Chapter 209 Pressing Forward Relentlessly
In the Car
Raymond, reeking of booze and looking a bit spaced out, sat quietly in the back seat.
The driver, after a long pause, finally broke the silence. "Raymond, you gonna come clean with William?"
Raymond frowned and sighed. "Still thinking about it."
"I overheard Enrique," the driver said softly, trying to nudge him. "Since William took over, he's been tough on the old-timers, but the younger folks actually dig some of his moves. They think he's more driven and innovative than Terry was."
"Yeah, I get it," Raymond nodded.
"Then why do you still wanna bail?" the driver asked, puzzled.
After a long pause, Raymond replied, "Because he and I aren't on the same wavelength."
The driver was taken aback. "Is it 'cause of Grayson?"
"It's not just one thing," Raymond said, staring out the window. "With Grayson gone, I'm the oldest exec. A lot of the staff were brought up by me. If there's no conflict, it's fine. But if there is, I'll have to pick sides. I'll become another Grayson."
"I see," the driver nodded.
"I don't want any bad blood with William after Terry's death," Raymond sighed deeply. "I used to feel at home in the company, drinking and chatting was fun. But now, with such high stakes, I have to be constantly on guard, and it's exhausting."
"Maybe William is just waiting for you to suggest leaving," the driver added.
"No," Raymond shook his head. "He probably doesn't want me to leave now; he'd likely try to keep me. He's pushing for reforms and needs my support, and that's what's making me hesitate."
The driver responded helplessly, "It's really a tough spot."
"Yeah," Raymond closed his eyes. "Forget it, let's talk about it when we get there."
In the Building on Main Street
William was in the reception room, mulling over how to handle Raymond when his phone rang.
"Hello?" William picked it up quickly.
"William, we've got a problem," Enrique's urgent voice shouted. "Joe wasn't in the house at all. We were ambushed as soon as we arrived. A dozen of our guys are injured, and Adam got shot."
William shot up from his seat. "How could that be? Didn't David say Joe was in the yard?"
"He wasn't there at all!" Enrique shouted back. "There wasn't a single person in the yard; they were ready for us."
"How did Joe know we were coming for him?" William shouted, baffled. "Did someone tip him off?"
"I... I don't know," Enrique replied, shaking his head. "With the gunfire, the cops must be alerted. We have too many injured; we don't even know where to go now."
After a moment, William responded, "Separate the injured from Adam, and head to Riverside District. I'll be there soon."
"Okay, got it."
"That's it."
They ended the call. William grabbed his coat and shouted, "Everyone, get dressed. We're heading out."
The five people downstairs immediately stood up, and one quickly went outside to prep the car.
William threw on his coat and hurried downstairs, calling out to the remaining four, "To Riverside District."
"Aren't we waiting here?" one of the men asked.
"Something happened over there; I need to go," William replied with a grim expression and headed outside.
At the door.
The guy who went to get the car had just opened the door when a cold, biting wind blew in.
A sharp sound rang out, and a burly man with a small braid at the back of his head suddenly rushed up from the left side of the steps.
The guy turned his head to the left and froze. "You..."
"Don't recognize me? I'm Joe."
The guy was momentarily stunned.
A gunshot rang out, and the guy was shot in the head, falling backward.
Joe, with a blank expression, chambered another round and aimed the gun downward, pulling the trigger again.
The guy's head exploded, and his body convulsed as it rolled down the steps.
Joe kicked open the front door of the building and walked inside with his gun, shouting, "William, stand up straight and take the bullet with your head."
William had already started retreating when he heard the gunshot. When he saw Joe, he turned and ran.
Joe, holding his gun, rushed into the lobby, his wet feet leaving a trail of red footprints on the clean floor.
"Don't move."
"I said don't move."
The four men in the center of the lobby immediately drew their guns.
Joe didn't slow down, continuing forward with his gun, shouting, "You punks, stand aside."
Then someone outside smashed a first-floor window, and a black gun barrel was thrust inside, firing decisively.
The rapid gunfire cracked the stone floor, sending fragments flying, and the four men hurriedly retreated.
Joe stepped forward, pressing the gun to one man's head, gritting his teeth. "The Pine City Police Department has thousands of people, and none of them can stop me. What are you trying to do? Huh?"
A gunshot rang out, and the man fell straight to the ground.
Joe fired two more shots and continued upstairs without slowing down.
The other three men, looking at the body on the ground, were paralyzed with fear.
When street thugs met real gunmen, the difference was immediately clear.
That was why Joe could bring five men into Pine City to do jobs for his backers and make big money, while they could only stay by William's side as bodyguards.
Outside.
The armed men, wearing gloves and woolen hats, shouted at the remaining three, "Get behind the stairs. If you come out, I'll kill you all."
The three, held at gunpoint, knew that any movement would mean death, so they dropped their guns and retreated behind the stairs.
Two more men climbed in through the window, guns in hand, and headed straight for the second floor.
Upstairs.
William, pale-faced, rushed into the reception room, pulled a handgun from the cabinet, and crouched behind the corner of the wall.
In the hallway, hurried footsteps approached. Joe reached the door, his arm not hesitating for a moment, seemingly unafraid of any preparations William might have made, and reached out to push the door.
Inside.
Hearing the noise at the door, William suddenly shouted, "Joe, how about we talk?"
"Who do you think you are? I didn't even care about Terry. What do you have to talk about?" Joe kicked the door open and quickly hid behind the wall.
William, eyes wide, stared at the door, sweating as he tried to buy time, "How did you know we were going to arrest you tonight?"
"I'll tell you after I kill you," Joe shouted, waving his hand. "Go in."
The man opposite the door ducked his head and rushed into the room.
William, eyes red, fired his gun, hitting the man in the chest and causing a puff of white smoke.
Joe leaped forward and pulled the trigger.
A gunshot rang out, and a cloud of blood erupted from William's body.
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