Empire of Shadows

All night, Sam was cursing and swearing. The people he'd asked Lance for had returned.

But they came back hanging from nooses!

He didn't know when Lance and his people had come to his property and hung the two men from the spires of the attic.

Whenever the wind blew, they would sway.

When the wind was light, it made a 'thump, thump, thump' sound, but when the wind was strong, it was like a final blow to the soul!

When the two men were taken down from the house, they were already frozen stiff. The sub-zero sea breeze could kill a person in no time.

It wasn't that Sam had never seen dead people before, but he threw up when he saw these two corpses.

The exposed parts of their bodies were rubbed raw against the outer walls and roof. He ordered people to bury them as soon as possible; he never wanted to see them again.

He didn't sleep well all night; every time he closed his eyes, he saw the image of the corpses slamming against the window.

This also filled him with fear, fear that something might suddenly crash into his bedroom window.

Fear, even terror!

That one day, he too would be hung somewhere like that by someone.

And when the wind blew, he would sway back and forth with it.

At the same time, he understood a truth.

Lance seemed normal, but in reality, he was crazy!

It was better not to provoke him casually!

He had made a decision.

He had given up so much over the years – dignity, principles, personality – to get to where he was today. He wouldn't let these things cause him to fall.

He had sworn to the past self that still lingered in his memory, the self that still harbored dreams and hopes, that he would become a person above others!

In the next few days, everything seemed to return to calm. However, in the Imperial District, many people were discussing one thing: the Imperial Chamber of Commerce.

Some people felt… this was just another way for the Lance family to collect protection money, a trick. They even asserted with conviction—

"Once you join the Lance Chamber of Commerce, you'll find that they definitely have things like junior members, intermediate members, and senior members."

"They'll definitely try to get you to become a senior member because senior members will definitely pay more!"

"Ten dollars is only for junior members; maybe intermediate members will have to pay twenty or thirty, and senior members will have to pay forty or fifty, or even more."

"I think it's very possible. Although they have done some good things, they still have to make money, right?"

"How could anyone do so much without wanting to make money?"

There were many diverse opinions, and no one could easily convince anyone else.

The Lance family's actions during this period had turned many people into their supporters. These supporters and the habitual opponents became the focus of street arguments.

They stood together in groups of three or five, chatting or arguing. Whenever someone from the Lance family passed by, they would shut their mouths.

But as soon as the person left, they would definitely continue arguing.

In a cafe in the district, Mr. Chobaf, who had returned from out of town, was drinking coffee, listening to the conversations in the cafe.

His assistant sat across from him.

He had gone to the state government recently because of the New Year.

The mayor needed to extend courtesy greetings to some Social Democrats in the state government, which meant sending money and gifts.

Federals actually did the same, and they cared even more about the formality.

Chobaf had previously heard that the Federal government and parties were clean, efficient, free, and enlightened.

Everyone was conducting official business, there were no private dealings, and no one accepted bribes. Everything seemed fair and just.

He had once firmly believed this because he had given gifts before, but no one wanted them.

But in reality, that was only because he hadn't joined their system, hadn't joined their circle. He was an 'outsider'.

So they didn't play with him, and they wouldn't accept his gifts. Who knew if he really wanted to give gifts, or if he wanted to seize a handle, a piece of evidence.

For a while, their behavior of closing the door on him made him feel that those claims were true, that there was no need to deal with complex interpersonal relationships, no need to deal with complex political relationships, just conduct official business.

But when he joined this circle, he realized that everything was fake.

He was responsible for contacting more than twenty Social Democrats, and the average gift and cash sent to each person added up to about fifteen hundred dollars.

Five hundred dollars in gifts and a thousand dollars in cash; this was just a New Year's gift to maintain the relationship.

Not only him, but others were also doing the same work as him. There were many people who wanted to curry favor with the mayor, but compared to Chobaf, their lives were obviously better because they were all Federals.

Actually, he was willing to send money and gifts this time because it was actually equivalent to him expanding his network.

Although this time others accepted his gifts because of the mayor's face, he had already exchanged business cards with these gentlemen. Next time, he could bypass the mayor and contact these people directly.

However, he would be very careful and cautious in doing so. He would not bypass the mayor unless absolutely necessary. He understood this point of interest.

This trip cost a total of more than forty-five thousand dollars. Since he joined the mayor's camp, he had been constantly spending money, which made him very distressed!

He had already decided to go all the way to the end, so naturally he could only do this.

Just after returning to Goldport City, he heard people discussing.

He put down his coffee cup, "Lance's ambitions are really big!"

"What has he been up to lately?"

He had considered the idea of a chamber of commerce, but it never materialized. One reason was that few of these immigrants were wealthy. If they were all poor people, it would be better not to do it.

The purpose of a chamber of commerce was to exchange resources, but what resources did he have to exchange with those poor people?

