There are many gangs in Marseille, but they can be divided into three main groups: the Corsican clans, the Southern Syndicate, and the Italian gangs!
These three major forces, through continuous division, have evolved into the hundreds of large and small organizations known today.
Among them, the Santoni Clan was the largest branch of the Corsican clans, with enough power to control half of them.
Both the outfit established by Henri Marchetti during the French Connection era and the Jourdan Mob, now one of the four major gangs in Marseille, belong to the Italian gangs.
As for the Southern Syndicate, it's even more complicated. Although it has the largest number of members in Marseille, it is also the least united.
There are dozens of crews inside, each independent and unwilling to submit to the others, often engaging in internal strife.
The Garnier Crew is one of the largest crews in the Syndicate, and it had now defeated the Santoni Clan and seized control of the Opera quarter.
"Who ruined Ferrand? I will reward him handsomely!"
After the initial excitement, Vidal did not forget the biggest contributor and meant to reward him accordingly. After all, if Leon hadn't taken down Ferrand, the Garnier Crew wouldn't have been able to defeat the Santoni Clan so easily this time.
At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to Leon, and Vidal also looked at him, but he was puzzled.
He looked completely unfamiliar! Whose man was this?
"What's your name? Who's your boss?"
Vidal stepped forward and asked in a friendly manner, smiling broadly.
Leon hadn't expected this outcome. He had only intended to coast along, grab a hundred francs, and leave, but he never imagined he would become famous!
One person took down six Santoni thugs, including Rocca's top man; it would be hard for him not to become famous.
The way the underlings looked at him was now filled with nothing but admiration!
However, Leon could only shake his head slightly and say, "My name is Leon. I am not a member of the Garnier Crew, nor do I belong to any gang!"
Not one of the Garnier Crew?
Vidal was taken aback, then suddenly realized that Leon must be a 'mercenary'.
When two gangs clash, they will spend money to hire people to bolster their forces, since having more underlings isn't always better within a gang.
Because they simply can't afford to support too many underlings!
Giving your underlings a monthly cut is a huge sum of money; after all, who would follow you if you didn't have money?
Also, if a brother ends up in jail, the gang has to pay his bail. If he gets hospitalized, the gang is also responsible for that. All in all, it's a huge sum of money.
Therefore, the gang has conditions for recruiting members; they must be brave and willing to fight, and Leon happened to meet these conditions.
Hearing that he hadn't joined any gang yet, Vidal was tempted!
This was a formidable fighter! He had to be recruited!
"As the saying goes, all men are brothers. Today you have done me such a great favor, so you are now my brother!"
"I never mistreat any of my brothers!"
"And with your skills, joining my Garnier Crew would definitely not be a waste of your talent!"
"How about it, Leon? From now on, work for me!"
Joining a gang?
Leon fell silent. He had been in Marseille for almost a month, and his initial goal was to make a name for himself in the business world.
Relying on his memories from his past life, he would seize every opportunity, and he believed he could succeed.
But gradually he realized that he was still being somewhat wishful.
In today's chaotic and disorderly Marseille, it is extremely difficult for an orphan and ex-soldier like himself, who has no roots whatsoever, to get started.
Funding, connections, social norms, and official relationships.
Each of these is a major hurdle, firmly choking you.
After you've gone through countless hardships and achieved some success, you might still be targeted by malicious people, and many will pounce on you like hungry wolves.
In this dog-eat-dog society, without strength, even wealth cannot be protected.
It is incredibly difficult to rise to prominence in such an environment.
However, Leon knew a saying: the initial accumulation of capital is always bloody.
Looking at the wealthy families of France today, which one had a clean start? Yet now all people see is their brilliance.
Therefore, for Leon at this time, joining a gang might not be a bad way out!
Take control of the gang's power, develop his own influence, and then at the right time, go legitimate and become a new generation of tycoon in France!
Among the gangs in Marseille, four are the most powerful.
The Santoni Clan, the Southern Syndicate, the Laurent Gang, the Jourdan Mob!
They were known as the four major gangs!
And the Syndicate was undoubtedly the most suitable one for Leon.
Firstly, the Syndicate was established by soldiers who came home from the colonial wars. Like Leon, most of its members were former military men, and his background would be recognized.
Then there was the room for development!
Among the four major gangs, the Santoni Clan is undoubtedly the oldest, originating from the old Corsican bandit brotherhoods of the last century. It is the oldest criminal organization in Marseille with a history of over a hundred years, but precisely because of this, its internal mechanisms are rigid.
To rise to a higher position, one needs to accumulate seniority. To become the leader, one even needs to participate in an election, and the term of office is only two years. Leon could not wait that long.
The two other major gangs, the Laurent Gang and the Jourdan Mob, have always been controlled by the Laurent and Jourdan families, and it would not be easy for him to rise to power there.
Only the Syndicate!
Although the organization was loosely structured, with each crew acting independently and constantly embroiled in internal strife, it truly lived up to the principle of meritocracy.