Empire of Shadows

In a corner of the venue, some people looked different from the leaders of those small gangs.

They wore decent and expensive clothes, and their demeanor exuded a sense of class and sophistication.

They were the Doug Family, one of the relatively larger gangs that "remained" in Goldport City.

The current leader of the Doug Family is Fergus Doug, omitting some middle names.

The Doug Family owns a considerable territory in the Bay Area, but this territory does not truly belong to them; it actually belongs to the Coda Family.

However, the Coda Family does not directly manage these territories because of Bandi's whitewashing policy.

They desperately wanted to disassociate the Coda Family from the word "gang," so the keywords of territory and criminal business could no longer be actively associated with them.

Therefore, their territories in the Bay Area were divided and handed over to three gangs to operate, and the Doug Family was one of them.

Because of Bandi's death and Stone's contribution, the Coda Family's elimination was not the result of fierce infighting, which meant that the three gangs in the Bay Area had generally suffered no losses.

Originally, this should have been a happy thing. Bandi was dead, the Coda Family was finished, and these gangs no longer had an "upstream" connection, no longer needing to funnel large sums of criminal proceeds to the casinos every month in the form of losses.

No matter how much money they made, they could directly stuff it into their own pockets.

But in reality, things were not as good as they had imagined. The Coda Family was indeed finished, and the mountain on their heads had disappeared.

However, a new mountain was pressing down on them, even heavier and more despairing than the Coda Family!

Reluctantly, Fergus could only choose to obey.

Not to resist. He didn't have the courage to confront the Lance Family and Lance himself because he knew very well that the demise of the Coda Family was directly related to Lance.

He didn't think he was smarter than Bandi, nor did he think he was more ruthless than Gori and Stone, father and son.

Even they were no match for Lance, and as their affiliated gang, they were even less of a match for the Lance Family.

During this time, the Lance Family was frantically eliminating dissidents, and even the police were helping them do so. All the gangs in the city clearly recognized this: in this city, Lance had the final say.

So they came too, to participate in this bidding.

They had thought this would be a "harvesting" operation, but when they saw that the bars in the Bay Area and Starlight District were also placed on the "shelves," they were tempted!

They knew better than most people here how much profit those bars could bring each month. In the past, they could only watch those profits, but now they actually had the opportunity to put those profits into their pockets, and the little dissatisfaction they had with the Lance Family vanished in an instant.

"We definitely can't get number 1. That's the most profitable bar in Goldport City. Our target should be the three bars numbered 3 to 5."

Plot number 1 is located in the very center of the Bay Area, where there is a very luxurious bar. From its opening to the present, no one has ever bothered them.

This bar can generate approximately 1.5 million in profit each month, making it definitely one of the most profitable bars in Goldport City.

Just thinking about such huge profits made Fergus envious, but he also knew that he couldn't swallow this bar.

"According to Lance's game, the contracting price for the operating rights of this plot will be at least eight million."

"We can't raise that much money."

"Why don't we let it go to others, so that we might be able to get a better deal on other plots, and our chances of winning will be greater."

Several people nodded in agreement, and Fergus also quite agreed with their views.

Perhaps influenced by some of Bandi's ideas, two of the people around Fergus had attended college, one of whom was from a prestigious university.

They were whispering about taking down one of the top-ranked bars, but more people around them were choosing the ordinary ones.

In fact, Lance had not completely cut them off. If they couldn't compete, they could still operate other industries, such as the flesh trade, or smuggling firearms, ammunition, and other dangerous and prohibited goods.

These were all ways to survive, but Lance already had some plans to gradually control all the criminal businesses in Goldport City.

They would not directly participate in criminal businesses, but would control the criminal organizations and criminal businesses throughout the city by collecting various management fees.

This method of controlling gangs was not considered a criminal act, and at the same time, Lance always maintained the initiative over these gangs.

Whoever he wanted to support, he only needed to give that person better resources, and that person could immediately grow rapidly.

Whoever he wanted to punish, he only needed to prevent that person from grabbing enough good resources during the bidding, and two years would be enough to completely weaken him.

He could control the direction of the strength changes of the entire city's gangs at any time without being involved in illegal activities.

Even if the federal government one day wanted to take action against the gangs, he would not be afraid of those investigations.

The excitement at the scene continued for nearly an hour, until someone announced a stop, and people calmed down again.

Lance returned to the stage, and then some people began to count. Soon, squares on the map were written with the names of the winning gangs and the names of the leaders.

The winners were not particularly happy, and the losers were not particularly disappointed. They were all waiting, all watching, to see if these people could really make money in this year, and whether these bars were as stable and safe as Lance said.

