Editing Jim (section)

=== The Interbellum ===
Following the First Paleto Crisis, a tense period of uncertainty settled over the syndicates. The city’s criminal underworld was shifting, alliances were becoming strained, and Jim found himself caught between growing tensions. With Damian out of the picture, at least for the moment, the focus shifted toward consolidating power and fortifying existing operations.

During this time, [[Giuseppe Marcano]] entered the scene and introduced the concept of the Commission—a structured criminal network meant to regulate disputes and maintain order among the major syndicates. While Edward saw this as a way to strengthen his own influence and Alexa carefully analyzed its potential, Jim remained skeptical. He had never been one for rigid hierarchies and wasn’t sure if Giuseppe could be trusted, but he and the others decided to give the Commission a shot anyway. Still, he saw it as just another bureaucracy that would eventually crumble under the weight of competing egos.

Jim used the [[The Interbellum|Interbellum period]] to further reinforce his own operations, by buying new businesses and equipment, ensuring that whatever happened with the Commission, he wouldn’t be left vulnerable. He maintained his neutrality, avoiding unnecessary entanglements while keeping a close eye on how things unfolded. Edward, eager to establish his power, pushed for aggressive expansion, while Alexa worked quietly in the background, securing her own position. Jim, however, stayed the course, choosing patience over ambition.

As the dust settled from the Interbellum, Tony abruptly left, distancing himself from the syndicate conflicts entirely. Meanwhile, in a bizarre turn of events, [[Billy McBardigael]] was resurrected through an unconventional ritual, returning to the criminal world as if he had never left. Jim, ever the pragmatist, didn’t waste time questioning the how or why—Billy was back, and that meant another unpredictable force in the underworld. While Edward welcomed Billy’s return, Jim remained cautious, recognizing that this development would inevitably shift the balance of power once again.