There's an Indian-owned construction company here, but it's actually embroiled in organized crime. Indian gangs use it for money laundering. At 3 PM, as one of the company's managers, surrounded by several henchmen, walked out the door, a car suddenly sped past.
Inside the car, several people dressed in Arab attire, wearing robes and headscarves, their faces veiled, were carrying guns. As the car sped past, a burst of gunfire erupted. Bullets rained down, shattering surrounding cars, walls, and glass. The Indian man, surrounded by his men, took cover behind a garbage can. By the time they rushed out, the car had vanished without a trace.
At 6 PM, several Iranians wandered into territory that had previously belonged to the Vietnamese gang. They had barely crossed a street when they were suddenly blindfolded, dragged into a box, and brutally beaten without explanation. After the beating, their attackers warned them in Chinese: "This territory is now under the control of our Chinese gang! Don't come here again!"
At 4:00 AM, in a settlement of Vietnamese immigrants, someone called the police reporting a car bomb. Police cordoned off the area and eventually eliminated the danger; it was a false alarm. Just as the police were about to leave, a trash can less than 500 meters from the site was blown into the air by a loud bang…
After daybreak, the entire Vancouver underworld was in chaos!
The Arabs started causing trouble for the Chinese community, while the Chinese community turned on the Vietnamese, and the Indians sent people to threaten the Arabs, accusing them of suddenly turning against them...
Meanwhile, the police were in a chaotic situation. On one hand, they were searching for the person who made the false report and for the bomb that had been placed in the trash can. On the other hand, several national underworld organizations were eager to make their move, looking like they were watching with predatory eyes. Initially, the police invited several gang leaders for questioning, but some went and some didn't.
In the afternoon, the Arabs and Indians were the first to start fighting.
An Indian gang sent men to avenge a robbery and attack. They planned to throw a tear gas canister into an Arab-controlled restaurant, but their action was slow, and the men were captured. The Arabs were beaten half to death, sparking a small-scale shootout between the two sides. A fifteen-minute gun battle erupted on a street. Police deployed three teams to cordon off the area. Meanwhile, several Indian gang leaders and Arab chiefs were forcibly summoned to the police station.
The Chinese gang didn't make much of a fuss, but the Iranians provoked them several times later. The Chinese gang remained patient, but some of their members clashed with the Iranians and injured seven or eight people with knives.
This is the second day.
By the third day, things had escalated.
Almost overnight, police sirens blared throughout the long Hastings Street! It started with a house on fire, which spread rapidly. When firefighters arrived, they discovered that the burning items included twenty kilograms of drugs!
There were originally more than a dozen drug addicts in the house, but they were all arrested and taken back. After that, the various gangs started arguing amongst themselves. Combined with the friction from the previous day, the fight officially began at dawn!
Within a single day, police stations in all of Vancouver's districts were almost overflowing with people. Walking into a police station, you would see people dressed like they weren't good people being handcuffed and escorted, and half of them were injured.
The police station's cells were almost overflowing.
In this situation, the police are urgently searching for the leaders of various gangs, demanding that they exercise restraint and ordering them to cease fire...
The police even used some harsh measures and arrested several gang leaders... As a result, with someone provoking them, hundreds of people gathered downstairs at the police station to demonstrate, demanding that the police release the gang members... Even several newspapers and television stations in Vancouver reported on it, and in the end, even reporters from NBC and CNN came.
What started as a minor conflict escalated into a major one... and the police's biggest mistake was "inviting" several gang leaders back to their hometown.
Once the subordinates lose their leader, chaos will ensue... and if someone secretly stirs things up and fuels the fire, it will be very difficult to control the situation.
In the end, it turned into a fight for territory!
After the Vietnamese retreated and went into hiding, they left behind a territory, several blocks long, which was undoubtedly a piece of fat meat in the eyes of various gangs! However, because of the Vietnamese's previous intimidation, no one dared to touch this territory for the time being. In addition, with the existence of our Big Circle, they seemed to know that we and the Vietnamese would have to fight a big battle sooner or later, and that taking over the territory now might not bring any benefits.
However, once things get chaotic, disorderly, and out of control, people lose their composure.