After solving the problems of these small bars, next was the auction of the operating rights of ten bars located in the Bay Area and the Starlight District.

These bars were definitely the most profitable bars in the entire city. Everyone wanted to get them, but people were well aware that they could only get one of them at most.

"First is plot number 10."

"Plot number 10 was previously the operating range of the Keane Family. I learned through comparative side channels that the profit of a bar here is about 600,000 per month."

"That's a profit of about seven million or more per year."

"The starting price for one year's operating rights is two million. If any of you are interested, you can bid."

At this time, someone suddenly raised their hand. At Lance's signal, that person stood up, "Mr. Lance, I really want to get a top-ranked bar, but it's difficult for us to come up with so much money at once."

During the era when the five major families were in control, almost all medium and large gangs had to pay "protection fees" to the five major families.

The ruling class would not allow the ruled class to expand indefinitely. Compared with Lance's obviously more scientific control methods, the five major families' control over these lower-level gangs was very simple.

That was not to give them the opportunity to expand rapidly.

Every month, they would assign some funding tasks to these gangs, requiring them to hand over a large portion of their income to the five major families.

After this part of the income was handed over to the five major families, these gangs themselves did not have much left.

The leaders and cadres divided a portion, and the rest was enough to distribute to the ordinary gang members, making it difficult to leave much money for further development and expansion of the gang.

At the same time, even if they really could leave it behind, they might not do so, in order to avoid suspicion.

Now, it might be possible for them to take out two or three million, but it was impossible for them to take out several million or even tens of millions.

Lance signaled the other party to continue, and that person looked at Lance with a slightly expectant look, "Mr. Lance, I don't know if we can owe it first?"

"Wait until our operating funds are recovered, and then pay in installments?"

Lance nodded, "Yes, but the amount owed cannot exceed 40% of the final bid price."

"That is to say, 60% cash, 40% installments. Calculate it yourselves."

As some people couldn't hold back and started bidding, the price quickly rose.

For these people, they realized that the so-called "contracting fee" was, in the end, the part they had previously handed over to the five major families.

After realizing this, it was now a great thing for them.

Because they might be able to get more profit from it!

The auction was very intense, and the operating rights of plot number 10 were finally auctioned off for a price of 4.5 million. According to Lance, if the winning gang operated well, they would still have at least 2.5 million in profit per year.

If they made some improvements and experiments in operation, they might have more left over.

By the time all the auctions were over, it was already dark outside.

The operating rights of plot number 1 were finally auctioned off for a price of ten million, with four gangs jointly paying this fee and only paying 60% of the cash.

Lance was very satisfied with the whole process. Everyone participated very actively. Some ordinary plots that were unsold and had no bids were also taken out again, allowing some gangs that had gained nothing to compete. Overall, most gangs got the plots they wanted.

After all the documents were signed, Lance packed things up, "In principle, I should invite everyone to dinner, but I have some important things to do tonight, so let's forget about it today."

"You guys go to renovate and design your bars during this time. In October, let's sit down and chat together. I'll treat."

As he spoke, he said goodbye to everyone and then left here.

He indeed had something to do tonight, and it was still very important.

Half an hour later, he arrived at an upscale club in the Bay Area. When the door to the reserved room opened, everyone inside stood up.

Lance raised his hand in greeting, a slightly apologetic smile on his face, and said, "Sorry, there was a slight delay on my end, and the traffic was a bit heavy. I'm late."

Chief Blue quickly laughed and smoothed things over, "No, we arrived early. Your timing is perfect."

The others echoed similar sentiments.

Only interests are eternal.

Using violence to make someone afraid and subservient to you is only temporary.

When they believe they possess the strength to challenge you, all it takes is a bit of courage for them to throw a punch.

All other forms of dominance are the same, except for interests.

Interests can make people willingly submit and bow their heads. It possesses a great power that science and theology cannot explain; it is the core of the universe!

Chief Blue, Deputy Chief Duke, Chief Dale, McCock...

They represented almost all of Goldport City's law enforcement agencies. If Lance could get in touch with the IRS, he would have invited them too.

He loved making friends.

Although Lance didn't tell them exactly what he wanted to do, they had a vague premonition.

Anticipation, excitement, joy, shock...

Those positive and active emotions constantly assaulted their rational defenses like waves!

Seeing Lance arrive, they were all too excited to sit still.

Lance shook hands with them individually, and then the group gathered around the dining table.

It was a lavish dinner; the food on the table alone was worth thousands of dollars, not including the expensive drinks.

"I'm a bit hungry. I'll have something to tide me over," Lance said, using a knife and fork to place a piece of boneless beef on his plate.

