Empire of Shadows

Chapter 253: Scam [Monthly Ticket 666+6]

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After dinner, everyone would chat for a while before going home.

The security in the Prisia District is relatively good. The middle class cares a lot about security. They don't have bodyguards, so they can only rely on the protection provided by the police station.

But they also have relatively strong social connections, so the police branch in the middle-class district is not a good job.

No one knows when they will be complained about for something.

Moreover, these middle-class people are very difficult to deal with. They also know how to use the weapons of the law. At least those at the bottom don't know that they can hire lawyers to sue the police station, but the middle class knows.

So here, at intervals, you can see patrol officers parked on the side of the road. They are there to arrive at the scene of the alarm faster and shut those middle-class people up.

In such a relatively safe environment, they can go back a little later.

After dinner, there is still some time for emotional exchange. They will say goodbye around eight o'clock.

"What did you guys talk about just now? The way they looked at me seemed a little strange?" William returned to Emily's side and asked in a low voice.

The women looked at him strangely, some even with fire in their eyes, giving him the illusion that his legs were going weak.

Emily raised her head and smiled, answering, "We talked about flower arrangement and cooking."

In the end, William decided to believe Emily, "They seem a little abnormal. Don't talk too deeply with them."

At this moment, Barbara suddenly tapped the knife and fork in her hand, drawing everyone's attention.

"Dear uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters, there is actually one more thing I want to tell you today."

"Recently, our company has launched some new investment businesses with very high returns."

"The monthly return rate is as high as 15%, and this is a guaranteed investment. They will use the money for capital operations to obtain more profits."

"Our family has already invested in it and received the first month's rebate, so I think we shouldn't keep such a good thing to ourselves. After discussing it, we decided to share it with everyone."

"Of course, I also have some selfish motives..." Barbara did not hide her thoughts, "If I handle it, these can be counted as my performance, and I can get a commission from it."

"I'm not saying you all have to do it. I'm just providing a suggestion..."

Her idea quickly attracted the attention of many family members. A monthly return rate of 15% is almost catching up with usury!

But this time, they are not borrowing usury but lending usury to others.

Lance also heard it and felt it was a bit unbelievable. His first thought was that this was a scam!

A monthly return rate of 15%. If there really exists such a stable way to make money in this world, then Barbara's company, from top to bottom, would be bled dry!

Even if they are a listed company, it wouldn't work, let alone that it isn't a listed company!

The bank would be 100% willing to provide them with unlimited loans, and they themselves would never let others do a business that makes money.

Lance never believed that anyone was purely a good person, willing to let others make money first even if they don't make money themselves.

William seemed very interested, and Patricia was also very interested. After all, for these family members, besides power, making money is their greatest pleasure.

"Sounds pretty good," William stroked his chin. "A yearly return rate of 180%. If we invest 10,000, it will become 28,000 in a year."

Emily didn't feel it very strongly at first, but when she heard the number, she couldn't help but exclaim, "So much?"

Then she asked, "How much spare money do we have?"

William thought for a while, "Sixty or seventy thousand."

Watching the couple prepare to make a big investment, Lance reminded them, "Sounds like a scam."

William and Emily looked over at the same time, "How so?"

Lance explained his theory. Although it wasn't very brilliant, it pointed to the essence of the matter!

After listening, William became a little anxious, "We can't let everyone be fooled. Lance, you have to tell them about your discovery."

Lance shook his head, "It's not my discovery, it's yours. It's not easy for me to speak. At this time, you are more suitable than me."

Barbara proposed this business at this time, obviously wanting to get a commission.

Lance didn't know how much the company gave her, but it was definitely not a small amount, maybe 10%, or even 20% or 30% was possible.

For the company, they are scamming money anyway. As long as someone can help them scam more funds, even if they give half of it away, they will still make money.

So Lance didn't want to do this thing that would obviously offend people, but William didn't care.

He had argued and quarreled with family members many times over the years. They wouldn't target him so obviously.

