Shadow Empire

Chapter 174 Rejection, Opening and Competition
Sam cursed all night long, and the person he asked Lance for came back.

But it was back hanging from the fucking noose!
He didn't know when Lance and his men came to his room and hung the two men on the spire of the attic.

Whenever the wind blows, it sways.

When the wind is weak, it is just a puffing sound. When the wind is strong, it is like the final blow to the soul!
The two men were already frozen stiff when they were untied from the house. The sub-zero sea breeze could freeze them to death in a short while.

It's not like Sam had never seen dead people before, but when he saw these two dead ghosts, he vomited.

Their exposed parts were rubbed bloody against the outer walls and roof, and he had them buried as quickly as possible. He never wanted to see either of them again.

He didn't sleep well that night. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw the scene of the corpse smashing against the window.

This also made him very scared, afraid that something would suddenly hit his bedroom window.

Also fear, even horror!
One day, will he also be hung somewhere like that by someone?

When the wind blew, he swayed with the wind.

At the same time, he also understood a truth.

Lance seems to be a normal person, but actually he is not mentally normal!
It’s better not to provoke him casually!
He has made his decision.

He has paid so much over the years, his dignity, bottom line, and personality have all been abandoned by him to get to this point today. He will not fall here because of these things.

He once swore to himself, whose past still remained in his memory and who still had dreams and hopes, that he must become a superior person!
Over the next few days, everything seemed to have returned to calm, but in the Imperial District, many people were discussing one thing, and that was the Imperial Chamber of Commerce.

Some people think... this is another way for the Lance family to collect protection fees, a routine, and they even swear that -

"Once you join the Lans Chamber of Commerce, you will find that they definitely have low-level members, mid-level members, senior members and so on."

"They will definitely find a way to make you premium members, because premium members will definitely pay more!"

"Ten yuan is only for low-level members. Maybe the mid-level members will cost twenty or thirty yuan, and the senior members will cost forty or fifty yuan or even more."

"I think it's very possible that, while they do do some good things, they also have to make money, right?"

“How can anyone do so much if it’s not for the money?”

There are many and varied opinions, and everyone has their own views and opinions, so no one can easily convince anyone else.

The actions of the Lans family during this period have made many people become their supporters, and these supporters and opponents who are accustomed to opposing have become the focus of street debate.

They stood in groups of three or five, chatting or making noise, and whenever someone from the Lance family passed by, they would shut up.

But as long as the other person leaves, they will definitely continue to quarrel.

In a coffee shop in the neighborhood, Mr. Jobaf, who had just returned from outside, was drinking coffee and listening to people chatting in the coffee shop.

His assistant sat opposite him.

He went to the state government some time ago because of the Chinese New Year.

The mayor needs to pay courtesy greetings to some socialists in the state government, which means giving money and gifts.

The federals actually do the same thing, and they care more about ceremony.

Jobaf had heard before that the federal government and party were an honest, efficient, free and enlightened government and party.

Everyone is doing their job impartially. There is no private interaction, and no bribery or anything like that. Everything seems fair and just.

He had believed this because he had given gifts before, but no one wanted them.

But in fact, that was only because he did not join their system or their circle, he was an "outsider".

So they don't play with him, and won't accept his gifts. Who knows whether he really wants to give gifts or just wants to find something to hold over them, or evidence.

For a while, these people's behavior of closing the door to him made him feel that what they said was true. He didn't need to deal with complicated interpersonal relationships or complicated political relationships, and he just had to do his job impartially.

But when he joined this circle, he realized that everything was fake.

He was responsible for contacting more than 20 Socialist Party members, and the average gifts and cash given by each of them totaled about 1,500 yuan.

A gift worth five hundred yuan and one thousand yuan in cash are just New Year gifts for maintaining the relationship on a daily basis.

Not only him, there are others who are doing the same job as him. There are many people who want to curry favor with the mayor, but their lives are obviously easier than that of Jobaf because they are all federals.

In fact, he was willing to give money and gifts this time, because it was actually equivalent to expanding his own network.

Although this time others accepted his gifts for the sake of the mayor, he had already exchanged business cards with these gentlemen. Next time, he could bypass the mayor and contact these people directly.

However, he will be very careful and cautious in doing so. He will not go beyond the mayor unless it is absolutely necessary. He understands the interests involved.

The trip cost a total of more than 45,000 yuan. Ever since he joined the mayor's camp, he has been spending money continuously, which makes him feel very painful!
He has already decided to go down this path to the end, so naturally there is no other way.

As soon as he returned to Jingang City, he heard people discussing.

He put the coffee cup down, "Lance is really ambitious!"

"What has he been doing lately?"

He had considered setting up a chamber of commerce before, but never did. One reason was that few of these immigrants were rich. If they were all poor, it would be better not to set up one.

