Shadow Empire

Chapter 1126 Testimony and Proposal

The officer glanced back at the living room, where his wife, who was tidying up, shouted, "Who's outside?"

The officer said in the same loud voice, "Friend, I need to talk to him for a bit, I'll be back in a bit."

The officer ultimately decided to talk to the two "lawyers" outside, which would not put his family at risk, and since he had weapons, he believed he was capable of fighting back.

"What do you want to ask me?" The three of them arrived at the end of the corridor, where the police officers lived in an apartment with a less-than-ideal environment.

There was a faint smell of urine in the corridor. Some people are like that; they could open the door and go to the toilet to relieve themselves, but they insist on urinating in the corridor.

This has happened many times. At first, some people would try to solve it, but soon no one would even consider it because it couldn't be solved.

Anyone who can urinate in the hallway is obviously a certain type of person. Arguing with them will not get you anywhere, except to make you angrier.

The sight of the three men standing amidst the stench of urine made the two lawyers frown; given their status, they rarely found themselves in such an environment.

One of the lawyers asked, "I know that you participated in the deputy director's operation today, arrived at the scene of the attack ahead of time, and then, after the attack was over, surrounded the scene on orders from your superiors."

When the lawyer said that, the officer's expression changed slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"We arrived at the scene immediately after receiving the report. Before that, I was at the police station and didn't go anywhere else!"

The officer immediately became very sensitive, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two lawyers over this question. "If you want me to say something that didn't happen, or something I don't want to say, I will take our conversation to court if I am required to appear in court."

He meant that the two lawyers were suspected of inducing confessions, which was a clear procedural error, and testimonies obtained through inducement have no legal effect.

The two lawyers didn't take his nervousness and wariness to heart. The one who had been talking smiled and said, "I know what you're worried about. After this is over, we can arrange a new job for you and give you some money."

He looked around. “The environment here is terrible. I heard you don’t have children yet. Do you intend for your children to grow up in such an environment?”

“There are alcoholics here, people sell their bodies, and it’s even possible that he or she will step out and see someone drawing on the floor with their banana.”

"An excellent person cannot grow up in such an environment; they can only become a bad person!"

The lawyer's words silenced the police officer. The reason he didn't want children was that he did indeed plan to save money to move; the environment here was too terrible.

He plans to save up some money and move to a neighborhood where other police officers live, in a detached house.

He had already asked around, and the cheapest one cost about 5,500 yuan. He had only saved about 3,000 yuan, and it might take him several more years to save that much money.

By then he will be in his late thirties, which is something he has always been anxious about.

Work, life, children, environment, money.

The officer's silence made the lawyer smile more; his voice was gentle and pleasant.

“We don’t want you to lie or give false testimony.”

"We just want you to tell the truth and tell us what really happened."

“You’re a police officer, you know what’s right and what’s wrong. If telling the truth is wrong and lying is right, then there’s no fairness or justice in this world!”

"Besides, you're a police officer, you should do what you're supposed to do!"

The officer stood there, looking at the two lawyers, somewhat tempted, but ultimately shook his head and prepared to leave. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't think I have anything to say to you. If you continue to harass me, I will reserve my legal rights against your behavior!"

He emphasized it, then said "Please move aside," and walked between the two people towards his home.

The lawyer didn't stop him, but simply said in a calm tone, "If we can find you, it means others can find you too."

“You know who those people are, and you also know who we are.”

These threatening words caused the police officer to suddenly stop in his tracks.

He certainly knew who they were, and he also knew who the "that" they were talking about was: Lance, Lance White, the most successful mob boss, bar none.

To many people, especially gangsters and law enforcement officers, he is like a legend, a "milestone," a living "achievement"!
He accomplished things that many gangsters couldn't, such as infiltrating interest groups in Congress and becoming an indispensable part of them.

Therefore, he is a legend.

But no matter how positive his image is in society, it doesn't change the fact that he is the leader of a gang.

So far, no one has been able to provide concrete evidence to prove this, but people know and have seen what actually happened.

That's Lance, no matter how gentlemanly he acts.

He is ultimately a dangerous person.

The officer stopped in his tracks, turned around, and his eyes flashed with ruthlessness. "You can try!"

If he turns and leaves after saying that, it proves that he may not be afraid of their danger.

But after he finished speaking, he didn't leave. He just stared intently at the two lawyers, which meant that his attitude had actually softened considerably.

The lawyer shook his head. "I'm not threatening or intimidating you. I'm just stating a fact that we all know."

"You should have heard that our gentleman is very generous and never stingy with his friends."

"You can state your requirements: a new job, a sum of money, or something else."

"Listen, now it's our turn to represent the boss's kind side."

"Next time, it might not be our turn, and it might not represent the good side of things."

The lawyers didn't demand his cooperation, but their calm tone only made the officer more anxious and uneasy. His gaze kept shifting between the lawyers and the door, and finally, after clenching his lips tightly and trembling a few times, he cursed, "Damn it."

"What do you want to know?"

He knew that it was better to cooperate sooner rather than be threatened with a gun, family members, or other threats.

He had handled some gang cases before, and he used to laugh at those who couldn't even answer multiple-choice questions correctly. Now it was his turn to make the choices, and he knew what to do.

The lawyer smiled slightly. "I said, all we want is for you to tell the truth. Tell us what you know, and then, if necessary, tell the truth in court."

