Empire of Shadows

A busy day.

The bakery always gets extra busy on weekends, the benefit of a two-day weekend being a surge in sales on Saturdays.

For the next two days, most people are unwilling to run out to buy food, especially with the weather gradually getting hotter.

So they buy enough bread for two or three days and then enjoy a quiet weekend at home, or go on a picnic in the countryside.

Federals don't actually have that much entertainment these days; for ordinary people, watching television and going for a walk in nature might be the few entertainment options that don't cost anything.

Things like going to bars, opera houses, and nightclubs are not something their class can afford.

Amusement parks are also crowded and not cheap.

It is precisely this group of people who cannot afford to consume that creates wealth for this society; it has to be said that reality is sometimes more fantastical than books.

It was a little after eight in the evening, and the bakery's business finally came to an end. Surprisingly, there was pizza for dinner today.

Pizza has been in the Federation for fifty or sixty years, evolving from a "hometown delicacy" for a small group of people to a very popular food today, which has actually gone through a lot of localization.

Even because of the sales of Federal pizza, many people think that Federal pizza is the most authentic, leading some regions that may have had pizza earlier than the Federation to lean towards the Federal style and taste in their production.

And this is one of the important reasons why adults are crazy about touting the Federal economy—everyone is looking up to the strongest economy.

The cheese in the pizza "pond" was so plentiful it was about to overflow, and the sausage slices and beef granules were spread all over, with a layer of ham slices on top.

The fat boss treated the ham as if it were his precious treasure, personally checking the row of hams in the warehouse every night when he closed up to make sure they were safe.

Although Fordis didn't think the bakery's Sumerian ham was very authentic, it was bought back for 499 yuan, a total of fifty-five pounds.

Based on the fact that each box is less than two ounces, about only fifty grams, and sells for 2.5 yuan, the value of a ham in the bakery is about 1,250 yuan.

Buying and selling ham is actually more profitable than selling bread, but after all, only a few people buy ham.

Ordinary people can't afford it, and they are reluctant to spend hundreds of yuan to buy a good ham. Even if they buy a few slices for 2.5 yuan, they have to think about it.

There is also cheaper ham here, one yuan a serving. Although the taste is not so authentic, it is cheap. It is currently the bakery's most profitable product, bar none.

The ham emits a hard-to-describe aroma after being roasted over charcoal. It is a complex, compound aroma, plus the aroma of cheese, sausage, and beef, and the aroma of the crust. Lance had to admit that Jonny was good at making pizza, at least.

"Sit down, Lance."

Lance, who was mopping the floor, whistled, then took off his apron and sat down at the dining table.

The fat boss's daughter looked at her father in surprise, then at Lance, and then became very shy.

The fat boss didn't notice this; his attention was on Lance.

"Eat some?"

"You won't charge me extra, will you?" Lance didn't move.

The fat boss looked a little embarrassed, "Is that the kind of image I have in your eyes?"

"I know that although I am usually very strict with you, you can't deny that you have food, drink, and a job here."

Lance interjected, "And I still owe you four yuan."

The fat boss put on a straight face, "I'm just kidding with you. Don't you have any sense of humor?"

At this time, the apprentice, who was covered in sweat from working, came out of the back room.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and the work is getting harder and harder. The oven in the back room is like a small sun, emitting a deadly temperature.

Every summer, newspapers often report accidents happening near the ovens in bakeries. Passing out from the heat seems to be becoming a standard for judging whether a summer is hot enough.

He had changed his clothes, wiped his hands, and was about to sit down when the fat boss looked up at him, "What are you doing here?"

The apprentice was a little dazed. He looked at the fragrant pizza on the table. He had actually contributed to it.

He stammered, not knowing what to say, "I... you said we were eating this tonight."

The fat boss pointed to Lance, his daughter, and himself, "We."

Then he pointed to him, "You."

"Are 'we' and 'you' the same thing?"

"I really suspect that your elementary school teacher had water in their brain to teach you like this. Your dinner is in the cabinet in the back. You know, the bread from the day before yesterday."

The bread from the day before yesterday was like a stone. Some would be left over every day, and what was left over was their dinner.

The apprentice's expression was incredulous. He couldn't believe that Lance could sit at the table, but he, a local who worked thirty days a month without taking a penny and even had to give the boss ten yuan as an apprentice, didn't even have the right to eat a pizza!

He glared at the fat boss. Young people are so hot-tempered, but the fat boss didn't mince words at all, "You can get out if you don't want to do it. Don't let your damn mother kneel in front of me to beg me!"

