Shadow Empire

Chapter 141 Finalization, Price, and Harder Than Life

The sound of knocking has never been so pleasant!

The originally irritable mood gradually subsided. What can thirty thousand yuan do?
Director Charlie took off his hat and scratched the back of his head. He could buy two not-so-nice single-family houses in the Bay Area, or buy a single-family house in a good location with a swimming pool and a garden.

Even if he spends ten dollars a day, he won't have to worry about spending for ten years.

How old will he be in ten years?

His eyes were a little vague, which is what happens when people get older. They lose focus and are easily distracted.

Seeing that Chief Charlie's eyes had lost focus, the assistant chief coughed.

This sound brought Chief Charlie's soul back from God. "What did you say just now?"

As an old partner, the assistant director was not surprised by his question at all. "What I mean is, let them have a fight within a controllable range."

"Once the gunfight is over, our people will go in and arrest the 'murderers' immediately. This way we can give an explanation to the citizens and to our police badge."

"It's not that we don't want to intervene in advance, it's that we have no other options."

As they were talking, police cars were already leaving the police station. The assistant chief walked to the window, parted the blinds and looked outside at the police officers leaving.

"Their constant trouble-making will only make the situation uglier."

"Rather than having vicious crime everywhere, I think it's better to keep everything under control."

I don't know which sentence convinced Director Charlie, or maybe it was the knock on the table that represented thirty thousand dollars. He took out his pipe, stuffed a little tobacco into it, pressed it slowly, and then lit it.

After taking two puffs of cigarette, he took a deep breath. The room was filled with the smell of tobacco, but it was not very smelly.

"Is everything under control?"

The assistant director nodded and repeated something as if it were nonsense, but this time it was a positive sentence, "Everything is under control!"

Heller, who was waiting for news, put on his brown glasses again. The room was full of senior and ordinary cadres, all of whom were waiting for news.

No one spoke and the atmosphere was serious.

There were still quite a few banknotes on the table in front of Heller. These people had received enough money, and everyone had an indescribable expression on their face, as if... a triumphant, ruthless smile.

Suddenly, the phone rang and some people were startled!
Heller was the same, but he didn't show it. It was just that his heart clearly skipped a beat when the phone rang!
He picked up the phone, and then a confused voice sounded, "We agree with your idea in principle, but you must first resolve the matter outside. I don't want anyone to call the police and report that a serious crime has occurred in the Empire District."

"Also, let those people of yours stay in the police station. This is the price you should pay."

"It's still too early now. You must resolve the battle after three o'clock and before five o'clock."

"In addition, 20 people must remain at the scene. We need to give an explanation to the citizens."

After listening to this, Heller thought for a while and said, "There are too many people to take the blame. Ten people."

The person on the other side also thought about it and didn't seem to want to bargain with him. "Twelve, thirty or four, that's too few. I can't justify it."

"no problem."

After hanging up the phone, everyone's eyes were focused on Heller. He looked at the senior officials and then at everyone else.

"After three o'clock in the evening and before five o'clock, it's our time."

"Find twelve more people to take the blame, and each of them will be paid 600 yuan a year."

Going to jail is also a business.

There are some people in the federal government who specialize in helping people in jail. They make about five or six hundred dollars a year, and some immigrants are also willing to do this.

There are quite a few people willing to work for short-term programs, such as six months, a year, or a year and a half.

They cannot earn that much money outside, but they can in prison. Not only do they get free food and accommodation, but they can also meet many friends with various skills. This can be a way of life.

The senior cadres knew what Heller meant. They had to divide the number of people into twelve places, with five senior cadres taking two places and two more for each person.

Perhaps noticing their gazes, Heller frowned, "Two for each of you, and I'll have two."

"Have the weapons arrived?"

The officer in charge of purchasing arms nodded and said, "It will be here soon..."

"Very good, I'll take a nap first, wake me at 2:30."

He stood up, stretched, and walked towards the small door at the back where there was a lounge.

After being restless all night, I can finally have a good rest.

Tonight, countless calls rang at times when they shouldn't have, and some senior gang officials began to restrain their men from approaching the "Triangle Area", which is the location of Lans Financial Company.

Although they didn't say anything explicitly, everyone knew that there was a high probability that there would be a large-scale gunfight there.

This kind of thing actually doesn’t happen so often in Jingang City. In the past, when there were only five major families, it often happened when they were competing for this honor.

After the five major families confirmed their status here, this kind of customary gunfighting rarely occurred, which also made many young people very excited!

