Empire of Shadows

After discussing the second job, Alberto packed up the chips on his desk, ready for his Kodak Family casino agent to exchange them for cash and return with it. He then placed two twenty-dollar bills on the table, sliding them toward Lance with a firm finger.

“Take your friends out for a nice drink, and pick up some clothes. You’re representing the company now as well as yourselves.”

Alberto could only imagine what they looked like and was relieved Lance hadn’t brought them inside—otherwise, his nose would’ve suffered. Although he’d given Lance a total of $190 that day, this money was technically Lance’s own earnings, and a small investment in his team’s appearance. If Lance could handle Mr. Anderson, more debts would be passed his way, and Alberto sensed that in time, Lance could make a name for himself in Jingang City.

Not long after, Lance said his goodbyes to Alberto and returned to the lounge, where his friends were mingling with the company staff.

Ethan was in an arm-wrestling match against Fordis, with the room cheering them on and small bets piling up. Both men’s faces were red with strain as the table shook under their effort. Gradually, Ethan’s arm began to falter, and amidst the crowd’s groans, Fordis emerged victorious, happily collecting his modest winnings.

He took five dollars from his winnings and handed it to Ethan, clapping him on the shoulder. “You’ve got potential, Ethan. Stop by anytime, and I’ll take you to the gym. You’ll love the place.”

Lance shivered at the thought of him and Fordis in muscle-hugging gym attire.

“Done with the boss?” Fordis asked, nudging Lance.

Lance nodded with a grin. “Where’s the Kodak Family casino?”“You planning to cash in the chips?”

“Of course.”

Fordis gave him the address, then added, “The bouncer will check your ID. Just flash him the chips, and if he asks who sent you, give him my name.”

“The Kodak Family is big in Jingang City—don’t cause trouble, or nobody can help you.”

Jingang City had five dominant families. They weren’t political dynasties or coalitions around a big-name mogul; they were powerful clans functioning as organized crime families. The Kodak Family was one of them, and these five families had established the structure of the city’s underworld. Their influence might seem subtle, but underestimating them would be costly.

Every year, a third of the oil drums sinking into Angel Lake were courtesy of these families, and another third was indirectly connected to them. Jingang City’s wealth attracted people worldwide, and it was tough to survive here without serious connections. The Kodak Family controlled seventy percent of the city’s casino business, offering private high-stakes games for elites. They weren’t always “good” or “bad”—their legal, licensed casinos were major businesses, and their head was actively involved in charity. Ironically, the Kodak Family pried every last dollar from gamblers, only to funnel funds into charity groups… groups they happened to run.

After thoroughly cautioning Lance, Fordis sent him on his way.

Back in the car, Ethan said, “You know, I could’ve won.”

Everyone seemed caught off guard, so Ethan continued, “I just needed to push a bit harder, but I held back.”

Lance raised an eyebrow. It seemed Ethan was starting to think tactically, or maybe he was just following his gut.

“Good choice, Ethan. Winning wasn’t worth making him look bad in front of everyone. His position in the company is solid, and if he’d lost to you publicly, he’d have been embarrassed. You did the right thing.”

“But I don’t mean you should lose face—it’s more about being able to read the situation. That’s more important than winning.”

The light turned red, and Lance took his foot off the gas, pressing the brake. “Mr. Corti gave me a hundred fifty dollars. For every job we complete, we get five percent of the recovered debt as a bonus.”

“I plan to rent us a place and give everyone five dollars. Sound fair?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. They were more than happy with the easy five dollars for a single outing.

Elvin had a question, but it wasn’t about the money. “Honestly, the storm drains aren’t bad. Do we really need a place?”

“Yes, we do.”

“We need a safe, relaxing place with showers, beds, and storage. The storm drains might be free, but they’re not meant for living. I’m thinking of renting a house in the western outskirts.” 𝘳åNȫβĘ𝘚

Jingang City was a coastal metropolis, and the prime real estate was along the coast and downtown. The city’s growth pushed east, prioritizing the shoreline, leaving the western edges underdeveloped and affordable for renting or buying.

With that explanation, the group had no complaints. Given a choice, nobody would sleep in a storm drain if they could have a bed, despite the coolness of the drains in summer.

Since it was already late in the afternoon, Lance decided not to start any new work, opting to buy a ton of food and bring it back to the storm drain. His friends cheered at the sight of all the food, and as Ethan bragged about his role in the debt collection, the others crowded around Lance, eager to join him on the next job.

Lance didn’t turn them down. They’d be the backbone of his future, and training them was essential. He also shared his plans for renting a place and how they’d split earnings.

Under the new system, thirty percent of the income would go to Lance, thirty percent to a communal account (held by Lance for now), and the remaining forty percent would be split based on individual contributions.

This structure established Lance as the core leader and ensured a fair distribution based on work. To earn more, they’d have to work harder.

Money lit a fire in his friends, raising morale and rekindling their spirits. The lure of income turned discouragement into excitement, as wealth often does.

They discussed plans until nightfall, after which Lance took his leave. Though it was getting late, he had a car. While Jingang City’s nighttime safety was questionable, carjackings were rare, as intercepting a vehicle at night was risky—most drivers wouldn’t stop and might even speed up.

Lance made it back to the bakery without incident. As he walked in, the apprentice, busy mopping the floor, called out without looking up, “Sorry, we’re closed…”