Empire of Shadows

”A federal citizen died?”

Lance was stunned for a moment when he heard this news, but then he immediately stood up from his chair.

”Where is the body now?”

He was asking Gomez, who had come to deliver the message.

Gomez still had a lot of connections in Zhuolan, even though he was no longer favored by Diego.

Diego had already told others that Gomez had defected to the federal people. He had tried to use this method to make it impossible for Gomez to get by in Rapa, but on the contrary, the news he had told people had, instead, made people more willing to maintain contact with Gomez.

Because he had defected to the federal people.

It might sound a bit comical, but that was the fact.

Now the influence of the federal people in Rapa was getting bigger and bigger. No one knew what the future would be like.

And many people believed that those anti-government armed forces were all supported by the federal people behind the scenes.So it was possible to see these anti-government armed forces, which were shaking the orthodox rule of Rapa, as a part of the federal people.

Once the Rapa regime was overthrown, the one who would come to power would, with a high probability, be a puppet of the federal people.

At that time, would this country not be ruled by the federal people?

Gomez, who had already defected to the federal people, might have an even higher status than now. Then to maintain contact with him was not a bad thing.

What’s more, President Diego might not necessarily know about their private contact.

So when a federal citizen was attacked on the street, someone in the police station had taken the initiative to contact Gomez and had told him about this.

Gomez did not dare to delay, and had hurriedly told this news to Lance.

And this, as it happened, was the news that Lance had been waiting for.

”He’s still at the police station,” Gomez did not add any unnecessary words. He just said what he knew.

”I hear the police station’s side seems to want to press this matter down as soon as possible. They are planning to cremate the person first.”

Lance nodded. ”I see. You find a way to delay it first. I’ll be right over.”

He picked up the phone as he spoke and dialed the ambassador’s phone number.

”This is the Federal Embassy.”

”Help me to get His Excellency the Ambassador. I am Lance White.”

The call was quickly transferred to the ambassador. Lance briefly repeated the matter. ”A federal citizen has died. I hope you can immediately protest to the Rapa government. I will take my men to the police station and keep the body.”

The ambassador knew the importance of this matter. He did not talk too much with Lance. ”I will do this immediately.”

After speaking, they had hung up the phone. Lance had directly gathered his men, had brought his weapons, had gotten into the car, and had headed for the Zhuolan police station.

At this time, in the police station, the police chief was walking back and forth with a head full of sweat.

A federal citizen had died. This matter could be big or small. He had already reported it to the higher-ups and was still waiting for news.

”Those damn dregs of society!” he cursed. Of course, he was not cursing those gentlemen, nor the dead federal citizen, but the two little thieves who had robbed the federal citizen and had killed him!

”They simply don’t know how much trouble this thing they have done will bring to us, and they don’t know how passive it will make us!”

He had walked a few steps, had stopped, and had turned to look at the police officers in the office. ”Now, send everyone in the police station who has nothing to do out. I demand that you immediately find these two bastards for me, and then bring them in front of me, you understand?”

The police officers had clicked their heels together, and the sound of their leather shoes colliding had been heard, and then they had quickly left.

Only then had the police chief returned to his chair and sat down. He had let out a heavy sigh. The more he was afraid of something, the more it would come.

This was no longer a simple criminal case. This was a diplomatic incident. If it was not handled well, many people would be in trouble!

Just as he was considering the possible subsequent development of this matter, the phone on his desk had suddenly rung, which had startled him!

He had cursed twice, and then, when the phone had rung for the next time, he had picked up the phone. ”This is the Zhuolan Police Chief’s Office. I am the Police Chief.”

Although Rapa was very backward, in the handling of some matters, it was actually not much different from the Federation.

An ordinary person wants to call the chief?

Then they must first call the front desk of the police station, and then through the front desk to register, to make an appointment. Only then will there be a certain possibility of being able to get through to the chief’s office.

However, the vast majority of people had no chance to talk to the chief on the phone. If anyone could easily talk to the chief, then this chief would be too worthless!

So the ones who could really talk to the chief would directly call, on another phone.

”I hear a foreigner has died?”

This was the mayor’s voice.

The chief could only, with a stiff upper lip, say, ”Yes, a federal person named Ted has died!”

”A federal person?!” The mayor’s voice in the receiver was a bit harsh, and had even broken!

What is the biggest trouble in Rapa now?

Is it the refugees who can’t get enough to eat?

Is it those anti-government armed forces that are fighting against the Rapa’s regular army?

No!

Neither!

The most troublesome are those damn federal people!

Without these federal people, the situation in Rapa would not have deteriorated to this point, although this also had something to do with the ruling group.

But in the final analysis, it’s still the federal people’s problem!

If it weren’t for them, nothing would be like this.

Originally, it was already very troublesome for them to deal with the federal people. Now, a federal person had died. The situation had, in an instant, become uncontrollable.

The mayor was silent for a few seconds, his tone very stern. ”Within twenty-four hours, I want you to catch those two people. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for us to give an explanation to the federal people!”

When he had said this, he was a little sad.