After all, a gang is still a gang. Without strict discipline and organization, it's impossible to operate with the same precision as an army. Once the subordinates start causing trouble, even the bosses above might not be able to control them!
Soon, the territory left by the Vietnamese began to be eroded, and several gangs fought each other in the process.
After I recalled many brothers from outside our territory, our control over some areas naturally weakened significantly. At that time, everyone was bloodthirsty, and it was inevitable that some people would come to cause trouble.
I've ordered all the core members of the big circle to stay in the repair shop and not leave. The outer areas and territories are being guarded by those peripheral personnel. Soon, we went to one area after another.
At first, they were restrained, just testing the waters to see how we would react. But seeing that we didn't make any move, they probably thought that the Big Circle had been completely intimidated and wouldn't dare to take the lead. So they openly started seizing territory.
At the police station, almost all officers had their vacations canceled, and the number of patrol cars on the streets doubled.
Most importantly, the deteriorating security situation has led many pro-democracy groups to hold daily rallies and protests in front of the city hall, which has also diverted some police resources to maintain order...
Much later, an old gangster once said, "I've lived in Vancouver for half my life, and apart from the time when the Big Circle gang first arrived in Canada, I've never seen Vancouver this chaotic."
"Xiao Wu, want some water?" Xiluo handed me a bottle of water.
I didn't drink it; instead, I poured it on my head and vigorously wiped my face.
I smeared some black shoe polish on my face, darkening my skin, and then I ripped off the headscarf I was wearing and threw it on the ground—a typical Arab outfit.
The cheap shoe polish stung my skin, and it burned a little. But I didn't think much of it.
"How much more dog blood is there?" I glanced at Xiluo.
"We've used it all up," Xiluo said with a wry smile. His face was also patchy with black and white marks. "We don't need to throw any more blood at the Chinese gang anymore, right?"
"Hmm, almost done." I smiled, grabbed a towel to wipe my face, and went outside. A few of my brothers were sitting there cleaning their guns, and someone else was diligently writing some questions, their strokes crooked and messy.
"Xiao Wu, do I look like a Vietnamese person's notebook?"
I glanced at it and laughed, "Hmm, not bad. You wrote it a little more hastily, otherwise it would look like it was deliberately drawn. Tonight, I'll throw this thing into the Indian bastards' lair."
This is a piece of cowhide, on which I had him write two threatening, abusive phrases in Vietnamese.
"I think it's almost done cooking," Xiluo said, smiling at Dawo.
Thinking about our misdeeds these past few days, Xiluo couldn't help but laugh. I glanced at him, reached out and wiped a bit of grease from his nose. Looking at Xiluo's young and impulsive face, I couldn't help but have some strange thoughts. Even though this kid is a year older than me, every time I'm with him, I always feel like he's my younger brother.
I patted him on the shoulder: "That's about enough. I think the police can't hold back any longer."
"That cop named Jeff is going crazy. He's called you so many times these past few days! You haven't answered a single one... The police have been to the repair shop many times, but we haven't done anything wrong this time, so they don't dare to force their way in to find you. Our lawyer is practically living at the police station now, just hanging out with them every day... Haha, the lawyer Little Pig found is really something, even the police chief avoids him now."
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Thirty: The Gang Meeting?
“Yes, we haven’t even retaliated against them taking over our outlying territory. I think the police should really give us a Good Citizen Award!” I smiled and said, “Now that things are more or less settled, all the gangs are in a frenzy, and with everyone’s attention diverted, the police are too busy to bother us anymore… Now, it’s time to take action against the Vietnamese.”
"The Vietnamese... how did we find them?" Xiluo's face darkened.
I sneered, somewhat disdainfully: "Siro, you're mistaken! Can't find them? How could we not find them?! They're just a gang, do you think they're CIA agents? If they had that kind of ability, we wouldn't be looking for them! Hmph, a gang is still just a gang. No matter how careful they are, they're just a rabble. They don't have that kind of sophisticated ability! The only reason I didn't want to take action before was because I was afraid of things going wrong. If, for revenge, we kill a thousand enemies but lose eight hundred of our own, if we send half our brothers to jail for revenge, that's not worth it!!"
