Chapter 140: Decision and Knock-Knock-Knock

In the office above the Empire Night nightclub, Lansi sat in that chair he liked.

Only today, this chair that could wrap around him and give him a sense of security like returning to his mother's womb didn't bring him much enjoyment.

Even his preferred tea-colored sunglasses were taken off by him and placed on the table.

The room was still full of smoke, and the cadres were all looking at him. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and his complexion didn't look good.

The accountant was calculating some numbers on the side. After about two minutes, the accountant handed him a card with the final number recorded.

He took a look, expressionless.

"How was this number calculated?" He looked at the accountant, his eyes somewhat fierce. If the accountant couldn't give a reason, he wouldn't mind letting the accountant bleed a little before the war started.

The accountant handed over a large sheet of paper. He let his fierce gaze linger on the accountant for a while before shifting it to the paper.

If they were to go to all-out war, they would need to prepare at least two hundred handguns, as well as matching magazines and bullets.

These would cost about ten thousand dollars.

The Federation wasn't some small region. Their gang fights weren't like children playing in those places, still fighting with cold weapons.

In another city, the big shots there were already fighting with armored vehicles. So far, no similar situation had appeared in New Jincheng, which could only be said to be because the five major families had a great deterrent!

Ordinary criminal groups didn't dare to easily break out into large-scale battles here. The five major families wouldn't allow them to easily destroy the prosperity of New Jincheng.

Then there were submachine guns. They needed twenty, plus magazines, which would cost about thirteen thousand five hundred dollars.

That was already over twenty thousand.

This list also had some bulletproof vests. The fate of Wei De and Liam having stomachs full of bullets made Lansi a bit scared. He didn't hope that he would end up like them, having his stomach full of "seeds" too.

Bulletproof vests were not only expensive in the Federation but also very hard to buy, so the price of each was very high. They were asking two hundred dollars each, and every high-level cadre and Lansi bought one.

The total price had already reached twenty-five thousand.

Then there were mobilization expenses. The Kamila Gang wasn't the kind of united, family-style criminal family like the Sumuli people, where everyone was like family.

This was just a low-level criminal group engaged in the worst crimes for profit.

It wasn't very realistic to talk to those people about fighting for ideals or the glory of the gang.

Money was the nuclear power that could stimulate them to move forward!

These would cost about seventy thousand dollars. Some extra funds were to be distributed to these high-level cadres; they might temporarily need some money to do things outside the plan.

That was already ninety-five thousand.

Then there was the money used to handle some big shots. An all-out gang war would definitely involve continuous fighting. Even if it didn't last long, it would bring extreme negative impact on public security.

If they didn't spend money to handle those big shots, even if they won, they would eventually be dispersed by law enforcement agencies and end up finished.

He didn't list detailed names here, but there was a list, and the approximate fees needed to be paid.

Calculated, it would need about sixty thousand—one hundred fifty-five thousand.

Then, considering that someone would definitely die, even if he might not necessarily give it in the end, he had to be prepared.

Prepare thirty thousand in pension funds...

Then there were some other expenses and conservative estimates of losses. Looking at the number 220,000, Lansi felt his teeth ache.

After the fact, the five major families would definitely come to him for trouble. He would also have to take out a sum of money or give up part of his interests. Large-scale war really wasn't a good choice.

But now... he lit a cigarette and came to the window, looking down at the street. Today, the Empire Night nightclub was temporarily closed.

The street at the entrance of the nightclub was full of cars, and over two hundred people had gathered. They were all waiting for an order, a notification from Lansi.

Having reached this point, it wasn't something he could stop just because he wanted to.

If it were the first time, Wei De was finished off, he could say this was a conflict between Wei De and the Lansi Family, because his brother Kente was killed, so they had a conflict and attacked each other, unrelated to the gang. That could still be justified.

Now Liam was also dead. No matter why he died or how he died, if he, the big boss, didn't make any statement, how would those high-level cadres and those gang members look at him?

Would they have any thoughts they shouldn't have?

The Kamila Gang, which used high pressure and fear as a means of rule, was really quite fragile in some aspects.

"This damn Lansi Family, why couldn't they... be a bit weaker?"

"Why must they resist?"

He muttered a sentence, inhaled for a while, and then returned to the table.

A high-level cadre stood up. "Lansi, what exactly are we doing? Don't keep dragging us along; everyone is watching you."

"Are we going to war with them, or forget it? You have to have a plan and a result..."

Another high-level cadre suddenly stood up. "We can't forget it!"

"If we don't go to war with them this time, how will those Empire people in the Empire District look at us?"

"They will struggle, they will resist, and they might even turn around and bite us."

"We can't give them this opportunity. We must use the blood of that so-called Lansi Family to tell people that the Empire District is still under our control."

"Otherwise, more people will stand up and try to challenge us!"

