Empire of Shadows

“… Dantella's insane Prime Minister and their mad soldiers are destroying the world's order, they are heading towards the abyss of destruction!”

“We should stop them together before they go completely mad. This is not just our problem, it is also related to the safety of the whole world!”

“Although we currently have a certain advantage in the war, it is because we gained the first-mover advantage by launching an unannounced attack. Now these advantages are disappearing.”

“And as their allies begin to join the battlefield, the Tanfite continent will soon enter a state of stalemate.”

“We need some external forces to help us eliminate the evil Dantella Alliance!”

In a room, a gentleman who looked somewhat different from the Federation people in terms of temperament and attire was sitting on the sofa, talking about his views and thoughts on some international issues.

It sounds a bit ridiculous, like the topics that those sixty or seventy-year-old men on the street often talk about.

Either the development of cutting-edge science and technology, or the belonging of world peace, they give people the image of "reclusive politicians hidden in the streets", but in reality, they are just ordinary people who are bored.

There were several gentlemen in the room, one of whom pondered for a while and then replied, "The Federation has no intention of participating in this war. We are a peace-loving country."

If those natives who had been scalped heard this sentence, they would definitely be moved to tears, and then shout that the Federation people are all liars and demons.

Just as the gentleman sitting opposite them was about to say something, Tom stood outside the door and knocked.

Senator Cleveland, who was sitting on the sofa with one hand propping up his chin, glanced at him, smiled and apologized, "I'll take care of it, you guys talk first."

The person sitting across from them was the diplomatic ambassador sent by the country that was at war with the Dantella Republic. The advantage they had quickly gained in the early stages of the war using cavalry and mobile units was being gradually caught up by the Dantella people who had reacted.

The Prime Minister of the Dantella Republic delivered a public speech entitled "To Dantella" at the beginning of this month. In his speech, he mentioned a series of historical issues caused by geopolitical problems.

He also talked about the reasons for the poor development of the Dantella Republic in recent years, and mentioned that if they wanted to break the situation, they had to break the encirclement of the surrounding countries.

Be brave to resist, be brave to sacrifice!

The crazy Prime Minister led a group of crazy soldiers, shouting "Wash away the historical shame, avenge our ancestors!" and started a crazy war. They even executed several batches of prisoners of war, which caused great dissatisfaction and panic among the participating countries.

Moreover, the Dantella Republic won over two other countries, forming an iron triangle, and began to actively wage war outwards.

From the perspective of the Federation people, their war has no right or wrong issues. This is the manifestation of the contradiction between two groups of people. You want to kill me and seize my wealth, and I happen to want to kill you and take your land.

Everyone just fights, no one is righteous, no one is evil, war is actually very simple, very pure.

Each side believes that they are the righteous side, and the diplomatic ambassador failed to persuade the Federation to join the war.

It is unwise to rashly join the war.

Senator Cleveland fastened a button, and then came out from the half-closed door.

Others could hear what they were saying here, so they went to another small room.

Senator Cleveland walked to a mirror and straightened his clothes in the mirror. Tom, who was standing beside him, said, "It's Lance's call."

Senator Cleveland looked at Tom in the mirror, "Can't you answer his question?"

Tom nodded, "There are some questions I can't answer him."

Senator Cleveland nodded. He walked to the sofa and sat down, crossed his legs, and then picked up the receiver, "What's the problem?"

He went straight to the point without any small talk. He still had things to do. Although it was difficult to persuade them to approve the proposal to join the war in Congress, they could also obtain considerable benefits from it.

Some precious metals, gems, wealth, some antiques and the like.

In the supreme political hall of the Federal Congress, if you can't win others over to stand on your side, then you must at least prevent these people from standing against you.

It's about interests, so Senator Cleveland wouldn't give Lance too much time.

Of course, he was very clear about another point. If Lance's question wasn't that important, Tom wouldn't have bothered him to take this call.

“I'm sorry to bother you, Senator, I plan to attack the Koda family. I heard that they have a certain influence in Congress. Do I need to pay attention to anything?”

Senator Cleveland glanced at Tom. He realized that this was indeed an important issue.

Every year, the Koda family can transfer tens of millions of funds to Congress. Everyone is envious of this money. Everyone who cannot get their share of this money is asking themselves this question —

“Why don’t I have a share?”

and

“How can I get a share?”

Now, the opportunity is in front of him.

With this money, even if it is only one-tenth, he can get more people's support faster and better, and make their small group bigger.

Moreover, funds can not only be used to fill personal appetites, but can also actually solve many problems, such as using them to "bribe" voters.