I chuckled and said, "Alright, I guess it's about time for today. I should go see Officer Jeff... It's not just us looking for the Vietnamese now! Several gangs are locked in a fierce battle—Indians, Arabs, Chinese gangs—all looking for the Vietnamese! I don't believe the Vietnamese can really dig three feet into the ground and hide underground!"
I glanced at Xiluo: "You and the brothers stay here and keep watch. This place will remain secluded for the time being. I'm going back to the repair shop today... um, you don't need to come with me. You need to keep watch here... Remember my words, no one is allowed to call!"
“But you can’t be alone.” Xiluo frowned.
"Okay." I thought for a moment, "I'll take Hammer and the other two back."
Hammer is a buddy from the gym. He's also one of the nine brothers who went to Vietnam to rescue me... Although we never actually fought, I'm sure that if it were a real fight to the death, Hammer might not lose to Xiluo!
Hammer lives up to his name. His fists are hard! Just like a real iron hammer, one blow could kill! This guy is as sturdy as a calf, but his face is as honest and simple as a farmer's. He usually has no expression on his face and doesn't talk much. But when he fights, he always has a fierce streak! When he fights, it's like he's risking his life!
Such a person is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate to be a henchman.
But I like Hammer not because he's a fighter, but because he's loyal. During this trip out of trouble, Hammer was always at the forefront and at the very back during every fight.
I think if he were willing to use his brain more, he could become one of my best allies, just like Shiro. Unfortunately… Hammer's talent lies entirely in his fists, so he has less talent in his head.
This guy's incredibly stubborn; now he practically only listens to me and Xiluo. I bet if I told him to grab a gun and storm into a police station and start shooting, Hammer wouldn't hesitate for a second!
Now that I'm in charge, what do I lack most? People!
I can't have only one Shiro by my side! And I can't possibly take Shiro with me for everything.
Ciro is a very strong fighter. However, I think it would be a waste to use Ciro solely as a punching bag.
We boarded a small motorboat and left the island, then found the car hidden near the shore and drove back to the repair shop...
Oh, I forgot to mention, Hammer has one flaw... he can't drive. And no matter how hard he tries, he just can't learn.
In other words, if I take him out with me, even if I'm his boss, I still have to be his driver...
The repair shop has been relatively quiet these past couple of days, thanks to the few people I left behind. They've been open for business every day… though not a soul has shown up. But I bet after yesterday's commotion, there are definitely police watching the area now!
No sooner had I gotten back to the repair shop by car and listened to the report from the few people who stayed behind than the police came knocking on the door. I hadn't even settled in yet, and my cup of tea was still burning hot in my hand.
Jeff's eyes were red, and he looked haggard with deep-set eyes, indicating that he probably hadn't slept much in the past two days.
I met Jeff in what used to be Eighth Master's office. The moment I entered, he was furious. He turned and slammed the office door shut. Then, he lunged at me, grabbing my collar and hissing, "You bastard, Chen Yang! Look what you've done! You promised me you wouldn't do anything reckless! Look at the situation outside! It's practically on the verge of World War II!!"
I stared coldly at his hand, my face darkening. My gaze seemed to carry a thorn, and Jeff, under my intense scrutiny, involuntarily released his grip. I looked at him coldly, casually straightened my collar, and said indifferently, "Please remember one of my habits. When someone comes to talk to me, it's best to be polite. I don't like people touching me inappropriately. This is my rule, and I only say it once; I don't like to repeat myself."
Then I sat down and leaned back in my chair: "Officer Jeff, please sit down. We can sit down and talk about this."
Jeff looked somewhat embarrassed, but he still sat down, suppressing his anger. After all, he was furious: "Tell me! Were you the one who orchestrated everything these past few days, Chen Yang?! Hey!! You little Fifth Brother! Don't think I don't know! Others may not know, but I know very well that you were the one who caused all of this!!"
I lowered my eyelids, toying with a dagger in my hand. This dagger was given to me by Old Cat before I left that farm when I was being trained there. I've always carried it with me.
