Chapter 64 The Dashing Joe
In a building on North Lincoln, Joe sat alone at a dining table, savoring a fine meal and sipping strong liquor. The dim light of the overhead bulb cast a solitary shadow, amplifying the quiet of the night.
After about ten minutes, the door to the second-floor living room creaked open. A young man in his twenties led a burly middle-aged man into the room. These two were core members of the Baker family from River State. Tim Baker, the young man, was the son of the family's second-in-command, and the middle-aged man, Rob Brooks, was Tim's uncle.
The Bakers had roots in the trading of permanent residency permits for District 7. Over time, they expanded their operations, establishing a front of a legitimate trading company while clandestinely dealing in scarce resources like guns, food, cotton, and crude oil. Over the past seven or eight years, their wealth multiplied, but it came at a cost to the local poor, who bore the burden of inflated prices as the Bakers aimed to profit from their plight.
As conditions in District 7 stabilized, with various pro-public policies coming into play, the demand for essential resources waned. The Bakers, ever adaptable, shifted their focus to the booming pharmaceutical industry. Their conflict with Alex stemmed from competing interests in the lucrative drug trade.
Tim entered the room with a bright smile. "How's the food?" he inquired enthusiastically.
Joe looked up, his expression indifferent. "Everything tastes the same to me as long as it fills me up," he replied without the courtesy of standing.
Tim grinned and took a seat beside Joe. "Joe, you're always so modest. A man like you can find a good meal anywhere!"
"You're flattering me," Joe said, setting down his utensils and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
Tim poured himself a glass of wine, maintaining his cheerful demeanor. "Honestly, Joe, I respect you. Why don't you stay and make some money with us?"
"Thanks for the offer," Joe responded as he lit his cigarette. He looked Tim straight in the eye. "But my heart's not in it. We're on different paths."
Jay, who had been standing nearby, interjected earnestly, "Think about it, Joe. It's more comfortable to have a stable job in one place than wandering around. If you stay, I'll speak to my brother-in-law and get you at least $50,000 a year in dividends."
"It's not about the money; I need to go to District 9," Joe said, waving his hand dismissively.
Tim sighed, raising his glass. "That's a pity. Joe, since you want to leave, I won’t insist. If you ever need anything, come find me. You'll see what kind of man I am when the time comes."
"Sure," Joe said evenly, crossing his legs and clinking his glass against Tim's before downing the drink.
"Rob, get Joe the money," Tim instructed, putting down his glass.
Rob nodded and disappeared into an inner room. Less than three minutes later, he emerged with ten bundles of Bitcoin and placed them gingerly on the table.
Joe's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he took in the additional cash. "We agreed on 50,000."
Tim smiled warmly. "The extra 50,000 is a personal gift from me for your travel expenses. Just take it."
Joe chuckled, standing up and selecting just five bundles from the pile. "Tim, I appreciate the gesture, but the 50,000 is what I deserve. The extra means a favor. Money is easy to spend, but favors are hard to repay. I like to stay unburdened and free. Next time we meet, I’ll treat you to a meal."
Tim was taken aback. "Joe, you're being too formal."
"It's just my personality," Joe said, putting the money away and habitually inserting his hands into his sleeves. "That's it, I'm leaving."
"I'll see you out." Tim offered.
"No need, I remember the way down." Joe smiled, turning to leave with an air of casual ease.
Tim and Rob exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.
"If this guy stayed, he could achieve great things," Tim sighed.
"These outlaws are used to their freedom; they're not easy to control," Rob said softly. "Besides, they'd probably cause chaos if they were suddenly bound by rules. Better that he's leaving."
Tim quickly shifted topics. "Did Alex confess?"
"He's tight-lipped and won’t spill who supplies him in Stardust City," Rob chuckled. "But we got lucky. I found some info on his phone. We can send someone to Stardust City to verify it and get things done."
"That bastard stole a big deal from us," Tim said darkly. "Since we have the information, you know what to do."
"Yes, I understand," Rob said, standing up. "You relax and eat; I’ll go handle it."
Minutes later, in the dimly lit basement, Rob, with two subordinates at his side, glared at the bloodied Alex. "Look at you now. We offered to partner up, but you refused. Now you're about to lose your life."
Alex, bruised and barely conscious, lifted his head with effort. "I accept it, but you... better watch out for my boss."
"Boss? That chick Coco?" Rob laughed derisively, his hands resting behind his back. "I'll keep that in mind when we are in bed."
"Fuck you!" Alex spat, glaring with fierce defiance.
Rob casually tilted his head and motioned with his hand. "End it."
As the two men closed in on Alex with knives drawn, a sudden ringing interrupted them. Everyone paused, and Rob answered. "Hello?"
"Rob? It's Dan Moore from Velvet Sky Club."
"And should I know you?" Rob questioned.
"Don’t you remember me? I’m the one who tipped you off about Joe, which led to Alex's capture," the young man in the black jacket reminded him urgently.
"I remember now," Rob signaled the two men to hold off and stepped out of the room. "What's up? Why are you calling suddenly?"
"After Alex's incident, the higher-ups are panicking. They seem to have figured it was you guys. Coco somehow got the info and has sent people to North Lincoln," Dan warned quickly. "They’re coming in force and desperate. My advice is, you better lay low for a while."
"Is this info reliable?" Rob asked, his voice tense.
"Absolutely."
"Alright, I got it," Rob nodded. "Thanks, Dan."
Across the street in a shadowed yard, Alexander licked his lips as he surveyed the road. "Get ready to move. This time, it’s do or die."
Eric frowned, his uncertainty clear. "Are you sure this will work?"
"They’ve succeeded, so they won’t risk their lives again needlessly," Alexander said, eyes steely. "They’ll definitely come out. Trust me."
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