Damian smiled, and something about that smile made everyone uneasy despite the reasonable question.
"The people in our territory prosper, we prosper. That's the fundamental principle. When businesses grow because they feel safe and supported, our five or ten percent share grows proportionally.
When people have jobs and money to spend, the economy in our territory expands. When the region is stable and crime-free, outside investors want to establish operations here. All of that generates revenue that far exceeds what we could ever extract through traditional criminal extortion."
He walked closer to the group, his presence overwhelming despite his youth.
