Shadow Empire

Chapter 286 I Write My Rules

The ringing of the phone interrupted the conversation between Lance and Director Blue. Lance glanced at the phone and picked up the phone, "This is Wanli Office."

"Mr. Lance?"

"I'm Roger!"

"I don't know what to say. Now I can't see those people from my family on the street anymore. Did something happen?"

Roger was a little nervous.

Today he took a walk outside and unexpectedly found that those people wearing red armbands who often appeared on the streets suddenly disappeared!
This surprised him, even though the Chamber of Commerce did not deduct any money from him, so he would not lose anything even if they disappeared.

But at this time, like many people in the Empire District, he did not want the Lance family to disappear.

The six months since the Lance Family appeared can be said to be the most comfortable time in the Empire Region!
Although there are occasional serious cases, they are generally much less than before.

No one was kidnapped and their families blackmailed, no girl suddenly disappeared and was never seen again, and robbers on the road have basically disappeared.

This feels like a truly civilized city, where people are polite, no one swears, and no one holds a weapon to ask you to take out your money.

Everything is so beautiful, so beautiful that it seems a little unreal!
The housing prices in the Empire District, Port District and Xilin District are the lowest in Jingang City, but this is only in the past six months.

Due to the excellent public security situation in the Empire District, the housing prices here have begun to rise significantly, and its prices have reached the level of the Valley District.

Many people believe that in another two years, the housing prices in the Empire District may be able to reach the tail end of those in the Priscilla District.

This is what people yearn for, and what they understand as the federation and federal life. Everything is hopeful and everything is possible.

But now, the person who maintained all this has disappeared!
Roger and others were trying to find out what had happened. Fortunately, Lance's phone was still reachable, so he called as soon as possible.

"Something happened, Roger, but don't worry, we're not leaving."

"You can't see them now, it's just that we have retracted our forces to avoid being taken advantage of by our opponents."

"If you, or anyone else, runs into trouble, call me again and I'll arrange for someone to help you solve it."

"Tell friends in the Chamber of Commerce not to run around recently. If you have nothing to do, it's best to stay near your home and don't go anywhere else."

"Especially at night, it's best to go back early to avoid accidents."

Roger wanted to ask more questions, but Lance didn't give him a chance to speak. "That's it. I have something else to do."

He hung up the phone and shook his head slightly. This old man was a little too sensitive.

Chief Blue said jokingly, "Lance, everyone loves you!"

No one hates flattery, as long as the skills are not too bad.

Lance wouldn't hate it either. When someone says hello to you, you can't always say "I'm not good". That's not right and doesn't conform to the actual situation.

He raised his hand to signal Blue to stop here, "Let's talk about our business."

"Bruce, can I trust you?"

Chief Blue nodded quickly, "I am absolutely loyal, Lance!"

A smile appeared on Lance's face. Ever since he killed John, Chief Blue's behavior has become even more naked.

However, this was within Lance's expectations. Bowing to the strong was actually a smart move. Moreover, there was no conflict between him and Chief Blue. On the contrary, they had a good relationship.

When we are friends, we can be nice to each other, but if we work together, we must distinguish between the top and the bottom.

Lance couldn't be under him, and he couldn't be so stupid as to think that just because he was a branch chief, he should be on equal footing with Lance, or even superior to him.

So he expressed his position directly and used the word "loyalty"!

Being loyal to love is the bond of husband and wife.

To be loyal to friendship is to be a brother.

Being loyal to a cause can only be a relationship between superiors and subordinates!
He opened the cigarette box and threw a cigar over, and he caught it in a panic. "The five major families can no longer be relied on, and the two congressmen may also be in trouble. Blue, do you know?"

"The 'glory of locals' that they have been promoting seems to be shaky now!"

“When the old rules break, new rules emerge.”

Chief Blue skillfully cut a small hole in the cigar and began to roast the tobacco over fire. While he was doing this seriously, he was thinking about what Lance said.

He looked at Lance. "You mean..."

"Everyone is writing the rules for Jingang City, and I want to do the same."

Chief Blue was stunned for a moment, then quickly focused his attention on his hands and took the cigar away from the alcohol lamp.

This was not for his own consumption, he prepared it for Lance. Lance looked at him with a smile and he smiled back.

Lance reached out and picked up the cigar, leaned close to the flame and took a puff. He pointed at Blue with the cigar in his hand, "Do you know what I like about you?"

He took another cigar and gave it to Blue. This time Blue made it for himself. As he made it, he said, "I don't know, maybe it's because I'm handsome?"