The officer returned to their side and growled in a low voice, "I'll lose my job if I do this. What will my colleagues think?"

The lawyer curled his lip. "Your colleague can get you a bigger house, a more respectable job, and a higher income?"

The officer paused for a moment, then remained silent. The lawyer continued, "If you still want to be a police officer, we can help you transfer to Licale."

"There's no danger, the work is easy, and the pay is decent."

"If you don't want to be a policeman anymore, you can become a company employee. The boss has a big overseas expansion plan recently, and the income may increase by 50% compared to your current one, and it will be very respectable."

"So you don't need to think about these things at all, you just need to tell the truth."

A wind picked up in the dull night, making a "whooshing" sound outside. I wondered if it was some exposed steel pipe or something else making the whistling sound.

On the exterior wall of an apartment building, there was a window. Under the dim light, three people stood at the window, talking to each other for half an hour.

Half an hour later, two lawyers came down from the apartment. They had gotten what they wanted, and now they were off to their next client.

Actually... Lance won't really retaliate against the officers who don't tell the truth; it's just a strategy employed by the lawyers.

Don't just give them candy; show them the whip they fear. Only when they have two contrasting choices will they understand what they want.

Now they need to move on to the next case. Attorney Robben's requirement for them is to obtain statements and written materials from at least twenty people so that they can persuade the court to accept their arguments.

Lance was serious about suing the New Gold City Police Department, and so was lawyer Robben.

In the federal government, anyone can be a defendant—a homeless person, a beggar, or even the president—as long as someone sues them, they must respond to the case.

Even a statue or an animal can become a defendant.

The next morning, Major General Bruni seemed to have recovered well after a night of rest. He called Lance and asked, "When will you come to the Ministry of Defense?"

“We are very interested in the entire plan you have proposed.”

Although he suspected that Lance had used him, he had to admit that Lance had indeed provided him with a very good idea, which solved the problem that the Ministry of Defense and the military were worried about.

This refers to the potential risks of releasing a large number of soldiers who have undergone professional military training, and who may also have some psychological issues, back into society.

At the same time, it also addresses the demands of the Ministry of National Defense on how to obtain more benefits in the new era.

As for the attack yesterday?
Rather than being angry with Lance, it's clearly more practical to try to become a lieutenant general. Besides, he can't really be angry with Lance, since he doesn't want to offend the forces behind Lance.

Lance soon arrived at the Ministry of Defense by car, where Major General Bruni greeted him at the entrance.

To enter the Ministry of National Defense, one needs a pass, and Lance clearly did not have one, so Major General Bruni personally came to pick him up, demonstrating the importance the Ministry of National Defense attached to this matter.

He was quickly led to a conference room where a Ministry of National Defense general was already seated. After Lance arrived, Major General Bruni introduced him to the people there, almost all of whom were lieutenant generals, with one general among them.

"Sit down," the general in the first seat said, after exchanging greetings with Lance. "I've heard about your ideas and plans from Bruni, and they are indeed a good approach."

"But we still have some details to clarify."

Lance nodded slightly and took out the slightly yellowed ivory cigarette case. "Is this alright?"

"Of course!"

The surrounding generals did not refuse; they themselves smoked, so naturally they wouldn't stop others from smoking.

Moreover, Lance took out cigarettes, and they couldn't resist having one too. Soon, the conference room was filled with a strong smell of smoke.

These generals were still smoking "men's cigarettes," which were cigarettes made from raw tobacco. Not only did they feel a strong sensation when they took a puff, but others could also smell an even stronger aroma.

After taking two puffs of his cigarette and flicking off the ash, the general said, "I'd like to hear some more detailed thoughts, such as what role the Ministry of Defense can play in these ideas of yours."

Lance replied almost without hesitation or delay, “Setting standards and playing a regulatory role, General.”

"What kind of companies can recruit veterans, and for what purpose, are all important factors."

“We all know that these soldiers have received professional training. If we use them as the guardians of the country, then they will naturally be the Federation’s sharpest sword and its strongest shield.”

"But if companies abuse these people, they could damage the development and construction of the federal society."

"Therefore, the Ministry of National Defense needs to develop standards and regulate how companies use these standards..."

There are actually many points here that can benefit the Department of Defense. Lance explained it quite clearly, and the generals all nodded in agreement.

The military didn't consider these issues, and since Congress and the Presidential Office decided to reduce the military, the military released the people.

However, what these people do after they return, and whether it will cause any negative impact, is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense.

Reports suggest that Congress or the Cabinet may establish a new agency to manage veterans' issues.

After all, due to the war, the size of the federal army has increased many times over, and it can no longer be managed by a single office as in the past; a complete department must be established.

This department was unlikely to fall into the hands of the Ministry of Defense, given that it is a troublesome matter.

But after Lance said that, the general suddenly felt that they could take on this responsibility themselves.

After all, this is what the Ministry of National Defense does, and the return of so many military personnel to civilian life is itself a "national defense task".

The generals were very interested in and satisfied with Lance's ideas, and it was clear that they had gained a lot by the end of the meeting.

After Lance finished speaking, the general's face lit up with a smile. "Very useful information. We will refine your ideas and come up with a complete solution."

He paused for a moment, then glanced at Major General Bruni sitting at the end of the table. "I've heard about what happened yesterday. It's unbelievable that such a horrific thing could happen in New Gold City."

"This is a provocation against social order and national security, and also a provocation against the Ministry of National Defense..."

(End of this chapter)