Empire of Shadows

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“Mr. Chobaf wants to have a word with you,” Lance turned to look at the person beside him. He had seen this person before, Mr. Chobaf's assistant.

He ended his conversation with these young people early, left his contact information, and left with the assistant.

The name Chobaf is very useful among the entire empire's immigrants.

Perhaps within the empire, nobles and powerful figures are the focus of attention, but here, whoever is wealthier is the center of attention.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Chobaf, who has a lot of money, is the focus, even though a considerable portion of his money actually comes from those who look up to him.

It's funny, but it's also very true.

Capitalists have figured out a way to use ordinary people's money to earn money from ordinary people's pockets, and it works very well.

“Good morning, Mr. Chobaf.”

Mr. Chobaf chuckled, “We already greeted each other. I called you over because I heard you made a big deal.”

If he had said such exaggerated and flattering words to someone else, they might have already flown to the sky and wouldn't be able to come down.

This is one of the most successful people among the empire's immigrants, known as the 'Banker from the Empire.' If such a person acknowledges your achievements, isn't that enough to make you cocky?

But Lance didn't show that kind of… smug or arrogant expression. In his opinion, it was actually quite insignificant. “Just a little bit of money.”

Chobaf became even more interested in him. Young people are most susceptible to this kind of flattery, but Lance not only didn't react, but also seemed not to care about this achievement.

He said in an admiring tone, “A thousand dollars, sorry, I didn't mean to inquire about anything. I just asked someone what you were talking about so enthusiastically over there.”

“Lance, when I was your age, I was still learning how to obey the rules of society, but you've already made money outside the rules. You've done better than me!”

Someone else might not understand what Mr. Chobaf was saying, what is making money inside and outside the rules.

In fact, he meant “making money through your own means outside of obeying society's arrangements.” This society has a cruel and serious operating rule that dictates who should do what and when.

Poor people's children should inevitably be working the hardest jobs in factories or docks at the age of sixteen.

While the children of the powerful and wealthy are definitely sitting in classrooms chatting with their girlfriends about where to go for the weekend.

A federal police officer who honestly goes to work earns forty-seven or eight dollars a month, living a somewhat tight life. No one thinks he's that great.

But if the same federal police officer, in addition to the forty-odd dollars he earns from honestly going to work each month, can also get some extra income, people will think he's a great person.

Even if you can't say he's great, at least he's “a resourceful person.” These praises and descriptions are all positive.

Breaking free from your own destiny is itself a manifestation of ability.

In Mr. Chobaf's view, Lance's destiny was the same as everyone else's from the beginning, but he changed his own destiny.

“And… a thousand dollars is not a small amount. I'm very sensitive to money and numbers. Can you tell me about the source of this income?”

“I don't want to inquire about your method of making money, I just see rising potential in you!”

“I want to invest in you!”

He said this without hesitation. In his opinion, investing in Lance was a project that filled him with anticipation. A little investment today might bring countless wealth in the future.

Although he is now a banker, holding a large amount of savings, he actually has his own headaches.

Because he is not a local, but an immigrant, a considerable portion of the debts he lends out are never repaid.

One of them, a man named Jimmy, borrowed 30,000 dollars from him, but so far, he is unwilling to pay back a single cent.

This person is the leader of a gang in New Port District of Goldport City, and has a considerable influence in New Port District. The key is that this person is a lunatic!

It is said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating murder and gang crime activities related to him, but after more than two years of investigation, he is still active in the underworld of Goldport City.

Chobaf has no choice but to accept the loss of these 30,000 dollars.

He doesn't even dare to tell others about this matter. If people know that even the “famous Mr. Chobaf” has been extorted by the gang, people will lose confidence in him and his bank. Once a bank run occurs, he will soon go bankrupt.

In fact, it's not just Jimmy, there are others like that, but their loans are not as large as Jimmy's.

Now, the only thing that makes him feel fortunate is that the federal government's management of interest rates is not so strict, so he is actually someone who is also doing high-interest loans.

He recovered this part of the loss from other places, but he is still very unwilling.

