The Founding of Proper Villains, LLC
Harlan Li Vương III was born to Vietnamese immigrant parents who believed that real worth came from action, not appearances. They raised him to value loyalty, hard work, and humility — lessons that would come to define not just his career, but his entire approach to life. As he grew into the world of information technology, Harlan carried those values into industries better known for finger-pointing than for fixing problems, determined to do things differently.
Across the country, another story was unfolding…
Obadiah Stertz III, born and raised on the tough streets of New York City, learned early that survival wasn’t about who talked the loudest — it was about who got things done. Street-smart, fearless, and sharp as a razor, Obadiah carved his reputation in the world of telecommunications, mastering the chaos of networks with the same precision he once used to navigate the hard neighborhoods of his youth.
Two men. Two worlds.
And yet, when their paths crossed, it was clear they spoke the same language:
results first, blame never.
Their first encounter wasn’t built on handshakes or formal introductions — it was forged in the fire of crisis.
A critical system outage had left operations crippled, and everyone else was gearing up for the familiar blame game between IT and Telecom.
Instead, Harlan and Obadiah simply locked eyes, nodded once, and got to work.
No titles. No egos. No excuses.
Within hours, the main systems were restored and new equipment was installed, with the exception of one stubborn T1 line that remained offline. The provider technician would only be available remotely the next morning at 8:00 AM EST to activate the line — but someone needed to be on-site at 5:00 AM to prepare the remote terminal.
Both men agreed to be there — but the real question lingered: would they actually show up?
Both did.
And waiting for Harlan that morning?
A Dunkin' Donuts coffee — cream and sugar,
just how he liked it, handed to him by Obadiah with a sly grin and the words,
"Told you, proper villains don’t sleep in."
It wasn’t just coffee.
It was a promise.
Later that week, over even more coffee, shared meals, and what they jokingly called “porch drinking” — Obadiah with his bourbon, Harlan with his vodka — they found a bond that ran far deeper than work. They swapped stories of late-night fixes, impossible clients, jobs that failed, and the scars that only this business could leave. There were plenty of laughs, a few hard truths, and even quiet moments only old friends could understand. Somewhere between the laughter, the drinks, and the bruised memories, they realized they weren’t just colleagues — they were brothers-in-arms.
It was then they decided it was time to build something different — something honest, fast, and loyal.
A place where respect was earned, not given.
A place where skill, grit, and loyalty meant more than titles or politics.
The phrase “proper villains,” borrowed from their favorite scene in Ocean’s Eleven, felt like the perfect name — a tribute to being the kind of professionals who didn’t make excuses, didn’t play games, and always got the job done.
Proper Villains, LLC was born — out of loyalty, grit, and the promise to always be the ones you could count on when it mattered most.
For the next few years, Harlan and Obadiah grew Proper Villains, LLC side by side, driven by a simple but powerful code:
Skill over blame. Loyalty over ego. Solutions over excuses.
But life, as it often does, eventually led them down different roads.
Though Harlan never received a formal reason, he understood — real respect doesn’t always need a long explanation.
Before parting ways, they shared one last meal, one last drink, and a few words that didn’t need much saying.
No arguments. No bitterness. Just the quiet, mutual understanding that it was time to move on to new ventures.
Their paths might cross again someday — or maybe not.
Either way, the bond they built, and the spirit they created with Proper Villains, would always endure.
Today, Harlan Li Vương III carries forward the spirit they built together, leading Proper Villains, LLC with the same gritty loyalty and relentless drive that started it all.
And though Obadiah Stertz has moved on, his legacy — forged in loyalty, grit, and a shared cup of coffee on a cold morning — will forever remain a part of Proper Villains’ soul.