As if hit by a fatal point, the apprentice, whose body was tense and fists clenched, suddenly deflated.

Like a poor worm with its spine pulled out, it could only wriggle on the ground.

He lowered his head, turned around, and walked towards the back room. That was where he should be, not here.

Lance picked up a slice. The cheese and meat were the most sumptuous meal he had ever seen since coming here!

Taking a bite, his teeth first crushed the slightly charred ham slices that had been roasted, and all the grease was released, and then cut open the sausage, which was crispy on the outside but still very soft on the inside.

Then came the slightly sticky cheese, accompanied by a rich milky aroma that exploded like a volcano, and the beef granules were crushed during chewing, and the unique taste stimulated every taste bud!

When it was swallowed, the unique wheat aroma of the crust began to show, along with the taste of basil leaves and other spices. This pizza was simply a work of art!

He devoured it, stuffing even the pizza crust into his mouth and eating it clean, and then picked up the second slice.

The corner of the fat boss's eye twitched. He was treating Lance only to find out who exactly sent Lance back today.

If it was someone he couldn't afford to offend, as a small citizen at the bottom of society, a budding capitalist, he would be wise to back down.

Countless people in operas who tried to challenge authority ultimately became reflections of a certain period of history.

And those who can successfully take revenge are originally nobles or privileged classes.

In fact, people have realized this very deeply from the beginning that the bottom class only deserves tragedy.

And comedies and cool dramas belong to the upper class—

A king who suddenly wakes up, a princess who finds happiness, a down-and-out nobleman who fulfills his dreams, and a poor boy who eventually dies tragically under the conventional rules of secular law!

Look, people have actually known these things from the beginning, but they are always encouraging poor boys to daydream.

Although the fat boss is a rich man in the eyes of others, he is still at the bottom of this society.

Lance took another slice and ate it in big bites. When he tried to take the third slice, the fat boss stopped him, "If you like to eat it so much, you can eat it slowly, and I'll give you the rest."

"But can you satisfy a little curiosity of mine?"

Lance licked his lips. The aroma of meat grease and the rich milky aroma of cheese were really unforgettable.

He pushed away the fat boss's hand and picked up the third slice, "There is a custom in the Empire, that is, it is best not to talk while eating. This is a symbol of education."

"If there's anything, let's talk about it after we finish dinner."

The fat boss saw that he couldn't stop him, so he quickly picked up two slices, gave one to his daughter, and stuffed the other into his mouth.

For a time, the three people started competing to see who could eat faster.

In less than five minutes, a large pizza was left with only a tray and some scraps.

Lance poked those scraps hard with his fingers. The scraps would stick to his fingers, and then he wrapped them in his mouth.

When he could no longer see anything left on the plate, he finally patted his stomach and breathed a sigh of satisfaction. It would be even better if he had a cigarette.

"What were you saying just now?"

The fat boss repeated the question, "The person who sent you back this afternoon, are you on good terms with him?"

Lance didn't lie, "It's okay. I know his boss."

"He has a boss?" the fat boss exclaimed!

In his opinion, Fordis, who was well-dressed and driving a luxury car, was already a member of the upper class. He didn't expect that there was a boss behind the other party, and he knew Lance.

He was now a little regretful that he had done so many terrible things to Lance without fully understanding Lance's background.

If the other party retaliates...!

He simply couldn't imagine it!

Of course, at this time, there was still some curiosity that made him start to develop some interest in this Mr. Fordis's boss. This may have been the stupidest thing he had ever done—exploiting Lance.

But it may also be his chance to rise—to get to know a big shot!

He leaned forward, tilting his body forward, his attitude even a little flattering, "You and his boss..."

Lance picked up the coffee and took a small sip. It wasn't the kind of inferior roasted twigs. The rich coffee bean oil fully moisturized every sip, making people feel its charm.

After taking a big gulp, he put down the glass and let out a satisfied burp. "You know, my friend ran into some trouble this afternoon, and I need to scrape together two hundred yuan in a short amount of time."

"I don't know any big shots around here, so I found a finance company on the next street."

"Finance company?" The fat boss already had a bad feeling, but he still wanted to confirm.

Lance nodded very seriously. "Yes, a finance company. I borrowed some money, three hundred yuan. He's giving me a ride back to see if I have a job, to avoid not being able to find me when the time comes..."

The fat boss's eyes quickly turned red, and he glared at Lance, grinding out his name from between his teeth—

"Lance, go over there and mop the floor again!"

"Also, this pizza costs five yuan, so you now owe me nine yuan!"

"If you don't do it well before nine o'clock, get out and sleep outside!"