60: Chapter 60: The Badge Revealed, the Mexican Gang Has Its Eyes on Us

Looking at the AI's emergency alert, Lin Chen gripped the Los Gang badge in his hand, his expression instantly darkening. His fingertips traced the eagle pattern on the badge, the cold metallic sensation seeping into his fingertips.

The incandescent bulb in the Grocery Store was still on, casting a dim yellow light onto the chipped wooden table. Lin Chen had placed the badge in the center of the table; its metallic surface glinted coldly under the light. The engraved eagle pattern was sharp and distinct, though the edges were worn smooth, revealing traces of years of wear.

Dust from their hurried movements still lingered on the floor, and the iron rods in the corner of the wall were neatly propped up. The reflection from the rods overlapped with the cold light of the badge, adding a sense of oppression to the cramped Grocery Store.

Li Wei and Da Hu stood to the side, watching Lin Chen's drastic change in expression. They put away the joy of having just repelled Marcus and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Lin Chen's gaze was locked tightly onto the pale blue screen before him. Doubao AI's emergency alert clearly listed: This badge is the core identification of Los Gang, a mainstream Mexican gang in Los Angeles. Only mid-level members and above are permitted to wear it. Marcus is not core to the gang; he is merely a small-time Boss Julio in the Slum District, responsible for controlling the gray interests of the Chinese Slum District. Los Gang controls all gray resources in the western Slum District of Los Angeles, with over a hundred members. They are ruthless, and the gang's upper management consists of local Mexican-Americans who have financial dealings with multiple local gangs.

"Brother Chen, what's wrong? Is there a problem with this badge?" Li Wei had held it in for a long time, but finally couldn't help asking in a low voice. He leaned forward, wanting to see the screen, but couldn't see anything. He could only stare at the badge on the table, feeling uneasy.

Lin Chen looked up, pushed the badge to the center of the table, and pointed at the eagle pattern on it. His tone was as cold as ice: "This isn't something belonging to that punk Marcus. It's the core badge of the major Mexican gang, Los Gang. Marcus is just a small fry they placed in the Slum District."

"What? A major gang?" Li Wei's eyes widened sharply, his voice involuntarily raising, but he was glared back by Lin Chen and quickly lowered his voice. "Is this Los Gang very powerful? Did we get ourselves into big trouble?"

Da Hu also looked solemn. He had been hanging around the Slum District for so long that he had heard of Los Gang. He knew this group was much more ruthless than Marcus's punks; they didn't know when to pull their punches, and the police couldn't be bothered to deal with them: "Brother Chen, Los Gang is the local overlord of the West District. They have many people and weapons. We beat up their guy this time, they definitely won't let it go."

"Can we afford to offend them? Should we hide for a while?" Li Wei rubbed his hands, feeling panicked. He wasn't afraid of Marcus's punks, but facing a major gang like Los Gang, he inevitably felt insecure.

Lin Chen shook his head, his fingers tapping lightly on the table edge. His mind rapidly organized the information. His programming mindset made him subconsciously analyze the pros and cons. His tone was calm but carried certainty: "We can't afford to offend them for now, but we also can't hide. The properties are here, and the demolition matter is imminent. If we hide, we're just giving away the fat meat already in our mouths. Let's figure out the situation first."

He paused, looked up at Li Wei, his eyes filled with unquestionable decisiveness, and issued a new order: "Go and find out the details about this Los Gang right now, the faster the better. Find out who their higher-ups are, where their core power is, what they usually do for profit, and whether they will come after us because of the Marcus incident. The more detailed, the better."

"Alright, I'll go find out right now!" Li Wei nodded immediately, his execution full-force. He turned to leave, but was called back by Lin Chen.

"Don't rush." Lin Chen raised his hand to stop him, his brow furrowed, considering things extremely carefully. "Don't look for our fellow Chinese. Find that Mexican drifter you know. He has had dealings with Los Gang and knows what's going on inside. Plus, he's tight-lipped. When you ask, don't reveal our identity. Just ask for information, don't get into conflicts, and definitely don't let Los Gang know that it's us investigating them."

"Understood!" Li Wei patted his chest. "That drifter owes me a favor; he'll definitely tell the truth. I guarantee I won't give us away!"

"Also, don't withdraw the people guarding the properties. Find two more reliable brothers, add more manpower, rotate shifts day and night, and don't leave any gaps during shift changes." Lin Chen cautioned again, his eyes full of caution. "Marcus acts without a brain, but Los Gang is different. They are ruthless; they might sneak attack the properties at night. This time, don't just teach them a lesson; just guard them well. If you really encounter them, retreat first, don't fight hard, and report to me immediately."

