Empire of Shadows

Gold Coast is a good place, the center of federal politics, culture, and commerce.

But the gangs don't like it here.

Precisely because it is too "central".

There are too many dignitaries here, and you never know if your criminal activities will offend those who control the entire country.

Their family, relatives, friends, even a dog.

There was such an incident before. The son of a gang leader was driving his new car around the street. When he stopped on the side of the road, a dog peed next to his wheels.

He ran two steps and kicked the puppy to death with a soccer kick. He thought it was just a trivial matter, but in less than a week, the gang he belonged to was completely wiped out.

Because the owner of the dog was someone they couldn't afford to offend.

Although gangs exist in Gold Coast, they are very low-key and careful. They do not charge any protection fees. Their main job, or way of making profit, is by working for the Congress and the Presidential Palace.

By the way, they also run some bars and nightclubs that are not so easy to cause trouble.

Just like now, there are three gangs providing alcohol to the congressmen, and one specializing in providing alcohol to the Presidential Palace. They are the "alcohol suppliers" designated by the Gold Coast upper class.

It sounds incredible. The Congress and the Presidential Palace promoted the implementation of the Prohibition, but these promoters themselves are constantly touching the law.

In fact, it's like what people have been saying and thinking.

When lawmakers make laws, they never really include themselves in the group that needs to abide by the laws.

In other words, laws are always made for the lower and middle classes of society, not for them.

This creates a very special social phenomenon—

The people who make the laws are constantly breaking the law, because the law not only has no constraints on them, but also cannot make them feel the majesty of the law. It's just their "toy"!

Some gangs will provide them with various services, such as the "designated call girl supplier" for Congress, the Presidential Palace, and senior government departments.

For example, the "gambling middleman" who can bring together these upper-class dignitaries for gambling games.

Including human trafficking, illegal smuggling, and all possible criminal acts, they actually have contact with them, and some people do it for them.

This is Gold Coast, the desirable Gold Coast, and Bandi also yearns for Gold Coast very much.

The Coda family has been laundering money almost completely, and will be able to complete the complete whitewashing in a few years.

Black and white will be cut apart.

So he really wanted to go to Gold Coast and fight for the position belonging to the Coda family on a higher stage.

Then, having friends and a network of relationships in Gold Coast is especially important.

He first dealt with the work at hand, then changed into a bathrobe and came to the bathroom.

Soaking in the hot water, his whole body completely relaxed, and he dialed the number.

"Mr. Bandi?"

"Yes, it's me. I'm here. You must be Mr. Hairick, right?"

"I remember you, last time at the Fleming graduation party."

The vice president laughed, "Yes, it's me. I was wondering how to explain it so you could remember me."

Bandi shrank back into the bathtub, letting more hot water soak his body, only revealing his head. The phone was on a small cart next to him. He didn't need to hold the receiver to talk to the guy on the other end.

"Of course I remember you, we even had a drink..."

He paused, "So, Mr. Hairick, what can I do for you?"

"Yes, Bandi, may I call you that?"

Bandi did not refuse. This was a friendly expression of bringing the relationship closer. "No problem, of course you can. I will also call you Hairick."

"Okay, Bandi, here's the thing. We've encountered a little trouble. A gang kid has caused us some losses."

"So..."

Bandi heard the meaning in his words, and a confident smile appeared on his face.

This is a good thing for him.

There is nothing in Gold Harbor City that he can't handle. Solving this trouble is equivalent to selling Mr. Hairick a favor. This is a very cost-effective business.

He agreed, "I will help you negotiate or deal with it. What will happen to him completely depends on your thoughts."

"In Gold Harbor City, you can completely trust me, my friend!"

Hearing Bandi's confident words, the vice president also smiled, "I won't trouble you, will I?"

"We are friends!"

Bandi reiterated this point.

This made the vice president understand what he meant, "Yes, we are friends, then I owe you a favor."

Some words should be said directly. Federal people can be very circuitous sometimes, but sometimes they can be particularly direct.

"Can I know that person's name?"

"So I can arrange someone to take care of him as soon as possible."

Then, he heard a name that he was very familiar with and had heard many times from the speakerphone—"Lance, Lance White."

Seven or eight seconds later, the vice president's voice came from the speakerphone again, "Bandi, are you still there?"

Bandi reacted and changed from a curled-up lying position in the bathtub to a sitting position with his upper body upright. The sound of water was created by the rushing water, "I'm here."

Perhaps sensing the hesitation in Bandi's tone, the vice president's tone was also a little less certain, "Is it difficult to handle?"

How should Bandi answer this question?

