Chapter 2: Rise of the Golden Dragon Society, The Golden Dragon Society Expands
[Edited]
Chapter 2: Rise of the Golden Dragon Society, The Golden Dragon Society Expands
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March 3, 1947 – Chinatown, New York
I stood at the edge of an abandoned warehouse near the docks, my breath visible in the frigid night air. The scent of saltwater and rusted metal clung to the place. Inside, my men waited, armed and ready. Tonight was a turning point.
The Rattlesnake Gang had finally acknowledged us—but not in the way I'd hoped. A message had arrived at our safe house, written in blood: Back off, or be buried.
I wasn't one to back down.
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In just a month, the Golden Dragon Society had grown from a handful of misfits to a disciplined force. We controlled several blocks in Chinatown, with businesses willingly paying us for protection. The local merchants had seen too many gangs shake them down. We were different—efficient, reliable, and brutal when necessary.
Jackie Wu and David Chen had proven invaluable. Jackie handled information—who owed money, which businesses needed protection, and who might turn on us. David trained our fighters, drilling them daily until they could take on seasoned street thugs.
But we needed more than foot soldiers.
"Word is, the Rattlesnake Gang is moving a large shipment of opium through the docks tonight," Jackie said, leaning against my desk. "If we take it, we cripple their supply and gain serious leverage."
David grunted. "It won't be easy. Those bastards don't travel light."
I smirked. "Good. Then let's show them what we're made of."
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We moved just past midnight.
The Rattlesnakes had stationed a dozen men around the warehouse, watching the perimeter. They expected trouble, but not from us.
I placed my hands on the cold metal of a fire escape ladder, channeling reinforcement through the steel. The structure strengthened instantly, its frame rigid and unbreakable. With a nod to my men, we climbed up and slipped inside through a shattered window.
Below, crates of opium lined the warehouse floor. The Rattlesnakes' enforcers stood in small groups, laughing and smoking, unaware of the danger looming above them.
I exhaled slowly, then dropped to the ground.
The first man barely had time to react before my reinforced fist collided with his jaw, sending him sprawling. Chaos erupted as my men followed suit, knives flashing, fists striking. Gunshots rang out, but I was already moving—dodging, weaving, striking with alchemically enhanced strength.
A brute of a man lunged at me, a machete gleaming in his grip. I caught his wrist mid-swing, reinforcing my arms to absorb the impact. His eyes widened in shock as I twisted, breaking his arm with a sickening crunch.
Within minutes, it was over. The last Rattlesnake enforcer lay groaning on the ground, clutching a shattered knee.
David surveyed the scene. "That went better than expected."
Jackie grinned, flipping open one of the crates. "And look at this—pure opium, enough to put a major dent in their business."
I nodded. "Take it. We'll decide what to do with it later. For now, let's disappear before reinforcements arrive."
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March 5, 1947 – A storm was coming.
Two nights after the raid, the Rattlesnakes struck back.
A group of our men was ambushed outside a gambling den we controlled. Three were injured, and one killed. It was a message: they weren't going to let this slide.
I gathered my lieutenants in our newly acquired safe house, a former tea shop turned headquarters.
David slammed a fist on the table. "We need to hit them harder. Show them we're not scared."
Jackie shook his head. "That's what they want. An all-out war would destroy everything we've built."
I listened, weighing both sides. Then I spoke. "We hit them where it hurts, but not with brute force. They need to see that fighting us is bad for business."
That evening, I sent a message through intermediaries: a meeting with one of their higher-ups.
The next night, I sat across from an older man with sharp eyes and a calculating expression. He introduced himself as Liu Shen, a mid-ranking leader of the Rattlesnakes.
"You're ambitious," he said, sipping his tea. "And reckless."
"I'm efficient," I corrected. "The way I see it, we can keep fighting, and you'll lose more than just opium. Or we can talk."
Liu Shen studied me for a long moment. Then he chuckled. "Alright, young man. Let's talk."
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By the end of the meeting, a deal was struck. The Rattlesnakes would recognize the Golden Dragon Society as a rising force, and in return, we would stay out of their larger operations—for now. In exchange, we got a cut of their business in Chinatown.
Not submission. Not alliance. But an understanding.
As I walked out into the cold night, I checked my panel.
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[Proficiency Panel Update]
Host: Edward Lin
Age: 20/85
[Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist)]
Alchemy Proficiency: 37% (Level: Novice)
Transmutation: 45% (Level: Intermediate)
Reinforcement: 38% (Level: Novice)
Creation: 27% (Level: Novice)
Physical Condition: Enhanced
Strength: Superhuman
Status: Rising Power
Mood: Determined
Wealth: $15,000 (Profits from strategic acquisitions and protection services)
Property: Rented safe house, underground storage, newly acquired tea shop in Chinatown
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I smiled to myself.