Both of them burst into laughter. Chief Blue was not handsome at all. He was just an ordinary middle-aged federal man. He was not tall and not strong. There was nothing particularly impressive about him.

This is just his humor, and it can also be considered a kind of reverse self-mockery.

After laughing for a while, Lance finally gave his answer, "You can answer multiple-choice questions."

Chief Blue was a little confused, "I don't really understand."

Lance leaned back on the sofa. "ABCD, multiple choice questions. There may be fewer options sometimes, and more options sometimes. But no matter how you choose, there will only be one correct answer."

"You were chosen, that's your advantage..."

He paused, "Charlie has already resigned, but he still wants to control the police force. I don't like his behavior."

"He's going to call you over for a meeting tomorrow, and I'm sure he's going to say you need to unite. I don't like his approach."

"The police force is obviously a very powerful law enforcement agency, but what has the police force become under Charlie's control over the years?"

Lance spread his hands, a look of disdain on his face, "A bunch of lackeys who specialize in cleaning up the Bay Area's mess!"

"Whether they have to deal with some difficult matters or solve some troubles of the workers, they will eventually push it to you."

"He had been a dog for so long that he had forgotten that he was a human being, and that he was the only dog."

"Oh, and Hunter."

"So I want to make some changes, to make the police force stronger and more dynamic again, so that it will no longer be someone's lackey or tool, but will truly play its role as a police force."

It sounds funny that a gang leader tells a police chief that the police force should play the role of enforcing justice. Perhaps this is the most ridiculous scene of this era.

But it is also the most interesting and exciting scene of this era!
Chief Blue listened carefully to what Lance said. He took small sips of his cigar. Actually, he didn't smoke cigars very often. It's not that he couldn't afford it, but he couldn't understand the fun of the bosses!

Because compared to inhaling the cigarette directly into the lungs, he was not used to the process of stirring it in the mouth and then finishing it.

But today, he experienced a little bit of fun, based on a better cigar.

In fact, everyone has their own opinions about what Charlie should do, but no matter what, he is the boss of the Golden Port City police system. Even though everyone knows that he has a nickname of "Bay Area Hound", they still have to obey his management.

We have all seen what happened to those who disobeyed. Most people could not stand the targeting and left the police force, while some who were unwilling to leave went to the farthest and worst places to do the most tiring work.

As for the worst, it disappeared quietly.

Obedience is a habit, and after more than ten years, everyone has become accustomed to it.

Lance suddenly mentioned that he wanted to make some changes. Director Blue obviously had some ideas and intentions. He took a small puff of the cigar. The change in taste from the beginning to the end made him feel comfortable.

"How many police officers are there in Jingang City?" Lance suddenly asked.

Chief Bru was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "The official statistics show that there are nearly 4,000 people."

"There are also some sheriffs and temporarily hired patrol officers, which add up to about 10,000 people."

Lance pursed his lips and said, "If I double the income of these policemen, do you think they will listen to me?"

After hearing this, Chief Bru’s first feeling was that it was impossible!

These are not dozens of police officers, or hundreds of police officers, these are ten thousand police officers!

Even though the salaries of sheriffs and patrolmen are lower, they still have to be paid more than thirty-five dollars. You can't let them do the most dangerous work and get paid less than ordinary jobs, right?
Then there are a series of welfare and benefits issues. Even if they are temporary police officers, they can take about forty-five to fifty dollars from the city's treasury every month.

A formal police officer can take away about sixty dollars, which includes welfare benefits, not pure cash.

Of the money the police got, only a small portion was distributed to temporary workers. Most of the money was distributed to regular workers and deposited into a slush fund.

If we calculate based on 55 yuan per person, that’s a fucking 550,000 yuan per month in expenditure!
He couldn't imagine what a staggering expense this was!
Chief Blue stared at him with his eyes wide open. He even felt a little overwhelmed, not knowing what to do with his hands. "I... this is an astonishing amount of money, Lance."

"You need to prepare at least 600,000 to double everyone's income!"

Lance smiled reservedly, "Blue, do you know why those rich people in the Bay Area are always on top, and you, sorry, I didn't mean to say that, do you know why you are always stepped on by them?"

Without waiting for Blue to answer, Lance said, "Because you will never know how much this city is worth!"

Lance's bar now earns more than 100,000 or 200,000 yuan a month, and he has not yet continued to expand, and the price of alcohol is still rising.

If his other income is included, it is currently $300,000 a month, which is very stable. This is in the Imperial District.

What if he took over more areas?

For example, the city center with the strongest consumption power, Priscilla, the Starlight District, and even the Bay Area!

How much can he earn in a month?

