Empire of Shadows

“I remember arranging for some girls to come over before.”

Lance looked at Alvin, and Alvin nodded, “I had Corinda pick out some good ones and send them all here.”

The Lance family itself does not run an escort business, but there are some imperial girls and immigrant girls who are unwilling to work hard in factories to earn meager incomes.

The prosperity and impetuosity of the Federation have invaded their hearts, and they want to make quick money, and they are even unwilling to learn striptease.

It takes forty minutes to earn only a dozen dollars, and they have to share it with the venue, which is not what they want.

What they want is a place to lie down, and then lie there, without them needing to do anything.

A few minutes later, they can get five dollars, or even more, from the customer who walks out pulling up his pants.

They only need to receive two customers a day to reach the astonishing figure of over three hundred dollars a month!

The Lance family does not operate directly, but accepts affiliations. These imperial girls and immigrant girls need someone to provide them with protection.

Otherwise, they will often encounter customers who want to freeload, and may even hit them and steal their money.

In Goldport City and even the world, if you do this business without someone providing security, then there is no doubt that they are very dangerous.

But now, they only need to pay thirty dollars a month to be able to do these jobs in Lance's territory without additional charges.

If they want to do these jobs in venues operated by Lance, then they have to hand in fifty dollars a month.

Fifty dollars is not too much for these girls. If they can be more diligent and receive seven or eight customers a day, then their monthly income can exceed a thousand!

Sometimes life is like this. If you can make your bottom line more flexible, making money becomes very easy.

However, most girls can't make that much money, because they have menstruation and also have a "psychological menstrual period."

Simply put, they may suffer psychological harm in the process of trading with customers. Not all customers will treat these girls as their girlfriends or wives in love.

They will use the dirtiest, most despicable, and most lewd fantasies on these girls, and naturally they will not be so polite.

Lewd language and hurtful words can sometimes cause these girls to collapse emotionally, and they have to rest for a few days.

An escort girl who is not forced to work by a company actually works only about two weeks a month, and may even work less.

So most people don't earn as much money as they ideally want.

These girls are currently managed by Corinda and Miriam (another girl), mainly doing passive coordination work.

If someone is bullied, or wants to work in a place operated by Lance, or needs some help in life, they are responsible for it.

The bar here is about to open, and Lance asked them to transfer a batch of the best quality girls over, but it seems that the manager doesn't like them very much.

“Mr. Lance, I don’t know what to say!”, he clasped his hands together, then quickly spread them out, “I’m not saying they’re not good, but this is Starlight District.”

He worded his words carefully and his voice was not loud, “Those who come here to spend are the kind of…”, he flipped his wrist, “who can easily take out hundreds of dollars a night to buy happiness.”

“And although those girls are very young, they lack the charming temperament. I know it’s wrong to say that, but they really can’t attract customers here.”

“They are too cheap!”

Lance hadn't considered this issue before, but the manager made some sense.

Just looking at the appearance of those who cost two dollars, five dollars, ten dollars, and fifty dollars or even one hundred dollars, you can see that there is indeed a big difference.

Although they are all in the same age group and look about the same, you can tell the difference between the five-dollar ones and the fifty-dollar ones at a glance.

They just have a cheap feeling about them, and cheap things are definitely the favorites of people in the Imperial District and the Port District.

But in the Starlight District, people don't like cheap things.

In order to avoid creating a negative reputation, the manager directly withdrew these girls from here.

Lance looked at him, “Do you have any good suggestions?”

“How did you solve this problem before?”

The manager replied, “Dover… Uh, that traitor was quite famous in the Starlight District, and the atmosphere here was very good at the time. We didn’t need to actively look for those girls. They would come over on their own initiative.”

“We don’t need to do anything, and they will fill this place.”

“But now, Mr. Lance, you know, we haven’t been in business for a while, and those girls have gone to other bars and places. It will be a little troublesome for us to find them again.”

“We may have some conflicts with other bars.”

After listening, Lance agreed with his view. He pondered for a while, “I will solve this matter later. Are there any other problems?”

The manager also put forward some rectification plans, including publicity.

On the way back, Alvin asked Lance, “Where are you going to find those high-quality girls?”

“I only know that there are some brokerage companies doing this kind of business, but it may not be realistic for them to send girls to the bar.”

The prices of those girls are not cheap, even if they don't do anything, it will cost at least thirty to fifty dollars a night.

A bar must have twenty or thirty girls, and the cost for one night is thousands.

