Chapter 113At the dinner table, the big shots took turns reporting what they were responsible for.

  It was a chilling scene, to be honest. The kind you’d expect in a gangster movie—casual talks of violence, deals that sounded more like empires shifting hands, and money flying around like it was nothing but candy.

  If this had been the old Yoren, he wouldn’t have even made it through dinner. He’d have been shaking, maybe even throwing up.

  But now? He didn’t just endure it—he found himself enjoying it. After all, compared to the natural disasters he’d lived through, these so-called monsters in suits weren’t so terrifying.

  Maybe that’s what growth looked like.

  After most had finished their reports, it was Simon’s turn.

  He set down his wine gss, plucked the cigarette tucked behind his ear, and lit it with the casual fir of a man who had long since stopped caring what others thought. A puff of smoke escaped his lips before he spoke.

  "Nothing’s changed on my end. I’m managing the stores Benson used to handle. No worries, Boss Richie. As long as I’m here, no one’s messing with the East District."

  Reddy, seated beside Richie, frowned.

  "Simon, what about st week’s case? Did you go overboard again?"

  Simon shrugged, tone flippant. "That kid didn’t listen. I made sure he paid for it."

  Reddy's expression darkened.

  "Do you know who he was? He’s with Blood Harbor."

  Simon snorted. "Not my problem. He’s vanished now anyway. I don’t waste time on small-time gangs with a couple of broken boats."

  Richie raised a hand to cut off the tension.

  "Enough. I’ll deal with it. Simon, I know you’re capable, but you need to start being more careful."

  "Of course, Boss."

  "Benson’s gone. I don’t mind you stepping into his shoes. But from now on, coordinate with Ajie before making a move. The East District is too big for one person to rule."

  "Tch, yeah, yeah."

  Simon then began reporting his earnings over the past few months.

  Yoren hadn’t been paying much attention to the East District—until now. As soon as he heard the numbers, his chopsticks stopped mid-air.

  The East District’s income was several times that of the casino!

  From the following conversation, Yoren began to understand just what the East District entailed.

  It referred to the commercial zone in the eastern part of Happy City—the most prosperous part of the city. Sure, the Golden Buddha Casino in the northern district was in a busy area, but if you really looked closely, it had malls, restaurants... and not much else.

  The East District, however, was a kingdom of pleasure. Aside from standard storefronts, it was packed with bars, nightclubs, bathhouses, hotels, and all manner of entertainment venues. These weren’t just partners—they were outright owned by the Frido Chamber of Commerce.

  There were two major red-light neighborhoods in the district, housing hundreds of nightlife spots. And because Happy City bordered two smaller cities to the east, their citizens came to the East District for entertainment.

  Simon and his crew didn’t just manage venues there. They collected franchise fees across the whole city, and handled under-the-table dealings with uncooperative factories and shady businesses.

  It all made sense now—why Richie valued Simon so much.

  Simon, Ajie, and the te Benson weren’t just muscle—they ran the core money-making machine of Richie’s empire. With Benson gone, only Simon and Ajie remained. But Ajie was a quiet type, the steady hand—not the kind to fight for turf or climb higher.

  Yoren’s mind was racing.

  The East District wasn’t just tempting—it was the key to understanding how the Frido Chamber really operated.

  Simon stubbed out his cigarette in his dinner pte, grinning.

  "Boss Richie, don’t worry. Ajie and I have the East District under control. Blood Harbor? Just a bunch of smugglers with rusty boats. If they step foot in Happy City, they’ll never leave."

  "Snap!"

  The sharp sound of Yoren smming his hand on the table silenced the room.

  Eyes turned to him—the newcomer, quiet until now. But he didn’t flinch.

  He looked straight at Richie, eyes burning.

  "Boss, let me take over the East District."

  The atmosphere shifted instantly. The air turned electric.

  Simon shot to his feet.

  "What the hell did you just say? You? Take the East District? Who even are you?"

  Yoren stood his ground. "I don’t think someone like you is fit to run something that important."

  Simon bristled. "You picking a fight with me?! You really think I won’t kill you?!"

  "Try me."

  "Mother—"

  Before fists could fly, Richie smmed the table harder than either of them.

  "Enough! Sit down!"

  Simon cursed under his breath but obeyed, gring at Yoren.

  Yoren sat down, as calm as ever, like he hadn’t just stirred a hornet’s nest.