He didn't directly answer Lance's question, but instead asked, "How do you plan to attack the Koda family?"

Before Lance could explain his plan in detail, Senator Cleveland interrupted him, "It's good that you have a plan, why choose now?"

The international situation is turbulent now, and this time is actually not a good time for anyone.

Lance also expressed his concerns, "You said before that Goldenport City was going to station troops, and now the newspaper also mentioned that there may be results in July or August."

“If there are some large-scale outbreaks in the city after the garrison comes over... You know, it may cause some trouble beyond our expectations.”

Will the Koda family collude with the military?

The military is actually not honest at all.

Will the military use the unreliability of local security as an excuse to put forward some other excessive demands?

For example, taking over part of the city's security work?

It's not impossible!

Congress is very clear about the importance of the army to a country, and it is precisely because they know this that they are always trying to make the army more pure!

Lance considered the issue very comprehensively. Senator Cleveland thought for a while and said, "I can help you block the trouble from Congress, but you have to be fast, understand?"

“Understood, I won’t drag things out for too long.”

The faster the matter is resolved, the fewer opportunities and time Congress will have to respond.

If Lance can only take down the Koda family in one day, the senators behind them will not have time to respond before the matter is over. In addition, with Senator Cleveland and his small group, those people can only pinch their noses and accept it.

It's not cost-effective to fight a political group that is on the rise for a family that is already finished.

He didn't completely believe this and asked directly, "When can it be resolved?"

Lance calculated, "Before summer vacation."

Summer vacation was a very unfamiliar word to Senator Cleveland. It took him two or three seconds to remember that summer vacation should refer to before July.

Three months to destroy a large family. It can't be said to be too fast, but it's definitely not slow.

He thought carefully for a while, "Okay, but as soon as possible!"

“If you have any questions, communicate directly with Tom.”

He said and handed the receiver to Tom, "You connect with him, this matter is very important."

Then he walked outside, he had other things to deal with in another room.

That's the bad thing about being a senator, from morning to night, all the time belongs to others, and not much time belongs to oneself.

Tom picked up the phone again, "The senator has already said what needs to be said, what other questions do you have?"

“Are you familiar with the Attorney General of Licale State?” Lance asked.

They actually met once last time, because after Senator Cleveland and Lance chatted alone for a while, they all came over and introduced themselves to Lance.

Getting to know each other does not mean they will do anything for Lance. This is just the most basic social interaction. They just got to know each other and have not yet established interpersonal relationships.

Now that Lance wants to bring down Charlie, the simplest way is to give him a bullet.

No one can withstand a bullet shot into the head, and if they can, then come another one.

But doing so will undoubtedly break the rules. People may not say anything at first, but they will leave a knot in their hearts.

People who make the rules never like people who break the rules, even if that person is serving them —

Senator Cleveland will also have some opinions on Lance, after all, the assassination of politicians is too bad for the rulers!

How long does it take for a politician to reach the highest political stage in the Federation?

But how long does it take to produce a bullet that can take away everything they have?

Unless there is absolutely no other way in the end, Lance will never easily assassinate politicians, unless he plans to become a public enemy of the political world.

Then, to solve Charlie, you need to use your brain a little.

The appearance of the Attorney General of Licale State appeared in Tom's mind. He hesitated a little, "I know him, but I'm not particularly familiar with him, what's wrong with him?"

“I need some help from him.”

Tom thought for a moment, many images reappearing and disappearing in his mind. After about ten seconds, he said, "Call him tomorrow morning."

"Anything else?"

Although he wasn't familiar with the Attorney General of Riccary State, someone he knew was!

That's connections, that's the invisible "net." Maybe there's no direct link between these two nodes, but they can be linked together through a third, a fourth, or even more nodes!

Lance had no other questions and then hung up the phone.

After lunch, Lance invited Alberto and Francisco over for a chat. Neither of them refused Lance's invitation.

The relationship between Alberto and Lance could no longer be measured solely by profit. They helped each other, completed each other, and were no longer ordinary friends.

And Francisco also relied on some of Lance's power to stabilize his current position. Although Alberto owed the favor, he actually owed Lance a great deal as well.

In Lance's office, Lance had drinks and pastries brought in, then closed the door.

Besides the three of them, there were also several of Lance's confidants.

"How are things going lately?" Lance asked, choosing a very ordinary topic as a starting point.

Alberto seemed very relaxed. He leaned back on the sofa and tilted his head. "Not very good."

"You know our main business..."