But this cost refers to normal business behavior. Alvin doesn't know whether it counts as normal business behavior to let them seduce men, but some people are definitely unwilling to do it.

If it is in the form of escort, then the price of high-end escort is also not cheap, and there are time limits.

Lance shook his head, “We don’t need them. I have a way to solve it.”

Alvin suddenly became curious, “How do you solve it?”

Sometimes he felt that Lance was too smart, and most things could not cause him trouble.

He and Lance did not come from the “same place”, they only met on the ship. He didn’t know how Lance behaved in the Empire.

Just judging from the beginning of meeting Lance on the ship, everything Lance showed was indeed amazing!

That’s why everyone let him be the Boss, not someone else!

“Two ways!”, he held out a finger, “There are many young girls who come to Goldport City and Creek Valley City to pursue their dreams. They need money and a safe and reliable way. We can provide it to them.”

“Creek Valley City has become an important location for outdoor shooting, and their mayor is very smart, using tax rebates to attract many crews.”

“There are many young girls who want to become stars trying their luck there.”

“Housing, food, drink, and expenses all cost money. If they go to theaters and casting offices all day to try their luck, their money will not be enough to cover their expenses.”

“So we can provide this way to make money!”

Lance showed some smiles, “If they can get their ‘friends’ to order drinks at the bar, 15% of the liquor profit will be directly counted as their commission income.”

When Alvin heard this, he asked, “Will it be too much?”

“Too much?”

“No, not at all!”

Lance shook his head with a smile and said, “It looks like a lot, but in reality, it only accounts for a very small part, because these girls can bring us more profits.”

“And their value is not only here. Some of them may become actors and small stars in the future, then people will talk about them having consumed in our bar.”

“You know what I mean, there are always some people who like this, such as that Shaina.”

The “battle” for the Flower of Opera has ended. Shaina has gained high popularity in Goldport City because the mayor’s illegitimate son participated in the courtship competition.

Whether her popularity brings positive or negative things, at least she is very famous now.

More people are pursuing her, but these people do not intend to marry her, they just want to try the comfort of the Flower of Opera, that's all.

This has also made Shaina very troubled recently, and many negative rumors about her have spread in Goldport City.

Especially since she has not expressed her attitude towards her pursuers and has accepted their gifts, some people have gradually become disgusted with her.

Some people even asked her in semi-public occasions how much money it would take for her not to go back at night!

This has also led to Shaina's plan to leave Rica Lei State and go to Jinzhou to seek refuge with her uncle. Her reputation here is a bit stinky.

Of course, this is a digression. For those who like Shaina, even the dance shoes she has worn will be bought at a high price by crazy fans.

If Lance's bar is proven to have been frequented by many celebrities in the future, then people will become curious about this place, thereby expanding the bar and Lance's influence.

Lance gave Alvin a definite answer, and then asked, “Then what is the second way?”

Lance looked out the window, “College students.”

“Currently, among women, besides those who are well-off, the most elegant girls are in universities. Educated by higher learning, they naturally exude a sense of cleanliness and higher social standing compared to others.”

“If we can bring some of them in, I believe it will become a selling point for the bar.”

“As for how to bring them in, it's actually very simple: fifteen percent of the profits.”

“Don't forget the loan and university tuition!”

Back at the villa, Lance called the director over to discuss this matter. The bar in Starlight District was very important to Lance.

The director was more familiar with the situation in Creek Valley City, and with the operation of Wanli Film Company, he was also considered a somewhat famous manager.

“I want to attract a group of girls who are trying their luck in Creek Valley City to my bar. Do you have any good ideas?”

Lance's simple and direct question left the director momentarily stumped, but he quickly understood Lance's meaning.

He pondered for a moment and said, “This matter is actually not that complicated. The market for girls in Creek Valley City is already oversaturated. As long as we release some news, we can quickly recruit people, Mr. Lance.”

“May I know, if they come here to work, what can they gain?”

Lance considered for a moment and said, “First of all, a sum of money, that's for sure. In addition, I will consider providing them with some performance opportunities, what do you think?”

The director's expression changed slightly. If performance opportunities could be provided, then without a doubt, these girls would use all means to make those customers leave their money behind!

Among them were a large number of fanatical daydreaming girls who wanted to become stars. Now, in Creek Valley City, besides the "audition girls" everywhere, the most famous were the "scam producers."

Every day, girls report to the police claiming that they have been scammed, scammed out of money and their bodies.

