Backlund's mornings were always shrouded in pale yellow haze. Though it was the time of day when the air was at its worst, it was also the busiest time in the entire East Borough.
Workers hurried to the factories, beggars put on their shabbiest clothes to prepare for work, and even thieves had to keep track of the time as they rushed to Backlund's major subway stations to begin a new day's work.
Yet amid such noisy, hectic streets, there was a group of people who strolled along leisurely and at ease. Pedestrians would instinctively make way when they saw them. They were the masters of Backlund's lowly trades, the gangs rooted in the East Borough.
However, even in Backlund's gang-ridden East Borough, Gana Manswell was among the youngest of the men in charge. He was currently heading toward Passion's headquarters, inspecting his territory with his underlings while listening to their report on yesterday's gains.
"Sir, the Zimang Party's forces have been completely absorbed. But are we really giving up those businesses? Those are the most profitable dealings in the East Borough!"
The vicious-looking man in his early forties wore a somewhat subtle expression as he asked that question. It was not something he truly wanted to know; rather, he was using the question to give his boss a chance to explain things to the inexperienced newcomers.
His name was Polvo. He had once been a member of the former Manswell Party. After the "young master" returned to Backlund's gang scene and swept through numerous small gangs with crushing force, Polvo had returned to Manswell's ranks.
Although he did not quite understand why the young master had suddenly gained such formidable power, the fact that he had not restored the Manswell Party's name and had instead renamed it Passion revealed