The purpose of setting up a chamber of commerce is to exchange resources, but what resources can he exchange with those poor people?
Although there were a few wealthy people, they didn’t come to play very often, and it wasn’t appropriate to invite them suddenly, so the matter was left unresolved.

He paid for a regular gathering at the Cathedral of Saint-Neuer, which was like a "chamber of commerce" where everyone regularly exchanged experiences and shared opportunities.

But he didn't expect that Lance was actually planning to do it.

He didn't know where Lance got his confidence from, but he felt that this matter must be complicated.

"Contact him and tell him that we also plan to join his chamber of commerce."

The assistant nodded. After the death of his beloved nephew, he had undergone some great changes. He was no longer as energetic as before and had become much more dull.

As Qiaobaf watched the people around him chatting animatedly, as if dispersing the cold air outside, he suddenly felt a little bored.

Then he left a one-dollar bill and a quarter on the table and walked away.

He used to like this very much, sitting among the common people and listening to them talking about life and work, and then at some point someone would recognize him, and he would then chat with everyone in a friendly manner and pay for them.

This is how Mr. Jobaf gained his good reputation. People always say that he does not have the arrogance of a big capitalist, is approachable and generous.

But now, when people were talking about Lance instead of him, he suddenly felt... that what he was doing was so boring!
No one had noticed him until now. They had been talking about everything about Lance and the Lance family, his Chamber of Commerce, and his funding.

He could feel that the Imperial District had changed, and the people living in the Imperial District had changed.

Whether someone is saying good things about Lance or bad things about Lance, they are all talking about Lance, and he has no part in it.

The assistant pushed open the door of the coffee shop. The cold wind outside blew snowflakes in. The gentlemen near the door tightened their clothes, glanced back, and then looked away.

Mr. Jobbaugh put his hand on his hat and walked out into the wind.

The weather was cold, but people's hearts didn't seem cold, except his.

After returning to the villa, the assistant contacted Lance, but he soon brought back a not-so-good result.

"Lance didn't agree," he said truthfully.

Mr. Jobaf, who was reading a newspaper, was a little surprised. He lowered his head slightly and looked at his assistant through the gap between his forehead and the frame of his glasses. "What did he say?"

The assistant repeated the conversation between the two people -

"I asked him about the Chamber of Commerce, and he said that it was true. Then I asked him if he wanted to join the Chamber of Commerce, and he said that he had no specific plans for the time being."

Having said that, Mr. Jobaf roughly understood it, and he could also understand Lance's considerations for doing so.

Because after all, although Lance is rising rapidly, Mr. Jobaf is clearly superior in terms of popularity and authority.

At least in the eyes of ordinary people, they are more willing to trust the banker who manages everyone's purse rather than the head of the family.

And Mr. Jobaf's position in these people's minds has been accumulated little by little over many years. Maybe they started to chase Lance, but in a short time, Lance still couldn't compare to him.

Lance was afraid that after joining the Chamber of Commerce, he would become the core of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Jobaf couldn't help laughing, but as he laughed, he couldn't laugh anymore.

His expression gradually became calm, "I understand, go ahead and do your work."

After the assistant left, he turned his head with melancholy to look at the snowflakes floating outside again, and sighed silently.

It was freezing cold, and even the police were reluctant to leave the police station. When there were occasional patrol assignments, the old police officers would push the work to the young patrolmen.

Including the coast patrol, no one was too lazy to go out to sea in such bad weather conditions.

The sea is windier and colder. There will definitely be no illegal immigrants or smugglers in this damn weather...

Lance was standing on the boat, rubbing his hands. It was about twenty nautical miles from the shore. He and Luigi had agreed to deliver the goods here.

Because he ordered cheap wine, it was impossible to deliver it all at once and he had to make several trips.

Considering the $200,000 in payment for the goods and at least $40,000 in profit, Luigi didn't mind making a few more trips.

Lance borrowed several boats from Alberto. Alberto has not come back yet. It is said that after Lance left, he continued to go south to vacation in a place full of beaches and beauties. What a lucky guy.

And he had to receive the goods here in the freezing cold.

However, thinking that this first batch of wine worth 70,000 or 80,000 will soon become hundreds of thousands or even more, he felt like he had drunk potato wine, and his whole body was on fire!

"The ship is coming!"

A bright light suddenly appeared on the gray sea, and Lawen began to control the flickering of a lamp. This was a secret signal.

Three long and two short, two short and three long, long long and short, short long and long.

"It's them!"

Only Luigi and Lance's men knew this secret code. Soon the sound of diesel engines was heard on the sea. Not long after, a transport ship broke through the fog and appeared in front of them.

When the two ships approached each other and confirmed each other's identities, Lance came out of the cabin.

