Bab 55: Chapter 55 – The Benefits of Notoriety
The pounding continued. Carol, crumpled and barely conscious, was hit again in the ribs. Each blow was a jarring reminder of his dire situation.
Nearby pedestrians, initially hesitant, had begun to watch from a safe distance. Whispers spread quickly:
"Isn't that Ivan, the head of the Russian gang? How did Carol manage to cross him?"
"Whatever happened, Carol is as good as finished now."
Ivan, towering and imposing, surveyed the scene with cold indifference. As the crowd scattered in fear, he addressed his underlings. "Take him back."
At their base, Carol endured yet another round of brutal punishment. His pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.
"Please, stop. I'll do anything," Carol begged, his voice trembling.
Ivan, towering over Carol with a menacing presence, scrutinized him. "Where did you go wrong?"
"I… I shouldn't have looked at you," Carol stammered, desperation evident.
Ivan drew his Big Black Star pistol and pressed it against Carol's head. Carol's fear intensified, and he almost lost control.
"Boss Ivan, please don't kill me! I understand my mistake!" Carol cried out, his voice breaking.
Street gangsters like Carol, lacking true grit, were often paralyzed by fear.
"I don't want to die," Carol pleaded, his voice cracking.
Ivan's expression remained steely. "There's a way for you to live."
"What do I need to do?" Carol asked, hope flickering.
Ivan handed him a piece of paper. "Sign this."
Carol saw the document was an IOU for 5,000 dollars. The implications were clear: signing would tie him to Ivan and his gang indefinitely.
"Boss Ivan, I—"
The pistol was again pressed to Carol's head.
"Sign it, or I'll have you thrown into a ditch to drown," Ivan said coldly.
Carol, understanding the gravity of the threat, signed the IOU with shaking hands.
Ivan took the document with a satisfied grin. "With this, I can even win in court. I have faith in the law."
Carol's inner monologue was filled with contempt. "You believe in the law? Yeah, right."
Ivan then produced two more documents and threw them at Carol. "Here are the consent form for the girls to attend a private boarding school and the custody transfer agreement. Get them signed and returned."
Carol's heart sank as he realized the connection to Lanster's earlier instructions. His hatred for Lanster grew, seeing this as a cruel betrayal.
Ivan's warning was clear. "If you don't get these signed, your body will be floating in a ditch by tomorrow."
Carol hurried home, the documents clutched in his hands. Upon entering, his wife Mary looked at him, alarmed by his condition.
"What happened to you, Carol?" Mary asked, seeing the blood and mud.
Carol, seething with anger, slapped Mary hard across the face.
"Carol, why?" Mary cried out, her face reddening and bleeding.
"It's your fault!" Carol shouted. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess."
He threw the documents on the table. "Sign them. Now."
Mary picked up the forms. The consent form allowed their daughters to attend the private school, and the custody agreement transferred their rights to Lanster.
"Did Lanster do this?" Mary asked, recognizing the implications.
"Of course it's him! He found out about me and sent these thugs. Sign them or I'm dead!" Carol insisted.
Mary hesitated, torn between her children's future and her own principles. But Carol's threats left her with no choice. She signed the documents, tears streaming down her face.
Carol dashed back to Ivan. The Russian mob boss examined the signed agreements, nodding with satisfaction.
"This is all settled then," Ivan said. "As for your injuries, you don't need any compensation. You're lucky to be alive."
Carol, relieved to have avoided further punishment, quickly agreed. "I'm fine. I don't need anything."
Ivan and his crew departed, leaving Carol and Mary in turmoil.
Back at the amusement park, Lanster and Richard continued to entertain the children. A towering figure approached them.
"Hi, Richard. Boss Hardy sent me with something for you."
Richard introduced the man. "Major, this is Ivan, the head of the Russian gang."
Lanster, surprised, took the documents from Ivan. They were the consent and custody agreements, complete with Mary's signature.
"Thank you, Ivan," Lanster said, clearly impressed by the swift resolution.
Ivan smiled. "Just following orders. I'll take my leave now."
