Empire of Shadows

Living in a constantly depressed environment for a long time can be very bad. The effects, emotional and even physically reflected from the spirit, can be things like... becoming irritable, dull skin, and inexplicable discomfort and pain.

Cooper would sometimes suffer from these things.

He would feel that his body was in pain, but he couldn’t pinpoint where the pain was. He went to see a doctor and even had a wondrous X-ray taken, but the doctor told him he was perfectly healthy.

He was tormented by these small problems that didn’t really affect his life, until this very moment.

The moment he walked out of the supervisor’s office with his head held high, his whole being felt comfortable.

His two colleagues walked over with worried faces. ”We heard you screaming inside with him. What happened?”

Cooper, who now felt completely indifferent, had a look of deep mockery and disdain for the supervisor. ”Nothing. He thought he was the leader of this world, but I told him the truth about this world: he’s just a clown who relied on selling his ass to get to the top!”

The others couldn’t help but show surprised expressions when they heard him say this. Some even exclaimed, ”Are you crazy?”

”He has connections on the board of directors. You’ll lose this job!”

”We can still go to the union now. It’s not too late!”Among the many unions in the Federation, the Auto Workers Union should be considered first-rate in terms of strength and fighting power.

Once the union stepped in, the entire company would be alarmed. The board of directors might even arrange for a special director to mediate.

This kind of thing had happened before. The company would eventually compromise. After all, business was so good now that even a one-week production stop would be a huge loss for them.

The union would step in, and Cooper would bow his head, saying that his family had encountered problems recently, which had affected his work. Coupled with the supervisor’s bullying attitude, it had ultimately sparked this quarrel.

The company would transfer the supervisor out of this workshop, and Cooper would also, with a high probability, be transferred. It certainly wouldn’t be as comfortable as it was now, but at least he could keep the job.

If it were before, let alone whether Cooper would let all this happen, he would definitely have chosen to agree and would have immediately contacted the union to intervene and settle this matter.

But now it was different. He was about to step onto the fast lane of life. He was going to have 300,000, 500,000, or even a million!

The money he now possessed was enough for him to work at this damned car factory for another twenty, or even thirty years.

In thirty years, he would have long been retired. He had achieved financial freedom!

So at this moment, there was no panic or unease on his face, only calmness and composure.

Wealth, money, is a person’s greatest confidence in society. It is the source of their self-assurance.

”No, thank you. I appreciate your advice, but I have to say no!”

”I’m fed up with the damned requirement of having to work overtime all the time here. I’m also fed up with them never taking our demands seriously. I’m leaving this place now!”

He looked around. Compared to the calm, or even numb, faces of the workers, it was, on the contrary, a few engineers who seemed genuinely worried about him.

”I have found a new direction for my life’s path, and I have decided to follow this path all the way. Life must pass through one scene after another. Now, the scene of the factory is over.”

”The next stage of life is beckoning to me, brothers!”

”I won’t say goodbye, because I’ll still come to the club to chat and meet with you when I’m free, but I hope you won’t be sad because of my departure.”

”My leaving won’t make things worse. It will only make everything better!”

”Wish me luck!”

The others, seeing the huge change in his personality and mood after cursing the supervisor, also realized that this was perhaps not an impulsive act. They immediately asked what on earth had happened.

So much so that a middle-class person with heavy bills would choose to actively leave his job at a time when the economy was constantly improving and incomes were continuously increasing.

Someone asked in a low voice, ”Did someone poach you to another company?”

Although this person was his good friend, his tone carried some... somewhat regrettable envy, jealousy, and probing.

Cooper was currently in a state of excitement. He didn’t notice, or rather, he didn’t care much even if he did.

Because he was about to become a person of two worlds, two classes, with these people, his colleagues, and friends.

He was going to become a big shot in the upper class. He had to maintain his modesty, decency, and grace.

”No, this matter... I’ll tell you after work when we get to the club.”

”Right now, I need to go and take my things and leave this damned place forever!”

He didn’t complete all the resignation procedures just by slamming his work badge on the desk. He still had some other things to do.

His fellow workers, although curious now, since Cooper had said so, they didn’t force him to speak now. They just wished him good luck one after another, and then returned to their workstations.

Cooper’s departure made the factory manager even take the initiative to try to retain him. After all, he had worked in the factory for more than ten years, and he was considered an elder in the factory.

His value here, besides the profit he could bring to the company through his work, had another important function, which was to stabilize morale.

In the factories of those large groups, you could always see some old men still working. Was it that the factory truly couldn’t do without them?

Not necessarily!

These old people hadn’t received a higher education in the past. Most of them hadn’t gone to university.