Bandi's expression was slightly serious, "Whether it is difficult to handle depends on what you want me to do, Hairick."

The Lance family is indeed a bit difficult to deal with. Head-on confrontation is definitely not a smart choice, but at the same time Bandi doesn't want to give up Mr. Hairick's relationship.

He will seize any opportunity that can allow the family to continue to develop upward, and he also knows very well that only by becoming a real big shot can he control his own destiny.

The vice president thought for a while. Bandi's silence just now obviously made him realize that this Lance and the Lance family were not so easy to deal with.

This is Gold Harbor City, not Gold Coast. The hand of the Ligee Group cannot reach so far.

He considered it, "We had some unpleasant things between us, and he also cost us a lot of money."

He first emphasized the reason for doing so, and then said in a slightly lower and cautious tone, "The company's intention is to solve him. We don't want that money anymore. Just buy him a cemetery."

"A million-dollar cemetery should be very comfortable to live in!"

Bandi raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, "You brought me a big trouble, Hairick!"

The vice president's voice was full of confusion and incomprehension, "Is there anyone more powerful than your five major families?"

"I always thought that you had the final say in Gold Harbor City, but now it seems that I may have slightly overestimated your control over Gold Harbor City."

This sentence was already very impolite, and Bandi was also a little ashamed and annoyed, but he didn't want to give up this opportunity to deepen his understanding and cooperation with Hairick.

The headquarters of Ligee Group is in Gold Coast. Through them, he can contact many big shots, such as the congressmen of the "Federal Agriculture Committee" and the "Federal Agriculture Foreign Trade Committee."

There are also upper-class gentlemen such as the "Soybean Association" and the "Corn Association" who can change the industry landscape.

The Coda family has been committed to whitewashing and gaining more upper-class connections for so many years because Bandi finally understood one thing after mastering a huge amount of wealth.

If they cannot obtain a higher position, then no matter how much money they have now, this money is false and not real.

In the Federation, many wealthy tycoons are put on the table by people in various ways every year. Maybe they themselves don’t understand that they are clearly also rich people and capitalists.

Why did they become food?

In fact, the reason is very simple. Wealth that is not combined with political power is fragile wealth and will be broken with a poke.

Those real chaebols and big capitalists always have many senators, even the president, or some political families behind them.

Their money can be converted into political power at any time through these forces to help them crush all enemies!

If money cannot be combined with politics, and those big shots think it is time to eat, everything will be reset to zero.

In the Federation, if ordinary people want to live well, they only need money, but if the money does not exceed the limit they can have, then everything is beautiful.

Once the limit is exceeded, you can only climb higher to protect your wealth.

Bandi has always allowed Fleming to participate in more social activities, make more connections with the dignitaries in the Bay Area, and even consider letting him enter politics.

This is the best solution to truly solve the core problems of the Coda family.

Hairick is very helpful in expanding their connections in Gold Coast.

However, he would not show excessive accommodation and weakness, and at the same time, he must let Hairick know that this matter is not easy to handle.

"It's not that I can't handle him, but it's that it's difficult for me to bear the price I have to pay to handle him, Hairick."

"If you can come up with a lot of money now, I can find a way to help you handle him, but the question is, can you come up with it?"

Solving the problem with money is also among Hairick's alternatives. He asked, "How much money will it take to handle this Lance?"

"At least seven figures, and not a small number."

The vice president waved his fingers and counted, "One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million..."

"A few million? Is he really worth that much?"

"He has a large group of people under him, and he's very careful. He has extensive experience being assassinated. Once we make a move, it'll be an all-out war."

"They have extensive war experience, and they also have helpers within the five major families."

"A few million might not even be enough."

"You can also ask other people. Maybe they'll only charge two thousand."

"Actually, I have a suggestion. How about resolving the conflict? That would be easier."

"He'll definitely give me face. I think this is a very suitable option."

If taking out Lance really costs that much, the vice president really needs to inquire further.

He considered it for a while. "I'll call you tomorrow."

After hanging up, Bandi sank back into the water, the hot water soaking him.

He actually exaggerated a little. When others ask you for help, you have to let them know that the favor is valuable, not 'a piece of cake'.

The vice president made a few more calls. Although these people's status wasn't as high as the Coda family, or they weren't people from the underworld, they all expressed a similar attitude: 'Lance isn't easy to deal with'.

This also made the vice president start to consider whether to change his approach to this matter.

The next morning, as soon as the board members arrived at the company, the vice president convened an internal conference call. During the call, he talked about Lance's case and the things that had happened in Jingang City.