This was just the beginning.
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March 10, 1947 – Chinatown, New York
The scent of incense and hot tea filled the room as I sat at the head of the table, my inner circle gathered around me. A map of Chinatown lay spread before us, dotted with red markings that indicated businesses under our protection.
Jackie Wu tapped his fingers against the table. "We're sitting on a gold mine, boss. Protection money's steady, and the Rattlesnake Gang isn't making any moves after our last run-in. We've got breathing room."
David Chen crossed his arms. "Breathing room isn't enough. We need to build something real—something that'll last."
He was right. A gang that only thrived on protection rackets could be toppled by a bigger fish. We needed legitimacy and businesses that people respected. We needed to go beyond just controlling the streets—we had to control the economy.
I stood and gestured to the map. "It's time we expand. Bars, clubs, liquor stores, jewelry stores, antiques—anything with real profit. And we'll do it the right way. No drugs, no human trafficking. Our girls? Only the willing ones, and, they should get weekly checkups to keep things clean. We don't deal in filth."
The room went quiet. Then Jackie whistled. "That's gonna make us stand out."
David smirked. "And make us a hell of a lot richer."
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The nightlife in Chinatown was thriving, but most of it was under the control of corrupt landlords and small-time hustlers who gouged their customers and let the businesses rot. That changed when we made our move.
I visited the biggest bar in Chinatown, The Red Lantern, personally. It was owned by a man named Lou Zhang, a businessman who was barely keeping his place afloat due to constant shake-downs from the Rattlesnakes.
"You don't have to fight them alone," I told him as we sipped whiskey in his office. "Let us handle security, and you focus on running your business."
Lou Zhang hesitated, but when I laid out the deal—lower fees, guaranteed protection, and no interference in his management—he agreed. Soon, The Red Lantern became ours in all but name.
Within weeks, other bars followed, signing onto our protection willingly. The money poured in, and Chinatown's nightlife flourished under our watch.
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Running bars and clubs was lucrative, but it wasn't enough. We needed something with real stability—something that would make the city recognize us as businessmen, not just another gang.
So, we opened Golden Prosperity Lending, a proper and trusted lending company. No loan sharks, no broken kneecaps—just fair loans to those who needed them. People feared the banks but trusted us, knowing we wouldn't cheat them.
At the same time, I moved into luxury goods. Jewelry stores and antique shops were the heart of Chinatown's wealth, but they were often at the mercy of thieves and conmen. By offering reinforced security, fair trade practices, and a safe place to do business, we secured our foothold.
For those who couldn't afford traditional banking, Golden Prosperity became their lifeline.
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Despite our rapid growth, I made one thing clear: there would be no drugs or human trafficking in our territory. Anyone caught dealing opium, heroin, or running forced labor was dealt with swiftly.
When a small-time pusher was caught trying to sell in our bars, I made an example of him. I reinforced a wooden table and smashed him through it, breaking three of his ribs. The message spread fast—Chinatown was clean under the Golden Dragon Society.
As for prostitution, it was done on our terms. No forced work, no pimps abusing women, and strict health checkups. The women who worked for us did so willingly, and they were treated fairly with their right to refuse. Golden Orchid Parlor, our first establishment, became known for being both high-class and safe.
Jackie summed it up best. "Other gangs treat women like cattle. We treat them like business partners. That's why they come to us."
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By April, the Golden Dragon Society was no longer just a gang—it was the start of an empire. We had money, influence, and respect. The city was starting to take notice, and so were the bigger players.
As I stood on the balcony of our newly acquired tea shop, looking down at the bustling streets below, I knew this was only the beginning.
But with power came new enemies. And I was ready for them.
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[Proficiency Panel Update]
Host: Edward Lin
Age: 20/85
[Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist)]
Alchemy Proficiency: 43% (Level: Novice)
Transmutation: 50% (Level: Novice)
Reinforcement: 45% (Level: Novice)
Creation: 32% (Level: Novice)
Physical Condition: Enhanced
Strength: Disaster Level
Status: Rising Power, Respected Businessman
Mood: Determined
Wealth: $2 Million (Profits from clubs, jewelry, antiques, lending, protection services, etc.)
Property: Rented safe house, underground storage, acquired tea shop, ownership stakes in multiple businesses in Chinatown
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To be continued...