Empire of Shadows

Outside the door, at eleven o'clock, the sound of cars stopping on the road drifted in, followed by someone knocking on the door of the house.

The senior special agent stood at the door and whispered, "Who's there?"

He didn't recognize the voice outside; it was unfamiliar, but what the person said was what he needed.

"Director Dale sent me. Are you...?"

"Thank God, you've finally arrived!" The senior special agent finally breathed a sigh of relief. He unlocked the two locks and pulled the door open.

The moment the door was fully opened, he froze.

Several people stood outside the door, guns raised, pointing at him.

In that instant, countless snowflakes fell from the sky, everything turned black and white, and life became static.

"...This is the fifth home invasion robbery and murder case this month. Deputy Director Duke says the case will be solved as soon as possible... The above is all for today's news from this station."

In the shop windows along the roadside in the city center, a row of neatly arranged televisions were broadcasting the same news program. Although the televisions were black and white, lacking bright colors, the outside of the shop window was still crowded with people getting their free television content.

Televisions costing eight hundred to a thousand dollars were an unattainable dream for many, but here, they could enjoy the pleasure of television without spending money.

Watching the unedited footage, everyone's expression was a little uneasy.

"The city's security has indeed been a problem recently," a gentleman waiting for the bus couldn't help but complain.

A gentleman next to him nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's most likely the refugees. Since they came to Goldport City, the security here has deteriorated again."

The people around began to express their opinions and views, most of which were the same—

All the misfortune is related to the excessive influx of refugees!

For food and money, they can do any ugly thing. This has become a kind of "common sense" for people.

This is actually a stereotype, just like in the past when they thought illegal immigrants were criminals and thieves, and prostitutes, thinking they were making Goldport City worse.

And now, they think the refugees are causing a series of problems, although some problems are indeed caused by the refugees, but not all.

It's just that people's stereotypes make them need a stable outlet when facing negative emotions, and the refugees take care of everything.

Soon, as the bus arrived, people dispersed.

But the content of their discussion will not dissipate, but will spread with them to all parts of the city, spreading everywhere.

In the morning, Director Dale gathered everyone with a grave face. He had some words to say to everyone, in the small auditorium.

Some people knew what had happened, some people didn't know what had happened, and the whole auditorium was noisy.

It wasn't until Director Dale arrived that the discussion completely stopped.

Three senior special agents stood on the stage, the deputy director was nowhere to be found.

"Last night, a very vicious case occurred. One of our colleagues has left us forever."

"I don't know if you have noticed the morning news. In the Xilin District, a suspected armed home invasion by multiple criminals took away our colleague and his family."

"This is heartbreaking, sad, and unacceptable!"

"He did not fall on the road of fighting evil, but accidentally left us forever because of such a thing. This is our loss, the loss of the cause of justice in Goldport City!"

"I hope everyone can mourn for him for a minute..."

Everyone lowered their heads. Although not everyone among them had interacted with this senior special agent, he was, after all, a colleague, and also a cadre, which would make people feel a sense of sadness at the misfortune of others.

A minute later, Director Dale continued, "Outside, they all say these were done by refugees. Before the police solve this case, I don't want you to discuss it like that."

"Before the truth comes to light, we must treat this matter rationally. At the same time, I also need to remind everyone to pay attention to safety..."

He said a lot of things, and also mentioned another thing, something everyone was very concerned about.

"Recently, I contacted a company. They are willing to bear the long-term medical expenses for... (the paralyzed agent), and are also willing to provide some emergency loan services for our agents."

"No interest, no matter what the reason, if you suddenly need a large sum of money, they can provide it, free of charge."

"If anyone is paralyzed due to work or life accidents, or may need long-term treatment, they will also provide financial assistance free of charge."

"If there are any special medicines, they will also apply for them for you."

"In short, they will ensure that no one of us will have various tragedies because they don't have money for treatment."

"Including your family members, if an accident occurs that exceeds your ability to bear, you can apply for assistance."

After a bad news came a good news, people's emotions were positively mobilized, and many people began to applaud. This was indeed a good thing.

