Empire of Shadows

The leader of the Death Angels sat in his car, watching the tinted glass doors of the shopping mall. He could even see Lance’s group walking out from inside.

Before he came, the big boss had told him that if he could bring Lance back alive, it would be best to bring him back alive.

On the one hand, an honor kill required a living subject, not a corpse. That wouldn’t be an honor kill.

The Death Angels, like all gangs, had their own method of honor killing.

The origin of this gang was related to the highways. When dealing with special targets, they would erect a wooden stake structure on a certain section of the interstate highway, and then tie up the person to be honor killed and hang them upside down on a rope.

Then two trucks would crash in from both sides of the highway. In the end, the guy hanging in mid-air would be crushed into a meat paste.

According to the oral accounts of some who had witnessed these honor killings, the moment the fronts of the two trucks collided, the person they were crushing was like a… watermelon, a potato, or a tomato.

Then with a splat, the flesh, internal organs, everything, would burst out from the skin and splatter everywhere!

It looked very disgusting, but the people of the Death Angels worshipped this.

Besides needing Lance to participate in such an honor kill, the big boss of the Death Angels had also, through his channels, learned about some of the changes in Golden Port City.After all, a high-level cadre of the gang had been killed in Golden Port City, and the people who had gone to hunt him down had also fled back in a sorry state. He had to know why his men had died in Golden Port City, and why the pursuers had fled back.

He didn’t know until he investigated. As soon as he investigated, he had also heard about the “two-hundred-million liquor market” that Lance had mentioned.

Such a huge market, even the Death Angels wanted to get some benefits from it.

Even if they couldn’t get it all, at least getting half of the market was good!

Capturing Lance might be a chance to invade Golden Port City, and they could even extort a sum from Lance.

Since that market is so large, as the currently dominant gang in Golden Port City, they should have made a lot of money, right?

Of course, if it was really impossible to capture Lance alive, they didn’t have to force it. Killing him was also fine.

In short, no matter what, they couldn’t let Lance leave this place today!

The little boss touched the weapon in his coat. He actually hadn’t had a firefight with anyone for some time.

Because of the special commercial atmosphere of New Golden City, the gangs were all busy making money. Who the fuck would go and have a firefight for no reason?

And having a firefight in New Golden City was definitely not a smart decision. Too many big shots lived here. These big shots could make him finished with just one phone call.

Even if a firefight happened here, it was often a small-scale one.

Today’s scene was a little big. He felt his heart pounding, a little uncomfortable.

These cars of theirs were not parked tightly against the side of the road.

There were no parking spaces in the vicinity long ago. The area near the entrance of the shopping mall was already full of cars. If they wanted to find a suitable parking space, it would be at least fifty meters away.

If they parked their cars there, they were not sure if Lance would walk towards them. What if Lance’s cars were parked near the entrance? Wouldn’t that be the end of it?

They couldn’t just stand at the entrance of the shopping mall with their weapons and wait. The commotion would be too big, and they couldn’t hide.

So he had his subordinates’ cars park close to the cars parked on the side of the road. This way, after Lance and his group came out, they could respond at the first opportunity. If a firefight were to break out, the cars in the middle could also be used as cover.

His palms were covered in sweat. Seeing that Lance and his group were about to come out of the shopping mall, at this moment, four mounted police officers unexpectedly rode up to the side of the convoy on horseback.

“No parking here,” a mounted policeman knocked on the car window. After the window was lowered, he made a demand.

The driver glanced at the little boss. The little boss was also a little unsure of how to answer this question. He was in a daze for two or three seconds, and then replied, “We’ll be leaving right away!”

“Don’t give me that. I know you too well. I said, no parking here!” the mounted policeman said again, and then he straightened up and looked at a place in the distance where there were still some parking spaces. “There are enough parking spaces up ahead. You go and park there.”

The little boss looked back at the crowd behind the tinted glass main door of the shopping mall. It should be the manager of the shopping mall who was giving Lance a business card. There was at most one minute before they would come out.

The little boss looked back at the police again. “I said, we’ll be leaving right away. One minute.”

The mounted policeman was already very impatient. He lowered his head and knocked hard on the roof of the car, making a banging sound.

The other few mounted policemen also realized that something was wrong. They all got off their horses.

Yes, horses.

In this crowded and often congested city, the police department had already canceled the post of “traffic patrolman” in the city center because of the frequent traffic jams.

Not only would it block the vehicles on the streets, but it would also block the police. So now the traffic patrolmen had all been changed to mounted police.

They did not ride motorcycles, but horses.

These mounted policemen surrounded this car. They also realized that the other cars might also be with them.

But now the two sides were already at loggerheads. The mounted policeman felt that his law enforcement authority had been challenged, which made him very unhappy.

There were indeed many existences in this city that could not be provoked, and it was precisely because of these un-provocable existences that some patrolmen, and even police officers, were a little extreme.

