Filed to story: A Bullied Boy Died: A Mafia King Woke Up In His Body
As the Seven Snakes released the restrained members and left the new crates behind, the members were confused about what had just happened. Some of the members were certain they were going to be killed.
Wrent didn’t know what to tell them. All they could do now was consume the potions.
I swear I’ll find a way to remove this addiction and take revenge!
*****
Always leave a way out for a cornered corvette, lest they choose to self-destruct. It is better to milk your enemies.
Kyle was happy with the result. While he would be losing the prisoners, he had run sufficient tests on the addiction properties by now. With the gang members being trained for over a month, there was no need for addiction-ridden prisoners to fight against. They could simply spar against one another.
This will also prevent the more significant gangs from clamping down on us. Anyone else that tries to attack us will risk angering the Red Lions, seeing as we are supplying them in a reparation contract…
None of the Seven Snakes were unhappy with the outcome, even though it was to be publicly declared; they all knew they had emerged as victors of the conflict. It boosted their pride and sense of accomplishment, but most of all, it caused their respect for Kyle to soar far into the clouds. All the members were comparing him to Ulon, though it was a low bar to clear. Even the new recruits who hadn’t fought as much were starstruck by how easily they defeated the Red Lions.
“Holy shit! It was only a few hours of skirmishes, four days of patrols, and that’s it? Is our leader some sort of monster?”
“He managed to sneak into their base alone and escape even with Wrent defending! How awesome is that? Fuck the guy who told me Wrent was a beast!” Niko excitedly whispered as they watched Kyle return to the base with the rest.
Kyle began giving out orders. “Keith, prepare the public announcement. Spread it through our businesses. Get Slavin in on it as well.” The brothel expansion was going well despite the conflict, with the customers reasonably assured of the protection provided by the Seven Snakes.
“Damian, arrange for the prisoner transfer process. Return everyone, addicted or not.”
“Everyone else, gather in the common area in three hours for dinner. It’s time to celebrate.” A loud cheer erupted among the associates. They were excited to celebrate their first victory in over five years.
Kyle returned to his office, looking at the map that showed the districts again.
The base is now secured against most smaller threats. The locals are now well aware of the resurgence of the Seven Snakes. Kyle nodded to himself, but he knew he was far from being a significant power in the city of Raktor. If he truly wanted to achieve his first original objective of building a solid power base, only when he had dominated an entire city would he consider it as some measure of success.
His eyes fell on the list of gangs in the South Sector, noting the prominent individuals and the top dominator-the Ardent Cretins. Despite the daunting challenges ahead, Kyle already had a step-by-step plan for what to do.
I used to rule nebulas, spice routes, and star systems with populations numbering in the trillions. What’s a small city like this to me?
Repercussions
The next day…
“Did you hear? The Seven Snakes lost to the Red Lions and have to pay reparations.”
“Nah, no way. I saw them fight each other-they were at a draw! Sure, the Seven Snakes were nearly beaten shitless, but they were extremely tenacious.”
“Their new leader seems to be much more competent than Ulon, but I guess a small-time gang will always be small-time.”
Such were the types of rumors going around the food market and the South Sector, but they were drowned out in a sea of other conflicts. The Seven Snakes were not the only gang fighting at the time-it was the city of Raktor, so a fight was around every corner.
“Are we going to be the next dominator of the South Sector?” one of the more overtly excited gang members asked.
“Idiot, no way! How the hell are we going to overtake the Ardent Cretins? Wait, fuck that. We can’t even go against the main force of the Red Lions!”
“Nah, believe in Kyle! I like him much better than his Alvin persona.”
“Can’t wait to have my own underlings; I’ll put them through the same training routine!”
The mood in the base was festive, but Kyle was not. At least not until the waves had died down. He sat in his office, waiting patiently until Keith came in, his face clearly shaken.
“Sir, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Is it the enforcers? I’ve been expecting them.” Kyle had anticipated a potential visit, seeing as they had now established their foundation in the district. He was not averse to collaborating with the enforcers-crime and law went hand in hand. Already in his mind, he was coming up with ways to entice and lure the enforcers into his pocket.
Perhaps a tax-generating scheme or even mutual assistance in reducing crime.
He could even use the enforcers to potentially suppress some of the thug groups lurking around the district. Despite the Seven Snakes’ resurgence, it was foolish to assume that they had complete control over every individual in the area-countless upstarts and small three-man gangs ran multiple smuggling rings and production lines as well.