Empire of Shadows

The Perez family had never faced a situation like this. Previous challenges always ended with their victory, but this time...

This was clearly not a problem that could be resolved easily. Making a choice was difficult, so Bob gave them two days.

”Go back and think carefully. If you reach a decision, get ready and pack your valuables.”

”In two days, we will first go to Bruse Town, and then sail to Slad.”

After he spoke, roughly half the people left the room. The remaining ones were Bob’s die-hard supporters.

When the room had largely emptied, the man standing by the door closed it slowly. The gaze of those outside, who had looked back into the room, was severed as the door clicked shut.

After confirming the door was locked, he turned back, remaining against the wall.

”What do you plan to do?” asked a man who was very close to Bob.

Bob sat there, leaning back in his chair, his fingers interlaced in front of him—a classic posture of deep thought.

After about ten seconds, he finally spoke. ”I’m not leaving.”Everyone in the room froze. Immediately, some showed looks of surprise and joy. ”Does this mean the situation isn’t that serious?”

Others quickly caught on.

If Fran left and Bob stayed, Bob would clearly become the supreme ruler of the Perez family. Was this his way of seizing power?

Although they didn’t know how Bob persuaded Fran, it was clearly a good thing. The Perez family’s scale of tens of thousands of members, immense financial power, and status as one of the Federal Five Families all meant that the glory belonging to the entire family would be funneled into the pockets of Bob and his faction.

Seeing the joyous smiles on their faces, Bob knew what they were thinking. He shook his head. ”No, that’s not it. The situation is severe. My assessment is correct.”

”It might even be worse than I described!”

”I am staying behind merely to take a chance.”

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside, some of the people who had just left the room were getting into cars or walking to other buildings. They were likely heading to Fran for answers.

Bob lit a cigarette. His gaze returned from the outside and rested on his supporters. ”I don’t require all of you to stay. As I said, the choice is yours.”

”This is an opportunity, a challenge, but it could also be a ticket to death.”

”I hope you are psychologically prepared before making a choice. If the situation is worse than I imagine, we won’t even have a chance to regret it.”

He gave them a more detailed account of the current disastrous situation.

Attacking Lance had brought severe consequences—something they hadn’t anticipated. If Bob had a second chance, he would never have made that move.

They couldn’t afford the consequences, but it was too late to talk about that now. He was simply going to gamble.

Perhaps the Federal government’s tolerance over the years had gradually made them lose their sense of awe. Some family members even believed attacking a Federal official was inconsequential.

Bob realized in that moment that he was just as arrogant and ignorant as those people.

He also understood that the gang’s frantic expansion and arrogance weren’t due to their inherent strength, but because someone had indulged them.

Even now, Bob was still gambling. He was betting that the Perez family wouldn’t be completely eliminated. After all, they were one of the Federal Five Families!

Bob’s decision prompted the others to choose.

Some decided to leave. If the situation was truly that bad, fleeing was the correct choice.

And they had money. That money was enough for them to live well overseas, in Slad or elsewhere.

A term, ”Federal Sphere of Influence,” was circulating in the media, referring to the Federation’s influence after the war and the changes it brought to the world.

Within the ”Federal Sphere of Influence,” the influence and social standing of Federal citizens were significantly higher than those of the locals. In other words, life would be very pleasant in those places.

Interestingly, the life expectancy index for Federal people in Dantra was lower than in Slad. Being a conquered area was detrimental to Federal residents, perhaps due to lingering resentment.

But the situation was much better in Slad, which was why Fran’s friend suggested they go there.

”Does it really have to come to leaving?” someone asked.

Bob nodded. ”Honestly, I don’t know if my choice to stay is the right one. I can’t promise you any outcome. So, I won’t force you to stay or leave. The decision is entirely yours.”

”Of course, the consequences will also be yours alone.”

His words sounded rational and neutral, but it was precisely this rationality that conveyed a sense of hopelessness—a feeling Bob himself might not have realized he was projecting.

