Empire of Shadows

“Should I be calling you ‘Mayor Wade’ now?” Mr. Bowen laughed, a hint of teasing in his voice. Everyone knew about the deal between Wade and

“Should I be calling you ‘Mayor Wade’ now?”

Mr. Bowen laughed, a hint of teasing in his voice.

Everyone knew about the deal between Wade and the Mayor, but you couldn’t say he had done anything wrong.

The Mayor had traded some of the resources he had accumulated for a slim chance for Wade to run for governor. Faced with this, no one could refuse.

If the Mayor had said, “Bowen, you stand on my side, leave this place, and I’ll give you a chance to be nominated as a gubernatorial candidate, will you do it?” Bowen would have packed his things and gotten out of here immediately.

In fact, most people have heard the saying, “opportunity is important, but what’s more important is seizing the opportunity.”

Everyone knows that being a governor is great, and they can list the reasons why. But do they really have a chance to be nominated?

No.

Ninety-nine percent of people will never have the chance in their lifetime to be nominated as a gubernatorial candidate and participate in a gubernatorial election.So Wade’s decisive completion of the deal with the Mayor would, on the contrary, make people admire his choice, a smart choice.

If he could really become governor, then that would be even more admirable.

That would be a true leap in class.

No matter how Mayor Wade’s future developed, whether he succeeded or failed, he had actually taken a firm step forward.

In a political environment like the Federation’s, friends and enemies were actually not that easy to distinguish.

So why shouldn’t he act a little more cordial?

This kind of teasing was also an expression of cordiality, and Mayor Wade certainly understood it.

“I prefer you to call me ‘Councilman Wade.’ It’s not very good over here, lacking friends like you. My work is not going so smoothly.”

Mayor Wade did not directly jump into the topic, but casually chatted about some of the problems he had encountered in his new work environment.

The two of them were talking as if it were a normal communication about work problems. As a “parachuted” new mayor…

Mayor Wade did not have a strong foundation there. The predicament he faced was almost identical to the one Sidney (the former mayor) had encountered before.

Except for the Social-Democratic Party’s national convention, where some party representatives could say a few words for him, he had no support at all in the city’s management.

However, his methods were a bit gentler than Sidney’s. He didn’t have such a big gambling streak.

After taking office, he quickly got along well with the city’s middle-level management, frequently holding parties and making friends with officials at this level.

And he would also hint to these people that if the time was right, he could promote them further.

In the Federation, the city was centered around the “mayoral system,” which also represented that the mayor’s power was very great. He could appoint government officials according to his own preferences.

So his guarantee was very valuable and meaningful. He was uniting those in the middle and lower levels who had political ambitions but lacked a background and opportunities.

Once the time was right, he could easily subvert the city’s original order.

However, this would require a considerable amount of time and a certain amount of financial resources. Fortunately, he was not short of time, nor was he short of money.

After the two chatted about work matters for a while, Mayor Wade changed the subject and talked about the purpose of his call.

“Bowen, I hear you got a girl these few days.”

On the other end of the receiver, Bowen’s expression changed slightly. The smile on his face disappeared. “I don’t quite understand what you mean by that.”

Mayor Wade did not beat around the bush either. “I’ll be direct. Someone wants this girl and came to me. I owe him a favor.”

“I didn’t guarantee that I could definitely make you compromise. I just told him I could give it a try.”

“It’s fine whether you agree or not. Anyway, this matter has nothing to do with me. I’m just repaying a favor.”

It sounded as if Mayor Wade was trying to clear himself of responsibility, but his words gave Bowen a bad feeling.

Images of certain people appeared in his mind, people who could make Mayor Wade make this call at this time—

Who would cash in a mayor’s favor over a small matter?

Could there be other problems involved?

He fell into thought, and this matter was indeed not that simple.

That girl had seen his face and had already suffered some abuse. If he let her go just like that, there would be a lot of trouble.

Would she testify against him? Would her family come to cause trouble for him?

Who was the person behind Wade, and what were their goals?

These all needed to be considered.

“You’re putting me in a difficult position, Wade.”

Bowen actually also owed Wade a favor. His son had run into some trouble before.

At that time, there was no Prohibition yet. He had taken a drunk girl to a hotel from a bar. This girl herself might have had some problems, but it was also possible that he had been too rough.

In short, the girl had bled a lot and had almost died. The other party’s family was not from the bottom of society with nothing; they also had a bit of power and were unwilling to compromise.

If his son had to go to court for this, he might have faced multiple criminal charges and might have been in prison for life.

