Gotham Old Town

Rumor had it that Gotham had been expanded with the consent of four great families.

They were the Wayne Family, to which Bruce Wayne belonged; the Kane Family, Martha Wayne's family; and the other two were the famed Elliot Family and Penguin's family... the Cobblepot Family.

Though that rumor was exaggerated, these families had indeed played an indispensable role in Gotham City's founding and development, occupying important positions in the city's economy, politics, and criminal activities.

The Cobblepot Family had not always been the criminal family it was today. Back then, members of the Cobblepot Family had even run for mayor of Gotham City and controlled Gotham's steel industry.

The Wayne Family had handled construction and transportation, the Elliot Family had controlled media and newspapers, while the Kane Family had been based in northern Kane County.

It could be said that all of these families were true billionaire dynasties, with wealth beyond counting.

That made it easier to understand just how unbelievable it had been for Thomas Wayne and his wife, Martha Wayne, to be shot dead on the streets of Gotham.

Of course, by now, the four great families had long since declined considerably.

Otherwise, families like Falcone would never have risen.

"I told you long ago, we brought order to Gotham!"

"Even the worst order is better than no order at all!"

Penguin Cobblepot continued, tapping the ground several times with his umbrella, clearly furious.

"Look at Gotham now. Without our protection, every criminal is out on the streets robbing people without restraint. There isn't a shred of order. It's like they're holding a carnival!"

"I don't know what you've all been doing these past few days!"

"But now, right this instant, go maintain order for me! Throw out anyone without a crime license!"

Everyone inside fell silent, especially with Victor Zsasz stalking behind them as though he might stab someone in the back at any moment.

Li Ang found it rather ridiculous.

Penguin was treating himself like Gotham's ambassador.

Still, the order he spoke of was laughable in its own way.

His so-called order simply meant only his own people were allowed to commit crimes.

When others committed crimes, they were... stealing business.

As a result, more than half the people sitting there left.

"Li Ang, I heard the club is nearly out of alcohol?"

Penguin Cobblepot walked up to Li Ang and asked, wearing what he considered a friendly smile.

Li Ang knew nothing about it, and immediately realized he had neglected his duties.

After all, he was the bar manager now.

This had not been his responsibility before, but since he was taking the paycheck, he naturally had to do the work!

"I'll handle it."

Li Ang answered decisively.

"Good. I don't want the club running out of drinks."

Penguin said nothing more. If Li Ang could not handle it, he would simply replace him.

Then he left with Victor Zsasz.

Li Ang grabbed Frank and asked, "What's going on with the alcohol?"

Frank gave Li Ang a strange look.

"You're the bar manager, not me."

Frank smiled. "I only know how to drink."

With no other choice, Li Ang returned to the bar and asked the professional bartender.

The bartender did know what was going on.

"The club buys alcohol from the Mexicans in Old Town every week. As for why, obviously because it's bootlegged and cheap."

No one should mistake Penguin for a good man. Everything at the Iceberg Lounge was bought cheap, though the quality was not bad.

Penguin pursued high quality, but he was unwilling to pay high prices...

In any case, smuggling and crime were as natural to him as drinking water, so naturally he was unwilling to spend money.

That was why the Iceberg Lounge could never stock up at legitimate chain liquor stores.

Even alcohol smuggling was a business run by gangs in Gotham.

Penguin simply was not involved in it.

This was no longer the Prohibition era. Alcohol profits were not as good as those in other high-profit industries.

"Why haven't we restocked?"

Li Ang asked.

The bartender replied, "The channel got cut off. Those Mexicans are in Old Town, which is Demon Gang territory. Relations are tense now, so they won't sell to our club anymore."

After hearing that, Li Ang understood.

"So now, either we get them to sell us alcohol again, or we find a new supplier."

And it had to be a cheap supplier. If they bought from legitimate chain stores, Penguin definitely would not agree.

The price would be too high for him.

High prices meant low profits.

Low profits meant Penguin was not making money. How could he possibly accept that?

Furthermore, the Iceberg Lounge consumed an enormous amount of alcohol every day. Once costs rose, it meant losing out on a great deal of money.

Earning less was the same as losing money!

But Li Ang's understanding of Gotham was practically nonexistent. Asking him to find a new supplier would be harder than telling him to go after Batman directly.

At least he could find Batman's hideout.

So while it sounded like a choice between two options, it was actually a single-choice question.

They had to make those people sell alcohol again.

But that was another gang's territory.

Gangs competed with one another, so Li Ang could not just head over there casually.

So he found Frank again.

"Frank, let me borrow your car."

"Here."

Without another word, Frank took out the keys.

"I mean, you drive."

Li Ang felt a little embarrassed.

This big guy was too straightforward.

Sure enough, although Frank did not understand, he agreed.

"No problem, but you have to buy me a drink!"

Frank laughed.

His only interest was drinking. He was not even interested in women.

Of course, Frank was also a very filial man. He obeyed his mother in everything.

That was why Penguin liked him so much.

From top to bottom, Penguin's criminal organization could be summed up in one word.

Filial piety!

The two left the club, which had already become lively again.

It was as though what had happened a few days ago had never occurred. The party animals had returned to their drunken, dreamlike lives.

Outside, the Diamond District seemed to have settled down in an instant.

The people Penguin had sent out were useful after all.

At least not everyone could commit crimes anymore!

As the car drove on, there were far fewer criminals by the roadside than before. In particular, those wearing hats and moving around suspiciously had vanished entirely.

Penguin's men had cracked down hard on them. Anyone like that obviously did not have a "crime license."

There was one thing Penguin said that Li Ang agreed with.

Even the worst order was better than no order at all.

See? The familiar Gotham was back.

Some suited thugs passing by on the street whistled at Frank's car.

Frank gave them the finger.

He wore a suit, but his heart remained wild.

Gotham's Old Town bordered the Diamond District and lay to its south.

Upon entering Old Town, it was easy to see that its buildings were rather old, with a darker, more pronounced Gothic style than the newer structures.

This had once been Gotham's territory before the decision to expand. Put more elegantly, the place was steeped in history.

Otherwise, it would not have ended up under the control of the Demon Gang, which Li Ang had never even heard of.