Empire of Shadows

As the new Deputy Director of Baihui Bank's Jincheng branch, Jonathan had previously been in charge of loan business and had seen a lot of money.

However, no matter how much money there was, it belonged to the bank and had nothing to do with him.

Sometimes when he chatted with others, people would joke that he had seen countless amounts of money, so did he no longer have any desire for money?

But how could anyone not have a desire for money?

Money and power are things that humans will never be satisfied with in their bones!

From childhood to adulthood, it has always been like this!

From the beginning of instinctively fighting for more breast milk, they have surrounded humans in different forms, until humans enter society, and they will be presented to people in the most primitive way.

Currency and power!

So money still makes Jonathan's heart beat faster, and the more money, the faster his heart beats!

Eight figures, he felt a little crazy just thinking about it!

At the same time, he was also lamenting Lance's boldness, daring to move this money. He had to know that this was the money of several thousand people…

Jonathan suddenly froze. "They didn't use this money for investment?"

Lance just looked at him without speaking. Jonathan's number of gasps today might be the sum of the last half year!

If they didn't invest such a large sum of money to make the funds roll, how could they pay such high rebates to investors?

In fact, he, the director, and the bank's internal staff had also discussed that the reason why they hadn't completely considered them to be fraudsters was because there was indeed such a profitable business now: bootlegging.

The huge profits of bootlegging made the bank covet it, but the federal government was cracking down too hard, and they didn't dare to do it.

But it was said that some directors were also engaged in bootlegging privately, and the profit was one or two times as long as it was resold, which could completely support a 15% rebate.

Some of them believed that Barz Investment Bank used the money to buy bootleg liquor and then tried to smuggle it into the federal territory in exchange for maximum profits!

As long as one million out of three million worth of wine can come in, it can break even, and two million can come in, it can earn three million. Under such huge profits, 15% is not even considered much.

But when he heard that the money was still in the bank, Jonathan knew that these people were liars!

Is there a chance to bite off a piece of this matter?

He thought for a while and picked up the phone, "I need to talk to a friend of mine, wait for me a while."

"Please do," Lance said without any anxiety, lighting a cigarette.

Jonathan picked up the phone and explained the general situation. He didn't mention Lance, but only mentioned hearing about it.

The deputy director's social circle is very large, and the director didn't find it strange to hear about such a thing, but what Jonathan didn't expect was that his friend told him not to make a sound or interfere.

"This matter is more complicated than you think, don't get involved, understand?"

"I'm only reminding you this because of our good relationship…"

The sound of the door closing came from the receiver. After the footsteps from far to near ended, the receiver was picked up again, "They know this is a scam, do you understand what I mean?"

"People in this city, even people in the state legislature, are involved, and now they are waiting."

"If you rashly intervene, you may disrupt their plans."

Jonathan was silent for a while, "Thank you, if it weren't for you, I would have gotten into big trouble!"

Laughter came from the receiver, "It's nothing, we are friends, we should help each other, and this matter has nothing to do with you and me, even if I tell you, there will be no problem."

"Compared to these, have you seen the documents recently issued by the bank?"

Jonathan glanced at Lance, "I have a friend here, we will talk about this issue later."

"Okay, see you later."

Jonathan hung up the phone, looked at Lance, and rubbed his face, "The friend I just called told me that they know this is a scam…"

Even at this moment, when saying this, Jonathan felt a little unbelievable!

Since they knew this was a scam, why didn't anyone stand up to stop these people?

Let them swindle so much money in Jincheng?

But when his eyes inadvertently fell on the documents issued by the bank's senior management, he suddenly understood a little.

The economy is actually not good. In the past two years, coupled with the shadow of war, imports and exports seem to have been growing, but domestic consumption capacity has been declining.

The financial market seems to be having its last carnival, and some people are preparing for the future!

Tens of millions of funds may not be enough for them to eat their fill, but at least they can keep them from going hungry when they encounter danger.

"Lance, I don't know what to say, this matter…it's best if we don't get involved!"

Lance actually heard some of the words spoken in the receiver. He nodded and extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray, "Yes, I understand."

Jonathan knew that Lance was planning to leave, so he quickly stood up, walked to Lance's side, stretched out his hand, and shook his hand tightly, "I am very grateful that you can trust me, so I hope you can trust me once more, don't touch this matter, it is related to some big shots…"

Lance nodded and interrupted him, "I understand, don't worry, Jonathan, I won't be blinded by this money."

Jonathan had a thousand words to say, but he didn't know where to start, and finally it could only turn into a sigh.

When Lance came out of his office, he also understood that some big shots were raising pigs, and they must be raising pigs to eat pork.