Two million?
Or three million?
If you add in other sources of income, such as casinos, for example... protecting those girls who have fallen into depravity, such as smuggling, there are too many businesses!

How much money can you make every month?
He was shocked when he calculated it himself. In his mother's age when the average income was only 40-something yuan, earning a million yuan a month seemed like an outrageous thing.

But thirty fucking years ago, someone had one billion!

The world of wealth is always astonishing. When you think that one billion was amazing thirty years ago, then which of those kings and powerful ministers in ancient times was not rich enough to rival a country?
Thinking about it this way, it seems... earning several million per month is not that difficult?

No, in fact this is a very difficult thing to do, because to do this requires Lance to open bars all over the city and monopolize most of the lucrative criminal businesses in Jingang City.

Why is it a criminal business and not a legitimate business?
Because with his current small physique, it would be very troublesome if he really ran into those huge capital groups.

On the contrary, the big capitalists are not interested in the criminal business, which creates fertile ground for the survival of criminal organizations.

But these are all far away. At this moment, Blue was a little scared by the confidence in Lance's words. He said that he was very loyal to Lance, but he was still a little hesitant on this issue.

Lance looked at him, admiring the look of confusion on his face. This was emotion management at its best.

He was forcing himself to believe it, but his mind and subconscious were resisting. Lance looked at his expression twitching and couldn't help laughing. "There's no need to be so entangled, Blue."

"What I can guarantee is that it won't be long before I can do this."

"You can tell your friends in the police force about this, but you also have to let them know that I'm not a philanthropist. I can't double their salaries for no reason."

"If they want to get my money, they have to have some explanation, what do you think?"

Bruce's attention quickly shifted from "Can Lance get so much money?" to "Is it profitable for me?", and then he found that it was really profitable!

He is Lance's good friend. If all the police officers in Jingang City come over, does it mean... he will become the chief?

Not the branch chief, but the chief of the Jingang City Police Department?
In just a few seconds, his expression went through several stages including "doubt", "shock", "enlightenment", "surprise" and finally his face was filled with smiles.

"I believe in you, Lance. I believe you can do this more than anyone else!"

"If they want the money, then they have to be loyal. We are not philanthropists!"

He silently added a subject "we" to bind himself and Lance together.

Lance didn't expose his little trick, "Yes, you must remain loyal to us. You understand it quickly."

"Do you think they will be loyal?"

Chief Blue began to analyze the matter seriously. "It may be a little difficult, but I believe they will make the right choice."

He knew the police officers in Jingang City better than Lance, including the temporary workers. They definitely did not work for justice or the police badge on their wide-brimmed hats. The only thing that made them work for justice was money.

It’s undeniable that some police officers do have a sense of justice, but Lance doesn’t want to be independent, he just... wants to make life better for the police officers!
No one will say no to these!

The way he looked at Lance became more eager. If he was a girl, or he had a daughter or something, he would be willing to take his relationship with Lance to the next level!
Lance scolded with a smile, "The way you look at me isn't right, Blue."

"You should also go to the meeting tomorrow and listen to what they say, and then see who their people are and who can be won over."

"The next step is to annex the Port District, so in addition to these, you need to find out the situation of the Port District Police Station. They just lost a police station chief. Look who is in charge now."

"Get him over and tell him the benefits of joining us."

Chief Blue suddenly asked, "What if this person, or these people, disagree?"

Lance said matter-of-factly, "Then change one!"

"There will always be people willing to cooperate with us, Bruce. Don't worry about it. There are many opponents, but there are even more supporters!"

"What you need to consider is how to get things done and do your job well."

"You see, our people just didn't show up on the streets one day, and they called to ask if something happened instead of calling you."

"That's what Charlie did when he was in office, he made people lose trust in the police, and what we have to do is reverse that and make people trust the police again."

“It will also make sure that the police are no longer equated with gangsters in people’s eyes!”

In fact, many people think that the current federal police are licensed gangsters. They will extort merchants and passers-by, and find any reason to stop passers-by and search them.

These people are helpless in framing or simply robbing.

There is wealth everywhere in Jingang City. If Lance wants these wealth, he will definitely need a more stable Jingang City!

Director Blue left with a lot of ideas in his mind. He was now full of energy and felt several years younger. He now believed more than Lance himself that Lance could accomplish great things!
If he couldn't do it, how could he think of so many things?

Reorganize the police industry, re-establish police rules. He seemed to have seen an emperor behind the scenes who would be above everyone else, slowly extending his claws to the city...

No, this word is not quite right. We should spread his gospel, the gospel of the new era!

(End of this chapter)