Empire of Shadows

The time hit seven o’clock. Director Roland stood in front of the Perez family estate. He took one last drag of his cigarette and dropped the butt on the ground.

”It seems Bob and his people intend to fight to the end,” he glanced at Lance, then turned to the Bearded Director behind Lance. ”Let’s begin the operation.”

Lance naturally had no objection. In fact, not just here, but several other major Perez family businesses would be simultaneously attacked at 7:05 AM.

An unprecedented, fierce attack, conducted alongside the local police.

The local police officers weren’t initially keen on this, as a gunfight was dangerous, and they risked losing their lives.

For the Old City police, who were accustomed to ”stability,” this was not an easy assignment. The gang order superseded the law enforcement.

This was the brutal reality of the era, filled with absurdity and irony.

But a fact was a fact, and no one could change it.

The Bearded Director also thought it would be difficult to convince the local police to participate in the siege of the Perez family.

But quickly, Lance revealed a master stroke.Last night, while Director Roland was preparing for the day’s operation, Lance had already met with the Bearded Director and the local police management—the precinct chiefs and sergeants.

He introduced them to the tradition and benefits of ”police-community cooperation” in Golden Port City and Likalai State.

In those regions, every police officer received a salary of about sixty dollars, plus dividends from the ”State Police Assurance Fund” or ”Local Police Assurance Fund.”

Yes, monthly dividends. These were private equity funds that weren’t required to disclose their financial structure or profits publicly.

And there was no law prohibiting a fund from distributing monthly dividends to its clients. Thus, this seemingly absurd arrangement existed openly and legitimately.

Each police officer received dividends and shopping vouchers from the Lawrence Business Group every month, based on their rank, city, and various weighted factors.

The minimum monthly dividend was around thirty dollars, plus thirty dollars in shopping vouchers redeemable at the Lawrence Business Group’s supermarkets.

These vouchers were not like the ”five-dollar off luxury car” coupons; the Lawrence Business Group’s main asset was its supermarket chain.

The supermarkets sold essential food and groceries that everyone needed, and the vouchers were accepted as currency. They were practical, not empty promises.

Furthermore, there was a unique social atmosphere in Likalai State.

If a person could produce these non-publicly circulated shopping vouchers every month, they were seen as a ”capable person” by their neighbors and relatives.

It had become the yardstick used by the lower classes to measure a person’s competency!

People didn’t look down on them for acquiring these vouchers through questionable means; they envied them, because the vouchers represented privilege!

Who wouldn’t want privilege?

Hearing Lance’s pitch, the police officers, including the Bearded Director, were astonished.

They listened in disbelief as Lance described the lives of the police officers in Likalai State as if telling a myth.

Lance then presented his idea: he would establish corresponding ”Police Assurance Funds” in Gold State and Old City.

And the amount they received monthly would depend entirely on how much of the Perez family’s assets they could seize.

In Lance’s words, if they maximized the acquisition of Perez family assets, they could live as well as the police officers in Likalai State.

But if they failed to seize the assets, they wouldn’t receive much.

After all, Lance wasn’t running a charity. He could accept breaking even, but he wouldn’t operate at a loss.

The police officers understood the implication: this was a ”Grand Robbery Operation” targeting the Perez family’s assets.

Their objective was to secure the assets before the FBI could seize them or before the powerful figures above could touch them.

With the deal finalized, there was no more opposition. The police immediately answered the call. That morning, starting at 4:00 AM, police stations and precincts were filled with officers eager to participate in this righteous cause.

While their motive might not have been purely righteous, their actions would be.

As the Federal investigation vehicles—two armored cars—slammed through the Perez family estate’s iron gates, the battle to eliminate the family began.

Lance’s men, the local police, and FBI agents from the surrounding area launched the assault.

Lance’s men took the lead, as they were the most experienced in combat.

Although Roland had been secretly planning the operation, he wasn’t completely risk-averse. He deployed a significant number of men, including senior Agent Supervisors, to participate in the siege.

He, his men, and the entire FBI needed massive combat experience. This experience couldn’t be acquired in training camps or simulated war rooms.

They needed to be on the front lines, engaging in actual combat, to truly learn.

This was invaluable practical experience!

Gunfire erupted fiercely and suddenly. Bob’s bad news had solidified their will to fight to the death.

Bob himself was seeking cover, firing at the law enforcement personnel surging toward them from all sides.

Bullets rained down like coins, leaving gray marks on the mansion’s walls—missed shots that impacted the masonry.

The main building was quickly shrouded in smoke.

Meanwhile, intense gun battles broke out in the city. Many key businesses—nightclubs, large clubs—were simultaneously attacked by the police and Lance’s men.

The Perez family was instantly overwhelmed. They had no time to react.

Bob had called for assistance from various businesses to reinforce the estate, but they were ambushed on the way.

Some captains realized the situation was hopeless and stayed put, waiting to be eliminated.

But even they couldn’t escape the inevitable.

At Lance’s direction, the FBI’s armored cars and personnel advanced with virtually no resistance, quickly entering the main hall of the mansion.

They blasted a hole in one wall, laid down a temporary ramp, and drove the armored car in.