Lance nodded and said, "Drugs and smuggling."

"Yes, drugs and smuggling. Now the prices of those special medicines are rising very fast. Plus, Paul's death was so sudden that some of the connections with the medical group were cut off. They don't need us to help them solve the problem of overcapacity now."

"As for smuggling, the risk is getting bigger and bigger because those mad dogs in the Dentra Republic are intercepting merchant ships at sea, but the profit hasn't increased much."

"Now our main income is completely dependent on those bars. The situation in the family is not very good, and some people are starting to get restless again."

These were the facts. Alberto didn't hide anything. It was inevitable that people were feeling uneasy.

Gangs, even gangs with family and religious characteristics like the Sumori, still need to eat and live.

Family can only bring people closer together, and religion only makes the hierarchy more rigid, but how do people eat, how do they spend, how do family members live?

Money, profit, is still the core of the core.

If the family's criminal business doesn't make money, then the lower-level members will feel that the family is declining, and they will consider whether to change their ways.

Opening more bars is a good method, but the Dangerous Goods Administration is cracking down hard. Two of their bars have already been shut down, and a bunch of people have been arrested.

They still haven't been able to get anyone out yet.

Alberto knew that Paul had a secret fund account, but he died too suddenly, and the account was not passed on to Francisco. They don't have any good solutions right now.

Lance was relieved to hear that they weren't doing so well.

This was definitely not gloating; it was just that this would make them more determined to stand on his side.

"I'm planning to launch a full-scale attack on the Coda family soon," Lance said.

He observed the changes in Alberto and Francisco's expressions. Alberto only raised his eyebrows after hearing this, while Francisco lowered his eyelids and showed no expression.

After a few seconds, Alberto asked, "The Coda family has considerable connections in the state and in Jinzhou..."

He was reminding Lance that killing people was easy, but the problems you face after killing people are the real trouble.

Lance shook his head. "I'll take care of those."

Alberto looked at him curiously. "Then what do you need us to do?"

Lance shared some of his thoughts. "I don't know the specific situation of the Coda family. I don't know how many businesses they have, or where they are roughly located."

"I also don't know how many executives there are in their family, what their names are, what they are responsible for. I know almost nothing about them!"

"Besides knowing where a few of their casinos are, I don't know anything else."

"I don't have that much time to investigate their family in such detail, so I need your help. You know them better."

Lance wasn't wrong about this. When it comes to who knows the Coda family best, it's none other than the five families themselves.

Before the status of the five families was determined, they had a process of confrontation and mutual killing.

Even after the five families stopped fighting, they didn't give up on the continuous infiltration and intelligence gathering of each other, just in case they went to war again one day, so they wouldn't know nothing.

Seeing the two of them deep in thought, Lance also offered the benefits he could provide.

"After taking care of the Coda family, all of their liquor business will be handed over to you."

If Alberto was willing to help Lance because of the friendship between him and Lance, then now, with such a generous profit added, he had no possibility of refusing.

He glanced at Francisco, who nodded, and the two reached an agreement.

Alberto asked with a smile, "What do you want to know?"

What did he want to know?

Of course, he wanted to know everything!

Just as Lance was expanding his understanding of the Coda family, Bandi was on the phone with Charlie.

When Charlie told him that Hunter was finished, Bandi was in disbelief!

"He's the police chief, how could he..."

Charlie's tone was very gloomy, with a suffocating heaviness. "He was fooled by Lance. Now there are many of Lance's people in the police station. He was tricked into going out."

"Originally... we were very close to success. That idiot, I told him not to go out, but he insisted on going!"

Listening to Charlie's brief explanation of the situation, Bandi was also speechless.

Neither of them had the desire to speak for a while. Only Charlie's heavy breathing could be heard in the receiver.

After a while, Bandi asked, "So what are you going to do now?"

"Hunter is dead, who can take over his job?"

The police station is a very important law enforcement department. Before there are other strong law enforcement departments, whoever controls the police station is equal to having the power to make rules.

Charlie said a few names. These were the few choices he could pick. These people didn't have any personal abilities, but they all had one thing in common, which was that they were obedient.

Now what Charlie wanted was not a capable chief, but a puppet.

Facts have proved that after he left, that position was only suitable for puppets, not for anyone else!

"After the new chief takes office, he definitely won't be able to control the situation within the police station in a short period of time like Hunter did, and there are still many traitors inside."

"So I need you to continue to put pressure on Lance so that he can't free up his hands to deal with my side."

"When my side is reorganized, then we will deal with him together..."