Master of Time

It is better not to, considering that their knowledges and experiences assure their undying loyalty.

In addition, it will also make absorbing their assets or dismantling their organization much smoother in the future. And yes, I will have to dismantle their syndicate eventually, or at least, transforming the organization into something more legal.

Legality is subjective, as laws are created by people and not necessarily for the people.

Johnson was actually from Shield initially, but he requests a transfer to Hydra due to becoming friends with Jimmy, who was one of the first batch of people that I had recruited.

Honestly, it wasn\'t really a recruitment. It was more like "do what I tell you or I will make you dead."

That sorts of thing.

Seems incredibly effective, at least at the start. But I learn that fear doesn\'t instill loyalty in my people, but fear is still a very good motivator, especially for people I have just met. Or people who I will dispose of as soon as their usefulness runs out.

Then again, everyone has their usefulness even if they do not know it themselves. Being dead also has its usefulness in my opinion.

"The Syndicate? What would a west side organization have anything to do with us?"

The man questions in Chinese. His real name is Mo Shu, but he goes by Mr. Shin within the organization here in Pittsburgh.

Actually, the Triad is mostly connected throughout the United States.

And their main headquarter is in New Jersey, having been driven out of New York by another group a few years earlier. Their standing within the Unite States isn\'t that bad, considering they do have a lot of backing.

I smile at the question and decide not to answer that.

Everyone within the Triad knows that it is due to the Syndicate that the Triad are still stuck on the east side of the United States. It is the same reason to why the Mafia and the Yakuza are unable to expand their operation outside their initial holding.

Jimmy and Johnson are quite brutal when dealing with rivals, and I approve of their tactics, considering they keep the drugs off the street and out of the hands of kids. Their revenue is in gambling, which is as addicting as drugs, but at least it targets mostly the wealthy upper class.

Something that I also approve. Money needs to be put back into the economy, preferably through my organization. People works for me need to be paid, and I cannot just print or create money myself for obvious reasons.

Mo Shu takes note of my smile and smartly decides not to pursue an answer. Instead, he shows me a waiting room and requests me to stay until someone can gather the other bosses.

I call them bosses generally, but they do have their own ranking and title within their hierarchy. Their ranks have something to do with mountains and bandits. This is mostly due to the origin of their crime organization.

As for their affiliation with the Chinese government despite being a criminal organization, it is actually more of a business venture. A mutual agreement of sort.

There is no need to waste precious time and resource to kill each other when the power vacuum would result in emergence of another rival. Sometimes it is better to join them than to fight them.

A good tactic.

In any case, their business connection is something that I can take great advantage of, especially when everything is so secretive. The Triad obviously assumes that I was sent from the Party in China.

"I truly apologize for the hospitality."

Mo Shu tells me respectfully once a few men bring out refreshment. Basically, really strong alcohol. It is due to our accelerated physiology. Their accelerated physiology to be more correct.

They can still get drunk if they drink a lot, unlike me, who cannot really get drunk.

As for what he is apologizing for, it is due to lack of attendants as it is very late at night.

It is almost 1am actually.

Therefore, most of the bosses are asleep. Those that aren\'t are probably nocturnal like Mo Shu.

"That is fine. It is an unexpected visit after all."

I response and enjoy my drink. Even if I cannot get drunk, I can still taste the alcohol. It is not that good to be honest, but still, it is enjoyable. Plus, I kind of like Mo Shu due to his respectful nature. Absolutely no sign of arrogance in his words, but that has more to do with him being raised in America.

It would be a different matter if he was born and raised in China.

Mo Shu accompanies me since he doesn\'t really have anything more important to do. That just means I am more important than anything he had in mind.

"Yes, it is. Rarely someone of your caliber is send here personally. Most of the time, we have to make do with the couriers. They can be so needy sometimes."

Mo Shu responses, making me chuckle. It isn\'t sometimes, but most of the time. Chinese are not only arrogance to non-Chinese. They are arrogance to each other as well, especially when they hold a much higher position.

"I also need to apologize for what happens before. We usually have a good understanding with those Japs and staying out of each other\'s way, so it wasn\'t a common occurrence."

Mo Shu adds, referring to Melvin and his siblings causing a scene.

"Not at all. He is just a kid, so I give him some leniency. Otherwise, I wouldn\'t let him go like that unless he leaves at least a hand behind."

I response casually, making Mo Shu smiles faintly. It is a bit extreme, but it does build my character as I am supposed to be superior to most people. All of the people in this establishment to be honest.

It takes a good 10 minutes or so for another boss to enter the room. An extremely buffed dude without any hair on top of his head. He didn\'t have his head shaved. It is actually a side-effect.

He is also mostly naked. Every inches of his body are tattooed.

Most criminals do not tattoo their body because it looks cool. It is basically their resume, and from the analysis by Selene, his rap sheet is extremely long. Murder. Kidnapping. Raping. Arson.