An armored car was an absolute killing machine against infantry. There was no way to fight back.

With the constant thud-thud-thud of machine gun fire, the hall was quickly secured.

The assault was then launched floor by floor.

The battle outside the main building ended in less than ten minutes. A portion of the law enforcement team moved to encircle the other buildings on the estate.

Watching the personnel stream into the main building, and the bodies being carried out, Director Roland lit another cigarette. He had just finished one moments ago.

”The operation seems to be going smoothly,” he said, glancing at Lance.

Lance nodded slightly. ”That is the advantage of law enforcement. Even when using heavy weaponry in the city, as long as you notify the local government and the military beforehand, no one will interfere, even if you are shelling the place.”

”This is the biggest difference from a gang. Gangs use firearms, but heavy artillery is too sensitive. They rarely use it, and only in critical situations.”

”From a law enforcement perspective, they have a crucial advantage over the gangs.”

”An unbridgeable advantage.”

Director Roland nodded. The situation was clear. He then asked, somewhat amused, ”Have you considered that this day might come for you too?”

Lance smiled. ”I never worry about that. As I’ve always said, if you have evidence, bring your men and arrest me.”

”If you don’t have evidence, no matter how much you talk or provoke me, it’s meaningless.”

”You know it, I know it, and everyone knows it.”

”Evidence!”

The amusement on Director Roland’s face instantly stiffened. Dealing with Lance was different from dealing with the Perez family. They needed concrete evidence.

Without the President’s explicit order, they had to follow procedure.

Senator Cleveland and his faction were Lance’s most reliable protection. Even the President would have to consider their opinion before moving against Lance.

Targeting Lance was a political struggle, requiring Lance’s support system to be dismantled first.

The vulnerable part was not Lance himself, but his ties to Senator Cleveland.

Lance knew this, and Director Roland knew this. Roland fixed his gaze on the young, terrifying man.

After a long pause, he looked away. His heart was heavy. He couldn’t celebrate the imminent fall of the Perez family yet.

A huge obstacle remained before him, one he currently saw no way around.

The battle lasted for forty minutes. With the final shot, the entire estate was secured.

Bob was escorted out. He looked defeated and wounded, his arm shot.

”He tried to kill himself, but he couldn’t pull the trigger. We found him.”

The man who captured him was one of Lance’s combat captains, who spoke with disdain and pride.

The Lance family organization was different from the corrupt gangs that couldn’t fight or commit suicide.

He was sure that if the same situation arose, Lance would fight to the death.

Bob’s face was ashen and ashamed. The capture had torn away his final pretense.

When faced with defeat, his only thought wasn’t suicide, but survival.

He had thought of bargaining with his life.

His value as the family’s supreme manager was immense. He believed he could trade his cooperation for his life.

But he had to maintain his dignity. He couldn’t surrender openly, or he would become a joke.

His plan was to feign suicide and be captured, ensuring he saved face.

But he hadn’t expected his captor to expose his lie so bluntly.

Director Roland’s mood improved. He ordered a chair, dismissed the lower-ranking personnel, including Lance.

Roland intended to speak privately with Bob. Lance didn’t object. Roland was the official commander, even if he mostly observed and learned.

When only the two of them remained, Director Roland offered Bob a cigarette. ”You want to survive.”

Bob lit the cigarette and smoked silently.

Director Roland walked behind him and placed his hands heavily on Bob’s shoulders, startling him.

”See, I mean you no harm,” Roland said, chuckling. ”It’s just that you offended some influential people, so we have no choice.”

”You want to survive, and I want more merit and more secrets.”

He walked in front of Bob. ”Let’s make a deal.”

”You give me what I want, and I ensure your survival. You’ll never leave prison, but I’ll arrange a good one.”

”A single room, no different from the outside world, save for the lack of freedom.”

”You can even bring your people and rebuild the Perez family inside the prison. You will still be a prominent figure.”

Bob looked interested, but he was still thinking.

Director Roland offered no smile. ”You know what?”

”I suspect that by now, some people outside have called their patrons and reported that you and I are alone together.”

”I believe those who feared you would compromise are now using their connections to have you quietly eliminated, along with your family.”

”I heard you hid your family. Do you believe that in three to five days, they won’t find them?”

These words struck a chord with Bob. He realized his life was still in danger. He raised his trembling hand, holding the cigarette. ”You have to guarantee my survival.”

Director Roland immediately raised his hand. ”I promise.”

Bob completely collapsed, his strength gone. ”What do you want to know?”

Director Roland licked his lips. As an ambitious man seeking greater power, he knew that only by controlling the elite’s vulnerabilities could he make them compliant.

The former FBI was useless. As a tool for political maneuvering, they should have used the President’s connections to gather leverage on influential figures.

But the previous Directors only played politics, treating themselves as the President’s mere attendants, ignoring the terrifying power they held!

Roland would polish that sword and make it truly sharp!

As for Bob, his death was more useful than his survival.

The secrets of influential people, when held by a powerful figure like Roland, were powerful. If those secrets were held by a mere gang leader, they were worthless.

He looked at Bob with predatory desire. If this weren’t an official environment, he would be drooling.