Empire of Shadows

After Bandy had vented his emotions, Figal finally spoke, “We are no match for him, Bandy.”

“We are not on the same level at all. How do you expect me to deal with him?”

“With our lives?”

Bandy took a breath, his face grim. “Tell me what happened. Don’t leave anything out!”

Figal recounted the events. In truth, there was nothing to hide; many people had seen it.

The numerous police officers surrounding the Keane family manor were witnessed by gang members and passersby alike.

Some of the news circulating outside was actually released by Figal’s own people. He needed to let people know something to prepare for all the upcoming changes.

At the same time, it was a favor to Lance, letting him know that he had made a decision and would not go back on it.

“…They had a search warrant. And even if they didn’t, Bandy, do you think Bruce would care?”

“They could completely shift the blame to that precinct chief. I can even imagine him in court, telling the judges how he cleverly used his own methods and lies.”“Deceiving the city police department on one hand, and his own subordinates and colleagues on the other.”

“In the end, he would take all the blame himself, and then be sent to a resort by Lance.”

“But the things found in the search would all be evidence. No matter what, we would be sent to court, sent to prison.”

Bandy was speechless for a long time after hearing this. This was an overt scheme, telling you plainly, “I’m coming at you head-on.”

But even if you knew he was coming, knew his route, you couldn’t fight him!

Because a human body cannot stand against a fully armed chariot. A fragile human body will only be crushed by the chariot.

So, you must get out of the way before the chariot hits you.

He really couldn’t blame Figal for anything. The police checking on him every day was enough to make it impossible for him to survive here.

“So… is the Tita family planning to leave as well?”

A sigh came from the receiver. Figal said nothing, but it was as if he had said everything.

Bandy closed his eyes, countless emotions churning in his chest, but in the end, he couldn’t say a single word.

This dead silence lasted for about ten seconds. “I see. I wish you… good fortune in your future endeavors.”

Figal’s relationship with Bandy was actually decent. He took the initiative to say, “You could actually talk to Lance.”

“Talk about what?” Bandy asked.

“Talk about making concessions.”

“Interesting, but not funny, Figal.”

Bandy’s tone was no longer so polite. He couldn’t remain calm either. “If you back down, he’ll let you leave. If I back down, he’ll just sink me in Angel Lake. We’re not the same!”

“Anyway, as I said before, I wish you good fortune. If you need my help with anything, give me a call. But it’s best not to trouble me.”

He hung up before Figal could say anything.

Fleming sat opposite him, watching his father, who in his memory was always elegant and composed, now showing a rare anxiety and unease, yet having no good way to help him change any of it.

“I need to handle some things…” After a while, he issued an order for his guest to leave.

Fleming stood up. “If you need anything, have someone call me. I’ll be staying here for the next few days.”

Bandy nodded and then, after watching his son leave, he picked up the phone.

The first call was to the lieutenant governor. “I’ve run into a little trouble… What do you mean ‘I can’t help’? You didn’t have such a hard time taking money from me!”

“…I’m not threatening you. I’m just telling you a fact… Fuck, fuck you!”

He slammed down the phone, stood up in a huff, lit a cigarette, and paced around the room.

The lieutenant governor would receive about 600,000 to 800,000 in political donations from him each year. The federal government had not yet placed further restrictions on the transfer of benefits through political donations, which were essentially bribes.

Although there had been related proposals from the public and in Congress for a long time, such as limiting the annual donation cap for each individual and requiring every political donation account to disclose its financial situation, this proposal, which had been actively raised and promoted by some people since 988, had not even become a formal proposal after nearly thirty years, let alone being put to a vote in Congress.

In fact, politicians were not that stupid as to cut off their own source of wealth. The current federal political donation policy was that anyone could donate to their favorite politician.

Politicians needed to provide an account for receiving donations, but they did not limit how many times a person could donate in a year, or how much they could donate each time.

At the same time, they did not require politicians to disclose the donation and use of their political donation accounts, which meant that this account, in a fundamental sense, was a legal account specifically for receiving bribes!

This might be the most absurd page in all of human history, but it was a real existence!

The lieutenant governor was not yet important enough to have Congress investigate him, so this money was directly deposited into that account.

He had thought that the lieutenant governor could at least speak up for him a little, but unexpectedly, the lieutenant governor directly said he didn’t know what Bandy was talking about, and was not interested in what he said, and also told him not to call him casually if it wasn’t for something important.

What was considered “important”?

He was about to be killed, wasn’t that “important” enough?

In fact, Bandy also knew that this was definitely not an important matter. If he died, without changing the current situation of the casino operating license in Golden Port City, Lance would most likely take over all the casinos.

