Empire of Shadows

The small cards prepared for the One Dollar Club were exquisitely made. Lance looked at these cards and fell into deep thought, suddenly realizing something.

Deresi didn't disturb him but stood aside quietly, waiting.

After about several minutes, Lance stirred. He looked at Deresi, "Sorry, I was distracted. These cards are good. Were they printed locally?"

Deresi nodded, "There's a factory that specializes in this."

Lance handed the cards back to him, "Give me the information for this factory. I might be able to use it in the future."

"Also, these cards are very good, exquisitely made. They will like them."

"It would be best to punch a hole here so it can be attached to a keychain, so people won't lose it and others can see it."

"Ask the designers if they can make it more exquisite. Money is not a problem."

Make it a symbol of identity, making people willing to show it off.

Now it might just be the One Dollar Club, but in the future, there will be Ten Dollar Clubs, Hundred Dollar Clubs, and even higher-level clubs.

This will become a special system, and Lance also came up with many ideas.

He made a phone call to Johnny, but no one answered. Lance took a car to the docks.

Johnny had long since returned to work at the docks, and was even doing office work.

The dock management company had arranged a high-paying and easy job for him, but he couldn't stay idle and ran around all day.

Now he's considered a celebrity at the docks, with bragging rights, and it's said he even has two girlfriends.

Yes, being named Johnny, if he didn't do something extraordinary, he would be letting down his father's flash of inspiration at the moment of his birth!

When the motorcade entered the docks, many people would stop to pay attention, and some would even bow slightly to show respect.

This made some of the new workers confused, "Who's in that car?"

"Is it the executive director of the dock management company?"

The older employees who knew the answer replied, "That's Mr. Lance's car."

"Is he very impressive?"

Looking at the young new employee's appearance, the old employee smiled, "More impressive than you can imagine."

The new employee looked at the motorcade's departing back, secretly vowing in his heart that he would also become an impressive… worker.

Well, although he had great ambitions, before he had the courage and daring, and couldn't afford to pay the price to change his class, he could only become an excellent human resource, not someone superior.

When Lance met Johnny, he was already waiting by Pier 3.

"I didn't get your call, Mr. Lance."

Lance shook his head indifferently. Many workers around were looking over.

Many refugee workers had come through labor agencies, and in a sense, they were also Lance's employees.

This was also one of the reasons why the dock service company, Lance, and the workers could still get along peacefully.

Although they had increased the wages of the dock workers, there were now several thousand refugee workers working here, and these refugee workers were much cheaper than the local workers.

Their expenses not only didn't increase but actually decreased a lot, and at the same time, various service fees at the docks also successfully increased a lot.

With no major changes, more profit and less expenditure, they didn't hate Lance so much anymore.

Soon Dave and the others also arrived. They had once "fought side by side," so they had a special feeling for Lance, and their faces were full of smiles when they saw him.

After a brief greeting, Lance casually asked about the current situation at the docks, "Have there been any conflicts between the workers?"

They all shook their heads. If it was said that local workers used to discriminate against immigrant workers, then now it was local workers and immigrant workers together discriminating against refugee workers.

So it is said that all happiness must be based on someone else's unhappiness, otherwise it won't reflect whether happiness is happiness or not.

Lance pointed in the direction of the dock entrance, "When I came in, I saw many people holding signs at the entrance."

Those workers who lost their jobs because of the strike were standing at the dock entrance holding signs saying "We want to work." There were police, Lance's people, and dock security guards there.

If they dared to mess around, they would only be beaten badly, so these people had also learned to protest politely and civilly.

"They don't have any impact on us, and I think their existence actually helps with the efficiency of the docks."

Dave revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth, "The refugees work very hard, they are very afraid of losing these jobs."

Lance nodded noncommittally. More refugees were pouring in, and the domestic economic situation was getting worse. It was unknown whether these people's choice to flee to the Federation was a smart one.

"Our club will reopen soon, and that one dollar I told you about before will come in handy."

He briefly explained the "privileges" of the One Dollar Club. Johnny and Dave all looked surprised.

Dave even took the initiative to say, "Mr. Lance, you've already helped us a lot. If you give us discounts in this area, we'll feel uneasy!"

Lance shook his head, "I'm just not making money, not necessarily losing much. I didn't really plan to make money from you anyway."

"I know it's not easy for you all. If it can reduce some of the pressure on you in terms of drinks or clothes, then it's worth it!"

In addition to free drinks, the One Dollar Club also has a free set of clothes.

