Empire of Shadows

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Sam, still not entirely at ease, personally conducted a final check, as this was crucial for the new Red High Heels to recover its business more quickly.

Initially, he was somewhat reluctant to take on this job. He was already doing quite well in Paradise City, with a client base entirely composed of distinguished individuals from high society. He lived a life free from financial worries, held a certain social standing, and Paradise City was a thriving metropolis with a rich entertainment industry, more tolerant of people like him.

However, there were indeed those who wished for him to lend a hand, and there was a high probability that the mayor would contend for the governor’s seat. Once the mayor became governor, this would mean a more solid backing for Sam! In this business, the greatest fear was having insufficient support.

Therefore, he hoped to do well, which meant deviating from Liam’s previous management style. He intended to refine more details to impress clients, and only then could he cleanse Red High Heels of the labels that did not belong to him. His years of experience had taught him: do not be a person without value!

Lisa lay on the soft cotton padding, ribbons wrapped around her body. They covered some parts of her body, yet made her feel more ashamed and embarrassed than being naked! Around her, small torture devices were arranged like decorative gifts.

There were also beautiful clothes, various types of garments, even men’s clothing, athletic wear, and even American football player’s equipment.

Sam had encountered a client in Paradise City who, above all else, enjoyed playing American football with girls dressed in similar gear while he himself wore American football player’s equipment. Almost every time, each girl would suffer severe injuries. He was like a madman; he claimed to relish the sensation of delicate beauty being torn to shreds beneath his power!

That individual was a prominent figure, very wealthy, and of high status. Sam actually disliked him, because every order he placed meant that some carefully nurtured girls might be rendered useless. The effort, time, and emotions he invested would be wasted. But who was he to refuse that person? There were always many perverts in this world, and it was quite possible that even in Angel City, some people harbored similar predilections.“What a perfectly flawless gift!” Sam gazed at Lisa. He squatted by the gift box, gently caressing her delicate cheek.

Observing the tears of fear and humiliation in her eyes, Sam, as if suddenly overcome with kindness, gently wiped them away and murmured words of comfort, “Don’t cry.”

“Everyone desires perfect gifts. Your tears will shatter that perfection.”

“I understand that you now perceive fate as terribly unjust, questioning why, amidst countless girls in this world, it is precisely you.”

“Dwelling on these thoughts now will only exacerbate your suffering, offering no solace whatsoever!”

“Consider your client earnestly; contemplate his peculiar predilections, his temperament. How might he torment you, or what expressions might you display to elicit a more joyful laugh from him?”

“Ponder how to safeguard yourself, ensuring that, without compromising the client’s experience, you avoid severe harm.”

“Lisa, our acquaintance began yesterday, but I wish to convey this: do not consider me your adversary.”

“We are all pawns of destiny. We are powerless to dictate our own fates. The sole instruction I can impart to you is to strive for a healthy existence, to the utmost of your ability.”

With that, he straightened up, and after confirming there were no other oversights, he departed from the carriage.

The slowly closing carriage door cut off the light. In the dimly lit carriage, Lisa felt as if even the sun had abandoned her at that moment!

Outside the carriage, Sam summoned the delivery personnel closer. “Inform the client that Lisa is a vital asset of our club, and we do not wish for any mishap to befall her.”

“However, if the client inadvertently dismembers her, he shall incur additional charges.”

Booker, standing nearby, could not help but interject, “That gentleman has no such inclination.”

Sam elucidated, “We must issue a cautionary reminder. This is our protocol, to impress upon them the considerable cost of ‘toys.’”

“At times, the more exorbitant an item, the more intense the gratification derived from its destruction…”

The panel van possessed four seats in total, and indeed, four individuals had boarded. One person was responsible for driving, while the other three were tasked with transporting items, including setting up the venue, should the client require it.

Sam instructed them to take a circuitous route through the city center, then traverse the Starlight District to enter the northernmost part of the Bay Area, and proceed along the main thoroughfare to the delivery destination. This maneuver would serve to effectively publicize the reopening of Red High Heels, and he was confident that in short order, more clients would become aware of this, leading to a natural increase in new clientele.

The vehicle swiftly departed from the rear of Red High Heels. Sam, accompanied by Booker, returned to the club, which was currently undergoing renovations. His tone was laden with disdain for Liam, the former owner of the club, as well as for Booker.

“An exceptional club, yet you transformed it into a haven for paupers. I truly fail to comprehend your reasoning.”

“Do you genuinely believe that those prominent figures would willingly engage with the same ‘toys’ as the impoverished?”

“Nevertheless, it is fortunate that I have arrived, Booker. You stand to gain significant knowledge from me, do you not?”

Booker was uncertain of Sam’s precise meaning, but adhering to the principle of not provoking his ire, he bowed his head low and uttered, “As you say, Mr. Sam.”

Sam’s stern countenance abruptly contorted into a somewhat morbid smile. “Yesterday, you addressed me as ‘Mother,’ and now you refer to me as ‘Mr. Sam’?”

