The Mafia Empire

"So, my dear older brother, if you think the city is heaven, it'll end up being your eternal resting place. But if you understand me and see it as the gate to hell, maybe we can struggle a little longer. Don't you think?"

Mason swallowed hard. He suddenly realized that moving to the big city to start a new life might not be as simple as he'd imagined. Thankfully, every Kesma family member had some decent qualities, one of which was the willingness to ask questions when they didn't understand something.

Mason tossed his cigarette out, straightened his posture—a habit he'd picked up as a rookie cop—and asked earnestly, "What should I do?"

This was exactly why Julian was willing to bring his brother to the city. Firstly, he trusted him completely. Secondly, Mason never did anything "outside the plan," especially if he wasn't the one who made the plan. He was reliable, controllable, and wouldn't act recklessly—the perfect candidate.

"Listen, I'm going to buy you a precinct chief's position…" Mason's sudden flinch interrupted Julian, who rolled his eyes before continuing. "My dear brother, it's just a precinct chief. You'll only have twenty or thirty people under you. There are three others like you in the city, and above you all is the central department. It's no big deal, got it?

We managed to bring down Gador the Lizard, so I'll set you up in the East District, where I'm gradually shifting my influence."

"Once you're in office, you only have two tasks. First, spend money—spend it like crazy. Use any means to burn through it. I'll have someone teach you how. Second, get rid of the unnecessary people and replace them with the right ones, then maintain the appearance of law and order. That's it.

I trust you'll handle it well. It's way easier than being a country sheriff!"

"I'm not a sheriff; I'm a cop!"

Julian raised a hand and laughed. "Same difference!"

Mason looked nervous. "I'm not sure I can do it. I might disappoint you," he said sincerely. Julian's depiction of the city painted it as a dark, decaying castle full of destruction. Mason wasn't sure he could navigate it as effortlessly as Julian, who seemed to thrive there like a fish in water.

Sometimes he envied Julian, the first to leave home, bearing heavy burdens but also the first to succeed, excelling in everything he did...

Julian, however, turned to him, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. "There are no cowardly soldiers in the Kesma family! Watch out, or I'll report you to the General!" It was an inside joke. For the longest time, they'd all likened Mr. Kesma to a ruthless general, and they were his soldiers. They even called him the General behind his back until he caught on and put a stop to it.

Mason rubbed his shoulder and straightened his back.

Full of both anxiety and anticipation, the brothers arrived at what Julian had called the gate to hell. Mason was awestruck by the bustling streets and the sheer number of people and goods on display for the first time in his life.

The car pulled up in front of Paul's Tailoring Shop, one of the finest in the city, catering exclusively to elite clientele. The shop's three master tailors frequently traveled to Olodo to stay updated on the latest fashion trends, ensuring top-notch service for their customers. This had earned the shop an impressive reputation.

Julian needed two new suits for himself and decided to order two for Mason as well. As much as he hated to admit it, appearances mattered.

Through the modest shop window, they saw what looked like a family of four getting fitted for clothes. Julian couldn't help but feel a strange twinge of emotion. Three months ago, he had come here seeking a respectable job, but the tailor had turned him away, saying they didn't need any apprentices. The tailor had even dismissed him with a contemptuous look and a single dime.

Yet now, only three months later, their roles had dramatically reversed. The thought brought a smile to Julian's face.

Perhaps that was one of the driving forces behind ambitious people, always striving to be above others.

Ding-ling~

The door opened!

"Hello, esteemed guest. Paul's Tailoring is a bespoke clothing shop with a long history. The third-generation owner once crafted seasonal fashion attire for princes and princesses of that era, blending trendiness with elegance, sophistication with maturity. If you have a membership card, we will arrange for a tailor familiar with your preferences to serve you immediately!"

As soon as the door opened, a young girl dressed in a white shirt and a shiny brown blazer bowed and recited a well-rehearsed introduction she had repeated countless times. Her voice was gentle, her pace steady, and each word enunciated perfectly, clearly the result of rigorous training—a testament to the power of money in this world.

You wouldn't find this kind of service or guidance at the crowded, budget tailoring shops by the roadside, where making a suit for two or three dollars meant chopping fabric into big pieces and stitching it roughly. Buying clothes from such places was more like buying fabric since, more often than not, you'd have to make adjustments to the ill-fitted garments when you got home.

And remember, in those places, never give precise measurements like height, sleeve length, or chest and hip circumference. These details were meaningless. Instead, give a ballpark figure, adding about ten centimeters to your height. For example, say something like, "A suit for a big guy about six-foot-two." Then you could adjust the outfit later.

But if you gave too detailed a measurement, congratulations—your younger brother or child would have a new set of clothes instead.

Here, it was completely different. Skilled tailors didn't even need a measuring tape. A simple hand measurement would yield an incredibly accurate number, down to the centimeter.

They would then tailor the clothing based on factors like your profession, the occasion, time of day, the event's prestige, the social class of those attending, your own social standing, the purpose of the event, and the impression you wanted to convey—considering over twenty to thirty criteria. For a bit more money, they could even suggest accessories to match perfectly.