August 1906
Alexei sat down at the head chair of the table while Anna sat down to his left and Nikolai, who rushed from the Jackal's base as soon as he heard that their master was back, sat to his right. He observed the core members of his fledgling organization and couldn't help but feel proud of how far they had come. They had once been children scavenging the streets and the dumps just to survive. Now, they looked nothing like those starving kids. They sat straighter at their chair and looked like professionals who he could depend on in times of trouble. He cleared his throat and everyone in the meeting room perked up.
"I'm sorry for the short notice," Alexei began. "But I want to hear all your progress and the problems you encountered during my absence. Anna, you start."
Anna nodded. She had already told Alexei most of her report earlier, but for formality's sake, she needed to present it to everyone.
"I'll start with the profits we've gained over the past few months. The establishments under our protection, along with the businesses we encouraged our people to join, have all submitted their financial reports for the previous month. I'm proud to say the profits are steadily growing," Anna said.
The minions couldn't help but smile at that. They already knew the businesses in their territory were thriving, but they had never heard the exact numbers. And when Anna reached that part of the report, their smiles grew even wider. A few even let out quiet, happy chuckles before quickly clamping their mouths shut, afraid to interrupt her presentation.
Anna continued her report, breaking down which establishments submitted the highest profits and which ones lagged behind. She explained the reasons behind these numbers and pointed out what could be improved to ensure the businesses under them continued to thrive. After that, she moved on to the renovations they had done to the roads and alleys in their territory, and how those improvements boosted business. Naturally, she also included the expenses for all of that.
When Anna presented the organization's overall expenses, the minions' smiles slowly faded. Their biggest expenditures were the renovations to their main base and the Jackals' monthly costs and salaries. Nikolai simply nodded. He already knew his gang consumed a lot of resources. Even without counting the salaries, the amount of food they eat everyday was enormous. Fortunately, the establishments under their protection were earning well, and the security the Jackals provided to the territory balanced out some of the costs.
"Overall," Anna concluded, "after subtracting expenses and taxes from the profits, we still have a pure profit of over twenty-three thousand rubles. Please note, this is the total profit from the start of the year up until last month."
Alexei nodded and turned his gaze to Nikolai, who immediately understood that it was his turn. He straightened and began. "The Jackals now have a total of three hundred sixty members. Half of them have already completed their training and are currently serving as patrols in our territory or as guards in the establishments. The rest are still in training. We also implemented the master's previous suggestion to divide work hours into three shifts a day. From what I've observed, it's working well. We've been able to maintain the safety of our area 24/7, and the men are staying in top condition. There are some problems as well, but we handled it immediately as soon as it started."
Nikolai continued his report, recounting everything that had happened within the gang and the progress of their training. He suggested intensifying their martial training further, not to the level of the minions, but enough to give them an edge in fights against rival gangs. They were already gathering information on the groups bordering their territory, and he knew conflicts would eventually break out once the city police and military loosened their grip. He wanted to make use of the remaining time before that happened.
"That's all I have to report, master," he finished.
"Thank you Nikolai, you've done well." Alexei praised Nikolai. He then looked at the others in the room who looked back at him with confidence and he nodded at that. He would've reprimanded them after the meeting if they so looked away or looked down from his gaze. He trained them himself and he imparted confidence as one of their core values, not too much, but enough to face challenges head on. His gaze settled on Ivan, Anna's brother, who knew it was his turn to report.
Ivan opened the documents in front of him. He was the one handling all the reports from the spying across the city. His position wasn't official yet. But he knew as long as he did a good job, the position would be his.
"From what we've gathered so far, Master," Ivan began, "the St. Petersburg Soviets dissolved earlier this year, but we still maintain surveillance on the people and organizations who were involved with them, especially the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and Socialist Revolutionaries. All of these groups are keeping a low profile since the dissolution, but they still meet privately. We know where those meetings happen, but we can't infiltrate them or hear what's being discussed. So, for now, we're only tracking the individuals we deem important enough."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "We can't cover everyone on the list because we don't have enough manpower. I think it's time to expand the minions, Master." Ivan looked at Alexei. They didn't understand why they had to investigate these groups but they trusted their master, so they just did what they were asked to do. When Alexei nodded, he continued.
"We've also finished investigating the gangs to our east. So far, we've seen nothing in their behavior that suggests they're backed by larger groups. I believe we can expand in that direction. As for the west, we're still looking into their members, but we've heard they usually deal in opium. We don't have solid evidence yet, but we suspect they're connected to the largest gang in the city, the ones who control the docks. No contraband or illegal goods enter the city without passing through those shipping docks."
