Empire of Shadows

Looking at Dover’s pale face, Alberto shook his head and walked towards Paul.

Dover had always been well-protected by Paul. In fact, sometimes he also wondered if the rumors were true.

That Paul, in order to build a positive image for himself, gave special care to Christopher.

That enviable indulgence made many people willing to die for Paul.

At least their families would be guaranteed a future if they died for him. If they also had a child, and if their child could have such a future because they took a bullet for Paul, they would also stand up at the critical moment and block that bullet for him.

But thinking about it again, if he really could do all this, did it matter whether it was real or fake?

So many pairs of eyes were watching. What made him a little unhappy was that Paul was so good to Dover that he wasn’t even willing to say a perfunctory word.

He shook his head and walked to Paul’s side. Paul had also seen the scene just now. He patted Alberto’s arm and then began to arrange the upcoming work.

From what he had heard, Dover’s body was trembling slightly. He had never experienced such a situation.

From the time he could remember, someone had been protecting his safety.When he grew a little older, he was often by Paul’s side. No one would disrespect him, no one would bully or harm him.

Everyone knew that Paul was very good to him. Messing with him was the same as messing with Paul.

Especially during the peak of the Five Families, even those who dared to have bad intentions towards Paul were unwilling to casually trouble Dover.

Firstly, when it came to choices that could affect the future of the family, Paul would definitely abandon Dover and then kill those people to avenge him. So kidnapping him to deal with Paul and force his hand didn’t have much meaning.

Although Paul was very good to him, everyone knew that Paul could not disregard his own life or harm the family’s interests for Dover’s sake.

Secondly, he actually had no great practical value. He was not involved in the family’s core affairs and did not know any high-level information.

Whenever there was a discussion about core family matters, Paul would have him leave first.

When he was a child, he would be given a few dollars to go out and play. When he was older, he would be told directly that he had to go out and do something.

Perhaps this was also one of the reasons why Dover hesitated among the choices Owen provided. Although he was well-protected by Paul, he was never allowed to truly enter the family’s inner circle.

If before, he was still hesitating, still feeling that Owen’s words were a form of intimidation—the idea that the great Pasoretto Family would perish was something he found laughable…

Then at this moment, he no longer thought so.

He was also in the front courtyard during the explosion. The shockwave from the explosion threw him heavily to the ground, and a cabinet in the hallway fell on him.

Although it didn’t cause him serious injury, it left a huge psychological scar.

Especially when he went to the collapsed areas and was pulled along to rescue people.

Looking at the pieces of corpses and rubble being moved from the ruins, and the people who had been crushed into meat paste by the heavy collapsed buildings.

He threw up, and more than once. Paul told him to go back to the rear, lest he affect everyone’s mood.

Those who died were all family. Everyone had a deep-seated hatred in their hearts. For him to be vomiting on the side was a fucking morale killer.

It was also because of this scene that Dover began to truly think about the words Owen had said. Could Paul hold out?

He walked somewhat numbly down the corridor. Around him were people in a hurry, and their gazes towards him were not very friendly.

Most people acted as if they didn’t see him, their glance passing over him. Some showed expressions of disgust.

He returned to his room, sat on a chair, and looked at the setting sun outside the window.

The fiery red sunset glow fell on the clouds, making them red. It looked like fire, but this fire was not scorching, nor was it intense.

It was not like the morning glow of a vibrant city, which was brilliant gold and gave a sense of tenacious vitality.

The red of the sunset glow gave a feeling of something about to be extinguished. It wouldn’t be bright for long.

If the family was really gone, what would he do?

He was a bit lost. He had his own villa, had bought many luxury cars. All his happy life was built on his uncle being named Paul.

Without Paul, he was nothing.

He knew he couldn’t protect that wealth.

As Paul’s nephew, he was well aware of the cruelty of the Five Families, or rather, the underworld.

He did not have the power to possess that wealth. He was not some socialite or political figure, nor was he the actual head or leader of a gang.

He had no power that would make people hesitate in the face of such a considerable fortune. He couldn’t protect that wealth, and it would bring him trouble.

Without Paul, not only would he become destitute, but the people he had offended in the past would all come looking for him.

He held his head and groaned in pain. This was not the life he wanted, nor was it the future he longed for.