These people were so moved that they all felt that Lance was a great person, and they also patted their chests to guarantee that they would let more people know about these things.

While they were talking, several workers in the distance seemed to want to come over, but they didn't know whether they should.

These people could be seen at a glance to be refugee workers. Their mental outlook was not as good as that of local workers, nor as good as that of immigrant workers.

But no matter what, these people were contributing income to Lance every month, although this income was small, it was clean.

He said a few words to the people around him, and Johnny ran over and led one of them over.

A middle-aged man who looked about thirty-seven or eight years old, not very strong, with black hair that was greasy and messy.

He had a smell of sweat on him. The work at the docks was not easy at all, let alone that these people were at the bottom of the chain of contempt. They must be doing the heaviest and most tiring things at the docks.

"What's the matter?" Lance asked.

The others were behind him, scrutinizing this middle-aged man who looked very restrained, even a little timid.

The middle-aged man's eyes were red. It seemed that he had encountered something sad.

In any world, men don't easily shed tears. They always silently carry life and suffering forward together.

What could make his eyes swollen must be a difficult hurdle that he couldn't overcome.

The man's lips moved, "Are you Mr. Lance?"

Lance nodded, "There shouldn't be a second 'Mr. Lance' here besides me."

"Please help me!" When Lance acknowledged his identity, the middle-aged man directly knelt on the ground, "My daughter is missing!"

Saying that, he cried, "She and her mother live in another place. Yesterday, I don't know what happened, she suddenly disappeared…"

Lance had Johnny help him up, "Have you called the police?"

The middle-aged man nodded, "The police came, but…"

But what?

But the police didn't really care about this kind of thing.

A refugee girl is missing, there are only a few possibilities. If a large amount of police force is used on these missing refugee girls, the entire Goldport City wouldn't be able to find any idle police.

In fact, not to mention a refugee girl is missing, even if a local girl is missing, the police will most likely only accept the case but won't keep looking for her, because she can't be found.

No surveillance cameras, not many witnesses, this kind of kidnapping case—

If it's a kidnapping case, it's very likely that a means of transportation was used, that is, a car.

So there won't be many witnesses at all. To find a missing girl who is hidden in an unknown room or basement in a city of nearly two million people?

This isn't a detective novel, how is it possible to find her?

If this kind of case is finally solved, it may also be when these kidnappers or perverted murderers are arrested, and among the many corpses dug out from a place where they specialize in hiding corpses, there is one that can match a past missing case.

If these kidnappers and perverted killers are lucky enough, and they are careful enough, there is a high probability that these cases will never be solved in this lifetime.

Just like those oil drums under Angel Lake, behind each oil drum is a terrible case, or maybe more than just one, but who has seen them solved?

Lance looked at this middle-aged man who was crying bitterly and sighed softly, "Do you have a photo of your daughter?"

"Yes, I do, Mr. Lance!" He hurriedly took out his pocket watch, brass, very old.

After opening the pocket watch, there was a slightly blurred photo inside the case. It should have been taken a couple of years ago. The girl was very beautiful, with a single ponytail, and that youthful aura could almost radiate out through the photo.

"I'll take the photo for now. I'll have people pay attention. You and your wife should be mentally prepared."

"I'm not trying to scare you, just telling you the fact that there's a high probability she won't be found."

The middle-aged man could only nod, "I will, I will, it's just I... I'm sorry..."

Lance patted his arm, "If there's any news, I'll have someone come find you."

He paused, then said, "Does this kind of thing happen often over there?"

He nodded, "Several people have already gone missing, and that's just what I know about. There must be more in other places."

Lance pursed his lips. "Do you have any other children?"

The middle-aged man nodded, "I have a younger son."

"Take good care of him!" He took out twenty dollars from his pocket and stuffed it into the middle-aged man's pocket. "Don't lose this too. Rent a house in the Imperial District or around here."

"The New Port area is too terrible!"

The New Port area is actually the westernmost part of the Port area. It's still part of the city's administrative region and hasn't been truly separated.

But in formal, daily work, it's treated as an unsuccessful new district.

There's no police station there, and the police don't patrol there either. After all, there was nothing there before, and it was very desolate.

So there are many problems there.

This is a very, very complicated situation, and Lance can't solve it.

The locals don't welcome refugees, which is understandable.

Everyone was living well, and suddenly a group of refugees barged in, wanting to share your living space, even share your public resources and job opportunities. Who would like these people to appear here?

So the refugees are now basically crowded in the New Port area, with no police, no security, no measures of any kind, and an extremely high crime rate.