Even though the team leaders and officials above told them not to fucking join in the fun, who can control it?
Everyone wants to see what kind of fight this big is like!
As the underground emperor of this city, Mr. Pasletto also received a call from a broker, "There is a gunfight in the Triangle area tonight. If you have people there, it is best to tell them not to run around."

Mr. Pasletto was still socializing and was a little surprised to hear the news, because it really hadn't happened much in the past two years.

He was also a little curious, "Who and who?"

"The Camilla Gang and a small family called... Lan..."

He tried to remind, "Lance?"

"Yes, the Lance family, a small family. Do you know them?"

Mr. Pasletto did not deny it. "I met him once. He was a very interesting young man..." He pondered for a moment, asked about the time, and made an appointment to have tea together next time when he was free. But after the appointment that seemed to be far away, he hung up the phone.

He then brought it up again and called Alberto.

Alberto is now enjoying his nightlife in the bar. The people of Sumul have only a few preferences, and almost all of them can be satisfied here.

Fordyce walked over to him and lowered his head. He was lying on the sofa and a girl was serving him.

"Boss, let me tell you that the Camilla gang is going to have a fight with Lance and his gang in the Triangle area from three to five o'clock tonight."

Alberto did not react at first, but this new girl was so skilled that he had to concentrate or else he would probably embarrass himself.

He didn't want to become the laughing stock of the bar the next day - the strong Mr. Alberto Cotti couldn't even last three minutes!
But his sanity still had a chance to breathe under the siege of alcohol and rounds of pleasure, and after a few seconds, he suddenly reacted.

"Who are you talking about?" He turned and looked at Fordyce.

"Camilla's gang, and Lance."

"Shit!" He pushed the girl away, re-fastened his belt, stood up, and strode towards the stairs. His office was on the third floor.

He went into the office and lit a cigarette, then found Lance's business card and dialed the number.

“You’re in the Triangle?”

Lance had a vague feeling that this incident had something to do with Liam's death, "Yeah, I'm in the Triangle, what's wrong?"

"The Camilla Gang has applied for a fight. The police station will soon be clearing the area for your fight. Did you know that?"

"Rampage... can I apply?" Lance heard this for the first time. "I don't know. No one told me!"

His voice didn't sound like he was lying. Alberto calmed down now. "Listen, they will come to your place after three o'clock. Are there many policemen outside your door?"

Lance walked to the window holding the telephone cord, asked someone to turn off the lights, and looked outside.

There were quite a few policemen standing outside, but they had no intention of coming in. It looked like they were just guarding there.

"Is it too late for me to leave now?"

"There are several police cars outside the door..." He asked Erwin to go to the back alley to check. Erwin came back soon and told him that there were also two police cars in the back alley, "There are also police cars in the back alley."

Alberto shook his head, even though Lance couldn't see it. "They probably won't let you leave."

"Wait for my call, I'll ask about the situation."

Lance frowned after hanging up the phone and turned on the lights again. "Alberto said that people from Camilla's gang will be here soon to fight with us." His eyes moved across these people's faces and finally landed on the two girls.

"See if you can leave. If they let you leave, go back as soon as possible." "If they don't let you leave, come back as soon as possible."

The two girls changed their clothes and left the company with some trepidation.

As soon as I walked out of the door, a policeman came up to me and said, "There's a case here. You'd better stay in this house until we investigate it thoroughly."

One of the girls said, "We're off work, we want to go back!"

The policeman's expression was indifferent, and his voice became louder. "I repeat, please go back to your house."

Several policemen nearby heard the noise and came over. Seeing that something was not right, Lance opened the door and walked out.

"Sorry, they don't know what happened. Can you tell me your name?" Lance took the initiative to stand between the two girls and the police.

The dim street lights cannot illuminate everything here, but they allow each other to see each other's eyes reflecting some light.

The policeman's attitude seemed to soften a little. "This has nothing to do with you. Please go back to the room, sir."

Lance smiled, nodded slightly, regardless of whether the other party saw it or not, and returned to the room with the two girls.

Only after seeing them go back did the police leave again.

Lance told them about the current situation. He raised his wrist and looked at his watch. "You still have more than three hours until three o'clock. We have to do something."

"I remember that filing cabinets were all made of iron?"

Erwin nodded quickly, "Yes, they are all made of iron."

Lance walked towards the archive room, "Come on, help, take the things out, and block some windows and doors."

It's not that he didn't consider leaving by force, but the police would definitely stop him. If he opened fire, it would be a federal felony, with a minimum sentence of ten years.

If someone is killed in a conflict, he might even be put to the electric chair.

Soon the phone rang again. It was Alberto calling.

"They said you killed Liam from Camilla's gang, outside his Red Heels club?"

