I expressed my gratitude to him and left, allowing him to sort out the details with the others.
Returning to the office, I reviewed our financials and found that we were nearly out of funds. I had around five hundred gold to my name, enough to sustain a family comfortably for about a year. My new territory included four brothels, two gambling dens, two money-lending establishments, and a fence for stolen goods. There were no point-men, a term that can mean either a full-time enforcer or a sub-lieutenant; in my case, I usually mean the latter. However, I did have six full-time enforcers and knew several freelancers.
I visited each establishment and laid down an offer. Placing a bag containing fifty gold on the table, I said, "I'm your new boss. This is either a bonus or a farewell gift. Your choice. But if you take it as a bonus and betray me, start preparing for your funeral."