Barz Investment Bank is the pig they raised, so this money already has an owner.

Although the eight-figure funds cannot be touched, he can still move the two or three million in the basement of the villa.

When he returned to the wooden house in the suburbs, his expression had changed a little.

He looked at President Peman and his secretary beside him, and a faint mockery unconsciously appeared on his face.

The wounds on their feet had naturally stopped bleeding. Although Lance couldn't see them, he knew that they were already swollen.

Both of them had a fever.

Seeing Lance come back, the secretary licked his pale lips, "I need some anti-inflammatory medicine, I can pay for it."

Peman also said the same. They both knew that they had a fever and were being infected by bacteria and viruses.

Fever is terrible for humans, which means that their body is waging a life-or-death battle.

If they win, then things won't get worse.

But if they lose, they will die!

The secretary could at least maintain his shock, while President Peman was about to cry.

Their feet were swollen beyond recognition, and even touching the ground with the soles of their feet would cause severe pain.

President Peman, who had never suffered in his life, couldn't bear this anymore, and he was begging bitterly.

Looking at him, Lance didn't think he was pitiful at all. They had swindled thousands of people, and some people may have gambled their entire family's wealth on it!

Once they run away, it means that these thousands of people will become penniless. Some people may even borrow money to invest in them. These people will collapse and jump off buildings!

So even if these two people become more pitiful at this time, Lance can't feel a trace of pity.

"Who can take me to the villa?" he asked.

President Peman hurriedly shouted, "I can, I can, I have no problem!"

But Lance looked at the secretary, thinking that the secretary should be more suitable.

The secretary just looked at Lance calmly, "I have the key, I know the gatekeeper, I will cooperate…"

Before he could finish his words, a gunshot rang in his ears. He opened his mouth expressionlessly, maintaining the appearance that he had finished his last pronunciation and hadn't had time to continue speaking. He slowly turned around and saw a hole in President Peman's head.

His whole body slumped on the chair, and a lot of blood splattered from the back of his head, as well as other things. The blood flowed quickly, and soon the blood dripped down the cushion of the chair.

The secretary's whole body began to tremble, and his teeth were chattering even more. He couldn't control himself in the face of great fear!

"You…killed him!" He looked at Lance, unable to believe it, fear, dread, and luck all existed, and his eyes were particularly complicated.

If this were a movie, then he would definitely be able to get some kind of award just by his ability to speak with expressions now!

Lance put away his weapon, "Compared to those people you are about to kill, I am already much more merciful."

Forty minutes later, Enio brought several injections of special medicine, some for anti-inflammation and some for pain relief.

The doctor told Enio that these could be used together, and he seemed to directly inject them into him.

It has to be said that in terms of special medicines, the federal medical group is still very capable, especially in terms of special pain-relieving injections. In less than twenty seconds, the secretary's swollen feet, which could not touch the ground, were stepping on the ground, and he could not feel any pain.

It was as if his whole body was numb, and all the discomfort was escaping from his body. He had never felt so comfortable!

"I hope you can cooperate with us, don't make me use some means."

Mr. Secretary glanced at President Peman. He nodded slowly. He had already figured out the situation, "I will cooperate with you."

Two second-hand cars that were brought from elsewhere quickly arrived at the villa area that Mr. Secretary mentioned. The gatekeeper did not stop them. Mr. Secretary said that he needed some workers to do something for him, and the gatekeeper let them go directly.

The villa area was very quiet. The two cars slowly stopped in the garage of the villa. Under the leadership of Mr. Secretary, they found the entrance to the basement outside the house.

When the cellar was opened, a musty smell wafted out.

At this time, there weren't any particularly advanced polymer materials or anything like that; mostly ordinary materials were used, even in villa districts.

The group entered the cellar and quickly saw the piles of banknotes, some of which were already covered in mold.

"Fuck!" Ethan cursed. "Don't they care about this money at all?"

Lance walked to the corner where the money was piled and briefly examined it. "They don't care about this money because it's not their own."

"Although it's moldy, it can still be used after some treatment. Move it all."

Banknotes themselves have all kinds of bacteria, and with the suitable temperature in the cellar, moisture seeping in from the surrounding walls, it's hard for mold not to grow in such a comfortable environment.

Some scattered money on the floor was also picked up.

When leaving, Lance also took the secretary with him. If they left on their own and the secretary died here, they would be highly suspected.

Even if Lance and the police had a good relationship, this case couldn't be suppressed.

Jonathan had made it very clear that many important figures were paying attention to this matter. If they found someone jumping out to take the blame, they would definitely not let this opportunity pass.

At that time, it might be the state police investigating the case instead of the local police.

To make everything look more realistic, they didn't leave immediately but went to the villa.

