Empire of Shadows

Lance adjusted his attire and knocked on the door of General Miles's office, three knocks: *knock, knock, knock.*

The door opened quickly. General Miles was sitting in his large chair, and behind the door stood a young man who looked somewhat similar to him.

"Mr. Lance, please come in!" The young man knew who he was and invited him inside.

Lance removed his hat before entering the room and said, "Thank you."

"Give it to me." The young officer seemed very polite. He appeared to be only a major, but the fact that a major could work in General Miles's office clearly meant he wasn't an ordinary officer.

Lance thanked him again, handed over his hat and coat, and then walked towards the desk.

As he approached the desk, General Miles used the armrests to stand up and shook hands with Lance. "What brings you to see me so late?"

It was already eight-thirty. If Lance hadn't wanted to see him, he would have gone to bed already.

"Forgive me for being so direct. I'm not one of those politicians, and we can skip the meaningless formalities."

Lance nodded in agreement, not because he truly believed that General Miles's words reflected his true thoughts or behavior.

Many military men claim they aren't politicians, that they don't engage in political trickery, and that they speak directly.

However, the reason they act this way isn't because they don't know how to be polite, exchange pleasantries, or beat around the bush, but because you don't deserve it.

If they were meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Defense, generals of the same rank, or even senators and the President, they would be even more like politicians than politicians themselves.

This is actually a different kind of political respect.

Lance was just a gang leader. Although he could bring a lot of benefits and wealth to Miles, it didn't mean that Miles considered Lance important enough to treat him as an equal.

It's like the chairman of a publicly listed company wouldn't exchange pleasantries with the company's cleaner every time they met, saying irrelevant things before telling them that there was a water stain in the hallway yesterday that hadn't been cleaned.

The cleaner doesn't have the right to expect the chairman to do that, so the chairman would show that impersonal indifference, acting all business-like.

Of course, this isn't to say that Lance was completely worthless. If he were, he wouldn't be able to see General Miles so late, nor would he be able to come to General Miles's office.

No matter which world he was in, Lance had risen from humble beginnings. His unrealistic ideas had long been shattered by the harsh realities of society.

He wouldn't expect impossible respect, nor would he feel slighted if he didn't receive it.

He smiled, took out the prepared envelope, placed it on the desk, held it down with one finger, and pushed it over.

The sound of the envelope rubbing against the desk was strangely satisfying. General Miles's questioning gaze lingered on Lance's face for a moment before falling on the envelope.

He picked up the envelope but didn't open it immediately. He shook it. The material of the check was clearly different from ordinary paper, making a slight rustling sound. "What's inside?"

Lance didn't speak but raised his right hand in a gesture inviting him to open it. General Miles wasn't worried that Lance would harm him. He tore open the envelope and poured out the contents.

When he clearly saw that it was a check and the numbers on it, the lines on his face softened considerably. He first held the check with both hands, looking at it, then turned it over so that it faced Lance.

"I don't quite understand!"

Lance crossed his legs, leaned back slightly in his chair. "Another share of the profits."

"Profits!" General Miles raised an eyebrow. "From what?"

"Prostitutes."

This word made the general's expression freeze for a moment, followed by a couple of chuckles. He put the check back on the desk. "We haven't discussed this business."

Lance nodded slightly. "Although we haven't discussed it, this money can actually be said to come from military spending."

"I've calculated that by the end of the month, there should be a share of this amount, so I brought it over in advance, since the New Year is coming up."

Yes, the New Year was coming. It was already the second half of December, and the New Year was only a few days away.

There were many places where money was needed for the New Year. With this money, General Miles's other accounts wouldn't need to have frequent fund transfers; he would only have this 50,000 to spend.

He wouldn't refuse.

However, he was concerned about something else. "Every month?"

Lance spread his hands slightly. "Every month. In fact, if we use some tricks, the amount of profit could increase even more."

"Seventy or eighty thousand, even a hundred thousand is possible."

At this point, General Miles was finally somewhat moved. If a few hundred thousand a year just made him feel good, then a million a year was a different matter.

He glanced at the young officer still standing by the door. "Go check if the kids outside are slacking off. Lock the door while you're at it."

Some things, although it didn't matter if he knew, shouldn't be known in too much detail.

He explained the young man's identity to reassure Lance, while also praising Lance, killing several birds with one stone.

