The Tide Retreat Gang had quite a few Professionals among its upper ranks. In any other ordinary town, a gang of its size would have been enough to run rampant through the area and become one of the top underworld organizations nearby.
But in Barracuda Bay, an adventurer stronghold, a major port of the kingdom, and the central town of the Southern Islands, the strength and numbers of its upper ranks were clearly nothing impressive.
The neighboring Shark Gang, once their rival, had overreached itself by provoking powerful adventurers far beyond its ability to handle and was wiped out overnight. That had allowed them to gorge themselves on the resources left behind. Otherwise, they would probably still be holed up in the cramped, narrow alleys of Curved Alley, running shady businesses that brought in meager profits.
The Tide Retreat Gang's expenses were not low. Especially during this period, when they had been frantically recruiting peripheral members to expand their influence, their finances had grown increasingly strained.
Their largest expense was naturally the "tribute" paid to the Sheriffs of the Saltwater District. Bribes and expenses across various channels accounted for more than half their income.
Of course, that was unavoidable. There was no cutting corners on it.
Next came the salaries and bonuses for the gang's core members.
After finally establishing a modest force in Barracuda Bay, the Professionals at its core naturally had no intention of living hard lives. Unrestrained, large-scale withdrawals from gang funds had become commonplace.
As for the peripheral members, or rather, the little grunts... being allowed to join the Tide Retreat Gang was already the greatest honor of their lives. Wasn't being able to throw their weight around in the streets under the gang's name enough? At most, a few minor leaders would occasionally take their