Empire of Shadows

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“Mr. Pasoretto, the film industry’s money laundering methods are not limited to cinemas. Every step of the process here can help you clean your money thoroughly.”

“But in the early stages, cinemas are definitely a good method for money laundering, with low investment and high returns.”

“We can build some cinemas in the western regions, even in uninhabited areas. It could even just be a simple house, a simple projector, and a large screen.”

“All these investments combined might not even cost five hundred dollars.”

“One hundred such cinemas, all together, would not cost more than one hundred thousand dollars.”

“But each month, they can help you launder at least one point five million, or even two million, dollars.”

The western region had a small population, and population movement had gradually stabilized. Some towns or small cities might only have a few thousand people, and they lacked entertainment options, as well as more job opportunities and tax revenue locally.

The local government would also support such “investment behavior,” so this was a highly profitable venture.Mr. Pasoretto took a puff of his cigar and began to ponder. Lance’s words didn’t stop. “We just talked about the issue of taxation, and Alberto and I also discussed this.”

“As long as every movie screening isn’t completely empty, as long as there are people watching and buying tickets, these are extra income for us.”

“In some remote areas, five-cent movie tickets might seem expensive to them, so let it be three cents, as long as they are willing to come in!”

“The movie tickets they pay for can offset some of our tax expenditures, especially since I heard that the film industry has recently made huge developments and progress, and movies will further become an important entertainment activity for ordinary people.”

“It will attract more people into cinemas, and the price of movie tickets will also see a significant increase.”

“Furthermore, we can use our cinemas to screen our own films. The money we pay to actors, crew, and directors can be… you know, they have legitimate tax reporting reasons, and we have legitimate expense accounts, but no one will actually check if our expenses come from the bank or from a safe.”

Mr. Pasoretto’s face broke into a smile. “Very interesting idea, continue.” He was starting to get interested.

Lance shifted his thinking, refining his explanation into more concise and easily understandable terms. “We can use illicit money as part of the film production expenses, paying actors, directors, screenwriters, everyone in the crew, and wherever else we need to spend.”

“This portion can be deducted from taxes when the company pays income tax.”

Lance looked at a pen on the table. He picked it up. “Mr. Pasoretto, do you know how much this pen costs in a store?”

It was a very ordinary pencil. He thought for a moment. “Probably two for a cent. I’m not sure; I haven’t personally handled these things for a long time.”

Lance nodded. “But in our film expenses, each one is worth ten dollars!”

Alberto stood up. “That’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. It’s a special prop, not just an ordinary pencil. Whether they admit it or not, we, as the production company, accepted the ‘supplier’s’ quote.”

“Whether we are idiots or fools has nothing to do with whether it’s worth this price. On the books, it’s ten dollars!”

“These ten dollars can allow us to pay a few dollars less in taxes, but in reality, we only spent one cent.”

“The saved tax deduction space can facilitate us in handling more illicit money, paying less tax, and reducing losses during the money laundering process.”

“When the movie is released in our own cinemas and more theaters, the cinemas will make money and can also launder money. As the production company, as long as the movie’s box office is good, we can still make money.”

“It’s possible that a single movie can not only help us launder several million but also bring us hundreds of thousands to millions of legitimate income!”

Mr. Pasoretto largely understood. “A very interesting method. I hadn’t thought that movies could bring us these benefits. How did you come up with it?”

In reality, even now, no one had thought of laundering money through movies, because the industry was only just developing.

At this time, cinemas in the Federation primarily showed films ranging from twenty minutes to an hour, with few hour-long features, so ticket prices couldn’t go up.

A movie watched by dozens of people, earning a dozen dollars or so, was less money than a washing machine in a laundry room processed in a day.

Yet Lance saw something others didn’t, which made him more interested in Lance. His previous understanding of this young man came solely from Alberto.

When he spoke of Lance and his associates coming to borrow money, and the calmness they displayed, he was willing to give them an opportunity to clear this actually non-existent debt by working for him.

