"Have you heard the news? They're planning to renovate our area too!" A child burst into the cellar, waving a newspaper in his hand. "Look, we're in Phase One of the plan!"
Other children gathered around, asking, "Renovate? What do you an, renovate?"
The child shook open the newspaper and said, "It seems like they're going to build a bridge here, but to do that, they need to transform these buildings into... well, it's like Living Hell, you guys have been there, right? It's the kind where all the houses are inside one big building, connected by corridors, making it tall, and everyone can have their own place!"
"Really? I heard my uncle say that the houses in Living Hell are really expensive because everyone gets their own single room, and so wealthy people even have a living room!"
"If it turns out like that, can we have a room too?" exclaid a girl excitedly. "And a flyover bridge, will it be like the one next to our street?"
"Co on, that bridge over the stinking ditch. How can it compare to an overpass? If you've been to the city center, you'd know those overpasses there are taller than our buildings here!"
"I really like that place in Living Hell!" a young boy raised his hand. "When I deliver stuff there, the people there are so proud, but it makes sense, they all live in new houses, drink clean water, and there are stores downstairs. Even the kids there are cleaner than us!"
"That's great! If it becos like that, I'll definitely get a room with a window, the kind where you can see outside. I'll even get a potted plant..."
The children excitedly imagined the future scenes. At that mont, a drowsy voice from a nearby room interrupted them, saying, "What's all the noise about?"
"Oh, Boss, co and see quickly! Look at today's newspaper!" The children imdiately gathered around, saying, "Jason, look, our area is going to be renovated!"
Jason struggled to open his eyes; he had stayed up late reading books last night and had only slept for four or five hours. He took the newspaper and saw that it ntioned Phase Two of the Gotham Road Renovation Plan was about to begin, including their street. The renovation included building improvents, and construction was set to begin in three days.
"Boss, you're well-inford. Do you think it will beco like Living Hell, where everyone lives in a big building and can buy everything inside, without worrying about rain or street flooding?"
"Can we have rooms with windows too? Maybe four people in one or even six in one room, as long as there's a window, I can have a potted plant..."
Jason's expression gradually beca more serious because he not only paid attention to the start of the renovation but also the way it was being carried out.
This ti, the renovation was no longer funded jointly by the Gang and Wayne Family. It was led by the governnt, with Wayne Enterprises providing the funding and overseeing the project from design to construction to completion, with no contribution from the Gang.
Unlike the children, Jason could see more clearly. How much investnt would such a massive project require? Had Wayne Enterprises gone mad?
During the last Living Hell renovation, besides Wayne Enterprises, Falcone Family and the governnt were involved, and even the leaders of the Twelve Families invested. The results were quite satisfactory.
The secondary industries there prospered, providing many services for the logistics industry. As the people there beca wealthier, they paid more Protection Fees to rule the Gang in that area.
But this ti, Wayne Enterprises would bear the entire cost of the renovation, and the Gang would be able to use the buildings and roads here completely free of charge. No matter how you looked at it, it seed like a sweet deal.
The books Jason had just read told him never to expect capitalists to be charitable, yet here, the city's largest capitalist seed exceptionally charitable, intending to improve the lives of everyone here without asking for anything in return.
Jason narrowed his eyes, looking cautious. He said in a low voice to all the children, "Stay alert, there may be significant changes ahead. Go, tell those who are wandering outside to co back quickly..."
"Boss! Boss! Sothing's wrong! Six-Fingered Sister got injured, and the Cookie Sisters brought her back. You need to see this!" a young child rushed in, screaming. Jason's face imdiately turned serious.
Jason hurried out and saw the Cookie Sisters bandaging Six-Fingered Sister's arm, the sll of blood filling the air. He approached, looking at Six-Fingered Sister's wound and asked, "What happened? How did this happen?"
"It's nothing, just got into a fight with soone, accidentally got cut," Six-Fingered Sister replied, turning her head away. Then he said, "Have you heard the rumors? With the upcoming renovation, I think we should find a new place."
"Why?" another child raised their voice. "Because of the renovation, we should stay here; we'll get rooms!"
Six-Fingered Sister wore a pained expression as he said, "Have you seen the relocation plan? We might have to leave here to survive..."
