Empire of Shadows

By Wednesday, Officer Brayden had successfully entered Lance’s identity information into Jingang City’s records. Now, anyone searching his personal details would find a file associated with the White family. Lance had officially taken on the identity of ”Steven (formerly known as)” and was now recognized as Lance White.  

Brayden also helped him apply for a Social Security number and a personal tax number. With these two pieces of documentation, Lance was now a legitimate citizen of the Federation. Not even the President could question his legality!  

”My promise to you still stands,” Brayden said earnestly, handing Lance an envelope containing the paperwork.  

The ”promise” referred to Brayden’s agreement to offer discounts for identity solutions to anyone Lance referred to him. Since Brayden had publicized his ability to resolve identity issues for immigrants, he had already received numerous inquiries. One particularly generous client had promised to pay four hundred dollars if Brayden could secure legal status for them.  

Although the unrest in Jingang City had peaked and was winding down, it didn’t mean the public sentiment against immigrants—both legal and illegal—had improved. Over the past two to three weeks, numerous immigrant-owned shops had been vandalized, looted, and even burned, causing incalculable economic losses.  

Last week, The Federation Times ran a front-page photo capturing the chaos. In the image, five police officers stood with their hands on their hips behind a police car, watching a dozen hooded figures fleeing a jewelry store. Scattered on the ground were jewels and silverware the looters had dropped during their escape. The store owner, clutching a head wound, stood helplessly in the doorway.  

The image, dynamic and impactful, resonated across the Federation, causing widespread outrage. Even now, reports of immigrant-owned shops being looted or destroyed continued to surface. Notably, this time the looters hadn’t discriminated based on ethnicity—native Federation citizens also fell victim. As a diverse, multi-ethnic country, distinguishing an immigrant shopkeeper from a local one was often impossible.  

Beyond property damage, many immigrants had been assaulted or robbed. In this environment, the desire among undocumented immigrants for legal status became all-consuming.  

Brayden, having mastered the process, was poised to profit handsomely. From each case, he expected to make at least one to two hundred dollars, if not more. His strategy was straightforward: search the archives, then find impoverished locals to say, Hey, here’s your long-lost family member! Whether it was a child or an elderly parent, the “reunion” depended on how much money these locals needed.  Brayden was about to hit the jackpot.  

”Thank you for your generosity, Officer Brayden,” Lance said.  

Brayden laughed, patting Lance on the arm. ”You saying that makes me feel stingy.”  

”From the heart,” Lance replied with a grin.  

Moving on, Brayden asked, ”Now that you’re a Federation citizen, what’s next on your agenda?”  

Lance didn’t hesitate to share his plans. He knew he’d need Brayden’s help again in the future. ”I’m planning to start a company—or maybe several.”  

”Doing what?”  

”Anything and everything.”  

Brayden raised an eyebrow. Lance’s response sounded overly ambitious, yet something about it carried a spark of confidence. For now, though, Brayden’s focus remained on Jingang City’s fifteen thousand undocumented immigrants—a massive, untapped market.  

As the President had announced plans to gradually address illegal immigration, Brayden found himself transitioning from a supporter to an opponent. Legalizing immigrants en masse would effectively kill his lucrative side hustle. He resolved to earn as much as possible before the opportunity disappeared.  

After their conversation, Brayden rushed off to pursue his booming business, while Lance headed to the city’s Commercial Services Bureau.  

Jingang City, as a shining beacon of the Federation’s economy, offered comprehensive services to businesspeople looking to establish themselves. The bureau provided everything from company registration to tax number issuance, all under one roof.  

When Lance arrived, there was already a line. Every day, gold-seekers from around the world came chasing their Federation dreams. A few might eventually make their mark on history, but most would simply become sustenance for the city’s insatiable appetite.   Ɍ𝒶ɴố𝔟ĚS

”Sir, how can I help you?” asked a sweet-looking woman at the counter. Her voice was pleasant, though her attire was notably conservative.  

Lance’s gaze didn’t linger on her figure but instead focused directly on her eyes. ”It seems today’s my lucky day.”  

”Excuse me?” she replied, puzzled.  

”Because I’ve seen an angel in Angel City,” Lance said, his lips curling into a charming smile. His demeanor, combined with his reasonably handsome face, brought a flush to her cheeks.  

”You’re quite the talker,” she murmured, touching her warm face. ”What can I help you with today?”  

”I want to register a company, but I’m not sure about the process...”  

”I’ll help you!” she declared firmly, her willingness fueled by Lance’s earlier compliment.  

”And just like an angel would,” Lance added.  

The woman grew even more flustered but quickly regained her composure. It was work time, after all.  

”What kind of company are you planning to start?”  

”A company that helps people solve problems. They can come to me for consultations, and I’ll provide solutions—for a fee, of course.”  

As she nodded and began filling out the forms, Lance noticed how complex they were. Without her guidance, he would’ve likely needed a lawyer.  

”Do you have a name in mind for your company?” she asked.  

”Yes—‘Wanli.’ By the way, if I plan to establish more companies in the future, should I register them separately or just expand the scope of this one?”  

The woman paused, surprised by the depth of his question. However, she quickly answered, ”If all the businesses operate out of the same location, one company will suffice. But if they’re at separate locations, it’s better to establish a parent company to manage them. Also, make sure the names are distinct.”  

After a while, she handed the forms back to Lance. ”You’ll need to provide your personal information here. We also can’t confirm right away if your company name is unique—it’ll take at least three days for the State Department to verify it.”  

She added, ”They’re always swamped, so they might drag it out for a week. I’ll follow up with them for you.”  

As Lance filled out the forms under her guidance, she introduced herself. ”By the way, I’m Patricia. Patricia Lawrence.”  

”Nice to meet you, Miss Angel. I’m Lance White,” he replied, shaking her hand.  

Patricia giggled before composing herself. ”I need to get back to work,” she said, touching her flushed cheeks. ”Just sign here and leave a phone number so we can contact you.”  

With everything finalized, Lance walked out of the bureau with a light heart. His journey as a legitimate businessman was just beginning.