Chapter 643: Chapter 370, Infighting
Malca caressed the brand on the back of his left hand, as if he could still recall the searing pain from when the hot iron was pressed against his skin years ago.
He was a member of the Branding Hand Gang, and as the name implies, this gang’s main characteristic was branding its members’ hands with a scorching iron to signify their affiliation.
The gang wasn’t large, with influence spanning only two or three blocks; but it wasn’t small either, as more than three hundred thousand people within their territory depended on them.
Only, their recent days hadn’t been easy.
Or rather, since military governance began, no one’s days had been easy.
At the start of military control, the Branding Hand Gang initially thought it wouldn’t be much different from the strict management incidents that occasionally happened in the past. However, their expectations were quickly shattered.
…
The duration of military governance had exceeded their imagination by far; moreover, the intensity of the crackdown was unbearable for them.
After a period of lying low, the Branding Hand Gang could no longer hold back.
They started to fire from the shadows, causing riots.
These tactics greatly troubled an infantry division of the Star Realm Army stationed within their turf. In about a month, the gang’s attacks and riots resulted in hundreds of casualties among the Star Realm Army; and although their own losses were much greater, to them it was still worth it, it still felt like victory.
Then, they got intoxicated by this ‘victory’ and attempted to ambush a patrolling infantry squad.
This operation seemed foolproof in their eyes.
Less than thirty Star Realm Army warriors, on street patrol. They had already scoped out the squad as the best target: once the fight started, it would take at least fifteen minutes for backup from other areas to arrive.
So, next to the patrol vehicles, roadside bombs exploded in succession, stopping the military vehicles, and then from all directions of the street, from hiding places in houses, three to four hundred shooters from the Branding Hand Gang surged out, completely surrounding the Star Realm Army squad. Bullets flew in from every direction, and the situation quickly deteriorated.
Originally, they intended to finish the fight within ten minutes, allowing a bit of time to retreat. But in reality, the battle was practically over by the sixth minute.
Only, the outcome was the complete opposite.
They inflicted casualties on seven Star Realm Army soldiers, while the gang’s shooters left behind more than a hundred and seventy bodies. The heavy casualties caused the shooters to break within minutes, leading to an uncontrolled, complete rout.
No backup was needed; after being ambushed and hit by roadside bombs, less than thirty Star Realm Army warriors with light weapons versus three to four hundred gunmen resulted in seven casualties on their side and a hundred and seventy dead on the enemy’s.
Such a military outcome left the entire Branding Hand Gang in utter shock.
Am I fighting Superman?
How could the disparity be so great!
Before they could even catch their breath from the shock, they were hit with a severe sweep, and even their lair was wiped out.
From then on, they thoroughly extinguished any thoughts of confronting the military forces, hiding like rats, taking their shots in the dark, and retreating immediately if they missed, unwavering in their decision not to engage any squad of the Star Realm Army that consisted of more than five soldiers.
Though they claimed such a thing, being pushed to the edge, their options had become ridiculously limited, and the suppression left them extremely frustrated.
Things got even worse after a so-called ‘Alliance’ new government work group moved into the district.
A massive amount of food was distributed, and the new government’s policies were disseminated. Abandoned factories were reopened, and these people also organized transportation and construction teams; as long as you joined, you got a job, and the whole family had a fixed job grade. Those with formal jobs could reach the so-called E4 rank, secure in their sustenance and able to support a family; family members could reach E2 rank, ensured at least a subsidy. Additionally, once your rank was set, you could compete for work and climb the ranks.
Even those without jobs could declare what they wanted to do; groups of girls, women, children willing to take orders on the streets, fixing clothes, that was considered having a job, allowing them to move up a rank; organizing everyone to do this was also regarded as having a job.
And if all else failed, enlisting as a soldier was also an option. The Alliance’s recruitment center was always seeking soldiers, offering better conditions than before.
In short, everyone now had food to eat.
Initially, due to a long-standing distrust of the government, the public was particularly skeptical about the policy promotion.
But once tangible food was in hand and one could choose weekly wage payments, the doubts couldn’t be said to have been entirely eliminated, but they had certainly become much lighter.
While they weren’t living in luxury, at least they could fill their stomachs, and they could avoid the cold.
Now, the Branding Hand Gang couldn’t even think about coaxing the public into risky endeavors; instead, many peripheral members within their own ranks chose to leave the gang.
Even, traitors had extended into the core members who had been branded.
If the previous military governance was merely tightening their necks, causing them pain and discomfort, unable to act, then now, it was like being stabbed directly in the heart.
They had truly reached a point of desperation, but what could they do if they couldn’t fight back?
Malca, as a core member of the gang, was sent out by the boss.