Empire of Shadows

After hanging up the phone, Beno came out of the public phone booth with a cigarette in his mouth. He looked around at the surrounding streets to confirm that no one was following him before going to a nearby restaurant to buy breakfast.

Perhaps for the rich who don’t need to do any physical labor, the only places they sweat are in bed or in the gym, so they will eat a lighter breakfast.

But for most manual laborers and young people, breakfast is best with some meat.

The capitalists also encourage eating meat. They have come up with many ways to get people to buy meat to eat, instead of eating vegetarian dishes that don’t make them much money.

When Beno returned to the apartment with a bag of food, everyone was almost awake.

“Why are you so nice today?” Alan sat up in bed smoking. The room was honestly a bit messy. For a male in his early twenties, although he had already walked out of the stage of being hated by dogs, he hadn’t walked far.

Beno walked to the table in the room. He threw some bottles and other things into the trash heap and arranged the food.

The kraft paper food bag was soaked with grease. At this time, there was no such thing as “laminated technology.” When it was easily torn open, the rich aroma of meat immediately burst out and drilled into the noses of the young big boys.

The few people in the dormitory couldn’t sit still anymore and got off their beds one after another.

Without brushing their teeth or washing their faces, life was not as exquisite as in literary creations, where even in death, not a single strand of hair could be out of place.Real life has many small flaws. People will understand and get used to them.

They sat at the table, picking up the meat pieces with their hands and stuffing them into their mouths, and then took a bite of a sandwich. It was extremely comfortable!

In the eyes of some, such a nutritionally unbalanced food could not play a positive role in their growth, but at least it satisfied their appetite!

“These are to celebrate your upcoming promotion to captain. When you become a captain, don’t forget us brothers who once lived in the same dormitory!”

Beno said it very emotionally. Alan was also a very emotional person. He chewed the food in his mouth in large mouthfuls, swallowed some, and left a little space.

He stood up and opened his arms, “Come, I’ll give you a hug!”

The two hugged. Alan patted his body, “Don’t worry, even if I become a captain, we will still be together.”

A captain would have his own independent apartment, about sixty square meters. This was also one of the motivations for them to work hard.

Although the ownership of the apartment would not be given to them, they could live there by themselves, or with their families.

If they were promoted to high-ranking cadres, then Lance would arrange a single-family house for them.

These things were still full of temptation for the low-level gang members whose income was actually not too high at the moment!

For someone like Beno, a monthly salary of $40 to $50 was basic. If he completed this mission relatively well, he could also get a reward of $20 to $30.

In the entire Lance Family system, the income from “encountering trouble and solving trouble” was always higher than doing nothing. This was also one of the reasons that drove them not to be afraid of trouble.

If you want to get more, you have to give something!

Alan gave each of his roommates a hug. He swallowed the food in his mouth, “Although we weren’t the first to follow Lance, I believe we will also be the most successful group of people!”

Until now, Elvin and the others were still inspiring them. Lance didn’t mind people knowing how much money they had now. It was precisely because of this that they were more willing to contribute their strength to the family.

Brainwashing, using emotions, using other non-material things is indeed useful, but this usefulness always has a limit.

Only the desire for wealth and status has no limit!

After the group finished their breakfast, they went to the firm. Alan told Lance all the news he had found out, and at the same time, took out $490 and placed it on the table, “We only spent $10.”

Lance took $400 and threw the remaining $90 back, “You guys take it and split it.” He paused, “You guys don’t run around for the next two days. I’ll discuss it with Ryder and see how to handle this matter.”

Alan left with the $90. Lance then picked up the phone and talked about this matter.

“…I had someone investigate. This garment factory is called Henry Garment Factory.”

A name so common that you could find a dozen garment factories with similar names in the Federation. The people of the Federation lacked some ability and judgment in naming, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

At first, they would often use their own name or surname as part of the name, for the sake of simplicity and convenience.

Only when they could really make the enterprise bigger would they consider changing the name.

“I know this person,” Ryder confirmed this “competitor.” “What do you plan to do?”

Lance did not tell him what he planned to do, but instead asked him, “It’s not what I plan to do, it’s what you plan to do, Ryder.”

“If you want me to handle this, I guarantee he will go bankrupt in a few days.”

“If you want to handle it yourself, then I will help you solve some other things you are powerless to do, but your opponent, you will defeat!”

“What I can guarantee is that he will not have the opportunity to use means outside of legal competition to crush you!”

It was very simple for Lance himself to solve this matter. Find two young men, bring a pistol, or burn down his warehouse.

