The Ideology of the Gang
Wang Hu, Tony Wu, and Dior Clay were Luke's confidants and brothers who had endured life-or-death situations together. They earned great merit during the process of the Young Masters' Gang unifying Chinatown and establishing its rules, and they were the gang's three famous leaders.
Yes, the organization Luke founded was called the Young Masters' Gang (Shaoye Bang). The name sounded silly, but the gang's influence was immense, governing nearly two million people in the entire northern district of Coast City.
The gang established rules, adhered to rules, and protected rules.
No drug use.
No drug dealing.
No robbery.
No rape.
These four rules were brutally enforced, and anyone who dared to violate them faced the Young Masters' Gang's merciless sanctions.
For criminals, drug dealers, and street thugs, every one of these four rules was like cutting the flesh and drinking the blood from their bodies. But for the vast majority of working-class and middle-class people, these rules were a desperate necessity. Coast City had been chaotic for too long, and it needed a strong fist to stabilize it.
Thus, with the FBI's tacit approval and the full cooperation of the local police, the Young Masters' Gang took only half a year to eliminate all rival gangs in Coast City's northern district and secure its position as the undisputed leader.
In the following years, they continued to improve the city's security and commercial environment through various means, transforming the chaotic and disordered northern district into a rising trade capital of the western United States.
It is fair to say that the Young Masters' Gang played a decisive role in Coast City's current prosperity.
In a way, the Young Masters' Gang was mysterious. Many people had heard its name, but few knew exactly who the members were, or who the leader, Young Master Shaw, was—his background, origins, and family situation were completely unknown.
Just like this unassuming little club hidden deep within the streets, who would ever suspect it was the headquarters of the Young Masters' Gang?
Low-key and restrained, yet filled with hidden depth.
This was the style of the Young Masters' Gang, and the headquarters reflected it. While the club looked run-down on the outside, the interior was luxurious.
The Confrontation
Upon entering the main door, one faced a long, narrow corridor. Soft, energy-saving lights were evenly spaced along the walls, illuminating a series of sculptures of the Chinese zodiac—Rat, Rabbit, Chicken, Goat, Snake, Monkey, Horse... arranged sequentially from smallest to largest. The path was led by the majestic and imposing five-clawed Black Dragon at the very front.
Beyond the corridor was a large, Gothic-style living room. A huge marble table, fifteen meters long, stood in the center. The middle of the table was recessed, filled with nothing but alcohol—red wine, white spirits, sake, foreign liquors, and more.
Nearly every famous alcoholic drink in the world could be found here.
At that moment, the seats on both sides of the table were filled according to rank and strength. There were twenty-three people in total, all key members of the Young Masters' Gang and well-known figures in Coast City.
In contrast to their usual lively atmosphere, the living room was exceptionally quiet and subdued today. Few were speaking; most sat in silence.
The silent members were divided into two parts: one group toyed with their wine glasses, their eyes flickering as if deep in thought; the other group constantly glanced toward the door, appearing very anxious.
A moment later, the sound of footsteps echoed from the depths of the corridor, growing closer and clearer. Everyone's heart tightened. They quickly put down their glasses and stood up simultaneously.
"Boss!"
Luke nodded and walked slowly to the main seat at the north end. He didn't sit down, instead patting the back of the chair.
"I haven't sat in this chair for months, and I won't be sitting in it again." He paused, surveying the room, his gaze lingering on each person long enough to ensure they saw the cold glint in his eyes.
"Who among you wants it?"
As soon as the question was asked, Lance Li, seated at the head of the right row, immediately shouted,
"Boss, you are the leader of the Young Masters' Gang! Always! Only you can sit in this seat. If anyone dares to overstep, I, Lance, will be the first to object!"
"Right, we object!"
"Young Master, you are the boss of the gang!"
"We will follow you forever!"
Once Lance spoke, the people below immediately started clamoring in agreement.
Luke raised a hand to silence them, then spoke unhurriedly.
"When the gang was founded, I said that the Young Masters' Gang is different from previous gangs. We don't rob, we don't steal, we don't traffic women, we don't oppress the weak, and we don't deal drugs. Our goal is to be the ruler of the gray world, maintaining social balance in a unique way, and earning profits from gray-area interests, not black money based on evil. It is this ideology that has allowed the Young Masters' Gang to move freely in Coast City—shooting the breeze with the cops, negotiating with the FBI, and discussing with senators the various adverse effects of women's asses on men."
The men chuckled lightly. Luke loosened his tie and continued,
"Everyone here joined with this ideology, at least outwardly. After seven years of operation, you have all become prominent figures in Coast City. Some are even preparing to run for Senator, am I right?"
Luke looked at Cook Best, who wore wire-rimmed glasses, on his right. Cook rubbed his head sheepishly.
"This is very good. The Young Masters' Gang is a collective formed by a common ideology. Everyone present is a defender of that ideology, having sworn before all gods to wholeheartedly uphold the honor of the Young Masters' Gang."
"This is good, isn't it? Profit is fleeting, but ideology is eternal. Yet, someone told me that all this goodness is only because my immense power pressured you into not having any other thoughts, that no one truly cared about the so-called rules."
"Of course, I disagreed, so I ran a little test."
As he spoke this, sweat began to bead on the foreheads of some attendees. Some trembled, trying to stand up, but were firmly pressed back into their chairs by their partners.
An unnameable tension filled the room. Wang Hu and Tony exchanged a look, their eyes filled with scorn.
After a few seconds of silence, Luke continued,
"A few months ago, I left Coast City, severed all contact with you, and handed over the gang's decision-making power to all of you, to be decided collectively. My purpose was simple: I wanted to see if you would, as that person suggested, completely ruin the rules, the ideology, and the hard-won tradition."
"The result is that you truly didn't disappoint him."
"In just a few months, you gave me quite an education. I can't be bothered to deal with the rotten things and messes you've made, nor do I care to."
Luke called out loudly, "Danny!"
A serious-looking Danny Shaw walked over, followed by three burly men in suits. These thugs were muscle provided by Danny's uncle.
Luke clapped Danny on the shoulder. "From today onward, Danny is the Boss of the Young Masters' Gang. Your affairs are now under his command."
With that, he ignored everyone in the living room, turned his back, and walked out of the hall with Wang Hu, Tony Wu, Dior Clay, and a few other core confidants, leaving the organization behind.
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