Empire of Shadows

The police officer looked back at his wife, who was cleaning up the living room, and shouted loudly, ”Who is it outside?”

The officer shouted back just as loud, ”Friends! I’m just talking to them. I’ll be right back.”

The police officer ultimately decided to talk to the two ”lawyers” outside the door. This minimized the risk to his family, and since he carried a weapon, he believed he could defend himself.

”What do you want to ask me?” The three men stood at the end of the corridor. The apartment the officer lived in was in a poor neighborhood.

The corridor had a faint smell of urine. Some residents were like that; they could easily use the toilet, but they chose to urinate in the hallway.

This happened constantly. Initially, people tried to stop it, but they quickly gave up because it was impossible to fix.

Anyone who urinated in the hallway was likely trouble, and arguing with them would only lead to more anger.

The three men stood in the stench. The two lawyers frowned. Given their profession, they rarely visited such environments.

One of the lawyers asked, ”I know you participated in the Deputy Chief’s operation, arrived early at the scene of the attack, and then, under orders, cordoned off the area after the fighting ended.”

The moment the lawyer spoke, the officer’s expression shifted subtly. ”I don’t know what you’re talking about.””We responded immediately after receiving the alarm. I was at the police station before that; I didn’t go anywhere else!”

The officer immediately became defensive, his eyes darting between the two lawyers. ”If you try to make me say things that didn’t happen, or things I don’t want to say, I will report our conversation to the court, if required.”

He was implying the lawyers were attempting inducement, a procedural error that would render any testimony inadmissible.

The two lawyers ignored his tension and defensiveness. The one who had been speaking smiled. ”I know your concern. After this is resolved, we can arrange a new job for you and give you a sum of money.”

He looked around. ”This environment is terrible. I heard you don’t have children yet. Do you want your child to grow up in this environment?”

”People here are alcoholics, some sell their bodies, and some might walk out their door and see a man painting on the floor with his penis.”

”A good person cannot grow up in this environment; only a delinquent can!”

The lawyer’s words silenced the officer. The reason he hadn’t had children was that he was saving money to move. The environment here was indeed awful.

He planned to save enough to move to a community with other police officers, into a detached house.

He had checked the price. The cheapest cost $5,500. He had only saved about $3,000, meaning he needed several more years.

By then, he would be in his late thirties—another source of anxiety for him.

Work, life, children, environment, money.

The officer’s silence made the lawyer’s smile broaden. His voice was soft and pleasant.

”We aren’t asking you to lie or provide false testimony.”

”We just want you to tell the truth—to say what really happened.”

”You are a police officer. You know what is right and wrong. If telling the truth is wrong, and lying is right, then there is no such thing as fairness or justice in this world!”

”Furthermore, you are a police officer. You should do your duty!”

The officer stood there, looking at the two lawyers. He was tempted, but finally shook his head, preparing to leave. ”I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

”I have nothing to say to you. If you continue to harass me, I will reserve my legal rights against you!”

He emphasized the threat and said, ”Please move aside,” then walked past them toward his door.

The lawyers didn’t stop him. The one who had been speaking said flatly, ”We found you, which means others can find you too.”

”You know who they are, and you know who we are.”

The threatening words made the officer stop abruptly.

He knew exactly who they were and who ”they” referred to: Lance, Lance White, the most successful gang leader, bar none.

To many people—especially gangsters and law enforcement—he was a legend, a living ”milestone,” an ”accomplishment”!

He had achieved things many gangs could only dream of, such as infiltrating Congress’s interest group and becoming an indispensable part of it.

But no matter how gentlemanly his public image, it didn’t change the fact that he was a gang leader.

He was a dangerous man.

The officer stood rooted to the spot, then turned back, his eyes flashing ruthlessly. ”You can try me!”

If he had walked away after saying that, it would suggest he wasn’t afraid.

But he didn’t leave. He stood there, staring intently at the two lawyers, which meant his attitude was already softening.

The lawyer shook his head. ”I am not threatening you or intimidating you. I am simply stating a fact we both know.”

”You should know that our boss is very generous and never stingy with his friends.”

”You can state your demands: a new job, a sum of money, or anything else.”

”Listen, we are here now, representing the Boss’s benevolent side.”

”Next time, it might not be us, and it might not represent benevolence.”

The lawyers didn’t demand his immediate cooperation. The calm tone, however, made the officer increasingly anxious. He looked back and forth between the lawyers and his door, his lips tightly pursed. After a shudder, he cursed, ”Motherf***er!”

”What do you want to know?”

He realized cooperating early was better than being threatened with guns and family.

He had handled several gang cases and had mocked those who failed to choose correctly. Now, facing the choice himself, he knew what to do.

The lawyer smiled. ”I told you, we only want you to tell the truth.”

