Chapter 13: Are You Here as a Group to Perform Crosstalk?
It was well-known that in the era before Batman appeared, Gotham was a chaotic free-for-all in the most literal sense. All sorts of underground activities and black market deals took place; the only limit was one's imagination. Gangs of all sizes spread like a virus through every street and alley.
David Patrick was a man who had started from scratch in such a chaotic era. He had earned his first fortune selling marijuana during his student days, and even after rising to prominence, he continued to focus on campus deals.
As his business grew larger, he gathered more and more underlings. They called themselves the "Cross Gang" and gradually became a force in their own right. The gangs in the neighboring streets all had to show him some respect.
But to make it big in a place like Gotham—no matter the area—you couldn't rely on just being fierce and ruthless. David didn't have any great abilities, but he was street-smart.
Although it wasn't within his gang's sphere of activity, he had heard about the new HISHE Cafe in Kingston. He didn't know the details, but he guessed the owner must have a powerful background. Otherwise, an ordinary person wouldn't have the power to make the local gangs obediently withdraw from the community.
This was why he had made an exception and come personally, even though it should have been just a trivial matter of some low-level gang grunts brawling and causing trouble.
When the restrained young troublemakers saw that even an organization leader, someone they could never normally interact with, had shown up, they began to panic.
They increasingly realized that things might be getting serious.
"Hello, Mr. Orin." David greeted him politely, a cigar dangling from his mouth, but his eyes glinted with the light of a wild beast from a primeval jungle.
Orin Vale ignored him and got straight to the point, asking, "Who is 'Crazy Elliot'?"
There was a moment of silence.
David stepped aside, revealing the henchman behind him. Everyone's gaze fell upon a young man wearing a black leather jacket with an Azure Dragon tattooed on his body.
This was clearly Elliot, but there was nothing 'crazy' about him; he just looked pale with a pained and awkward expression.
He was the direct superior of those young men, but to put it nicely, he was just a low-level errand boy. His new underlings had no experience, but he was something of a veteran and knew very well that there were people in Gotham you couldn't afford to provoke.
The seemingly gentle young man before him was one of them. On the surface, he looked like a frail scholar who could be blown over by a gust of wind, a stark contrast to those who ran in underworld circles. But anyone who had heard the rumors about the former local bullies of the nearby community—rumors of broken legs, car accidents, and the like—knew this person was not so simple.
Who the hell was he, Elliot? It wasn't his place to speak in a situation like this.
Elliot's legs were trembling slightly as he nervously walked forward. A good buddy of his kindly advised in his ear, "Remember, the softer you speak, the stronger your presence. The real big shots all speak softly."
Elliot nodded, indicating he understood.
He then walked up to Orin Vale and tried to look a bit tougher. His lips seemed to move, but no sound came out.
Orin Vale raised an eyebrow. "Buddy, did you leave your vocal cords at home or something?"
Elliot: "..."
Sensing David's unfriendly stare from behind, a shiver ran down Elliot's spine. He quickly realized this could be a life-or-death moment. If he performed poorly today and lost face, the boss might just shoot him dead with one gun when he got back. David was definitely the kind of person to do such a thing.
So, he tried to puff out his chest and hold his head high, attempting to put on a ferocious and menacing expression.
"Sit down," Orin Vale said calmly.
"Oh, okay."
Elliot sat down in the chair, obediently looking up at Orin Vale like a well-trained pug.
Only after reflexively sitting down did he suddenly think, *Wait, why did I listen to him?*
He had never met anyone like this young owner before.
He looked so gentle, so civilized and polite, yet his eyes seemed to hold something that no one else had, making you afraid to meet his gaze. It was as if his every move, every word he spoke, naturally carried a certain majesty that made people instinctively afraid to defy him.
He tried to stand up, but the moment his legs moved, he felt an unparalleled and powerful pressure that made him plop right back down.
Lacking the courage to stand, Elliot could only lower his head and mutter softly, "I... I just suddenly felt like sitting..."
Orin Vale smiled without a word.
Leaving aside the vast chasm in their Level of Life, if his Mental Power couldn't even suppress a drug-addicted scumbag, then his thousand-plus years of Mental Power Training would have been all for nothing.
The young troublemakers standing nearby were scared witless.
*Holy shit, is this still their boss who kills without batting an eye?*
*The Crazy Elliot who'd start a fight at the slightest disagreement, who claimed to have fought his way from Crime Alley to Arkham with a single knife?*
*Why is he cowering like a dog?*
"Let's talk about your henchman," Orin Vale said, getting to the point. He beckoned to the lead thug who had harassed the girl earlier. "You, come here."
The thug's face was dark, but he didn't dare to disobey and walked forward with his head down.
"He said he's one of your henchman, is that right?" Orin Vale asked.
Elliot shot the thug a fierce glare and reluctantly admitted, "Yes."
"He harassed other customers in my shop and was about to hit someone... What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Elliot?"
Elliot secretly glanced at David behind him and saw that his boss's expression was growing fiercer, making him even more nervous. Knowing he'd be done for if he didn't handle this well, desperation suddenly gave him a burst of courage.
He suddenly raised his head, puffed out his chest, and declared, "The Cross Gang has been around for years! We've never been afraid of anything, and we've never bowed our heads to anyone! Just as our boss always says, business is a battlefield! And in business, the one damn thing we care about is fairness!"
As he spoke, he pointed at the thug next to him.
"So, which arm did this brat use to start the trouble? I'll chop it off right here as an apology. What do you think, Mr. Orin?"
Orin Vale: "?"
The thug: "?"
Forget the thug; even Orin Vale was a bit thrown off by this unconventional negotiation tactic.
The thug's face turned deathly pale, and he looked like he was about to cry.
He said in a tearful voice, "Big Brother, don't you usually say that the most important thing in the underworld is to be ruthless and have a strong presence?"
Unexpectedly, Elliot smacked him right across the face.
"Goddammit, can you just shut the hell up?!"
The thug paid no mind to the slap, but his face turned even paler upon hearing those words.
After hesitating for a long while, he timidly spoke up, "My mom? Uh... Boss, this is a bit sudden. I might have to go back and discuss it with my dad..."
Elliot: "..."
Orin Vale couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Good grief. So you all formed a group to come to my shop and perform Crosstalk, is that it?
*Seeking Consistent Readership! Seeking Consistent Readership! Seeking Consistent Readership!*
(end of chapter)