If he had a loan, use Jonathan’s influence to have the bank force him to repay the debt. There was always a way to make him go bankrupt and have nothing in a very short time.

But he also felt that he couldn’t do this, because poaching people was just a means of legitimate competition. It was not illegal or against the rules.

If he had to resort to illegal means every time he encountered a difficult problem, Lance would have to consider choosing another manager.

He didn’t distrust Ryder, it was just that his ability was not enough to support this factory.

Ryder considered for a moment, not for long, “I’ll handle him!”

His voice was firm, and there was also some strength in his voice. This was a test, he knew this very well!

“Very good. I will have people go over and keep an eye on him for you, so they won’t have other means of sabotage.”

“Ryder, he can poach your people, why don’t you go and poach his?”

“Or poach people from other places.”

“I will give you Debbie’s number. You can also ask her for help.”

“You made the right choice, Ryder. A person’s most precious asset is never crying to their parents, but overcoming it!”

“I will support you!”

“In addition, I will arrange for a few people to go to your side. You don’t have to worry about them. They will protect the machinery in the factory and the materials in the warehouse, as well as the safety of the workers.”

“The rest is up to you.”

“Ryder, I have no requirements for the factory’s profitability. Do you understand what I mean?”

Ryder took more than ten seconds before he tentatively asked, “You mean, I can… overspend?”

He really didn’t know how to express what he was thinking, so he used a very special word. Lance nodded in agreement, “But don’t let it go bankrupt.”

“I know what to do, Mr. Lance.”

Lance was also very satisfied with his reaction and decision. People more or less have some potential. If you don’t push them, no one knows how far they can go.

He called Alan over again. Alan seemed a little excited. Fighting and killing was particularly attractive to young people. Not only could they get a share of the money, but they could also quickly accumulate their own fame and prestige.

“It might disappoint you. This time it’s not for you to do some bad things, but to protect that factory, for a month.”

“Don’t let others cause trouble. After a month, you will be the captain!”

“But it might also be slightly delayed. After all, Ryder is dealing with a person, not a piece of wood.”

Alan would naturally not refuse. These were all obstacles on his path to becoming a captain, “No problem, Boss. I guarantee that no one will be able to harm the things in the factory and the warehouse.”

“Go, get some expenses from Mello, $300. It’s enough for you to live a good life this month.”

$300 might not sound like much, but when divided, it’s a daily quota of $10. $1 for cigarettes, and then $3 for each meal. How f—king luxurious is that?

Of course, this calculation can’t be done entirely this way, but it can indeed allow them to live a very comfortable life.

After Alan went back, he told the other three people about this matter. The other partner didn’t care, anyway, he was usually at the firm.

When there was something to do, he would follow those captains and cadres out to work.

When there was nothing, he would either be arranged to stand on the street, or chat and brag in the rest room of the firm, or find a place to sleep.

Where to rest is not resting?

It was just that Beno was a little unwilling.

He came here to f—king find a way to get key intelligence so that he could be promoted to an agent of the Bureau of Hazardous Materials, not to do dirty work for Lance!

Although he had a very pleasant time with everyone during this period, he still longed for a stable and bright life.

Not like now.

A month’s time doesn’t seem very long, but what about after a month?

What else do they have to do?

This is not the life he wants!

“When are we going?” he asked.

Alan thought for a moment and said, “Tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll go buy some daily necessities?”

“Okay, bring some for us too.” Alan gave him $20. This money was more than enough to buy daily necessities.

Beno took the money and left quickly. This way he had a reason.

Things in the Port District are very cheap because the docks are piled high with goods.

Trade is a very interesting thing. Sometimes throwing away some goods is actually less of a loss than shipping them away!

So you can always see many cheap goods at the docks. Some belong to the dock management company. They will open those abandoned containers and sell the goods inside to make up for some of the losses.

There are also some merchants who will directly buy the entire container and then sell it outside.

Many people are looking for a direction in life at the docks. There are not only work clothes and dockworkers here, but also these small merchants.

Beno only took a short while to buy everything he wanted. The price was a little cheaper than in the supermarket.

He found a place to put his things, then, according to the address Lukar had given him, he came to that bar in the evening.

The bar was left over from the Red Dog Gang. Because the decoration was not bad, plus the Bureau of Hazardous Materials turned a blind eye to their business.

As long as they didn’t have a neon sign telling people that you could drink here, they basically didn’t care about their business.

But even so, they were still very careful.

After observing for a while, he confirmed the entrance of the bar, then came to the door of the bar and knocked hard on the thick wooden door.

In order to be more “reasonable,” he had also changed into a set of old clothes to make himself look more like an ordinary person from the docks.

