Empire of Shadows

”This is Mr. Wade. You can call him Mr. Wade, or...”

Mr. Wade’s assistant glanced at him. Only after he nodded slightly did the assistant say the title, ”...Mayor Wade!”

When Police Captain Matthew heard the title ”Mayor Wade,” his vision went black.

He realized that he had, from a very simple matter, gotten himself involved in another very troublesome matter.

Any matter that was related to politics, and that still required such means, was not something his small frame could resist.

What made him feel even more incredible was that this Mayor Wade actually had a connection with the Lance Family in Likalai State?

Just by knowing this secret, he didn’t know what kind of actions these people would take to keep this secret.

If before this he had still held a one-in-ten-thousand hope in his heart, then at this moment, all his thoughts were overthrown, and a new building was built on the ruins.

He was an old police officer, an old police officer with rich experience in handling cases and reasoning. He quickly analyzed that Mayor Wade’s target was actually not him, but his superior—

The chief of the state police!And even the figures higher up than the chief!

He didn’t even have the strength to curse. It was meaningless.

Because when the gap reached a certain degree, a person would go from despair to indifference.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands, which were full of wounds. His mind was a blank.

He thought of many things. If he had bravely resisted once in the face of greed.

If he had hesitated for a moment when he had made the decision to swallow that batch of goods.

If...

He wanted too many ifs, but how could there be so many ifs in this world?

There are no ifs in love, no ifs in hate, nothing.

”If... I cooperate with you,” he raised his head and looked directly at Mayor Wade, ”can my family survive?”

Having already been drawn into the whirlpool, and having learned some secrets, as a part of the dark side of this world, he knew very well what his end would be.

No matter what these people said now, it was all fake, untouchable. He had only one destination, cold, and lonely.

Mayor Wade nodded. ”I like to talk to smart people. I can guarantee that as long as you cooperate with me, your family will be safe.”

Police Captain Matthew did not immediately believe him. ”I want to talk to my family.”

”Alright, I’ll go and prepare,” Mayor Wade stood up and left the room.

He first gave Lance a call. He wanted to know if Lance’s side could provide an opportunity for a call now.

Lance did not refuse.

After the roadblock was completely removed, Elvin and his group did not leave and were still staying on the farm.

The farmer’s family was very hospitable. Under the combined effect of a handgun, bullets, and banknotes, the farmer’s family had displayed 200% of their enthusiasm for a strange and dangerous guest!

They had slaughtered a calf that was less than a year old, and then had cut off the most tender meat from the calf to make food, and had warmly entertained Elvin and the others.

Rich and delicious food. The farmer’s family had even given up the house they lived in for Elvin and the others to rest.

But fortunately, Elvin and his group had not accepted and were just living in the barn next door.

Lance had asked for Mayor Wade’s number and then had had Elvin call.

If he had given Elvin’s phone number, with his ability, he could have completely figured out where Elvin and his group were now.

The cooperation between Lance and Mayor Wade could only be considered to have just begun. If there were enough benefits, he might not necessarily not turn around and sell Lance out, so Lance still had to be a little careful.

Mayor Wade returned to the room. His assistant had brought a phone over, not far from Police Captain Matthew.

After waiting for four or five minutes, the phone suddenly rang. The first thought of Police Captain Matthew was not to look at the phone, but to look at Mayor Wade.

Mayor Wade nodded slightly and made a ”please” gesture. Only then did Police Captain Matthew answer the phone.

A voice with a hint of tears immediately came from the phone. ”Matthew, where are you?”

Police Captain Matthew was like a person who had been walking in the desert for a long time and was about to die of thirst, and his wife’s voice was the oasis in the desert.

He felt that he had come alive at once. He held the phone with both hands. ”I’m... in the city. How are you? How are the children?”

The sound of two children calling ”daddy” came from the side.

Although he was not very close to these two children, not as close as he was to his eldest son, they had, after all, lived together for more than ten years.

His eyes immediately turned red. ”Are you okay now?”

”Did they hurt you?”

His wife said with tears, ”We are all fine, but...”

Before she could finish, the phone was snatched away by someone. ”That’s enough!”

The person’s voice also came from the receiver. ”If you want them to live, don’t do anything stupid!”

After saying that, the phone was cut off. Police Captain Matthew was like he had lost his soul, still sitting there holding the receiver.

It was not until a long time later that he slowly put the receiver back on the phone’s base.

He used his wrinkled and wounded hand to forcefully rub his cheap face. ”What have I done!”

Who knew what he had done? No one cared about this.

After his mood had stabilized a little, Mayor Wade finally began to ask questions. ”What is your relationship with the chief of the Indeno State Police Department?”

”We can be considered alumni. There should be such a saying. He was trained as a police officer, and so was I.”

”But he is a year older than me. When I was selected to be trained as a police officer, it was his last half a year.”

”He was an activist in the police academy...”

