Empire of Shadows

Luca really didn't want to continue working in Lawrence's family business, dealing with agricultural products all day long. After a long time, he either smelled like cow dung or had the fishy smell of soil.

He wanted to do something different and get rid of those annoying family affairs.

Lance gave him a new option, and he gladly accepted it.

Subsequently, he took Lance's money to register a shell company and submitted a transaction application to the Ligee Group.

The entire process was reasonable, compliant, and legal. Whether it was registering a company or spending money to purchase Ligee Group's goods, these were all in accordance with federal laws.

As for the "delivery date" and the "high penalty for failure to deliver beyond the date" mentioned in the contract, they were also within the scope of contract law. You could choose not to sign, but you would definitely miss out on the profits from this business.

Lance had used this trick before. They clearly suspected there might be a problem, but they still signed because the huge profits forced them to comply.

Of course, Lance also found a reason for the high penalty: the company was worried that the Ligee Group would not be able to supply these grains on time, so they used the method of increasing the penalty to urge them to handle this work better.

This kind of thing is very common in business. Sometimes business partners may make an unusual request, but as long as everything is justified, legal, and provides sufficient benefits, then the Ligee Group will not refuse.

They had no reason to refuse, even though they had just fought a fruitless lawsuit with Lance over this matter not long ago. But they still wouldn't take this lesson to heart.

It's not that they don't care about the outcome, but driven by profit, all capital behavior is based on the pursuit of higher profits.

On the last day of August, Lance arrived at the Pasreto family's manor with his people. In addition to him and Francisco, there was also Sarif.

Sarif was wearing a white coat. His arm still had a way to go before recovery. After the three people sat down, he directly brought up the matter to be discussed at the meeting.

"I've talked to Feigal (leader of the Keane family). He's not interested in the conflict between us and doesn't plan to intervene. So this time, the only ones we have to deal with are the Cassia family and the Korda family, who may provide them with assistance."

"So once we take action, we must be prepared that we are not only dealing with the Cassia family, but possibly also the support of the Korda family."

"The Korda family has preserved its strength very well in the past period. We must be careful."

Sarif's expression was slightly serious. If it was just the Cassia family, he wasn't very afraid, but behind the Cassia family was also Bandi Korda.

Bandi is relatively low-key to the outside world. In terms of fame, he is not as good as his brother Gory Korda, but his brain is more useful. Over the years, Bandi has woven a huge network of contacts for the Korda family and is a somewhat tricky opponent.

The Korda family had not directly taken action against them because of the mayor during this period, and had maintained appropriate contact. However, from Sarif's point of view, this was also a kind of betrayal!

As long as you don't stand on our side, then you must be an enemy!

These people are no longer trusted, so Sarif believes that the Korda family will obviously trust the Cassia family, who betrayed the five major families like them, more than trusting them.

They will definitely try to support Rick behind the scenes, whether it's money, weapons, or people, or even through some political means to achieve this goal.

Bandi will not sit idly by as the Cassia family is eliminated, otherwise their position will seem a bit awkward and fatal.

Even if Alberto chooses to stand on his side, it will not be easy for the two families to fight against the other two families.

Sarif originally wanted to bring Feigal into their camp. After all, the war between Feigal and the Bear Gang could also be said to be the result of the mayor's manipulation. He should stand on the side of these "victims."

However, Feigal very clearly rejected his invitation and stated that this matter had nothing directly to do with him.

The enemy he has is the Bear Gang, and the Bear Gang has already been driven away. He does not participate in the conflicts of other families.

This made Sarif a little angry. He realized that the five major families were no longer the five major families they used to be, and even had a feeling of being isolated.

Fortunately, however, Alberto found them another strong helper: Lance and his Lance family.

If we say that in King's Gold City, besides the five major families, which gang has the highest influence and prestige, without a doubt, it is the Lance family, which is usually relatively low-key.

Many people think that Lance's brain is not very good. They canceled the protection fees, and it is said that they also did some other things, and even took the initiative to maintain law and order, which is not like a normal gang at all.

However, it is undeniable that in the Empire District and the Port District, the Lance family's dominance is constantly climbing to new heights.

People also highly recognize them.

With his help, Sarif had greater confidence in the "revenge" matter.

After listening, Lance pondered for a while, "This is a black-and-white matter, it's either this way or that way, there is no third form or choice."

"Since the Keane family is unwilling to stand on our side, then we must also be careful in our subsequent work that they may suddenly stab us in the back. They may also be bought off."

Sarif was a little unbelieving, "Impossible, right?"

"I still know Feigal very well, he shouldn't do this kind of thing!"

Lance smiled and said, "You should also know Bandi, and also know Rick. What are they doing now?"