Because of the death of an ordinary person, it had made them so passive, and it was still unknown to what extent the federal people would use this matter!

The chief could only agree. ”I have already sent my police officers to find those two bastards.”

”When can you find them?”

The mayor had asked again. The police chief was stunned for a moment, and was a little unable to answer.

After about three or four seconds, he could only answer, ”I will do my best to find them.”

The mayor had not said anything, and had directly hung up the phone.

Soon, Diego had also learned of this. For such a thing to have happened at such a critical moment had indeed given him a headache.

And the federal ambassador had also called, and had lodged a very strongly worded protest with him!

He believed that Rapa had not done a good enough job in protecting the personal safety and property safety of the federal citizens.

And that federal person, Ted, after he had been stabbed, it had been ten minutes before the police car had arrived, and there was no ambulance. It was possible that at that time, Ted was not yet dead. It was their negligence that had led to Ted’s complete death. They were also one of the murderers!

Listening to the ambassador’s unreasonable accusations, which were like those of a shrew, President Diego could only, with a stiff upper lip, brush it off.

He had a feeling that this matter would have a series of troublesome follow-ups.

The only thing he could do now was to hope that his premonition was wrong.

At the same time, Lance had already, with his men, arrived at the police station. Now there were not so many pedestrians and vehicles on the city’s roads, so their speed of coming here was very fast.

The moment the main gate of the police station was pushed open, the police officer on duty by the door had turned and had directly gone to meet him, but before he had gotten close to Lance, who had walked in, he had been blocked by someone’s hand, and had been pushed to the side.

In an instant, the aura that Lance had brought with him had been felt by the entire lobby of the police station!

That invisible, as if there was a strong wind hitting their faces!

Lance had looked around, and had walked to the front desk. He had looked at the somewhat dazed receptionist. ”Where is my friend, Ted?”

The receptionist was a little confused. He had looked back at the police officer behind him. That police officer was the officer on duty in the lobby today. He had taken the initiative to walk over. ”I’m sorry, and you are?”

Lance had glanced at him. ”I am Lance, Lance White, a federal merchant.”

”I just heard that my friend, Mr. Ted, was stabbed. Where is he now?”

The police officer, for a moment, had also not known how to answer this question. He had swallowed a mouthful of saliva. ”I need to make a call to ask.”

Lance had nodded slightly. The police officer had picked up the phone, and had walked to a distance, and had even covered his mouth with his hand.

The call was to the police chief. When the police chief had learned that Lance had arrived, he, who had already been sweating, was now sweating even more!

”Have him come up... no, I’ll come down now. Have him wait for me for a moment!”

The police chief had immediately made a decision, and the police officer had also breathed a sigh of relief.

He had returned to the side of the front desk, and had hung up the phone. ”The chief will be down immediately!”

Lance had nodded, and then had walked to the side.

There was also a sofa group in the lobby of the police station. After he had sat down, he had taken out a cigarette. Just as the cigarette was in his mouth, Hiram had already taken out a match and had lit it.

Lance had, after he had taken a puff, leaned back slightly against the back of the sofa. The entire lobby of the police station was still silent.

Everyone’s movements were as gentle as possible. They were afraid that if their movements were a little too big, they would startle this Mr. Lance.

There were many rumors about Lance in Rapa, especially some of the rumors about his confrontation with President Diego, which had also been spreading in a small circle—

Sometimes a small-scale spread is just a warm-up for a large-scale spread. There will always be some marginal figures who, after they have learned of this, will not be able to help but to spread it to the lower-level groups.

So people all knew that this Mr. Lance White was not ordinary.

Two minutes later, the police chief, with a head full of sweat, had run down from upstairs. The sweat had already soaked his collar, and also the clothes on his chest. He looked very disheveled.

He had run to Lance’s side, had taken two deep breaths to even out his breathing, and only then had he extended his hand and had, with a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his palm, and had wanted to shake hands with Lance.

Lance had not extended his hand, nor had he stood up.

He had sat there with his legs crossed, leaning back as he had looked at the police chief.

The police officers who were working in the lobby had also seen this scene. They had not dared to make a sound. Everything was terribly quiet!

The police chief had, it seemed, also not expected that Lance would not give him any face. After all, no matter what, he was still the local police chief.

The fawning smile on his face had also faded a little, and his eyes, as he had looked at Lance, had... something in them that he couldn’t describe.

”Mr. White, why don’t you come to my office and have a seat?”

Lance had glanced at him twice. ”I’m not here to chat with you. To be honest, I’m not interested in getting to know you at all. I’m here to find my friend, Mr. Ted.”

”You just have to tell me where he is.”

The police chief had swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He was a little unclear if this Ted was really Lance’s friend, or if this was just a pretext for Lance.

But in any case, now that Lance had asked with this reason, he could only answer.

”Mr. Ted...” he had taken out a handkerchief and had wiped the sweat from his forehead, ”...has already, very regrettably, passed away.”

”But please rest assured, Mr. White. We will, in the shortest possible time, to catch the perpetrators!”

He was just short of patting his chest and guaranteeing it!

