[Chapter 666: Loose on the Outside, Tight on the Inside]
On the surface, William White appeared to be quite relaxed lately. He spent his time either filming on set or handling matters at the White Center. Everything seemed so natural, so routine. However, his security consultants were far from relaxed.
"Sir, you've been on set for too long. If possible, it would be better to cut back a bit," Max said.
"Max, you're back. What do I have to worry about now? Tanner and the others have unearthed some leads lately, and it seems like the other side has quite a few ideas."
Max wasn't on board with William White's plans, and neither was Tanner. Unfortunately, William was set on his course.
"Sir, I know it could be useful, but acting as bait comes with a high price. It's just not worth it," Max insisted.
William understood the risks, but was there truly anything in this world that was completely risk-free?
"Actually, once we wrap up the outdoor shoot in the next few days, the other issues won't be too significant. Max, stop trying to dissuade me. As long as I don't know who they are, I can't feel at ease."
"Well then, I'll need to arrange for more people on set."
It wasn't accurate to say that he was completely oblivious. William White knew all too well that these thugs would need to stir up trouble if they were going to take action. A conspiracy, once known, lost a lot of its power. It was a different beast compared to overt schemes -- it was at a much lower level.
William White was filming in Seoul, which indeed tempted some characters out of the woodwork. Yet, as he suspected, they preferred to scheme from the shadows; if forced into the open, these thugs wouldn't necessarily be effective.
...
"Seoul? Andy, are you sure?"
"Positive. I went there again today."
"Hmm, at this time... By the way, how robust is his security?"
"Not too bad, but it's too far away to observe closely."
"Got it, you can go rest for now."
The top-tier syndicates in Los Angeles maintained their positions through sheer wits. The key was truly having the means to enjoy the money. He wasn't worried about doing time; no matter where you locked him up, he would find a way to thrive.
At times, people fell into a mental trap. They didn't think about it -- how could a lowlife dare to act recklessly while the richest man remained law-abiding?
The same thing would've been dealt with easily if it had been in the hands of Sicilians. The folks pulling the strings would have taken care of it swiftly.
...
Nonetheless, William was certain that once this was all dealt with, the black brothers would learn to be a bit smarter.
"Master, this guy named Andy is problematic. If he isn't with the Angels, then he's definitely with the FBI."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"His resume is fake. This guy has a good education and isn't some punk from Ohio."
"Are you implying he's an FBI agent?"
"Looking at his history, his tactics resemble those of the CIA. The FBI doesn't usually have such meticulous records. The only suspicious point is that he was sleeping with that cripple."
William White erupted in laughter, coughing up his coffee. It was less about being scared and more about being disgusted.
He didn't care about people's sexual preferences; that was their own business as long as they didn't flaunt it in front of him.
However, if this was for an undercover operation?
He couldn't help but feel like this was punishment for impulsiveness. They were in the middle of a catastrophic situation. A syndicate leader mixed with black brothers -- this risk was monumental.
"Tanner, is this guy inciting trouble?" If he was being obstructive, he'd act as if he saw nothing. If he was encouraging trouble, just wait until his outburst.
What did it matter to the CIA? They could still make people disappear. Those idiots couldn't even handle a Leo Wanta yet were still causing chaos everywhere.
"Yes, his motives are definitely not simple," Tanner replied.
"An orphan?" The gravity of the situation darkened William's mood; such people were the most troublesome, completely untethered.
"Yes, his aunt raised him and is still in Ohio."
"Have someone keep an eye on him. If..."
"I understand, master. He will talk."
"By the way, Tanner, if he's with the Angels, observe the surroundings first, okay? Take some photos in case we need to catch him red-handed."
"Got it, master. We won't make the same mistake again."
"Honestly, these outer circles might not know too much. Tracing back leads depends on luck."
William had nearly concluded that this guy was most likely with the Angels.
He had decided; if they couldn't dig anything up this time, so be it. But, should anything surface, it would be the end for those involved -- that would be the price to pay.
Sometimes the world worked this way; if one appeared too weak and timid, no one would respect them.
...
William was furious, sensing boiling currents underneath the surface in Los Angeles. Those highly placed individuals were certainly aware. Everyone was waiting, scheming to take advantage of the crisis.
He wondered if they truly realized the magnitude of the trouble they had stirred. When the entire country erupted into chaos, would they even know how to resolve it?
When it came to race and religion, it was best not to touch those hot buttons. Just like the directives William had given to the media department -- these were high-voltage lines, and miscalculating even once could lead to disaster.
What an absurd notion to have different ethnic groups at each other's throats -- he questioned who came up with such a foolish idea.
If the situation spiraled out of control...
As later events proved, they completely miscalculated. The black brothers didn't spare even their own. From rolls of toilet paper to grocery carts, they left nothing of value behind.
Were there no benefits to this? Indeed, from then on, no politician dared to play those games again. Frankly, it was terrifying, and the Angel City almost turned into Somalia.
You see, that was the irony of it all.
What? You think it wasn't incentivized?
The most valuable area was Beverly Hills; you really believed the black brothers lacked sophistication, unaware of where the money was?
If they hadn't prepared beforehand, who would believe it?
William White became increasingly annoyed. Targeting innocent people was not his style. To speak frankly, without death on the line, one shouldn't go too far.
Yes, implicating wives and children was indeed inappropriate. However, it also came with a caveat: everyone had to play by the rules.
If you wouldn't play by the rules and I insisted on obeying them, wouldn't that lead to a tragic end?
*****
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