These words made Sarif shut his mouth, and even feel a little annoyed!

Before the conflict broke out, their relationship was indeed good, and they often made appointments to come out to play cards, play ball, and stuff.

Who knew that in the blink of an eye, they would be bought by the mayor and become their opponents.

Alberto tapped the table with his finger, "Let's not mention these for now, Sarif, what plans do you have for dealing with Rick and them?"

Sarif refocused his attention, and also seemed a little headache, "Rick has a lot of cheap gunmen under his command. Once the war restarts, we must end the battle as soon as possible."

"Bandi will definitely provide him with funds. As long as he has money in his hands, he can continuously smuggle gunmen over from Yalan."

"We have to use our brains to deal with him!"

Lance glanced at Alberto, "Can you find out how their people are being smuggled over, what route they are taking?"

Alberto considered for a while, "I can try. I also know some people on the Yalan side."

As he spoke, he thought of how Lance had dealt with Luigi's freighters, "Are you planning to intercept them at sea?"

When Sarif heard these words, his eyes changed slightly. Intercepting this kind of smuggling ship at sea is not a simple matter.

Either Lance has his own armed gunboats, but this seems unlikely.

Or he has a good relationship with the navy or the coast guard.

Thinking of this, although Sarif would feel happy because Lance's ability could solve this part of the trouble, he was also slightly wary.

As a magnate, he knows very well that when a force has not yet disrupted the balance of an ecosystem, everyone can coexist peacefully, and there is a basis for peaceful coexistence.

But when this force expands to a certain extent, it is like the most primitive ecological environment in nature, where the big eats the small becomes inevitable.

The five major families have also annexed many small gangs in order to maintain their rule over the years. The rapid expansion of the Lance family made him feel a vague threat.

Especially since their tentacles seem to have covered all aspects of King's Gold City, it is difficult for him not to develop a vigilant and defensive mentality.

Lance and Alberto did not notice Sarif's emotional changes. Even if they saw it, they could not guess what he was thinking in his heart.

Lance continued, "If we control it so that his people can't come over, then dealing with him will be much simpler."

Without the deterrent power of cheap gunmen, the Cassia family's strength will drop a lot.

Lance leaned back, took out a cigarette and put it on the table, lit one himself, "I still have a question, if Bandi clearly supports the Cassia family, should we take action against the Korda family?"

Alberto glanced at Lance meaningfully, while Sarif frowned, "Bandi knows a lot of big shots, in the State of Licale, it would be more troublesome for us to move them."

"My idea is that this matter is limited to the Cassia family. As long as we solve Rick and their backbone, even if Bandi wants to intervene, there will be no place for him to intervene."

"I know this person best, he can't possibly take revenge for Rick and offend all of us."

Those state government officials, state assemblymen, and even senators that Bandi knows are all roles that make Sarif a little uneasy.

So much money is sent out every year, they will definitely protect Bandi and the Korda family.

These are the best years for the gang, but this does not mean that the gang is qualified to challenge the federal government.

The Korda family is not so black anymore. After so long of whitewashing, they are no longer the gang force that started out with casinos and usury!

Lance didn't speak. Sarif turned his gaze to Alberto. He hoped that Alberto could say something.

The Pasreto family is now declaring to the outside world that Francisco has inherited Paul's power and become the head of the family, but in reality, Alberto has the final say on everything, big and small.

Sometimes, Francisco would also have some of his own ideas. As long as they weren't too outlandish, Alberto would usually allow him to express his opinions on family matters.

This was the way he learned how to become a qualified head of the family. It was a necessary process; no one could possess this knowledge without learning.

In the process of learning, he also had to make mistakes, then find the problems, and then correct them. This was a cycle, and also a process.

Originally, Paul should have been the one to guide him, accumulating knowledge little by little as he grew up. Now that Paul was dead, Alberto could only try his best to help him adapt to this kind of life as soon as possible.

No one can always succeed without experiencing mistakes, but as long as the mistakes bring growth, then even if some losses may be suffered, it is completely acceptable.

He was still in the learning stage, so at this time, Alberto was in charge of everything.

Some people in the Pasreto family had some objections to his actions. Some of them believed that Alberto used this method to indirectly control the leader and future of the Pasreto family.

Francisco was not averse to this kind of teaching method, and he really couldn't do without Alberto now, and his growth was also very fast.

Sarif obviously understood this matter as well, so from the beginning, he had not considered asking Francisco's opinion, but instead directly focused his attention on Alberto.

He hoped that Alberto could persuade Lance; he wanted to get rid of Rick, but he didn't want to provoke Bundy.

