The Vincit
The Vincit
Founded by a government employee, the first gang, the Vincit, had rose to fruition. Their first founder’s name was Lee Soohyun though she went by the name 'Kaila'.
This woman had all of the right connections. She was part of the Ministry of Finance. She had direct insight into the largest financial operations of the city and the country. The more access she gained to the confidential files, the more she learned of the corruption that was deeply seeded into the city’s history.
Without informing her superiors, Kaila had begun conducting her own registry checks. The former government employee quickly discovered something very heinous was afoot. Large amounts of money disappeared without a trace into banks outside the country. Much of this money flowed into 'ghost’ accounts. However, when she tried to track down the entity responsible for all the shady transfers, she was cut off and her computer was compromised.
Without informing her superiors, Kaila had begun conducting her own registry checks. The former government employee quickly discovered something very heinous was afoot. Large amounts of money disappeared without a trace into banks outside the country. Much of this money flowed into 'ghost’ accounts. However, when she tried to track down the entity responsible for all the shady transfers, she was cut off and her computer was compromised.
A few days after this event, she started receiving a series of suspicious but empty texts and silent calls. One day once the texts and calls finally stopped, a piece of the hidden truth. It was a simple letter. But it changed everything. The file attached explained the complete unfiltered and dirty history and creation of a hidden scheme of propaganda that had been deeply rooted into the city’s origin. It exposed the real truth about Dividers; why they were created and what is their true mission. Despite the unsettling truth, Soohyun finally did get what she desired: the real truth of their world hidden behind a tight curtain-like web of lies and corruption. And, with the new knowledge, she created her own empire and gave herself the short nickname 'Kaila'.
Kaila gained supporters and assumed a huge territory of influence. She didn’t believe in ruling under the guise of fear and terror. Not like her brother. Her reign ensured her “family” was cared for, trained and educated. However, she also ensured her people were loyal to her. No one would try to betray her. If she gives them everything they needed and more, how could they go after such a caring leader?
The Vipers
The Vipers
While the Vincit slowly gained power and strength in numbers, instead of supporting his sister, Kaila’s brother Seojoon was secretly stealing some of the Vincit’s members and had been devising his own sect. A gang with a drastically different view than her sister’s on how an organization should be run. More changes. More power. Seojoon was never aware of 'the truth' and the 'dividers' nor did he really seem to care about it. It was all about the Money. Power. Blood.
When his sister discovered the betrayal by her own kind, it ached. As a last attempt to regain her brother, his trust, and her people back, Kaila shared the reality of their world and the dividers to him. But she should’ve known not even blood could’ve swayed him. Their ideals were just too different. Not to mention, her brother never even cared to know about the world from the very beginning.
When his sister discovered the betrayal by her own kind, it ached. As a last attempt to regain her brother, his trust, and her people back, Kaila shared the reality of their world and the dividers to him. But she should’ve known not even blood could’ve swayed him. Their ideals were just too different. Not to mention, her brother never even cared to know about the world from the very beginning.
And to no one’s surprise, that new information failed to benefit the sister’s work relationship with her brother. It only exacerbated the situation. It only gave the brother a stronger cause. With this newfound ambition, Seojoon craved to reap everything for himself. He had to win. He had to take over. The brother’s reign was brutal and bloodthirsty. By creating a network of friends, he easily ravaged smaller less significant groups and quickly secured his power. And unlike his kin, he wasn't shy about it. He’d make /sure/ people knew his name. Where to find him. If they didn’t know… well let’s just say they’d know soon enough.
However, as a last homage and a kind of 'thanks' to his sister, he did at least keep their family ties and her name a secret. It was the least he could do.
In no time, the Vipers quickly took over Gangnam, spread, and infected the city with their poison. Bribery. Human trafficking. Arms. Tech trade. Drugs. Gambling. Tax fraud. Every heinous crime you could name the Vipers had slithered their dirty little fingers all over it. Even the government was in on it. The police too.
Business was just too easy.
The Maniacs
The Maniacs
You may ask why the dividers are so scary and powerful, why people who knew about them are afraid and scared. People were dying in this city. Deals were being broken. A large amount of money was lost, benefiting the Chinese government. Not many citizens knew exactly why but they tried to live their best lives.
Qin Yichen, was just your average restaurant owner in the city. He founded the establishment and worked hard to painstakingly put money on the table for him and his family. As he’d try to scrounge up the restaurant’s savings to support everyone, most nights were long and hard. Nights where he’d come home with a tired smile on his face to kiss and embrace his beloved wife and kids. But despite the growing corruption, everything about his life was more or less your typical citizen life in the city. Struggling to make ends meet.
Qin Yichen, was just your average restaurant owner in the city. He founded the establishment and worked hard to painstakingly put money on the table for him and his family. As he’d try to scrounge up the restaurant’s savings to support everyone, most nights were long and hard. Nights where he’d come home with a tired smile on his face to kiss and embrace his beloved wife and kids. But despite the growing corruption, everything about his life was more or less your typical citizen life in the city. Struggling to make ends meet.