See, who said the General wouldn't engage in these fake pleasantries and political courtesies?

It was just a matter of whether you deserved it, not whether he knew how.

Lance smiled and nodded. "A very energetic young man."

But that was all he said. "You just said… a million a year is possible. Tell me your ideas, and what difficulties there are. Let's see how we can solve them."

A few hundred thousand in revenue wasn't worth him doing too much, but a million was enough for him to do something.

Lance didn't immediately say what he wanted but instead asked, "General, I don't think this behavior can be considered purely soliciting sex for the soldiers."

"Army life is very monotonous, with huge physical and psychological stress. Healthy physical and mental well-being is related to their performance in daily training and on the battlefield."

"Is there a problem with my statement?"

General Miles, for the sake of the money, seriously considered it and shook his head. "No problem, you're right."

Lance's face showed more of a smile. "Then we can't see it as solicitation; we must see it as a form of treatment, maintaining the psychological and physical health of the soldiers, which should come from military spending."

General Miles had been somewhat unfocused a moment ago, but as this sentence came out, it was as if a bomb had exploded in his mind!

For a moment, his brain went blank. The way he looked at Lance was no longer like looking at a person but like looking at a lunatic, a madman!

However, he had to admit one thing: what Lance said was correct!

Lance continued, "You see, every soldier has the opportunity to receive psychological counseling. Who pays for the psychological counseling?"

At this time, General Miles's thinking was already frozen; he could only instinctively answer, "Military spending."

Sometimes dangerous situations occur during live-fire training, and some soldiers' minds collapse, so psychological doctors need to intervene.

Lance said with a smile, "Yes, military spending."

"In some ways, there's no difference between psychological doctors and those girls who provide pleasure. Both charge by the session or by the hour."

"Psychological doctors provide comfort, and the girls can also provide comfort. They can completely follow the way psychological doctors' treatment fees are paid, and be paid from military spending."

"Arranging a psychological intervention for a soldier may cost a dozen or more, sometimes more than once."

"And if that money were used to let those girls do this, they could go once a week!"

General Miles finally gradually reacted. The way he looked at Lance seemed to be telling Lance that he wanted to pry open his brain and see what was inside.

Lance didn't care whether he understood or not, whether he had figured it out or not, and continued, "Not every soldier is so eager for sex, or some of them, for certain reasons, would rather save their income, and their desire to consume will be very low."

"But what if we turn letting them see girls into 'military supplies'? They don't need to pay extra, and we issue them four or five vouchers. What do you think would happen?"

Some soldiers are governed by desire, but some resist it. Those who resist desire will not generate profit or rebates if they don't consume.

But what if they don't need to pay now?

Like some daily necessities, or even cigarettes, that the army distributes to them every month, they don't need to pay for it themselves. Will they refuse?

Of course, they won't refuse!

This method directly expands the demand market, and General Miles couldn't help but take another breath of cold air.

"Based on a monthly expenditure of ten dollars in this area, the expenditure for a 100,000-strong army in this area each month is one million."

"Your Excellency, you can get a 25% cut from this one million."

He also thoughtfully explained, "The remaining 50% is the girls' money. This income is actually not much for this job."

General Miles really thought and understood according to his ideas, and he nodded and said, "I understand. A strip club costs five dollars a time, and if you want to dance, it's fifteen or twenty."

It seems that he goes there often. Who the hell knows whether you are a general or an ordinary person when you change into plain clothes?

It's good to have life experience, which makes it easier for Lance to explain these structures, "Of the remaining 25%, 10% is currently given to those who are specifically responsible for maintaining order."

"The remaining 15% is what I get."

General Miles nodded again, "Very reasonable. It's your business, but you don't earn the most. I really can't find any fault with it."

"This way, you can get a rebate of 250,000 every month, which is three million a year."

General Miles, who hadn't reacted much at first, contracted his pupils again. Then he couldn't help but take out a cigarette case, lit a cigarette, and didn't forget to give Lance one.

"Are you saying... I can get three million?"

"A year?"

Lance kept making him confused about this world. Is making money really that simple?

In fact, the Federal Army had always had this kind of behavior before, with internal arrangements for dedicated people to provide soldiers with physiological release.

With the progress of society, the first and second failed feminist movements broke out, and eventually this department was abolished.

Therefore, from the perspective of promoting this matter, it is not a problem at all. Even if it is difficult to say on the side of the Department of Defense, he can apply for a new budget on his own, and talk to the Department of Defense non-verbally, and they will definitely approve it.