Lance’s performance was astonishing, which led him to decide to continue associating with Lance. Subsequently, Lance’s performance became increasingly astonishing, to the point where, in some respects, Lance was even catching up to him.

Aside from Lance having no background in this city and not having built a complete network of connections, he was actually no worse than those gangs that had been established for many years.

For a powerful figure like the Golden Port City’s five major families, or the scale of the Federation’s five major families, they might not even need to pick up the phone to suppress Lance.

They would just need to casually mention to someone nearby, “I heard there’s a guy named Lance in the Empire District who’s been very arrogant lately…” and then he might have to go compete with Jason to see who could hold their breath longer.

In the rich experience Lance gained in another world, borrowing power and influence was always a good way for small characters to quickly climb the ranks.

You might not be afraid of me, but you cannot be unafraid of Mr. Pasoretto behind me. Although Mr. Pasoretto behind me has never stated, “I will guarantee this young man,” who dares to bet that he truly hasn’t said or thought so?

After leaving Mr. Pasoretto’s estate, Alberto seemed very happy. He had always believed that Lance would become a big shot, and now even his boss was starting to notice him and was interested in his affairs.

This was a sign; successful people show that potential even before they succeed, he believed.

For example, the four major families on Summurian Island: even when the Prime Minister visited Summurian Island to promote his political ideals, he had to visit these four families one by one before he could extensively discuss his governing philosophy.

He grew up listening to the stories of the founders of these four major families, like Kore, who was born with a ray of light shining into his house in the dark of night.

Like Ivan, who, despite drowning, saw his future in the water and achieved success.

And there was even someone who could withstand lead bullets head-on, shot but not killed, leaving behind the legend of “Immortal Enzo” in Summurian—though there were also rumors that Enzo eventually died from assassination.

The assassin, with a dagger, in his own disbelieving gaze, stabbed Enzo in the chest.

But Enzo’s family claimed that the despicable assassin used poison, though no one knew the specifics.

In short, successful people always possess some special qualities. When Lance easily handled matters that he found thorny, he felt that this was potential.

If Lance did very well and gained more appreciation from Mr. Pasoretto, whether he joined the family or not, Alberto’s status would be elevated by Lance’s success.

Everyone wanted to stand higher. Even if being higher in a criminal organization meant dying faster when judged, they were still willing to do so.

Sitting in the car, Lance asked a question, “Do you know where I can get cheap liquor?”

Alberto was a bit surprised, but then he remembered Lance saying that the batch of liquor had some questionable origins, so he didn’t delve deeper into it.

Just the thought of the question itself led him to a conclusion. “Are you planning to open a bar?”

Lance nodded, then shook his head. “Not entirely.”

“I’ve taken over the Workers’ Club. I’ve signed a contract with the Dockworkers’ Union. For the next ten years, I’ll be operating the Workers’ Union.”

“There are over ten thousand workers at the docks…”

Alberto gasped. “Even if each person makes you five cents a day, that’s hundreds of dollars, but they definitely make you more than five cents!”

His gaze at Lance changed again. Isn’t this the potential of a successful person?

Who could have thought of this, and who had ever thought of this?

Lance shook his head. “Not everyone will come, so you’re thinking too exaggeratedly, and I’m not doing this to make money.”

Seeing Alberto’s distrustful gaze, Lance found it difficult to explain. From the birth of the labor federation and unions until now, the Federal government had been doing one thing for decades—

Trying every possible means to undermine the influence of the labor federation and unions among the working class, to completely detach them from the working class.

In reality, they had achieved some of this, but the effect was not yet too obvious.

However, these things had nothing to do with Lance. What had to do with Lance was that since they could shout “Workers of the nation unite,” why couldn’t he shout it?

Perhaps the effect of shouting it now was not as good as it was at the beginning, but he could unite the workers, right?

If these more than ten thousand workers on the docks all became his people, then there was so much he could do!