After paying the money and being taken advantage of for a few days, they realize that there is no film crew at all, or that it is simply a lie and a scam.

Many girls pay for their own rooms, paying for the scammers' daily expenses, and end up with nothing.

Moreover, this kind of scammer is not easy to define legally. They will first declare a project and film crew, get a script that no one wants from somewhere, and then get a project number.

So, in a sense, some of the scammers are not really scammers, at least the law does not support the view that they are scammers.

And those girls who have been scammed out of money and their bodies are sometimes scammed several times in a row, just because they want to become stars so badly!

“Mr. Lance, if you go to Creek Valley City now, you will find that almost all the shop assistants and waitresses in the stores are beautiful girls.”

He showed an expression that all men understand, “So I can guarantee you that if you are willing to offer some performance opportunities, they will flock to you like crazy.”

With the director's guarantee, this matter was basically settled. As for whether some college students could be attracted, it was not so important.

Lance and the director discussed it and finally determined some rules, such as the top ten girls with the best "sales" can get a letter of recommendation for an audition from Wanli Film.

This thing is actually like a college admission recommendation letter. With the recommendation letter, the girl will get an audition opportunity no matter what, which is also a tempting payment for those girls.

And the first place can directly participate in the filming of Wanli Production Company without an audition, playing a role in it, even the heroine.

There is also the possibility of directly signing with Wanli Production Company and becoming a contracted artist of the company.

Believing that with these, those girls will definitely give everything for the work they love!

When Lance was talking to the director, someone knocked on the door, it was Madore.

The director glanced at the visitor and noticed Lance's expression at the same time. He took the initiative to stand up, "I almost have to go back to work, otherwise they will think I'm being lazy."

The director was a tactful person, which was directly related to his previous need to attract investment.

Without any tact, he couldn't get sponsorship at all.

“Help me see the director off.”, Lance instructed, and Hiram stood up and took the initiative to walk to the door.

Lance shook hands with the director and watched him leave.

After the director left, Madore closed the door, "Someone was driving around outside the company in circles."

Lance lit a cigarette, "Where are they?"

Madore shook his head, "Arranged someone to follow, but they were shaken off."

Since Lance had been assassinated several times, he had raised his awareness of prevention. Outside the company, there were some guys who looked no different from ordinary people, observing the street outside in the shops on the roadside.

This kind of observation is not continuous, after all, people's energy is limited, but there are many people observing, more than a dozen, then these intermittent observations are finally connected together.

There was a car with two people in it circling around here. People might not notice it after one or two laps, but after circling several laps, it would definitely be noticed.

Who would drive around a gangster's headquarters for no reason?

Madore immediately arranged for someone to follow them, but it was unsuccessful.

Lance frowned. If he had offended anyone recently, who might be stalking him, then there were only two families.

The Liji Group and the Kodak Family.

“Arrange more people for everyone, try not to act alone, and arrange some bodyguards for William, Emily, and Patricia as well.”

“Bring guns and bullets, pay attention these days.”

As he spoke, he picked up the phone and called Burton, "Someone is staring at me, arranged a car today..."

As he spoke, he looked at Madore, who described the car's appearance and color, as well as the driver's general appearance.

That car stopped once diagonally opposite the company, the whole process only took about twenty seconds, and someone saw the driver's appearance.

Brown hair, with a brown mustache.

After saying these things, Burton immediately knew his job, "I will have people investigate it clearly, as long as they live in the Empire District or the Port District, I can dig them out!"

“As soon as possible!”, Lance urged and hung up the phone.

Burton immediately started working. Now the "cameras" on the streets of the two districts are under his control. As long as he says these characteristics, those old men who are worried about not having a place to make money will immediately take action.

At this time, a vehicle that matched the appearance of Burton's announcement was parked in the parking lot of a car fast food restaurant.

Two mafia members from Jinzhou were chatting while eating hamburgers.

“The taste here is too sour, I don't like such sour ketchup!”

“It makes my teeth tingle a little, my whole teeth are numb, it's very uncomfortable.”

The driver complained, the taste of Jinzhou is sweeter, and the ketchup of Liclai Prefecture will have more concentrated lemon juice.

Some people also said that they used compound citric acid, but it is indeed very sour, sour and sweet.

The person sitting in the passenger seat was more interested in the sour taste here, "I think it's pretty good, at least it won't make people feel greasy."

He added some ketchup and took a bite, sour and sweet, and his appetite became better!