[Chapter 927: Reality Is Far More Dangerous Than Movies]
"Tanner, that's how it is. That wealthy tycoon seems off, and we don't even know who his target is."
"Hey, I know that guy! Didn't he almost go to jail? Somehow he got lucky and got away, yet he still doesn't know when to quit.
And after losing so much money, are the people from Q Division stupid? Shouldn't they be keeping a close eye on them?"
"Tanner, this is tough for me. Those foreigners don't seem interested in causing trouble."
"Alright, understood. Keep them on watch, but if it's none of our business, just ignore it. Also, his wife seems quite capable. Keep a close watch on her."
Meanwhile, Zhang Ziqiang, later known as the Kingpin of the Century, was staring at the photos on the wall, drooling.
"Bat Rat, with so many wealthy people around, who should we go after first?"
"Sir, we still need time to observe. By the way, that little foreigner is no good."
"Why? Isn't he the illegitimate son of some billionaire? I'm just worried his old man won't fund him."
"This is serious. That's from Crow Jr. word. Sir, for us street guys, risking our own lives is one thing, but dragging family into trouble..."
"Come on, are you trying to scare me? Are you saying that William is also involved in some shady business?"
"Sir, no one really knows. But those uncles are terrified."
Zhang Ziqiang was a rogue; he didn't care about his family. Once you die, you're just out of light anyway. If there's a disaster, no one can blame anyone.
Family suffering?
Ha, that was inevitable. What he was involved in always affected family. And with the wealthy in the city constantly under threat, if they bring it on you, well, you asked for it.
But what really mattered to him was success rate. If he could easily succeed, revenge didn't matter.
"Alright, let's wait and see. That kid outside is just a pawn; how about we aim bigger?"
"Sir, the eldest son from the Lee family is easier. He sticks to a fixed schedule every day coming to and from work. His routes are predictable."
"Good, keep an eye on him for now. Bat Rat, does this guy like going to nightclubs?"
"Not really, boss. He usually goes to Big B's club, hanging out with minor celebrities. If we act rashly..."
"Tch, it's just Big B. That guy's not trustworthy--I lost dozens on his rigged games."
Bat Rat silently looked at his boss. He was great at everything but seriously addicted to gambling. The damages he got from the cops' compensation were enough for him to live comfortably.
What Bat Rat didn't know was that after so many successful hits, they had grown dangerously arrogant. They planned to hit every wealthy tycoon in the city and even cross the sea to kidnap Old Ho.
Maybe losing so much made him bitter, but he was pretty creative.
Old Lee ran a legitimate business and understood the saying 'losing money to avoid disaster.' When selling real estate, a slight loss was easily regained in pricing.
But gambling? You must be joking.
This kind of person still got threats. If the first one he went after was Old Ho, then there probably wouldn't be any Kingpin of the Century left worldwide.
The gambling world had rules and would never let someone just walk away with money without explanation. This wasn't just about money; it was a deadly grudge.
Watching those gang movies, you sometimes wonder if these guys were just idiots always ready to fight. What were they really doing?
Claiming territory?
Wow, if they won, did they get a property deed?
Fights with hundreds of people? That was wild. Like some martial arts legend, a small argument could unleash a massacre.
But the movies were exaggerated. A gang full of these types quarreling was real, but in the city, they called them 'muscle boys.' Aside from the top dozen or so leaders, everyone else was just cannon fodder.
Sure, they kept the peace, but if a real fight broke out, the boss first had to pay them a decent sum to get started.
Damn, making just a few hundred bucks, and if someone came after you with a bat, who would cover your medical bills?
Healthcare in this city was mostly on par with Western countries. Money made a huge difference; only the wealthy could enjoy attentive nurses and quality services.
Public hospitals?
Prepare to wait. Unless you die within six months, you might have a chance at surgery. For cancer or organ transplants, better save your money.
Private hospital costs were absurd, like tens of thousands just for an MRI.
In this respect, the country's system was alright. It had flaws but was still manageable.
People always said things were better abroad, mainly because of good social welfare -- free healthcare, free education, generous unemployment benefits.
Well, that was true. But private hospitals weren't free. Insurance was complex, and private healthcare was usually accessible only to the middle class or above.
As for education, public schools were nearly useless for getting into prestigious universities. Private schools, especially elite ones, made all the difference.
But in this country, at least people tried to appear dignified. Elementary and middle school were basically for whoever could afford it, and high school required passing exams.
Since these gangs were mostly fake in reality, more like movie sets, so-called muscle boys were just extras.
But that wasn't the case with Q Division, or the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. They were much more capable than the Criminal Investigation Department. They knew exactly how many gangs were active, what businesses they ran, and who was in charge.
Why didn't they arrest them?
Well, Zhang Ziqiang himself could get compensation and still threaten revenge. That tells you everything about the legal system here.
Calling it a haven for bad guys might be harsh, but it was certainly a rich person's paradise where no one bothered you.
Without ironclad evidence, you couldn't take down their team of top lawyers. Justice was just a concept.
The most dangerous folks weren't those big shots registered with Q Division, who were licensed. If street-level guys got caught, they might be the fall guys.
The real danger came from those lurking around gangs--selling fake drugs and weapons. Some say they had no connection to the gangs. Others say all that business belonged to the gangs. No one really dared to push that boundary.
The Undercover notion wasn't fiction; gang networks were full of undercover cops. Some bosses didn't know; some kept them close intentionally.
Basically, these guys just collected payoffs. If things went south, they wouldn't take the heat.
"Sir, maybe we should just feed that guy to the fishes. Keeping him around wastes resources."
"No, John Bull is about to leave town. No need to give them any leverage now.
By the way, what about Old Lee? His family isn't short of money. Does he not use bodyguards?"
"Like in the U.S., he lives atop the hill where security is tight. Unless something unusual happens..."
"True, only the U.S. has rampant gun issues thanks to the damn Second Amendment.
By the way, Tommy's mother is visiting her son. Keep an eye out, and if things get risky, better send her back to the U.S."
"Got it."
What? Why not warn Old Lee?
You must be nuts. Old Lee losing some money wouldn't hurt him much. If you meddle blindly, you might get his son killed.
Besides, it's someone else's son, not William White's.
*****
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