Although there were also a few wealthy people, they didn't come to play often, and it wasn't appropriate to suddenly invite them, so the matter ended there.

He spent money to organize a regular gathering at St. Naya Cathedral, which was equivalent to a kind of 'chamber of commerce'. Everyone periodically exchanged some experiences and shared some opportunities.

But he didn't expect Lance to actually plan to do it.

He didn't know where Lance got the confidence, but he felt that this matter was definitely not simple.

"Contact him and say that we also plan to join his chamber of commerce."

The assistant nodded. After his beloved nephew died, he had undergone some huge changes. He was no longer as energetic as before, and he had become much more dull.

Chobaf watched the people around him chatting enthusiastically, as if dispelling the cold air outside. He suddenly felt a little bored.

Then he left a one-dollar bill and a twenty-five-cent coin on the table, and then got up and left.

He used to like doing this, sitting among the common people, listening to them talk about their lives and work, and then at some point, being recognized by some people, and then chatting with everyone in a very amiable way, and helping them pay the bill.

Mr. Chobaf's good reputation came from this. People always said that he didn't have the arrogance of a big capitalist, that he was approachable and very generous.

But now, when the object of people's discussion was no longer him, but Lance, he suddenly felt… that his approach was so boring!

Until now, no one had noticed him. They were always talking about Lance and everything about the Lance family, and his chamber of commerce, and his funding.

He could feel that the Imperial District had changed, and the people living in the Imperial District had changed.

Whether they were saying good things about Lance or bad things about Lance, they were all talking about Lance, without his share.

The assistant opened the door of the coffee shop, and the cold wind with snowflakes blew in. The gentlemen near the door tightened their clothes and glanced back, then withdrew their gaze.

Mr. Chobaf's hand was on his hat, and he walked out into the wind.

The weather was very cold, but people's hearts didn't seem to be cold, except for his.

After returning to the villa, the assistant contacted Lance, but soon he brought back a bad result.

"Lance didn't agree," he said truthfully.

Mr. Chobaf, who was reading the newspaper, was a little surprised. He lowered his head slightly, looking at the assistant through the gap between his forehead and the eyeglass frame, "What did he say?"

The assistant repeated their conversation—

"I asked him about the Chamber of Commerce, and he said that there was indeed such a thing. Then I asked if you also wanted to join the Chamber of Commerce, and he said that there were no specific plans for the time being."

At this point, Mr. Chobaf roughly understood, and he could also understand Lance's consideration in doing so.

Because after all, although Lance was rising rapidly, Mr. Chobaf was obviously better in terms of popularity and authority.

At least in the eyes of ordinary people, they were more willing to believe this banker who managed everyone's money bags, rather than the head of a family.

And Mr. Chobaf's position in the hearts of these people was accumulated little by little over many years.

Perhaps they were beginning to chase Lance, but in a short period of time, Lance was still not as good as him.

Lance was afraid that after he joined the Chamber of Commerce, he would become the core of the Chamber of Commerce instead. Mr. Chobaf couldn't help but smile, but as he smiled, he couldn't smile anymore.

His expression gradually became calm, "I understand, you go ahead and do your work."

After the assistant left, he looked out at the snowflakes that were starting to flutter again with melancholy, and sighed silently.

The weather was freezing, and even the police were unwilling to leave the police station. Occasionally, when there were patrol missions, the old policemen would push the work to the young patrolmen.

Even the coastal patrol wouldn't bother going out to sea in such terrible weather conditions.

The wind and waves at sea were even stronger and colder. In this godforsaken weather, there certainly wouldn't be any smuggling boats or smugglers…

Meanwhile, Lance stood on the ship, rubbing his hands. They were about twenty nautical miles from the shore. He and Luigi had agreed to meet here to take delivery.

Because he had ordered cheap liquor, it was impossible to deliver it all at once, requiring several trips.

Considering the 200,000 in payment and at least 40,000 in profit, Luigi didn't mind making a few extra trips.

Lance had borrowed several ships from Alberto. Alberto hadn't returned yet. It was said that after Lance left, he continued south to vacation in a place full of beaches and beautiful women. That lucky guy.

And he, on the other hand, had to receive the goods here in the freezing cold.

However, thinking that soon this first batch of seventy to eighty thousand worth of liquor would turn into one hundred thousand or even more, he felt like he had drunk potato vodka, and his whole body was on fire!

"A ship is coming!"

A light suddenly appeared on the gray sea. Laun began to control the flickering of a lamp, which was the signal.

Three long, two short, two short, three long, long long short short, short short long long.

"It's them!"

Only Luigi and Lance's men knew this signal. Soon, the sound of a diesel engine echoed on the sea. Before long, a transport ship broke through the mist and appeared before them.

After the two ships approached and confirmed each other's identities, Lance came out of the cabin.

