Empire of Shadows

“Mr. Johnny, I’m the new patrol officer in this district. You can call me Clark. For the foreseeable future, I’ll be responsible for patrolling and maintaining law and order in the neighborhood.”

“I heard you’ve run into some trouble…” Clark glanced at Johnny, seated in a wheelchair with a cast on, then removed his hat and took a seat not far from him.

“They say the culprit has been caught, but your lost money won’t be recovered. I checked with the officer handling the case. You might want to prepare a lawyer and sue their families for… compensation for your losses.” His eyes flicked to Johnny’s arm, and he almost burst out laughing.

Johnny had already become the neighborhood joke. The story of his misfortune spread like wildfire. A miserly and abrasive man like him was a rarity, so the incident was seen as a bloody yet ironic tale.

Although a joke, it was indeed bloody.

Johnny wasn’t keen on facing Officer Clark but forced himself to engage. “Thank you for letting me know. This is good news, but as you can see, I can’t afford a lawyer right now.”

“By the way, I’d like to ask—will they hire a lawyer?”

After multiple amendments to the Federation Constitution, all parties involved in legal disputes had the right to hire legal representation to defend their interests. However, the law was of little benefit to the poor, as most couldn’t afford a lawyer. The Federation’s justice system had effectively become a toy for the wealthy.

Ordinary people, lacking legal knowledge, stood no chance against professional attorneys. Even as victims, they could end up behind bars.Currently, hiring a criminal lawyer in the Federation was far from cheap. Even a guaranteed victory in a case required a minimum of a hundred dollars, with no upper limit. Additionally, lawyers often demanded 15% to 30% of any court-ordered compensation as a “service fee.”

Johnny hoped the other party couldn’t afford a lawyer either. That way, he wouldn’t have to spend extra money and might even secure some compensation.

Clark shook his head. “I’m not sure about that. It’s a Major Crimes Unit case, and I’m not authorized to inquire.”

He paused before adding, “There’s something else I wanted to discuss with you today.”

“Before Officer John left this district—”

Johnny cut him off. “I’ve already paid. I prepaid six months’ worth. Maybe Officer John didn’t mention it to you.”

The smile on Clark’s face visibly faded. His eyes grew cold as he stared at Johnny. “That’s between you and John. He’s no longer in charge here.”

“I’m not like John. Everyone knows how greedy he was. From now on, you only need to pay fifty dollars a month.”

“Pay monthly.”

This was the only viable solution. Before John left, he had drained every merchant in the area.

After taking over, Clark assessed the situation and spent half an hour cursing John with his partner. But they still needed to find a way to collect the money.

They decided to lower the fees and collect monthly. This seemed more feasible. John was indeed a greedy scoundrel who charged significantly higher dues than other districts, though his ruthless methods played a role in this.

Clark didn’t want a nasty reputation for himself. Eventually, they settled on a monthly fee of fifty dollars for thriving businesses and thirty dollars for others. Shops barely making thirty dollars a month in profit?

Clark and his partner would force them out, handing the space to more capable merchants.

For Clark, the initial collections were crucial. If he couldn’t get Johnny to pay, others might resist too. Securing the most lucrative and challenging shopkeeper would set an example for the rest. 𝙍ΑꞐȱВÈ𝒮

Inwardly cursing John for leaving such a mess and cursing Johnny for not seeing the bigger picture despite his injuries, Clark’s expression hardened.

Taking a deep breath, Clark said, “Johnny, you know there are many eyes on us out there.”

“Don’t make this difficult for me, and I won’t make it hard for you.”

“It’s just fifty dollars.”

Johnny stared at him for a moment, his voice hoarse with frustration. “I hope you’re not all talk, unlike John.”

Clark’s smile returned. “You’ll see me keep this neighborhood safe and sound!”

Johnny gathered all the loose change in his money box, though he was still a few dollars short. Clark didn’t seem to care about the small bills. He grabbed the money, pocketed it, and added, “You’re short five dollars. Let’s call it my injury visit fee. Hope you recover soon—I’m looking forward to your bread again.”

“Johnny, you’re a smart man. I’m glad you didn’t embarrass me, and I won’t make things hard for you either. If you need anything, just call the radio. They’ll find me.”

Outside the bakery, Clark tossed the collected money into a burlap sack held out by his partner through the car window. Watching shopkeepers cursed Johnny for caving under pressure while reluctantly preparing their own cash.

These blood-sucking bastards, they thought, deserved to rot in hell.

That afternoon, worse news arrived. A court notice informed Johnny of the hearing date—and that the opposing party had hired a defense lawyer. Without a lawyer of his own, Johnny stood a significant chance of losing the case despite being the victim.

Fortunately, Johnny had some savings, around seven or eight hundred dollars. He withdrew a portion and visited a modest law firm, paying twenty dollars for a consultation.

The lawyer assured Johnny there was no need to worry. His apprentice had planned and executed a violent robbery. As the sole victim, Johnny’s position was solid, even against a top-tier lawyer from Jingang City.

The lawyer explained that the opposing side could only aim to reduce their clients’ sentences and fines. To achieve this, they might offer compensation to seek Johnny’s forgiveness, which would work in his favor.

Reassured, Johnny thanked the lawyer and left, although the wasted twenty dollars still stung. He hadn’t planned to hire a lawyer anyway, making the consultation unnecessary.

That evening, business at the bakery was brisk as always. Johnny wasn’t just a skilled baker; he understood his customers’ needs. His bread was both filling and long-lasting, key to his success.

By six o’clock, the rush was over. After closing up, Johnny had his daughter wheel him to the display window. He gazed at the city, its colors coming alive in the darkening sky.

Lost in thought, he only noticed the small card on the table beside him when his daughter came to clean up:

Wanli Financial Consulting: Solving Your Financial Worries.