Empire of Shadows

After returning to the Old City , Director Roland seemed much more relaxed. Although Mr. Potter hadn’t given him any promises, he understood one thing.

As long as he demonstrated his proper value, Mr. Potter would back him up.

Therefore, he now had to transform into a vicious dog, frantically tearing at Lance to create some trouble for Senator Cleveland.

This would prevent him from posing any threat to Mr. Potter’s presidential election. Director Roland even considered it from a politician’s perspective: if he could force Senator Cleveland to proactively strike some deal with Mr. Potter , that would obviously be even better than just keeping him busy.

Director Roland had to play his role well. So as soon as he returned to the Old City , he began to stare at Lance , including those people he had seen that day; he began to arrange for people to investigate all of them.

There was definitely a reason for Lance to meet with these people. He couldn’t possibly meet them for no reason, and this definitely involved the issue of crime.

As long as he could find a way to, if not send him to prison, at least keep him too busy to stir up other trouble and threaten his security, Director Roland’s goal would be achieved.

So he very actively began to investigate matters related to Lance here. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered investigating other places, like Golden Port City or Likalai State , but the difficulty of investigating there was very high.

Moreover, a careless move could expose their personnel information there. It seemed they had some kind of special plan, arranging for some people to go undercover in the periphery of the Lance Family , and they had already gained the preliminary trust of their outer managers.

It might still take some time to infiltrate their inner circle, but with the FBI’s cooperation, Director Roland believed it would be quick. So, for the time being, that side would remain untouched.The New Golden City side had also started to move, but the results probably wouldn’t be very good, because they had been investigating Lance all along but hadn’t found any definite evidence of a crime.

He had already moved beyond the most basic stage of violent crime and started to... commit crimes at a higher level.

The lowest level of crime is carrying a dagger onto the street, finding someone, pressing the knife against their body, and making them hand over the money in their pockets.

But high-level crime is using various different social identities to commit greater evil. This was also the evil that Director Roland had always sought to eliminate.

Those sanctimonious people—they might be philanthropists, bishops, big capitalists, or even some officials.

On the surface, they bathed in the sunlight, exuding a holy radiance, but in secret, they were the embodiment of evil.

There are many such people, and it’s very common in the Federation.

In terms of investigation, the former is easily caught and sent to the dock.

But the latter is very difficult to catch.

Not only is evidence hard to obtain, but more importantly, there is resistance from society.

Some of it, investigators can resist. But some of it, they are powerless against.

Lance belonged to the second category. His level of crime had become higher, and he was much harder to deal with.

Perhaps some of his actions here in the Old City would become a breakthrough point.

Just as he was happily investigating the information of these people connected to Lance , Mr. Potter suddenly gave him a call amidst his busy schedule.

“Notebook?”

“What notebook?”

Director Roland himself didn’t know what had happened yet, but some sensitive people had already heard some rumors.

That fellow Fran had a ledger. The ledger recorded the distribution plan for criminal profits each quarter, and how they were funneled into different accounts.

This notebook was originally just a simple ledger, but now, it had become not simple at all.

Even though it didn’t explicitly state that this was a trade of power for money, the direction of these fund flows was too damn clear. Sometimes, what the underlying populace, the voters, need is not the truth at all, but ”what they believe”!

Who the hell has nothing better to do than chase the truth?

What they pursue is only something that can satisfy all their fantasies about certain issues. Just like some people always believe the Federal government is dark, officials are dark, the whole world is a conspiracy, and Mr. President is actually a lizard alien wearing human skin, and they have already taken over the world...

This is the truth that meets people’s needs, not those real, cold things.

People only need to believe this ledger shows the transfer of benefits, and then every single person on that ledger... their political life will immediately end.

No voter will support these officials who trade power for money, much less vote for them. Their future in politics ends here.

This was even more explosive than any secret Director Roland could dig out of Bob , and it was news that was even harder to ignore. So, immediately, Mr. Potter’s call came.

Director Roland roughly heard the contents. He was a bit dumbfounded. “He is despicable, Mr. Potter , and low-down, extremely disgusting. He’s pushing these things I never did onto me.”

“I swear to God on my family, there is no ledger at all, nor any accounting issue. This is all fake.”

Mr. Potter was silent for a moment. “I can believe you, but it’s hard for others to believe you. They will continue to suspect you. This is very bad, but it’s also not too bad.”

This was said in a rather jumbled way, seemingly hard to understand, but in reality, its expression was very direct—the only person you can rely on now is me, so you must be more obedient.

Director Roland ”hmm-ed.” “Then what should I do now?”

Mr. Potter didn’t think too much. “Do what you said you would before. Do it well. This kind of rumor... will eventually be punctured one day.”

