Lanster, cigarette barely clinging to his fingers, crushed it out with a determined gesture. "Richard, keep an eye on Gina and Samantha. I'm calling Hardy."
Richard nodded, his gaze fixed on the two girls, who were cheerfully waving at him from their wooden horse.
"Uncle Richard~~"
Richard's stoic demeanor softened as he returned their wave with a rare smile. His respect for Lanster was clear, but he was prepared to take action if Lanster hesitated.
Hardy, deeply absorbed in his work, was running three businesses: Hardy Security, Hardy Films, and Hardy Brokers. His current focus was on Hardy Films, which was still in its formative stage. The agency had recently signed Ava Gardner and was looking to add Eastwood to its roster. Hardy had also reached out to Edward, a promising candidate, to manage the brokerage side of things.
Edward, though new to the brokerage business, was eager and confident in his learning ability. Hardy appreciated his enthusiasm and set him to work, entrusting him with managing the agency and overseeing the development of the business.
As Hardy discussed future expectations, Edward showed commitment and determination. Their conversation was cut short by Hardy's phone ringing. Lanster was on the line, detailing his situation.
"Major, when you finish with the kids, keep them at the hotel for a few days. Buy them some clothes and school supplies. I'll arrange for their enrollment in a private boarding school tomorrow," Hardy instructed.
"What about custody?" Lanster asked, concerned about Mary's possible resistance.
"Don't worry about the custody for now. I'll handle that," Hardy said with reassurance.
Hanging up, Hardy's mind raced through his plan. He preferred not to resort to violence unless absolutely necessary. He needed to deal with Carol carefully.
South Down Town was home to various gangs, including the Polish gang led by Novakowski. Hardy had no intention of allowing the Polish gang or any other group to disrupt his plans. He dialed Great Ivan, a notorious figure in the area.
"Ivan, I need you to investigate a man named Carol who lives in South Down Town," Hardy instructed.
"Understood, boss," Ivan replied, his tone quickly shifting from formal to accommodating.
Within half an hour, Ivan reported back. "Carol is a street gangster of Polish descent, 30 years old, with a history of theft but no significant affiliations. He's not part of the Polish gang, just a low-level thug."
"What's the situation with the Polish gang?" Hardy asked.
"The Polish gang is led by Novakowski, with a handful of key members and several lower-tier members. Why do you ask?" Ivan inquired.
Hardy explained his plan. "I want you to take care of Carol, and also see what you can do with the Polish gang. Use this opportunity to deal with them and establish our presence."
Ivan's excitement was palpable. "I'll get right on it."
Hardy then contacted Henry and Matthew, who had recently recruited eleven new, experienced members. "Take them out and handle the Polish gang. It's time for some practical training."
Matthew was eager. "Finally, some real action. I'll make sure they're ready."
Hardy's goal was clear: to eliminate Carol and use the situation to weaken the Polish gang, which would also provide valuable experience for his new recruits. It was all part of his broader strategy to consolidate power and establish dominance.
---
Great Ivan immediately began mobilizing his crew. The fear they had from their previous encounters with Hardy fueled their aggression toward Carol.
"Boss Hardy has given us a task," Ivan said, his crew bristling with anticipation.
"What does he want us to do?" one of the men asked.
"Pack up a Polish scum named Carol," Ivan answered.
The crew was enthusiastic. "We'll show him what happens when you cross Boss Hardy!"
Carol, having just left the bar, was in high spirits until he encountered Ivan's crew. A thug grabbed Carol by the collar, his voice dripping with menace. "What are you looking at?"
Carol stuttered, "I wasn't looking at anything."
The thug's punch landed hard in Carol's stomach, sending him to the ground in agony. The crew continued their assault, focusing on making the beating as painful as possible. Ivan watched, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
Dealing with scum was second nature to Ivan. In his world, there were numerous ways to handle the problem, and he had perfected the art of retribution.