So Alberto would not fail to understand his thoughts; perhaps this was a matter of perspective on the trajectory of historical development.

You can always grasp the key points of things that have already happened, things you have experienced, more easily than others.

Alberto shrugged. “Anyway, what do you want?”

“Beer, cheap whiskey, and preferably some fruit wine and sparkling wine. I’ll have some girls there.”

In a sense, working on the docks and working out in a gym were essentially no different; both involved high-intensity aerobic and tearing exercises.

This also led to workers being affected by testosterone, making their desires stronger. Even if they couldn’t do anything with these women, just watching them from a distance, they would be willing to come over, sit for a while, and have a drink.

Of course, there’s also a profit model here. Lance plans to try it out and see if anyone is willing to become the top spender.

“These are all very common types of alcohol. Many distilleries in the Federation currently have inventory, but their prices are relatively high, close to market price.”

“I’ve also been looking into this recently. There are many distilleries in Yalan with very cheap prices, and transportation costs aren’t expensive.”

“I might go there sometime soon. If you’re also looking for a stable supply source, we can go together.”

Lance didn’t hesitate for too long and agreed, “Let me know when you go.”

Upon returning to the Lezhu, Lance went to the lounge to meet with the others, played a few rounds of pool, and then left.

These people had always been friendly to him, and Lance didn’t much care if it was out of respect for Alberto.

After returning to the company, everything seemed to calm down again. Will’s death, while bringing some changes—changes in everyone’s morale, and some other shifts—didn’t genuinely affect their current lives.

The next morning, in the open space outside St. Nayer Cathedral, more people came forward to greet Lance this time. For instance, Mr. Bolton.

He saw Lance get out of the car, raise his hands high, wave them continuously, and cordially call out Lance’s name, as if their relationship was very close.

“I heard some things, Lance, is it true?” His eyes held a different kind of sparkle.

For Federal citizens, for residents outside the Empire District, the name Will was completely unfamiliar.

But for Imperial immigrants within the Empire District, that name and what it stood for were a nightmare!

No one wanted to be targeted by them; once targeted, one would not only lose a large sum of money but also potentially die.

These people didn’t really follow rules and would kill at the drop of a hat. People disliked them yet feared them.

Now, suddenly knowing that someone had been killed by Lance, and Lance seemed to be doing well, these people’s thoughts took on a different turn.

While it might offend the Camille gang, it could also provide a form of protection.

Lance shook his head, not directly answering. “I’m not quite sure what you’re referring to; it shouldn’t have anything to do with me. And don’t spread such rumors everywhere; you might offend someone sometime.”

Mr. Bolton immediately closed his mouth and made a zipping motion. “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.”

“But regardless, Lance, everyone feels happy. If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know anytime!”

Though Mr. Bolton, a true villain, was genuinely unlikeable in some respects, in terms of being a villain and maintaining appearances, he was a hundred times better than his son.

Lance didn’t flatly refuse him. “If I need your help, I’ll definitely tell you. I hope you won’t hide from me then.”

This statement made Mr. Bolton feel very honored. He laughed heartily, wanting to pat Lance’s shoulder, his hand already raised, but then remembering the current disparity between them, his two palms met in front of his chest and clasped together.

“Look at you, saying that. Whether it’s for what you’ve done for us, or because you’re Gerard’s friend, as long as you need me, I will never refuse.”

He noticed some people around still looking their way and proactively chose to leave. “Then I won’t disturb you. It seems everyone wants to talk to you.”

He excused himself and left, and soon others came over, warmly greeting Lance and exchanging a few flattering and appropriate remarks.

Through their words, these people were actually conveying one message—

If one day, I encounter difficulties from the Camille gang, can I ask you for help?

No one knew if those who specifically persecuted others would choose them. They dared not be as complacent as those who had already been killed; they had to be prepared.

In response, Lance stated that everyone here was an Imperial citizen in the Federation, and if they needed it, he was willing to lend a hand.