I casually toyed with the dagger, its blade gleaming coldly and reflecting on my face. "Oh, do you have any evidence? You're a police officer; you need evidence to accuse someone. You can't be unaware of that, can you?"
"..." Jeff hesitated for a moment, then exclaimed, "But we had an agreement! Didn't we reach a consensus in the hospital's fire escape? Brother Wu, you can't be that forgetful!"
“I remember it very clearly. I haven’t forgotten a single word I said.” I said calmly, gently trimming my nails with a dagger, then raised my hand to look at it, and continued, “I promised you. After I returned, I ordered my men not to fight or cause trouble. Did I fail to do that?”
I raised my eyelids and looked at Jeff: "These past few days, I've been opening my doors for business, and my people have been working diligently in the repair shop... There are people sweeping my territory outside, and I've called them all back... Right now, outside, Chinese gangs, Indians, Middle Easterners, are all fighting each other... But have you seen any of our Big Circle gangs go out and fire a single shot?"
Jeff was speechless.
"Two days..." I held up two fingers: "In just two days, I've lost two blocks of territory. Six of my shops have been wiped out. But I guarantee that in these two days, not a single person from my repair shop has gone out to fight those people!"
"Damn it!" Jeff exploded, his face contorted in rage. "You're kidding me! Don't play dumb with me! Everyone was fine until suddenly they started fighting! You dare say you didn't instigate this?! Overnight, overnight!! Now our police force is utterly disgraced. There are at least five hundred people demonstrating in front of City Hall!!"
Take it!
My dagger slammed heavily into the table! The sound startled Jeff and interrupted him.
I stared into his eyes with a wicked glint in my eye and said, word by word, "Overnight? Fine! What a fine overnight!"
I stood up and stared coldly at him: "Also overnight, several of my brothers died, and their bodies are still lying in the mourning hall!! Also overnight, my boss was assassinated, and he's still in the hospital!!"
With each step I took closer, Jeff retreated a little. I stood before him, looking down at him: "What complaints are you talking to me about now, about the reputation of your police force? Who will talk to me about my blood debt then!"
Jeff swallowed hard. He glanced at me a few times, lowered his voice, and softened his tone considerably: "Okay... fine. Let's both calm down... I'm not here to argue with you today... I just want to resolve the issue."
“Great, I enjoy solving problems.” I smiled.
My change of expression was so fast that Jeff was caught off guard. He paused for a moment, then gave me a wry smile, looked at me intently, and suddenly said in a strange tone, "To be honest... Chen Yang, you really do seem to have the air of a boss now."
He then stood up and said slowly, “I’m here to extend an invitation. My boss, Mr. Norton, invites you, along with the heads of various gangs in Vancouver, to have coffee at the police station at three o’clock this afternoon… Of course, this is not an arrest, just an invitation to everyone to resolve the issue.”
He looked at me intently and said, “Brother Wu… I know you’re tough and powerful. But remember this old Chinese saying: ‘You can’t fight city hall!’ If you go too far, you’ll get into trouble! After all, we’re the soldiers, and you’re the thieves! If you force us to take extreme measures in the end, you’ll definitely lose.”
I thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, I admit you're right. I'd be happy to accept the invitation... Oh, and I'm still very willing to cooperate with the police... to build a harmonious police-community relationship!"
The last sentence nearly made Jeff fall off the table. His expression was strange, as if someone had stuffed an egg down his throat: "You... Fifth Brother, Fifth Master, from my perspective, as long as you cause us less trouble, I'm even willing to go to church every week from now on..."
After saying this, he got up to leave, and as he was leaving, he whispered, "By the way, let me give you a piece of advice... When you see my boss, Mr. Norton, this afternoon, you'd better be polite. That guy is a heartless bastard. Sometimes, we have to treat pets the way they are, right?" He winked at me, "From my perspective, I'm willing to cooperate with you, but I don't want to associate with those Indians or Middle Easterners."
When Jeff left, I sat alone in Eighth Master's office for a long time. I thought about it carefully...
Hmph, is the police holding a gang meeting?
That's interesting, really interesting!
I walked out of the office and shouted, "Hammer!"
Hammer immediately ran down from below and looked at me.