The King of City

38 THE FINAL SUBMISSION

"I can't believe that Larson caused Jon's death, he's an unhappy egocentric and what he did to that group of gang members is also unforgiving, he treated them like trash". Rick was complaining about Lionel's actions in his attempt to gain the respect of the gang members. His comment wasn’t the only one heard in the gang, as a group of them were convinced that they would soon run with the same fate as Jon since their new boss seemed to be someone inconsequential and authoritarian, which worried them too much.

Meanwhile, Lionel was in the Villa reviewing the documents that he was able to take from the previous boss, he was trying to find out if all those papers included Mary's data, however, there was so much information that he had to dedicate several hours of the day to that task in order to obtain something that would serve him, which is why he couldn’t meet with the gang members so often, which, in principle, he considered was a good way for them to adapt to his new mandate, despite this, the results weren’t as expected because his gang friend on one of his visits told him that the members of the criminal group haven’t yet they were comfortable with him.

"Larson, you've been so lost, is something wrong?".

"No friend, I try to get the gang members to fit in a little bit with my new mandate. I think they were shocked by what they saw the other time when Jon committed suicide”. Lionel explained to his friend.

"The truth is I've seen quite a bit of disagreement; some think they can run with the same fate as that gang member and that somehow generates some fear".

"Don't worry, friend, that is momentary and you will see that in a couple of days they won’t be so afraid of me, after all, I’m only interested in having their respect and that they work for me faithfully".

Lionel soon made new appearances in order to educate each group of gang members about the tasks they would have to do within the town.

“Gentlemen, today I’ll give new instructions about how I want you to do your work in the town. The first of all is very simple, the group in charge of collecting the cooperation must provide security to the establishment, listen to me, nothing to collect and leave, that’s over, you will have to provide security. I’ll call each of the bar owners myself and ask if you are doing your job”. Lionel told his subordinates since he didn’t consider it appropriate to charge and not provide the promised service in exchange for cooperation.

That first measure wasn’t very well received by the group of gang members in charge of collecting the cooperation since many of them liked easy money and collecting that money was a way to add capital to their wallet without much effort. Lionel was no fool and he knew immediately that those gang members weren’t ready to give in so easily yet, so things must be prepared for any attack by one or all of the gang members.

"Friends, this guy Larson will make us work harder, I don't like that new measure he imposed on us at all". Rick complained again.

"Rick, we can't do anything, that man is too tyrant, for now, we must obey him".

"No friends, Jon's main problem was wanting to attack him head-on. If we manage to devise a more subtle attack, that man won’t expect it and we can finish him off. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be the damn escort of the town bars if I was like that I’d get a job of that kind”. Complained Rick, who, unlike Jon, wasn’t so impulsive.

"Rick but how are we going to do that?".

"It won't be us who directly attacks him". Explained Rick.

"I don't understand, how we will beat him". Said another of the gang members.

"It’s very easy, friends. For years we have been facing a gang from the other town. They would give anything to have information to assassinate the leader of our gang. Let's give him that information in exchange for a little money, then they end up with that Larson and we won't have to see him again”. Was Rick's plan.

"Sounds good to me, although I’d like to kick that Larson to the end of his life".

"We can come to an agreement with the other gang, ask that before Larson is discharged, they allow us to take revenge and give him some good shots".

"And if they kill him, who will be our boss?".

"They aren’t interested in moving completely here, we would offer them a part of the boss's loot, the one that Larson took from him in exchange for letting us continue our operations only in our town, the rest of the territories would be theirs, and one once, we get stronger again, we attack them”.

Many gang members thought Rick's proposal was a very good way out, someone else would be responsible for killing Larson and so they wouldn’t have to work excessively to continue making money. Therefore, Rick went to the other town one day with the excuse of a walk but his true purpose would be to sell Lionel, he soon met with the head of the other gang and made him the offer:

"I know that we have had differences for many years, but today I want to have a gift with you, what happens is that we are very unhappy with the new boss, he wants to put up a war with you and take your territory from them, despite the agreement that you and our previous commander had”. Rick lied in order to persuade the other gang.

"It can't be, I can't allow our territory to be taken from us". Said the boss, enraged.

"I can give them the hideout of our new boss, so you can go for him".

"And why should I believe you?".

"Because I’m giving you the possibility of ending your enemy, and I’m the father of a family, I don’t want to die at the whim of someone who isn’t capable of complying with the agreements already signed". Said Rick.

"How much do you want?". Asked the head of the other gang.

"I don't want your money, just to be dropped off in our town". Said Rick, trying to sound even more convincing.

In the end, the leader of the other gang agreed and prepared to prepare the attack to finish off Lionel. On the day of the attack, Lionel was in one of the lairs reviewing another of the documentation, therefore, he didn’t notice the blow they would give him, the first thing they did was throw a bomb at the door to enter.

"Damn it, what's going on here". Said Lionel.

After that, Lionel became alert and began to explore the den in order to leave, but not before taking the documents he was reviewing, however, he was hit from behind, which caused the papers to drop. Lionel wasted no time, and took up his weapon in order to defend himself against his enemies. He also called the closest gang members to help him. In a few minutes, they arrived and a great confrontation broke out that culminated in the death of some gang members from both sides, Lionel took one of the gang members from the other town hostage and proceeded to question him.

"Why are they attacking us?".

"Because of you".

Lionel didn't quite understand the explanation the man had just given him.

"I don't understand you, be clear". Lionel yelled

"You want to end us and break the agreement". Said the man.

Lionel was amazed at what they had just told him, he had never thought of invading the other town, he was only looking for information.

"You are a mistaken friend. Who gave you that information?”.

“Your own gang members”. Before Lionel asked the names of the informants the man offered Lionel that if he let him alive, he would give him the names of the informants.

Lionel kept his promise and set the man free, however, he knew that he would have to end the lives of the gang members who almost caused his fall, for this purpose, he summoned all the gang members and without saying a word shot the traitors. Then he gave a short speech:

"Gentlemen, if you aren’t loyal to me, death will wait for you, if you don’t want to be in the gang, you can leave, it will do nothing to you. What I cannot bear is treason, he assured them that if they let me be their leader, I’ll take them very far”. Said Lionel. “You support me?".

The gang members responded in unison that they would be faithful to him, at last, they were all convinced that Lionel had the guts and the character to lead them, so rumors or ideas to overthrow him were never heard again.