The one who came to deliver the goods was Luigi's trusted subordinate, a guy named Samuel, whom they had met in Aldra.

The two hugged. Samuel seemed very enthusiastic. "Before coming, Mr. Luigi told me to be sure to send his regards. He couldn't come in person due to some important matters, so he asks for your understanding."

These were just polite words. You could listen to them, but you couldn't take them seriously. Which boss would personally risk delivering goods?

This was only Lance's first time coming. Next time, he wouldn't come to pick up the goods himself.

He expressed his agreement and gratitude for Mr. Luigi's thoughts, and then had people start unloading the liquor.

This time, they mainly delivered potato vodka and mixed fruit wine. These were exactly what Lance needed now, and nothing else.

Especially the potato vodka. If you mixed a little something into this stuff, it became a blended liquor, and one bottle could be worth several bottles.

At the same time, he also took out a briefcase from the cabin and opened it in front of Samuel. Luigi's men gasped.

"Sixty-five thousand. Do you need to count it?"

Samuel didn't say anything and randomly took out a roll. They were all old ten or twenty dollar bills, with fifty bills in each roll.

He took out some from different locations in the bag, confirmed that there were no problems, and simply counted them before zipping it up.

The two hugged again. "No problem. You are very trustworthy, Mr. Lance."

Lance smiled. The two stood by the window watching a group of people working on the swaying sea. After about thirty minutes, the last box was sent back to the ship.

The two shook hands, hugged again, and then separated.

Watching Samuel's ship disappear into the mist and snowflakes, Lance and his crew also began to return to the pier.

Before this, Elvin had rented a warehouse at the pier. It was said that there might be liquor in the surrounding warehouses as well, so he wasn't afraid at all.

When the time came, they would all die together. Let's see who would dare to investigate!

Now, some places on the pier were minefields. Investigating once meant death—whoever investigated would die!

Lance even suspected that some of the liquor he sold to Mr. Pasreto was also at the pier.

But he didn't care about that. In the snowy world, they returned smoothly.

These liquors were all sent into the warehouse, and some were sent to the workers' club.

It would be opening soon.

"Are the girls willing to come and work?" Lance and everyone walked together to the workers' club. There were still people working on the pier at this time.

When they saw Lance, they greeted him warmly, and Lance responded enthusiastically, without any airs.

There were many people around him this time, so no one approached.

Elvin nodded. "I told the girls that Sam and Booker wouldn't cause them any more trouble. Some of them have already gone back to work, and some of the others are willing to work at the club."

"Also…"

Lance stopped and looked at Elvin. Elvin scratched his head. "Didn't you ask me to find strippers?"

"Some of our own people want to do this."

"Our own people?"

"We only have two people!"

Elvin quickly explained, "They are some dancers who came from the Empire. They heard that we were hiring and wanted to transfer here."

"We have a lot of authority in certain areas," he said with a slight upturn of his lips.

Lance continued to walk forward, and a large group of people began to move again. "If they are willing, let them come. That way, we can take care of them."

"I still say the same thing, don't force anyone to do something they don't want to do."

Elvin nodded. "I know."

Even if Lance didn't accept them, they would still be doing these jobs, and in other strip clubs or strip bars, they would often have to face harassment.

On the contrary, they wouldn't have to worry about being bullied on Lance's side, so these dancers all hoped to transfer over.

"When the next batch of liquor arrives, the bar will be able to open, and we may need more dancers then."

Elvin kept it in mind.

The workers' club was basically decorated, and there was still a bit of paint smell to dissipate.

The federal houses are mainly of two types, one is steel structure, one is wood structure. Now the federal houses rarely use paint or latex paint or any paint, most of them are logs, so there is no need to consider the problem of formaldehyde.

The house was decorated well, mainly because it was strong enough. There would be many entertainment and decompression activities here. The workers were strong, so it certainly needed to be stronger.

After taking a turn, Lance nodded with satisfaction. "That's about it…"

The news about the upcoming opening of the pier workers' club spread quickly on the pier. Many workers were asking about cheap liquor, cheap fried chicken, and free boobs and butts to watch.

Once they truly integrate into it, they will find that these things are not very important!

Of course, before that, Lance had one more thing to do—the Empire District Branch dart competition!

As a sponsor, Lance would definitely attend.

Some people did similar things but didn't show up themselves, letting their subordinates show up. He was very puzzled. Since they chose to spend money, why not put the favor on themselves? He didn't quite understand.

But he certainly wouldn't do that.

Since there were not many branch officers, the results could be obtained in two days. When the branch chief Blue's strong competitor accidentally threw the dart out of the dartboard under tension, revealing a look of annoyance and losing the championship to Blue, the dart competition came to an end.

Blue wiped the sweat from his face, took the cash from Lance's hand, and accepted Lance's praise—a thrilling game!