Police Captain Matthew recounted these matters in detail to Mayor Wade, including how he had later had a chance to be assigned to the city police department, but had accepted the advice of some of his classmates and had chosen the state police.

Later, he had done quite well and had been promoted to the position of deputy police captain. The chief had begun to contact him and had pulled him into the real core circle of the state police.

Although Mayor Wade knew that this was a... very large interest group, when its veil was lifted, he still couldn’t help but be amazed by the madness of these people!

Some of the ”radicals” among them would often ”hunt” on the interstate highway, and then push the blame for these crimes onto some well-known highway serial killers.

The most interesting thing was that after a highway serial killer was arrested, he himself only admitted to more than forty serial murders that had occurred on the interstate highway.

But the highway patrol’s side had insisted that he was related to more than two hundred cases, and that it was definitely not just this little.

Later, it was unknown what agreement they had reached. In the end, this serial killer had confessed to all the crimes.

Until he was sent to the gallows and his neck was broken in the sight of the people, people had not figured out where the so much wealth he had obtained from killing others had gone.

Some people claimed to have seen him in some high-end trading places, saying that he spent money like water.

Some people also said that they had seen him in a casino, where he had squandered tens of thousands in one night (ten or twenty years ago).

As time went on, the legendary life of this legendary killer gradually faded from people’s sight, which also made those crazy highway police become even crazier!

In fact... the Federation itself was a crazy country. Every year, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people went missing, men, women, old, and young.

People should be grateful that the current organ transplant technology is not yet perfect. Otherwise, the number of missing people every year would only be more!

But even so, this was an astonishing number. Every year, a few thousandths of the people went missing. This was simply outrageous!

But this was the Federation. People had long been accustomed to it, or the operating mechanism of the Federation had made people subconsciously ignore these problems.

As long as no one reports it, no one will know.

Mayor Wade himself was not a good person, but after listening to the things that Police Captain Matthew had said, he suddenly felt that he was more or less a positive character!

”Can you guarantee that the things you have said are all true, and that there is evidence?”

Police Captain Matthew shook his head. ”I’m not clear about the evidence, but many of the people on my side can prove this, and we have also participated in it!”

A major case!

What Mayor Wade was considering now was how to maximize his own interests...

Of course, besides this, there was another thing to do, and that was Lance’s goods and money.

The longer the chief of the state police had no news about Police Captain Matthew, the more uneasy he became.

”Still haven’t found him?” he looked at the subordinate who had pushed the door open, his face growing more and more ugly.

The subordinate who had come in was also a trusted subordinate who was deeply involved in the corruption of the entire system, a core member of the interest group.

Even if the chief didn’t say it himself, they would spontaneously maintain the entire interest system.

Now it was not just about whether there was money in their pockets, but also about their safety.

A few of them shook their heads. An expert in charge of criminal cases showed an embarrassed expression. ”I have already been to the New Birmingham side. I have also found the house where he was staying. From the eyewitnesses, I have heard that he was taken away by some people.”

”There is one clue that I think has reference value. An eyewitness said that they saw a doctor involved.”

The chief frowned, and his heart continued to sink. ”A doctor went to that place and then treated Matthew?”

They had already found the body of the chief’s assistant, in a bush on the side of the interstate highway.

According to the statements of some eyewitnesses, two cars had been chasing each other on the interstate highway, colliding. One of the cars had lost control and had crashed off the road. Then the driver of the other car had gotten out. When he had gone to check, a few gunshots had been heard from inside. Then a person who had been shot had run out of the bush, had gotten into the car, and had left.

Then the highway patrol had been dispatched and had found the wrecked car, as well as the body of the chief’s assistant, who had died not far away.

He had been shot four times. A carved rapid-fire revolver was also left at the scene.

Now the chief had also heard that Matthew had actually been saved by a doctor. His hands were already trembling slightly.

A doctor is a very noble profession. Not everyone can become a doctor, nor can everyone casually have a doctor go and save a person of unknown origin, who also has a gunshot wound.

The one who could do this must be a person that a doctor could not refuse, and would even feel very honored to serve.

Either he was rich.

Or... he was powerful.

But no matter which one it was, for the chief at this time, it was the worst possible situation.

He forced back the unease in his heart and tried his best to make his voice not tremble. ”Is there any further clue?”

”For example, to find out where he went, or who took him away?”

”How many hospitals are there in New Birmingham?”

A subordinate answered, ”There are only four.”

The chief then said, ”Then go and check. See if it was one of them who did it. If it was, find Matthew.”

”If it wasn’t...” he shook his head. In fact, he knew very well in his heart that it was not certain that he could find that doctor.

Maybe that doctor was a doctor from a private clinic?

A community doctor?

A family doctor?

Or even a private doctor?

This was all possible!

And to investigate this group would be much more difficult. He could only have them try their best in the direction they could.

”Is there any other clue?”

A few of them shook their heads. He sighed. ”Go and do your work!”