And the benefits he transferred to these people would not be a penny less. So with him or without him, for this part of the people who would stand tall no matter what changed, there was no difference!

Needless to say, Attorney General Terry’s ass was already firmly on Lance’s side.

The Secretary of State was very easy to talk to, but what he said was not so pleasant. He even hinted that Bandy’s struggle would only bring more prolonged pain.

His blood pressure was high at this moment. Although he had a premonition, when this scene came crashing down on him so nakedly, he still couldn’t take it.

So many years of dedication and contribution felt as if they had been fed to the dogs.

If he had really fed them to the dogs, the dogs would have at least wagged their tails and barked at him twice.

For these people, they wished they could come over and kick him twice at this time.

Next, he called those who were highly unlikely to affect the general situation: public opinion representatives, opinion leaders, and Socialist Party workers.

These people all promised to help him ask around, but whether it would be effective, he himself did not hold much hope.

And it was precisely these people who might lose this income from him who were the most nervous. After all, it was related to their own vital interests.

But when their names were crossed off a certain list, it meant that even if they cared, they couldn’t change anything.

It was all bad news, making one feel desperate.

On the weekend, Lance changed into a new suit and came to Councilman Williams’s manor in the evening. He had grown a little in the past six months, and the previous suit was already a bit small.

The new clothes incorporated some trendy elements. Lance had already helped him find a good store, in the most bustling shopping mall in the city center, alongside various major luxury brands.

Lance had also helped him design the style of the store’s decoration, a strong sense of low-key luxury, showing nobility and distinction everywhere, but not in a gaudy way.

He hung up the “Royal Exclusive” sign, which made those gentlemen unable to walk away when they saw it.

When the car stopped, James was already waiting for him by the car.

He even took the initiative to open the car door for Lance. “You’ve come at just the right time.”

Lance nodded, got out of the car, straightened his clothes, and walked inside with him.

The place where the gathering was held was in a separate room. Before they even entered the room, Councilman Williams was already waiting for him at the door.

This was also a symbol of status, or rather, if he climbed a little higher, then the next time he came here, Councilman Williams would be standing about a step outside the main entrance of the building, waiting for him.

After the two met, they shook hands familiarly. Before this, he had been chatting with another person. Now was a good time to introduce this person to Lance.

“This is the president of the Starlight Group, Ram. They have provided tens of thousands of jobs for the residents of Golden Port City!”

The guy in front of Lance looked to be in his early forties. His head was a little long, or maybe it was because he was already bald that Lance thought his head looked long, but not pointed.

He smiled very enthusiastically and proactively extended his hand to shake Lance’s. “Mr. Lance, I’ve always heard your story, but I’ve never had the chance to meet you.”

“This time, thanks to Councilman Williams’s gathering, I have the honor of meeting you.”

In this situation, Lance would not be stingy with his praise and smiles. Although he didn’t know what this Starlight Group did, it didn’t stop him from praising the other party a few times.

“I’ve heard of the Starlight Group, a very large and responsible enterprise. Your jobs have saved countless people and their families. You are the heroes of the city!”

Well, good words don’t cost money. You can say whatever you want.

It’s a pleasant thing for anyone to be praised. If someone is not happy but angry when they are praised, then there’s either something wrong with their brain or something wrong with their soul.

Councilman Williams watched the two of them finish their mutual praise with a smile, then said with a laugh, “Alright, gentlemen, we should go in. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to compare your lines in the future.”

Everyone wanted to try it out. They followed Councilman Williams into the main hall.

It was only at this time that people knew that the person who had come was Lance.

Most of them did not know Lance, and Lance did not know them, but they had seen photos of Lance.

In the past, they might not have cared so much, but as Lance’s fame grew larger and larger, and the Lance Family’s fame grew larger and larger, they also began to pay attention to this person.

The start time that Councilman Williams told Lance was later than everyone else’s. In other words, he had controlled the arrival time of some people through the adjustment of time, so that they would know who the heavyweight character was.

This was also a small social skill. He would tell those unimportant people to come over at a little after five, while for the important ones, it might be six, six-oh-five, six-ten.

Once it involves a time that is accurate to the “minute,” then it’s best to arrive on time. Even if you have to wait outside for a while, you have to wait until the time comes before you come.

Lance was the last to arrive. The door was quickly closed.

He followed Councilman Williams and got to know everyone in the room. There were politicians, social activists, and capitalists.

They all had a common characteristic: they were either powerful and influential, or they had great influence.

For this kind of relatively private small gathering, irrelevant people could not get in at all. Today, they were not even allowed to bring their female companions.

