Black Tiger Gang

"...Last month's wharf fees were collected in full, with a twenty percent increase. However, at the gambling den, the take was fifteen silver dollars less than the previous month. Word is that a new card shark arrived at Happy Forest and cleaned out quite a bit; our men didn't keep a close enough watch."

Mr. Xu's voice was steady and clear. "The protection money from Fireworks Alley is as usual, but two of the back-alley joints were secretly colluding with outside pimps and didn't pay their full cut. I've already sent Lord Scar's men to have a word with them; they should make up the difference this month."

Lei Tiger said nothing, his fingers merely pausing in their rhythmic tapping against the tabletop.

Mr. Xu continued, "The biggest hole is in freight."

"The batch of foreign cloth we were escorting for Fuchang Firm went missing near Green Dragon Shoal. Both the boat and the cargo vanished, resulting in a total loss of nearly five hundred silver dollars."

"Also, we need to increase the tribute for Master Li at the county yamen. He dropped a hint that the new magistrate has a sharp nose, so we need to make sure the bribes are sufficient."

Hearing the mention of five hundred silver dollars and an increased bribe, Lord Scar's brow knotted into a lump. He couldn't help but spit on the ground. "Damn it, there must be an inside man for that Fuchang Firm shipment! Don't let me catch them!"

Lei Tiger raised his eyelids and swept a glance at Lord Scar. The gaze was indifferent, yet it made Lord Scar immediately fall silent and lower his head.

Lord Scar's standing was too low, and he lacked access to sensitive information; he was different.

That area around Green Dragon Shoal had been restless lately; rumor had it that even men from the Bureau of Strange Suppression had been lost there.

"We'll talk about the Green Dragon Shoal matter later. Tell the brothers to steer clear of that place for now. As for Master Li, pay what needs to be paid; we can't have the yamen causing us trouble."

Lei Tiger spoke, his voice full of vigor and a natural air of dominance. "Mr. Xu, by this calculation, how much less is this month's net income compared to last month?"

Mr. Xu flicked the abacus beads rapidly and mused, "After deducting various expenses, compensation, and the new bribes, and accounting for the slow business at several venues... roughly six hundred to eight hundred silver dollars less. If there are more mishaps with the freight next month, or further trouble at the gambling dens and wharves, I fear..."

He left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear: the gang's cash flow was beginning to tighten.

The Black Tiger Gang appeared formidable, supporting dozens of thugs and informants while managing high-level bribes, but their daily expenses were substantial.

Once income became unstable, internal chaos was bound to follow.

Lei Tiger remained silent for a moment, his gaze falling on a page in the ledger that recorded several scattered side debts, including the unpaid sanitation fees and interest from Deliverance Studio on Funeral Street, totaling five silver dollars.

"How are things over at Funeral Street lately?" Lei Tiger asked suddenly, his tone unreadable.

Lord Scar perked up and hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, Gang Leader, that street is steady. They're all honest folk who deal with the dead; they can't stir up any trouble. It's just..."

He hesitated. "It's that brat at Deliverance Studio, Chen Dachuan's son. He's a tough nut to crack. He's been dragging his feet for three months. I went to collect today, and he still had that dead look on his face—couldn't pay the money, and refused to hand over the item."

"The item?" Lei Tiger looked at him.

"The secret technique for paper-crafting that Chen Dachuan had," Lord Scar explained. "You mentioned it to me last time. The brat is guarding it and won't give it up. I think he's choosing the hard way! I gave him a three-day deadline. If he doesn't wise up, I'll take my men to tear down his shop and..."

"Secret technique..." Lei Tiger chewed on the words, a strange glint flashing deep in his eyes as he interrupted Lord Scar. "That thing is an old trinket a big boss specifically asked for. Word is it's quite interesting, not your average paper-crafting skill."

"I sent you to handle it because you're reliable, not so you could tear down shops and beat people up at every turn, causing a city-wide stir."

Lord Scar was stunned, somewhat confused. "Gang Leader, that brat is impervious to reason. If we don't use a bit of force..."

"Use your brain!" Lei Tiger's voice dropped. "Funeral Street may be inconspicuous, but it's still a street. If we make it look too ugly, what will the other shops think? Will there be gossip from the yamen?"

Mr. Xu chimed in smoothly from the side, his tone oily. "The Gang Leader means that we must make the boy hand it over willingly, or leave him no choice but to do so. Robbing him by force is a last resort and easily leaves us open to criticism."

"I hear that Chen Mo is in very poor health, as if he won't live long. Perhaps we could approach it from that angle... for instance, find a doctor to 'advise' him? Or ensure that in this Linhe County, aside from us, he can't borrow a single grain of rice or buy a pack of medicine on credit?"

His words were subtle but pointed to a much more insidious method: using Chen Mo's illness and isolated situation to slowly wear him down and force his submission.

It achieved the goal without making things look too unsightly on the surface.

Lei Tiger nodded slightly. He didn't explicitly approve of Mr. Xu's suggestion, but he was clearly leaning toward this method of hiding a needle in silk.

"Scar, did you understand Mr. Xu's words?"

"Go back in three days. If he can scrape the money together, let him pay and give him a warning."

"If he can't... then relay Mr. Xu's suggestion to him. Let him choose: hand over the item and trade for a way to live, or drag that sick body of his and find himself unable to take a single step in Linhe County."

He paused and added, "Remember, I want the item, but keep your hands clean."

"Yes, Gang Leader!" Although Lord Scar felt a bit stifled, he didn't dare disobey and quickly agreed.

He understood now: the Gang Leader and Mr. Xu wanted to use a soft blade to cut the meat—it was more clever than his direct approach, but also more troublesome.

Still, since a big boss had specifically asked for it... it added a layer of vague importance and caution to that tattered paper-crafting manual.

Lei Tiger waved his hand, signaling they could withdraw.

The two bowed and exited the main hall.

The hall fell quiet once more, leaving only Lei Tiger. The candlelight cast his face into flickering light and shadow.

He leaned back in his grand chair, closing his eyes to rest, his fingers still unconsciously tapping the table.

He didn't know the specific mysteries of the secret technique, only that a big boss had some interest in it and had asked him to keep an eye out.

For Lei Tiger, this was an opportunity to curry favor with someone in the upper echelons.

As for whether Chen Mo lived or died, he didn't care much, so long as the job was done cleanly and didn't affect the stability of the Black Tiger Gang.

The wisdom of a street-level figure lay in knowing how to weigh pros and cons, calculate gains and losses, and utilize rules and human weaknesses rather than just acting with brute force.

Lei Tiger had reached his current position by mastering this very art.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, deep within the residence.

From the direction of the side courtyard where Lord Scar and several lieutenants lived, a shrill, miserable scream suddenly pierced the silence of the night!

This was followed by more terrified shouts, the sound of tables and chairs overturning, and the clatter of shattering porcelain.

"A ghost! There's a ghost—!"

"Help! Lord Scar! Lord Scar, help!"

"Stop it! Ah—!"

The commotion spread rapidly, mixed with the friction of blades being drawn and the wails of extreme terror.