[Chapter 30: Chaotic Neighborhoods]
The conversation soon drifted all over the place, inevitably touching on the various gangs and shady groups dominating different parts of town. After all, Allen and his crew all had roots in that kind of world.
Through Allen and the others' stories, John got a clearer picture of the power dynamics within Los Angeles.
Overall, L.A. was surrounded by mountains on three sides and the ocean on the fourth. To the north was the world-famous Hollywood, and to the west, the coastline. These areas attracted most of the wealthy folks, places like the renowned Beverly Hills and Malibu Beach.
But heading south and east, the scene changed dramatically. That included the city's Koreatown, Chinatown and other immigrant neighborhoods. Taking a ride from LAX toward downtown, John saw firsthand how these areas were far worse off compared to what most might imagine -- almost a far cry from any polished image.
Filthy, chaotic, and rundown seemed like an understatement. Trash piled up everywhere, unemployed homeless people roamed in packs, and gang presence was a given. Mexican cartels, African-American gangs, Vietnamese crews in the Asian enclaves, and old brotherhoods like the Hung Men were all well-known players.
Most everyday folks in these neighborhoods knew better than to wander aimlessly; otherwise, they risked getting hit with multiple robberies in a single day.
To John, this was a perfect example of what some described as "distorted prosperity." It seemed like no matter where you go, the same rule applies: the 80/20 rule of wealth distribution.
People from the southeast desperately dreamed of northwest's affluent lifestyle. While large swaths of unemployed struggled just to get by, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu were overflowing with so-called "successful" people indulging in their excesses.
It didn't just apply to L.A.; New York was no different. The slums were unquestionably filthy, disorderly, and poor.
Sometimes, John felt a pang of sympathy for those involved in gangs. If they hadn't taken that path, perhaps they would have ended up among the countless homeless on the street corners.
Take NBA stars for example; many of them came from these very slums. Allen Iverson was a prime example -- raised in neighborhoods riddled with drug deals and robberies.
Even at the heights of his career, Iverson was often linked to childhood friends, many of whom were still tied to the streets and gangs.
---
As the meeting wrapped up, Zach told John it was time to take off. Looking at Allen's crew -- the former Black Vipers now aspiring to be "good guys" -- John realized this marked the unofficial dissolution of that group. Not really a split, but rather a branching: those wanting to stay involved in shady business stayed put, while Allen's group stepped back.
Next came sorting out the money, registering legit companies, and keeping everyone busy.
Just as John and Zach were about to leave, Bob chimed in, wanting to tag along with John. He reminded John that he had already promised to train him, to turn him into a karate master -- even bending to call him "sensei." This earned a good laugh from everyone.
Well, John had only said he'd consider training them; Bob was jumping the gun. Meanwhile, Adam's eager expression made John smile.
John realized Bob was a single-minded guy. He had always idolized Adam and challenged him to spar repeatedly, often ending up bruised and battered, but he genuinely enjoyed it.
Seeing a chance to improve his fighting skills, Bob was all in -- maybe a little clingy when it came to John.
At that moment, Allen suggested to Zach that since he would be busy, Bob could stay close to John and handle errands. Bob was straightforward, with no criminal record, and was considered reliable.
In other words, Allen was telling Zach: "Since you'll be busy, just let Bob stick around John to help out and keep him company."
John agreed to this plan. He thought it made sense to rent out the remaining apartment on the 12th floor, so besides Charlize, he'd have a crew of his own there -- making things more convenient.
Noticing Adam's restless energy, John quickly took Bob and Zach out of the basement, letting Bob grab his belongings and head to the car.
---
Back home, John rented the last apartment on the 12th floor for Bob. Just like that, their duo of one black, one white grew into a trio: two black and one white.
Today's gathering had been a crucial moment for John, especially mentally. While he'd always had plans, he never quite knew how to start.
But meeting Allen and the others gave him the opening he needed.
He had been thinking of profiting from the internet bubble, assuming that once he set up an investment company, he'd never lack money again. He dreamed of investing in Google, Apple, Amazon, and living a carefree life.
Yet after today's talk, he realized his thinking was too simplistic. Too much wealth could be a burden if you couldn't protect it.
Allen explained that many wealthy families had connections to local underground groups -- not necessarily controlling them, but enough to maintain peace or exchange information. It truly was as the saying went: "Where there's light, there's darkness. It's unavoidable."
At this point, John had a rough plan, though only time would tell how it would unfold.
He told himself he should get out more. Staying cooped up at home made him oblivious to the world outside. After all, "It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books."
Ultimately, he decided to use his free time to work out and practice fighting in Allen's basement, where a few goof-offs acted as free sparring partners.
This notion was enough to give Allen's crew a chill -- a sense that something bad was about to go down.
*****
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