Jason turned back, picked up the newspaper he had just set down, and continued reading. He discovered that the relocation plan was unexpectedly generous. All residents here, regardless of whether they had a driver's license, were eligible for a room. The minimum standard for a room was a single room without a kitchen or bathroom but with a window, a minimum of three hours of sunlight per day, and furnished with furniture.
However, if you wanted a better single room, such as a one-bedroom with a kitchen and bathroom, you'd have to pay extra.
Without additional paynt, you'd get a basic single room that could barely fit a bed. However, on the sa floor as the single rooms, there would be a communal bathroom and an open-air kitchen. But for these children, this was already a vastly superior living condition. After all, they were currently squeezed together in a basent with no windows and occasional drafts and leaks.
As for things like bathrooms and kitchens, they were out of the question. Even the beds in the rooms were made from repurposed wooden crates. On Jason's small bed, there was a salvaged mattress, while others had makeshift bedding, and so even had just a thin bedsheet.
The relocation plan specified that each room would co with a bed, a mattress, a small bedside table, and a potted plant on the room's windowsill. There was even a painting hanging above the bed.
Jason noticed that Wayne Decorations, the company contracted for building renovations and interior design, was responsible for the project. This was the sa company that had done renovations for Wayne Grand Hotel, so he knew the quality of materials and craftsmanship would be top-notch.
But Jason's expression grew increasingly grim because, according to Gang rules, these things weren't ant for them.
Just then, there was a loud "bang," and the cellar door was forced open. Several Gang mbers jumped down, pointing guns at all the children. "Get out! Quickly! Everyone, up to the surface, you're not allowed to stay here anymore!"
The children climbed up, trembling with fear. Once on the surface, they stood against the wall, including Jason.
The lead Gang mber said, "You have the afternoon to pack up. You're not allowed to be on our turf anymore. If anyone asks, you've never been here. If anyone asks, say you moved out from sowhere else. Understand?"
Six-Fingered Sister, still nursing her injured arm, bitterly exclaid, "You're giving us just an afternoon to move, and we can't even take our stuff with us!"
"It's not my call; it's the boss's order. In any case, you must leave by tonight. After all, construction starts in three days. If the rich folks see you begging here, who knows what they'll say!"
The Gang mber tapped his finger against the gun barrel and added, "You better be smart about it. We've already been lenient by letting you stay here for so long. Hurry up and get lost!"
After the Gang mbers left, the children all had pale faces. One of the Cookie Sisters asked, "Why are they suddenly making us leave? Why are they driving us away?"
Six-Fingered Sister, tears in her eyes, crouched down . She said, "Don't you know? The single rooms in Living Hell can rent for up to $10 per week..."
"We have over 20 people here, so we could get over 20 rooms. If we leave, the Gang here could make over $200 extra every week. That's nearly $1,000 extra per month..."
"Just drive us out, rent the rooms we get, and they won't have to do anything for a month, making three tis more than before. Everyone knows how prosperous Living Hell is now; this place will be the sa..."
Jason tightly clutched the newspaper in his hand and said, "As long as it makes money, they won't care about anything else. They won't care where we go or how we'll survive..."
Jason's arm began to tremble continuously. He took a deep breath and said, "Pack up, get ready to move."
Tears filled the eyes of all the children. There was nothing more heartbreaking than having hope only to have it snatched away.
But Jason had beco calr than before. Six-Fingered Sister looked at him and said, "Jason, you've changed a lot. In the past, you would have been furious and talked about seeking revenge."
"Because recently, I've co to understand sothing," Jason's tone was eerily calm. He continued, "Just talking won't do any good. No one will be afraid of just because I yell louder."
He finished speaking and walked toward the cellar entrance. Before descending, he said to Six-Fingered Sister, "This situation will happen again. It won't be just our gang; three major streets nearby will also undergo renovation. That ans all the children's gangs will be driven out."
Six-Fingered Sister had a sense of foreboding and asked, "What are you planning, Jason? Jason... don't do anything foolish. We can find another place to live..."
Jason chuckled as he pushed the manhole cover over the cellar. He said, "Go to another place? What if that place gets renovated too?"
"If all of Gotham is gradually transford into this kind of city, a city that provides shelter for everyone, do you think it will improve our lives?"
"No. Even if those buildings can accommodate everyone, the people with money and guns will still occupy them. Even if the buildings remain empty and we freeze on the streets, they won't let us in."
Jason closed his eyes and said, "In Gotham, we can't rely on anyone's rcy... We no longer need their rcy."
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