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Faced with Alex Ray's radical reforms, the gang leaders were unwilling to give up their entrenched interests. Alex was a beast that could never be fed.
Ever since he returned to Hell's Kitchen, the eastern district—his home turf—had been completely seized under his control, inflicting heavy losses on the major gangs.
Now, he was making moves again, poaching people from them under the guise of school enrollment.
If this plan were allowed to go through, the gangs would eventually run dry of fresh blood. What then? Would gang wars be fought by men in their fifties and sixties? It would be a slow, choking death for them. This had to be stopped.
Although Gust's plan sounded a little idealistic and perhaps too good to be true, it was undeniably a good strategy.
If Alex ignored the gang leaders' warnings and pushed forward with the school, resistance would be their only option.
Let the government make the first move. If law enforcement stepped in, everyone would be satisfied.
And if the government didn't act? There would be no trail leading back to them anyway.
This way, whether or not Alex clashed with the authorities, the fallout wouldn't land on their heads.
In a matter of seconds, everyone at the video conference had calculated the stakes and quickly shifted their attitudes. They stopped mocking Gust and started praising him.
No one had expected that the Mexican drug lord would be the one to hatch such a smart plan.
Gust grinned at their change in tone. But he had one more reason—one he didn't voice aloud. After all, this wasn't a room full of saints. He needed to keep a trump card hidden.
Back in Mexico, men like Gust had bribed police and officials from an early age, ensuring their survival through systemic corruption. Without that, Gust would have been executed by the authorities long ago.
Since coming to America, Gust had only refined this craft. He had bribed countless officials, the most influential of whom was the mayor of New York City.
According to intelligence from the Gust family, the mayor lived lavishly, had illicit dealings with corporate magnates, and had even accepted bribes from Kingpin.
A lesser man might have avoided the risk, but Gust wasn't just anyone. He believed that with enough money, even Kingpin's people could become his.
He immediately sent envoys to contact the mayor and spent a large chunk of his fortune on luxury cars and real estate. After pouring in $300 million, Gust successfully gained control of the mayor—and with him, a powerful political shield in New York.
Gust understood clearly that average thugs posed no threat to Alex or Kingpin. They were nothing more than cannon fodder.
So, once the video call ended, Gust planned to phone the mayor and ask him to mobilize the army and special forces. After all, when you take someone's money, you fix their problems.
Tom Ralph, leader of the Irish gang, seized the moment: "We don't need to fear Alex Ray or Kingpin. Even if the government doesn't act, someone else will. That's why I say—we must attend the meeting."
The flattery halted abruptly.
Gust glared at Tom through the screen, clearly annoyed that he'd stolen the spotlight. Still, he asked, "And who exactly is planning to go after Alex Ray and his people?"
Tom gave a knowing smile. "You all know how Kingpin rose to power, right?"
The others shook their heads. They were aware that Kingpin must've had backing—no one became the ruler of Hell's Kitchen alone—but they didn't know from where. Now, all eyes turned to Tom.
Tom leaned in, voice low. "Ever heard of the Hand?"
Recognition dawned instantly. Of course. That explained Kingpin's meteoric rise. The Hand was an ancient organization of ninjas, assassins, and thieves—ruthless, centuries-old, and feared.
Gust's expression darkened with understanding. "So you're saying the Hand is going to move against Alex and his crew?"
Tom nodded. "Madam Gao—one of the Hand's senior leaders—runs illegal pharmaceutical and narcotics operations here in America. She's furious that Alex banned drug trafficking in Hell's Kitchen. She's already sending an assassin to eliminate him and his allies."
He didn't say it outright, but the implication was clear: Gao wanted Alex dead, not Kingpin. And she had promised Tom a reward—leadership over the entire district.
Excited murmurs rippled through the group. They peppered Tom with questions—did he have contact with Madam Gao? Could he get them access to her drugs? Everyone wanted a cut of the business.
Gust, watching this unfold, felt his anger flare. The same leaders who'd just praised him were now fawning over Tom. Disgusted, he cut off his video feed and pulled a girl sitting next to him into his arms, venting his rage in private.
Tom smirked at the screen. Gust was too young, too easily riled. With just one strategic reveal, Tom had stolen the spotlight and rallied the gang leaders to his side.
He said, "Don't worry. As long as we stay united, Alex Ray and Kingpin won't stand a chance."
"We have to attend the meeting. If we don't show up and word gets out, it'll look like the Hell's Kitchen gangs are afraid. We'll be a joke."
"Once Madam Gao handles Alex and his people, I'll share my trafficking routes. Of course—highest bidder wins."
Tom knew sacrifices were necessary to conquer Hell's Kitchen. The short-term profits didn't matter. Once the competition was gone, all their wealth would be his anyway.
The meeting room suddenly erupted in cheers and bravado.
"No problem—we'll take out Alex Ray!"
"There's no one left who can stop us!"
"Let's go! We'll show Alex just how powerful the gangs of Hell's Kitchen are!"
Their enthusiasm flooded the screen as gang leaders loudly pledged support, eager for war.
Tom didn't bother joining their celebration. He logged off the call with a quiet sneer.
"Hmph. How many of these idiots will end up dead?" he muttered.
They were fools—easy to manipulate, easy to bait. They actually believed it would be that simple to crush Alex Ray and his allies.
But for Tom, the mission was accomplished. He had stirred the hornet's nest. The gang leaders were full of hate, full of greed, and desperate enough to take the fight to Alex.
That was all he needed.
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
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đź“š Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chapters—read ahead of everyone else! 🔥
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Your support means the world to me—thank you so much! 💖
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