If the police department is a very dangerous law enforcement department, they need to face frontline criminals and criminal acts.

Then the Hazardous Materials Management Bureau is an even more dangerous law enforcement department, because the criminals and crimes faced by the police are only a part of the serious crimes, and there are also petty cases such as petty theft, fighting, and looting stores.

But on the side of the Hazardous Materials Management Bureau, as long as they are dispatched, there is a high probability that there will be firefights, injuries, and deaths.

Now that someone can guarantee their health and follow-up treatment, it doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Director Dale did not announce the name of this company, but if anyone wants to apply, they can fill out a form and give it to him, and he will talk to the company.

Now is not a good time to let Lance come to the front, because those middle and lower-level agents have not yet changed their thinking.

It's not like those policemen, they have already been thoroughly corrupted. Now they are following Lance to make a living, but it is a kind of sublimation.

Among these people, it is not that no one knows what happened.

For example, another senior special agent, the horror in his eyes and his slightly trembling body, show that he knows what happened.

He saw Panda and the colleague who brought the news of death leave together yesterday. Combining Dewinter's words to him on the road, he could already imagine the whole thing.

His colleague refused Lance's solicitation, and then was killed that night, so nakedly killed.

What makes him feel even more uneasy is that the deputy director also did not come today, and if he did not remember correctly yesterday, the director and the deputy director left together.

He glanced at Director Dale, who exuded a righteous glow all over his body, and he began to question the whole world!

A senior special agent is dead, so a new senior special agent must be promoted. They will not blindly promote, they must promote a "their own person", and then slowly erode from top to bottom.

Later, Director Dale gathered some middle-level cadres and senior special agents together, and he handed them a document with a serious face.

"Someone reported that the deputy director accepted bribes, and he is very likely to have absconded."

"They have checked his account, and there are large amounts of funds going back and forth. Although I don't want to admit this, but..." He shook his head.

He did not expect Lance to deal with it like this. It can only be said that this method of handling is very appropriate.

If the death of a senior special agent can be justified, then it would be a bit unreasonable for a deputy director to die in an accident.

Now it's good, he didn't die, he absconded with guilt, and the matter of his accepting bribes was revealed. Now the prosecutor's office has begun to intervene in the investigation and found that he did exist in occupational crimes.

It's just that the person can't be found now, and the person who reported the crime only sent a letter of report. Without finding the whistleblower, this case is difficult to continue.

The prosecutor's office is collecting other information, and if there is new news, a further announcement will be issued.

Everyone was a little confused by this news, but they soon accepted it.

Occupational crime is not a rare thing these days. The police team next door will not kill the wrong person even if they shoot one every other time.

Rent-seeking by power has become a normal phenomenon in the Federation at this time, especially after political capitalization, money seems to have become a universal key.

There is nothing it cannot open.

Whether it is the loyalty of politicians to the country, or the panties of girls, as long as the money is in place, they can be opened.

The deputy director absconded, and the senior special agent died in an accident. The State Liquor Prohibition Committee is very dissatisfied with these broken things that have happened in Goldport City recently.

If Director Dale had not already provided the money, he might have been transferred now.

For the sake of that money, they decided to give Director Dale another chance.

Seeing that August is coming to an end, the changes in the Goldport City liquor market have finally affected Yalan.

At present, Yalan is the region with the most smuggled liquor and beverages to the Federation, without one. Many gangster groups here are relying on smuggling liquor to survive.

Goldport City does not account for a particularly large share of the entire smuggling system, but it is not particularly small either. It can consume hundreds of millions of alcoholic beverages every year.

Even if its cost may only be one-fifth or one-tenth, it is enough to support many Yalan gangs.

Now that some changes have taken place in Goldport City, the Lance family has issued a notice to all the gangs in Yalan who smuggle alcohol to Goldport City.

Starting in October, all imported alcohol entering the port can only be sold to the Lance family. If anyone dares to sell alcohol privately, they will be permanently banned from the Goldport City alcohol market.

To finalize the related matters as soon as possible, the Lance family invites them to Goldport City to discuss this business.

Opportunity knocks but once!