Lance’s gaze had fallen on him, and had looked straight into his eyes, which had made him feel a huge pressure!

After they had looked at each other for about a dozen seconds, the police chief had had no choice but to avert his gaze. Only then had Lance nodded and had stood up.

He had walked in front of the police chief, and the police chief, at this very moment, in front of so many of his subordinates, could only lower his head.

This was a person who had even dared to confront the president. He was just a small police chief. What else could he do but to lower his head?

Lance had helped him to straighten his collar, which had been askew due to the sweat and his hurried rush downstairs. ”You’d better remember what you said. You have twenty-four hours.”

”After twenty-four hours, if I don’t see that person!”

His words had stopped at this point, and then he had smiled, had taken a step back, and had turned and walked towards the door. ”Let’s go!”

Hiram had blown out a breath, had lifted his bangs, and had pointed at the police chief. This had, again, made the police chief unable to help but to avert his gaze.

If Lance’s gaze was a kind of ”power,” then Hiram’s gaze was filled with a kind of a madness, a madness that had made him feel a little scared!

The group of people had quickly left. For a time, the heavy pressure that had been pressing on everyone’s heart in the lobby had just disappeared.

The silence, which had been so quiet that the sound of someone farting would have been like thunder, had disappeared without a trace. In an instant, it had become a little lively again.

The police chief had turned his head and had looked at the police officers. His face was full of an angry expression, and was also a little flushed. ”All of you, go out and find those people for me!”

”If you don’t find them, you are not allowed to get off work!”

He had cursed a few more times as he had spoken, and then had walked towards the upstairs. It was unknown if he was cursing Lance, or the police officers in the lobby.

After he had left, the lobby on the first floor had become even more lively. People were all discussing what had just happened.

The chief, who had been so arrogant in front of them, was, in front of Lance... like a punching bag.

But this had also made them vaguely realize the seriousness of the problem.

At this time, Lance, who had already gotten into his car, had lowered the window. He had said to Hiram, who was outside, ”Take your men, find those two people, and then, after the police have taken them back, bring them to me.”

After he had finished speaking, the car had started, and had left in the direction of the hotel.

Hiram had taken out a cigarette case from his pocket, and had lit one for himself. His face did not show any of the annoyance that this troublesome matter should have brought. Only a kind of enjoyment!

Finally, there’s something to do.

Hiram’s trusted men were standing by his side. These people were also full of energy. They hadn’t done anything these past few days, which had made this group of lawless people simply unable to bear it!

”What do we do now?” he asked.

Hiram had taken a deep drag on his cigarette, and had looked back at the police station. ”Didn’t you hear what Lance said?”

”Of course, we’ll wait for the police to do their work!”

”Idiot!” he had patted the guy’s neck. ”We’re not familiar with this place. Of course we’ll keep an eye on the police, who are the most familiar with this place.”

His trusted subordinate had immediately understood. ”You mean, we’ll snatch the people from the police?”

Hiram had rolled his eyes, and had blown at his hair. ”What else?”

”Tell the brothers to keep a close eye, and don’t mess this up. I don’t want to lose face in front of Lance, fuck!”

As he spoke, he had patted his butt, and had also gotten into his own car.

Of course, to look for them, they still had to. He could actually understand what Lance meant.

Lance’s purpose was that, at a minimum, he could not let these two people fall into the hands of the police. If he really couldn’t take them away, then he would kill them.

This is an interesting job!

For a time, all of the more than 3,000 people in the entire police department had been mobilized. Besides a part of them who needed to maintain social order, and also to maintain the security near the Presidential Palace, all the others had been mobilized. There were only less than a hundred people left in the police department.

If someone were to come and attack the police station at a time like this, they would 100% be able to easily take it.

There were many people who were paying attention to this matter, and this news was still continuously spreading.

Lance had had Roger and his group also go and continue to spread this news. By the way, he had also had them get ready for tomorrow.

As long as they couldn’t find the two robbery and murderers, then he would have the federal people who were currently living in Zhuolan to go and protest in front of the Presidential Palace.

As for whether they could find them?

Lance believed that they couldn’t, and it was impossible to!

At this time, the two robbers, who had already become the core of the whole incident, still did not know what they were about to face. After the effect of the adrenaline at the moment of the killing had passed, they had finally begun to feel a little scared.

The one they had killed was not a local, not a local whose life was worthless, but a foreigner!

Fear had begun to spread in their hearts, but soon, the spoils they had obtained had, again, made them relax a little.

A few thousand in cash, plus a watch that was worth tens of thousands, and a pair of leather shoes and a belt that were worth at least two thousand. It could only be said that they had, in an instant, achieved financial freedom!

The two, after a short discussion, had decided to hide first, and to wait until the storm had passed, and then to come out.

Anyway, they had a large amount of cash in their hands. They were not afraid that they would have no money to use when they were in hiding.

The two had found a friend of theirs. They had said to their friend that they had offended some people, and needed to hide for a while.

Their friend had not refused, and had very readily taken them in. Of course, this also had a certain relationship with the benefits they had promised.