New York is made up of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. In each of these boroughs, there are dozens of neighbourhoods, as well as wealth and poverty, just as you'd expect from any large city. Where there are such large disparities in prosperity, there is inevitably crime. However, unlike the desperate thief that steals handbags or the group of adrenaline-seeking youths that steal cars to drive around with, there is much more organised crime than people know of.
These organisations are highly competent and avoid the limelight of the general public, yet they manage to maintain huge reputations in the criminal underworld. Those that know of them, rich and poor alike, are wary when dealing with them and tread lightly in their territories. These are the 5 great gangs of New York, which each oversee one of the 5 boroughs.
The Wolf Gang is located in Brooklyn and currently demonstrates the most potential among the 5. It has both the largest streams of income as well as the greatest power in terms of its members and their skills. Or so it was gauged by other gangs and the criminal underworld as a whole. However, Zack made sure to remind Xavier that everything isn't always as black and white as it seems. That also wasn't to say the other 4 great gangs in New York were anything to be underestimated and the disparity wasn't as significant as one might think...
-
Previously there was balance in New York's criminal underworld and a peace treaty of sorts between the 5 great gangs. It was a time when they all sought mutual benefit and found that remaining neutral and out of each other's way brought about the most prosperity for them all. However, at that time, it wasn't the Wolf Gang that inhabited Brooklyn. Instead, it was the Serpent Gang, which was annihilated and taken over unbelievably quickly by the ruthless and rapidly growing Wolf Gang.
Since then, the balance in New York's criminal underworld has been shaken. Meanwhile, the Wolf Gang's growth hadn't shown any signs of slowing down, putting the rest of the great gangs even more on edge. Tension was rising and a war between the gangs was on the verge of breaking out, but despite that, all of New York's most notorious gangs were keeping to themselves.
The first to act was likely to suffer the greatest losses, and in the worst-case scenario, suffer the same fate as the Serpent Gang. It was previously considered the leader of New York's alliance and arguably the most capable of the bunch. Yet it was destroyed so suddenly and in one fell swoop. That left the criminal underworld in a tense and uncertain state. Gangs within New York and outside were waiting for the chance to pounce on any opportunities that presented themselves. It was as if everyone was awaiting the lions in the jungle to duke it out, and once they did, they could steal some scraps.
Of those eyeing New York's criminal underworld, the biggest name was the Triad. As the largest gang in China and one of the most revered forces worldwide, there was no mistaking how capable they were. And since they had begun spreading their roots into the west, setting their eyes on New York, conflict and bloodshed were inevitable. Especially considering how ruthless they were known to be. There were also other prominent international powers, both criminal and corporate that had set their sights on the city that was an economic hub of sorts.
With both wealth and poverty came crime and the use of drugs. The only difference was that those who were more affluent were less likely to be prosecuted for their crimes. Either way, New York was somewhere to keep an eye on. Wherever money and opportunities flowed, the powerful opportunists that always sought to expand would follow.
There was just so much to consider and so much going on that Xavier had to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
And when he did, he couldn't help but smile to himself as he envisioned what the future had in store for him...
-
After reading everything Zack had gathered and listening to anything else he had to inform him of, Xavier was left enlightened about the current state of the city he wished to take over. Memorising as much of the pertinent information as he could, Xavier realised just how ignorant and naive he was. However, he had always been on the right track.
The Wolf Gang was still the gang he had to target, as while they were preparing to face and defend against the 4 other great gangs of New York, they wouldn't realise the threat that was right under their noses. After swallowing the Wolf Gang up, it was only a matter of time before New York fell into the Outlaw Gang's hands.
That was the best-case scenario.
However, the triad and other giant powers that were starting to infiltrate New York's criminal underworld were something Xavier had to be sure to be wary of. They would soon either become a friend or a foe. And although it was far-fetched to even imagine rivalling the size, power and influence of a gang like the Triad that had been established and in power for centuries, Xavier didn't see any reason why he couldn't.
Limiting himself and his goals will only prevent him from reaching his full potential, and those that reach the summit aren't the sanest. So Xavier would fit right in, right?
Either way, he was determined to continue climbing, no matter what.
For himself, his mother and the Outlaw Gang!
Lost in his own thoughts after all he had spoken to Zack about and discovered through the glasses-wearing youth, Xavier hadn't realised how much time had passed. Before he knew it, the meeting time he had arranged with all the unit leaders through Achara was nearing.
Realising that, Xavier wiped away the borderline deranged expression that was on his face while he contemplated and planned what was to come.
'I can really be cheesy and crazy sometimes,' he couldn't help but admit to himself after snapping out of it. Then, getting up, he bid farewell to Rachel and Eddie before rushing off with Zack to arrive on time at the firing range they had agreed to meet at.
And as they made their way there, Zack had a couple of revelations for Xavier that excited him to test out the Expert Precision the system had granted him even more...