Speaking in a hushed tone to some friends on the Streets, Bonzo begins...

Criminal activity outside of the norm...  Does it happen?

Let us imagine, if you will, a place where the cities are all filled to the rafters with criminals.  These criminals rob banks, run prostitution rackets, steal from trucks and art galleries, deal drugs, pick pockets, take part in organised criminal wars and hoarde the takings; kicking a cut upstairs, of course.

But..  in amongst all of these criminals – has there ever been a maverick, money-maker who thinks outside of the box and outside of these accepted and regulated methods of cash generation?  Has there ever been a freelance hitman, for example?  Would such a character be tolerated by his family?

Has there ever been a large scale loanshark?  Loans outwith families can be frowned upon – but has there ever been someone who amassed so much cash that he put it to work for him? 

 Who is/was the wealthiest man in this thing of ours?  Would that make him the most powerful?

it is quite simple. money = BGs. money=gun training. money=buying IAs and MIAs.

in terms of political power, money doesn't mean much. you build up a reserve, or you give it to the boss. if you hoard it up, there isn't a lot of reason for you to gain any prestige with your crew leader. but if you send the money up and let it work for you, then mabye it will help you gain influence.

long and the short is that you can make yourself and influence in terms of gun or defence. but power is the way of the world. and money only goes so far there.

Has there ever been someone who isn't a CL that had a huge amount of cash?

Who is/was the richest mafiosa ever to walk these streets?

Me but its a secret.

Good contribution, Gallifrey...

I would say there has definately been stupidly wealthy people that havn't been a CL or RH/LHM..
But i don't think i can answer your question on who is or was the richest person ever that wasnt some form of leader...

But yet again, i don't think anyone could answer is accurately because if someone thinks it's them but doesn't know how much someone else has then they can't say that it was them because the other person might have had a lot more..

Just see if anyone answers though because i'd be quite interested to see who it is or was..
If there is anyone..

~Guido..

How would one know?

I personally wouldnt let on if i was a poor hoodlum or a rich mafiosa. Why should one do such a thing! It would be interesting to know but its easy enough to see how much there is on our streets as a total! Even i know who to ask for that information

LoveGun reached for the door at the last second, but it slipped through her fingers and slammed into the door frame, ending the conversation she was having with DurzoB. Which wasn't much of a conversation at that point, but a string of drunken slurs between the two of them. LoveGun didn't even wait for him to open the door again as she continued down the street. Eventually she stumbled into a conversation about super humans. She looked up at the store front they stood in front of and crinkled her face. Al's hardware was not the place to sell comics, but as she careened into the conversation and listened a bit more she understood that they were not talking about super humans, but about extraordinary - stand out criminals.

Ya be always seein' people tha' be goin' above and beyond the norm of thievery. Well ya be able t' see 'em if ya' look hard enough and be paying enough attention. They be walkin' the same streets we be walkin.

LoveGun paused for a moment as her mouth had quickly become parched and took a swig of rum. She looked around for DurzoB, but he had not found her yet, so she continued with the group.

They be walkin' the same side walks as th' rest of the folks here. But as they rob that bank in th' swiftest of motions or take upon a contract with a smoothness one be never seein' before, that's when ya can be tellin' they aren't of the normal criminals we be passin' day by day.

It be just about talent and who be usin' there talent to there advantage and who be lettin' their talent fall into th' gutter. And th' people who be usin' t' there advantage, those are th' people who be above th' norm.

LoveGun winked and turned back towards the pub, off to find DurzoB

Michael listens to the clearly intoxicated Ms. LoveGun... As she leaves to find DurzoB, he begins to think of the words she just spoke. 

Ms. LoveGun brought in some great wisdom with her response. Bonzo, are you sure you're not really looking for a history lesson? If you are, the notable people in my mind to be the richest have to go to a select few. To name a couple, Marrietta, ThomasRourke. Marrietta had the back power of the flourish city of Detriot. It was an empire back in the day. When I say back in the day, I refer to my father's journals he left me. 

A free lance hitman... there hasn't been too many in recently history but theres always a few who were hated. I won't name names here.

To answer your last question, "would that make him the most powerful?" I would say no. This is an organization. This isn't a one man show or else everyone would be working for THEIR own pleasure, profit or personal gain. So no, I wouldn't say money makes someone power. I would say a man's friends or even associates if you will, make the man powerful. Manipulation and tactics were used back in the day. The name Ganelon rings a bell. He ran New York with an iron fist if you will. His leadership capabilities and even persuasion kept him where he was at. 

Forgive me in advance. Things get lost in the many generations of journals being passed down. I think I may have started a history lesson here...

Michael laughs as he turns and walks away.

Hello Michael, and thanks for your wise words.  I am new and I love history lessons, so please tell me more....

I may not be the best for this topic of discussion. Someone with a much older and wiser blood line will definitely be able to out trump me.

Continues to smoke a cig while he waits...