Ivan also reported the infiltration attempts they had recently uncovered within their territory. They had apprehended most of the infiltrators, though a few managed to escape. Those they captured were questioned thoroughly, and from their statements, the group turned out to be members of the Ratcatchers, a gang that controlled the eastern districts of the city. The Ratcatchers were known for extortion, theft, fraud, and trafficking. They operated several gambling dens as well, though these weren't popular due to the gang's notorious reputation.
They also questioned the infiltrators about the masks they were wearing and managed to learn where the idea came from. According to them, they received both the idea and inside information from one of the Jackals, someone who eagerly sold them details for a price. The Jackals who sold them the information explained that the core members of the Jackals usually wore masks, so they tried to use the gang's core member's own signature look to slip into their territory unnoticed.
Nikolai frowned at this, and the rest of the room mirrored his expression. He hadn't expected that someone from his own gang would still sell inside information so eagerly, especially despite the stable salary they were given. They had done everything they could to give these people better lives, yet here they were. He couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Alexei, however, knew that no matter what they provided, there would always be treacherous scum willing to betray others for money. He had already anticipated something like this eventually happening. He couldn't control people's emotions or thoughts, so there was little he could do to prevent it entirely. The only thing they could do was how to address the problem when it arose. After a moment of thought, he asked.
"And the Jackal who sold this information. Did you get him?"
Ivan nodded. "Yes. We're observing him for now, and I've already assigned someone to watch him so he can't slip away if he notices anything. What do you want to do, master?"
"No need to observe him further. Punish him in front of everyone to set an example. Tell everyone exactly what he did. You can dispose of him afterward. Can you handle that last part, Nikolai?" Alexei asked, turning to Nikolai.
He had taught them everything except the killing, and this was one of those moments to give them an experience in that. Sooner or later, they would have to dirty their own hands to protect what they had built. The weak had no place in this place.
Nikolai didn't hesitate for even a second. He nodded the moment he heard the question. "Yes, master." It was his responsibility to begin with, and he needed to be the one to carry out the punishment if only to vent the anger simmering inside him.
"Good."
Alexei then turned back to Ivan. "You mentioned we're short on manpower. You can coordinate with Nikolai and Oskar about recruiting from the Jackals. I'm sure there are some who've performed exceptionally well. You just need to make sure they're loyal. It would be best if they have family here in the slums we're protecting. That way, they wouldn't even think of betraying us, not unless they want their family to suffer. Do you understand?"
Ivan answered, "Yes, master."
"Also, Oskar," Alexei continued, shifting his gaze to the man who had remained quiet all this time. "I know you're already in charge of training the Jackals, but I want to give you another job. Are you willing to take it?"
"Just tell me what it is, master, and it'll be done," Oskar replied eagerly. He couldn't help but feel proud, being entrusted with more responsibility meant that their master truly had confidence in him.
"In the military, there's a branch called the military police. They handle investigations, internal disputes, and traitors within their ranks. I want you to do something similar among the Jackals. Your main task is to ensure there are no traitors in the gang and to settle any disputes that arise. I'll explain everything in detail in the coming days when I have the time. For now, start by recruiting only those you trust, and preferably those with family here in the slums. Coordinate with Nikolai for that. I trust you can handle it well?"
Alexei looked at Oskar seriously. It was the best solution he could think of to address the issue of traitors. He knew it wouldn't eliminate the problem entirely, but he hoped it would at least lessen it.
Oskar nodded solemnly. "You can trust me on that, master." It was a heavy task. But he would give everything he had to achieve what was expected of the new group he would form. Even now, he was already considering who he would recruit amongst the jackals.
Alexei tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thinking about how to deal with outsiders copying their masks to infiltrate their territory. After a moment of fruitless pondering, he sighed. "As for the mask problem, just keep doing what you've been doing. The hand signs and moving in pairs are decent solutions for now. We'll revisit the issue once we come up with better alternatives."
He then turned to Ivan. "Since you've already proven yourself capable, you'll be in charge of all intelligence gathering from now on. Your twin Sergey will be your second-in-command. Can you handle this responsibility? You need to make sure that what you guys gathered is accurate or else we will suffer the consequences of having false information."
Ivan's eyes widened briefly before settling into a determined expression. "Thank you for your trust, master. I won't let you down."
"Make sure that you don't," Alexei replied. "Continue the surveillance on the groups who joined the soviets before the dissolution. For now, just gather names and current locations, no need to figure out their plans yet. We'll expand that operation later. As for the gangs around us, I want accurate numbers. We'll expand eastward first, so focus there. The ones to the west seem to have connections in the government since they control the shipping docks. I'll handle that personally."