"Don't worry, Brother Chen, I'll make the arrangements before going to find out!" Li Wei replied crisply and turned to instruct Da Hu. "You go call two brothers over right now. Split into three shifts to guard the two properties. Everyone take an iron rod. Be alert. If you see people from Los Gang, don't fight; hide and report it first!"

"Alright!" Da Hu agreed immediately and walked quickly out of the Grocery Store. His footsteps soon disappeared into the alley.

Only Lin Chen and Li Wei were left in the Grocery Store, the air still oppressive. Seeing Lin Chen staring at the badge in deep thought, Li Wei couldn't help asking again: "Brother Chen, what about Marcus? If he complains to Los Gang, will they come directly to our door?"

"Marcus embezzled the gang's money and also lost their core badge. He can barely save his own skin; he wouldn't dare tell the truth to Los Gang." Lin Chen spoke calmly, his tone filled with certainty—this was the result of the AI's real-time deduction just now. "He's only thinking about how to fill the hole and how to get the badge back right now. He has no time to bother us for the moment. We don't have much time; we must figure out Los Gang's background before he confesses to the gang."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Doubao AI in his mind popped up another alert, the red font particularly striking—this was the hidden foreshadowing: Los Gang is currently intensifying its presence in the Los Angeles Slum District. They have already noticed the August 1990 Slum District demolition planning announcement and are attempting to seize huge profits from the demolition by occupying low-priced properties and collecting protection fees.

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat when he saw this alert, and his fingertip tapping stopped abruptly. So, Los Gang's goal wasn't just to stand up for Marcus, but more importantly, it was the demolition profits of the Slum District. The three properties he had acquired at a low price happened to be within the demolition area. This wasn't just revenge; it was a conflict of interest. What Los Gang had their eyes on was the fat meat of the demolition, and he had become their stumbling block.

"Brother Chen, what now?" Li Wei saw Lin Chen's expression change again and felt even more panicked.

"Los Gang has also set their sights on the Slum District demolition." Lin Chen looked up, his tone adding a touch of solemnity. "They aren't doing this for Marcus; they're doing it for the demolition money. The properties we acquired are blocking their path. That is the biggest trouble."

"These bastards, their appetites are too big!" Li Wei cursed fiercely, clenching his fist and slamming it on the table. "The demolition money is something we earned with our own skills. They want to snatch it too? Do they really think we're easy to bully?"

"Now is not the time to talk tough." Lin Chen raised his hand to press down on his fist. "They have strength in numbers. If we go head-to-head now, it's like throwing an egg against a rock. Let's endure for now, figure out their trump cards, and then think of countermeasures. Anyway, the demolition is still a few months away; there's still enough time."

He picked up the badge from the table and gripped it in his hand, the badge's cold light leaking through his fingers: "This badge is leverage. Marcus lost it, and Los Gang will definitely hold him accountable. We can use this opportunity to see the internal situation of Los Gang and find their weaknesses."

Seeing Lin Chen's confident appearance, Li Wei's panic slowly dissipated. He knew Lin Chen had a meticulous mind and must have his own plans. He nodded: "Brother Chen, whatever you say, I'll do. I'll go find out the details about Los Gang now and strive to bring you news tonight!"

"Go, be safe." Lin Chen waved his hand, watching Li Wei walk quickly out of the Grocery Store and disappear into the night.

Only Lin Chen was left in the Grocery Store. He walked to the window, looking at the dim streetlights outside and the quiet streets of the Slum District. The badge in his hand was gripped until it felt burning hot. He leaned against the cold window sill and awakened the AI again, letting it monitor the movements of Los Gang in real-time, especially their actions regarding the Slum District demolition and the properties.

The data stream on the screen scrolled rapidly, and the basic information about Los Gang kept refreshing. Lin Chen's gaze swept over every piece of information, his mind quickly formulating countermeasures. He knew that this time, the opponent was no longer a small punk like Marcus, but a real gang force. This was the biggest threat he had encountered since his rebirth. One wrong step could lead to a chain of errors, so he had to play it steady, endure first, and then counterattack.

What Lin Chen didn't know was that in a Los Gang stronghold on the other side of the Slum District, several Mexican tough guys wearing black leather jackets were sitting around a table. On the table lay Marcus's distress letter. One of the bearded tough guys was tapping his fingers on the table, his eyes staring viciously at the map of the Slum District on the wall. On the map, the locations of the three properties Lin Chen had acquired were circled in red pen, with Lin Chen's name written next to them.

The gang members had already set their sights on Lin Chen.