Early morning, Hardy sat at his desk, surrounded by a stack of newspapers. He had asked for copies of every major paper so he could scrutinize them thoroughly. The media coverage was almost uniformly in line with the narrative Hardy wanted: portraying the recent gang violence as a successful police crackdown on drug dealers.
Hardy knew the power of public opinion. A single word could make or break reputations, and with the right spin, the gang conflict had been recast as a story of police triumph. Public fear was calmed, politicians were shielded from blame, and the North Shore Gang was effectively erased from the city's concerns. Hardy was the main beneficiary of this well-crafted narrative.
Bill entered the office, looking tired but visibly excited. "Boss, the figures are in. We've taken over twelve properties from the North Shore Gang, including their headquarters. We found 1.28 million dollars in cash, along with a large stock of supplies—more than 30 racehorses and hundreds of greyhounds. These assets are incredibly valuable."
Hardy nodded. "And the management of these assets?"
"Don't worry about that now," Bill replied. "Focus on clearing out the site. The Irish have many partners, so once the site is stabilized, we'll start distributing the assets."
"Understood," Hardy said. "What about the Jewish gang?"
Bill's expression grew somber. "It's not good. The Jewish gang is in chaos. After the deaths of Mr. Seagal and Boss Fred, and the attack last night, they're extremely anxious. I've been in touch with them, and they're worried."
"Let's address it," Hardy decided. "Contact Alan Payne and arrange a meeting with the Jewish gang representatives. I want to handle this personally."
Bill complied, and shortly after, Alan arrived at the office, looking exhausted from the previous night's events.
"Alan, how are things with the Jewish gang?" Hardy asked.
Alan shook his head. "It's a mess. The deaths of Mr. Seagal and Boss Fred have thrown everything into turmoil. There have been attacks on our operations—tobacco warehouses, casinos. The situation is dire."
"The Jewish gang is vulnerable," Hardy said. "If we don't act decisively, the remaining Irish factions will seize the opportunity. I need to know if the Jewish gang can withstand another attack."
The room fell silent. The Jewish gang leaders, already anxious and on edge, exchanged worried glances. Hardy's words had struck a nerve. The mention of Raymond, the formidable force behind the attacks, made the threat seem even more imminent.
As Hardy and Bill entered, the tension in the room was palpable. Hardy greeted everyone with a nod. "Good morning. I came here to discuss the future of the Jewish gang. Siegel was my boss, and the Jewish gang was his property. I don't want to see it disappear."
Surprised murmurs filled the room. "Mr. Hardy, why would you say the Jewish gang might disappear?" someone asked.
Hardy explained, "The Irish saw an opportunity in the chaos of the mafia conflict. Yesterday, the Corleone family was attacked, and last night, they retaliated, killing several key figures. With Mr. Seagal and Fred dead, the Irish aim to take control of Los Angeles and specifically target the Jewish gang."
Alan confirmed Hardy's assessment. "It's true. Last night, I was threatened by Hemiweis to either bring the Jewish Gang into the North Shore Gang or face death. They made it clear they would target our industries if I didn't comply."
Hardy continued, "This attack involves not just the North Shore Gang but also other Irish forces, with Raymond as the mastermind behind it."
The room grew quiet. Raymond's name alone was enough to unsettle everyone. The Jewish gang was in no position to withstand such a powerful adversary.
Bill, standing beside Hardy, surveyed the leaders of the Jewish gang. One of them finally spoke up. "Brothers, Mr. Hardy is right. The mafia is in disarray, and no one will protect us. Although Hemiweis was dealt with, we can't be sure others won't come for us."
He turned to his allies. "I propose we merge with the Bill Gang. The Jewish Gang was originally Mr. Siegel's property, and we were once part of the same family."
Another leader quickly agreed. "I support merging into the Bill Gang."
One by one, the leaders voiced their agreement. In the end, all eyes turned to Alan.
Alan, having anticipated this outcome, nodded. "Mr. Hardy, you saved me from Hemiweis. Given the Jewish Gang's situation, I fully support merging with the Bill Gang."
Hardy addressed the room. "Is there anyone who opposes this merger? If anyone has objections, now is the time to voice them. I want no discord over this."
The leaders, understanding the dire situation, remained silent. No one dared to oppose the merger, recognizing that joining the Bills was a far better option than facing an uncertain and perilous future alone.
"Agreed," came the unified response.
Thus, the Jewish gang formally merged into the Bill Gang, ceasing to exist as an independent entity.
