Chapter 279: The First Step in Conquering Metropolis
A Night Out and New Directives
After some time, the three subordinates remained unchanged. Dior was still cold as ice, his androgynous face radiating an aloofness that kept people at bay. Sometimes, Luke wondered if he'd been born in the wrong universe entirely.
Wang Hu was more massive than ever, his pectoral muscles easily rivaling a D-cup. Standing next to the shifty, small, under-five-foot-six Tony Wu, he looked like a worried father tending to his son.
The four enjoyed themselves freely at the nightclub. Once they'd had their fill, Luke waved the women out. He lit a cigarette and spoke casually.
"You've been in Metropolis for a while now. What's your take on the city?"
"Dior, you first."
Dior thought for two seconds, then slowly replied, "I had my people conduct a covert investigation. I found that the city's gangs are all secretly backed by powerful corporations. The biggest force is the Genesis Society, and their boss, Dermott Merk, has deep connections to LexCorp."
Luke nodded slightly and looked at the other two.
"And you?"
Tony Wu raised his glass and quickly swallowed his drink. "Boss, whatever you tell me to do, I'll do. Don't ask me for things that require brain strain."
Wang Hu had a different opinion. He rumbled,
"I think if we want to establish ourselves in Metropolis, we have to take out that guy who flies around all day."
Luke gave him a strange look. "You mean Superman?"
"Who else!"
Wang Hu let out a heavy snort. "That sanctimonious bastard constantly uses the pretense of 'protecting citizens' to harass local gangs. The last time the Hongmen and the Mafia were fighting over turf in the Great Bay Area, we were about to win, and then he suddenly dropped from the sky and beat everyone up without question. Some of the brothers are still in the hospital!"
Luke frowned; he hadn't heard about this incident.
Tony Wu picked his teeth, adding, "That guy is definitely trouble. Our guys say bullets don't even scratch him; his body is harder than steel. To deal with him, Boss, you'd have to step in personally."
"But I don't think it's worth the risk. Our turf wars don't interfere with Superman's interests. There's no need to make him an enemy."
Luke raised an eyebrow, looking at Tony Wu with surprise. He hadn't expected the descendant of Wu Sangui to possess such strategic wisdom.
Dior spoke gravely, "Young Master, how should we proceed next?"
Luke pondered for a moment, then slowly said,
"I have three tasks for you."
"First, the Hongmen. I've struck a deal with my uncle. Effective immediately, the Hongmen territories in the two Eastern states, including Metropolis and Gotham City, are under my command. I'm too busy with my companies to manage the Hongmen's affairs."
"Second, the factories for Blue Bird and Tesla are built. The grand opening is in a few days. I need one of you to serve as the Head of Security for Blue Bird, Tesla, and also ShowMe."
"The third task involves intelligence. I want to form a specialized intelligence unit—a metahuman response team—for gathering information and handling emergencies. I already have the personnel list worked out, but the Captain must be one of you. I don't trust anyone else with that kind of power."
Luke raised his glass and took a sip of red wine.
"Three tasks, three positions. Choose your roles."
The bond among the four was forged through conflict and loyalty. Luke saw no reason to play mind games with them; that would be foolish.
Tony Wu didn't hesitate. "I'm not being the Head of Security."
Wang Hu quickly chimed in. "Me neither."
Luke was resigned, his gaze falling on Dior. The latter's mouth twitched slightly before he reluctantly said,
"Then I will take the security role."
Luke asked, "And the Hongmen?"
Wang Hu thumped his massive chest. "I'll handle the Hongmen. These two—one's a dandy, the other's a weasel—can't hold the line. A crime boss role requires the imposing stature and commanding presence that only I possess."
Tony Wu scoffed from the side, "All muscle, no brains."
Wang Hu turned to glare at him.
"What did you say?"
Tony Wu jutted out his lip in disdain.
"I'll take the intelligence and metahuman task force. With their two pea-sized brains, they'd mess up that job in an instant."
That remark enraged both Dior and Wang Hu. If Luke hadn't been present, they would surely have pinned Tony Wu down for a beating.
The three men's choices perfectly matched Luke's plans. The Head of Security position was vital for the companies' public image; Tony Wu's shifty appearance was a non-starter. Wang Hu had the presence but was too prone to violence. Dior was the most suitable: his looks, temperament, and character were ideal, and his gender-neutral appearance was a bonus—he could handle problems from any side.
As for the Hongmen Boss and the Metahuman Task Force Captain, both Wang Hu and Tony Wu were capable. Despite one looking like a brute and the other like a sneak, they were all clever; no one in the Young Master Gang's high ranks was a fool.
The group spent a casual evening together, finally dispersing around nine that night.
The Future of ShowMe
Back at home, Billy and Charlie were waiting in the living room, along with several of ShowMe's founding members: Cindy, Philip, Zacks, Rowan, and Barry Allen. The future Flash possessed an extraordinary mind and processing speed in computer science. In just two months at the company, he had outpaced all rivals to become the second-in-command of the Technology Department, second only to Zacks Borg.
They were all there for one reason: Blue Bird and Tesla.
Zacks Borg asked first,
"Boss, are you really planning to launch two major companies simultaneously?"
"Yes."
"What about ShowMe?"
Cindy asked urgently. This articulated the concern of everyone present. They all sensed that Luke's future focus would shift to Blue Bird and Tesla, relegating ShowMe to a third-place priority. This was unthinkable, especially since Luke was in charge of all of ShowMe's strategic planning.
Luke sat up straight, his calm gaze sweeping over everyone. Then he spoke unhurriedly.
"From the start, I told you that ShowMe's goal is to connect the world and close distances. That is a dream—not just mine, but yours, too. ShowMe's future will be phenomenal. It will become an indispensable part of people's daily lives. It will bridge the gaps between nations and cultures, fostering global diversity. Over the past few months, I believe you've all seen ShowMe's potential. It will become the symbol of an era, and you, the pioneers of that symbol, are destined to make history. And, of course..." He shrugged, adding with a hint of a smile,
"You're also destined to become billionaires."
"ShowMe is profoundly important to me. But equally important are Blue Bird and Tesla."
"Wait a moment. I want to show you something."
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!