Well that was until that auspicious event. Maybe Yichen was just in the wrong place in the wrong time. But he heard things. Unspeakable things he shouldn't have. And had he done nothing with that information, things might’ve returned to the normal citizen life the restaurant owner knew. But he couldn’t resist. As any typical struggling breadwinner would have done, he caved into the greed. In desperation, instead of hiding his knowledge of the trade secrets, Yichen proudly informed his friend. With the extra money, he opened another restaurant, paid back all his debts, and, for the first time in forever, stabilized his family income.
But right when everything was going smoothly for him, the dividers reacted. He begged for mercy. They did not give it. Lifeless. He could only hold and embrace the lifeless cold bodies of his beautiful wife and children as they died in his arms. Fire. He lost not only his family to it but the blazing fire took his precious restaurant building away too. He lost everything that day. He turned insane. Having nothing left to call his own, Yichen turned to drugs. The only thing that could numb all this tremendous pain.
That’s when Kai found the poor citizen. A corrupt cop, the other discovered the lost addict begging for another hit. The poor man was perfect for Kai’s cause. Not only did Yichen still have money Kai could use but he had a strong motive to follow him. Another chump who’d rally behind his plot for revenge. Or that’s what the cop had thought at the time. In reality, Yichen knew he had no chance for actual revenge, but he still wanted to make the Dividers pay. Even if it would just inconvenience their lives, he’d do it. Noticing the man’s underlying potential, Kai helped Yichen get over the addiction, and together they built the organization known as the Maniacs.
Yichen knew the streets, the dealers, and the location of the goods. Kai had the right contacts, jobs, and people for the dirty work. Together, slowly but surely, they bought over small groups and created their own drug trafficking line and system. The two men’s’ group was nowhere near as powerful as the Vincit or the Vipers; however, their foot in the black market was still incredibly stable.
They were now the main drug supplier for one of the largest gangs- the Vipers themselves.
The Blazers
The Blazers
The fourth gang grew slowly, quietly amassing its power unnoticed by the powerful leader duo of the Maniacs for a very long time. The Blazers was created by Hirota Isamu, yet another citizen who had an unfortunate run-in with the reality of the world. He had a beautiful wife and a two year old son and enjoyed his simple life.
That was until one night after work he found them all brutally murdered in his own house. He didn't get time to grieve and the trial was swift. All evidence pointed to him. Not only that but his criminal record was perfectly falsified, giving him strong motive to killing his own family.
Just before he was sentenced to prison, though, a man named Yomu contacted him, promising to help. But after that, Isamu didn’t hear anything for months. His sentence was already decided by then and he was admitted into the prison.
Just before he was sentenced to prison, though, a man named Yomu contacted him, promising to help. But after that, Isamu didn’t hear anything for months. His sentence was already decided by then and he was admitted into the prison.
Prison life was hell. Isamu’s cellmates were terrible. His privacy was compromised. The man was ready to let go. But suddenly before Isamu was ready to give up on his own sanity and life, he was freed. The man who gave Isamu his freedom was none other than his wife's father, a high ranking member of the Yakuza. That night in their Yakuza house, Isamu learned the truth of his wife’s family. The businesses, the secrets and all the lies within them that she had kept hidden from her very own loving husband. He even learned her father shared Isamu’s mutual desire to find out who killed their wife/daughter. After the initial shock and betrayal, the next few weeks Isamu spent reviving his wife’s criminal network and the dirty business she owned.
After doing so, Hirota Isamu was given a choice. To forget the past and live anew as a new person with a new identity. Or become a member of their group and help his father-in-law find the true murderer. He decided on the latter choice and spent another several weeks through the necessary grueling training.
The clues he found were all pointing towards Seoul, so after arriving there with a few trusted members, he began to burgeon a new network of informants that would lead him to the real perpetrator. He changed his name as well. Dead and gone was the meek Hirota Isamu. Now only one person lived inside of this body and that was Masahiro Ita. During the day, Masahiro Ita would oversee a prestigious brand of Japanese tailor-made suits for VIPs. At night he’d use that same brand as a cover-up to maintain his existing gang operations and Yakuza business.
Despite not being one of the big three, the Blazers small size only kept their work that more discrete. That more hidden. With their vast network, the members of this gang were well known to be the best informants an organization could have. They operated quietly. Used any information they could receive. It is no wonder one of the biggest gangs of the Vincit consider them their main source of information. Still, the blazers remained neutral to politics. As long
as they paid well, it didn’t matter who the Blazers offered their information to. Even it was to their very own partners’ enemies.
The Knights
The Knights
People have often wondered what made people follow cruel dictators. Charisma? Shared ideas? Willingness to change the world? Maybe such a shift was too big to start striving for it alone. Perhaps it needed more than one soul?
