Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Start the War
"I'll be leaving first, the matters here are now in your hands. I'll handle the matters in the inner city, you can go ahead without holding back. In three days, I don't want to see the Cross Society's people still on Green Street!"
"Young Master Martin, rest assured, leave the matters to us."
"..."
After leaving the Elephant Tavern, "Mad Dog" Hog escorted Young Master Martin respectfully onto his luxurious steam limousine.
Watching the convoy depart, Hog also sighed in relief.
This was his first time accompanying such a Big Shot, and he felt immense pressure. Just now in the tavern, he truly feared that the Cross Society members couldn't control their temper, or that a gun might accidentally discharge...
Though with personal bodyguards around, this Young Master was probably safe from dying, but even if he were to be startled, Hog felt he would bear a great responsibility.
And if a fight had ensued, being on Cross Society's territory, they, the Steam Party, were sure to be at a disadvantage.
However, now that he had seen off this Young Master, the mission had been perfectly accomplished.
Hog, in a great mood, called to his fellow members to leave, "Let's go, brothers."
The roaring of several hundred motorcycles exploded in their ears, as this uninvited group grandly left Green Street.
.....
Shortly after, Hog returned to the Steam Party's gathering spot in the East City Wellington District.
This place was filled with various mechanical modification shops and parts stores.
Illegal limb modifications were also a significant source of income for the Steam Party.
Hog entered a heavy metal-style tavern and met with the boss "Butcher" Banner in a private room on the second floor.
"Boss, the job is done."
"No trouble from the Cross Society?"
"Nothing for now. It looks like they definitely have to swallow this dumb loss."
"Well done."
Banner was in a very good mood and chuckled while pulling a sultry woman into his arms.
The woman, seeing he was in a good mood, seductively asked, "Old man, why would Young Master Martin personally come to handle such a trivial matter?"
"Trivial matter? This is no small matter."
Banner chuckled, shaking his head with a joyful expression, and explained meaningfully, "If this Green Street matter gets resolved, the outside city's structure will change... the Cross Society might just take a big tumble this time."
The woman then asked, "But... won't the sponsor behind the Cross Society do something about it?"
Banner said, "Lady Philo in the inner city also has significant influence. Originally, if the Reyes family hadn't split, we really wouldn't have had any chance. But now... Lady Fino herself is in a bind, and she probably won't tear face over just a bit of outside city territory."
The woman seemed to understand something, "You mean, someone is moving against the Cross Society's sponsor?"
Banner was noncommittal and did not go into details, just smiling and said, "Who knows? We can't worry about the inner city affairs, just take care of Green Street for now."
"Oh."
The seductive woman didn't ask more; she thought of something else and then spoke softly, "But during the meeting the other time, I always felt that Young Master Martin's gaze on me was somewhat strange..."
Banner laughed, "Heh, a man, who could move after seeing you?"
The woman coquettishly glanced at him, "What if the Young Master really took a liking to me, what then?"
Banner displayed an unconcerned expression, "Then we'd just send you over."
"Pah~"
This statement made the sultry woman playfully start punching his chest while Banner laughed loudly, with his hands unapologetically roaming over the woman's graceful figure.
However, accidents often arrive unexpectedly.
Just as Banner was in a great mood, about to stretch a bit, rapid footsteps were heard outside the door.
Being a high-ranking professional, his perception was extremely sharp, and hearing the footsteps, his expression slightly changed.
Thud, thud, thud!
Soon as knocking sounded, Banner commanded in a deep voice, "Come in!"
As soon as the door opened, a captain with an anxious expression stood there, he spoke very quickly, "Boss, it's bad, there's been a big incident!"
This statement instantly wiped out the joyful atmosphere in the room.
Banner vaguely guessed something, his gaze suddenly turned cold, "What happened?"
"Just now... just now, the Reyes family's convoy was attacked by a mysterious group on Phoenix Tree Street in South City. The convoy was completely annihilated, and Young Master Martin... was killed!"
"What?!"
Hearing this, Banner's expression sharply changed, and he stood up swiftly.
In an instant, a high-ranking professional's terrifying oppression burst forth, making it hard for the few people in the room to breathe.
He asked, "Are you sure about the information?"
"Confirmed! A severely injured driver survived the scene, he said... in the attackers, there was one who could transform into a red giant."
"'Red Demon' Goron?"
Upon hearing this, Banner's eyes flickered rapidly, cursively muttered, "Damn it!"
He knew very well how much trouble Young Master Martin's death would bring to their Steam Party. Not only would the previously hard-earned cooperation be wasted, but the subsequent accountability would be the real trouble!
He immediately ordered, "Gather the men, head straight to take down the Cross Society's stronghold on Green Street! Notify the executives to assemble, prepare for a gang war!"
"Yes, Boss!"
The captain also knew the urgency of the situation and hurriedly took the orders and left.
.....
The sudden terrible news turned the few remaining faces in the room extremely ugly, with an atmosphere chillingly cold.
They had just been celebrating their Steam Faction's lucky bargain, only to now receive the news that Young Master Martin from the inner city had been murdered.
It was as though the sky had been punctured, leaving everyone stunned by the news.
