Empire of Shadows

When people encounter some sudden situations, they often can’t react, but their bodies have a more direct coping measure than their minds, and that is to do what others are doing.

While Carl was shouting ”run,” he was pulling his wife and children. His wife could only run with him.

As for the two children, they did not treat this as a terrible thing, but instead giggled, as if this were a game between their parents and them.

The two children let go of their mother’s hand and ran forward faster. Seeing this scene, Carl breathed a sigh of relief.

But then a situation occurred. The handbag in his wife’s hand fell to the ground. When she turned to pick it up, she was pulled forward by Carl and lost her balance. After stumbling a few steps, she fell to the ground.

Her face was filled with an inexplicable fear. She looked at her husband. ”What the fuck are you going crazy for?!”

Carl still wanted to pull his wife up, but he looked back and saw that the guys in trench coats were getting closer and closer. He could only give his wife a ”you’re on your own” expression, and then he turned and waved his small arms and legs, and continued to run forward.

His wife, who had fallen on the sidewalk, looked at her husband’s running back. She sat there, her hands lifting her hair. ”What the fuck?”

As she spoke, she heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind. A trace of unease and fear slowly crept up into her heart. She slowly turned around and saw a pair of shiny leather shoes that were reflecting the light from the streetlights in the dark of the night.

Then she looked up from these leather shoes at the pant legs, the trench coats with red armbands, and the faces that were hidden in the shadows.She couldn’t see the faces of these people clearly, only a rough outline, and a pair of eyes that were very bright even in the dark of the night!

”I...”

She wanted to say something, but these people didn’t give him a chance at all. One of them took out a handgun from his pocket and pulled the trigger at her forehead.

This time they had used small-caliber bullets, the kind of bullets that, even without any treatment, didn’t sound like a strong gunshot.

Mayor Wade and the mayor of New Birmingham had already reached some cooperation agreements, allowing Lance and his men to be active in New Birmingham, but there was one condition: they could not create a large-scale riot.

New Birmingham was just a small city with a population of only two hundred thousand. Once a huge riot occurred, it would be very easy to make the already not-so-many citizens run even more.

So this time, the weapons used in the operation were all small-caliber handguns, just like the weapons used by the agents in the movies. The sound of the gunshots was all ”piupiupiu,” and it was not particularly loud.

Hearing the gunshot behind him, Carl ran even faster, but he was too fat!

From the restaurant entrance to here, he had at most only run a distance of a hundred meters, and he had already begun to pant violently.

With every breath, he could feel the air as if it were on fire, rushing through his lungs. His whole body was sending out a strong protest, telling his brain that he could no longer run!

Never before had he been so disgusted with himself for being too fat!

I should have lost weight!

Regret, at this moment, spread uncontrollably. The beads of sweat on his forehead were constantly sliding down with his running movements. It was unknown if it was tears, or just sweat.

He was cursing while running forward. As he ran, he could no longer run.

The two children had also stopped in their tracks, looking with some confusion at their mother, who had fallen to the ground and had been stepped over by those people.

They hadn’t even had time to ask anything before Carl shouted with all his might, ”Run, keep running, don’t stop!”

The two children were so scared that they shivered. They finally realized that something was not right, and began to run even faster.

But Carl couldn’t run anymore.

He didn’t know how far he had run. He couldn’t run anymore!

That’s right!

The handgun in my hand!

He leaned against the window of a closed shop on the side of the road, and hastily took out the gun that his subordinate had given him. He tried to shoot at those people, but he found that he couldn’t even pull the trigger!

Fuck!

He, with his head covered in sweat, looked at those people again. What was the problem?

He didn’t know!

His mind was in a mess now. He couldn’t remember how to handle these things at all. He hadn’t fired a gun for several years!

He tried to pull the slide. He still couldn’t pull the trigger. He had also cocked the hammer, but it was still useless.

Fuck!

He cursed again, and violently slammed the handgun on the shop window twice, and then, looking at the approaching people, he could only throw the handgun at them, and then continue to run.

It was just that this time, he really couldn’t run anymore. His running speed was even slower than an ordinary person’s walking speed.

And they had just finished eating, and Carl had eaten a lot.

His wife had ordered a lot of dishes, but in order to maintain her figure, she would not eat her fill of every dish. She would just eat a little, maybe just a bite.

If she encountered something she liked very much, she might have two bites. The rest had all gone into Carl’s stomach. One can imagine how much was in his stomach!

Half of the food for three or four adults was in his stomach!

After running a few steps, he suddenly bent over and began to vomit. The food that had not yet been digested, some table wine, some soup, and sauces, all came out of his mouth.

He was slowly walking forward while vomiting, until the sound of the footsteps behind him stopped.

He clutched his stomach, stopped his steps, and slowly turned around, looking at those people calmly looking at him, and the weapons they were holding up.

”Holy shit...”