He had Wade solve this trouble, and it also cost a lot of money. Including the fact that his son still couldn’t return to Golden Port to this day.

Although the process was a bit rocky, the final result was good. Both sides got what they wanted.

Mayor Wade said with a light laugh from the receiver, “If it’s too difficult, then don’t consider it. I will tell the other side that I can’t handle this matter.”

After much hesitation, Bowen asked, “Can I know who wants this girl?”

“I actually don’t know either, because the person who called me was also just a client. If you want to know who it is, you’ll have to investigate it yourself.”

He asked again, “If I refuse…”

Mayor Wade’s voice was still as clear and enthusiastic as ever, making one imagine his smiling face now. “Then this matter will have nothing to do with me either. No matter what happens to you guys afterwards, I will not intervene again.”

Mr. Bowen was a bit distressed. “The things you’re saying sound more like a hint and a threat to me. To be honest, I don’t feel very good.”

“Want to hear my suggestion?” Mayor Wade asked.

Mr. Bowen certainly would not refuse. “Let’s hear it.”

“You have to make the favor real. Although my calling you is a matter between us, but for you to hand over a lively girl, and a listless girl, are two different results.”

“You know what I mean.”

“You have to let them know that they owe you a favor. With this favor, you don’t have to worry about any other mishaps.”

“You’re very right. I accept your suggestion. You can pass it on to the other side for me.” Mr. Bowen thought for a moment. “How should I hand her over?”

There was more “happiness” in Mayor Wade’s voice. “In fifteen minutes, a car will stop at the entrance of your villa. They will take the girl away.”

“Bowen, we are old friends. I can assure you, this matter ends here.”

Mr. Bowen nodded. “I believe you.”

Actually, he could have refused, and even could have killed that girl, but he didn’t know what he would face next.

The unknown is sometimes the most frightening.

He had many things he cared about: wealth, power, family, health, everything he owned.

The richer a person is, the more they are afraid of losing.

Of course, it wasn’t that he really didn’t plan to find out who this person was.

He agreed to Mayor Wade’s “mediation,” and then dialed Councilman Charlie’s number.

“I’ve run into a small problem. I need you to check someone for me.”

“Commissioner Bowen, I would be very happy to be of service to you. Does the person you want to check have a name or anything special?”

Mr. Bowen walked to the window and glanced at the internal street outside. “In about fifteen minutes, they will drive a car and stop outside my villa.”

Councilman Charlie misunderstood that someone was blackmailing him and immediately said, “I will have Hunter personally lead a team to arrest these lowlifes and make them disappear from your sight.”

“No, no, no!” Mr. Bowen quickly interrupted. “Don’t alarm them for now. I just want to know who they are, that’s all.”

Although Councilman Charlie didn’t know what exactly was happening, he still agreed.

For now, he wouldn’t mention having Hunter prepare some plainclothes officers to do this. After talking about these things, Mr. Bowen went to the basement alone.

His basement was built in the courtyard, but the entrance was in the boiler room.

There was an inconspicuous door like a vent. After pushing it open, there was a passage leading to that secret basement.

Faya was locked up here.

The moment the basement door was opened, Faya’s body began to tremble. She was required to wear nothing but stockings and a pair of small red shoes.

She was curled up in a corner, her body covered in whip marks, her eyes showing a trace of fear and also a trace of stubbornness.

What a perfect toy.

Seeing the bruises on the girl’s body, he savored the feeling of his fist hitting the young girl’s skin, and the cries that could please his inner self.

Mr. Bowen sighed lightly. The game had actually just begun.

He was somewhat silent. Faya didn’t dare to move and shrank in the corner. A chain connected the ground and the collar on her neck.

She had resisted, but what she got in return was only more ferocious beatings and humiliation. A teenage girl was no match for an adult male.

But she did not plan to give up hope just like that. She pretended to compromise, trying to find an opportunity.

Mr. Bowen looked at her. “Answer my question, and I’ll give you your freedom.”

Faya didn’t know if he was playing some new “game” and only responded with silence.

“After you came to the Federation, have you gotten to know any Federation people?”

He walked to the side of a chair and sat down. Faya moved a little in fright, far away from him. “No, I don’t know anyone.”

Mr. Bowen’s gaze lingered on her terrified and uneasy face for a while before he stopped pursuing the question.

He would find out.

He took a set of clothes from outside and threw them to her. “Put them on. Although I don’t know who you or your family has connections with, you are free.”

He stared into the girl’s eyes. “This is just a possibly not-so-pleasant adventure, but it has a perfect ending.”

“Say what you should say, and don’t say anything else. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Lucky girl.”

(end of chapter)