Empire of Shadows

After hanging up the phone, Beno, with a cigarette in his mouth, walked out of the public phone booth. He looked around the street, and after confirming that no one was following him, he went to a nearby restaurant to buy breakfast.

Perhaps for those wealthy people who don't need any physical labor, and the only places they sweat are in bed or in the gym, they would eat a lighter breakfast.

But for most manual laborers, and young people, it's best to have some meat for breakfast.

Capitalists also encourage eating meat. They have come up with many ways to get people to buy meat instead of eating vegetables that won't make them any money.

When Beno returned to the apartment with a bag of food, everyone was almost awake.

"Why are you being so nice today?" Allen leaned against the bed, smoking a cigarette. To be honest, the room was a bit messy. The male, around twenty years old, although he had already emerged from the stage of being hated by both humans and dogs, hadn't gone very far.

Beno walked to the table in the room. He threw some bottles and other things into the trash and arranged the food.

The kraft paper food bag was already soaked with grease. At this time, there was no "lamination technology." When it was easily torn open, the strong aroma of meat immediately burst out and drilled into the noses of the young men.

Several people in the dormitory couldn't sit still and got out of bed one after another.

Without brushing their teeth or washing their faces, life is not as delicate as literary creation, even death cannot allow even a single strand of hair to appear where it shouldn't.

Real life has many small flaws. People will understand and get used to them.

They sat at the table, pinching pieces of meat with their hands and stuffing them into their mouths, and then taking a bite of the sandwich. It was extremely comfortable!

In the eyes of some people, such a nutritionally unbalanced food cannot play a positive role in their growth, but at least, it satisfies their appetite!

"These are to celebrate your upcoming promotion to team leader. Don't forget us brothers who once lived in the same dormitory when you become the team leader!"

Beno spoke very emotionally, and Allen was also a very emotional person. He chewed the food in his mouth, swallowed some, and left a little gap.

He stood up and opened his arms, "Come here, I'll give you a hug!"

The two hugged, and Allen patted him on the back. "Don't worry, even if I become the team leader, we will still be together."

The team leader will have his own independent apartment, sixty-some square meters, which is also one of the motivations they are willing to work for.

Although the ownership of the apartment will not be given to them, they can live in it themselves, and they can also live with their families.

If they are promoted to senior cadres, Lance will arrange detached houses for them.

These things are still full of temptation for low-level gang members whose current income is not very high!

Like Beno, a basic salary of forty to fifty yuan a month is the base. If this mission is completed well, he can also get a reward of twenty to thirty yuan.

In the entire Lance family system, the income from "encountering trouble and then solving trouble" is always higher than doing nothing, which is also one of the reasons that drives them to be unafraid of trouble.

If you want to get more, you have to give something!

Allen gave each roommate a hug. He swallowed the food in his mouth, "Although we weren't the earliest to follow Lance, I believe we will be the most successful group of people!"

Until now, Ervin and others are still motivating them. Lance doesn't mind people knowing how much money they have now, and that's why they are more willing to contribute to the family.

Brainwashing, using emotions, and using other non-material things is indeed useful, but this usefulness always has a limit.

Only the desire for wealth and status is limitless!

After everyone finished breakfast, they went to the office. Allen told Lance all the news he had inquired about, and also took out four hundred and ninety yuan and put it on the table, "We only spent ten yuan."

Lance took four hundred yuan, and threw the remaining ninety back, "You guys can divide it."

He paused, "Don't run around these two days. I'll discuss with Ryder to see how to deal with this matter."

Allen left with the ninety yuan, and Lance picked up the phone and started talking about the matter.

"...I had someone check it out. The garment factory is called Henry Garment Factory."

An ordinary garment factory with a name so common that the Federation could find a dozen similar ones. People in the Federation lack some ability and judgment in naming things, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.

Initially, they often use their own name or surname as part of the name, which is simple and convenient.

Only when they can really build up the enterprise will they consider changing the name.

"I know this person," Ryder confirmed the "competitor" this time. "What are you going to do?"

Lance didn't tell him what he planned to do, but instead asked him, "It's not what I'm going to do, it's what you're going to do, Ryder."

"If you want me to handle this matter, I guarantee he will go bankrupt in a few days."

"If you want to handle this matter yourself, then I will help you solve some other things that you are powerless to do, but your opponent, you defeat!"

"What I can guarantee is that he will not have the opportunity to use means other than legal competition to defeat you!"

It would be very simple for Lance to solve this matter himself. Find two young people, take a pistol over, or burn down his warehouse.