When the atmosphere was lively enough, the gathering was about to officially begin.

“Sit next to me,” Councilman Williams instructed, and then Lance sat on the single sofa on his left.

Here were all individual sofas, surrounding small tables, more like a salon.

It itself was not a serious meeting, just an ordinary small gathering.

Soon, after the drinks and food were brought up, the gathering began.

“These few days, I don’t know if you’ve been following the news. The Keane family is about to withdraw from Golden Port City,” Councilman Williams started the topic.

Someone immediately followed up, “I’ve heard, but I don’t know if this is true,” he said, looking at Lance.

Councilman Williams also looked at Lance. Lance nodded in acknowledgment. “They will all leave around the middle of this month.”

“If you’ve noticed, you’ll find that the assets they can take away are being transferred quickly, and they also plan to dispose of the assets they can’t take away.”

“If anyone is interested, you can tell me. I can make the decision to give them to you.”

What seemed like an ordinary sentence still made many people’s hearts flutter.

Some of them had actually already verified this point, but what they didn’t know was what force had made the Keane family leave this place.

Was it some irresistible force from a higher level, or some other reason?

But now, they seemed to understand. The problem was with Lance.

Before they could continue to be shocked, Lance threw out another piece of similar news. “The people from the Tita family have also decided to leave Golden Port City before the end of this month. Similarly, their real estate that they can’t take away, if any of you want it, you can contact me.”

Many people’s gazes subconsciously turned to Councilman Williams. At this moment, Councilman Williams was just holding his wine glass and maintaining a reserved smile.

He seemed to be expressing something, and he also seemed to be expressing nothing. But from his composure and his attitude that he had clearly known about these things for a long time, they had some new guesses.

Could Councilman Williams also be one of the masterminds behind the scenes?

Was his connection with Lance much deeper than people imagined?

Someone couldn’t help but ask, “What about the Pasoretto family…”

Lance shook his head. “Paul once helped me, so they will stay. We will live in peace.”

At this moment, a thread that had been faintly taut in people’s hearts relaxed a little. “What about the Kodak Family?”

Lance smiled, a sneer mixed with disdain for the Kodak Family. “In the future, there will be no Kodak Family in Golden Port City anymore.”

One sentence made people shut their mouths, and also made people feel the power hidden behind Lance’s strong confidence.

After reigning for several decades, the era of the Five Families was over.

Although it was a bit rushed, this was the characteristic of a gang’s succession.

They had also been so swift and destructive when they ended the rule of the three major families and ascended to the stage of the city.

Some words of praise came to Lance. If he really unified the underworld of this city, before he fell, he would become the rule-maker of the underworld.

And these people, whether they were capitalists, politicians, or social activists, would all have a thousand and one connections with Lance.

Before, there might have been some people who didn’t quite understand why Lance was here, and what the meaning of his appearance was. Now they all understood.

During this time, someone suddenly asked, “Mr. Lance, you look very young. Forgive my rudeness, but are you twenty-five yet?”

Lance said with a smile, “I’m only twenty-two.”

People naturally exclaimed in amazement, feeling that it was incredible. The guy who had asked the first question revealed his purpose. “I haven’t heard of your fiancée…”

The others immediately understood. Councilman Williams also looked at Lance with a smile.

He suddenly realized Lance’s brilliance. He had solved his own troubles in advance. If he didn’t have a fiancée now, or if that fiancée was just an ordinary person, then many people would turn their attention to him—

How to use a woman to win over the future underworld emperor of this city!

Lance didn’t give them this chance. “A girl from the Lawrence family, Patricia, works at the Bureau of Commercial Services.”

Hearing this surname, those of pure local blood immediately showed a look of understanding. Even if the Lawrence family had no achievements in politics, they were still the largest farm owners, plantation owners, and ranch owners in the vicinity.

They also represented the orthodox traditional landlord class of Likalai State. Don’t underestimate such a role. As long as there is a need, they can immediately connect the entire state’s large landlord class.

Hearing this, those who had some ideas immediately gave up their thoughts.

“It’s truly a masterpiece of God!” the man exclaimed. As for whether he really thought so, only he himself knew.

Councilman Williams raised his hand with a smile. “You must have found that we have a new friend this time, a young new friend.”

“Although Lance is young, his power is not small. This is exactly what we need.”

“Last time you also saw that there is already a rift between us and the Bay Area, a rift that is difficult to mend.”

“I am not a person who is willing to give up my interests easily. I believe you are the same, and they are the same. So we will definitely have to fight it out for a while.”

“To decide who is the true master of this city!”

(End of a Chapter)