Bronx, Italian neighborhood.
In the café diagonally across from the Janko Olive Oil Import Company,
A disguised Leo sat in the corner sipping coffee.
Beside him lay a beautifully wrapped gift, prepared for the Godfather's inquiry—why Leo was coincidentally present at the assassination scene.
The gift had gathered a bit of dust. No surprise—it had been three days since Leo arrived.
The exact time of the Godfather's assassination wasn't made clear in the movie, so Leo had to rely on some clues. He deduced that the Godfather was likely attacked on Christmas Eve.
The weather in New York was gloomy, and the evening streets were thick with atmosphere.
What convinced Leo that the assassination would take place today was the cart of oranges being pushed by the fruit vendor nearby.
It was common knowledge that in The Godfather, oranges symbolize death.
As Leo expected, the Godfather's second son, Fredo, got into the car and started the engine.
Meanwhile, the Godfather staggered out of the building.
He didn't get in the car, but instead walked toward the cart of oranges.
Leo swiftly grabbed the gift and dashed toward the Godfather.
Almost simultaneously, a car pulled up at the street corner, dropping off two men in trench coats and hats, walking briskly toward the Godfather.
Their malicious actions were instantly recognized by the seasoned Godfather, who had survived many battles in his life.
But his old body couldn't react as quickly as his awareness.
The Godfather was already walking toward the car, but it wasn't fast enough.
The two assassins had raised their guns.
At that critical moment, Leo reached the Godfather and lunged to protect him, pulling him behind a car.
The gunmen, who had been sure of their victory, hurriedly pulled the trigger.
But they were too late—the bullets hit the car instead.
The Godfather, protected by Leo, was unharmed.
However, the scene alerted the Corleone family members in nearby shops.
As the gunmen were about to flee, they were shot dead by Corleone family members.
"Leo, you can let go of me now."
Compared to Fredo, who was now in a state of confusion,
The Godfather, who had seen it all before, was much calmer. He walked over and picked up the gift Leo had dropped.
Opening it, he looked at the exquisite watch and silk scarf inside.
The Godfather smiled, noticing that the gift still carried his wife's scent.
This confirmed that Leo had indeed come bearing gifts.
He could rule out himself as the first suspect in the attempt on his life.
"Thank you for the beautiful Christmas gift, Leo. I didn't expect you to visit me.
Thank you, without your help, I might not have survived today."
Leo dragged the trembling Fredo out of the car and handed him over to the Corleone family's men.
In response to the Godfather's humorous words, Leo, who had relaxed after saving the Godfather, joked,
"I always had this feeling that New York isn't much safer than the jungles of the Pacific."
"A wise observation,"
The Godfather smiled and agreed, walking toward Leo to invite him to the office.
At that moment, the window of a building across the street suddenly opened, and a 98K rifle protruded.
Leo's neck tingled with cold, and almost immediately, he detected the enemy's position. He quickly drew his gun and fired at them.
Leo's bullet was faster, but as he hit the enemy, the assassin also pressed the trigger.
The assassin had aimed for Viktor's heart, but due to the body being hit, the gun's barrel shifted.
The shot hit Viktor's right chest instead.
The Godfather fell to the ground, and Leo felt as though the heavens were mocking him.
Night fell.
Bang! Bang!
The sound of polished shoes striking the hard hospital floor echoed through the empty hallway.
Mike grabbed the flowers from Enzo, who had come to visit the Godfather, and the two of them hid in a dressing room, nervously watching the hallway through a small window.
When the dim light revealed the face of the person approaching, Mike sighed in relief.
It was Leo.
Then, he remembered something and quickly pulled Enzo and Leo, who was walking toward them, toward the door.
"Time is running out. The men guarding my father have disappeared. Someone's coming to assassinate him.
Leo, Enzo, I need your help."
A black car stopped in front of the hospital under the night sky.
Under the faint moonlight, it was easy to see the figures in the car holding weapons.
One person in the car got up cautiously and peered out at the hospital entrance.
There, three men in hats and trench coats were walking toward the hospital.
Their right hands were reaching into the inside pockets of their coats.
It was clear they were hiding weapons. There was no telling how many Corleone family members were in the hospital.
"Damn it, the police are useless,"
The drug lord, Florozo, cursed under his breath.
"Thank you," Mike said, looking at the car as it drove away.
Enzo, the baker's son-in-law, was already terrified, exchanging a few words before disappearing into the night.
"The danger is over. Since the Godfather can't be visited, I'll go home for Christmas now.
Take care, Mike!"
"You too, Leo. When your hotel is finished, I'll come visit. Wish Emily a Merry Christmas from me."
Leo got into Carter's car, watching Mike's gloomy face in the rearview mirror, and sighed.
In the end, nothing had changed.
Yesterday, Leo had indeed felt the power of fate at play.
But he quickly dismissed his judgment—it was a real world, not a movie, and there was no script for fate.
Many people whose destinies changed because of Leo during the Pacific War weren't few.
The gunman on the second floor was supposed to be there.
When it came to the Godfather's assassination, how could the cunning drug lord not make thorough preparations?
In the movie, those two seemingly trivial gunmen might have been part of the plan to distract people.
As Leo pondered, a police car roared past him.
It was headed toward the hospital, clearly the one responsible for the police officer who would disfigure Mike for life.
Leo could have stopped it, but since everything had already started, Leo decided not to interfere anymore.
Since nothing could stop the beginning, Mike becoming the second-generation Godfather was the most beneficial choice for Leo.
Leo didn't return home immediately. Night driving wasn't safe these days.
Carter drove through many winding streets, finally entering the immigrant community in New York, established in the 1920s to house new arrivals.
Carter had driven to New York because Ricardo had learned that Leo was in town and arranged for Carter to bring many gifts, requesting Leo visit his elderly uncle in New York.
This was an old Italian tradition.
Leo didn't want to go, but didn't want to cause disharmony in the family over such a small matter.
Walking up the worn stairs, Leo knocked on the door, and several cramped faces appeared inside.
With Christmas approaching, the room had no decorations.
Noticing Leo's scrutinizing gaze, the elderly uncle stubbornly said,
"I haven't found work yet, but when I do, things will be better."