  Richie sighed, taking a cigar from Reddy and lighting it slowly.

  "Yoren, you’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But running the East District isn’t just about fists. It takes experience and finesse. Simon beats you there."

  Yoren took a drink, still brimming with fire.

  "Benson used to run the East District. It’s only logical that I step up and help. We can split it—three bosses, each handling their part. Let’s see who does it better."

  Simon barked a ugh. "Split it? I don’t need your help. I’ve got this."

  Richie shook his head. "No. Yoren, stick to the casino for now. The East District is running smoothly. If things change, we’ll talk."

  Yoren’s eyes gleamed.

  "So if Simon suddenly loses his manpower, it wouldn’t be enough?"

  Simon jumped to his feet again. "You cursing me now?! You got the guts, come to the East District and try something!"

  Yoren ughed. "Rex. We’re brothers, right? No one’s spping anyone around."

  But deep down, Yoren was already thinking.

  He wouldn’t y a finger on Simon—not directly. Richie would never allow it. He’d be seen as a loose cannon.

  But even the proudest man will drink from a dirty cup when he’s dying of thirst.

  Dinner ended. Some guests left, others lounged in the living room. Yoren grew bored and called A Guang.

  "Yo, Guang. Pick me up at the Jin’an vil area."

  "Which building?"

  "Just wait at the gate."

  Yoren bid Reddy farewell and stepped outside.

  “Hello, Brother Yoren,” the boys stationed outside greeted him.

  There was a row of luxury cars parked nearby.

  Yoren called over a younger guy.

  "Did Simon drive here today?"

  "Yeah."

  "Which one’s his?"

  "The white one on the right."

  Yoren strolled up to the sleek white sports car.

  Crack!

  With a single punch, the windshield exploded into a spiderweb of shattered gss.

  He brushed the shards off his knuckles, expression calm, then walked toward the gate with a satisfied grin.

  A Guang was already waiting. Yoren got into the jeep.

  "Brother Yoren."

  "Yeah."

  "Back to the casino?"

  Yoren paused, then smiled.

  "No. Take me for a ride through the East District."

  Sitting in the car, Yoren quickly sorted out the newly obtained information in his mind.

  This gathering undoubtedly refreshed his impression of the Fredo Chamber of Commerce, and he believed that this was also the purpose of Rich asking him to attend.

  Richie wanted to take this opportunity to tell him that the Fredo Chamber of Commerce was not a street gang that only relied on fighting, but a well-organized gangster chamber of commerce with extensive involvement.

  At the same time, Richie is not useless. On the contrary, he has many people, and there are many capable ones. Moreover, everyone is as ambitious as him. As the highest controller of underground power in Hapi City, Richie is the god of this city.

  Sitting in the passenger seat, Yoren gnced at the bracelet on his hand bowl from the corner of his eye.

  【The fusion rate of somatic cells and Origin Stone is 12%】

  【Crystal density of blood source stone 0.48u/L】

  【Individual power: 275】

  【Critical period: 3】

  【Countdown to the next cycle: 4 days】

  Now, he doesn't think God has anything to be afraid of.

  Each realm has its own rules, but just like Ogur once said to him:

  The so-called rules are only made for ordinary people who cannot disobey them. When your own strength reaches a certain level, you can ignore those rules specially made for ordinary people.

  Surpassing others, gaining qualifications through time, establishing merits, and being appreciated are the growth rules of the gang.

  But Yoren has no time to pile up blocks now, because the strength he possesses at this moment has already surpassed the growth rules of the gang—at least, within 4 days.

  Thirty minutes ter, Aguang drove a jeep into the commercial street of the East District.

  "Yoren, we are here. This is the East District."

  Yoren looked out the car window. It was obvious that the prosperity of the East District was more than one level higher than that of the Beicheng District.

  The street was 50 meters wide, and the neon lights fshing on the tall buildings on both sides reflected half of the sky in red. It was evening, and not only were pedestrians dense, but luxury cars could also be seen everywhere on the road.

  Originally, Yoren thought it was quite good for Richie to give him a car to drive, but now compared with the cars on the road, his bulky bck jeep looked like a junior—far from average. This kind of car was clearly used for running errands for a superior.

  Aguang asked while driving.

  "Yoren, where are we going now?"

  "Do you know where all the East End bars and stuff are?"

  "I know, there are two bar streets."

  "Go for a walk over there."

