“Disrespect?
How am I disrespecting you?” the grieving father complains inwardly.
Clearly done wasting time, Don Corleone turns around and walks toward Bonasera as he speaks.
“If you had come to me as a friend, then the punks who hurt your daughter would suffer for it.
The enemies of an honest man like you would become my enemies too, and then they would fear you.”
Bonasera looks hesitant, still half unconvinced, but he finally says:
“Be my friend… Godfather.”
Then he lowers his head and kisses Don Corleone’s hand.
Only then does Don Corleone’s mood improve a little.
He pats Bonasera on the shoulder.
“Good.
Someday, perhaps I may ask you for a favor.
Maybe that day never comes.
But until then, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.”
The moment the Godfather agrees to help, the gloom on Bonasera’s face vanishes instantly.
“Thank you, Godfather!”
“You’re welcome.”
After sending off the first petitioner, Don Corleone calls over Tom Hagen, the family consigliere and adopted son.
Stroking his beard with one hand while scratching his hair with the other, he says in a raspy voice:
“Give this to… Clemenza.
I want reliable people.
Clear-headed people.
We’re not murderers.
Don’t go too far.”
Earlier, Bonasera keeps calling him “Don Corleone” instead of “Godfather.” Then there’s the way he stands over the desk with both hands planted down, practically looming over Don Corleone while asking for a favor.
Disrespectful.
Plain and simple.
Not to mention he goes to the Police first, only coming to Don Corleone after the law fails him.
That means he never trusted him as a friend to begin with.
And worst of all, he tries to solve the matter with money—offering cash in exchange for murder.
That’s why Don Corleone is unhappy.
But in the end, he still chooses to help Bonasera.
Those two punks are definitely getting taught a lesson.
What Don Corleone wants is simple: respect.
He wants people to accept his friendship and treat him like family.
And based on that logic, asking the Godfather for help never requires money.
Someday, if he asks for something within your ability, you repay the favor.
That’s all.
In the original story, the favor Bonasera repays is merely preparing Sonny Corleone’s body for burial after his death.
Such a small thing.
So if there’s a man who asks for no money, only respect… a man who offers friendship and protection as long as you treat him sincerely… then when you’re desperate, why wouldn’t you go to him?
That’s one of the reasons Don Corleone is beloved among ordinary people.
The Corleone family doesn’t squeeze protection money out of the poor.
There’s barely anything to squeeze in the first place.
Fredo Corleone remembered one of the real-life inspirations for the Godfather—Lucky Luciano.
By 1935, Luciano’s vice rackets alone reportedly pulled in over ten million dollars annually, with the Syndicate’s total yearly revenue clearing well over a hundred million
Even if the Corleone family only makes one-tenth of that, they’re still bringing in over ten million a year.
By 1945, that’s generational wealth territory.
What’s the point of bleeding struggling working-class people dry for a few lousy nickels?
Especially when Don Corleone hopes his youngest son, Michael Corleone, eventually enters politics—governor, senator, maybe even more.
In America, politics runs on public support and votes.
In a way, everything the Godfather does is also paving the road for Michael’s future.
A parent who truly loves their child plans for decades ahead.
To ordinary people, Don Corleone is tolerant and merciful.
He values loyalty and family above everything else.
Calm, dignified, composed, sharp-minded…
Even knowing he’s a mob boss, people still can’t help admiring the man himself.
Inside the study.
After Don Corleone finishes handling business, Fredo notices the old man has been talking nonstop without even taking a sip of water.
He pours a glass of wine and hands it over.
“Padre, drink something before your throat gives out.
You’re not exactly twenty anymore, y’know.
Gotta take care of yourself.”
Seeing his once-airheaded second son acting so thoughtful now, Don Corleone accepts the drink.
His eyes are full of satisfaction as he pats Fredo on the shoulder.
Fredo takes the chance to step forward and hug him with a grin.
“C’mon, Pop.
Don’t let that stuff get to you.
Today’s Connie’s big day—we should be celebrating.”
Don Corleone chuckles softly and points a finger at Fredo, like he’s saying: You little punk.
You think something this minor can upset me?
Still, he says nothing else.
After all, his son is just worried about him.
No reason to make a big deal out of it.
Of course, Fredo knows perfectly well Don Corleone isn’t actually bothered that much.
The man has weathered storms most people can’t even imagine.
But hey—
There are fragments to loot off the Godfather’s shoulder.
‘Collected [Godfather Aura] Fragment ×1 (1/6).
Not enough fragments to activate.’
Even if it can’t be used yet… free stuff is free stuff.
And free always feels amazing.
During the meeting, Sonny gets up casually for drinks, keeps glancing out the window, and practically broadcasts what’s on his mind to the whole room.
Fredo notices everything.
Most likely, in that brief little moment, Sonny already spots the woman who later becomes his mistress—the same woman he’s about to sneak upstairs with during the wedding.
Honestly?
The guy moves fast.
This entire wedding is basically organized by people Don Corleone personally knows.
The kitchen staff are Sicilians descendant.
The photographer is Sicilian descendant.
The singers and dancers are all Sicilian descendant too.
The whole atmosphere screams old-school Sicilian family wedding.
Just like the massive hometown banquet weddings people throw back in previous life before Fredo transmigrates into this world, everybody pitches in and handles things together.
The group heads outside when the photographer calls for everyone to gather for pictures.
Fredo grabs the photographer and starts wandering around with him, glancing left and right like he’s distracted.
But he’s actually busy doing something important.
‘Collected [Black-and-White Photography Mastery] Fragment ×1 (1/3).’
‘Collected [Black-and-White Photography Mastery] Fragment ×1 (2/3).’
Before long, all the fragments for [Black-and-White Photography Mastery] are complete and ready to activate.
The moment Fredo activates the skill, photography knowledge floods his mind instantly, natural as breathing—as if he’s been carrying the talent his whole life.
Of all the skills to complete first, it has to be photography.
And honestly?
What the hell is a mobster supposed to do with photography skills?
Take artsy family portraits before drive-by shootings?
Right as the photographer prepares to snap the picture, Don Corleone looks around to both sides, scanning the crowd.
His brow furrows.
“Where’s Mike?”
Sonny shrugs and said.
“Relax.
He’ll be here soon.”
Don Corleone turns to his wife.
“I’m not taking the picture without Mike.”
Then he walks to the center and tells the photographer:
“Later.”
Standing off to the side, Fredo’s enhanced senses let him hear every word clearly.
At that moment, experiencing it firsthand, he finally understands Michael Corleone’s place in Don Corleone’s heart.
Family matters most.
And Michael matters most among them.
That’s the youngest son he loves the most.
But unlike the original Fredo, he feels no jealousy or resentment about it.
He genuinely doesn’t care that much.