His minions were still far from the level of the Okhrana when it came to intelligence gathering and infiltration. If he wanted the city secured before the war began, he might have to step into politics sooner than he anticipated.
Ivan took down every word, and once Alexei finished, he nodded firmly. "Understood, master. I'll do everything I can to gather all the information you need."
Alexei nodded, then addressed everyone in the room. "If you have any questions later or need something, go to Anna. Make sure you report everything to her. She has the highest authority in this group when I'm not around. Do you understand?"
"Yes, master," they replied in unison. They knew exactly how much he trusted Anna, so none of them had any objections. She was the one who recruited most of them to begin with, and they all knew how capable she was.
Anna, meanwhile, couldn't help but smile. She was genuinely happy to be trusted by both her master and her people. But the moment she thought about the mountain of responsibility that came with that trust, her smile slowly faded. She shot Alexei a glance, quietly grumbling to herself. He made her feel important, sure, but at the end of the day, he was mostly giving her even more work.
Still, she was proud. Especially now that her brothers had real positions in the group. Sometimes she couldn't believe how far they'd all come, they were just once orphans scavenging in the dumps and streets, now running an organized group with a promising, if shadowy, future. Her thoughts drifted to her youngest brother, who was currently attending a respectable school in the city. She desperately hoped that Petrov would never have to join their line of work, and that he would be able to build a decent, respectable life for himself when he graduated.
They continued discussing everything that had happened during his absence, the minor problems they encountered and the rumors circulating around the city. When the conversation reached the part about a mystic and faith healer roaming the city performing supposed miracles, Alexei paused. He immediately recognized how dangerous this could become if not addressed properly.
When people grow desperate, especially the peasants and the poorly educated, they often cling to anything sacred or divine for protection, answers, or a sense of hope. A charismatic "prophet" could easily spark trouble.
Alexei instructed Ivan to investigate this so-called holy man. If the prophet could be controlled, that would be ideal. But if not, then he needed to be removed quickly, before he had the chance to gather followers and become a real threat.
The meeting eventually concluded, and Alexei left the base after giving Anna a few final instructions. This time, he made sure to avoid being seen, especially by the patrolling Jackals. He didn't want a repeat of the earlier misunderstanding.
He moved across the rooftops of the tightly packed slum houses, careful not to make a sound that might disturb the families inside. Once he reached the edge of the district, he leapt down from one of the roofs and landed silently on the ground. From there, he strolled leisurely toward the city center, planning to make another round of quiet sightseeing.
As he walked, he couldn't help thinking about the possibility of entering a government office under the pretext of gaining experience, far sooner than he ever wanted to. He had been avoiding the idea for as long as he could, he despised the backstabbing and political games that came with it. He preferred dealing with problems directly, cutting them off at the root rather than playing along with their schemes. If he wasn't careful, he might accidentally kill someone and forget he wasn't on the streets anymore.
Still, his organization simply didn't have the resources to sweep through the city. He knew some of the gangs and mafia groups had connections, otherwise, how could they operate so freely without being exposed or eliminated? Those same connections could be within his reach if he joined his father's government… Albeit at the cost of his peaceful life away in court.
Alexei sighed as he watched the people trudging through the streets of St. Petersburg. Even in the dead of night, workers were still on the move, some heading to their shifts, others dragging themselves home. Time didn't seem to matter to these people as long as it meant food on the table.
His attention drifted to a dark corner where a group of hoodlums had cornered a pitiful man. They were robbing him out of his belongings while he sobbed and begged them not to take the food he had painstakingly saved for his family. Alexei hesitated for a moment before deciding to intervene. He wasn't the benevolent man some imagined him to be, but he could offer help from time to time and if it didn't bother him too much.
He approached silently. The hoodlums only noticed him when he was already close.
"What do you want? Mind your own business, boy, unless you want to end up like this one," the largest of the group growled.
Alexei didn't bother replying. He drove his fist straight into the man's face, making sure it hit the node that connects directly to the brain, knocking him out cold. The others froze at the sight of their boss being taken down with a single punch by a boy who had appeared out of nowhere. When one of them bolted, the rest took it as a cue and scattered, leaving their unconscious leader on the street.
Alexei didn't even look at the pitiful man. He simply turned and walked away as silently as he had arrived.
The man snapped out of his shock and shouted after him, "Thank you, young man! Thank you!"
Alexei lifted a hand in acknowledgment but didn't look back.