Empire of Shadows

After the Brookside Precinct Captain won the precinct dart competition and happily accepted the thousand dollars provided by the sponsor, he returned to his office with Lance.

This time, the Brookside Precinct Captain didn't sit behind his desk, but instead sat on the sofa with Lance, and he even had his secretary bring in two cups of good coffee.

The coffee was fragrant and mellow, and the policewoman's gaze lingered on Lance for a moment before she turned and left.

Money and youth always attract more members of the opposite sex.

"Brookside, do you mind if I call you that?" Lance asked, omitting the formal title.

The Brookside Precinct Captain certainly didn't mind. In fact, although this money wasn't a huge sum for him, it was definitely not a small amount either.

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With this money as a foundation, the Brookside Precinct Captain would naturally be very agreeable. "Of course not, Lance. My friends all call me that."

Lance nodded, looking very happy, as if celebrating the fact that they could become good friends.

"I know a journalist friend, a big reporter from 'Goldenport Today'. I talked to him about the recent changes in the Empire District, and he was very impressed with how well you've managed it. He's planning to give you one-eighth of a page in the 'Goldenport Today' current affairs section."

The Brookside Precinct Captain's eyes widened slightly. Although he knew that he probably wouldn't be able to rise to those impossible heights in his lifetime, who really wants to bow down to the future?

Moreover, 'Goldenport Today' is one of the most influential newspapers in Goldenport City. Its position in people's minds is like that of 'Federal Daily' and 'Federal Post'.

If he could have one-eighth of a page in 'Goldenport Today' to describe himself, that would definitely be a great thing!

Even if he didn't have the chance to become the city's police chief, perhaps he could transfer to a better precinct.

Goldenport City has four lucrative districts. The first is the Bay Area, and there's a secret that only the police know there—

If you want to be the city's police chief, you must first conquer the Bay Area!

This means that without the support of the wealthy politicians in the Bay Area, no one can sit firmly in the position of city police chief.

That includes the current Chief Charlie. He's been chief for over forty years, and he spent more than ten years working in the Bay Area, keeping those bigwigs happy. So he became the city's police chief without any obstacles.

As long as you go there, it means that money and status are within easy reach.

The second district is Starlight District. This is where the upper class goes for entertainment between dinner and bedtime. The same glass of wine that sells for three dollars in the Empire District sells for ten dollars here.

It's not that the people here are stupid, but these amounts of money are no different from three dollars to them.

Although many of the entertainment venues operating here have strong backing, they still abide by the rules, pay regulatory fees, and pay a lot.

Troubles that can be solved with money are never troubles for the rich!

As for the third district, it's the City Center.

The City Center is full of high-rise buildings, filled with various rapidly emerging financial companies, as well as some other companies.

There are also large shopping malls and shopping centers here, but its financial and working atmosphere is stronger.

People mostly spend their time in busy work. They are in a hurry and have no time to stop and look at the shops on the roadside to pick out their favorite products.

They mostly come here in a hurry and then leave in a hurry.

The last district is Precia District. It is located between the Port District, the Bay Area, the Empire District, and the Starlight District. It is home to the largest middle class in Goldenport City, and also has the largest middle-class community.

The middle class has strong spending power, perhaps not as much as the wealthy district, but they have a large number of people and a strong desire to spend, so business in this district is also very good, but only for well-known brands.

It is possible for the rich or politicians, the upper class, to be deceived by fake goods. Many of them don't know what a certain series under a certain brand is like, or how to distinguish it.

But the middle class will definitely know. They may know more details about brands and products than the sales staff. Although there are also counterfeiters here, their lives are not very easy.

The middle class has a strong ability to identify fakes. After discovering that they have been deceived, they will not be as impotently furious as the lower class, but will directly call the police or sue.

The Brookside Precinct Captain wanted to go to the police stations in those more prosperous areas, which would not only bring him higher income, but also allow him to expand his network and prepare for his descendants.

The police station, his job, is like the "car" on his life's path to him. If there is a chance to change to a better car, then why not do it?

Getting into the newspaper and letting more big shots see him is one of the few ways he can work towards that goal now.

But wanting to have a piece of his own news in 'Goldenport Today', let alone one-eighth, even one-thirty-second, or even a middle seam, is very difficult.

When Lance mentioned this matter, the impact of the thousand dollars was no longer so strong.

He shifted his body, leaning back a little, "Who do you know at 'Goldenport Today'?"

Lance didn't deny it, "A big reporter."

