Chapter 122: The Three Major Organizations

At the Yun'an monthly operational meeting, Su Dao'an slammed last month's business report onto the table with a sharp thud.

"Someone tell me! Why are the numbers so dismal? Our revenue has been cut exactly in half!"

Facing the chairman’s fury, the directors and managers below could only shrink into their seats, not daring to utter a word.

"Where is the Marketing Director? Come, explain this to me!" Su Dao'an tapped his finger against the report.

Director Wang, a man in his forties, stood up and opened the report. After glancing at it, he said, "The numbers are static; they only show that there is a problem, but not what that problem is. I have investigated all our branches..."

Director Wang pulled out another document. "These are my findings. Aside from the three branches in Haizhu District that have been forced to suspend operations, eleven branches across Panyu and Liwan Districts have seen a massive drop in foot traffic. The investigation shows that over the past month, these eleven locations received a flood of similar customer complaints. The most frequent ones involve customers finding their car tires slashed, exhaust pipes stuffed with debris, and vehicles breaking down for no apparent reason while parked in our lots."

The other directors began to whisper among themselves after hearing the report.

"If there was a problem, why wasn't it addressed promptly by tightening security in the parking lots?" Su Dao'an asked.

"The seven branches in Panyu District increased their security staff and tightened management, but it had little effect," Director Wang replied. "According to the guards, members of local gangs snuck into the lots to carry out these acts. The security footage even captured it."

"Did you call the police?"

"The branch managers said they reported it, but it was useless. The local precinct officers would, at most, drag one or two thugs in for questioning and then let them go. Sometimes, they wouldn't even bother to make arrests," Director Wang answered.

Su Dao'an stopped questioning him there, as he already understood the cause.

Panyu and Liwan Districts border Haizhu, where part of the territory is held by the Xindong Society. It didn't take much digging to realize that the Xindong Society was making life difficult for Yun'an. Those acts of vandalism were undoubtedly the work of low-level lackeys from the Xindong Society. As for the police's indifference, it was because Wang Yongye held a grudge against Yun'an, and his subordinates were naturally unwilling to intervene in the company's affairs.

It wasn't just the wellness centers in Xindong Society territory that faced these issues; wherever their reach extended, similar problems arose. Once a customer's car had trouble in a Yun'an parking lot, it might be ignored once or twice, but after repeated incidents, customers would naturally stop coming. No one wanted to be constantly sending their car to the shop.

"Let’s adjourn for now. Director Wang, stay behind. Assistant, call the Security Department Manager up here," Su Dao'an said with a wave.

The department directors fled, eager to leave before the chairman decided to take his anger out on them.

***

After the Security Manager arrived, Su Dao'an asked directly, "Have the protection fees been paid for all branches?"

The Security Manager had once been a street hood himself; Su Dao'an had hired him specifically to coordinate with local underworld powers to prevent the branches from being harassed. Since Yun'an had locations spread across every district, they needed to maintain good relations with the local "district kings," paying protection money to whichever faction controlled the territory.

"The Xindong Society refuses to take it, and they’ve said that anyone from Yun'an will be beaten on sight. The other small gangs have likely been warned by the Xindong Society, and most of them refuse to accept our money," the manager replied.

Su Dao'an felt a headache coming on. The influence of the Xindong Society was immense; their visible assets alone rivaled those of Yun'an, which was why they sat firmly as the overlords of Haizhu District. Since the Xindong Society had declared war on Yun'an, the smaller neighboring gangs dared not offend the major power and chose to look the other way. If they dared not intervene, they couldn't take the protection money—that was the code.

"What about the Green Dragon Society?" Su Dao'an asked.

Like the Xindong Society, the Green Dragon Society was one of the three major powers of the city. Their territory was primarily in Panyu, and they had minor conflicts with the Xindong Society over boundaries. However, for such organizations, a total lack of conflict would be more suspicious, and these skirmishes rarely influenced the decisions of the bosses. While the smaller gangs feared the Xindong Society, the Green Dragon Society had the strength to stand up to them; they had no reason to be afraid of taking the money.

"The leader of the Green Dragon Society said he wants to invite Lu Feng to dinner," the manager replied.

Su Dao'an frowned, looking up at the manager. "Dinner? What does he mean by that?"

"I don't have the status to meet the big boss, so I don't know. The message was passed down by the Green Dragon Society's underlings," the manager replied.

***

Lu Feng was already aware of the dinner invitation.

Kun Jiu had suffered a broken hand, and the fact that he hadn't immediately sent men to hack Lu Feng to death showed he had significant restraint, but restraint did not mean he would abandon his revenge. Da Zui Xiao had previously sent men to ambush Lu Feng, but the result had been disastrous. Therefore, Kun Jiu did not plan to have Lu Feng surrounded and hacked; as a branch boss of the Xindong Society, he preferred their style of doing things. The Xindong Society was skilled at business and creating traps, forcing their targets into ruin, homelessness, or suicide.

***

Lu Feng did not fear the Xindong Society; he was ready for any fight they brought. But Yun'an could not handle it. With thousands of subordinates, the Xindong Society could send a few men to cause trouble at the wellness centers—slashing tires, throwing snakes inside—and Yun'an would eventually collapse under the pressure.

Facing this situation, the best way to deal with a major gang was to find another one to counter them. Thus, Lu Feng accepted the dinner invitation from the Green Dragon Society.

On the weekend, at the Panyu Seafood Restaurant, Su Dao'an followed Lu Feng, but was blocked at the entrance. The Green Dragon Society underlings stated that the boss had only invited Lu Feng; no one else was welcome. Lu Feng, who had intended to go alone anyway, told Su Dao'an not to worry and instructed him to go back and wait. Su Dao'an didn't leave, but instead found a nearby eatery to wait.

***

The leader of the Green Dragon Society was a man in his fifties, neither fat nor thin, with a sharp, piercing gaze. Before coming, Lu Feng had inquired about the group. The leader, Tang Long, had built the entire organization with his own blade and his own men, earning him the absolute loyalty of his followers. However, the Green Dragon Society had been one of the three major powers for many years, and Tang Long had long since stopped fighting on the front lines.

"I like capable young men. Join our Green Dragon Society. If you agree, I will support you against the Xindong Society," Tang Long said without preamble, stating his demand directly.

A saying circulated on the streets: among the three major powers, the Xindong Society was the wealthiest, but the Green Dragon Society was the most dangerous in a fight. When Tang Long was first starting out, he had learned some martial arts and worked as a stuntman, which gave him a special preference for those who could fight.