CHAPTER 289: HIDDEN REALMS OF POWER

Southeast Asia and the Middle East markets are almost entirely abandoned; that’s Ye Ningyuan’s territory. Not only the Mafia, but all other arms dealers are strictly forbidden to cross the line. These two regions are practically monopolized by Ye Ningyuan.

In the European and American markets, Ye Ningyuan occupies half, while another eighty percent belongs to Dragon Gate. The remaining twenty percent is divided among various dark forces. Mo Xiaobai, the head of the North American market, has long coveted this lucrative segment and has negotiated with Ye Ningyuan several times, but each time he’s been rebuffed by Ye Ningyuan.

Ye Ningyuan’s stance is clear: when Chu Li was present, the First Terrorist Organization held half the market share in Europe. To accommodate the Mafia, they agreed not to interfere with each other. The Mafia withdrew from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and he withdrew from all of Europe. However, he would not retreat further from North America because he would not abandon the Mexican market. Thus, Mo Xiaobai and Ye Ningyuan have engaged in several battles of wits.

The results, as one might expect, were unfavorable for Mo Xiaobai.

Ye Feimo naturally knew what the Mo family brothers were thinking. "Mo Xiaobai, in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa, my brother has provided cover for everything except arms. He’s also allowed you to strengthen your own forces without interfering with him. Why do you insist on North America? He wouldn’t even give me the North American market, let alone you. The Mafia is already running rampant in Europe; how much more do you want in North America? Do you want to carve up that area? Do you think we in Dragon Gate are just twiddling our thumbs?"

Mo Wushuang whistled, smiling enchantingly. "Feimo, think about it this way: if Little Tianyu takes over, how harmonious would that scene be? Cousin’s intelligence is superhuman. We wouldn’t dare move against him. Little Tianyu is a generation below us. And he has no experience. If we teamed up, it’s possible we could squeeze him out of the North American market. Wouldn’t that make everyone happy?"

Mo Chen nodded. Mo Yao offered no opinion.

Wen Nuan thought to herself, "Is this an internal struggle?"

Listening to them, she understood a little, but also remained quite perplexed. Weren’t they family?

Wen Nuan said, "Aren’t you all family? Families can talk things over! Can’t you just give up a piece here and be compensated there? Why does it have to sound so bloody?"

Wen Nuan’s innocent world couldn’t comprehend such profound matters.

Mo Chen chuckled. "Little Cousin-in-law, this isn’t about giving way and compensating. Of course, we, the leadership, are family, but this vast organization is not. The conflicts between the Mafia and the First Terrorist Organization have always existed. Just because we leaders become family doesn’t mean they become family too. It has taken a lot of effort just to maintain control all these years. To expect them to love each other is impossible. We have our own considerations; everything is considered for the benefit of our own organization. Some struggles are necessary, as long as we maintain control."

This was a world of power. Whoever was stronger would survive. The weak could not exist in this world. Whoever had the harder fist called the shots. If you wanted something, you had to get it yourself based on your ability; there was no concept of giving way or not giving way. Even if Ye Feimo and Ye Ningyuan were biological brothers, neither would concede an inch on the North American issue.

However, Dragon Gate was a traditional triad organization, which differed in nature from the First Terrorist Organization. The First Terrorist Organization’s nature was no longer as simple as an international gang; it operated within the global terrorist sphere.

The Mafia was an organization between global terrorism and international gangs. Coupled with the protection of the Italian government, their backing was clearly more stable.

Wen Nuan vaguely understood a little. Such complex relationships.

"Is the First Terrorist Organization very powerful?" Wen Nuan asked timidly. She saw Ye Ningyuan as a gentleman, refined, elegant, and debonair. She couldn’t see how powerful he was.

Mo Chen leaned back. Mo Xiaobai covered his face. Mo Yao looked down at his magazine. Mo Wushuang said coolly, "Cousin could bomb A City with one nuclear bomb. One-tenth of Cousin’s assets could buy the entire country of Italy. He controls 80% of the global arms trade and the economic lifelines of all of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He owns nearly a hundred of the top 500 legitimate companies worldwide. Do you think the First Terrorist Organization is powerful?"

To conduct such massive arms smuggling, one must possess their own legitimate front companies. Ye Ningyuan, during his decade-plus tenure, established dozens of such enterprises, all highly ranked globally. One could say that people from the First Terrorist Organization were present in the cutting edge of every field worldwide.

For example, banks and financial institutions were used for money laundering, aviation and shipping for transporting weapons, and various legitimate businesses for laundering money. There were also legitimately operated high-tech electronic products. Ye Ningyuan used everything to its full potential. The underworld profited immensely under the guise of legitimate businesses, and legitimate businesses avoided many troubles under the protection of the underworld. This business strategy was being adopted by both Dragon Gate and the Mafia.

Wen Nuan’s mouth dropped open in surprise. So Ye Feimo’s older brother was this formidable! No wonder Ye Tianyu and Ye Kelan were so impressive. Their family was practically full of non-humans.

"First Terrorist Organization, Mafia, Dragon Gate... Don’t you all create monopolies?" Wen Nuan asked timidly. Ye Feimo stroked her head, finally understanding her innocence. It wasn’t easy for her to grasp.

"Shuwen and I aren’t interested in that lucrative North American market. Dragon Gate’s main focus isn’t arms, so there’s no reason to provoke my brother," Ye Feimo said, glancing at Mo Yao. "Mo Yao, are you just going to let Mo Xiaobai pluck the tiger’s whiskers?"

"Whatever he wants," Mo Yao said coolly. "He won’t die anyway."

Mo Xiaobai, "..."

"Big Boss, you’re ruthless."

Mo Chen burst out laughing. "So Big Cousin retiring makes Xiaobai very happy."

They couldn’t defeat the older one, but they had confidence in facing Ye Tianyu, a young kid.

Mo Yao offered no opinion. Market expansion wasn’t Mo Wushuang’s responsibility; she handled punishments and assassinations, nothing else. However, she was still looking forward to a fight with the First Terrorist Organization.

"Tianyu has inherited all of my brother’s true skills; he also has an anti-human intelligence. Are you sure you can outplay him?" Ye Feimo said blandly. "Tianyu is young, but he’s not an easy target. Plus, with my brother and sister-in-law’s training, you might not be his match. It’s better not to touch North America. You’d be better off expanding the gambling, diamond markets, and other trades in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Forget about North America."

Mo Yao pursed his lips and said, "In Southeast Asia and the Middle East, besides arms and oil, and drugs, other profits aren’t high. Arms and oil belong to Cousin, and we don’t touch drugs."

Mo Ye and Mo Jue fought to the death with the First Terrorist Organization back then. They only resorted to drugs to compensate for their broken capital chain and quickly raise funds, but they later completely abandoned the drug market.

Mo Yao also felt that drugs were not a good thing, and some principles had to be upheld, so he decisively gave up the drug business.

Abandoning the most profitable businesses in these two regions left little else to pursue.