Shi Hwiyoung wasn't sure. Years ago, when she was still so young and broken by the reality and cruelty of this world, she desperately looked for something. Only 29, a promising doctor coming up from one of the worst and poorest neighborhood. She saw and experienced how grim the streets were to weak ones who required support the most. Ruthlessly crushing their hopes and lives with their boots.
To improve, to help, to save and protect, was her device. Dividers and their strong beliefs, smoothed her hurt soul, pulling her in. They gave her hope and tools to change what she wanted. That's how her long-term chess game began.
The main pieces, hidden behind the pawns, ruling. A King and a Queen, followed by Bishop and a Rook, and in the end her, 'the shining Knight'. The last leader of Dividers. Goddess of streets, as some call her. Intelligent with aspirations, put on the pedestal, the fifth in the hierarchy. The gave her a power and she started ruling. Watching city closely, pulling on the strings, creating opportunities for people.
To fix or break, to scare and bless. Hwiyoung did her best to change the system to her liking, providing a care to people she once desperately wanted to save. For a long time, she was not interested in what other leaders were doing. It was an unwritten rule, don't interfere with pieces movements, or you became a pawn yourself.
Until she broke it.
Hwiyoung was so focused on her own goals, on her poor suffering streets, filled with people so similar to her, back when she was young, she at first didn't notice, busy taking care of them and pushing the development. while the ideas that once inspired her to join have vanished, broken. Until someone finally asked her, why people are dying, where are the families, where are the kids, where is the help?
Hwiyoung was so focused on her own goals, on her poor suffering streets, filled with people so similar to her, back when she was young, she at first didn't notice, busy taking care of them and pushing the development. while the ideas that once inspired her to join have vanished, broken. Until someone finally asked her, why people are dying, where are the families, where are the kids, where is the help?
Knight, where are other pieces?
All the control she held was shaken. Years of her work stained with blood. The Dividers she once admired, changing into a cruel dictator with just enough power to now instead of hope, spread fear. Her time as 'the divider Knight' was over, she decided. Yet, she couldn't just leave and forget. She was a part of them for years. In a way, Hwiyoung helped them gain the power they now possessed. She was not without fault and her conscience wouldn't allow her to just run away and forget.
Together with her husband, she created a plan, but this was not a simple revenge, as someone would think. Hwiyoung wanted to overthrow them. She couldn't do that alone. Her husband, Jinhyung helped her gather information, everything that could be useful against them. While, she focused on people, looking for those most affected by the cruel ruling of the Dividers. Not yet free from them, but no longer with them, she proceeded.
Jinhyung provided Kaila with information, Hwiyoung learned the tragic story of Qi Yichen and indirectly push Kai to him. Doing everything so carefully, leaving no trace. She patiently waited for any mistake, taking advantage of every stumble. It took some time, but pedestals needs to be cleaned of dirt, and Dividers needs to either disappear or return to their original shape. Their 'truth' need to see the light.
When she left, she made sure to hurt Dividers not only by taking the most loyal 'pawns' of her, but theirs as well. Vital parts, their trusted people, she was using to spy on them for months. Not everything went the way she planned, during the escape, her husband was shot, she was injured. Yet, they made it and disappeared for months. Together, building the new group. They named it 'Knights', so the Dividers would know they survive, and are waiting for a right moment to strike back.
'Knights' is the smallest group, but also the least known, hidden and well protected. They don't meddle in the affairs of other gangs. Their sole focus is on Dividers. They are monitoring them closely, doing their best to interrupt with their plans, often using others to do that, spreading the news about incoming deals. 'Knights' don't fight as fiercely, they are tactical and careful. Their closes allay is Vincit, whom they secretly support, in exchange for protection and backup.
Their strength is not in the number, but in the network of contacts at various levels of power, critical for Dividers.
cops
cops
In a city controlled by Dividers with massive gang activity what is the importance of the police, you would ask?
As long as there are people who need they shall exist. But even this institution could not avoid the ubiquitous corruption and influence of groups. Although there are still plenty of officers who devote themselves to their work, just as many are corrupted, turning a blind eye to gang violence and dirty business. Among them, there are also moles, specially substituted for the flow of information and suppression of evidence of crimes.
If you decide to join, you will need to choose on which side of the barricade you stand on. Would you devote yourself for the good of people? Or succumb into deep hole of corruption picking money, instead?
There is also a change that you will be put there by someone else, to spy and protect the 'bad' ones.
citizens
citizens
When the dark curtain of lies was thrown onto the city people were afraid. Afraid of unknowns.
The Dividers came so quickly citizens started to question the government decision but no one listened to them. People desire to live a simple life, which wasn't so safe anymore with growing gang activity. Some decided to leave it, some stayed and just trying to survive the sudden war zone. The situation calmed after a while when territories have been defined. People slowly learned which places should be avoided at all cost, and which people could be dangerous.
You can still live a normal life as long as you follow the rules, and avoid danger.
good luck!