Lance was a little speechless after hearing this. "He wants to kill me, so I'll kill him first. I don't think there's any problem with that."

"No problem, no problem. Heller is being held back by his officers and can't get down. This is the only thing we can do."

"A lot of people are paying attention to this fight. Do you have any weapons?"

Lance turned around and asked Hiram, who had been in charge of the weapons during this period, and then said to Alberto, "Yes, but not many. The rest are hidden in my residence."

Alberto licked his lips and said, "I'll arrange for someone to bring it to you."

"I can't help you with anything else in this matter. In order to force the police department to compromise, Heller's people committed crimes desperately in the Empire District and nearby areas. In order to control the situation, you were sacrificed by the police department."

"That's probably the situation. Now, unless someone like Councilman Williams or the mayor, who holds important core power in this city, speaks for you, no one can change the outcome of this matter."

"And I heard that the mayor knew about it, but he didn't say anything else. He acquiesced. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lance was silent for a while after hearing this. "I understand what you mean. Everyone thinks we will lose, so it is worth exchanging the lives of dozens of us for Heller's compromise."

"Although I don't want to admit it, you are right, Lance. You are too weak, and so am I. So I can't help you, except to send you some weapons and ammunition."

In fact, Lance was not feeling too angry or sad at this moment. He had experienced this emotion many times in his previous life.

When you are still very weak, anyone can come and step on you. Only when you become strong enough to make them afraid, will they communicate with you as an equal.

"Anyway, Alberto, thank you for helping me. I owe you a huge favor!"

"After this is over, as long as you tell me, I can help you with anything!"

Alberto laughed twice, "I don't think this is the end for you, Lance. I trust my intuition and will wait for your good news!"

The call ended quickly and Lance sat down at the table, lighting a cigarette after a while.

If you can live a happy life without struggling, who would be willing to struggle?

Isn’t struggle hard and tiring?
Ask those who are struggling, are they really doing it voluntarily?
Isn't everything forced?

Lance just wants to lead everyone to live a better life, to earn money, to spend money, and not be bullied, but... why is it so difficult?
He took a deep puff of the cigarette, and the feeling of his lungs being filled with smoke was particularly full.

After a few seconds, he slowly exhaled the cigarette.

Others had already used the few filing cabinets available to block the windows, and they had overturned some tables to create makeshift fortifications.

Now that all this has been done, everyone has gathered around again.

"Afraid?"

Lance asked, crossing his legs.

Most people said they were not afraid, and a few did not say anything.

He looked up at these people and laughed, "You are all lying. In fact, I know that you are all more or less afraid. In fact, I am afraid too."

"But I'm afraid it won't solve the problem, and it will only make our enemies more arrogant."

He picked up the phone and threw it back. "Alberto just told me that everyone in the city doesn't think we will lose."

"I have never believed in fate, because I always feel that my own destiny should be decided by myself."

"Whether I live or die, it should be decided by me, not them!"

"They want to decide my fate?"

"Easy, kill me first."

"But I'm not the kind of person who won't fight back. If anyone wants to kill me, be prepared to be killed by me!"

"Today they think we are an easy target, so we will definitely knock out a few of their teeth!"

Morale, which had clearly dropped, began to rise again, and Lance flicked the cigarette away.

The sparks that flew out when the cigarette butt hit the wall instantly lit up the surroundings, but only for a moment.

"Alberto's men will deliver weapons to us later. We will teach them a lesson today. Don't always think that others are easy to bully. Damn it!"

Ten minutes later, Fordis drove over and the police stopped him on the street.

"I'm Mr. Pasretto's man, and I'm here to deliver something."

The policeman shone a light on his face, and then two more policemen came. One of them looked familiar to Fordyce, and he might have seen him somewhere.

The man motioned the policeman holding the lantern to put down his lantern, then asked, "What's the gift?"

"Eat and drink."

"Can I take a look?"

Fordyce did not refuse.

The officer walked to the back of the car and took a look inside. It was full of all kinds of weapons. He then opened the door and took out four fragmentation grenades. "This won't work. I'll give it back to you when you come back."

"Also, you can't stay here," he said, asking the other police officers to let them pass, and then he stood on the side of the road himself.

Fordis nodded and said, "Thank you."

The car quickly stopped in front of the company. He said hello and Lance asked someone to come out and help move the things in.

"More than ten submachine guns, and the rest are pistols, as well as bullets and magazines..."

Fordis pulled Lance aside and said, "They won't all come. You still have a great chance..."

"I originally brought four papayas for you, but they took them away."

"Thanks, Fordyce. I owe you one."

Fordis didn't say anything. He hugged Lance and said, "Wait for your good news..."

(End of this chapter)