“Focus on your work. Don’t worry about other things. Some people are stupid, but some people are smart and can see through this.”

After ending this not-so-pleasant phone call, Director Roland slammed his fist on the desk. But the trouble was far from over.

In mid-September, Lance’s legal team officially sued the New Golden City Police Department in court. After nearly a month of evidence-gathering work, they had obtained definite witness testimony and statements from about twenty police officers of different races, genders, from this country and immigrant nations, and with different faiths. And they were willing to testify in court.

For these people at the bottom of society—in a sense, Federal police are also at the bottom of society—their lives aren’t actually that easy.

For these police officers, as long as enough money is paid, there is nothing that can’t be betrayed.

After all, not betraying just means the price is too low. Betraying means being well-fed.

This lawsuit triggered significant public attention. Besides Lance continuing to wave his money stick to buy page space in the Socialist Party camp’s media, this was also indeed the largest ”citizen sues official” case in the last two years.

Lance formally sued the New Golden City Chief of Police. The Federal Gold State Court accepted the lawsuit. Because it involved the head of a local law enforcement agency, the local court needed to recuse itself.

Lawyer Robben used his connections and abilities to ultimately get the state court to try the case, making the case attract even more attention.

The Chief of Police was also temporarily suspended from his job. He would have to wait until the trial was over and the court declared him not guilty before he could resume his work as police chief.

If it were just losing his job, he actually wouldn’t be that desperate. He could totally use this opportunity to go to the FBI and become a deputy director or something.

The Director of the FBI, the position Roland sat in, was directly appointed by the President’s Office. Of course, Congress now also had nomination rights.

But the deputy directors and such were all decided by Roland , the Director himself.

Whoever he wanted as his deputy would be the deputy director. The police chief believed that if he really lost his job to protect Director Roland , Roland would pull him up no matter what.

He wasn’t afraid of losing his job; he was afraid of going to prison.

Because once he went to prison, his life was basically over, and it was highly likely he would never get out.

Many people, before coming to the Federation, learned through various channels that Federal people don’t discriminate against released convicts. Some companies even proactively accept them, as if Federal society is a truly good and beautiful place.

But in reality, it’s not like that. Having been to prison in the Federation also means your life is over.

No boss will hire someone with a prior criminal record and prison time. This is related to personnel management. These troublemakers might become the first to roar in resistance against exploitation and oppression.

They might also be the first employees to swing a fist at them. So, those who have been to prison are absolutely not wanted.

And those more important positions, government agencies, are even less likely to want these people. They will do a background check on everyone who enters a government department, but they never talk about it.

If the Federal government was really so tolerant of released convicts, why hasn’t a single ex-con run for president?

Even a cat or a dog can run for president, so why can’t a released convict?

With the police chief’s ”fame,” even if he could get out alive from the regional prison filled with people he’d arrested, those people wouldn’t hire him.

So he absolutely cannot go to prison!

That isn’t going to prison; that’s opening the door to hell!

He absolutely did not want to push open that door!

The first trial attracted a lot of attention. It was a public hearing. It was said that the gallery seats could even be sold for money.

Ranging from a few dollars to over a hundred, there were always some people who wanted to know the news firsthand.

In this era of slow information transmission, people were more willing to participate in various events in person. Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere, and the ability to know new things faster, making it convenient for them to... show off before the newspapers were published.

Especially the middle class, having ”inside information” was the sharpest way for them to open up social interactions, bar none.

Many media outlets, reporters, and even television crews arrived early at the courthouse. As both sides entered, the thing people wanted to see began to unfold.

This wasn’t Lawyer Robben’s first appearance in the state court. The Judge even gave him a few extra, meaningful glances.

Before the trial began, the Judge and Lawyer Robben had actually met in private. They were old friends, part-mentor, part-friend.

They were alumni from the same school and had connected at alumni events. The Robben of the past was sharp and dazzling, the center of attention wherever he went.

At that time, the Judge had chatted with him, saying he couldn’t always walk with his head held high, as it would make him fall. He had to learn to walk with his head lowered; at least he could walk steadily.

Lawyer Robben, full of youthful vigor at the time, wouldn’t listen to such words at all, until he took a hard fall.

This time they met, the Judge smiled and hugged him, a formality, and praised him for finding a very reliable backer.

Everyone knew he was serving Lance , and Lance was in the same group as Senator Cleveland and those people.

Even if Mr. Potter won the election and became president, as long as Senator Cleveland’s base wasn’t destroyed and nothing happened to Lance , he would become a core force for the Socialist Party in Congress, even a ”leader.”

