Chapter 220: The Demon Tower

……

"If it were possible, I wouldn't want the security situation in Atlanta to keep deteriorating."

Li Mochen's voice carried a hint of helplessness: "But Uncle Franks, you should know the situation—I still haven't found Hazel, my poor cousin's whereabouts."

"I understand, so your war with Antonio will continue."

Franks said knowingly: "But can the harassment against the entire Blood Hand territory stop? Those employment contracts you posted at the Red Sparrow Club, though they haven't caused any real casualties, have created public panic. I know many people there don't even dare to go out now. Of course, those Blood Hand guys will also promise to remain strictly neutral between you and Antonio. They and their men won't draw guns for Antonio anymore."

This was exactly what Li Mochen wanted, but his words carried some dissatisfaction: "Is that all? You should know how much I've paid for this war."

"They will help you search for Hazel's whereabouts. Hmm~ I doubt that, but at least they can rule out some suspicious locations. Also, in the future, any shops you open in the southern part of the East District will receive their free protection. You've earned their respect."

Franks chuckled lightly: "It's not like they'll cede territory or pay reparations, right? I believe you don't want to get bogged down in this quagmire. As for money, that's even more impossible—the robbery of Craig Community Bank has already cost them a huge sum."

"I'm indeed not interested in their territory."

Li Mochen raised an eyebrow: "But if we just cease fire like this, it feels like too much of a loss. Franks, what if I refuse?"

"Andre! You're a very smart kid."

Franks sighed: "You should understand why the big families and business magnates haven't reacted yet. First, because of Dwight Payton; second, because your private army has never actively targeted ordinary people—though the impact has been significant, there haven't been many malicious deaths or injuries; third, because it's none of their business, and they're unwilling to bypass the police and FBI to intervene. But if the situation in the East District continues, it won't be what they want to see. Andre, you need to know that even I, at this point, don't have the capital to challenge them. If they wanted, they could easily destroy your private army. The police and FBI have to abide by the rule of law, follow procedures, and maintain discipline, but those people—if they decide to take action, they won't care about any of that. Also—"

"Alright, I can roughly guess the consequences."

Li Mochen sighed: "But I think the Blood Hand side should at least make some changes, right? Like never dealing drugs again, just like your Teutonic Cross?"

This wasn't because he was naive, but driven by interest. If it could be achieved, his 'Divine Fortune Purple Gold Tower' would surely gain a large amount of merit.

"Learn from our Teutonic Cross?"

Franks laughed heartily: "But I currently control the Laurel Street black market; they don't. Andre, I didn't expect you to still have such naive thoughts. It's amusing. But you need to know that even our Teutonic Cross doesn't completely prohibit drugs. Some lower-level leaders secretly sell them, and I can't do much about it. Amo, Atlanta isn't just the Blood Hand creating addicts. With a large number of addicts, there must be corresponding drug supply channels. Given this supply-demand relationship, even if the Blood Hand stops selling drugs, other gangs will rise in the East District, and the situation will only become more chaotic, won't it? Amo, our power is far from the point where we can set or change the rules."

"I roughly understand, but I still don't want to let them off so easily."

Li Mochen rubbed his brow with his fingers: "How about this: the Blood Hand Gang pools money to donate three million gold shields to the Atlanta Police Officers' Disability Fund and the Atlanta Scholarship Fund. I think this condition is not excessive; this is my bottom line, Franks."

"Agreed!"

Franks readily consented: "I'll negotiate the terms with them. As the defeated party, they have to bleed a bit. I think the big shots will like your proposal. You're clever, Andre."

"Beyond that, the war between Antonio and me is not over."

Li Mochen's tone was troubled: "To rescue people from him, I inevitably have to engage in battle with them; it's unavoidable. So this is just a ceasefire with the Blood Hand Gang—"

"You don't need to worry about that."

Franks interrupted Li Mochen with a laugh: "They have agreed to temporarily grant you the authority to use the dimensional segmentation of Atlanta's Grand Magic Tower Array to isolate the battlefield. However, this authority can only be used against Antonio; if you use it elsewhere, you'll have to face the consequences."

"The Grand Magic Tower Array?"

Li Mochen instinctively glanced toward the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the moonlit night sky.

He knew that above Atlanta, a full twenty-four magic towers floated, forming a massive magical array that protected the city's safety.

It was a defensive facility built after World War II, originally intended to counter the Soviet Union's magical-energy intercontinental missiles during the Cold War. However, currently, the main function of this 'Grand Magic Tower Array' was to prevent creatures from the dark world from invading the light world.

Because the 'Grand Magic Tower Array' was extremely costly to operate—consuming over a billion gold shields per hour at full power—the twenty-four magic towers currently maintained only the minimum magical energy circulation.

Yet even so, the 'Grand Magic Tower Array' consumed over 50 million gold shields a day. Part of this was funded by government allocations, and part was raised by Atlanta itself.

Thus, Atlanta had established a 'Grand Magic Tower Array Committee' to manage the daily expenses and maintenance of the twenty-four magic towers. A small portion of its members came from the government, while the rest came from Atlanta's prominent families and top conglomerates, as at least two-thirds of the maintenance funds for this 'Grand Magic Tower Array' came from the taxes and donations of the latter.

The dimensional segmentation authority Franks mentioned, isolating the battlefield, was similar to their earlier robbery of the Craig Community Bank. The difference was that before attacking the Craig Community Bank, they had to pre-embed dark realm runestones and set up a 'dimensional traction' array. But if he had the dimensional segmentation authority of the Grand Magic Tower Array, there would be no need for such trouble; a single command would suffice. Temporarily isolating the area that needed to be a battlefield from within Atlanta could effectively prevent surrounding buildings and citizens from being affected.

Conflicts among Atlanta's noble families had never ceased, but in recent decades, no major disasters caused by outlaw-level battles had occurred in Atlanta. This was due first to the invention of dark realm runestones, and second to the completion of the 'Grand Magic Tower Array.'

"How should I put it? Uncle Franks, I'm flattered."

"It's a necessity. The power you wield has barely reached a level that could damage Atlanta."

Franks said in a dismissive tone: "But this is only a temporary authorization; don't get too excited. They haven't truly recognized you yet, Andre. You're not yet qualified to be a member of Atlanta's power elite. So keep working hard, you lucky little fellow! Emm~ Andre, if you have no objections, are we settled now?"