He needs to build a larger network of contacts and influence. He wants to go further!

Lance is a good target.

“How do you plan to invest in me, Mr. Chobaf?” Lance didn't refuse outright, which gave Mr. Chobaf some hope.

“I know you're doing primitive accumulation. I can give you a sum of money, without requiring you to repay it, so that you can build the framework you want as soon as possible.”

“The faster you grow, the more benefits it will bring to us. Perhaps one day in the future when I need your help, you must help me three times.”

After listening, Lance shook his head. “This is not investment, it's speculation, Mr. Chobaf, please forgive me for not agreeing.”

He was right. Investment and speculation look similar on the surface, but there are still big differences in essence.

Speculation carries greater risks. Similarly, the expected profit is also higher. In order to make his money worth the price, the requirements Mr. Chobaf makes will definitely far exceed the value of the money he gives.

“Don't you want to hear what price I'm offering?” Mr. Chobaf was a little unwilling and was still trying.

Seeing Lance shake his head directly, he said a price that exceeded his psychological price, “I will give you 10,000 dollars, and only need you to do two things for me, when you can do things for me.”

Lance still shook his head, “I believe that maybe in a few years, I'll be worth this price, or even higher!”

“You are very confident, Lance, which is also what I admire most about you. Confident people are most able to move people.” He pondered for a while, “I am willing to establish a friendly network of contacts with you. If you need money, you can come to me.”

He took out a gold-plated business card and handed it to Lance.

The front is the national flower symbolizing the empire, and the back is his name, Chobaf Schiller, and a phone number.

The two shook hands again and separated. His assistant took the initiative to come over, “Did you come to an agreement?”

Mr. Chobaf shook his head, “He refused me. He is very confident. I gave him a business card.”

After listening, the assistant felt a little unbelievable, “You are Mr. Chobaf, who can refuse your request?”

Chobaf was obviously not so happy, “Now there is.”

After returning to the crowd of young people, someone asked Lance what Mr. Chobaf had asked him to do. As one of the few focal points among the empire's immigrants, someone would always be watching Chobaf.

“He gave me a business card…”

The young people exclaimed again. Although everyone knew Mr. Chobaf, and it was said that he was also funding this gathering—there was some food here, and a little wine, although none of them were particularly good, at least there was something.

Among the people who came here to participate in the gathering, at least one-third were here to eat something to fill their stomachs.

There were hundreds of people here, but very few people had Mr. Chobaf's business card. There had always been rumors that having this business card was equivalent to getting a chance to make a wish…

After the gathering ended, Lance said goodbye to these young people. Officer Braden was still waiting for him.

When he arrived at the small restaurant, Officer Braden's car was already parked outside the restaurant.

It could be seen that he was now very concerned about this matter, which was also the reason why Lance did this.

Pushing someone else to walk will never be better than someone else dragging you to run.

There was no one in the restaurant at this time, only two old men were drinking coffee at the other end. Lance walked over and sat opposite Officer Braden.

There was a file bag on the table with an address label on it.

“The White couple, Mr. White is now forty-two years old, Mrs. White is thirty-nine years old, and their child, Steven White, went missing twelve years ago, when he was only five years and seven months old.”

Saying that, Officer Braden opened the file bag, took out the documents inside, and handed them to him.

It has to be said that he took it to heart. The White couple's faces were a bit similar to Lance, three points similar.

While looking at the file, Lance asked, “Didn't they have another child?”

Officer Braden curled his lips, “Yes, and more than one. The second boy also went missing, and the third is a girl, who is about to graduate from elementary school.”

After listening, Lance couldn't help but ask, “Is the security in Goldport City that bad?”

“Most missing cases have nothing to do with security. According to statistics, 80% of missing cases are because children have a quarrel with their families and leave home in a fit of anger.”

“Of the remaining ten-odd percent, less than five percent are truly kidnapped.”

"As you know, in the Federation, you can buy anything as long as you have money. Those rich people won't take unnecessary risks for things that can be solved with money."

It was as if he had said something, and yet as if he had said nothing at all.

"The White couple is not doing well right now. I think they are the most likely to agree…"