This was one of the reasons why there was no turning back. You ruled this area through fear, and when people found that you yourself also had fearful emotions, they would suddenly stop being afraid!

Lansi finally made up his mind and looked at his confidant. "Go get twenty thousand."

"Cash?"

Lansi glared at him. "Do you expect me to write you a check?"

The confidant grinned and left.

Over the years, Lansi had made quite a bit of money. He had laundered a large part of this money through underground banks and then used another identity to purchase real estate and bonds, which counted as his way out.

If one day he couldn't do this industry anymore, couldn't do it, then he would withdraw.

The identity he left behind allowed him to live very well here without worrying about any other problems.

But not all the money was laundered. Those underground bank fees were painfully expensive, so quite a bit of money was kept in the safe.

And this was also why many criminal group leaders were arrested, and large amounts of cash could be searched from their residences!

Some banknotes were even moldy, moldy and ruined, but they didn't care, because besides putting them at home, they didn't know where else they could put them.

He returned behind the table, sat down, and put on the tea-colored sunglasses again. The two high-level cadres who had been arguing endlessly also closed their mouths.

At this moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door. A gang member stood at the door, looking at these big shots in the gang, his face showing a look of fear. "Several police cars have come, and the person leading them wants to see you, Boss."

Lansi frowned, then stood up. "Come with me to see what they want."

The high-level cadres all stood up one after another and followed behind him downstairs.

At this time, the atmosphere downstairs was already a bit tense. Those low-level members were confronting a small number of police. When Lansi arrived at the front, he found that the Assistant Chief of the Empire District branch had also come.

"What do you want to do, Lansi?"

"The police report calls have blown up the police station's switchboard. Everyone is complaining that you have a large number of gang members gathered here. Do you intend to break our rules?"

Facing this Assistant Chief, Lansi didn't retreat at all. With so many people watching, he had to show his tough side.

Gang members worship those who are stronger, not those who are timid. As the leader of the Kamila Gang, he had to be tough enough.

He walked in front of the Assistant Chief, the distance between the two less than fifty centimeters. "You ask me what I'm doing?"

"My family lost another member today. Liam was finished off at the entrance of his club, but what are you doing?"

"You actually ignore the murderer and run to my turf to ask me what I'm doing?"

"What am I doing?"

"I'm going to avenge my own family!"

This sentence was like igniting some emotion at the scene. Those gang members waved their arms, shouting "Revenge"!

The Assistant Chief couldn't say a concise phrase like "lawless." He just looked at Lansi seriously. "I will be watching you here. If you dare to mess around, I will send you all in directly."

Lansi looked at him twice, shook his head, and retreated a few steps. Watching the other party intend to leave, the Assistant Chief took two steps to chase, but was blocked by gang members...

Back in the office, twenty thousand in cash was placed on the table. Even he himself felt his heart beat faster seeing so much cash piled together.

"Now I'll distribute the money..."

Someone asked, "What about the police outside?"

Lansi didn't lift his head. "Find something to distract their attention. The Empire District branch only has that many police; it's impossible for everyone to come and watch us..."

He stacked several bundles of money together and looked at one of them. "This is yours..."

On the other side, Lansi also encountered police questioning, such as "Where were you today," "Have you seen anyone," "Who can prove this for you," and so on.

Because Lansi had done more homework, the police didn't ask anything of value.

They first wanted to search Lansi's company, but because they didn't have a search warrant, they could only question him at the door, and this was still under the condition that Lansi actively cooperated.

Otherwise, he could even not answer and go directly back to the room.

Today, there were witnesses who could prove he was right here and hadn't gone anywhere. From a factual point of view, the police's questioning was also just a warning, a deterrent.

In the absence of definitive evidence—even if they found evidence that could point to Hiram, whether Hiram would "confess" that the mastermind was Lansi were two different things.

So from the beginning, these police officers knew that this matter wouldn't have any results, and it didn't have any practical significance in the case.

They did this just as a warning, a deterrent from law enforcement agencies.

At night, blue-shirts came here one after another. They had heard a little something. Looking at the crowd gathering more and more, the police also had a headache and called for support.

The situation on both sides was summarized to the City Police Department in the first instance. This was a rare overtime for Chief Chali.

Ever since he got older, he rarely worked late at night, mainly because his body couldn't take it.

Staying up late once required several days or even two weeks to adjust back. He wasn't young anymore and planned to live a few more years.

But the things that happened today were too serious, so he had to work overtime here.

"... Keep watching them, don't let them have any further actions, and report to me at any time if there are any problems."

He hung up the phone and rubbed his temples. He had just taken some blood pressure medication, but the effect wasn't very good.

His temples were still bulging and swollen, and there was even a faint headache.

In the afternoon, Hunter had told him about some situations he discovered. Liam's death was very likely Lansi's doing. As for why, he wasn't sure; it might be an escalation of conflict.

