Chapter 55: Spreading Fame
With Ryan's command, all fifty security personnel boarded the vehicles.
Several photographers and their assistants also followed different vehicles, continuously taking pictures.
The Police Department also dispatched twenty police officers, who followed the security personnel in their vehicles. So far, Ryan had not disclosed the destination to the Police Department because George was concerned that the Police might fear the Mafia's reputation or that there were internal conflicts of interest within the San Francisco government involving the Basini Family. As the largest Mafia family in San Francisco, they likely had questionable relationships with some departments; otherwise, they wouldn't have maintained such influence.
The Police and Blackshield Security gathered 500 meters from the Basini Family's property, exited their vehicles, and stood together.
The difference between the two groups was clear in their equipment and demeanor. Compared to the Police's lax presence, the security personnel exuded a fierce aura.
Ryan called several captains together, took out the villa's layout provided by George, and arranged the attack routes.
Director Aider, accompanied by Harry, also arrived. Upon seeing the location, his expression shifted repeatedly. Seeing Ryan, he walked over and said, "Mr. Ryan, are you sure this is the right place? This is a wealthy area. Where exactly are the robbers hiding?"
"Director Aider, rest assured. We are 100% confident. The robbers, along with the five million US dollars, are hidden within the Basini Family's premises."
"Are you sure? The Basini Family is the largest underground Mafia in San Francisco. They have deep connections. Although we've been investigating them, they're very cautious. Plus, there are many of them. Can we take them down with this team?"
"Don't worry. Everything is going according to plan. This time, the Basini Family will be eliminated."
Ryan then signaled the photographer to come over. Shaking hands with the Police Director, he looked at the camera and declared, "These bank robbers are inhumane bandits. The Police Department lacks sufficient firepower, so our Blackshield Security is cooperating with them. Blackshield will lead the main assault, with police officers providing support."
Director Aider nodded and said, "Shall we begin the operation, then?"
Ryan turned to the team. "Action!"
The security teams surrounded the villa and advanced quickly.
The core filming crew followed from a safer distance, remaining behind cleared zones. War correspondents from Silverline Studios captured footage only after rooms were secured by the assault teams.
The Police acted as support from the rear.
In a nearby secured building, the Mayor of San Francisco, Harry, the CEO of Wells Fargo Bank, and George watched a live feed being relayed from the scene.
This was George's first meeting with the mayor, whom he had invited to build connections.
The villa, around a dozen acres in size, was not particularly large.
As the team advanced, the main gate was breached. Two thugs guarding it were taken out instantly.
Two security personnel opened the gate for the others.
Team members encircling from other directions climbed the courtyard walls.
Snipers took up strategic positions. Assault teams pressed forward. The camera crew, assisted by security personnel, followed behind cleared teams.
"Bang bang bang bang"—snipers opened fire, eliminating visible Basini Family members inside the villa.
The gunfire startled the rest of the Basini Family. A subordinate rushed to George's doppelganger and said, "Sir, we are under attack. Please evacuate."
The doppelganger replied, "I'll stay. Leave two with me. The rest, go hold them off."
Several men ran out with pistols but were immediately gunned down by the assault team and snipers.
Inside the villa, realizing the danger, more thugs fired wildly from windows, even using a light machine gun.
Da da da...
Bang bang bang...
The firefight was intense.
Sniper fire silenced the machine gun.
Assault teams stormed in. Others followed.
Photographers continued capturing footage from behind cover, avoiding active fire zones.
Inside, the doppelganger smiled as the gunfire reached the door. He glanced at the stacked cash boxes and Basini's corpse—placed there earlier—and dissolved into the shadows before anyone entered.
Inside, all resisting members of the Basini Family were eliminated. Those who surrendered—identified as the bank robbers—were also not spared, per George's instructions.
"Commander, armed targets neutralized. Surrendered individuals secured."
"Good. Begin the search for the stolen cash."
"Yes, sir."
Two minutes later, the team found the cash George had planted earlier in the study. Five large boxes were packed with US dollars—$5 million in total, pre-marked to match the original stolen bills.
"Commander, the cash is secured."
"Excellent. Search the entire villa for hidden threats."
The photographer captured a dramatic close-up of the money.
When the security team carried the cash out, reporters surged forward, snapping photos.
Ryan didn't stop them. George had instructed full media coverage to maximize publicity.
Reporters had gathered earlier but were kept out during the operation. Now, seeing the money, they launched into interviews.
"Is this the money from the robbery?"
"Has the Basini Family been wiped out?"
"Why is Blackshield Security leading this operation alongside the Police?"
Ryan was prepared. Standing beside Director Aider, he explained the joint operation. He concluded, "We filmed the entire process and plan to release it as a documentary. Soon, you'll see it in theaters, produced by Silverline Studios."
"We have a partnership with the San Francisco Police Department. Blackshield Security will provide armed support in future high-risk operations, protecting public safety."
In the secured observation building, the mayor and executives watched the scene unfold.
The mayor said, "That was impressive. Swift, decisive action. George used this event to build Wells Fargo Bank's trustworthy image and raise Blackshield Security's profile. I believe PL Holding Group will grow large. I welcome such companies that protect our citizens."
