Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2458

Chapter 2458 Black Snake Gang

The car had left the more prosperous part of the city and entered the poorer parts. The buildings were older and more ramshackle here, the streets were narrower, and the people were dressed in cheaper clothes. The terrain of the city was uneven, littered with hills and mountains — more so here than in the center.

As a result, some of the sloping streets were covered in rushing water, with deep puddles collecting at the bottom. Driving through these puddles in Sunny's old car would have been a problem, but he knew the complicated labyrinth of streets like his own five fingers, avoiding the worst of it with ease.

That fact had not escaped Effie. She looked around with interest, then asked:

"Where are we going, anyway?"

He shrugged.

"Where else? We are going to the Black Snake lair."

She seemed more amused than frightened by the prospect. Usually, a woman as attractive as her would have been wise to avoid entering a vicious gang's territory… but then again, this bombshell in particular seemed better suited to cracking skulls than most thugs were, so maybe they were the ones who had to be nervous.

"Just like that? Wait, how do you even… ah, right. You worked in the Organized Crime Division before, right?"

Sunny gave her a sideways glance.

"Yes. Something like that."

He lingered for a few moments, then sighed and said:

"Gangs were all over the city not too long ago — even ten years ago, they controlled these parts of Mirage City entirely. A single day rarely passed without someone ending up dead, not to mention all the vile crap going on in the shadows. The cops were either on the payroll or too afraid to do anything, and those who did try tended to be disposed of swiftly."

Sunny smiled crookedly, remembering his youth.

"Times change, though. The political climate shifted, and being tough on crime became a rallying cry for the ruling party. So, the Police Department was cleansed… mind you, it wasn't cleansed of corruption. The corrupt bastards being paid by the criminals were just swapped out for corrupt bastards being paid by the politicians. Well, and a few capable people managed to get themselves into key positions in all the chaos."

He fell silent for a while.

"Captain Jet was one of them — although she wasn't a captain back then, just yet. Actually... I only ended up becoming a cop because of her. Then, somehow, we ended up being partners in the Organized Crime Division, with her spearheading the crackdown on the gangs. Those were… intense years, to say the least."

Effie chuckled.

"Captain Jet, huh? Wait, where is she now?"

Sunny did not answer for a while, his knuckles turning white on the wheel.

Eventually, he said in an even tone:

"She's dead."

That was one of the reasons for his sorry state.

The main reason, really.

...And here he was, side by side with a new partner.

Sunny looked at the rookie detective somberly.

'I'm not responsible for her.'

Putting this woman in front of the cameras might be a great PR move for the Mirage PD… but it also painted a target on her back. She had to know it, but she was still here — so, it was her own decision.

He had nothing to do with it.

Turning back to the road, he said:

"Well, anyway. Most of the gangs were demolished back then, and those that remain are merely shadows of their former selves. They know their place, doing a bit of dirty business that everyone takes part in, but pretends that it's the most abhorrent thing in the world publicly. Others went clean and are now managing slimy, but perfectly legal, businesses. The Black Snakes, though…"

He frowned.

"The Black Snake is the only gang that is still somewhat of a real deal. So, when we get there…"

Effie grinned.

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