Observing Booker’s expression of utter despair, Sam could not help but let out a hearty, booming laugh; he was exceedingly content in that moment!

On the other side, Morris immediately followed the vehicle after it departed. Soon, he realized that something was amiss, as the vehicle was not heading eastward, but northward. North lay the city center. According to the confessed individual, and Elvin’s own understanding, Red High Heels’ clientele were primarily located in the Bay Area.

While the city center might have some clients, they would absolutely not venture there in broad daylight, as the city center, with its exorbitant land prices and dense population, made it difficult to conceal certain activities. Unlike the Bay Area, with its various villa districts, where, once inside the private roads and obscured by vegetation walls, even several deaths might go unnoticed.

The direction of this vehicle also made Morris somewhat uncertain whether it was the one he was supposed to be following. Fortunately, the vehicle’s speed was not fast, and he still had three assistants in his car. He instructed the three men in the car to disembark. “Contact Elvin and have them send more vehicles. I will continue to tail it.”

The three raised no objections. Morris resumed driving, trailing the almost impossible-to-miss Red High Heels panel van from a distance.

Upon receiving the news, Elvin immediately redeployed his forces. The previously arranged accident scene on the southern main road of the Bay Area remained untouched. Simultaneously, a new truck was dispatched to the northern entrance of the Bay Area. There were other points of entry into the Bay Area, but Morris’s analysis was that they might be engaging in both advertising and delivery, thus they would certainly not take the shortest route.

There was a high probability they would enter the Bay Area through its main northern entrance. If they did not take that route, he would devise a way to deliberately cause a traffic accident, temporarily detain them, and then call for backup…

Inside the swaying panel van, the four individuals engaged in conversation to pass the time. They had been following Sam since their time in Paradise City. The work under Sam was remarkably light, and for them, it was also… highly appealing. They had the opportunity to observe the bodies of many different girls, though they were forbidden from touching them.

Some prominent figures harbored severe obsessive cleanliness, prohibiting others from interacting with their ‘toys,’ lest they incur their wrath. Such violations could result not only in the disposal of the ‘toy’ but also in the punishment of the individual who clandestinely engaged with it. Paradise City boasted numerous establishments involved in the flesh trade, a number that Golden Port did not match.

They were passing the time by discussing recent events in Golden Port, and gradually the conversation shifted to newly released films. Previously, Federation films were consistently silent. If actors failed to convey their expressions through body language, it became an arduous experience for the audience. Not everyone in the Federation comprehended intricate vocabulary; many were illiterate. Consequently, during this era, an actor’s merit was judged by their capacity to express their character’s intentions through physical gestures and movements.

This also explains the relatively exaggerated movements of film characters during this period. Insufficient exaggeration would fail to convey the intended message to the illiterate audience, as not every viewer possessed the discerning eye of a film critic or a master of micro-expressions.

Of course, sound films were not a recent invention; they had, in fact, emerged over a decade prior, but they lacked broad promotional value. This was akin to laboratory products: prior to achieving industrialized assembly-line production, their creation merely validated theoretical correctness and did not signify commercial viability. However, they had now resolved the issue of synchronizing film visuals and audio, and both recording and playback had become considerably simpler.

As the first sound film undergoing comprehensive promotion, it was rapidly becoming the focal point of discussion among film enthusiasts.

Amidst the discussion, the vehicle slowly entered the Starlight District.

The Starlight District is a relatively significant cultural and entertainment hub in Golden Port, concentrating the city’s opera houses, theaters, concert halls, and similar venues. It also boasts many of Golden Port’s most luxurious hotels, and is a relatively concentrated area for the affluent. However, they merely engage in recreation here; once exhausted from their leisure, they return to the Bay Area for slumber.

Compared to the bustling city center, the Starlight District experiences less pedestrian traffic; the impoverished do not frequent this area for entertainment. Although numerous recreational facilities exist here, this harsh society, from the moment they gained awareness, instilled in them the understanding that this place is not for the poor.

In a place like the Empire District, a movie ticket cost five cents. However, watching the same movie in the Starlight District would cost at least twenty-five cents for a ticket. Even when shopping, they rarely ventured into this area, so pedestrians were scarce.

It had been approximately over an hour since the Red High Heels vehicle departed the Empire District and arrived here. Morris had been trailing them the entire time, and during this period, he had reconnected with the others. The vehicle was also prepared.

At an intersection where traffic lights caused a stop, another vehicle pulled up beside him. The driver rolled down the window. “Elvin mentioned we’d be entering the Bay Area shortly. Once inside the Bay Area, taking action could potentially lead to unpredictable consequences.”

“No vehicle has emerged from Red High Heels, so it is highly probable that Lisa is aboard this particular vehicle.”

Morris nodded, a map of the city quickly flashing through his mind. “The next intersection, force them to turn right. There’s a water station there. Deal with them at the water station’s entrance.”

The young man driving the other vehicle nodded and, after the traffic light, turned and drove away.

At this moment, the driver of the Red High Heels panel van was merrily driving the vehicle. Seeing that it wouldn’t be long until they entered the Bay Area, this also signified that their work was nearing its end. After delivering Lisa, they could rest for a while, and then pick Lisa up at eight in the evening.

