Inside the Fisk Tower conference room,
its interior decorations were extremely luxurious, yet did not lose a cold atmosphere.
A group of gang bosses sat around an oval conference table.
Their expressions varied: some were gloomy, some cunning, and some ruthless.
Their eyes were like the north wind in a winter night, cold and piercing.
They wore various suits, from smooth, Water-like silk to stiff woolen fabrics,
all undoubtedly revealing their unique tastes.
However, even the most magnificent clothes could not hide that they were low-class people from Hell's Kitchen.
When the door was pushed open and Chen Ye walked into the conference room, the air seemed to freeze.
He slowly walked to the other end of the table, sat in the main seat, and then quietly scanned everyone present.
The gang leaders' gazes lingered on his face for a moment, then quickly moved away.
Emotions surged in their hearts: awe, curiosity, disdain, and even a hint of surprise.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became tense, as if everyone was silently counting the time in their hearts, waiting for the drama about to unfold.
Kingpin seemed to have no objection to Chen Ye sitting in the main seat.
Kingpin sat to Chen Ye's lower right.
Seeing that it was almost time, Kingpin waved his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
Then he said, "Thank you all for giving Kingpin this face; I won't steal the host's thunder."
"Today, we gather here, as you all know, at the invitation of my godson, Chen Ye; he will speak for himself now."
Chen Ye then spoke, "Hello, all you trash living in Hell's Kitchen."
His voice was deep and magnetic, as if it had a magic that made everyone present unable to ignore him.
As soon as these words came out, the leaders erupted like a boiling pot, cursing one after another.
"Chen Ye, what do you mean?"
"Is this meeting for you to insult us?"
"What are you, daring to speak to us like that?"
Chen Ye calmly scanned the gang leaders present; the only ones relatively calm were the leader of the Irish gang and the leader of the British gang.
"Isn't that right? Look at each of you; who would say you are decent people when they see you?"
Tom, the leader of the Irish gang, couldn't help but say at this moment,
"Let's get to the point; we are not here for you to mock us."
Seeing this, Chen Ye also spoke frankly, "I'm planning to open a community college here, and it's basically all set up."
"You also know that opening a school requires a lot of money. This time, I'm mainly here to ask for your sponsorship and also to solve the enrollment problem."
Chen Ye paused, scanning everyone, seeing a hesitant look on their faces.
"Most importantly, I want all minors under 18 in Hell's Kitchen to attend the community college, including your family and your gang members."
As soon as this was said, the conference room erupted in laughter.
"School? That's hilarious."
"Making gang members go to school? What's the difference between that and telling a sow to climb a tree?"
"I haven't been to school since I was born, and I still made it to where I am today."
At this point, the gang leaders felt Chen Ye was a bit whimsical, and many wanted to leave.
Tommy Shelby, who was nearby, asked curiously, "I can accept your terms, provided what will you give in return?"
Everyone looked towards Chen Ye.
Chen Ye was not flustered: "Before answering that question, I want to ask everyone present, are you satisfied with your current lives?"
"Living a life on the edge of a knife, living in constant fear every day. Perhaps today I'm driving a luxury car and living in a Villa. Tomorrow, I might be killed by an enemy, dismembered."
"I believe that to have achieved what you have today, each of you must have at least dozens of lives on your hands."
"Because we live in Hell's Kitchen, this is a place where the strong prey on the weak. To survive, we must eliminate others, even if that person is your family."
As soon as Chen Ye spoke, everyone fell into silent contemplation.
Chen Ye then pointed to a gang leader and asked, "Joyce Bud, I remember your father was also a gang leader. Have you ever thought about what you would do if you weren't in a gang?"
Joyce Bud pondered for a moment and then said, "I've never thought about that question because ever since I can remember, I've been with my old man in the gang. Besides being in a gang, I haven't done anything else."
Chen Ye then said, "See? You have no choice at all. Your parents never taught you what was right, nor did they tell you that besides being in a gang, you could actually do other jobs like being an athlete or a teacher."
"Some people's parents might even have died in gang shootouts right after they were born."
"In Hell's Kitchen, we can only think about how to survive every day, surviving by any means necessary. We have no choice, and we have no time to think; we can only strive with all our might to survive."
"If you had a choice, would you still want to live such a life?"
Chen Ye could clearly sense that some gang leaders already agreed with what he said.
"Everyone present, even if you are gang leaders now, when we step out of Hell's Kitchen, we will still be despised because we are inherently branded with Hell's Kitchen."
"In the eyes of outsiders, Hell's Kitchen is a bunch of unforgivable trash, the dregs of society."
"People outside always look at us with colored glasses. They don't know our suffering because no one speaks for us."
"Being born in Hell's Kitchen is not our fault. But if we don't change, then it is our fault."
"The reason I established the school is that a school can give children choices; children can safely think about the lives they want in school."
"Don't let the next generation follow our old path. Hell's Kitchen has enough scum like us."
Chen Ye spoke passionately.
Kingpin, who was beside him, looked at Chen Ye with a very gratified expression. If there had been schools back then, perhaps there wouldn't be the underground emperor Kingpin today.
"Are you pitying us now?" A gang leader didn't buy it.
Chen Ye stared coldly at the gang leader,
"You are not worthy of my pity, nor do you need my pity."
"These are all your own choices. We are inherently a bunch of bastards born in Hell's Kitchen. Will you stop selling drugs and pimping just because someone pities you? Bastards also need to eat."
"I'm just asking you to pity the minors. Give them a chance, a chance to go to heaven."
"As for whether they want to go to heaven or stay in Hell's Kitchen later, that's their choice."
"I am not a saint, nor do I want to be a saint. I am just like you, just another bastard living in Hell's Kitchen."
"The only difference might be that I have a bit more conscience than you bastards."
After Chen Ye finished speaking, he scanned the expressions of the gang leaders present; their faces varied, some showing shame, some thoughtfulness, but more were impatient.
After all, those who can become gang leaders are all iron-hearted and ruthless.
They would not be moved by Chen Ye's few words.
They cared more about profit.