The ”piupiu” sound of the gunshots suddenly became fierce. The small-caliber bullets were still full of killing power at close range.

Many small holes immediately appeared on his body, and blood began to seep out. So much so that his face, his head, were all hit by many shots.

A body of over two hundred pounds, after a few seconds, fell to the ground with a thud, as if the ground had shaken twice.

The two small children cried and continued to run forward. Just as they were about to run out of this street, from the corner of the street, a few more guys in the same trench coats appeared.

They looked at the two running little things with a cold and ruthless look...

The mayor of New Birmingham’s gaze withdrew from the street outside. He seemed to have heard a gunshot, but he was not sure, because the sound was too small, and... it sounded a little different from the gunshot in his cognition.

”Mr. Mayor?”

The voice from behind him made him stunned for a moment. He came back to his senses, glanced at the half-burned cigarette in his hand, and flicked the ash.

The cigarette ash, carried by the wind from outside the window, disappeared into the dark of the night. He took another puff, and then turned to look at the bright room, at Lance, who was sitting in the guest’s seat.

”I was distracted. I’m sorry.”

He returned to the side of the table and sat down again. ”Your proposal... I think it’s acceptable.”

”But, Mr. Lance, you know, I have never done these things. I am a little unsure if what I am doing is right.”

The one sitting in front of the mayor was Lance.

Mayor Wade had already had a phone call with the mayor of New Birmingham, and they had talked about the idea of everyone getting rich together.

New Birmingham was just a small city. To be honest, there were not many benefits here, and the capitalists’ eyes would not fall here.

Many people would actually have some roughly the same confusion or questions. Why is the gap between the cities of the Federation so big!

Some cities look very prosperous, with a particularly strong commercial atmosphere. You can feel the pulse of a modern city wherever you go.

But there are also some cities that look particularly primitive. In the whole city, you can’t even see a few high-rise buildings.

The tallest building in the city of New Birmingham was only eight stories high. The others were all very low-rise houses.

There was no great profit here, the market was also very small, and the living environment was relatively primitive.

Among the working-age people in the city, about 40% were engaged in agricultural and pastoral work. There were many farms and pastures outside the city. The remaining part was engaged in the production and service industry of light industry.

There were no large pillar industries here, which could not drive any local economic development. The ordinary people had no money in their pockets.

Without money, besides taxes and necessary expenses, the disposable income is very little, and the capital market is very small. If you invest anything here, you will basically not be able to get your cost back.

The people here can’t afford to buy goods that cost a few hundred or a thousand, nor can they afford a watch that costs a few thousand or tens of thousands.

So this place does not look prosperous enough.

Not prosperous enough also means that the mayor of New Birmingham does not get much benefit from this city.

After all, whether a city’s ruler can fill his own stomach does not depend on how many low-level workers there are in this city, but on how many capitalists there are in this city who are willing to spend money.

Mayor Wade had talked to him about this. Lance could cooperate with them and make money for them.

And Mayor Wade had also mentioned that there would not be any after-effects from his cooperation with Lance. All the legal problems would be borne by Lance and his men.

Mayor Wade, and the mayor of New Birmingham, they just needed to check on time whether the funds in a few accounts had arrived.

The only thing they needed to do was to give the green light for the Lance Family in the early stage of expansion, for example, in terms of the police, in terms of policies. Anyway, they were all things within their power.

This was his first formal cooperation with a gang, so he was a little unaccustomed to it.

Lance smiled and continued to persuade and comfort him. ”Mr. Mayor, actually you can take a look at the current Golden Port City, this base camp of the Lance Family.”

”Before we took over Golden Port City, Golden Port City was a very chaotic place.”

”There were the Five Families...”

The mayor nodded. ”I’ve heard of this.”

Lance did not mind him interrupting his speaking rhythm, but smiled and nodded, and then continued, ”And about seventy to eighty or so gangs, and also some scattered community families, community gangs.”

”During the day, the big shots ruled this city. At night, it became the world of the gangs.”

”All kinds of vicious crimes kept appearing. The public’s panic and despair about public security had spread throughout the entire city.”

”It’s no exaggeration to say that it was these people who caused the water of Angel Lake to rise so much.”

The mayor couldn’t help but show a smile on the corner of his mouth. It was clear that he had also heard this joke, which showed how bad the public security in Golden Port City was.

”But!” Lance’s tone suddenly rose. ”Mr. Mayor, since we have solved the problem of the Five Families, and have completely taken over Golden Port City, you can go and have a look yourself, or arrange for someone to go and have a look.”

”The public security of the entire Golden Port City, I dare not say it’s the first in the Federation, but it’s definitely in the first tier.”

”No firefights, no kidnappings, no vicious crimes. The gangster groups have begun to care more about the stability of society than the police. You simply cannot see what is happening here in other places!”

”We are different from the others!”