If he has a loan, use Jonathan's influence to force the bank to demand repayment. There are always ways to make him bankrupt and penniless in a very short period of time.

But he felt that he couldn't do this, because poaching people is just a means of fair competition. It is not illegal or against the rules.

If he has to resort to illegal means whenever he encounters a problem, Lance has to consider choosing another manager.

It's not that he doesn't trust Ryder, it's just that his ability is not enough to support this factory.

Ryder considered for a while, not too long, "I'll handle him!"

His voice was very firm, and his voice was also full of strength. This is a test, he is very clear about this!

"Very good, I will have someone go over to help you keep an eye on it, and not give them other means of sabotage."

"Ryder, he can poach your people, why don't you poach his people?"

"Or poach people from other places."

"I'll give you Debbie's phone number, you can also ask her for help."

"You made a right choice, Ryder. The most valuable wealth of a person is never crying to their parents, but overcoming it!"

"I will support you!"

"In addition, I will arrange for a few people to go to your place. You don't have to worry about them. They will protect the machinery in the factory and the materials in the warehouse, as well as the safety of the workers."

"The rest is up to you."

"Ryder, I have no requirements for the factory's profitability, do you understand what I mean?"

Ryder took more than ten seconds to tentatively ask, "You mean, I can... overspend?"

He really didn't know how to express what he was thinking, so he used a very special word. Lance nodded in agreement, "But don't let it go bankrupt."

"I know what to do, Mr. Lance."

Lance was also very satisfied with his reaction and decision. People always have some potential. If you don't push them, no one knows what they can do.

He called Allen over again. Allen seemed a little excited. Fighting and killing is particularly tempting for young people. Not only can they get money, but they can also quickly accumulate their reputation and prestige.

"You may be disappointed. This time, I'm not asking you to do bad things, but to protect that factory for a month."

"Prevent others from sabotaging it. After a month, you will be the team leader!"

"But it may be slightly delayed. After all, Ryder is dealing with a person, not a piece of wood."

Allen naturally wouldn't refuse. These are all obstacles on his path to becoming a team leader. "No problem, Boss, I guarantee that no one can harm the factory and the things in the warehouse."

"Go ahead, get some expenses from Melo, three hundred yuan, enough for you to have a good month."

Three hundred yuan doesn't seem like much, but when divided, there is an quota of ten yuan per day. One yuan is used to buy cigarettes, and then each meal can cost three yuan. How luxurious is that?

Of course, this account cannot be completely calculated like this, but it can indeed make them live very comfortably.

After Allen went back, he told the other three people about this. Another buddy didn't care, anyway, he usually stays here at the office.

When something happens, he follows those team leaders and cadres to work.

If nothing happens, either be arranged to stand on the street, or chat and brag in the office's lounge, or find a place to sleep.

Isn't resting wherever you rest?

It's just that Beno is a little unwilling.

He came here to find a way to get key information so that he could be promoted to a special agent of the Dangerous Goods Administration, not to do dirty work for Lance!

Although he also felt very happy during this time with everyone, he still yearned for a stable and bright life.

Instead of like it is now.

A month doesn't seem very long, but what about after a month?

What else are they going to do?

This is not the life he wants!

"When are we going?" he asked.

Allen thought for a while and said, "Tomorrow."

"Then I'll go buy some daily necessities?"

"Okay, bring some for us too." Allen gave him twenty yuan. This money is enough to buy daily necessities.

Beno quickly left with the money, so he had a reason.

Things are cheap in the port district because the docks are piled high with goods.

Trade is a fascinating thing; sometimes, discarding goods is cheaper than shipping them!

So, you can always find many cheap goods at the docks. Some belong to the dock management company, who open abandoned containers and sell the contents to recoup some losses.

Others are merchants who buy entire containers and resell the goods outside.

Many people seek their livelihood at the docks, which are populated not only by workers in overalls but also by these small merchants.

It didn't take Beno long to buy everything he wanted, at prices even cheaper than in the supermarket.

After finding a place to store his purchases, he went to the bar that Lucar had given him the address to in the evening.

The bar was a legacy of the Red Dog Gang. Because it was well-decorated and the Dangerous Goods Administration turned a blind eye to their operations,

as long as they didn't advertise with neon lights that it was a place to drink, the authorities basically left them alone.

Even so, they were still very careful.

After observing for a while and confirming the entrance, he approached the bar door and knocked hard on the thick wooden planks.

To appear more "legitimate," he had even changed into a set of worn-out clothes to look like an ordinary dockworker.