The observation port was opened with a clatter. A pair of eyes appeared inside, looking him up and down, “Get lost, we don’t serve poor ghosts here!”

As he spoke, the doorman closed the observation port. Beno was stunned for a moment, then laughed in anger and knocked on the door a few more times.

“If you don’t f—king leave, I’ll come out of here!” The doorman looked at Beno through the observation port. He was dressed so shabbily, he couldn’t afford to drink at all.

Although the liquor at the docks was not the most expensive in the city, it was still a little more expensive than in the Empire District.

Beno took out two one-dollar bills from his pocket, “Who are you calling a poor ghost?”

The person inside stared at him for a while, then closed the observation port, and at the same time, the sound of the bolt being opened was heard, “You can come in, but don’t cause trouble here!”

Beno nodded and swaggered into the bar.

It was very lively here. Although it was only afternoon, there were already many people. He walked to the bar, ordered a drink, and sat down to drink.

He could feel several gazes on him, on and off. He took his glass and came to the side of the dancer’s bar, and soon blended in with the surrounding people.

He threw money onto the stage, said lewd and dirty words, laughed loudly, or spat, just like the other uncultured people here!

Those scrutinizing gazes soon moved away from him. He had two drinks, and also made many friends, before leaving reluctantly after dark.

When he came out of the bar, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

He took the daily necessities he had bought and went to find Alan.

“Did you drink?” Alan punched him on the shoulder, “You didn’t even call us to go with you.”

Beno’s expression became slightly serious, “I have something I don’t know how to tell you.”

Alan still didn’t realize that the matter he was going to talk about was not simple. He asked with a grin, “What is it?”

“Did you get a girlfriend, or did you drink too much and fall asleep in the toilet?”

Beno, through some subtle changes, made himself look both nervous and a little excited, “I… don’t know how to say it. I might have found a Wolf Gang bar.”

“You ask me where I was drinking. I was in their bar.”

Alan was a little dumbfounded after hearing this, “Brother, what the hell have you been through?”

Lance was also very curious about this question. Alan brought him to find Lance soon. Elvin was also there. He had just come back after a busy day.

The two were discussing some other things when Alan brought Beno in.

Beno narrated what he had said to Alan again. Lance was just thinking, while Elvin asked, “What were you doing in the Port District?”

Beno already had a plan, “I went to buy some daily necessities. Alan told me we were going to the industrial area for a while.”

“The daily necessities in the Port District are very cheap. I’ve always been buying things there.”

“On my way back, I noticed two drunkards coming out of an alley. They looked like they had had a lot to drink, which made me feel that something was not right.”

“So I observed for a while, and I found the entrance to a bar. It shouldn’t be our bar. I mixed in. Their doorman was very casual. I showed him I had money, and he let me in.”

“Then I had two drinks, stayed for a while, and then left.”

He said everything in one breath, not giving Lance or Elvin a chance to interrupt his train of thought. After Lance finished listening, he glanced at Elvin and recorded this address.

Alan seemed a little excited. If this was a Wolf Gang bar, then without a doubt, Lance and his men would definitely take action, but then he felt a little depressed.

If there was really any action, he probably wouldn’t be able to make it!

After about a few minutes, Lance nodded and said, “This discovery is very important, Beno. You did very well.”

“We will first find out the situation of this bar. If it’s the Wolf Gang’s, we will make a move on them.”

“They have already provoked us. We will not not fight back.”

He paused, “Go to Mello’s and get $500. This is what you deserve.”

Beno glanced at Alan and suddenly said, “Boss, I don’t want this money. Can I exchange it for another reward?”

Elvin looked up at him, “What do you want?”

Most of the low-level gang members wanted money. After all, the reason they joined a gang was definitely not to shine with Lance, but to make their own lives better and their families’ situations better.

Beno glanced at Alan again, “I know, Alan actually really wants to participate in this action. Can I not take the money and let him participate too?”

Alan looked at Beno in disbelief. Beno just smiled in return.

Lance and Elvin both looked at each other. In fact, they also really liked this kind of situation. This kind of emotional bond was definitely much stronger than a monetary bond!

“You have a good brother, Alan!” Lance agreed to his request. “You still take the money. I’ll have someone else go to Ryder’s side. After Morris has figured out the situation of this bar, we will make a move.”

“You guys will also participate!”

Alan waved his fist, a smile he couldn’t hold back on his face. Lance leaned back in his chair.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest twice, “Beno is your brother. His credit is also a part of yours.”

Lance glanced at Elvin. Elvin opened a cigarette case, took out a cigar, and threw it over, “You are the captain!”