”I have a strong premonition this time. Be prepared.”

He gave a call to the chief of the New Birmingham city police department and had the other party assist his men to continue to investigate this case.

And he himself, after the sky had completely darkened, came to the outside of the lieutenant governor’s villa.

After waiting for about thirty minutes, he finally saw the lieutenant governor.

In fact, the lieutenant governor had no guests today. He could have seen him when he arrived, but the lieutenant governor did not do so. The chief also knew the reason, which was to blame him for making everyone become passive.

The governor would certainly not be wrong. The ones who were wrong would definitely be the people below.

The Secretary of State of Likalai State was also a fucking good-for-nothing. To call and protest over such a small matter, did he have no shame?

But now it was meaningless to discuss whether the Secretary of State of the neighboring state had any shame. The governor’s anger was directly vented on the lieutenant governor, and the lieutenant governor could only continue to pour his anger downwards.

He could clearly see the chief, but he had insisted on having him wait outside for half an hour, and only then had he had someone bring him to the reception room.

The lieutenant governor was in his fifties. For a politician of this age, he was in his prime. It was also a matter of course for him to have further ambitions.

Seeing the chief come in, his expression revealed his dissatisfaction. ”Is there something that you have to come and see me for?”

He meant why he couldn’t say it on the phone.

The governor had just approved it, and this chief of the state police, who had caused the great congestion, had run over. In the eyes of some, some other things could definitely be read into it.

His tone was full of blame. The chief lowered his head, with a submissive look, without any refutation.

He didn’t even sit in a chair, but kept himself standing there.

Looking at his appearance, the lieutenant governor’s expression became even more dissatisfied. ”Are you dissatisfied, or are you protesting?”

The chief shook his head. He didn’t know how to open his mouth.

His actions made the lieutenant governor even more uncomfortable. ”Are you unable to speak, or do you think you are disdainful to speak to me?”

The chief knew that he could not not speak. Of course, he also had to speak. He had not come here to perform silence.

”We have run into some trouble.”

The lieutenant governor picked up a cigarette and lit it. ”We?”

The chief sighed. ”The reason for the road congestion this time is that Police Captain Matthew’s family has been kidnapped.”

The lieutenant governor’s expression became a little more serious. At this time, he also realized the seriousness of the problem, because the chief had started to explain after saying ”we.” This could only mean one thing.

He was trying to, by telling him the development of the whole matter, to let him understand that they were indeed being threatened!

”Continue. I’m listening.”

”Actually, the cause of this matter is that Police Captain Matthew and some of his police officers have swallowed a batch of smuggled liquor from the Lance Family.”

The lieutenant governor was silent for a moment. ”The ’swallowed’ you’re talking about, is it the kind I understand?”

”Black-on-black?” his tone was filled with an unbelievable, incredible laughter, a laughter of extreme anger!

A group of police officers, actually doing things that only gangsters would do?

He actually knew some of it, but only some. For example, some police officers had extorted passing vehicles, which had been reported in the newspapers.

They would find a random reason to punish those drivers, and then as long as the drivers gave them some money, they would let them go.

In the lieutenant governor’s view, this was not a problem at all. After all, life was not easy these days. For everyone to solve their own problems without adding to the government’s burden and trouble, even if they didn’t support it, at least they wouldn’t oppose it.

But he had not thought that the people below would play so big, that they would fucking play at black-on-black!

He took a puff of his cigarette. ”So the Lance Family kidnapped this what’s-his-name...”

”Matthew,” the chief reminded him.

”So they kidnapped Matthew’s family, and then you, in order to help Matthew get his family back, had blocked the highway.”

”That’s right.”

The lieutenant governor was already a little unable to sit still. ”What role did you play in these matters?”

The chief pursed his lips. ”I knew what they were doing. I didn’t pursue these matters. A portion of the illicit funds they obtained each time would eventually be sent to me.”

The lieutenant governor glanced at him sideways. He knew the hidden meaning in the chief’s words.

The chief also gave him benefits, but he didn’t know that the benefits the chief had sent were so hot. He also understood that at this time, for the chief to suddenly come over and talk to him about this matter, was just as he had said at the beginning.

They were in trouble.

”Continue. From when Mark’s family was kidnapped.”

The chief did not correct the lieutenant governor for getting Matthew’s name wrong again. For the lieutenant governor, this was just a person’s name.

”That day, when you told me to remove the roadblock, I was very worried that Police Captain Matthew might act recklessly.”

”Then I had someone go and keep an eye on him. He knew too many things. If he were to be caught by those people, it was not guaranteed that some things that were not beneficial to us would be forced out.”

”Later, he had a big fight with me. When he said he wanted to find a way himself, I guessed that he might have already gotten in touch with the people of the Lance Family.”

”I can’t guarantee that my guess is right, but I can only consider it from the worst-case scenario.”

”So I arranged for my men...”

The lieutenant governor sighed. ”Failed?”

”Yes, failed.”