The person who came to deliver the goods was Luigi's trusted subordinate, a guy named Samuel. They had met in Aldra.

The two hugged each other, and Samuel seemed very enthusiastic. "Before coming here, Mr. Luigi asked me to say hello to you. He couldn't come in person due to some important matters, so please forgive me."

This is just polite talk. You can listen to it, but don't take it seriously. Which boss would personally come and risk his life to deliver the goods?

This is only the first time Lance comes here, and next time he will not come to pick up the goods in person.

He expressed his gratitude and approval for Mr. Luigi's idea, and then asked people to start moving the wine.

What was delivered this time were mainly potato wine and fruit wine. These are what Lance needs now, not anything else.

Especially potato wine, which can be mixed with any other ingredients to become a mixed wine, and one bottle can be equivalent to several bottles.

At the same time, he also took out a handbag from the cabin and opened it in front of Samuel, causing Luigi's men to gasp.

"Sixty-five thousand dollars, do you need an order?"

Samuel said nothing, but took out a roll at random, which contained old ten- or twenty-yuan bills, and each roll contained fifty notes.

He took out some from different places in the bag, and after confirming that there was no problem, he simply counted them and zipped it up.

The two hugged again, "No problem, you are trustworthy, Mr. Lance."

Lance smiled, and the two of them stood by the window and watched a group of people working on the drifting sea. After about thirty minutes, the last box was delivered back to the ship.

The two shook hands again, hugged, and then parted.

Watching Samuel's ship disappear in the fog and snow, Lance and his crew's ship also began to return to the dock.

Before this, Erwin had rented a warehouse on the dock. It was said that there might be alcohol in the surrounding warehouses, so he was not afraid at all.

When the time comes, we will die together and see who dares to investigate!
Some places at the docks are now minefields. Every time you check, you will die - whoever checks will die!
Lance even suspected that some of the wine he sold to Mr. Pasletto was also on the dock.

But he didn't care about that. In the snowy and foggy world, they returned safely.

The wine was sent to warehouses and some to working men's clubs.

It will open soon.

"Girls, would you like to come over to work?" Lance and everyone walked to the Workers' Club. There were still people working on the dock.

When they saw Lance, they greeted him warmly, and Lance responded enthusiastically without any airs.

There were a lot of people around him this time, so no one came over.

Erwin nodded. "I have told the girls that Sam and Booker will not bother them anymore. Some of them have already gone back to work, and some of the others are willing to work in the club."

"in addition……"

Lance stopped and looked at Erwin, who scratched his head, "Didn't you tell me to find a stripper?"

"Some of our own people want to do this."

"One of our own?"

"There are only two of us!"

Erwin quickly explained, "They are some dancers from the Empire. They heard that we were recruiting, so they wanted to switch jobs here."

"We are very authoritative in certain areas," he said, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

Lance continued to walk forward, and a large group of people began to move again. "If they are willing, you can let them come over, so that we can take care of them."

"I still say the same thing, don't force anyone to do something they don't want to do."

Erwin nodded, "I see."

Even if Lance doesn't accept them, they will still do these jobs and often face harassment in other strip clubs or strip bars.

On the contrary, they don't have to worry about being bullied at Lance's side, so these dancers all hope to switch over.

"Once the next batch of wine arrives, the bar will be open, and then we may need more dancers."

Erwin took it to heart.

The Workers' Club has basically been renovated, with only a slight smell of paint left to dissipate.

There are mainly two types of federal houses, one is steel structure and the other is wooden structure. Nowadays, federal houses rarely use paint, latex paint or any other paint. Most of them are made of logs, so there is no need to worry about formaldehyde issues.

The decoration of the house is pretty good, mainly because it is sturdy enough. There will be a lot of entertainment and stress-relieving activities here, and the workers are very strong, so it definitely needs to be more sturdy.

After turning around, Lance nodded with satisfaction, "That's about it..."

The news that the dockworkers' club was about to open soon spread throughout the dock, and many workers were asking if there were any cheap drinks, cheap fried chicken, and free breasts and butts to look at.

Once they truly integrate into it, they will find that these are actually not that important!
Of course, before that, Lance still has one thing to do - the Imperial District Branch Darts Competition!

As a sponsor, Lance will definitely be present.

Some people did similar things but did not show up themselves, but asked their subordinates to do it. He was very puzzled. Since they chose to spend money, why didn't they do the favor themselves? He didn't quite understand.

But he certainly wouldn't do that.

Since there were not many police officers in the branch, the result could be known within two days. The dart competition came to an end when a strong competitor of Branch Chief Blue accidentally threw the dart out of the frisbee under nervous circumstances, showing a look of regret and losing the championship to Blue.

Blue wiped the sweat from his face, took the cash from Lance's hand, and accepted Lance's praise - it was a thrilling game!

(End of this chapter)