Chapter 351 - 197: Friends

There have been a lot of personnel changes within the Black Gold Gang.Fortunately, the gang is in a period of rapid expansion, with plenty of businesses and manpower to offer promotion opportunities.

Like the underground fighting tournaments.

Their scale and venues are continuously increasing, with each division having its own leader to run and manage.

"Reck is such an asshole. Oh, that last venue was managed by Reck, the bastard promised it’d just be a way to relax, boxing a few rounds to relieve stress, almost got totally screwed up..."

Reck and Camper are both newly-promoted leaders.

Jilead swore, his artificial eye flickering, likely processing some information.

Now he’s a gang leader, with territory and a bunch of subordinates, no longer the low-level hoodlum wearing flashy hoodies in front of cheap apartments.

"...Wait a sec, John, did you get into trouble?"

Jilead suddenly turned his head suspiciously, as if he’d caught wind of something.

John held a water bottle, leaning on the water’s edge railing, and asked.

"Tipsy Bikini has a new owner, did you know about that? Someone called Camper."

"Ah, I know him, long-standing member of the gang, but nobody likes him except for the higher-ups..."

Jilead oversimplified the problem.

Tipsy Bikini was Angelica’s place, now suddenly taken over by a stranger, perhaps something upset Mr. Mercenary,

"If it’s about business issues, I should explain, he doesn’t have the guts to seize Angelica’s territory, it’s all the higher-ups’ decision..."

Jilead said, glancing at Gino—her face already showing anger.

He immediately clarified his stance.

"Hey, Girl, don’t misunderstand, if I get the chance, I’d fucking knock that idiot’s head off... John, you... uh, what’s with that expression?"

Jilead seemed to realize something, yet was somewhat doubtful of his own guess.

"Bro, did you take him out?"

"Yep."

John recounted what happened that afternoon.

Jilead listened silently, then sighed.

"Bro, he’s a gang leader, you can’t just... sigh."

The Black Gold Gang had just gotten used to two Speakers leading, the minor leaders still settling territory and recruiting fresh blood, even Mr. Vito didn’t have time to cover for John’s mess.

"It’s alright."

John didn’t take the matter to heart at all.

Many, including Jilead, thought John was close with the Black Gold Gang’s higher-ups, but only he knew:

In their eyes, it was all about calculation and profit, he had no weight, taking him out was just a matter of cost-benefit analysis.

John smoked and looked into the distance.

Gino crossed her arms, suddenly glanced at him, seemingly sensing something was off about John.

Jilead scratched his curly short hair, still undecided about what style to choose after upgrading his prosthetic body.

He changed the topic, chatting about life’s trivialities.

Camper’s death left no ripple in Jilead’s heart, as if it wasn’t a gang colleague who died.

"Is Angelica alright? I heard some rumors..."

He actively inquired.

Gino’s gaze also became eager.

John hesitated for a moment, selectively speaking.

"The rumors are true, so she’s not suitable to appear in the West District anymore, might even leave this city forever."

Their faces flashed a bit of regret but then turned to relief.

Escaping Eden City requires courage and luck.

The waves crashed against the embankment, signal lights outlined the elevated bridge, the sound of a giant engine rumbled beneath the pier, accompanied by some equipment starting up, the acidic and rotten smell in the air grew stronger.

The core of Eden City lay beyond the dark water.

Neon lights and soaring holograms, dazzling paints that dazzle the mind, but only those truly enmeshed know—that behind the glitz is a scorching pain that corrodes the soul.

Angelica might be lucky.

John took the initiative to break the silence.

"Can you help take care of Wenna?"

"That bartender chick? Okay, I do remember her, I’ll send someone to give Camper’s lackeys a heads up, no one will retaliate."

Jilead controlled the largest rental company in the West District, finding a pretty girl a job was just a matter of speaking up.

John’s appearance made Jilead very happy.

In comparison...

Who Wenna is, what trouble she encountered, how her life was affected, was all a minor concern in his eyes.

"It’s great to see you guys, hey, it means a lot to me, the gang’s business is really stressing me out, the better I do, the fewer people around I can call friends, I really value those lasting relationships..."

"Enough."

John stubbed out his cigarette, interrupting his emotional soliloquy.

"I’m straight."

Gino crossed her arms and shook her head.

"I’m bent."

The implication being neither of them was interested, so drop the cheesy act.

Jilead, caught off guard, could only respond with a middle finger.

"...You two are real jerks."

The three of them laughed simultaneously, like friends would.

The issue had been resolved.

Jilead needed to return to the Habitable Rental Company, to handle the backlog of business during this period.

Gino got into John’s passenger seat.

"Your wreck of a car looks like it was screwed by a T-Rex, really lost its class, you used to drive supercars and racing bikes."

John chuckled and shook his head.

Gino, despite his words, pulled out tools from his waist pouch, fixed the radio, connected the data line, and hacked into several illegal channels.

The late-night broadcasts were full of extremists.

Their minds filled with all sorts of indulgent fantasies, enough to provoke the numbed citizens of Eden City.

John turned the steering wheel, diving into the parking garage of Bolago Tower.