[Chapter 531: Five Gangs]
Linton continued focusing on the music video shoot at Universal Studios. Time flew by quickly, and before he knew it, it was July 3rd.
That evening, after wrapping up the shoot, Linton returned to the estate with Vivian Chow. Danny and Li Xiaoran accompanied them, but Danny quietly stepped aside to hand Linton a dossier.
"Boss, after thorough investigation, we've found that five gangs in Los Angeles are eyeing the Vitality and Beauty Pills," Danny reported.
"Wait -- five gangs? Didn't we identify only four last month?"
"There were four last month, but a new one has joined this month."
"Go on."
"These five gangs are the Mule Gang, Dark Horse Gang, Blood Gang, Red Bandana Gang, and Scorpion Gang. Among them, the Mule, Dark Horse, and Blood Gangs are long-established local forces in Los Angeles."
As Danny laid out the details, Linton gained a clearer picture of these gangs.
...
The Dark Horse Gang and Blood Gang both developed entirely within the heart of Los Angeles, rooted deeply in Compton.
Compton is a unique part of Los Angeles -- located downtown, but since the 1970s, as the African American population grew concentrated there, social order rapidly declined, and white residents fled. Initially, their departure of residential areas attracted more African Americans, which only worsened the chaos. Normal businesses and companies failed to operate.
By the late 1980s, there were virtually no white residents left. High-end commerce vanished, turning Compton into a predominantly African American zone dominated by violence. After dark, it became a no man's land -- street fights, shootings, and arson were common.
Everyone in Los Angeles knew: white folks dared not go to Compton, especially after sunset.
Because legitimate business was almost non-existent, the area only had convenience stores with basic supplies, government-established food aid stations, and countless nightclubs. The main industries were drug trafficking and the sex trade.
Residents essentially had no normal life prospects; most kids grew up only to join the Dark Horse or Blood Gangs.
These two gangs had enormous manpower at the base level but lacked professional training; their actual combat effectiveness was average.
The Mule Gang was formed by Mexican immigrants, headquartered in Orange County. Their main business was smuggling drugs from Mexico into Los Angeles, maintaining close ties with Mexican cartels.
Though smaller in number, Mule Gang members were ruthless and heavily armed. Many had served in the Mexican military, making them highly skilled fighters. Law enforcement reportedly didn't take them lightly.
Since late May, these three gangs had sharply scaled back operations, signaling they were plotting something major. Coupled with their relentless surveillance of our specialty stores, their intentions were clear.
The Red Bandana Gang originated in Chicago, the largest gang there. At the end of May, over 100 armed members arrived in Los Angeles, currently holed up in a large estate on the outskirts of Gardena.
They had been there for two full months without initiating any business -- only taking turns keeping watch on our specialty store daily, making no attempt to hide their motives.
The Scorpion Gang was San Francisco's dominant gang since the Black Tiger Gang's collapse three years ago.
About two weeks ago, they sent over 100 elite troops armed with various weapons, gathering in a Long Beach estate. Like the Red Bandanas, they only rotated surveillance shifts on our store without any other activity.
...
"What kind of weapons are they packing?" Linton asked after reviewing the details.
"Mostly handguns and AK-47s, but there are also sniper rifles and heavy machine guns. Especially the Scorpion Gang -- they seem to have more heavy firepower. Exact numbers are unclear."
"I'm guessing our transport of the Vitality Pills from the airport to the specialty store will turn into a battle. Although we have armored vehicles and military-grade Humvees, they have the numbers and heavy weapons. The situation looks bleak. When will our armored convoy arrive?"
"They're leaving tonight, so they should get here by tomorrow morning."
"Can their heavy weapons seriously threaten our armored vehicles and Humvees?"
"From what we know, their heavy machine guns won't faze the armored trucks much, but the Humvees could be at risk. Honestly, I'm more worried they'll block the roads with vehicles, surrounding us so thoroughly that even our armor won't save us."
"What about the LAPD or FBI? We're getting these intel updates -- don't they?"
"They definitely have the info, but as you know, the LAPD and FBI can't act without solid criminal evidence. These gangs are obviously preparing for a heist, but no actual action yet. That leaves the police with only surveillance as an option for now."
"So you're saying the police will just stand by while these gangs swagger around, openly gearing up for robbery?"
"Boss, that's the reality. The police work like that. Otherwise, no one would need so many private security firms. The Mule, Dark Horse, and Blood Gangs have ruled LA's underground economy for years. Their leaders control major wealth, have cleaned up their public images, and own legitimate enterprises. They all have powerful backers. Without concrete evidence, the police can't touch them.
Even if they get evidence from big cases and make arrests, the gangs always have scapegoats lined up, keeping the real culprits free."
"I have two suggestions."
"Oh? Please go ahead."
"First, have David dispatch an Apache attack helicopter to provide aerial escort for our convoy from the airport to the store. With air support, plus our armored vehicles and Humvees, it should reduce the risk substantially."
"Apache helicopters -- aren't we only authorized to fly those in Parker County?"
"Right. To bring one into Los Angeles, we'll have to get the Department of Defense's official clearance."
"And your second suggestion?"
"Request the White House's help to deploy the National Guard for our protection. No matter how many gangsters there are, they're no match for regular military forces. Do you have their exact gathering spots?"
"Yes. The Mule Gang's armed forces are concentrated at a ranch in Orange County. I don't know if their leader is there. The Scorpion Gang's main force is at an estate in Long Beach. The Dark Horse and Blood Gangs are clustered in Compton's African American neighborhoods, and the Red Bandanas are in Gardena's central area. All the addresses are in the files. Are you considering asking the military to clean them out early? That'd be best for us, but the White House probably won't risk the political fallout of civilian casualties."
Linton smiled mysteriously. "You don't need to worry about that. Maybe in a couple of days, they'll all just disappear."
A decision had been made in his mind: since these guys had the nerve to try robbing him -- and the crowds only grew larger -- they clearly mistook his kindness for weakness.
As the saying goes, If you choose not to take the path to heaven, you'll find yourself in the hell.
*****
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