The year Natasha Romanoff was rescued from the ruins by her adoptive father, Ludmila joined the Soviet Army.
Because of her gender, her superior suggested that she become a field nurse, but Ludmila preferred to become a real soldier. In the end, she got her wish and became a riflewoman.
The fighting was brutal at the time, and new recruits barely had any time to train. One month later, her unit was ordered into battle, and it was during that fight that she displayed exceptional talent as a sniper.
Over two and a half months of combat, this female soldier, who had enlisted only four months earlier, had already sniped 187 targets. By June of the following year, when she was wounded and left the battlefield, that number had risen to 308.
The reason the number increased so little afterward was that she had already terrified the enemy. When facing her, her opponents did not even dare raise their heads.
Bai Jing had never wanted Lumira to become a sniper, even if Ancient One said she was suited for it.
But when she brought up her grandmother, Bai Jing was left somewhat speechless.
If he let her become a sniper, Bai Jing worried that she would face danger. Don't say snipers were safe—in fact, snipers were every enemy's top priority.
But if he did not let her become a sniper, Bai Jing felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.
It was like someone having extraordinary political talent, but you insisted on making him study art. In the end, he failed to get into art school and wasted half his life. What a terrible sin would that be?
Bai Jing opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
Frank was a qualified teacher anyway. Bai Jing trusted that he would teach Lumira the right methods.
Besides, there were so many means of mutation in this world. Bai Jing might not be unable to find a way to strengthen Lumira in the future.
At worst, he could let her learn magic.
Tapping the table, Bai Jing said, "Quiet, quiet. Ryan, how is the Hell's Kitchen power map I asked you to investigate coming along?"
Wasn't it just the southwest district? How had it become all of Hell's Kitchen?
Ryan felt all the bitterness and helplessness of being a wage slave, but he did not dare protest. After all, his boss not only oppressed people—he killed people too.
Fortunately, he had prepared in advance.
"I've investigated most of it!" Ryan stood up and went outside. Soon, he returned with a rolled-up map and spread it across the table.
"I found that the power distribution across Hell's Kitchen can roughly be divided into four major districts: northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest!" Ryan said. "The southwest, which is to our south, is mainly controlled by the Mexican Gang and the South American Gang. Like the former Viper Gang, they make their living through drug trafficking. But the Viper Gang controlled the largest supply source in Mexico, so these gangs could only live off the goods that leaked out from the Viper Gang, along with whatever they could obtain through other channels. Since we cut off their supply, these gangs have been getting restless lately."
Put plainly, they had been the Viper Gang's secondary distributors. But Bai Jing had taken down the Viper Gang, their supplier, so those gangs held a deep grudge against the Order Society. Bai Jing did not know why they had not attacked directly.
Probably because they were cowards.
"The southeast is mainly controlled by the Italian Families!" Ryan Daling continued. "Actually, forty years ago, all of Hell's Kitchen belonged to the Dresster Family. But forty years ago, the Dresster Family's boss was assassinated in Times Square. From then on, the Dresster Family's power plummeted. Now they barely occupy a patch of territory and have to endure incursions from other gangs at all times!"
"How could losing one boss cause their power to drop so much?" Bai Jing asked.
"Because that boss had too many enemies. While he was alive, he had connections with the other Italian Families, and they supported one another. After he died, those connections were no longer so close!" Ryan said. "Also, the Dresster Family has been shrinking its territory, but they are actually transforming in secret. According to information from certain channels, many real estate companies in Hell's Kitchen belong to the Dresster Family. That means they may control a large amount of land and property in Hell's Kitchen!"
If you had land and property, what came next?
Collecting rent!
Bai Jing understood.
It seemed that this Italian family had to be taken down. Otherwise, they would be working for them.
Anyone who had come from China knew just how valuable land and houses were.
"Keep going!" Bai Jing said.
"To the northwest, which is our north, the Irish Gang and the Redneck Gang are the main forces!" Ryan said. "They are poorly educated and have no taboos. They do everything and get involved in everything. Advisor Matt should understand that very well!"
Matt Murdock nodded. The area where he had previously operated was right in that district.
"Robbery, rape, drug trafficking, human trafficking, biochemical experiments—I've encountered all of them!" Matt said, then suddenly felt that he might have revealed something.
"Ahem!" Matt continued, "I mean, cases related to them!"
Everyone nodded. Those who understood, understood. Those who did not need to understand did not need to, and knowing too much would not do them any good.
"Then there's the northeast!" Ryan's tone turned serious, and he even glanced at Bai Jing.
"Why are you looking at me? Just say it!" Bai Jing said.
"This district is mainly controlled by the Asian Gang!" Ryan swallowed before speaking.
Bai Jing knew why Ryan had looked at him. After all, he was from Asia too!
"This area has gathered gangs from Japan and Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and other countries in Asia. They fight fiercely among themselves, and they are fiercely hostile to outsiders!" Ryan said. "Most importantly, they have formidable combat power. They have been in Hell's Kitchen for less than twenty years, yet they have fought their way from nothing to such a large territory. If they were not restricted from all sides, and if even the police and the Tax Bureau were not helping to suppress them, I think they could have expanded throughout all of Hell's Kitchen."
Bai Jing felt rather speechless. Was it really that exaggerated?
"Their fighting skills are excellent too!" Frank suddenly said. "I learned quite a lot from them. More important was their fighting spirit. With ordinary gangs, as long as you kill a few people, a dozen people, or just take out the boss, the rest collapse. But with them, you have to kill half of them, or even more."
As he spoke, Frank, the Punisher, actually seemed to still be shaken by it.
He glanced at Bai Jing. In truth, his feelings toward Bai Jing were complicated as well, because Bai Jing had the same skin color as those people.
He knew it was wrong to simply let Bai Jing keep expanding.
But it was also wrong to let Hell's Kitchen remain this chaotic.
When weighing the lesser of two evils, Frank chose Bai Jing.
But he would not blindly trust Bai Jing. Only by staying at his side could he observe him better and find his weaknesses.
That way, if Bai Jing had a problem, he would have a way to counter him.
This was not discrimination. It was fear.
The Yellow Peril theory did not arise without reason. Asians really were terrifying.
Asians were not like white people. When white people made money, they drank, chased women, enjoyed themselves, and spent it all in no time.
But when Asians made money in America, they saved it. Once they had saved enough, they bought land. When life improved, they brought over their relatives and friends as well.
The Chinese had done exactly that back then. As more and more Chinese came, white people became frightened, so they hurriedly passed the Chinese Exclusion Act.
But that was not the end of it, because the Japanese came later too.
The Japanese desired land even more than the Chinese, so they did exactly the same thing: make money, save it, buy land.
As a result, white people became afraid again, so in 1924 they hurriedly passed the Japanese Immigration Exclusion Act.
Koreans came later, but Koreans were united. Whenever they were attacked, they picked up guns and fought their enemies to the death. As a result, Koreans were actually in a much better position in America.
Whether in war, cultural warfare, or economic trade, as long as they were not restricted, Asians were unquestionably the number one people in the world.
Freedom and democracy were things they shouted about only when they held the advantage. Once they no longer did, everyone had seen what they did.
"Therefore, I think taking this district will be very difficult!" Ryan glanced at Bai Jing again before speaking.
"I think this district will be easy..." He knew what Asians wanted—nothing more than survival.
As long as they were given a fair and peaceful environment, they would naturally follow order.
Then, once the chief culprits were killed, the rest could open restaurants, do business, and so on.
"That's it, then. West before east, south before north!" Bai Jing pointed toward the southwest. "Sweep up those Mexican gangs first!"
Before you continue