They were clearly doing the right thing, but just because they had done it right, they had to be reprimanded because they had provoked someone they shouldn’t have.

Many police officers in Golden State had this kind of situation. They would test the waters. If the person being tested did not have a deep background, then provoking them would definitely have to pay a heavy price.

The little boss stared at the police officer outside the driver’s side window. He looked as if he were looking at a fool, and even wanted to say, “Are you fucking sick” to give a summary of the other party’s behavior!

But now, he didn’t have so much time. He looked back again. Lance and his group were about to come out.

He didn’t want to mess up the matter that his superiors had given him just because of a small police officer!

Fuck!

He cursed silently, and then took out a wad of money from his pocket, counted a few bills, and holding them between his index and middle fingers, he handed them over there. “You can fine me.”

“If it’s not enough, tell me.”

The police officer looked at him. He also looked at the police officer without backing down. The gazes of the two confronted each other without giving way.

This confrontation actually did not last long, about five or six seconds. The police officer took a step back and straightened his body, which made the little boss breathe a sigh of relief.

But then the other party drew his handgun and pointed it at them. “Get out of the car, immediately, now!”

“Fuck!”

The other few mounted policemen also immediately drew their handguns. One of them even took out a whistle and put it in his mouth.

As soon as a firefight broke out, he would immediately blow the whistle.

The sound of these specially made whistles could travel very far. This was the city center, and there were mounted police all around. They would come to support as soon as they heard the sound of the whistle.

Looking at these police officers who were looking for trouble with him as if they were crazy, the little boss’s head was buzzing!

He looked back at Lance and his group, who had already stood by the door and were looking over here, and then at the few mounted policemen outside the car door. His temples were throbbing with pain!

If he left this time, he probably wouldn’t encounter such a good opportunity next time. Moreover, the big boss above had already given him an order. If he messed this up, a punishment was inevitable.

The larger the gang, the stricter the punishment, because each class is disconnected!

This is unlike a small gang, for example, the Lance Family. Lance knows all the high-level cadres in the gang, and also most of the captains.

And the cadres, they know all the captains, and also most of the lowest-level gang members.

Similarly, all the captains, they definitely know all the lowest-level gang members, because these members always have to work with a captain.

This forms a stable structure from top to bottom, without the need to establish severe punishments.

But the Death Angels are different. This gang spans many states, the territory is too large, and there are too many people, so much so that the high-level ruling class is almost completely unfamiliar with the lower levels.

The connection between them is not based on everyone knowing each other, and the deep friendship and affection that exists between them.

They can only rely on interests and punishment to manage them, just like those large enterprises. The larger the scale, the more formal the enterprise, the stricter and more impersonal the management system, because there are too many people, and there is no way to be personal.

If he failed to handle this matter today, he would definitely be punished, and he might also lose his position as a small leader in New Golden City.

Although this position was not particularly good, it still provided him with a lot of income every year. He really didn’t want to lose this position, nor did he want to be punished.

The competition in the Death Angels was also very fierce, and very cruel. If he was punished and demoted this time, the next time he wanted to be promoted back, he might have to exchange his life for it!

In an instant, countless thoughts swirled and turned in his mind. His face gradually flushed. The police officer outside also vaguely felt that something was wrong, and he also felt a little regretful in his heart.

But at this point, neither side had a way out.

Two seconds later, the little leader cursed a couple of times, and then, with a wave of his hand, he drew the weapon in his coat and pulled the trigger repeatedly at the police officer outside the car window.

No matter what, today they had to take Lance away or kill him!

The first moment the gunshots sounded, screams broke out around them. With a piercing whistle, the remaining few mounted policemen immediately began to shoot at that car, but the gang members in the other vehicles beside them also began to shoot at them.

There were too many of them!

In less than ten seconds, the mounted police were all wiped out. The few horses also took advantage of the chaos and ran to god knows where.

The moment they opened fire, Lance had sensed the danger. He pushed and did his best to hide behind the wall of the shops, and at the same time, he took out his handgun from his coat.

“You said just now… you were very willing to continue to serve me?”

The shopping mall manager’s face was pale, but he was still very calm and nodded. “Yes, sir, I am willing to serve you.”

“Very good. Is there a back door here?”

“A staff passage or something?”

The manager quickly nodded. “There is. Which side do you want to go out from?”

“To the parking lot…”

As they were talking, the little leader of the Death Angels and his subordinates had already gotten out of the car. Now that they had killed the police, they had to deal with Lance and his group as soon as possible.

They were not using the name of the Death Angels, but a small gang that had existed for several years. They usually smuggled a little inferior liquor and special medicine, and no one had paid much attention to them.

So even if this matter got too big this time, they could change their skin and continue to be at large.

But there was one prerequisite: they had to deal with Lance and his group as soon as possible!

The little leader was walking in the middle. It’s unknown who suddenly fired a few shots, shattering the glass of the shopping mall’s main door. He turned his head and looked at the guy who had fired, his eyes widening. “Are you fucking sick?”