Banner sat on the couch with a gloomy face, lost in his thoughts.
Mad Dog, sitting next to him, turned deathly pale. He had personally escorted Young Master Martin away not long ago, and now hearing the news of his death, he knew he couldn't disassociate himself from it.
Yet he didn't lose his reason in anger, raising his own doubts, "Boss, could it be that it wasn't Goron, but someone else who has awoken the 'Red Demon' talent impersonating him?"
It was clear to any observant person that the convoy deliberately left a survivor who recognized an ambush perpetrator with the 'Red Demon' talent, something seemed off.
"Boss, I always feel there's something fishy about this. It looks like a trap set intentionally to provoke a feud between our two factions..."
Mad Dog felt he had spotted the issue and analytically added, "After all, even if the Cross Faction feels aggrieved, so long as they aren't out of their minds, they wouldn't dare truly kill Young Master Martin. If we now attack Green Street and it turns out to be a misunderstanding..."
"Heh...you think I don't understand?"
Banner interrupted him with a cold laugh, saying, "Now whether the attacker was Goron or not, the Cross Faction will have to carry this blame!"
He sneered coldly again and added, "Plus, we in the Steam Faction won't have it easy either!"
You could tell that Banner was truly enraged to the extreme, "Now whether it was the Cross Faction who attacked the convoy or not, with the Young Master dead, someone must atone! Do you really think the big shots in the inner city will wait for us to slowly investigate the truth and find the murderer? If some people don't die today, nobody can settle this!"
"Ah...this..."
Upon hearing this, Mad Dog immediately realized the situation was even more serious than he had anticipated.
After unleashing his anger, Banner gradually calmed down from his rage.
He thought of something, his expression turning very ugly, almost as if he was mocking himself: "I thought those big shots in the inner city were targeting the Cross Faction. Now it seems, we've been played too..."
The identity of the murderer didn't matter at all!
The crucial thing was that their Steam Faction and the Cross Faction, the two major gangs, must clash and provide an explanation!
This fight would definitely lead to both sides suffering.
The person behind the scenes wanted to see just this situation!
At that moment, Banner suddenly thought of something, his eyes turning cold as he asked, "Mad Dog, besides you, who else knew the convoy route of the Lei Rey's family?"
Mad Dog's face instantly drained of color upon hearing this.
He realized at once that the boss asking this question meant he suspected there were also issues within the Steam Faction.
.....
After those arrogant guys from the Steam Faction left, the gangsters of the Cross Faction didn't leave Green Street.
Everyone knew that a major event was bound to occur within the next three days, and the gang members had also prepared for the inevitable clash.
Gang members from other districts also cancelled their breaks, each carrying guns and ammo, crowding and mixing in various bars.
And within the dilapidated building on Green Street, Kai led about forty or fifty of his men hunkering down in the building.
Fires burned in metal barrels, and the armory's firearms and ammo were distributed, mechanical arms, cannons, grenades, machine guns...it was entirely a war setup.
The veterans set up their rifles on tripods next to the bonfires, then gathered around to chat, joke, and play poker. A brawl was routine, no different from usual.
The newcomers, never having experienced such an ordeal, clutched their weapons, trembling.
The decrepit building was five stories high, standing on the top floor one could overlook much of Green Street.
Kai and Su Lun stood on the edge of the building, looking out at the brightly lit street.
A chill breeze filled their collars, slightly cool.
When Kai had left the bar, he was especially dejected. Now looking at the bustling street, he sighed, "If we lose Green Street this time, I really won't have the face to meet Old Smoke Ghost and the others."
This was his first time as a team leader, and Green Street was his first jurisdiction.
To lose it felt like having his wife snatched away.
Su Lun, seeing his expression, didn't have the heart to say outright that this matter was no longer something he, a mere team leader, could meddle in, nor something that the boss, Chak, could reverse.
He could only advise, "Team leader, I always feel like something big is going to happen. Be careful."
Hearing this, Kai grew even more irritated, "Hmph, if those guys from the Steam Faction really dare to come, I'll definitely kill them!"
"..."
Su Lun had anticipated a possible armed conflict, but he hadn't expected it to come so quickly and directly.
Kai was really a jinx.
No sooner had he spoken than suddenly a "bang" explosion sounded, igniting the entirety of Green Street.
Immediately, someone shouted a warning, "It's bad! The Steam Faction's people are attacking!"
Su Lun looked intently and saw that on the distant street, the Steam Faction's convoy was approaching massively, with transport trucks, motorcycles, armored vehicles, modified heavy trucks...even tanks. Scattered about, the total number appeared to be in the hundreds if not thousands!
Seeing this array, Kai also screamed, "Damn, how many people has the Steam Faction brought?"
Su Lun looked at the Steam Faction's convoy, his expression not too surprised. A fight was inevitable eventually...
If this had been before he merged with the Eight-Limbed Spear Armor, such a large-scale armed conflict would indeed be dangerous. But now...even if he couldn't overcome them, he still had a chance to protect himself.
Even looking at those well-modified combat vehicles, he silently mused, "Looks like I can harvest lots of mechanical knowledge again..."