George responded, "Wells Fargo Bank and Blackshield Security exist to serve the public. We're honored to work with devoted officials like you."
They smiled.
...
The next day,
San Francisco newspapers were dominated by reports on the Wells Fargo Bank robbery and the Basini Family's destruction.
The San Francisco Times featured a dramatic photo of Blackshield Security officers standing over the fallen Basini members. Their sharp eyes and imposing demeanor, along with the sleek, modern uniforms, left a strong impression.
The photo was widely reprinted, cementing Blackshield Security's name in the public eye.
The article outlined how Basini Family members robbed the bank and committed atrocities. Unlike other banks, Wells Fargo had not silenced the story but instead welcomed media coverage and tasked Blackshield Security with tracking the criminals.
Yesterday, Blackshield Security, in partnership with the Police, raided the Basini estate. Thanks to prior planning, the operation ended quickly. The full amount of stolen cash was recovered and verified by serial number.
The article quoted Ryan, who revealed that the operation was filmed for a future nationwide documentary. He also announced a formal partnership between Blackshield Security and the Police.
Other papers reported on the raid, featuring heroic images of Blackshield Security officers in action.
Due to prior media attention from Harry, this robbery had already caused a nationwide stir. Now, the resolution rekindled nationwide attention.
The United States now knew that the Basini Family—culprits behind the Wells Fargo heist—had been eliminated. Wells Fargo's image as a secure bank was firmly established, and Blackshield Security became a household name.
The upcoming documentary would only enhance this effect.
Eventually, the public learned that both companies had the same owner and that the entire publicity campaign had been orchestrated. The plan was hailed as a marketing masterstroke.
Silverline Studios would handle distribution. As for box office numbers, George didn't care—the bigger benefits had already been gained.
Though both companies were George's, they maintained separate accounts and signed formal security contracts. Blackshield Security's 100+ staff couldn't fully cover all Wells Fargo branches.
George instructed Ryan to expand recruitment. His plan included a three-tier security system: a base level of personnel trained like special forces, a more advanced intermediate tier for specialized missions, and a top-level elite unit—George's future sharpest weapon.
'Let the world see what true security means,' George thought. 'This was only the beginning.'
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Here's this news article that I wrote, and yes, you'll be getting such spin-off articles, or part of stories from here on, whenever I think it's necessary for you, readers, to truly feel what's going on in the world of Marvel 1919.
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🗞️ The San Francisco TimesJuly 3, 1925 | Op-Ed Section
"The End of the State's Monopoly on Force?"
By Arthur Langford, Political Correspondent
Last week's elimination of the notorious Basini Crime Family, in a swift and bloody campaign led not by our city's police but by a private firm—Blackshield Security—has left the public both reassured and rattled.
The recovery of the entire stolen sum from the Wells Fargo Bank, executed with military precision and documented on film, has been hailed as a triumph. The mayor himself congratulated the effort, describing it as "a model of public-private cooperation."
Yet behind the pageantry and patriotic headlines, a far graver question lurks:
Has the United States quietly taken its first step toward surrendering the monopoly on force—a cornerstone of sovereign governance—to private enterprise?
A New Kind of Firepower
Blackshield Security, a subsidiary of the little-known PL Holding Group, now fields a force rivaling any state police in manpower, armament, and tactical ability. Uniformed, masked, and armed with war-grade rifles, their operatives are described as "veterans trained beyond even their Great War days."
One cannot help but admire the efficiency. But admiration soon gives way to inquiry:
Who audits them? Who governs their rules of engagement? And to whom are they truly loyal?
The Price of Efficiency
It is true—our own police departments remain bogged in bureaucracy, starved of modern weaponry, and tangled in outdated regulations. In contrast, Blackshield deploys with cinematic flair, logistical self-reliance, and media control that borders on myth-making.
But in choosing convenience over sovereignty, are we opening a door we cannot later close?
The State may outsource security today, but it cannot outsource responsibility tomorrow.
History teaches that armed power rarely remains passive. Rome once hired mercenaries to defend its borders; it died when the mercenaries stopped taking orders.
The Velvet Glove or the Iron Fist?
What happens when Blackshield is deployed in a labor strike? Or a political protest? If the mayor of tomorrow asks them to suppress dissent, who draws the line? And who ensures they obey it?
More curiously, what if one day Blackshield refuses a mayor's command?
This may sound like speculation—but then again, so did the idea of a bank hiring its own private army just one year ago.
In Closing
The fall of the Basini Family may signal the rise of something far more enduring:A world where protection is no longer a civic duty, but a commercial contract.
It is not our intent to impugn Mr. Orwell or his companies. By all accounts, they acted with honor and skill.
But let us not confuse results with precedent. If this is to be the new normal, the people have the right—indeed, the duty—to debate it.
For when the gun is no longer held by the State, but by the company,We must ask: Who, then, holds the company?
🖋 Letters to the Editor may be sent to 148 Mason Street, San Francisco.Submissions are subject to review and abridgment.