Two dollars a time is just the market price, and the Department of Defense will not make things difficult for him for this part of the cost of several million a year.

The military expenditure for those useless psychologists also costs several million a year.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was really a way!

Lance waited for him to think for several minutes before continuing, "What if the number of qualified naval bases is maintained at 200,000?"

"Your Excellency, six million a year."

"F**k!" General Miles suddenly cursed, and the cigarette ash fell on his desk because of his excited movements and emotions, "You are really a genius, Lance!"

He couldn't sit still anymore. As the closest deep-water port to the Tanfite continent, Jinport City Naval Base is bound to be the front line of the Navy.

In their plan, they didn't just think of 100,000 or 200,000 troops stationed there, but more!

As soon as he thought that his annual income could be tens of millions, how could he sit still?

Lance watched him stand up and walk back and forth, knowing that he had completely moved this general, after all, even Senator Cleveland could not resist the temptation of an annual income of tens of millions!

Not to mention the senior military generals who are more independent and autocratic than government officials, who dares to make trouble for him, who can make trouble for him?

He took the money with peace of mind, and he didn't have to be afraid of trouble!

This is definitely a big business!

Lance then said, "In fact, we can provide everything that soldiers need, not just sex."

"Before I came, I was thinking about a question, Your Excellency, do you think soldiers need to ingest alcohol?"

"A bottle of wine is enough for them to sleep with two or three hundred girls. If each person is allowed to have one bottle per month..."

"F**k!" General Miles couldn't help but swear again, "Tell me, Lance, what is that number?"

His eyes were already a little red.

"According to a normal whiskey, the price of 750 milliliters is 200 yuan, and 100,000 soldiers is 20 million."

"I can give you a 10% commission, which is 2 million, a month, 100,000 people!"

"Because this matter still needs a lot of help, it also needs the consent of the Congress and the Department of Defense, and even the President, so we have to take care of it."

"So 10% is what I can guarantee, and if conditions permit, I will make it more."

The general crossed the table and sat down next to Lance. He looked at Lance, "You are not kidding me, are you?"

Of course, Lance was not kidding him, "Why would I joke with you?"

"Your Excellency, I am a federal person. I am willing to do something for the country and people of the Federation. I am also willing to earn some money on this basis, and I am more willing to make friends with people like you."

"At the same time, I also believe in one thing, that is, everyone earns money together!"

"Of course, we cannot promote this matter in a short time, because the congressional prohibition is blocking us."

"But, after the war breaks out, this matter will work!"

General Miles stared at Lance intently, and after confirming that he did not evade his gaze with a guilty conscience, he grabbed his wrist, "Okay, it won't be long!"

"If you...can really make this happen..." He dropped the cigarette butt in his hand, his expression becoming extraordinarily serious, "You are my best friend, Miles, and the best friend of the Miles family!"

For a rebate that may add up to 30 million, even God would come down and be friends with Lance, not to mention General Miles, who doesn't have much money to make!

Lance couldn't help laughing, the kind that laughed out loud, "Aren't we always friends?"

General Miles was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Yes, we have always been friends!"

He now thinks that Lance is pleasing to the eye, of course, it is also related to the huge rebates that Lance promised.

After his emotions calmed down a little, Lance reminded, "I am more anxious about the alcohol matter than you, because this is my main business, but the physiological and psychological counseling cannot be relaxed."

"After all, this money can be obtained immediately, don't you think?"

General Miles also got rid of the fanatical and excited emotions. He lit another cigarette, nodded, and didn't say he wanted to go back and sit down, and sat on the chair next to Lance.

"Not bad, what are you going to do?"

Lance said his thoughts, "I will separate an area in the north of the base and establish a naval club."

"It will provide most of the things that clubs provide, including those girls."

"At that time, you only need to issue vouchers to them."

General Miles was a little puzzled, "If we go through military expenditure, wouldn't it be better to pay them wages directly according to the ratio?"

Lance shook his head, "That's not very good. Some girls are more popular, and some are not so popular."

"If the popular and unpopular get the same amount, it will make them slack off, hate their work, and make our soldiers unable to truly get comfort."

"So at the end of each month, I will settle the bill with them according to the vouchers."

"As for the name of the project itself, let's use 'Physical Therapy'!"