Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 451 Wings in Chains (Part 4)

Crackle.

Adam popped a piece of jerky into his mouth before looking at Osana and asking: "So... Technically, the Twelve Branches control everything in the First Ring, right?"

Osana nodded.

"Yes. As I said before, the First Ring is divided into nine wings. Right now we're in the seventh wing, the main family here is the Wurhen Family."

Adam raised an eyebrow, a little puzzled.

"The Wurhen Family? Wait... Are they one of the Twelve Branches too?"

Osana smiled bitterly.

"Yes."

Adam confused, scratched the back of his head, trying to make sense of the situation.

"I thought all of the Twelve Branches lived in the first wing. I mean, you said that in the First Ring, there are strong differences in wealth between the wings."

Osana nodded deeply, showing that Adam was right.

"That's true. Though it's not quite correct, but the difference between an average family from the first wing and a family from the ninth wing is as big as the difference between a family from the First Ring and a family from the slums."

Before Adam could say anything, he was outraged when he heard the comparison to the slums, but Osana beat him to it: "I realize this seems strange to you, but you have to understand what I'm talking about. Obviously any family in the First Ring, regardless of the wing, has enough money to live a good, comfortable life, but... there's power besides money."

Adam snorted with a broad sweep of his arm.

"Come on! People in the slums often starve, freeze, and even washing with warm water is a frequent problem! It can't be compared. Sure, I realize there's a difference, but..."

Adam shrugged nonchalantly before continuing: "What does it matter if you have a two-story house or a mansion if you don't have a wealth problem? You have one car or ten. There are necessities like food, water, health, and basic comfort. Everything else is a luxury that people from the First Ring have money for."

Osana did not reply immediately.

She paused for a moment before she nodded lightly.

"Adam, I understand you, I really do and I didn't say that because I wanted to insult you or belittle the hard lives of the people in the slums. It's just... people are insatiable creatures and you don't quite know what you're talking about."

"Fuck! They don't have enough money? Why would they make money from poor people in the slums?!"

Adam thought Osana would agree with him, but instead, she only chuckled.

"Hmm?" Adam was puzzled by this reaction.

Osana shook her head.

"Adam, you might not believe me, but all the stores of the Yellow Shark are operating at either zero profit or a negative one. For the Balo Family, the Yellow Shark is a completely unprofitable company."

With this explanation, Osana only achieved one thing, Adam had more questions. He realized that Osana wasn't lying, but it was strange for him to hear that the Balo Family, one of the Twelve Branches, kept a loss-making company operating in the slums.

Why? Why would they do that?

Adam didn't believe that the members of the Balo Family cared about the people from the slums, so there must be another reason.

Osana smiled bitterly.

"As I told you earlier, money isn't the most important thing to the Twelve Branches, especially not something as small as in the slums."

"Wait." Adam held out his hand, "Just explain to me then why they keep the Yellow Shark or why they don't raise prices?"

Osana smiled slyly, leaning her chin on her folded arms.

"It's simple, to them these losses are nothing more than rent for the vast areas in the slums. It doesn't seem to make sense to you, but it does. Any territories are influence, business in such territories is connections and information that can lead to unexpected events."

Adam raised an eyebrow as he shook his hand slightly.

"Like what?"

Osana narrowed her eyes.

"Hmm... What about recruiting young men into your ranks as cheap labor or even finding young men with the Spark to make them your Phantoms. Go ahead and ask, I know a lot...'

Adam internally shook his head.

'Fuck... the Plague Reaper, you couldn't have lost faster? Where did I get myself into because of you? Did I need this headache?' Explore more at empire