His hand, as if with a mind of its own, slowly pressed down on the phone. A devil in his heart was telling him that calling Owen now was the right choice.

He had to protect himself, protect the Pasoretto Family, had to… let everything continue.

A fierce mental struggle, fear and unease about the future. In the end, he picked up the phone and dialed Owen’s number.

Owen was processing some documents. In fact, the Mayor was already awake, but not many people knew.

Now, as the Mayor’s secretary, it seemed reasonable for him to temporarily handle some documents on the Mayor’s behalf.

The state government also seemed a bit at a loss about the situation. After discussions, they were ready to send a team over.

Although Owen’s time of “governing” would not be long, he had already felt the joy the Mayor experienced in this position.

His signature could decide whether a decree would be implemented, which would change the work, life, and destiny of many people.

When the power was in the Mayor’s hands before, he didn’t feel it so strongly. But now, he felt it.

“This is the Mayor’s office,” he said, holding the receiver with his shoulder, his gaze still on the document in front of him.

There was no sound from the receiver, but he could faintly hear breathing. “If you don’t speak, I’m hanging up.”

After waiting for about ten seconds, Owen put down his work, held the phone properly, and spoke.

“It’s me, Christopher…”

“Dover?” Owen leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms. “Figured it out?”

Dover acknowledged with a sound. “What should I do to save the family?”

Owen rubbed his wrist. “If you want to save the family, you first have to become a significant figure in the Pasoretto Family.”

“But you, me, we all know very well that as long as Paul is alive, as long as his few brothers are alive, that role will never be yours.”

“Dover, sometimes I actually feel that choosing to cooperate with you was a wrong decision. You are the least likely person of all.”

“But you are a little smarter than them. At least you can see the future developments.”

He was silent for a moment. “I need you to take care of Paul and a few key figures. I will give you a group of people to help you take control of the Pasoretto Family.”

“Then you will pledge allegiance to the Mayor and me, and the Pasoretto Family can continue to exist.”

“There’s not much time left, Dover. What you are facing, what you have encountered, is just an appetizer.”

Once the news of the major bombing reached the state government, they would no longer consider using peaceful means to solve the current problems in Golden Port.

With a major explosion having occurred, plus the Mayor having arranged for some people to cause destruction within the city, and the gang wars being so frequent, it was inevitable that the state government would take the initiative to send in the militia.

At that time, whoever the Mayor said to eliminate, the militia would eliminate. All forces in the city that were not on his side would be purged.

Strictly speaking, he was not lying.

Leaving the Pasoretto Family, or rather, leaving a puppet, the purpose was actually very simple, because he and the Mayor would eventually leave here.

They needed to leave something behind to continue controlling this city. Even if they couldn’t achieve absolute control, they had to control a part of it to the greatest extent possible, to give them the capital to sit at the negotiating table with others here in the future.

These were their backup plans.

Whether it was the Cassia Family, the Kodak Family, or the Pasoretto Family led by Dover in his plan, these were all his backup plans.

They held the power to instantly destroy these families, so these families had to serve them.

Dover, on the other end of the line, didn’t know so much. He only knew that he had to make a choice.

“I… agree.”

The secretary laughed with great satisfaction. “A very correct choice, Dover. Although you’re not very smart, you, like your father, have a talent for multiple-choice questions.”

This sentence was actually full of sarcasm, but Dover pretended not to hear it.

His father had chosen to be a hero, while he chose to be a traitor.

Everything was for the sake of survival.

“You go outside first. I will arrange for people to contact you. Then you don’t have to do anything. They will find a way to take care of Paul.”

“What you need to do is to bring the people in.”

After saying this, he told Dover to leave the estate first, go to a bar or his own villa, and then hung up.

Then he immediately picked it up again and made a call to Rick (head of the Cassia Family).

“Dover has agreed to my plan. You make the arrangements.”

“It’s best to make it lively. I liked today’s explosion!”

Rick’s voice was a bit hoarse. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bastard, just like him?”

The secretary didn’t care about Rick’s words at all. This kind of person who, although obedient, was clearly not polite to him, he would replace him soon.

“Even if I am a bastard, you’re still licking my boots, Rick.”

“Don’t do things that displease the Mayor and me. Just do what you’re supposed to do!”

“I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

(End of chapter)