”Tell us what you know, and when necessary, testify in court.”

The officer moved closer, lowering his voice to a hiss. ”If I do this, I’ll lose my job! What will my colleagues think?”

The lawyer curled his lip. ”Can your colleagues get you a better house and a more respectable job and income?”

The officer fell silent. The lawyer continued, ”If you want to remain a police officer, we can help you transfer to Likalai State.”

”No danger, easy work, and decent pay.”

”If you don’t want to be a police officer, you can become a company employee. The Boss has a large shipping project planned soon. Your income could increase by fifty percent, and it’s respectable work.”

”So, you don’t need to worry about any of that. You just need to tell the truth.”

A wind picked up in the dull night, creating a low moan outside. It was unknown whether the sound came from loose pipes or something else.

At a window on the external wall of the apartment building, under the dim light, three people were talking. This continued for half an hour.

The two lawyers came down, having secured what they needed. They were heading to the next target.

In reality, Lance would never retaliate against officers who told the truth; that was just the lawyers’ strategy.

They couldn’t just offer incentives; they had to show the stick. Only by presenting two clear options would the officers understand what they truly wanted.

Now, they had to move on. Lawyer Ruben’s order was to secure testimony and written material from at least twenty people to persuade the court.

Suing the New Golden City police department was serious, both for Lance and Lawyer Ruben.

In the Federation, anyone could be sued—a vagrant, a beggar, or even the President. If someone filed a lawsuit, they had to appear in court.

Even statues and animals had been named as defendants.

The next morning, Major General Bruni, looking refreshed after a night’s rest, called Lance. ”When can you come to the Ministry of Defense?”

”We are very interested in the overall plan you presented.”

Though he suspected Lance had manipulated him, Major General Bruni admitted Lance provided an excellent solution to the military’s problems.

It addressed the potential risks posed by large numbers of demobilized, professionally trained, and potentially psychologically traumatized soldiers returning to society.

It also solved the Ministry of Defense’s goal of securing more profit in the post-war era.

As for the attack yesterday?

Compared to confronting Lance, finding a way to become a Lieutenant General was more important. Furthermore, he couldn’t afford to truly resent Lance, given the power of the faction backing him.

Lance quickly drove to the Ministry of Defense. Major General Bruni greeted him at the entrance.

To enter the Ministry of Defense, a pass was required, which Lance lacked. Major General Bruni personally escorting him demonstrated the Ministry of Defense’s seriousness.

He was led to a conference room. Several generals were seated there, including a Lieutenant General and a General.

”Sit,” the General, seated at the head of the table, invited Lance after introductions. ”Bruni told me about your ideas. It is a good concept.”

”But we have some details we need to clarify.”

Lance nodded slightly. He pulled out his ivory cigarette case. ”May I?”

”Of course!”

The generals did not object; they smoked themselves. Soon, the conference room was thick with smoke.

These generals still smoked ”manly cigarettes”—hand-rolled tobacco. The smell was intense, permeating the air.

The General took two puffs and flicked the ash. ”I’d like to hear more specific ideas. For example, what role can the Ministry of Defense play in your proposed plan?”

Lance spoke without hesitation. ”Setting standards, and oversight, General.”

”What kind of businesses can hire retired soldiers, and for what purposes? These are important factors.”

”We know these soldiers are highly trained. If used as national guards, they are the Federation’s sharpest sword and toughest shield.”

”But if businesses abuse them, they could cause damage to Federal social development and construction.”

”Therefore, the Ministry of Defense should set the standards and oversee the businesses’ utilization of these troops.”

There were many potential profit points for the Ministry of Defense here. Lance’s explanation was thorough, and the generals nodded in agreement.

The military didn’t concern itself with civilian affairs. Congress and the President decided to demobilize, and the military complied.

But the Ministry of Defense was responsible for what happened to these men after they returned to civilian life.

Rumor had it that Congress or the Cabinet might establish a new agency to manage veterans’ affairs.

Since the Federal army had greatly expanded due to the war, a single office could no longer manage them. A full department was required.

This department was initially unlikely to fall under the Ministry of Defense, as it was viewed as a nuisance.

But after Lance’s proposal, the General realized they could take responsibility for it.

The Ministry of Defense was already tasked with managing soldiers, and the reintegration of so many veterans was inherently a ”defense mission.”

The generals were very interested and satisfied with Lance’s ideas. The meeting ended with a clear sense of progress.

When Lance finished his presentation, the General smiled broadly. ”Very useful input. We will use your ideas to develop a complete solution.”

He paused, then glanced at Major General Bruni at the end of the table. ”I heard about the incident yesterday. It’s astonishing that such a terrible thing happened in the New Golden City.”

”It is a provocation to social order and national security, and a provocation to the Ministry of Defense...”