They were not sensitive to advanced technology, and didn’t understand it. They were not as good as the highly educated people who had graduated from prestigious universities. Then why did the factory still keep them?

It was to use them to tell every worker that as long as they didn’t cause trouble, and were willing to listen to the capitalists, the capitalists would let them work here until they were old.

Working until old age had become a means used by capitalists to attract low-level workers, and they packaged this temptation as a heartwarming corporate culture.

So much so that many workers had the idea of ”I want to grow old and die on the job,” while ignoring the fact that they were actually just one member and one link in the assembly line that was being exploited and oppressed.

As long as the benefits of their existence did not align with the factory’s interests, the factory would immediately activate the ”handle by the book” rule and ruthlessly kick them out.

Cooper had been diligent and hardworking all these years, and could be considered a signboard for an obedient employee. If a nice guy like him also left his job, it was inevitable that those troublemakers would fabricate rumors that would affect production.

But Cooper’s intention to leave was unwavering. The conflict between him and the supervisor could not be eased or resolved. Staying would only be very uncomfortable, so he rejected the factory manager’s request.

After he had packed his things, he returned home. His wife also had a job as an accountant. Their child was in the community’s daycare.

He simply put his things away, took a bottle of liquor from his prized liquor cabinet, wrapped it in a paper bag, and put it in his car.

He was going to have a drink with his friends.

At seven o’clock in the evening, the brightly lit factory would not stop today’s work, because the new workers, who were full of energy, were already preparing to enter their workstations.

As for the workers who were exhausted after a whole day’s work, they were beginning to complete the final procedure of their work for the day.

The moment the bell in the workshop rang, the workers who had been working all day retreated a step, and the refreshed workers on the night shift stepped forward.

The handover of work was completed in this short moment. They said goodnight to each other and then left their workstations.

A few engineers changed their clothes and drove to the nearby Workers’ Club, where they found Cooper.

He had reserved a private room, ordered some food, and left the rest to the club.

The club had barbecue, fried chicken, and other simple fast food that was full of calories. This was exactly what the workers who had worked all day and were in urgent need of energy replenishment needed the most.

After a few colleagues had entered the room, they closed the door. Cooper opened the whiskey he had brought, which made a smile appear on everyone’s faces.

As middle-class people, what could be more comfortable than, after a day of work that was not too tiring but mentally exhausting, eating this delicious food and having a drink?

”Fuck, Cooper, something really good happened to you!”

A colleague who was close to Cooper couldn’t help but say what he was thinking. ”How much did this bottle of liquor cost?”

”Forty, or fifty?”

Cooper had a smile on his face, and a hint of a show-off expression. ”Fifty-five dollars.”

”Fuck!”

”You’ve struck it rich!”

The others, hearing this, couldn’t help but look at the bottle of liquor. To be able to bring out a bottle of fifty-five-dollar whiskey to treat others was absolutely not normal.

These engineers’ salaries had increased a lot now, to two hundred dollars, but a bottle of whiskey worth fifty-five dollars, which would be finished soon, was still a considerable expense.

Cooper was usually not this generous!

Cooper did not refuse to admit this statement either. He just maintained his seemingly humble, but actually show-off smile. Under everyone’s gaze, he waited a little, and then nodded and said, ”Almost!”

His close friend immediately walked over and put his arm around his shoulder. ”Tell me, what exactly happened?”

Cooper first poured a drink for everyone. ”Come, have a drink first.”

Everyone’s emotions seemed to be ignited by the news of becoming rich. They raised their glasses and clinked them. ”Cheers!”

After a sip, the slightly spicy liquor acted as a perfect accelerant, sending everyone’s emotions soaring.

Cooper picked up a small piece of fried chicken and put it in his mouth. While eating, he said, ”What I’m telling you, don’t tell anyone else!”

They all nodded in agreement, saying that even if their parents, wives, or children asked, they wouldn’t tell.

In fact, this was completely unnecessary, but this was like a process, a ritualistic process of sharing one’s secret.

The federal people value process the most, don’t they?

This was the necessary step!

”First of all, I’ll tell you this: I and my wife have saved 100,000 over almost twenty years!”

The expressions of the other colleagues were all incredulous. This amount of money was no longer something that an ordinary middle-class person could save. However, some people’s expressions were very calm.

An automotive engineer is, more or less, a lower-level cadre. As long as they are willing, they can always find a way to get some benefits for themselves.

For example, they are in charge of quality inspection. They can make things difficult for some parts manufacturers. When using the parts of these people, they will, on the grounds that the product does not meet the standard, require the manufacturer to replace the batch.

Even if it’s just hauling it back and hauling it back again, it’s a very troublesome thing for the manufacturer. In order to avoid this kind of trouble, sometimes they would offer these engineers some extra work opportunities.

