American homeless people, surviving in the city

"Any other suggestions?"

After being pulled and tugged at repeatedly, even Vesalio couldn't help but get annoyed, and his questioning tone rose a few degrees.

Lin Qi stopped keeping him in suspense, took a deep breath, and revealed his plan:

"I don't want to join the Razor Claws, but that doesn't mean our conversation is fruitless. I think we might be able to work together."

"Since you're short-handed, I'll help you play in the matches. You just need to pay me a reasonable fee. What do you think?"

After Lin Qi finished speaking, the room fell silent once again.

Sanjar looked at Lynch with the eyes of someone looking at a madman, so surprised that he almost wanted to laugh—who gave a weak and powerless vagrant like him the courage to talk to the leader of one of Seattle’s biggest gangs about cooperation?

But to his surprise, Vesalio did not get angry.

Instead, he laughed, and his laughter grew louder and louder:

"Hahaha...good, very good...kid, you're even more courageous than I thought."

"What a wonderful 'cooperative relationship'!"

He patted Lynch on the shoulder: "Tell me, lad, what makes you think I'd be willing to work with you?"

Lynch calmly replied, "If you really need more people for the boxing match, then you have no reason to refuse me."

"Just like how the Razor Claw Gang doesn't only have your brothers, but also ordinary employees you hire to handle paperwork, it's not impossible for you to hire me to participate in the competition, is it?"

"This way, you can solve your manpower problem, and I can get paid. This cooperation will only benefit both of us, a win-win situation."

"Ha, you're quite the smooth talker."

Although he said this, Vesalio's eyes held a hint of admiration as he looked at Lynch. He suppressed his smile and sat back down opposite Lynch.

"You know, Lynch, I've been in this business for over twenty years and I've seen countless petty thugs trying to join gangs."

"They groveled before me, never daring to say no, just to beg for food from the Razor Gang."

"Of course, there have been some fools who have tried to negotiate with me, but they are usually arrogant and stupid. They don't understand that the premise for negotiating with me is that we are on equal footing and need each other."

"Lin Qi, you're the first person who can persuade me."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qi finally couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.

But his expression remained calm as he quietly awaited Vesalio's decision.

"What you say makes some sense. We live in a modern society now, and it may indeed be unnecessary to continue to raise thugs in the traditional way."

"A clear-headed and intelligent young thug like you is worth setting a precedent for."

"Therefore, I can accept your proposal."

"but..."

Vesalio paused, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Lynch:

"Since you're no longer a member of the Razor Clan, from now on, apart from the appearance fees and medical care you're owed for each match, I won't take care of anything else for you."

"If you encounter any trouble in the future and come to me again, we'll have to discuss the matter again on its own. Can you accept that?"

"I can."

Lynch nodded without hesitation.

"very good."

Vesalio walked up to Lynch and extended a hand: "So, how about a pleasant collaboration?"

"It's a pleasure working with you."

The two held hands tightly, witnessed only by Sanjar standing to the side.

This burly, black man, nicknamed "War Elephant," never imagined that an ordinary street vagrant could chat and laugh with his arrogant boss, and even become the first professional henchman hired by the Razor Gang with just his words.

Although he had long recognized Lin Qi's extraordinary demeanor, he never imagined that it was Lin Qi who secretly let go of the little girl he had been chasing, nor did he expect that one day the two of them would become colleagues in some sense.

Sanjar racked his brains but couldn't figure out how all this had happened. He scratched his head, feeling a mix of emotions.

After reaching the agreement, both Lynch and Vesalio were in a very good mood.

Vesalio spoke first: "Since we've already agreed, the first task is two days from now, at 8 PM, along I-5, to that abandoned factory next to Maple Valley."

"Get here early, or you'll regret it."

Lin Qi nodded, but then a somewhat troubled expression appeared on his face:

"This address... I think it's in the suburbs? To be honest, I don't have a car or a driver's license. Can I take a taxi to this kind of underground boxing match venue?"

Vesalio looked somewhat speechless and shook his head:

"It's been a long time since anyone dared to discuss such trivial matters with me. The car isn't a problem, Sanjar. Later, take Lynch to see Attorney Baldwin and have him handle it."

Sanjar: "Yes, boss!"

Then, Vesalio looked at Lynch: "Any other questions?"

Lynch: "...That's all."

With that, he stood up, nodded slightly to Vesalio, and then prepared to end the conversation and walk towards the door.

But he had barely turned around, and hadn't even taken two steps, when he heard Vesalio's voice coming from behind him again:

"Hey, get back here right now."

Lynch quickly turned around and saw Vesalio stride forward and shove the antique teacup into Lynch's hand:

"You forgot to bring this."

"But..." Lynch was still hesitant to accept the gift from the gangsters and instinctively wanted to refuse, but Vesalio glared at him fiercely.

Then, he impatiently cursed:

"Just take it, why are you making such a fuss?... Don't worry, this is what I promised you, I won't use this as an excuse to bother you again. Just take it!"

"..."

Under pressure from Vesalio, Lynch had no choice but to obediently put away the antique teacup.

Vesalio, still grumbling, pulled a few more bills from his wallet and stuffed them into Lynch's hand.

"Here's the $200. Use it to eat well these next couple of days, and buy me a few decent, durable jackets. Don't embarrass me later!"

"Consider this my advance investment, so you can take it!"

Finally, he kicked Lynch and Sanjar each, shoving them out of the living room, and slammed the door shut.

Lynch somewhat bewilderedly put away everything Vesalio had given him. He really hadn't expected that a trip to the Razor Gang would result in him inexplicably receiving antiques worth thousands of dollars and a $200 "tip".

Sanjar stood aside, now even more apprehensive about underestimating Lin Qi, so he could only give a wry smile and lead the way for Lin Qi:

"Come on, follow me this way, let's go and sort out your driver's license problem."

Lynch quickly met with Baldwin, a lawyer working for the Razor Shields. After confirming that Lynch could drive but didn't have a license, Baldwin made a quick phone call that lasted a few dozen seconds, then looked at Lynch:

"I've already spoken to WADOL (Washington State Department of Licensing). Go to this address this afternoon for a simple medical check-up and road test, and you'll get your temporary driver's license immediately."

As he spoke, he scribbled an address on a small piece of paper and handed it to Lin Qi.

As expected of a top lawyer, he's incredibly efficient and decisive...

Just as Lynch was thinking this, Attorney Baldwin pressed further:

"After you get your driver's license, will you come back to us and wait for us to provide you with a car, or will you find a way to get a car yourself?"

The moment Lynch heard the question, he immediately remembered what Officer Kayla had said.

"...Once you get your driver's license, I might be able to apply for a car for you..."

Now that he already had a suitable way to acquire the car, Lin Qi certainly didn't want to owe the Razor Gang any more favors, so he quickly replied:

"No, you don't need to come up with any more solutions. I can handle the car issue myself!"