Empire of Shadows

Fifteen hundred dollars was a substantial sum, especially for people of this era.

When Lance left for a moment and then returned, placing a brown paper bag on the table, Kent couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

He rubbed his hands together, appearing somewhat lecherous as he reached for the bag, but Lance suddenly held it down, preventing him from taking it, and looked at him.

He seemed a little bewildered, a little angry, but quickly understood something from Lance's eyes, "Make them stand up."

Kent said, and one of his henchmen kicked Ennio in the shoulder, causing him to stumble forward, but he quickly stood up with the support of others.

They silently walked behind Lance, who then released his hold on the paper bag.

"You're a man of principle, Lance. I think we'll definitely become good friends!" he laughed heartily. He was willing to be friends with anyone who could give him fifteen hundred dollars.

After picking up the paper bag, he didn't immediately look inside. Instead, he opened it and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent towards his mouth and nose, then looked intoxicated. "The smell of money!"

After savoring it for several seconds, he turned the paper bag upside down, pouring out all the money inside.

They were all ten-dollar bills, rolled into bundles of ten and tied with rubber bands, totaling fifteen bundles.

He surrounded the money with his arms to prevent it from falling to the ground, looking utterly foolish!

He randomly opened a bundle and counted it, very satisfied. After putting the money back, he looked around, finally focusing his gaze on Lance, his expression becoming somewhat contemptuous and even arrogant. "Well... you can get lost now. I hope you don't get caught next time you do something bad. Consider this fifteen hundred dollars a lesson for your friends."

Lance stood up with a slight smile, straightened his clothes, and said, "I hope you sleep well, Kent."

Kent didn't care about the hidden threat in his words. "I sleep very well; I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow."

Lance nodded noncommittally, gave him one last look, and left with Ennio and the others.

Watching them leave, Kent wiped away the smiles from his face. "Pack things up; we're moving. We can't stay here anymore."

His confidant henchman didn't think it was necessary. "Business is good here, boss."

Kent picked his nose and handed the money bag to his accountant confidant. "Although business is good, some problems have arisen now. We can't stay here."

"Although I'm not afraid of trouble, that doesn't mean I like it."

"Besides, we've been here long enough. It's time to move somewhere else. We'll move tonight."

As he spoke, he smeared the booger on his confidant henchman's clothes, looking at him. "We're leaving now. Any problems?"

The confidant henchman shook his head. "You're the boss."

He wasn't afraid of Lance, nor was he afraid of Lance reporting him to the police or the Codda family.

He had completely smoothed things over with the branch bureau in charge of this area. Last month, he had met with the branch bureau chief and the chief's assistant separately.

The police officers in several patrol zones also had good relationships with him. A few dozen dollars each month turned them into deaf and blind men, and they could even call him in advance if there were any problems.

Every month, a sum of cash, though not large, was definitely not small, would be delivered, and they would turn a blind eye.

He had also dealt with the Codda family, which was nothing more than paying money and apologizing. His brother was a high-ranking cadre in the Camille Gang and had some connections with higher-level gangs. Although this kind of thing wasn't easy, it wasn't impossible.

What really bothered him was that, although he could solve the subsequent problems, it would cost a lot of money and favors.

More importantly, his brother would kill him!

With Kent's orders, everyone began to pack up. They had a truck that could take everything away.

Mainly the gambling tables and equipment; the rest wasn't worth much and could be bought anywhere.

For them, who frequently moved, they already had a complete plan.

On the other side, Ennio apologized as soon as they left the casino and reached the surface.

Lance turned around, grabbing the back of his neck with his palm, his forehead against Ennio's, his expression very serious. "Don't apologize to me, Ennio."

The others were startled; they were indeed startled. When Lance took out fifteen hundred dollars, they knew they had caused a big disaster.

These people didn't know what to say at this moment; the fear in their hearts was slowly devouring them.

Ennio perked up and said through gritted teeth, "I'll pay you back, Lance."

"How will you pay?" He pressed Ennio's head and rubbed it hard. "Will you pay me back three dollars a month for decades?"

"That joke is very funny; you successfully amused me!"

He released him and looked at the others. "I told Ervin and Ethan before that if someone slaps you, if you don't retaliate fiercely, they will step on your face next time, even shit on your head."

"They know you're a coward; no matter what they do, you won't fight back."

"If you don't want that kind of outcome, remember: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"

"Shame can only be washed away with blood, and hatred can only be calmed by destruction. What you need to consider now isn't standing here trembling like quails and apologizing to me!"

"What we need to do is get that fifteen hundred dollars back, with interest!"

"They broke your arms and beat you into the ghost-like state you're in now, so retaliate twice as hard."

He said, exhaling. "Kent and the others will definitely move soon, maybe even in the next few days. Keep an eye on them; I want you to find out where they're going, where they usually spend the night and rest."

"Can you do it?"

A fierce look appeared on Ennio's face. "I guarantee it; I can!"

Lance patted his cheek, then took out two hundred dollars and gave it to him. "Go see a doctor, then change your clothes, and keep a close watch on those bastards!"

"Does anyone know how to ride a bicycle?"

A young man raised his hand. "I do, Lance."

Lance pointed at him. "Good. Get a bicycle nearby. If they leave by car, follow them, but don't expose yourself."

"Guys, no matter what you're thinking, whether you still want to retaliate or whatever else."

"But as far as I'm concerned, this isn't over!"

"No one can beat you up, then take my money and swagger off to live a good life. No one!"

"Call me anytime you find anything."

After giving a few instructions, Lance drove away.

Was fifteen hundred dollars a lot?

It was indeed a lot, but it was actually very quick to earn back.

It's not unreasonable that some people say the most profitable businesses in the world are written in the criminal law.

Back at the company, Ervin immediately came up to him. "I heard Maurice came. Did something happen to them?"

Lance briefly explained what happened, and Ervin immediately became angry after listening.

He had become very confident recently. Money was one aspect, and another was that their group had become cohesive, twisting into a rope.

So even when they encountered trouble, they would have a belief in their hearts—Lance would avenge us.

With this confidence and assurance, they would not be afraid when encountering problems and would dare to face them!

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

Lance sat behind his desk. He had a private office; since it was a company, it had to look like a company.

He lit a cigarette, took a couple of puffs, and said, "This money won't be taken for nothing; he must pay a heavy price!"

Ervin pursed his lips. "What do you want us to do?"

"Take care of your own business first; I'll notify you when there's action."

In the afternoon, Ethan also returned from outside, with an excited look on his face. "Lance, guess who I saw?"

Lance asked absently, "Who did you see?"

"Those young men who beat us up in the port area that day. I saw them!"

The afternoon was the hottest time of day, so the people running "errands" outside had returned. When they heard Ethan say he had found the young men who had hammered them, they couldn't sit still.

Lance, who was already full of anger, also had a desire for destruction in his heart. Kent, that dog bastard, just wait two more days. Now, go find those young men and collect some interest first.

He had Mero take the baseball bats out of the warehouse and put them in a large duffel bag.

The others went by car; he drove. At the same time, he realized that the company needed more people who could drive.