Or they could hide some of the car parts. After all, they are responsible for inspecting and assembling the car parts. If they hide some small things, even if an ordinary person finds out, they won’t say anything.

This has already become an unwritten rule in the industry. Even some workers would hide things.

These parts can be sold to those car repair shops or modification factories. Some things can sell for a few dozen, or even a hundred dollars.

They had many ways to make money. It was incredible to save 100,000, but it wasn’t too surprising.

Looking at these good friends who were already excited, Cooper raised his hand to stop them from asking how he had made this money. ”Gentlemen, calm down first, because that’s not important.”

”What’s important is that I have only used two months to turn 100,000 into more than 200,000, and it might even turn into 300,000, or even 500,000!”

At this, his colleagues were all stunned. Then someone spoke up and asked, ”Is that why you cursed the supervisor in the office?!”

Cooper took a sip of his wine, shrugged, and spread his hands. ”What else?”

”I don’t need to look at his face anymore. What the hell is he?”

”A son of a bitch who sold his ass to get to the top. He’s always targeting me!”

”Leaving him, leaving the company, I will only get better!”

”You know what?”

”Now, even if I don’t do anything, I can get a dividend of at least 6,000 a year, and it will increase year by year!”

The others, hearing what he said, all showed shocked, incredulous, and longing expressions.

”Fuck, Cooper, tell us what made you earn so much money! Don’t keep us hanging!”

Cooper did not say it directly. Instead, he laughed heartily. ”This is a great opportunity to make money!”

The man took a deep breath. ”I’ll treat you to a drink at the Venus Club.”

Venus was a high-end nightclub locally. It wasn’t actually called Venus, but the neon sign on the facade was of the mythological goddess of beauty, Venus, so people generally called this nightclub Venus.

The consumption here was very expensive. At least 100 or 200 a night. Even middle-class people like them didn’t dare to go in much.

Even if they went in, they would only order one drink, to feel the atmosphere. Of course, they no longer offered liquor service there, unless you went into a private room, but the price would only be more outrageous!

Cooper nodded in satisfaction. ”Very good. Remember your word.”

He paused, looked around. The surrounding eyes were all full of anticipation. He slowly said, ”Actually, I bought a stock. A stock called Hope Mining.”

”I have an inside tip. In a few days, it will surge!”

”This was secretly told to me by a friend of mine in Deterland. We are very close, so I hope you don’t spread this around, lest something bad happens.”

There was a suppressed excitement in the room. Everyone’s emotions were boiling, but their expressions remained very stable.

”Is the news... reliable?”

Someone couldn’t help but light a cigarette. The others also lit up, including Cooper.

He, while smoking, nodded. ”How could I possibly lie to you?”

”We’ve known each other for almost twenty years!”

”I am planning to get another sum of money from my parents and her parents, and other relatives, and invest it before next week.”

”If you miss this opportunity to make big money, you will regret it for a lifetime!”

His words were so decisive, not at all like a lie. And his character over the past ten or twenty years had moved everyone. They all showed some thoughtful expressions.

Cooper suddenly laughed twice. He patted the shoulder of the person next to him easily, and said with great frankness, ”I’m not telling you this news to have you invest in this stock too. I just don’t want any gossip to spread in the factory.”

”If that son of a bitch wants to talk bad about me, at least you can help me tell people why I left.”

”Investing in stocks is a very risky thing. It’s not your specialty, so I hope that if you really want to follow me, you must also be careful, and don’t invest too much.”

One of the engineers, who had drunk a little too much, had become somewhat heated. ”Fuck, Cooper. Is it that you don’t want us to make money like you?”

The others looked at him. Cooper also. He had an inexplicable look on his face. ”What the fuck are you talking about?”

”We are good brothers. I’m telling you this news because I hope you can gain something from it, but as I said, investment has risks. You have to be mentally prepared.”

The man stared at Cooper for a few seconds. ”I believe you, good brother.”

”I have also saved over 60,000 these past few years. I will put it all in!”

”Since we’re going to make money, let’s all make it together!”

Immediately, someone else responded. After all, in this period, ”insider news” often meant huge profits. The ”Investor’s Gazette” also often published this kind of news.

Some people were suspected of violating the fair trade law. They had leaked insider news in advance, which had allowed some people to make a huge profit.

So people in this period were very much in belief of insider news, and believed in the source and accuracy of this news.

After knowing Cooper’s courage to leave and the secret to his wealth, the atmosphere became even better. They quickly finished one bottle of wine and ordered another.

But the price of this bottle was clearly much more expensive. But no one cared, because they were all about to become millionaires!