The next day, Gina and Samantha were enrolled in the boarding school, ensuring they would have a secure environment and a good education.
Days later, Carol, staggering home from the bar, was struck by a speeding car and killed instantly. The police deemed it an accident, and the hit-and-run driver was never identified due to the lack of surveillance.
Rumors swirled, but the Russian gang was not suspected. Their reputation for brutal, direct methods meant that the subtlety of a traffic accident did not align with their known methods.
In the end, Carol's death served as a grim reminder of the power and influence wielded by Hardy and his associates. The benefits of their notoriety were clear: they could orchestrate outcomes and exert control in ways that left no room for doubt.
Bab 56: Chapter 56 – Combat Research Office
With the issue of the two daughters resolved, Lanster felt a sense of relief. Hardy, seated in the security company's conference room, discussed the next steps.
"Lanster, I want you to oversee the security company and manage operations here," Hardy said, exhaling a cloud of cigarette smoke.
Lanster nodded. "Don't worry, Hardy. I'll do my best to get things in order."
"Our primary concern now is dealing with the Spanish Gang. Do you have any ideas?" Hardy inquired.
Lanster, leaning forward, outlined his plan. "I propose setting up a 'combat research room' to gather and analyze all available intelligence on the Spanish Gang. We'll look into their operations, armed forces, personnel, and contacts. This will help us formulate a comprehensive strategy."
He continued, "The security company currently has over 20 employees. I suggest assigning them to collect intelligence as their first task. I recall that one of our recruits has experience in communication monitoring and call interception."
Hardy listened intently, impressed by Lanster's detailed plan. The concept of using military-style tactics to handle a gang was bold but seemed effective. Hardy appreciated the strategic approach.
"I support your plan. I'll be looking forward to your results," Hardy said with a smile.
Just then, Henry entered the room and greeted Hardy. "Boss, I was about to contact you. Didn't expect to find you here."
"What's up?" Hardy asked.
Henry's expression was serious. "We dealt with the Polish gang members easily, but we found something interesting among their belongings. I think you should take a look."
"What is it?" Hardy's curiosity was piqued.
"Art and antiques. They seem valuable, but we don't know much about them. I thought you might be able to help us evaluate them," Henry explained.
"Let's go see it," Hardy agreed.
Henry drove Hardy to Nanxia City, where they arrived at a modest two-story red brick building. The building was unremarkable, save for its few windows, which were securely barred.
A small group of men in suits, all recently recruited, stood by the cars outside. Hardy and Henry entered the building and proceeded to the basement, which was hidden behind a shelf in the main hall.
The basement was surprisingly large, around 100 square meters, and filled with a variety of items. Shelves lined the walls, holding an assortment of silverware, bronze statues, and various artworks. Hardy's eyes were drawn to the collection of Chinese porcelain.
He examined several pieces, including a vase with intricate floral patterns and a base marked as from the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Hardy's knowledge of Chinese antiques, gained from a friend in his previous life, led him to identify the vase as a potentially valuable famille rose piece, worth millions in later years.
Among the collection were also items from the Yongzheng and Kangxi periods, suggesting that the collection could be worth hundreds of millions in the future.
Henry inquired, "Boss, do you think these items are valuable?"
"I'm not an expert in antiques," Hardy replied, "but these porcelains seem significant. We should move them to the security company for safekeeping. Handle them carefully during transport. Wrap them in newspaper and box them up."
He added, "As for the other items, find someone who specializes in antique appraisal and see how much they are worth. We need the funds."
Henry agreed, and Hardy's team carefully transported the porcelains to the security company. The remaining items were sold to a Jewish gang member specializing in underground antiques for $45,000.
A few days later, Henry reported back. "Boss, the porcelains and paintings are secured in the security company. The rest of the antiques were sold for $45,000. What do you want to do next?"
Hardy, satisfied with the results, responded, "Good job. Let's proceed as planned."
The operation against the Polish gang proved successful, not only in eliminating the threat but also in acquiring valuable assets. Hardy was pleased with the outcome, seeing it as a testament to the effectiveness of his strategy.
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