William released Emily and, after asking Lance about some things in detail, walked to Barbara and raised his concerns...

In the end, William persuaded these people, "...We need to review this company and their investment projects, otherwise, we cannot believe it can pay us our money and principal on time."

"It doesn't matter if we don't make any money. The money is still ours. What we fear is that it no longer belongs to us!"

Although Barbara was a little annoyed, William's status in the family was rising very quickly, and what he said was not without reason.

Even the reason why Barbara and the others received the interest for the first month of their investment was explained.

Paying interest with the principal!

"I will consult the company..." Barbara hesitated. She still didn't believe her company was a scam. She had been working there for more than two years.

She had personally watched a company with fewer than 20 people grow to have hundreds of employees in such a short period.

This loyalty brought about by growing together made it difficult for her to shake her view of the company.

However, the men felt that there were indeed some problems here, after William helped them escape from the high-return trap.

Lance kept a close eye on it and remembered the name of this financial company—Basil Investment Bank.

After returning from the family gathering, Lance did not spend the night at Patricia's house. Although he felt that Patricia was ready, William and Emily were also at home, which would make the girl feel uncomfortable.

After whispering in the car for a while, almost making out, Lance left in a hurry, fearing an accidental spark. Now was not the time.

After returning home, he called Alvin over, "Go scout out the warehouses on the dock for liquor."

Now many of his people are on the dock, and the existence of the Dockworkers' Club gives Lance a great influence on the dock. They are not at all repelled by Lance and the Lance family.

As long as it's not the kind of warehouse with guards specifically arranged, Alvin will definitely be able to figure it out.

Alvin was a little confused. Lance told him about the "upgrade" of the Coastal Patrol Team, "Smuggling will become more difficult. We can consider getting a batch of liquor in our hands first."

"When the news is announced next month, the price of liquor will definitely skyrocket. In addition, we can continue to purchase some agricultural products."

"It's best to see if there are any farms nearby and sign supply agreements with them."

"Liquor will continue to be very profitable and popular until the Prohibition is lifted."

Alvin also had his worries, "Contacting farmers is easy to solve. I can arrange for people to connect."

"But if we take the liquor from the port warehouses, will it cause us trouble?"

"I heard that a lot of the liquor in the warehouses belongs to the Five Families and the Bay Area tycoons, as well as some large corporations."

"These people are not easy to mess with!"

Lance knew he had misunderstood, so he specifically explained, "I didn't say to directly transport the liquor away. Doing so would indeed make us someone else's target."

"Don't forget, we now have people in the Dangerous Goods Administration. We can report this information to them."

"Dale and those Grayhounds have always wanted to catch big cases, so let's give them this opportunity!"

"After they seal up all the liquor, we'll find a way to get it out."

A look of surprise appeared on Alvin's face, "My God, how did you think of that?"

Lance leaned back in his chair, "Of course, by using my brain." He paused, "By the way, I'll help you inquire about a company called Basil Investment Bank, located in the city center..."

Alvin firmly recorded the name, asking curiously, "Did someone from this company offend you?"

Lance shook his head, "They may be planning to scam a big one in Goldport City!"

"Goldport City is the Goldport people's Goldport City. The money they scam from here should also return to the hands of the Goldport people."

"I am a Goldport person!"

It sounded like there was nothing wrong with it. Finally, they exchanged information about the "undercover" situation.

"Nothing can be seen today. These people are all working. No one disappeared halfway, and no one went out to make phone calls. It seems very normal."

These newbies only joined the family not long ago and have already started to get involved in the family business, which makes them very excited.

Not to mention a place as attractive as a bar. Although they couldn't drink alcohol themselves, it didn't prevent them from experiencing that kind of fun.

Moreover, Lance allowed them to have a couple of drinks during their off-hours. After all, the nature of young people is to join in the fun and joke around. Forcing them to restrain their nature is inherently wrong!

During today's observation, nothing abnormal was discovered. However, Lance felt that this didn't mean they had no problems. After making the decision to "continue observing for a few more days," he dismissed Erwin.