The glass had not completely shattered, but a lot of it had.

At this time, there was no such thing as organic glass or tempered glass. The shopping mall used ordinary thick glass.

After this glass shattered, it would become very sharp, as sharp as a knife.

Originally, they could have entered the shopping mall very quickly. Now they had to be careful not to be hurt by this glass!

Before he could finish his sentence, he heard gunshots from the shopping mall. He instinctively ducked his head, and then ran to the side.

The two sides began to exchange fire around the main door. Now it was troublesome!

The little leader was already regretting it. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have been so impulsive just now. But now that it had come to this point, it was too late to say anything.

Lance had no intention of running away. On Senator Cleveland’s “turf,” he had no need to run.

As long as the other party couldn’t get in, he wasn’t in a hurry at all!

Hiram led a dozen or so men and ran to the side door. Their cars were all parked in the side parking lot, and the weapons were all in the cars.

Lance, on the other hand, personally led his men to hold these people off at the main door.

The firefight lasted for about three or four minutes. They tried to rush into the shopping mall, but the sharp broken glass on the ground did not allow them to do so. The little leader gritted his teeth, cursed a couple of times, and immediately made a decision. “Retreat!”

“We’re not fighting anymore. The police are coming soon!”

The speed at which the New Golden City police responded was about twelve minutes. This was what they had calculated before. In fact, there were already many police officers around, those mounted police.

The reason they hadn’t come over was mainly because they were afraid of dying, and were waiting for support.

The firefight inside was so fierce. They didn’t dare to go in casually!

The police was just a job. There was no need to risk your life for a job.

With the little leader’s decision, the other members began to retreat while firing. They had to get back to their cars first, and then they could leave.

At this time, Hiram had already rushed into the parking lot. While cursing, he pulled open the car door, and from under the back seat, he pulled out a box. Inside were two submachine guns and several drum magazines.

His special weapon. The others also found submachine guns in the back seats of their respective cars. Since Lance had been besieged twice, every car was a small mobile armory!

“Motherfucker, today we’ll let the people of New Golden City see how powerful we are!”

He rushed towards the side of the road with his submachine gun. And at this time, it just so happened that the little leader and his group had also returned to their cars. As the convoy began to start and flee, they happened to run into Hiram and his group who had rushed out from the side of the road.

A dozen or so people, all holding submachine guns and firing. This might have been the most exciting scene the little leader had ever seen in his life!

The windshield in front of him was shattered in an instant. Blood blossomed across the driver’s head, face, and chest, and he collapsed onto the steering wheel.

The direction of the car also, with his fall, crashed towards the side of the road.

Some of the cars behind were also affected, but the two in the very front were the most seriously affected.

The people in the car could no longer care about fighting back or not. They floored the gas pedal, crashed through the car in front, and rushed straight out!

Hiram threw away the drum magazine and put on a new one. He walked to the side of the third car. The people inside, because of the shooting and the crash, their minds could no longer keep up. They were like the quails in a quail house whose roof had been lifted, looking at the huge humans outside and their outstretched hands with a terrified look!

Hiram pulled the trigger again. The bullets were distributed fairly to everyone. He cursed while shooting.

Gradually, he felt that… his arm was a little weak.

It wasn’t until he looked down that he found that he had been shot in the arm.

It must have been that those people had been shot by him when they were “rushing the checkpoint” and had randomly opened fire.

“Fuck!” He threw the submachine gun in his hand to the person next to him, took off his coat, untied his tie, and had someone simply tie it up to stop the bleeding.

At this time, Lance and the others had also come out of the shopping mall. The broken glass on the ground at the entrance of the shopping mall had also been simply cleaned up.

“Injured?”

Lance saw that Hiram’s arm was obviously a little different. Hiram nodded. He lit a cigarette, held it between his teeth, and took a deep drag.

The crisis was over. The hormones also began to stop secreting, and the pain began to show.

“Got bitten,” he said with an indifferent look. A gunshot wound to the arm was indeed just like playing!

Lance checked the other parts of his body, which made him a little embarrassed. “Can you not touch me?”

“Even if you have to touch me, don’t touch me in front of so many people!”

Lance rolled his eyes and gave him a punch. “It seems it’s really just a small injury!”

Then he looked at the people behind him. Because they had been watching the fun from the beginning, they were prepared. Besides someone whose scalp was scratched by the shattered glass, no one else was injured.

Ennio’s father might need a doctor, but not because he was injured. His legs were so wobbly now that he couldn’t stand steadily. He needed psychological counseling.

At this time, the police’s support had almost arrived at the periphery. The surrounding area was filled with the wailing of police sirens.

Lance walked into a phone booth and dialed Tom’s number. “You might have to come to the police station.”

Tom was still a little curious. “Did you do something and get arrested?”

Lance looked at the people standing outside the phone booth. “To be precise, someone did something to me. I fought back a little. In short, you have to come. The matter might be a little complicated…”

(End of a Chapter)