When in a disadvantageous position, such a symbolic figure is needed to tell people that the Socialist Party has not fallen and will continue to compete.

Backed by such a big shot, Lawyer Robben’s former colleagues who were enemies could do nothing to him.

The Judge was an impartial person. He wouldn’t lean toward Lawyer Robben just because he knew him. He would handle the case impartially.

After a simple introduction of today’s case, the police chief stood in the defendant’s dock.

He actually didn’t want to be here. He had applied for a non-appearance hearing, meaning a cloth would be draped around the dock so people couldn’t see the person inside.

Such applications and permissions exist, but today his application was rejected. The reason was that he is a law enforcer, a representation of government credibility, and should not be afraid to face the public.

At this moment, he just stood there, his face pale and numb.

Lawyer Robben came to his side. “You need to swear on the Bible.”

Most Federal people believe in God and believe they will go to hell or the kingdom of God after death. In court, if they cannot swear on the Bible that every word they say is true, then what they say will not be believed by the jury or the judge.

In fact, this practice is simply ridiculous to some people, especially those who are full of lies. But this thing is part of the Federal judicial process, otherwise, a Bible wouldn’t be placed right next to him.

The police chief glanced at the Bible by his hand. He slowly placed his hand on it. Countless thoughts appeared and extinguished in his mind. After an intense mental struggle, he decided to tell the truth. In any case, this matter wasn’t his responsibility. There was no need for him to take the blame for someone else’s affairs, and gamble his entire life!

“I swear, every word I say in court is the truth, and comes from my heart.”

Lawyer Robben was very satisfied. Being able to swear meant a change in mindset.

In fact, there have been people in Federal Justice who refused to swear no matter what, simply wouldn’t swear, because they were afraid of going to hell after death for lying. The result, naturally, was that they still lost. Because every jury member believed he was unwilling to swear because he was the murderer, they directly found him guilty.

“Mr. Chief, my client, Mr. Lance White, was subjected to a very terrifying armed attack in this city last month.”

“After meticulous investigation, we know that the people who attacked him were from the already-annihilated Perez Family.”

“However, in this attack, there is a very strange and baffling mystery that has not been explained to this day.”

“That is, why did the New Golden City police arrive at the attack scene before the attack occurred, and attempt to arrest my client, the victim, first, after the attack happened, instead of the attackers?”

“Can I take this to mean that you knew the attack would happen? That you might even have colluded with the Perez Family ? And the purpose was to harm, kidnap, or even kill my client, Mr. Lance White ?”

The lawyer hired by the police chief immediately raised his hands. “I object to this line of questioning! These questions carry obvious subjective bias...”

The Judge shook his head, and said before he could even finish, “Objection overruled. I believe these questions are critical. Defendant, please answer the question.”

The police chief remained silent. According to judicial procedure, he had already sworn an oath. He couldn’t lie now.

But he... still held a tiny bit of illusion. What if... they couldn’t nail him?

Besides, if he proactively spoke as soon as they asked, wouldn’t that be equivalent to him actively cooperating?

If Director Roland saw that, would he think he had become a traitor or something?

So this matter needed tobe handled cautiously. He needed to hold on a little longer.

Seeing the police chief not speaking, Lawyer Robben didn’t press him more harshly. Instead, he directly used the simplest method: calling witnesses and testimony.

Soon, the first police officer in uniform came to the witness stand. He began to state his testimony—

“...I received an order from my superior, requiring me to be fully armed and arrive at my mission location at the designated time. I was not allowed to use my siren on the way, nor was I allowed to appear on the roadside. They required me to hide in an alley, not get out of the car, and be ready to start the police car and move at any time.”

“I asked my superior, the deputy sergeant. He told me to follow orders from above, and told me not to ask why.”

Soon, the deputy sergeant also came up. “I was just following the sergeant’s orders.”

The moment the police chief saw a sergeant also take the stand, he rolled his eyes and interrupted the questioning, “No need to say anymore. I am willing to state the facts.”

“In fact, we did know beforehand that the Perez Family would attack Lance , and a general time and place. Considering these two gangs...”

Lawyer Robben suddenly raised his hand. “Objection, Your Honor. To date, there is no evidence to prove that my client, Mr. Lance White , is involved in gang activities or runs a gang.”

“In Golden Port City , he is a philanthropist praised by all. Everyone knows this very well.”

“The defendant is trying to use stigmatization to reduce his own fault. I require him to apologize to my client and admit his mistake.”

The police chief stared at Lawyer Robben for a while. After running through his entire meager vocabulary of curses in his head, he said, somewhat reluctantly—

“I apologize to Mr. Lance White . I should not have stigmatized him. I am sorry!”