In the VIP room of the Lost Soul Nightclub, the Blue Gang, the most powerful underground gang in Fresno, was having a meeting.
Times had changed, and the group of people who were the most violent in the past have long disappeared. Only the Blue Gang has been in the wave for many years and has remained standing. By balancing both legitimate and illegitimate enterprises, they had extended their influence into numerous industries. Now, they stood as the undisputed underground rulers, a true rags-to-riches story.
As for George, the leader of the Blue Gang who is nearly fifty years old, although the years have left marks on his face, he has become calmer and more majestic due to the strong winds and waves.
"Damian, how is your injury?" George asked one of the four people seated below him, holding a teacup in his hand.
"Fortunately, my strength is about the same as that of a month ago. However, the guys who were with me, Martin and Johan, got hurt pretty badly."
The man who had been bravely rescued by Logan that night was now dressed in a suit, looking composed except for his left arm, which was in a cast. He exuded the image of a successful gentleman.
When mentioning the incident of being attacked that day, Damian's tone became calmer. As someone in a high position, he could suppress his anger about being beaten, but that didn't mean he would just let it slide. "The Sand Down Society is really overstepping their bounds."
The large room held only five people, yet these five controlled ninety-nine percent of the Blue Gang's power. George is the kingpin, and Damian is the second-ranking figure in the hierarchy of power, like an enforcer.
An attack on a high-ranking Blue Gang's member was not something that could end peacefully.
"If those young punks like to fight so much, I'll take some men and storm their base tomorrow!" A tall man with a buzz cut slapped his thigh and said in a loud voice.
The people sitting there are all men who was over thirty. They grew up in a gray environment and climbed to their current status through cunningness and perseverance. They all have their own agendas. However, no matter what they do on weekdays, when external forces come to squeeze them, they would stand united to deal with the outside world first.
The buzz-cut man's arms were thick and tattooed. He was in charge of lending (loan sharking) and collecting money (protection fees). Despite his dramatic posturing, everyone knew he wouldn't be the first to charge into battle. Another big shot played along, advising caution, "Calm down, there are plenty of ways to deal with them."
Various comments were made, and George watched observed his subordinates' performances. The Blue Gang originally wanted to target Sand Down Society, a new gang that kept causing trouble, so that they can continue to maintain their status as the underground's big boss. And Damian's incident provided a perfect reason to take action.
"The Sand Down Society is just a bunch of unruly youngsters. They've ignored our warnings, encroaching on our and other groups' territories, fighting, and selling illegal drugs. This has hurt the government's public safety record. The police chief called me just a few days ago..."
George spoke in a slightly inconsistent speech. Those who didn't know about it might think that he is a leader giving a summary at an annual work meeting.
Calmly and confidently, George predicted that the Sand Down Society would meet the same fate as other upstarts before them, crushed by a combination of legal and illegal forces.
Next came the specifics. As they moved to retaliate against the Sand Down Society, the Blue Gang must also take revenge to send a message to others. As the victim, Damian was fortunate enough to be given the task of delivering a decisive blow in the upcoming confrontation.
"Damian, stay behind."
After the meeting, which had gone late into the night, the big shots began to leave. Damian was stopped by George.
"You said that the person who saved you that night, someone who could fight off a dozen people without breaking a sweat, is just an ordinary student?"
"That's right." Damian nodded firmly, recalling the young man who had effortlessly wielded an iron rod like a game of whack-a-mole... "Now that I think about it, it's quite unbelievable. He was... incredibly skilled."
Lacking better words, Damian could only describe it this way. George thought deeply for a while, "There are always bigger fish in the sea, and there is a sky beyond the sky. Don't let what's in front of you limit your vision. Did you get a good look at that student's face?"
Damian tried to recall, "Not very clearly, but I should be able to recognize him if I see him again."
"You already gave him your card. If fate allows you to meet again, make sure to thank him properly."
"Definitely."
This implied another layer of intentions. George didn't have to say it for Damian to understand that drawing the boy closer could be beneficial. Of course, that depended on whether the mysterious savior would ever reach out.
As the last person left the opulent room, the cleaning staff cautiously entered to tidy up, closing the intricately carved red wooden door behind them. The dazzling lights at the top of the high-rise building dimmed, while below, the never-ending nightlife continued. Amidst the bar's fluctuating DJ beats and rooms filled with women forcing smiles, the night spread out, initiating an underground flow of events that would go unnoticed by most.
…
Elsewhere, in a room in a quiet community, Logan had just climbed onto the bed.
He came home late and couldn't make up a good excuse, so he was scolded by Amanda for a while. While taking a shower, he took out a business card from his pocket and remembered that it was given to him by one of the three men who were beaten that day.
'Lost Soul Nightclub', the name alone suggested a place where people would gather to play around at night. Logan had passed by it a few times, noting its grandeur, flashy lights, and air of mystery. It was a place likely involved in gray market activities, and Logan deduced that the person who gave him the card was part of a semi-legal, semi-illegal organization.
Trusting the promises of such a person wasn't out of the question, as establishing a connection with a gray market entity was a potential fallback plan, a source of some income. That's why Logan didn't discard the card.
Tossing the business card aside casually, Logan lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, "This is really ridiculous. I'm looking forward to coming back. But now, forget about going to school, I also have to do a part-time job. I might as well write a light novel called 'Work Ninja'."
Logan had planned to work as a student part-timer at a bar from 6 PM to midnight, which is quite tough, but the hourly wage is very high, and Logan could handle it with the help of his shadow clone.
While complaining about his regrets, the moon set and the sun rose. The next day, after Logan finished zoning out in class, he went to work at the 'Dawn Bar' he agreed to yesterday, while his shadow clone stayed home, playing the role of a shut-in.
Logan had never been to a late-night bar, so the bustling peak hour crowd at one of the largest bars in the area surprised him. Men and women danced under blinding lights, and drinks of various colors were raised and lowered, creating strange splashes.
Logan quickly registered and received his uniform under the guidance of the manager. A kind-hearted long-term worker showed him the ropes, and Logan picked up the tasks quickly. By the end of the day, he could serve customers efficiently. The manager observed from the side for a while, and after seeing that nothing was wrong, he patted the young man on the shoulder, nodded and left.
The later it got, the busier the bar became. Around eleven, the peak hour hit, and Logan, still new to the job, found himself overwhelmed. By the time his shift ended, he couldn't recall how many drinks he'd served or bottles he'd collected. Leaving the bar, he felt a serene calm, as if he'd just achieved enlightenment.
"It's so tough…" Logan muttered when he got home. He picked up the nightclub business card again, and a flash of hesitation appeared on his face.