"A big reporter!" The Brookside Precinct Captain repeated, licking his lips, "But I don't know what we have here that can be reported."

Lance shook his head, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Our治安is the best in Goldenport City right now. That's a great reporting angle."

"Brookside, you should understand very well that compared to the poor people living here or in the Port District, the middle class and the rich care more about whether their safety can be guaranteed!"

"If you can manage it well even in such a poor, backward, and violent area, then maybe those rich people will one day think…"

"Why don't we let Brookside try it here?" His tone was full of temptation, making the Brookside Precinct Captain couldn't help but imagine along with his words.

A hint of a smile appeared on his face, but he didn't realize it himself.

"As long as they have this idea, then your opportunity will appear."

After the Brookside Precinct Captain thought about it seriously for a while, he became a little worried again, "But we all know that the good治安in the Empire District now is not entirely due to me or the police station."

Lance catches the criminals, beats them up, and then sends them to the police station. They have even discussed it and made a schedule.

Whose credit it is for those sent in the morning, whose credit it is for those sent in the afternoon, and also the first half of the night and the second half of the night.

They get credit for doing nothing, and everyone likes Lance now.

But if there were no Lance, then this place would soon become a mess again, so in fact they need Lance more than Lance needs them!

Lance wasn't worried at all, "If they want to transfer you over, it can only mean that your predecessor did a terrible job."

"For them, this is already a very bad situation, otherwise they wouldn't transfer you over. Even if you don't do well, they can blame it on your predecessor."

"But as long as there is a little improvement, they will feel that you are indeed more capable than your predecessor."

"Moreover, Brookside, I will help you. We are friends!"

Whether they were friends or not, the Brookside Precinct Captain didn't know at all, but he was really tempted.

He sat and thought for a long time before his gaze became a little less "infatuated", "Lance, you must have something you need from me."

"You said it yourself, we are friends, you can just say it!" He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and the two of them leaned in to light them.

Cigarettes are the best "stimulant" for men when discussing things. They can have many miraculous effects.

For example, two strangers can get to know each other because of a cigarette. This seems incredible to some non-smokers!

Lance also leaned back on the sofa, both of them relaxed and not nervous at all, "I plan to unify the Empire District."

The Brookside Precinct Captain didn't react at first, "Indeed should…", he suddenly sat up straight, and because of the violent movement, the cigarette slipped and fell onto his pants.

He quickly stood up and patted his trouser legs, which made Lance couldn't help but smile, "You don't have to be so nervous."

"Nervous?" He looked up at Lance, "If I heard correctly, you said you want to unify the Empire District, and that means you want to drive the Red Dog Gang out of the Empire District?"

He sat back down, frowning, "Lance, the war between you and the Camilla Gang has just ended, how long has it been, and you plan to launch a new round of gang wars?"

"Although there are some things I don't want to say, you need to know that the big shots defaulted to you and Heller firing without restrictions because things have changed."

"In fact, all of us thought you would fall, but you not only didn't fall, but also gave Heller a strong counterattack."

"Do you know what this means?" he asked.

Lance certainly knew, but obviously the Brookside Precinct Captain wanted to say it himself, "It means that the Camilla Gang and Heller's dominance are declining. Even if you don't continue to cause them trouble, they will attract new challengers because they can't even deal with you."

"At that time, some challengers who covet the Camilla Gang's territory and wealth will cause huge chaos here with them!"

"The street is full of new families, big and small. The order in the Imperial District is collapsing. That's why those big shots won't move when you decide to fight them to the end."

"They're watching, waiting."

"Watching to see who will be the ultimate winner, waiting for the moment the victor emerges, which will be when the new order is re-established."

"If Heller wins, he'll use your death and your family's to tell people that they're still the rulers here."

"If you win, then everyone will know that a new family has stepped on the corpses of the Camilla gang to become the new king."

"No matter who wins, it will only stabilize things here, not make them worse."

"The worst outcome is if you don't go to war, so everyone wants you to do it, and no one will stop you."

"Everyone wants this city to be stable. If you keep starting gang wars, that's what everyone doesn't want to see."

"The five major families have brought too much pain to this city. No one wants to see that day repeated!"

Lance watched him speak excitedly, a cigarette in his mouth, raising a hand to calm him down. "Sit down, Blue, sit down, don't get excited."

Blue, the precinct chief, slowly sat down. After saying so much in one breath, he picked up his coffee and took a big gulp. "Listen to me, don't mess around, Lance."