  "Got it."

  The so-called Pub Street soon arrived.

  Colorful signboards could be seen everywhere on both sides of the road. Men and women in rebellious clothes were walking in and out of these bars. Men's roars and women's shouts echoed frequently in the nearby alleys.

  It was clear this whole street reeked of money and depravity, violence and crime.

  However, what Yoren was observing wasn’t what these people were doing, or how many bars there were. He wasn’t here to be some messenger of justice.

  What he was observing was the terrain nearby.

  After the jeep left Bar Street, Aguang took Yoren to visit two other red streets.

  Yoren stared out the window and casually asked Aguang, who was driving.

  "Do you usually come here to collect protection money?"

  Aguang replied while holding the steering wheel.

  "Yoren, you’re kidding. Who dares to come here to collect protection money?"

  "Why?"

  "The bars here are directly under the Frido Chamber of Commerce. If you come here to collect protection fees, you might as well say goodbye to your teeth."

  Seeing that Yoren's expression was a little complicated, Aguang immediately backpedaled.

  "No, Yoren, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean you got kicked in the head by a donkey. I’m just a dumb guy, said it without thinking."

  "It’s fine. I know you didn’t mean that."

  Yoren continued to ask.

  "By the way, have you heard of Simon?"

  "Of course I’ve heard of him. Simon is the boss of the East District. A ruthless one. When the Fredo Chamber of Commerce first arrived in Hapi City, he led people to uproot the local gangs in the East District. It’s said the people he targeted didn’t even have a chance to resist."

  "Impressive. There were three bosses in the East District before, right?"

  Aguang chuckled.

  "Oh, there are three bosses on the surface, but everyone who knows the inside story knows Simon alone calls the shots."

  "That’s amazing."

  "Yoren, I see you’re really interested. How about I take you to a bar for a drink? My treat. Just to thank you."

  Yoren thought for a while.

  "No need. Let’s go back. Next time we come here, we’ll be drinking for free."

  Just as the jeep turned around, a white sports car came from the opposite direction.

  Simon, who was sitting in it, looked ready to explode—his car had no windshield.

  The moment the two cars passed each other, Simon happened to see Yoren making faces at him from inside the jeep.

  "Damn it! I knew it was you who smashed it!"

  The sports car swerved and screeched to a stop in the middle of the road.

  Simon rolled up his sleeves and got out, but Yoren’s jeep had already driven away.

  Aguang looked in the rearview mirror at Simon, who was standing in the middle of the road and yelling.

  "Yoren, that guy looks like Boss Simon."

  "That’s right."

  "He seemed to be cursing. Was he yelling at us?"

  "Probably."

  "Huh? Why?"

  "Eh, because I just broke his car window."

  Back at the casino, Yoren called all the department managers to the office.

  These casino managers, who usually carried themselves with pride, now stood in a row like chickens.

  Albert, the eldest and responsible for finance, asked aloud:

  "Yoren, everyone’s really busy. Why’d you call us all in?"

  Yoren raised an eyebrow, and Aguang immediately understood. He walked up and kicked Albert on the butt.

  "Did you just call him Yoren? Boss Yoren!"

  "Boss Yoren..."

  Yoren sat behind the big desk, trimming his nails with a small wallpaper cutter.

  "I’m not one for small talk. I called you here for one thing. Boss Rich just announced that from today on, I’ll be fully responsible for the casino."

  Silence.

  Aguang kicked Albert again.

  "Why are you just standing there? Appud!"

  Thunderous appuse followed immediately.

  Yoren continued.

  "Now I’m the person in charge of the casino—in other words, I’m the boss here. I hope you all understand one thing. Boss Rich may have the final say in Hapi City, but in this casino, I do. I don’t care what rules you followed before. From now on, I am the rule."

  His gaze swept over the group.

  "From now on, all matters are to be reported directly to me. If I find out anyone went behind my back to Boss Rich, well, let’s just say, go downstairs and take a look at the giant hole in the parking lot. That’ll tell you all you need to know."

  "Is that clear?"

  Everyone responded in unison:

  "Clear. From now on, we follow Boss Yoren."

  Aguang kicked Albert again.

  "Don’t just say it. Appud!"

  Albert, kicked multiple times, finally lost it. Face red, he snapped at Aguang:

  "You’re crazy! No one else is appuding, why keep kicking me?"

  "Who told you to stand closest to me?"