Lance had them make some... working noises, while he and the secretary sat on the sofa.

The secretary was a little nervous. "I've done what you told me to do, Mr. White."

He was reminding Lance that he was cooperating and not to kill him.

He was very nervous, and Lance shook his head slightly. "I won't kill you now, don't worry."

He paused as he said this, "Do you think I'm smart?"

The secretary said sincerely, "You are among the smartest people I've ever met."

He was saying good things about Lance, thinking that Lance would be happy or pleased, but Lance shook his head again, "No, no, no, I'm not the smartest person."

"I used to have several friends, each of whom was so smart that they didn't seem human!"

"I am a proud person and rarely admit that I am inferior to others, but in front of those few people..." he seemed to suddenly fall into contemplation, recalling the days he spent with those people during his time without freedom.

After thinking for a while, he smiled knowingly, "...I was the least intelligent of them, although I never thought I was stupid."

"But even so, I, and those who were much smarter than me, were eventually caught."

"This shows that the world is not actually lacking in smart people, right?"

The secretary didn't know what he meant and could only nod. "Yes, that's right. No one can always be the smartest; there will always be someone smarter than them."

"I agree with your statement. Do you smoke?" Lance took out a cigarette and offered one. The secretary took it and put it in his mouth.

Nicotine can directly penetrate the blood-brain barrier, and even painkillers cannot eliminate its stimulation of the brain.

This doubles the pleasure!

He squinted slightly, seemingly enjoying the calmness and sense of security that the cigarette brought him.

Lance continued, "I'm not the only one who has seen through your scam. Many other people have also seen through your scam, but do you know... why they haven't exposed you?"

The secretary had now calmed down about ninety percent. He flicked the ash off his cigarette, "Why?"

"Because they are waiting for you to become the fattest!"

Lance's words made him lose his composure for a moment. After he came back to his senses, he shook his head with a smile. He didn't believe this. "Perhaps it's possible, but you're exaggerating too much."

"If someone really saw through it, they would have called the police long ago."

Lance pursed his lips, suddenly feeling a bit of pity, pity not for his fate, but for his stupidity, and the stupidity of those who were scammed even more!

"If the police were called, or your lies were exposed, the money would only be taken away by those who were scammed, do you understand what I mean?"

"They didn't expose you, not to return the money to the victims!"

Hearing this, the secretary understood. He stared blankly at Lance, his lips moving, unwilling to believe it was true.

"Do you know why I suddenly stopped talking about having you transfer the money?"

Without waiting for the secretary to answer, he took the initiative to say, "Because someone told me that I can't touch that money!"

He took the last puff of his cigarette, picked up the rag on the table, put out the cigarette, and wrapped it in a piece of paper and put it in his pocket.

"Let's go, it's almost time."

The two cars quickly left. The gatekeeper still didn't check and bowed with a smile, respectfully seeing the secretary off from his warm little home.

The car returned to the cabin in the suburbs. As they approached the cabin, the secretary sensed something was wrong, but now he couldn't resist. He was surrounded by people.

Regardless of whether they had guns or not, he didn't think he could defeat these two in hand-to-hand combat!

When the car stopped, he saw a pit had already been dug next to the cabin, and President Peman was already lying in it.

Lance didn't even invite him inside, which made him realize that there was no chance!

"Can you give me another cigarette?"

"Also, do you have any painkillers?"

"I'm afraid I'll be in pain when the bullet hits me."

Lance had someone inject him with another dose of painkillers. He lit the cigarette with a shiver, his eyes a little unfocused, "...So, from the beginning, our fate was already sealed."

He seemed to be asking Lance, but in reality, it was an affirmative statement. He had already sensed that even if Lance didn't kill him, he wouldn't live much longer.

Lance nodded slightly, "So, I'm very sorry, Mr. Secretary, you go first. Soon your companions, and some of the people you deceived, will come to accompany you."

The secretary suddenly laughed, tears coming out of his eyes, "We've been worried for so long, and in the end... haha, it wasn't ours at all!"

Perhaps he was choked by the smoke, he coughed violently, coughing so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.

After he coughed for a while and straightened up again, half of his cigarette accidentally fell to the ground.

He looked at the half-cigarette and suddenly sighed heavily, "Can you give me another one?"

Two squirrels on a distant tree were curiously watching the creatures beside the cabin. Suddenly, the gunshots echoing in the valley startled them, and they jumped and scurried back into their tree hole.

Gunshots echoed throughout the forest, bang... bang... one more would be a bit uncivilized.

The two threw the secretary's body into the pit. Lance lit a cigarette, took a puff, stood beside the secretary, and put it in his mouth.

Before long, the raised sand and soil began to cover everything...