”We never suck the blood of the common people, nor do we profit by harming others. Golden Port City has completely abolished all kinds of fees and protection fees. The shops on the street have almost no extra expenses at all!”

”So you don’t have to worry at all. Our entry will not make this place more chaotic.”

”On the contrary, by next year, you will see a brand new New Birmingham.”

”No firefights between gangs, no protection fees, no harassment of the common people. Almost every industry can’t feel the existence of the gangs!”

”You want stability, and so do we!”

The mayor listened to his long speech and kept nodding. ”You’re right, Lance. I have also, through my own ways, learned about you and your people, which is why we have a chance to sit down and talk.”

”I still have a question...”

Lance made an inviting gesture. ”Please speak.”

”I’ll leave the matter of the gangs entirely to you. I believe you, and I believe Mayor Wade, but what about the Bureau of Prohibited Goods?”

”If you are here as you are in Golden Port City, and are almost openly selling liquor, will the Bureau of Hazardous Materials find trouble with you?”

Lance showed a smile. ”That’s my business!”

”Don’t worry. No matter if we can handle these people or not, the things we have discussed will not change.”

”Of the profits generated in New Birmingham, 10% is yours, not a single cent less. You can arrange for an accountant to come over, or arrange for a person you trust.”

”Of course, I also have to remind you, it’s best if this person is obedient. Don’t let him think that he can make decisions on these matters. I certainly don’t want any unnecessary misunderstandings between us!”

After listening, the mayor laughed twice. He knew Lance’s thoughts, and also understood his worries.

If it were some not-so-smart people, who felt that the mayor he was relying on had a dominant position in this trade, and went to mess around, it would indeed cause trouble.

The mayor was a very easygoing person, or rather, he was actually very sincere. ”I will not send anyone to supervise your work, Lance. I believe you, just as I said just now. This is not a one-time deal.”

”If you deceive me or harm my interests, we still have a long time ahead of us!”

Lance also nodded in agreement with his view. ”Then we have reached a consensus on our opinions?”

The mayor nodded and said, ”From the looks of it, there are indeed no disagreements.”

Then Lance and he both stood up, and their two hands were tightly held together. ”Happy cooperation, Mr. Mayor!”

”Happy cooperation, Mr. Lance!”

Some faint gunshots sounded from outside the window again. If you didn’t listen carefully, you wouldn’t be able to hear it clearly.

The next day, a piece of news was reported in the local newspaper of New Birmingham—

”Wanli Labor Service Company Enters New Birmingham”

The report stated that Wanli Labor Service Company was the largest labor service company in Likalai State. It mainly provided labor support for people looking for work, and for enterprises that needed to hire workers.

Workers can register at the Wanli Labor Service Company. If an enterprise needs to increase its workforce, it can directly cooperate with the Wanli Labor Service Company, as a brand new platform to provide perfect services for both sides.

At the same time, Wanli Labor Service Company also had a very special point. They did not, like the unions, have to charge all kinds of extra fees. Local workers could register for free, while illegal workers had to pay for registration, and it was only a dollar a month.

Besides this, Wanli Labor Service Company also provided a part of services similar to commercial insurance. For just one dollar, they would cover all the work injury expenses of the workers, which was something that the unions could not do.

The report introduced in detail the business situation of the Wanli Labor Service Company on the Likalai State side, and did not hide the fact that the labor service company was repulsed by the unions, which had sparked a heated discussion.

At a time when the unions were rampant, to dare to openly say that the unions were not welcome to participate was indeed a matter that required a great deal of courage.

But it was undeniable that some people liked this, especially the capitalists.

They had been tormented enough by all kinds of worker welfare, work injury reimbursement, and also the unions. As soon as the company opened, many people came to register, including the employing enterprises. They also came to inquire about how to get the support of the labor service company.

This was just the superficial stuff. Underneath the surface, a large number of Lance Family members began to enter the city. Lance gave everyone a request, to, before January 15th, to sweep clean the disobedient people in this city!

To the south of New Birmingham was a small hillside. The small hillside could overlook the city at the foot of the mountain, so this piece of land had been developed into a rich people’s district from the very beginning.

In a villa on the hillside, five guys who looked very... with a temperament were sitting together.

Some seemed very indifferent, some were cursing, and some were in a rage.

”They are too bullying!”

”Carl and... are already dead. This is their style!”

”For us, it has already come to a matter of life and death. We must put aside our previous conflicts and prejudices and unite!”

One of them was slamming the table and speaking loudly. ”If we don’t unite today, we will soon be eaten by them!”

”These people of the Lance Family are more terrible, more evil, and more ruthless than the gangs we have seen before who have tried to take root here!”

The others all looked at him. His face began to gradually flush. ”Are you fucking going to say something?!”

”Don’t let me be the only one talking. You say something yourselves!”

”Either we go to war with them, or we leave this place now and withdraw from this city in disgrace!”