Lance shook his head slightly. "Actually, you don't understand."

He paused for a moment. "I won't actively start a war with them, but if they attack me first, don't blame me for taking action."

Precinct Chief Blue thought for a moment and gave him a definite answer: "That's the best thing to do. If they break the rules first, then it's much more reasonable for you to deal with them!"

When he said this, he also understood that Lance's purpose in saying this was to tell him that Lance would force the Red Dog gang to strike first, and then justifiably take ruthless action.

"When the time comes, I'll need you to help us cover it up a little. Once we start, we plan to end the war as quickly as possible, so as not to bring too much fear to the district."

Precinct Chief Blue very much agreed with this.

In fact, he still hoped that Lance would be okay. Such an interesting person is not often seen.

However, now that he knew Lance's purpose, he had no worries about publishing the newspaper article.

After this topic ended, he waited for a while before turning the topic back. "Do you think it looks better to have me working in the office in the newspaper, or is it more attractive when I'm patrolling in my car?"

The next morning, Lance invited George out to a coffee shop next to the 'Goldenport Today' newspaper office.

George had been doing pretty well recently. Lance sometimes used him to place ads in 'Goldenport Today' for the labor service agency.

Although the reporter's status in the newspaper office is directly proportional to their influence in society, it would definitely be more popular if they could also achieve some significant improvements in revenue.

Moreover, Lance also opened up some ideas for him when writing articles, and he had a good relationship with Lance.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Lance explained his intention: "I would like to ask you to write a report."

George asked while drinking coffee, "What kind of report?"

"About some of the livelihood issues in the Imperial District."

Originally, George thought that Lance might need some news to beautify himself. The Lance family and Lance were no small news or small matter.

Most of the people in Goldenport City knew about such a family and person, and they also knew what they had done.

So George's initial thought was that Lance might want to whitewash himself, which some people were doing now, such as the Kodar family.

They often appeared in newspapers. The younger generation of the family would appear in newspapers with a "ridiculous" image, but every time they appeared, they were surrounded by children from other upper-class families in Goldenport City.

In addition, they also liked to donate money and actively pay taxes, all of which were positive images, which helped them whitewash.

If Lance also planned to have George write some content praising him for doing good deeds, then George would refuse.

He would not use his future to help Lance do anything, nor was that something that friends should do.

But Lance's opening remark was about people's livelihood, which piqued his interest.

Lance said very frankly, "I have some victims from the Camilla family's time here. Perhaps people would be interested in what they have experienced and the current situation in the Imperial District."

George frowned, took out a cigarette, and smoked while thinking.

After waiting for about three or four minutes, he nodded, "A very informative topic. Are those victims willing to stand up?"

"I mean, if they need to face the camera and society, can they face it calmly?"

Lance nodded and said, "Of course, but I have a small request."

George was happy to have a new report coming up, and it was very likely to be a serialized report, so at this time, if Lance had some small requests, he would not refuse.

This may be a rare serialized report in recent years that directly hits the subject of gang crime. He had already imagined the Golden Newspaper Award waving to him!

Although many news practitioners say that the trophy of the Golden Newspaper Award looks like a fucking used toilet paper flying in the air, that sour tone still can't hide the jealousy in their hearts!

That's the Golden Newspaper Award, the top news award!

"What requests are there between us?" George was very generous, without the caution he had just shown.

Lance was also polite. "I hope that the director of the Imperial District Branch, Mr. Blue, can appear in the report with a positive image."

"No problem!"

After agreeing on a time, the two separated. George also had to investigate some information to make the entire report more complete, more objective, and more likely to participate in the competition for the Golden Newspaper Award.

If he could win this award, then he would have more choices in his work.

After two days of fermentation, people have continued to sign up to join the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, and this number is only less than 400 people.

Currently, there are at least 1,200 operators in Lance's territory, which means that only one-third, or even less than one-third, have chosen to join the Chamber of Commerce and pay the ten yuan.

Everyone felt a little unbalanced.

They maintained the security of the streets and helped them avoid being bullied by gangs, but now, in order to save ten yuan, they didn't even want the most basic decency!

At this time, some people clamored for Lance to restore the tradition, directly come to the door to demand it, and if they didn't give it, they wouldn't let them do business.

Many people supported this idea, but Lance rejected it.

"They will soon regret it, but when they regret it, it will be too late."

"You don't have to worry at all. They should be worried. Wait a little longer and let the sea breeze blow for a while!"

"Although the sea breeze is cold, spring will always come!"