Chapter 247 The Hierarchy of Gangs
"In those days," Kellan said, his voice tinged with bitterness, "that was the only way we knew how to get by."
"So you joined a gang, built it up, turned it into..." Maddox paused, trying to find the right word.
"An empire?" Kellan suggested with a wry chuckle. "It wasn't that grand at first. More like a bunch of desperate guys trying to claw their way out of the gutter." He started another story about the early days, but Maddox cut him off.
"Father, you're reminiscing again." It wasn't disrespectful; Maddox had just heard these stories a million times, each one blurring the line between fact and fiction.
Kellan sighed, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "That's what happens when you get old, son. You start holding onto the past. I can't exactly go out and make new stories, can I?" He paused, his expression turning serious. "But that's not why I called you here. I want to talk about the future of the Shadows."
Maddox straightened up, his curiosity piqued. He never underestimated his father's sharp mind. Kellan might not have had a formal education, but he was smart, honed by years of experience. The more Maddox dealt with their world, the more he appreciated his father's wisdom.
Kellan took a slow sip of his tea before speaking. "Maddox, you studied sociology. You get what makes organized crime tick, right?"
"Organized crime, gangs... they thrive where the government can't reach," Maddox replied, choosing his words carefully. "They fill the gaps, impose their own order. It's not as obvious in Golden Valley, but in places where the government is weak, it's clear. When disaster strikes, it's the gangs who show up first, offering help. They handle disputes, provide security... all the things the authorities can't or won't."
A faint smile crossed Kellan's lips. "They taught you well at that university. You're right. Governments try to control everything, but there are always cracks, places they can't reach. And those places? That's where we come in."
"The lowest rung of the criminal ladder," he continued, his voice hardening, "they're still stuck in turf wars and petty violence. They're crude, predictable, and doomed to fail."
"Then there's the next level. They sell order, wrap themselves in a veneer of loyalty and honor. They stop the fighting, mediate disputes and protect businesses, for a price, of course. They create a sense of stability, and people are willing to pay for it."
"Whether by luck or design," Kellan said, a hint of pride in his voice, "I steered the Shadows towards that second stage from the start. We didn't engage in senseless violence and make enemies we couldn't handle. It saved us a lot of trouble. Many powerful men met their end because they were too quick to resort to brute force."
"But there's a third stage, Maddox," Kellan said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "A stage where organized crime transcends its roots and becomes legitimate."
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