Of course, with a bi-weekly revenue of US$62.42 million, there is no problem that "The Pursuit" will exceed 100 million at the local box office. It will definitely become a member of the 100 million box office club that has nothing to do with Daenerys Entertainment this summer.
Number five on the list is Quentin Tarantino's "Romeo Bloods."
Due to the joint promotion effect with "The Wire", the box office of this crime drama dropped only 17% in its third week of release, and it collected another US$15.26 million, bringing the cumulative box office to US$57.62 million.
In addition to fifth place, "True Lies", a collaboration between Cameron and Schwarzenegger, ranked sixth on the list. In its third week of release, the box office dropped 32% and earned US$13.6 million, officially entering the 100 million box office mark. Club threshold, the cumulative box office reached 105.24 million US dollars.
Judging from the current trend, "True Lies" still has a box office space of 30 million to 40 million US dollars in the future.
Last week, "The Black Stallion" and "Allure", which were launched at the same time as "Alien", both failed to perform.
"Allure" starring Nicolas Cage and Brigitte Fonda did better, with a box office of US$11.95 million in its first week, ranking seventh on the list. Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Dark Horse" opened on 1,312 screens, but the box office in its first week was only US$2.27 million. The average theater average was only a pitiful US$1,733. It is expected to be dropped immediately in two weeks.
On August 5, a new box office week begins.
Compared to the fiercely competitive months of June and July, the list of films to be released in August does not include a single blockbuster movie in Simon's memory, which seems lackluster.
Simon was not very impressed by the two new films "Rock and Roll" and "The Last Man" that opened in North American theaters on August 5.
Although there is also the big-budget action film "The Night" starring Bruce Willis on August 12, this movie that Simon remembers as a flop is not as exciting as Ang Lee's "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman" at the same time.
Going forward, "Natural Born Killers" directed by Oliver Stone and written by Quentin Tarantino on August 26, had only average box office results. This time, with the recent popularity of Quentin's "Romeo Blood" and the box office appeal of Oliver Stone, it may be better.
Immediately, the summer season of 1994 will come to an end on September 1, the highlight of another box office week.