At this time, Lance had no intention of staying here any longer. He asked people to see if there were any refugees who needed help.

From the moment they started working for him, in a sense, they were no longer ordinary refugees. They were Lance's employees, Lance's people!

Sitting in the car, Mador, who was responsible for Lance's safety, asked softly, "Did those people from the Bay Area do it?"

Mador also has a daughter, but she's very young, and he can understand the man's pain!

If his daughter was kidnapped, he would definitely go crazy and kill everyone who might have done it!

Lance nodded heavily, "It's very likely."

"Although Red Heels has been shut down, the demand in the Bay Area won't disappear because of it. They might have created a more secretive Red Heels themselves; we just don't know about it."

"These refugee girls have become their highest quality prey. They don't have to worry about things getting out of hand. At worst, they'll spend some money to take care of the girl's family, and no one will bother them anymore."

Mador slammed his fist on the armrest of the car seat. "These scumbags!"

He looked at Lance. "Aren't we… going to do anything?"

Lance looked at the photo in his hand, only the size of a cross-section of an egg. The girl in it smiled so simply and brightly. He closed his palm. "We have to do something."

The car quickly returned to the company, and Lance called Alan over. "Find a way to get some more copies of this photo. Ask our people, and some passersby, if anyone has seen her."

Alan glanced at the photo. He also thought she was a very beautiful girl. "What happened to her?"

"She might have been kidnapped."

Alan wasn't very clear about the situation with Red Heels. Only Lance's absolute confidants knew about this, but Alan still felt regret and tension.

"It would be too pitiful if such a beautiful girl was hurt. I'll go do it right away!"

Soon, people in the Imperial District and the Port District could see people asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of this girl.

But after a day, there were no valuable clues.

Actually, Lance could have completely ignored this matter, but he felt a sense of oppression in his chest. If he didn't care, he would despise himself!

When Elvin came back in the evening, he asked about it. "Is this girl very important?"

Lance shook his head. "I don't know her, nor do I know her father. I only know that her father works for us."

"Then you…" He didn't quite understand. Today, he had mobilized many people to do this, and it had also delayed some other work.

Lance leaned back in his chair, shaking the wine in his glass. "First, I am an individual, and then I am me. I have my own joys, sorrows, and anger. I think they did something disgusting under my nose."

"If I don't figure this out, I won't feel right, and I'll be uncomfortable all the time!"

Elvin understood. "For your health!"

"Maybe you should ask Blue. They might have some information that we don't know, after all, they are the local snakes."

Lance was stunned for a moment, pointed at Elvin, put down his glass, and picked up the phone. "I forgot that."

Soon, he called Blue, the branch director. Blue was being intimate with his wife, but he still answered the phone.

Because the person who would call him after work was either his relative, a close friend, or someone he couldn't afford to offend.

After the call was connected, Lance glanced at the receiver in his hand. Elvin looked blank. He put the receiver back to his ear. "Did I disturb you?"

The sound of clapping could be faintly heard from the receiver. Originally, Blue didn't feel anything, but when Lance said that, he suddenly perked up and felt a kind of inexplicable excitement!

He suddenly increased his strength, and the sound became louder. His wife couldn't help but make some noises. "No, no, I'm fine…"

"You're really sick, Blue!"

Lance "complimented" him. "I have a girl missing here. Is there any way to find her?"

"Girl?" Blue was multitasking. "I heard about it. You guys seemed to be looking for her this afternoon."

Lance nodded in agreement. "I suspect she might have been kidnapped by people from the Bay Area… Fuck!" The sound on the other side became louder, and Blue's opponent didn't seem to be suppressing her emotions anymore and shouted out unrestrainedly.

"Almost done!"

Lance put the microphone further away. After about twenty seconds, Blue's swear words and roars came from inside. The battle was over.

He breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Are you still there?"

Only then did Lance pick up the receiver. "If you do this again, I'll have someone come over and beat you up!"

Blue is now completely tied to Lance, but instead he is more straightforward.

"Your call came at the wrong time. You can't expect me to stop, can you?"

It seemed to be true, Lance did not speak.

Blue continued, "Is this girl very important?"

"What I mean is, if she's not very important, then we don't need to find her."

"You don't know that searching and searching, in the end, you will find her in the basement of some big shot's house."

"I've seen this girl's photo, she's very beautiful. When we find her, she's likely to have been hurt, even piece by piece!"

"From my perspective as a policeman, it's better to let her family think she's still alive than to have them identify her body."

"As long as she isn't found for one day, they can still retain hope for one day!"