Chapter 260: Factions

Li Mochen frowned. "Nine people? That's a bit too many."

"No choice. We've done our best."

Mike Ross shrugged. "My two bosses said someone must have put extra pressure on the police department. Your enemies, A-Mo, are more than just the Dragon Witch Cult. I think if you hadn't been so careful all along, even more people would have been caught."

Li Mochen fell into thought, then said with gratitude, "Tell Mr. Harvey Specter that I can personally offer Pearson-Darby-Specter Law Firm a bonus of 100,000 gold shields outside the contract. If you can clear my people of all charges, I'll provide another 300,000. Mike, can my arrested subordinates be acquitted?"

"Of course!"

Mike Ross smiled. "Our firm has the best criminal lawyers, and the police and FBI don't have much evidence. We'll help them beat the false charges."

Li Mochen raised the corner of his mouth in satisfaction. "Then there's Hazel. I need to get custody of her as soon as possible."

"I've been pushing that forward. All the procedures are done. You just need to take Miss Hazel to Baxley. The court and social services need to consult her wishes, and it'll be settled within a day or two."

Mike Ross was supremely confident. "The Jax couple bears major responsibility for Miss Hazel's disappearance. There's no way they can keep custody."

"Alright, I'll go with her to Baxley on Monday."

Li Mochen was no longer worried about Hazel being abused; few in Atlanta could harm the girl now.

But he still planned to keep her close for training. The seal he placed at dawn wasn't permanent; she had to master her power before it wore off.

So the sooner this was settled, the better, to avoid complications.

Next, Li Mochen met with Alyssa Targaryen. She had become the link between him and the groups of Sampson Brut and Li Tailai.

Alone, she gave him a startling number: "We lost thirteen dead and twenty-four wounded. Li Tailai and Sampson estimate compensation alone will cost 1.5 million gold shields. Bonuses will be around 800,000."

Li Mochen felt the sting but wasn't surprised.

Those were mid-level magic professionals earning 50,000 to 150,000 gold shields a year. The standard in America was ten times annual salary for compensation. Li Mochen's rate was higher than usual—twelve times.

Stingy as he was, he wouldn't be petty here. If he weren't short on gold shields, he'd have offered even more.

These people had given their lives for him, and nothing was more precious than life.

"We also made good gains. We found 3 million in cash, 4 million in precious metals, plus their armory and material depot. The magical materials are worth about 30 million. The armory had thirty sets of 9A-grade military gear. Stripping the Dragon Witch Cult members, we got sixty-five sets of 9A, seven of 11A, four of 15S—from the seven Calamity Apostles—and nineteen pieces of 16S and 17S gear. The weapons and equipment are worth over 30 million, but about 7 million will go toward bonuses. Mr. Brut suggests hiding the rest. He thinks your war with the Dragon Witch Cult is only paused; they might come back. So maintaining a stronger fighting force is necessary."

Li Mochen's face showed nothing, but inwardly he sighed.

Sampson Brut's reasoning was sound. This was why he felt short on cash.

"We also got thirteen 9A-grade heavy sniper rifles, seven intact 9A recoilless guns, nine 9A rocket launchers, three 9A heavy machine guns, and six 9A light machine guns. Li Tailai and Mr. Brut agree we should keep these heavy weapons. They're hard to sell in Atlanta and hard to buy on the market—under tight FBI and CIA surveillance."

"Keep them."

Li Mochen was decisive. "Sell the materials quickly. Have them find a suitable location in Atlanta for a base like Gerald's factory. It doesn't need to be as big as the Dragon Witch Cult's, but it must be sturdy and hidden—a fortress-like base."

"You're really keeping those heavy weapons?"

Alyssa clicked her tongue. "I feel like I'm turning into a criminal with you."

Heavy weapons and bases—a world she'd never entered before.

"Alyssa, don't tell me the Targaryen family doesn't have these things?"

Li Mochen scratched his face awkwardly. "Relax, I won't make you do anything immoral or use those weapons to break the law. This is just for self-defense."

"Isn't this already breaking the law? Heavy weapons, military bases, black money. And last night's battle in the city—if the authorities investigate, I'd be in prison for at least ten years."

Alyssa snorted but reluctantly accepted his words. "Are you sure it's just for self-defense?"

"Of course!"

Li Mochen was resolute, with no hint of deception. "I won't attack unless attacked."

"Fine, I'll help you."

Alyssa sighed. "I'm already in your pit, and I can't get out, right? But you need to give me some people. I need two or three professional accountants and an Outlaw-level ten-man squad with strong combat and reconnaissance skills."

She knew why Li Mochen involved her in private military affairs: as a supervisor for checks and balances, and because Li Tailai and Sampson Brut weren't suited for public roles, making many tasks inconvenient.

But she was from the Targaryen family and had seen plenty. She knew how the big families and powers operated in the shadows. The key was wealth, influence, and social standing. Once Li Mochen reached a position like Antonio's, the police and FBI would have a hard time touching him.

So she lacked reverence for Atlanta's judiciary and didn't oppose Li Mochen's arrangements.

"Of course, I'll allocate funds to you, Alyssa. But one Outlaw squad might not be enough. You can also recruit three combat teams for internal monitoring—"

Li Mochen was interrupted by the phone ringing. He picked up the receiver and heard Franks's voice.

"Andre, are you okay? I want to ask if you're interested in Edwin Antonio's legacy."