The people quickly dispersed. They needed to decide whether to stay and gamble with Bob or leave for safety.

The core of the Perez family went silent. The sight of core members bustling around their businesses completely vanished.

Two days of silence.

Two days later, Fran returned to the family estate in a wheelchair. Seeing Fran again stirred complex emotions in everyone.

Perhaps it was a sense of joy amidst pessimism. They immediately gathered around Fran, greeting him and asking how he was.

Fran’s mood was slightly better. ”Did Bob speak to you?”

Everyone nodded. Fran still struggled to speak, so Bob walked over and handed him the notepad. ”Write it down.”

Fran nodded. ”What is your choice?”

People began to state their decisions. Some chose to stay, believing the Perez family, having stood firm for so many years, couldn’t be destroyed by a single incident.

Others chose to leave, trusting Fran’s judgment that the Federation was no longer fertile ground for their survival.

Fran showed no reaction to their choices. Finally, his gaze fell on Bob.

Bob knew Fran was asking him, not with words, but with his eyes.

”I... I plan to stay.”

Fran didn’t seem surprised. He stared at Bob for a few seconds, then nodded slightly. ”Then I entrust the family members here and everything else to you .”

Bob sighed in relief. He had been worried Fran would refuse or say something else. Fran’s words were exactly what Bob wanted to see, essentially delegating the family to him.

In other words, he was now the de facto ruler of the Perez family in the Federation!

This was his long-held ambition.

”I will look after the family. If there’s a chance, I will fight with all my might to create opportunities for our resurgence. You can return then.”

Fran wore a faint, barely visible smile. Even if Bob spoke the truth and succeeded, Fran wouldn’t return.

He was leaving now as the patriarch, but if he returned, he would no longer hold that position.

He felt he might not even have the chance to return.

He patted Bob’s hand. ”Everything will be fine!”

Next came the arrangements for departure. They secured several vehicles reinforced with steel plates and used solid tires to prevent the Lance family from intercepting them en route.

They carried large amounts of cash and valuables, essentials for starting over. Only a portion of the bank funds was used; the rest was left behind for Bob and... the hunters.

The elimination of the Perez family was not just about ”hard work”; the people involved needed to gain something from the downfall of a great family. That aligned with his understanding of these people.

Events unfolded quickly. The family had two days’ notice, and the arrangements were made. Soon, a vast motorcade left the Perez family estate, carrying the core members and crucial wealth.

Fran sat in the center car, a modified box truck reinforced with extra steel plates to ensure it was bulletproof.

His son sat beside him, looking confused. ”Did we really have to leave?”

Fran glanced at him, the look in his eyes making the middle-aged man realize he had asked a foolish question. He quickly clarified. ”I’m just worried about Bob.”

Fran shook his head. ”You are worried that Bob will succeed in protecting the family’s assets, and that he will gain real power!”

This embarrassed his son. The son had lived in Fran’s shadow for years, and Fran didn’t trust his children.

He preferred to let Bob or others wield family authority, because those who weren’t direct blood relatives ruled by his permission.

In other words, if he wanted to revoke their power, he only needed a phone call or to state in a family meeting that he no longer trusted them.

The power would return to him.

But his son was different—direct lineage, his own son, and heir apparent. If he gained power, he would truly seize control.

Some family members would align with the son, creating an awkward situation.

So, he never gave his children more power than necessary. He was a ”stingy” father.

The middle-aged man, his thoughts exposed, didn’t argue, choosing silence.

Fran shook his head again. ”He is dead. That is certain. So, no one will compete with you for power.”

”What belongs to you will ultimately be yours.”

”This trip to Slad might indeed be an opportunity. The region is developing, society is chaotic, and regulations are lax. Crucially, we are Federal citizens, and we possess certain privileges.”

”Without clear evidence, no one can prosecute us. This is an international diplomatic matter!”

Fran’s words, scrawled on the notepad, painted a gradually unfolding picture filled with hope and a future, giving the middle-aged man a boost of confidence.

The convoy sped down the road, watched by many eyes.

