Dulin is a very serious person, there's no doubt about it. Because if he wasn't serious while working in the countryside, Mr. Kesma would never have let him go. This has cultivated Dulin's characteristic of being meticulous in his work. In just two days, he made the upper-class people who love to enjoy high-end art at the Teineil Grand Theater realize that there was a car washer named Dulin.
He always manages to clean every corner of each car very thoroughly, even some hidden crevices which he cleans with a sharpened wooden stick and towel to remove all dirt. He doesn't casually wash cars like other roadside car washers who shamelessly pocket their fees.
Dulin was very happy to gain some reputation within just two days and his plan progressed further as he began thinking about absorbing other poorly performing car washers on the roadside after working for some time himself. Soon enough, he could rent a storefront by the road specifically for auto detailing.
The term "auto detailing" is something he learned from his dreams; it not only includes washing cars but also involves maintenance and modification skills which Dulin lacks but can hire employees from Teineil City who possess these skills.
Unfortunately, Dulin's dream of creating a "car washing kingdom" shattered when someone pointed at him while standing among a group of people saying: "It's this guy! He keeps stealing our customers!"
In this city lies an unknown side known as its dark side or underground world where gangs are rampant - not only in Teineil City but also in more remote areas within developed regions of the empire itself.
Just like how sunshine cannot reach darkness, anything has its duality nature including risks and benefits that come along with any change capable of altering human life such as those experienced during post-Civil War times when Yaostar Empire licked its wounds while seeking progress actively.
These gangs' existence is not to make the city more chaotic and disorderly, which may sound ridiculous. They seem more like police officers than actual police officers themselves. They use force to maintain stability within their territories by setting up rules that people dare not cross.
They have made the city much safer and reduced the number of bad guys who used to roam around looking for trouble.
They are like a virus in darkness constantly devouring light.
Beside that skinny guy were four young men with strong physiques; one of them wore a blue-based red checkered shirt, a short jacket, and a beige duckbill cap. He wanted to look decent but his twitching facial muscles made it hard for anyone to believe his identity or status.
He nodded and took off his duckbill cap. This street was his territory, and in the city of Taneil, some people who knew him called him "Mad Dog Wisen". In his self-praise, he once successfully killed 17 or 18 enemies in a gun battle on the street with just one person holding a gun. People named him "Mad Dog" for his madness and cruelty, which he liked very much.
He walked up to Dulin with three of his men. Dulin was washing cars, and there were two more cars to wash behind him. He had just put the towel back into the bucket to clean it when a shiny brown leather shoe appeared in front of him and kicked over the bucket.
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Dulin still wasn't sure what had happened until now. He stood up straight and looked at four men beside him who looked like fierce gods with ferocious eyes. He nodded inexplicably,"Gentlemen?" He didn't understand what these people wanted to do but felt that he might be in big trouble.
Wisen arrogantly looked up and down at Dulin, sneered at the half-washed car,"Have you paid your protection fee?"
Protection fee?
"What's that?" Dulin looked confused because although he felt these people were looking for trouble, this term didn't sound so intimidating.
Two years ago, protection fees weren't called protection fees yet; they were called extortion fees collected by local gangs from all operators within their territories as mandatory payments. Only after paying them could businesses operate normally while enjoying gang protection services; otherwise they would face endless troubles caused by gangsters knocking on their doors repeatedly until they went out of business.
Later on, due to an unsuccessful attempt by a fallen aristocrat with a baron title being charged for protection fees leading to an attack by gang members causing serious injuries requiring hospitalization drew attention from the empire authorities. The gang behind the case was no longer an ordinary gang but a family with religious characteristics and household units. After more than 170 days of trial, they managed to cover up the whole incident.
However, since then, the term "protection fee" has become a thing of the past and is now called an "ease fee". Although this term may sound outdated, it can perfectly convey its meaning.
Visen was also confused. The concept of an ease fee was well-known throughout Terniel City and the entire Yau Star Empire. How could this guy not know?
In the next moment, he thought that the other party was playing with him. His blood boiled over and he threw a punch!
If you ask how disputes are resolved in rural areas where there are no police or judges, fists have become a form of justice. Whoever has the bigger fist is right. Mr. Kesma's family has had disputes with others before, such as fighting over a boundary stone that weighed nearly dozens of pounds but could be blown away by wind due to land ownership issues.
The Kesma family all had profound skills and were often victorious in these fights.
When Dulin saw Visen's punch coming towards him, he leaned back slightly to avoid it and instinctively threw his own punch.
This punch was very cunning and heavy; it landed hard on Visen's lower jaw from below on his right side. Visen's head shook upwards instantly; saliva flew out from between his slightly parted lips; his eyes became somewhat dazed; he took a step back with unsteady feet.
Onlookers on the street couldn't help but sigh at what they saw - this young man really got himself into trouble! Over these past few days, roadside shopkeepers had formed a good impression of Dulin because every time after washing cars for customers, he would rinse off any dirt left behind so as not to leave any stains or puddles on their premises. Even when borrowing water from them for free use later on during car washes or otherwise helping out around town without being asked for payment upfront, he would always leave a coin behind as a token of appreciation. He was such a good young man; why couldn't he just stay out of trouble?
People like Visen could only be placated with kind words and careful attention. One had to coax him into being calm before things could settle down because after all, he was like a mad dog!
"Sorry... it was too easy for me," Dulin apologized while stepping back, his face still showing some regret. Although the other guy didn't hit him, he himself had hit that guy instead - and yet that guy seemed less able to take punches than his own sister.
It took Visen quite some time to come back to his senses. He felt his face burning not from being punched by that kid but from the shame brought on by everyone's gaze upon him. Clenching his teeth, he pushed away the person next to him who tried to help support him and drew out a long knife over one foot in length from behind before rushing towards Dulin who had retreated several steps away.
"Let me teach you what respect means!"