This was actually a very common cooking method, not quite in line with the upper class's demand for exquisite and complex food preparation.

But it was delicious.

That was enough for many people to compromise.

The beef, braised with spices and red wine until it fell off the bone, had skin connected to the tendons, tender and soft. Every bite was satisfying.

The others also said they were hungry and started eating, but their dining was clearly not as focused and dedicated as Lance's.

Lance was truly hungry; they were pretending.

After Lance ate a piece of boneless beef and some vegetable salad, he didn't completely put down his knife and fork, but his eating speed slowed down a bit.

"This afternoon, all the land parcels were contracted out. The cheapest parcel was worth one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars."

"The most expensive one was worth ten million."

Everyone's attention was drawn to Lance. They stared at him with wide eyes, as if looking at a monster!

Even James couldn't help but gasp, repeating that astonishing number, "Ten... million?"

Lance nodded, "Even so, they still have plenty of profit margin."

"In short, this is the first year. Many people's bids are relatively conservative. By this time next year, their bids will be much bolder, and the competition will be more intense."

A year of experiencing the joy of steadily making money would make it difficult for them to reject this model.

No risk, a one hundred percent chance of making money as long as they didn't do anything stupid. In the world of capital, this was almost impossible, yet it actually existed.

It was a miracle!

Lance got himself a piece of fish and gently manipulated it with his knife and fork, completely separating the flesh from the bones.

He put the snow-white fish meat into his mouth, and the unique texture and taste of the fish satisfied his taste buds.

"This time, I received about forty million in total, with more than twenty million in installments to follow, adding up to nearly seventy million."

"Chief Blue."

Chief Blue immediately perked up. He quickly put down his knife and fork, "Yes, Boss!"

He also used "Boss," but no one thought he was being obsequious. Anyone else in his position might not have been so calm.

"Let's calculate based on seventy million. Seven percent is yours."

Everyone's eyes turned to Chief Blue, filled with undisguised envy and jealousy. Almost five million a year!

Chief Blue and Deputy Chief Duke's breathing instantly became heavy and rapid.

Chief Blue asked softly, "Wouldn't that be... too much?"

He didn't actually want to ask that, but he felt it was indeed too much, and too much wasn't a good thing.

Lance shook his head, "There are more than ten thousand police officers in the city. Five million dollars, if divided equally among everyone, is only five hundred dollars a year."

"This money is given to you, not just to you alone, but to all the police officers."

"You need to come up with a distribution rule, to make them understand who gave them this money, where it came from, and why they can get this money. Do you understand what I mean?"

Chief Blue nodded repeatedly, "I know, I will handle this well."

He had experience; he knew what to do.

Lance nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Chief Dale, "The number of special agents in the Hazardous Materials Administration is not that large, is it even two thousand in total?"

Chief Dale shook his head, "Only a little over seventeen hundred people."

Lance nodded slightly, "So, five percent. Any objections?"

What objections could he have? Three and a half million divided among a little over a thousand people, and there might not even be that many people to divide it among. If he were a bit bolder, he could pocket a lot himself.

However, he still nodded, indicating that he understood how to handle this matter. At the same time, he was a little uncertain, "It might take some time for me to distribute this money to them."

Lance nodded twice, "You figure it out. You need to make them understand one thing: we are one."

Then he looked at McCock (the captain of the Coast Guard), "Although you have the fewest people, I'm giving you five percent as well. I only have one request for you—"

"Do not allow any bottle of liquor to enter Goldport City from the sea without my knowledge."

"I have some friends in the Department of Defense. Your work is very important, so I will help you take a few steps up."

McCock licked his lips. At this moment, he felt his mouth was dry, his heart was racing, his face was flushed, and there was even a buzzing in his ears.

He didn't know what "promotion and wealth" meant, but he had such emotional resonance!

"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Lance. I guarantee that no smuggled liquor will enter Goldport City from the sea. I swear!"

Lance nodded with satisfaction, "No need to swear. Just do your best."

"As long as you do your best, God won't blame you."

He paused, "Does anyone know the chief of the fire department?"

"I also left some for them, although not much, but it should be able to improve their situation."

Chief Blue immediately raised his hand and said, "I know him. Do you want me to bring him over?"

Lance shook his head, "Not now. Now is a gathering between friends. After he joins us, we'll let him meet everyone."

He put down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin to wipe the grease from the corners of his mouth, and then raised his glass, "Come, to a better tomorrow, cheers!"

The light emitted by the bulb passed through the wine glass, casting a golden glow on Lance's body, giving him a sacred feeling!