"I've already consulted the Coda family among the five major families. They believe that taking out Lance would require a great price."

The executive director had been listening to his speech. At this time, he couldn't help but interrupt, "Then ask them how much money they need. You don't think we can't even afford to hire gangsters, do you?"

The vice president repeated what Bandi had said. The vice president stopped talking.

A few million?

Even if it's just three million, it's a huge expense for someone running an agricultural business.

They would have to sell at least fifty million worth of agricultural products to earn three million in net profit.

It's not worth it.

No one else spoke. Then the vice president continued, "Bandi gave me another option: to call it quits."

"We don't need to worry about the case with Lance anymore. We'll dispose of the contaminated crops ourselves."

"They won't cause us trouble in the future, and we won't cause them trouble."

Someone on the board raised an objection. They thought this wasn't cost-effective, but the vice president emphasized one point.

That is, regardless of whether Lance did it or not, they did breach the contract.

Although their litigation costs are low, there are still costs involved. And no one knows whether Lance and his people will also invest in costs, creating competition in terms of judicial support.

Moreover, that's Jingang City, not Jinzhou. If it were Jinzhou, they would never compromise and would definitely fight Lance to the end.

But in Licarai State, perhaps 'respecting' the local forces is the most correct approach.

After the meeting, he called Bandi. "We've discussed it and accepted your proposal for a truce."

This brought a smug smile to Bandi's face. He knew it would be like this. "Lance's situation is special. If you had chosen someone else, they probably wouldn't be able to handle this."

"You're lucky, Hailek. You chose me. I'll talk to him."

Bandi didn't guarantee that he could negotiate successfully, only saying that he would "talk to him." Combined with his previous and subsequent statements, it gave the illusion that "I can handle him."

The vice president didn't know if he didn't understand or if he was pretending not to understand. He said loudly, "That's great, Bandi. You're trustworthy."

"We'll be holding some activities at our annual meeting this year. We hope you can attend then."

The Liji Group's annual meeting is attended by important figures. It's a grand social party, and he wouldn't miss it.

"No problem, I'll be there. Remember to give me an invitation when the time comes!"

The end of the year wasn't far away, at most a month or two. Bandi was very attentive to these things.

After ending the call, he called Gaoli to his office. "Do you know Lance?"

Gaoli sat casually in the chair. "I know him, but I'm not familiar with him. What's wrong?"

"Just now, a big shot from Jinzhou invited me to attend their annual meeting. There will be members of the two houses of parliament and some high society dignitaries attending."

"But the prerequisite is that I have to resolve the conflict between them and Lance."

Gaoli took a puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled with a "hiss" sound. "I heard that Alberto has a good relationship with him. He's also been getting close to the two children of the Williams family."

Letting James or Arthur talk to Lance about these things, not to mention how much it would cost, it's hard to say whether they can handle it.

Alberto, on the other hand, has a high probability of persuading Lance, but how they persuade Alberto is a problem.

"What about Fleming and Stone?"

"They're all young people. Do their social circles overlap?"

Fleming is his son, and Stone is Gaoli's son. They and Lance are all the same age. Maybe they know each other and have some friendship?

Gaoli quickly gave him a negative answer. "They haven't hung out with Lance. He can't even join the children's social circle."

As he spoke, Gaoli paused for a moment. "I think you can just call him directly. You're Bandi. No one in this city can refuse you!"

Bandi hesitated for a moment. This seemed to have become the best method. "I'll do that."

With that, he called Lance.

"I'm Bandi..."

"Mr. Bandi, hello."

The greeting was a little stiff, but not out of line. After all, the two sides had no previous contact, so he naturally wouldn't show much enthusiasm.

"Lance, can we meet?"

This request made Lance feel a little inexplicable. He had never had any contact with the Coda family, and he didn't like them very much.

They are very strong and very tough.

The entire gambling industry in Jingang City is firmly in their hands. From this, it can be seen that they are actually very greedy.

Lance wouldn't like a family that is both strong and greedy.

"Can I ask, why is that?"

Lance's "question" caught Bandi a little off guard. In the past, when facing these "small characters," he only had to suggest, "We can meet."

Even if those people didn't know why they were meeting him, they would run to meet him happily.

For many gang members, including leaders, being able to meet Bandi is a very honorable thing.

It can even be used as a bragging right.

Lance's attitude of not wanting to meet him made him unable to find a reason for a while, but he quickly reacted. "I have a friend who may have a small misunderstanding with you, so..."

As for which friend it was, he didn't say, and Lance didn't ask, but he agreed.

"I'm free this afternoon."

"Then I'll see you this afternoon, Lance."