Such orders are typically not merely about simple bodily fluid exchange, nor can anyone endure for several hours; rather, they primarily involve venting desires through other means, hence the duration would not be excessively brief.

Just as they were not far from the Bay Area, the driver suddenly said, “There’s a car accident ahead, it seems.”

Several individuals looked towards the intersection. Two vehicles had collided behind the intersection; the car making a right turn had struck the vehicle proceeding straight, obstructing more than half of the roadway. The two individuals, presumably the drivers, were engaged in an argument. Numerous onlookers stood at the intersection, drawn to the spectacle, virtually blocking the path.

The driver honked a few times, but neither of the two drivers seemed inclined to move their vehicles. They even began to exchange blows, and despite their weak performance, the onlookers grew more enthusiastic. Each one yearned to personally instruct the two drivers on the art of boxing!

“Let’s go right, take a detour,” someone suggested, which was also the driver’s idea.

“If I didn’t have work today, I’d definitely stay to see who wins.”

The other three also began to discuss. Some believed the person in the vest would win, while others thought the person wearing the baseball cap would win. Anything could become a topic of discussion when they had nothing else to do.

This stretch of road appeared more desolate than the previous ones. It primarily housed public facilities such as power stations and water stations, lacking many captivating attractions, thus wealthy individuals rarely frequented this area, and pedestrians were scarce.

As they reached the entrance of the water station, a truck suddenly surged out of the station and crashed into the side of their vehicle. The entire vehicle came to a halt from the impact. The four individuals were still shaken, and after a considerable pause, they began to hurl expletives. This panel van had just been repaired, and if it were damaged, Sam would certainly punish them!

Several individuals pulled open the car doors and dashed out. Witnessing the dented vehicle body and door, expletives streamed from their mouths without restraint. The driver, furthermore, ran to the water truck’s door, forcefully yanked open the driver’s cabin door, and then froze in place. He neither cursed nor moved, simply stood there foolishly, supporting himself by the door.

One of his companions, noticing his peculiar demeanor, curiously approached and then also fell silent. Then came the third person.

As the fourth individual sensed something amiss, ran to the driver’s cabin, leaned over the driver’s seat, and, bending forward, fumbled through the toolbox in an attempt to retrieve a weapon, a gun was pressed against his head.

Several individuals slowly raised their hands. A young man swiftly boarded the Red High Heels panel van and drove off. And these four individuals were also transported onto a truck.

The four of them stood in the innermost part of the truck bed, hands raised. At least six individuals held guns aimed at them. They dared not even breathe heavily, fearing that the other side might misunderstand their intentions.

One of them, considered a relatively close subordinate of Sam’s, spoke as softly as possible, “Do you know what you’re doing?”

The others remained silent. He could only force himself to say, “If you want money, I have a few dozen dollars here. We all risk our lives for others; we have no money in our pockets.”

Those individuals remained silent, still staring intently at them. This feeling was terrible. He still had not given up hope and continued to try, “Do you know whose car you just robbed?”

“It’s Mr. Sam’s. He’s a prominent figure. If you wish to avoid trouble, it would be best to release us now and return our vehicle.”

“Otherwise, I guarantee you, once Mr. Sam learns that you have seized what you ought not to have, there will be no sanctuary for you, not merely within Golden Port, but throughout the entire Federation!”

Communication must be founded on mutual exchange, but it was clear that those present were unwilling to engage. The driver could only abandon attempts at communication and remain silent. The vehicle drove directly out of the city from the north, speeding northwestward. Watching time ebb away, the driver’s emotions shifted from anxiety to despair, and finally to a state of utter despondency and numbness.

Concurrently, Sam, who was enjoying Booker’s services, was selecting some girls. He possessed channels through which he could procure girls from the Federation or other regions. High-end “hunters” would not alarm them before they were needed. The hunters would, under the guise of tourists or other identities, take photographs with them or offer to photograph them.

Ultimately, they would request the girls’ addresses, citing the reason that the photographs would be mailed to them once developed. In this manner, the hunters acquired the girls’ photographs and their places of residence. When a client placed an order, they would, according to the pre-assigned numbers, proceed to abduct them. Of course, this category of “toys” consisted of individuals with exceptionally outstanding attributes, and their price was not insignificant.

Sam needed to cultivate some “customized toys.” While some of Red High Heels’ previous offerings were indeed good, from his professional perspective, they still lacked certain elements—some characteristics and distinctiveness. He required girls who could firmly captivate certain clients, rather than those who were merely conventionally attractive.

To cater to a more exclusive and private clientele, Sam needed to introduce more high-end “toys.” Just as he was deliberating over some candidates, the telephone rang. He kicked the crouching Booker with his foot, who then got up and retrieved the phone.

“This is the Red High Heels Club.”

“Mr. Sam, the boss is quite displeased; our agreed-upon delivery has yet to arrive.”

“The boss expects a satisfactory explanation from you…”

(End of this chapter)

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