At that time, when Lansi hadn't gathered people, everything was still within Chief Chali's control.

But as the sky began to darken and the Kamila Gang people began to gather, he realized that the development of things was finally heading in the direction he least hoped for.

The whole country was paying attention to the prohibition issue. As an important port city and an economic barometer, New Jincheng's relatively complex social situation also made many people's eyes focus here.

At this time, if a large-scale gang fight broke out, the mayor would definitely be fine, but he, this police chief, would definitely be finished.

So, it must be controlled!

The bang-bang-bang knocking on the door distracted some of his attention, and his temples weren't so bulging anymore. "Come in."

The Assistant Chief walked in, closed the door casually, and sat opposite him.

He glanced at the glass bottle containing pills on the table and said without surprise, "Blood pressure high again?"

Chali nodded, pulled two cigarettes from the cigarette case, lit one, and passed it over. "There's no way not to let it rise; these people are too worrying."

After the Assistant Chief lit the cigarette and took a puff, he said, "It's indeed very troublesome. I just received some news from informants that Lansi and his people are indeed going to find trouble with the Lansi Family."

Chief Chali didn't speak. It wasn't that he didn't have informants; he also knew, which was why he had a headache now.

"Dragging it out isn't a solution either," the Assistant Chief added.

This sentence was very wonderful, giving people a very special feeling. Chief Chali looked up at him, just about to flick the ash, when he found the ashtray was full.

He poured the cigarette butts and ash from the ashtray into the trash can, walked back, and sat down. "What do you mean?"

The Assistant Chief raised his eyebrows. "The police report calls in the Empire District have surged. Some people reported that their doors were broken, some reported arson..."

"They are pulling police force. I'll mobilize some from the Pulixiya branch," Chief Chali said, picking up the phone.

The Pulixiya branch was just to the east of the Empire District and to the west of the Bay Area; the three districts had a junction point.

Mobilizing police force from here was relatively fast.

As for why not mobilize from the city center, that was because no one would hope for accidents in the city center.

If an accident happened in the city center because of police mobilization, Chief Chali would have to bear the responsibility.

Just as he was about to finish dialing the Pulixiya branch's phone number, the Assistant Chief said, "Can you keep blocking them?"

Chief Chali, who was turning the dial, suddenly stopped his hand and said the same dialogue as just now. "What do you mean?"

The Assistant Chief didn't answer immediately, but took a big puff of smoke. "I heard that Lansi's core members are only thirty-some people, but Kamila has three hundred."

"Even if you mobilize two hundred, three hundred police to go there, according to the standard police dispatch rules, one armed break-in could trap at least six police officers and three police cars."

"If you add some fake reports, it doesn't make any sense to mobilize more people, and you can't mobilize that many people at all!"

The number of police officers on duty at night in the Federation police station wasn't large. Currently, there were less than sixty people working in the Empire District police branch.

Even if mobilized from other districts, at most one hundred or so could be mobilized, which couldn't solve the specific situation.

Chief Chali put the receiver back. "So, what exactly do you mean?"

The Assistant Chief hesitated for a long time before saying softly, "We block the streets and let them have a fight within a controllable range. No matter the result, this matter ends here."

"Now that the sky is completely dark, there won't be too many witnesses, and no ordinary people will be hurt."

"After the fight ends, we'll catch some people. This way, we have an explanation for the public and the media, and this matter will pass."

"If anyone wants to make a move after this, they will be the enemy of all the police in New Jincheng."

"But it's highly likely there won't be a next time!"

Chief Chali didn't have the anger or unhappiness he imagined. "How much money did Kamila's people give you?"

Undoubtedly, three hundred against thirty—the person who could think of this idea must have taken black money to be so black-hearted.

The Assistant Chief gestured a "one" and then a "five"—fifteen thousand dollars—indeed enough to persuade him to do something.

Chief Chali knew that the two Assistant Chiefs of the City Bureau sometimes took money, but as long as they didn't make mistakes on matters of principle, he often turned a blind eye.

Even he himself took money, so how could he require his subordinates not to?

But society is like this; the Federation has long been rotten to the bone from top to bottom.

High-level politicians, in order to take money legally and reasonably, and take it with confidence, even drafted laws related to politicians taking money, and avoided all moral and legal risks for their behavior of taking money.

From the President to city councilors, they were all doing the same thing.

Although the police chief wasn't a politician, why couldn't he... take it?

"Chali, just like what I said. You can't keep blocking them from fighting."

"Can you block them for a day, three days, a week, or a month or a year?"

"It's better to terminate it completely before the conflict continues to spread. This is the most proper way, don't you think?"

"And they promised that after this matter ends...", the Assistant Chief's fingers tapped on the table three times.

The knock-knock-knock sound made Chief Chali's high blood pressure suddenly drop... ===== CHAPTER 141 =====