Alberto turned to look at Lance, and the two exchanged glances. "Let's solve Rick first, and then consider the others."

"It's too early to say all this; we haven't even solved Rick yet!" The first half of the sentence was addressed to Lance, and the second half was addressed to Sarif.

Neither of them raised any objections, and the matter was basically settled.

Next was a discussion about how to solve Rick. Sarif was quite familiar with Rick; they had been fighting for so long that if he wasn't familiar, he would have been finished long ago.

After talking for twenty or thirty minutes, the general idea had been settled. The first thing to do was to cut off Rick's unlimited route of spawning troops from Yalan.

After Sarif left, Lance and Alberto went to his Lezhu Financial Company.

Now there was no one here. The pretty girl at the front desk didn't know where she had gone, and a lot of dust had settled in the office.

Even if the windows of the storefront facing the street were closed tightly, a lot of dust would inexplicably pour in from other places.

Looking at this house that already seemed abandoned, Alberto seemed a little lost.

After the two stood here for a while, they left and went to a nearby park.

"Sarif is not necessarily reliable," Lance said to Alberto after they sat down.

Alberto nodded. "Yes, I understand. I won't trust him unconditionally. It's just that we need him now, so we will discuss dealing with Rick together with him."

What Francisco lacked after inheriting the family was prestige. If under his "leadership" they could severely damage or even eliminate the Cassia family, even if others participated in this matter, it would greatly enhance Francisco's prestige.

Alberto was indeed doing it for Francisco's good. He was repaying Paul's kindness to him many years ago. He was a true man!

Francisco didn't follow. Some things were not suitable for him to hear. He was still too young and would sometimes let things slip.

"You mentioned Figal just now. Do you want to bring them in too?"

Lance gave Alberto a cigarette, and the two sat together, smoking and exhaling clouds of smoke. "Look, I've already taken the Imperial District and the Port District. If I continue east, it's Prisia, the Triangle District, and the Bay Area."

"The Bay Area is not a place we can touch right now, so I only have three directions to continue developing."

"The industrial area, which has no value."

"Prisia, which is full of trouble."

"And the city center."

Because the industrial area gathers a large number of factories and workers, it can be said to be a place where poor people gather.

Lance already had two such places; he didn't want another one.

His expenses were getting higher and higher now. Although there was still a lot of surplus every month, he always had to consider the future.

Taking a district that could bring more profits was obviously his next stage plan. The Keane family and the Bear Gang were fighting to the death in the city center. If he could find a reason to clean up the Keane family at this time, then the city center would become Lance's territory.

There, the prosperity was second only to the Starlight District and the Bay Area in Goldport City, with a higher consumption limit. The same wine could only be sold for thirty-five points in the Imperial District, but it could be sold for fifty, sixty, or even seventy points in the city center.

The multiple profits made him still very eager.

When he told Alberto about his next stage of development, Alberto understood.

He frowned. "I will support you, just like you support me."

Lance nodded. "Thank you."

Alberto looked at his profile. After a while, he couldn't help but ask, "Are you also planning to attack other families?"

After thinking for a while, Lance didn't deny it. "Doesn't it sound like we're talking about a myth?"

"A not-so-famous gang is going to attack several of the five major families."

Alberto didn't think so. "If you can occupy the city center, you will be in control of twenty or even thirty percent of this city. In terms of scale, you are actually stronger and bigger than us."

He looked up at the sky. "It's just that people are blinded by the glory of the past. They have been arrogant for a long time and haven't looked down to see if those who came later have caught up with them."

"Including the Pasreto family, if Paul had accepted your assistance earlier, perhaps the situation would have been different."

Lance said with a smile, "But it's also possible that they would resist me together. The five major families need more followers, not a disruptor."

Alberto chuckled. "Indeed, there is this possibility. Your development speed is too fast. If we weren't friends, I would also feel the danger!"

Like gangs and capital, once they start to scale up, if they want to continue developing, they can only swallow each other.

Either you eat me, or I eat you. Someone has to be eaten, and most of the time, the newcomer eats the former.

"What about you?" Lance looked at him. "Will you always assist Francisco?"

Alberto shook his head. "I don't know. I'll first make sure he can control the situation, then remove those disobedient nails, and then I might go back to Sumuli Island."

"There's still someone there who needs me to deal with him!"

"After I finish these things, I might return to the Federation, reopen the company, and then open a small bar."

"It's okay to go collect debts with everyone, and watch the girls do striptease at the bar at night."

As he spoke, he suddenly burst out laughing, laughing until tears came out. After a while, he took a deep breath to calm down his laughter. "Don't you think it's interesting?"

"It turns out that the life I wanted most, I have always had!"