Editing Jim (section)

=== The Yakuza Crisis ===
Following the events of the [[Second Paleto Crisis]], the balance of power in the criminal underworld once again shifted. This time, the focus was primarily on Edward, as the Yakuza placed a financial burden on him, because of his history with the Yakuza and refusing to cut off his finger. This eventually caused a disruption in all syndicate operations rather than engaging in open conflict. Their resurgence came in the form of an economic stranglehold—seizing shipments, blocking trade routes, and imposing an embargo on all syndicate-controlled goods.

For Jim, this conflict was far more personal. His past with the Yakuza, tied to the murder of his wife, had never truly been put to rest. Unlike Edward, who was focused on resolving the financial strain, Jim had a deep-rooted hatred for the organization. While others viewed the crisis as a logistical challenge, Jim saw it as an opportunity to take the fight directly to them. However, the other syndicates were more cautious, knowing that direct confrontation with the Yakuza could be disastrous.

With the embargo tightening, the syndicates held a meeting to discuss a solution. The proposal on the table was hiring [[Hans Naumann]], a skilled smuggler with the expertise to bypass the Yakuza blockade. The price: 5% of all syndicate income. Jim strongly opposed the idea, believing that taking aggressive action against the Yakuza was the only way to break their hold. However, he was ultimately outvoted 3-1, and Hans was brought in to handle smuggling operations.

Despite his reluctance, Jim had no choice but to work with Hans as the syndicates adapted to the new circumstances. While he disliked relying on an outsider, the smuggler proved effective, ensuring that essential goods continued to flow despite the Yakuza’s efforts. However, Hans’s lack of professionalism became evident when the Yakuza managed to steal a USB stick containing sensitive data on the syndicates and their customers from his safehouse in Bay City Avenue. Jim openly called out Hans for his failure to encrypt the data, considering it a reckless mistake that put everyone at risk.

The crisis came to a brutal end when Billy McBardigael, acting alone, drilled into the Land Act Reservoir facility, the Yakuza's headquarters in Los Santos, and massacred hundreds in a single night. Their leadership wiped out, the Yakuza’s influence crumbled instantly. Edward was relieved, while Jim found the outcome both unexpected and satisfying, though not the strategic fight he had envisioned. Still, he knew such reckless actions rarely came without consequences.

During the chaos, Alexa secretly retrieved the stolen [[Hans's USB Stick|USB stick]], copying its contents to a hard drive in her agency before returning it to Hans. Jim, unaware of her actions, was already frustrated with Hans’s incompetence and how the syndicates had handled the situation.