He has a hand in pretty much everything.

"What is going on here, Shin? Why did you have your men wakes me and the girls!? Do you know what time it is?"

The guy demands. He is more angry at being interrupted than being called here. He was having a great time with some of the girls that unfortunately enough to get his attention.

"That is because we have guest, Ying. Someone from the Party."

Mo Shu answers Yang and gestures towards me respectfully. He remains seated with me since his rank within this branch of the organization is as high as it can be.

"Someone from the Party? Another courier? Is it time already?"

Yang casts a glance at me, but he didn\'t have much opinion, considering that I take the appearance of a middle age man with nothing outstanding.

I am not tall or huge or even looks threatening, and that is just fine because those who are strong will be strong without needing to stand out.

"If it was another courier, Shin wouldn\'t call request for us to be here personally. He would just bring in some girls to entertain our guest with drugs and whatever they need."

A voice behind Yang speaks up. It is another guy, but like Mo Shu, he does have a brain and understand the situation without anyone really telling him.

There is also another person with him. A beautiful woman in her mid-20s. She shouldn\'t really be here normally, as this is a meeting reserved for men. I mean high-ups in the Triad.

And if she holds any position within the organization at all, it would still be quite odd for her to be part of this branch, as each branch really only have 1 leader and 3 bosses.

The leader is on his way here since he doesn\'t really live in the building. I am actually tracking that guy at the moment through the numerous invisible drones that I have flying everywhere.

I do wonder if anyone will notice them, but considering the technological level of the 90s, it is unlikely that someone will. They are about the size of an insect, not to mention they are also invisible and not giving off any sort of heat signature at all.

"Ah. I didn\'t expect Miss Xi Shi to join us."

I speak up before Mo Shu could. He didn\'t expect Xi Shi to join the meeting either. Obviously, Xi Shi is not her real name. It is more like her callsign within the Party.

"I am curious of who has arrived from the Party, and I don\'t think I have ever seen you before."

Xi Shi questions. Her eyes scan me up and down, trying to determine whether I am exactly who I said that I am.

It is quite foolish to impersonate someone from the Party as the repercussion is enormous unless the said imperator has the backing of another organization or country.

"And I don\'t think I have seen one of the four great beauties either. Actually, that is not true, I believe that I am acquittanced with Diao Chan, at least from my history."

I response rather cryptically, making Xi Shi to narrow her eyes.

And before she could ask who I am exactly, I decide to introduce myself, as I did say that I would when all the bosses are present. I have said bosses because the leader will not make it.

I need to stir up some trouble after all while becoming their best friends. I am playing both sides. More than two sides actually.

"The name is Lu Bu. That is not my real name. Just a callsign within the Party just like Miss Xi Shi."

My introduction makes her frown deeply.

The Party in question, which is obviously not the actual communist party currently in power of China but are still related to each other, structures their hierarchy and ranking around historical figures.

Chinese historical figures to be exact.

Something that the British also did with their Knights of the Round.

Xi Shi and Diao Chan are known as four great beauties of China, and they are beautiful in appearance as well as within the Party, not to mention extremely deadly. Femme fatale sort of thing.

As for why Xi Shi is frowning, it is because the Three Kingdoms division is probably the most secretive even within their own Party.

And not only that, it is also because I have taken the name Lu Bu, who is a known traitor in history.

Historically, Lu Bu had betrayed pretty much everyone he works for, thus he was executed by Cao Cao in the end. In other word, Lu Bu is extremely untrustworthy.

The underlying fact did not escape Xi Shi since there is also a brain within that pretty head of hers, but she is unable to come to terms with her own instinct to the fact that I am introducing myself as Lu Bu.

"Are you saying that I shouldn\'t trust you, Lu Bu?"

Xi Shi questions.

"Yes, for I do not trust you, Xi Shi."

I response and look at everyone else in the room. Aside from Mo Shu and me, everyone is still standing about, probably thinking to themselves.

"Come. Please sit down. We have much to discuss. Also, I have brought something for you unlike Miss Xi Shi, who just show up here without notifying anyone within the Party."

I suggest and take out a small container from my pocket. It contains the Chimera Serum, which these people need. If they don\'t take it regularly, they will likely die due to cellular degeneration.

"Aren\'t we missing someone?"

The only unnamed person in the room asks. He is referring to the leader of this branch, who is actually being intercepted right about now.

"Yes, but I don\'t think he will make it."

I response with a frown, making everyone looks at me suspiciously.

They obviously didn\'t understand what I mean exactly. Their leader is as powerful as them as a Hybrid, which is a Chimera from their point of view, but it means the same regardless.

For me to imply that the leader will not be making it is absurd.

"Like I said, I am here because it concerns the Syndicate. Whose great idea was it to antagonize them?"