A peephole clattered open, and a pair of eyes scrutinized him. "Get lost; we don't serve paupers here!"

With that, the doorman slammed the peephole shut. Beno was stunned for a moment, then chuckled in exasperation and knocked on the door a few more times.

"If you don't get lost, I'm coming out there!" the doorman said through the peephole, judging that someone dressed so poorly couldn't afford a drink.

Although the alcohol at the docks wasn't the most expensive in the city, it was still a bit pricier than in the Imperial District.

Beno pulled out two one-dollar bills from his pocket. "Who are you calling a pauper?"

The person inside stared at him for a moment before closing the peephole, and the sound of the bolt being drawn back could be heard. "You can come in, but don't cause any trouble here!"

Beno nodded and swaggered into the bar.

It was lively inside. Even though it was only afternoon, there were quite a few people. He walked to the bar, ordered a drink, and sat down.

He could feel several gazes subtly fixed on him. He took his drink to the dancer's bar and quickly blended in with the surrounding crowd.

He threw money at the stage, swore lewdly, laughed loudly, and spat on the ground, just like the other uncouth people there!

The scrutinizing gazes quickly shifted away from him. He had a couple of drinks, made some friends, and reluctantly left after dark.

Once he was out of the bar, he let out a deep breath.

He picked up the daily necessities he had bought and went to find Allen.

"Did you drink?" Allen playfully punched him on the shoulder. "And you didn't even invite us."

Beno's expression turned slightly serious. "There's something I don't know how to tell you."

Allen hadn't realized that what he was about to say wasn't simple and asked with a grin, "What is it?"

"Did you get a girlfriend, or did you drink too much and fall asleep in the bathroom?"

Beno adopted subtle changes to his demeanor to appear both nervous and a little excited. "I… I don't know how to say this, but I might have found a Wolf Gang bar."

"You asked me where I had been drinking? I was in their bar."

Allen was dumbfounded. "Brother, what the hell have you been through?"

Lance was also curious about this question. Allen quickly found Lance, and Ervin was there too, having just returned after a busy day.

The two were discussing other matters when Allen brought Beno over.

Beno recounted what he had told Allen. Lance simply pondered, while Ervin asked, "What were you doing in the port district?"

Beno had already prepared an answer. "I went to buy some daily necessities. Allen told me we'd be staying in the industrial district for a while."

"Daily necessities are cheap in the port district. I always buy things there."

"On the way back, I noticed two drunks staggering out of an alley, looking like they'd had a lot to drink, which made me suspicious."

"So, I observed for a while and found a bar entrance. It didn't seem like one of ours. I mingled in. Their doorman was very casual; I showed him I had money, and he let me in."

"Then I had a couple of drinks, hung around for a while, and left."

He said everything in one breath, not giving Lance or Ervin a chance to interrupt his train of thought. After listening, Lance exchanged a glance with Ervin and noted down the address.

Allen seemed excited. If it was a Wolf Gang bar, then undoubtedly, Lance and the others would take action, but then he felt a little depressed.

If there was really going to be any action, he probably wouldn't be able to participate!

After a few minutes, Lance nodded and said, "This discovery is very important, Beno. You did well."

"We'll first figure out the situation at this bar. If it belongs to the Wolf Gang, we'll take action against them."

"They've already provoked us; we won't stand idly by."

He paused. "Go to Mello and collect five hundred dollars. You've earned it."

Beno glanced at Allen and suddenly said, "Boss, I don't want the money. Can I exchange it for a different reward?"

Ervin looked up at him. "What do you want?"

Most low-level gang members want money. After all, the reason they join gangs isn't to follow Lance and shine, but to improve their lives and their families' situations.

Beno glanced at Allen again. "I know Allen really wants to participate in this operation. Can I give up the money and let him participate instead?"

Allen looked at Beno in disbelief, but Beno just smiled.

Lance and Ervin exchanged glances. In fact, they also favored this kind of situation. The emotional bond was definitely stronger than a monetary one!

"You have a good brother, Allen!" Lance agreed to his request. "You still get the money. I'll have someone else replace Ryder. Once Morris figures out the situation at the bar, we'll move."

"You guys will participate too!"

Allen waved his fist, his face beaming with an irrepressible smile. Lance leaned back in his chair.

He tapped his fingers twice on the armrest. "Beno is your brother; you deserve some of the credit for his contribution."

Lance looked at Ervin. Ervin opened a cigarette case, took out a cigar, and tossed it over. "You're a captain now!"