The next day, at a meeting of the newly formed Bill Gang, Hardy announced significant changes. "With the merger, the name 'Bill Gang' no longer fits. From now on, we are officially known as the 'Los Angeles Company.'"
The merger also brought major changes to the organization's structure. The gang transitioned from its traditional model to a corporate system. Bill Pitt was appointed President, Alan Payne as Vice President, and Charles Simon as Finance Director, with various action team leaders and business managers taking on new roles.
In summary, the Los Angeles Company had emerged from the merger stronger and more organized, ready to dominate the city's underworld.
With the formation of the Los Angeles Company, Hardy and Bill had claimed dominance over a substantial portion of the city. Their territory now included the former Jewish Gang's area, the old North Shore Gang's domain, and Hollywood, previously controlled by the Bill Gang. This effectively gave them control of three-quarters of Los Angeles, encompassing the city's prime locations.
The Mexican Gang remained a minor player, operating only in the slums, while the Chinese Gang was confined to the Chinatown area. Los Angeles was now truly under their control.
In their office, Bill and Hardy were deep in discussion about the future direction of their newly consolidated empire. Hardy outlined his vision clearly.
"In Los Angeles, our focus will be on the gray industries, while keeping black operations discreet and avoiding drugs entirely," Hardy said firmly. "We'll also steer clear of violent industries—no robbery, kidnapping, or smuggling."
Bill looked puzzled. "Boss, can you clarify what you mean by 'gray' and 'black' industries?"
"Gray industries are those that are borderline illegal but still permissible," Hardy explained. "These include real estate, construction, timber processing, operating bars and nightclubs, city waste management, and transportation."
Bill scratched his head. "I get real estate and transportation, but why garbage disposal? Is that even profitable?"
Hardy smiled. "Let me break it down. By collecting municipal waste, we get a subsidy from the government that covers our operational costs. We also charge residents for disposing of their trash, especially large items. The real money comes from recycling—scrap metal, paper, textiles, and furniture."
He continued, "Los Angeles produces about 2,000 tons of garbage daily. With a few hundred workers, we can sort and recycle about 200 tons of that each day. Selling these recyclables, whether locally or internationally, can bring in substantial revenue."
Bill's eyes widened as he grasped the potential. "That sounds very lucrative. But there are already two waste management companies in the city. How do we break into the market?"
Hardy grinned. "We have the means to handle that. For instance, we could sabotage their trucks, dump the garbage into the bay, and let the media expose the scandal. The city government would crack down on them, creating an opportunity for us to acquire their operations."
Bill's excitement was palpable. "That's a brilliant idea, Boss."
They then turned to discussing black business, which includes gambling, pornography, drug smuggling, and money laundering. Hardy was clear: they would avoid drug trafficking.
"Gambling is a major income source for us," Hardy said. "We already have slot machines generating over two million dollars annually. With the properties from the North Shore Gang, we now control six casinos, a racetrack, and a dog racing track. We'll also improve the brothels by integrating and upgrading them."
He added, "We'll avoid drugs—not because of any moral stance, but because the backlash from authorities is too severe. Despite the high profits, the risks and complications are too great."
Bill nodded. "And what about the Mexican Gang? Should we deal with them?"
Hardy waved off the concern. "There's no need to eliminate them. If we have both good and bad gangs in the city, people will focus their anger on the bad ones and tolerate the good ones. But if we were the only gang left, public scrutiny would increase."
He smirked. "However, we can exploit the situation. The Mexican Gang will likely try to fill the void left by the North Shore Gang's downfall, expanding their drug business."
Bill looked intrigued. "How do we handle that?"
Hardy explained, "Remember the shipment of drugs we acquired from the Spanish Gang? We have 300 kilograms of it. We'll sell this batch to the Mexican Gang. After the sale, we'll let the police and the HD patrol handle the aftermath, creating a situation where we profit while the authorities make a major drug bust. Just make sure to avoid any unnecessary violence."
Bill grinned, understanding the strategy. "The boss is always one step ahead."
"And what about Las Vegas?" Bill asked, shifting the topic.
Hardy's expression turned serious. "I'll head to Las Vegas tomorrow. Siegel and Fred's bodies are still in the refrigerator, and they need to be buried. As for the situation there, I'll assess it upon arrival."
Bill nodded. "Be careful. The Mafia families might have already taken control."
"I know," Hardy replied. "You should also be vigilant. The Irish may retaliate. Ensure your men stay alert for any suspicious activity."
"I'll take care of it, Boss."
With that, Hardy and Bill continued to plan their next moves, preparing to solidify their control over Los Angeles and address emerging challenges.
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