”Are we just letting them leave?” The Bearded Director looked at the distant sky, his eyes red. He wasn’t looking at the sky or the clouds, but at Fran’s old face!

Lance, on the phone with him, chuckled twice. ”Decency, my friend. Do you know what decency is?”

”Decency means I consider your feelings, and you consider mine.”

”Fran is backed by two Senators. They didn’t save him, but they expressed their opinion.”

”The consensus is: Eliminate the Perez family, but let Fran go.”

”We could easily stop them now, block them, and eliminate them.”

”But that would offend the influential figures who have already made their concessions.”

”However, my friend, you can rest assured.”

”The moment they leave Federal jurisdiction, I guarantee they will receive the punishment they deserve.”

The Bearded Director sighed deeply. ”I just can’t accept it.”

”I want revenge for my family. Fran, and Bob.”

Lance considered it. ”Fran is likely off-limits, you know. He’s crucial. If you touch him, you face consequences. You understand.”

”But Bob is yours. You can dispose of him however you wish.”

This was likely the best outcome. The Bearded Director knew that Fran likely held secrets about powerful figures. If he were to touch Fran, he risked exposing secrets.

While unpleasant, Bob being delivered into his hands was satisfying. He could finally gain justice for his wife and child.

”When will you come here?”

The elimination of the Perez family required Lance’s presence to coordinate the complex web of interests. The Bearded Director needed Lance’s leadership to avoid mistakes.

Lance made a rustling sound, then said, ”In three days.”

The Bearded Director sighed slowly. The arrogant Perez family had only three days left.

In the New Golden City, Lance hung up the phone. Major General Bruni sat beside him. The entire conversation took place in front of him.

Lance turned to him. ”Fran has left Old City. They are heading for the sea, sailing to Slad.”

Major General Bruni looked confused. ”And what does that have to do with me?”

Lance whispered, ”Compensation, my friend!”

”They are carrying at least several million dollars in assets, possibly more. Don’t you want a share?”

”You were threatened and attacked. Are you just going to let it go?”

Major General Bruni’s breathing suddenly grew heavy. If Lance had offered only a few tens of thousands, he might have dismissed it.

But several million dollars, and the fact that by eliminating them, the money was his—

How could he not be tempted?

But he was hesitant. ”But they said they would let them leave.”

Lance leaned closer. ”Have they left?”

”Everyone watched them board the ship. Do we have to personally escort them to Slad and settle them in before they count as ’gone’?”

”Come on!”

”This was just a gesture, a statement of intent. We’ve shown our respect. The rest is outside their concern.”

Major General Bruni’s breathing remained ragged. ”What... what do we do?”

Lance smiled. ”First, we need a gunboat...”

After two days of difficult travel, Fran finally made it to the ship.

They had chartered a small cruise liner. Massive amounts of supplies were loaded, including what was rumored to be several square meters of cash.

This was the capital the Perez family needed to rise again in Slad.

Fran, in his wheelchair, was pushed to the edge of the deck. He looked at the small town, which was not glamorous but friendly. This might be the last time he saw the Federation.

He looked closely, trying to imprint everything in his mind.

”It’s a shame. It would have been better if we could have sailed from the New Golden City. I have an inexplicable affection for that city.”

His son remained silent, also watching the town.

Starting over was difficult for a middle-aged man, but they had a solid foundation.

They moved millions of dollars in liquid assets, plus concealed assets.

He had his own hidden accounts, and he was sure Fran and the others did too.

The Federal banking system did not require proper identification. Anyone could open an account with a fake name or even an anonymous account with only numbers and letters.

They had deposited money into these accounts for safekeeping.

Fran’s son had over a million dollars in his account, which he had told no one about.

He could retrieve the money once the crisis passed or use it when they returned to the Federation.

As the ship’s whistle suddenly blew, Fran’s eyes showed a flicker of regret. He turned to his son. ”Push me back. I’m uncomfortable with this scene.”

Back in his cabin, Fran felt both despair and relief.

Relief that they were at least getting out alive.