Empire of Shadows

Detective Rucker returned to his office and immediately made a phone call.

"Are you familiar with the underground casinos in the Imperial District?"

"...No, it's not about the Coda family. I have a case on my hands... You'd better cooperate with me. I don't want to say anything that could hurt our relationship..."

"Okay, see you then."

He contacted one of his informants. In the Federation, being a police officer, especially a detective, it's impossible to solve cases without a few informants.

Often, cases that are difficult for the police to solve are immediately known to these people in the gray or even underground world, but there's just no evidence.

This is the role of an informant: to quickly identify suspects and then find evidence related to them.

Although the Department of Justice keeps saying they presume innocence, that kind of talk is just to deceive the common people.

If everything really was presumed innocence, then why do they sometimes arrest suspects and then use harsh measures to force them to confess?

According to some non-public statements from the Department of Justice, many police officers and police stations, in order to close cases as quickly as possible, use torture to force some innocent people to confess.

Not long after, he met with his informant in the Imperial District. He had more than a dozen informants in the Imperial District.

In fact, being an informant for the Federation police has always been one of the ways for illegal immigrants and legal immigrants to survive. Although being an informant can be dangerous, at least they can call their familiar police officers in critical moments.

Sometimes, when police officers need them, they will also apply for certain activity funds for them, and this fund is not from their personal pockets, but from the police station's finances.

Having someone to protect them, while occasionally being able to earn some extra income, this has become one of the few options for some Imperial outcasts living in the Federation.

After the two met, Detective Rucker directly posed his question, "How much do you know about the underground casinos in the Imperial District...?"

The informant was a little nervous. He was always nervous every time he met with Detective Rucker. If people knew that he was selling out Imperials to the Federation, he would definitely be beaten to death.

But...

Ten minutes later, a man in a white shirt left the area, looking very happy with the fifteen dollars in his hand. Detective Rucker also got everything he wanted.

What's left is to subtract until he finds the identity of the deceased.

At this time, Lance didn't know that the police had begun investigating the case of Kent and his gang's deaths. Even if he knew, he wouldn't be surprised, let alone panic.

The scene was very clean.

He cleaned all the places where fingerprints might be left, and swept the floor to ensure that no fingerprints or footprints were left.

The car was parked in another alley, so even if there were witnesses, there would be no direct evidence to prove anything.

Perhaps someone saw them and their henchmen enter the alley to the basement, but who can prove that the deceased were the people they saw that day?

And who can produce direct evidence to prove that Lance shot and killed these people? It must be direct evidence.

There is no direct evidence in any of the links, and witness testimony is also easily overturned, so he doesn't care about this case at all.

Today is the auspicious day for the opening of "Wanli Labor Intermediary Office". There are many flower baskets at the door. They didn't think of this originally, but Lance took the initiative to have some made and even set off firecrackers—

It is worth mentioning that three police cars came to set off these firecrackers.

When they discovered that this was not a gang fight, but just a company opening, they planned to leave.

But Lance stopped them, not only apologizing for his rash behavior, donating some money for them to transfer to those in need, but also treating them to iced juice and donuts.

The police officers were happy to have a good relationship with Lance because they knew he was a generous person.

When they left, they exchanged contact information and agreed that Lance would treat them to a hearty meal when he had the chance.

They came in a hurry and left satisfied. The relationship between the police and the people is so warm and harmonious.

Lance transferred those young people who had not gone with him to deal with Kent to work here.

The income may be slightly lower, but it is definitely not reduced to nothing all at once.

He also had a frank and open conversation with these young people. For the business of usury, you can't just see the "you're good, I'm good" when people borrow money. You also have to consider what you should do if these people can't pay back the money.

Forget it?

Impossible. This is the company's money. You lent it out, so you have to be responsible for recovering it!

Not everyone has this kind of psychological endurance and ability to act. After all, what they have to do is, to some extent, also very scary.

Even if Lance's methods are gentler than traditional finance companies, they will still cause some people to suffer.

Some young people can't handle this. Their stress resistance is not up to par, and the guilt caused by hurting others or causing them pain will also torment them.

So, rather than letting them continue to suffer in a job they can't take responsibility for, it's better to give them a change of track earlier.

Lance deliberately chose to open this intermediary company next to a cheap cafe. Many people may choose to pay a little attention to the situation here while having a drink.

Because this is not a pure intermediary company, it also has many other business projects, so it will definitely attract some people.

Just after sending away those police officers, a car stopped on the side of the road. The slightly anxious braking sound made Lance stop and look back. A middle-aged man wearing a dark shirt, jeans, and sunglasses got out of the car.

Looking to be in his thirties, he glanced at Lance, nodded slightly in greeting, and Lance responded to him.

He walked past Lance to the side of the cafe and ordered an iced coffee.

While waiting, he turned around and saw the newly opened labor company.

A sign was hanging outside the company, listing the various services offered here.

"Are you the boss?"

He asked.

Lance nodded, "Yes."

"Your accent doesn't sound like you're from the Federation."

Lance didn't deny it, "I'm a local, but I was trafficked to a black factory when I was a child. I didn't find my way home until I was an adult. They reported it."

The man smiled, "I hope the terrible past hasn't brought you indelible pain. You're very interesting. Many people don't want to talk about such things."

He took the initiative to extend his hand, "Let me introduce myself, Rucker Weitz."

Lance also extended his hand and shook his hand, "Lance, Lance White, just call me Lance."

The two quickly let go of their hands. Detective Rucker put his hands on his hips, "I saw that your sign says 'Work Plan Management'. I don't quite understand what that means."

Lance explained, "You must be a native."

Detective Rucker nodded, "Yes, a native."

"So you must have a work card."

"Yes, so?"

"If you want to be able to get at least thirty-two dollars a month, but you don't need to work yourself, you can talk to me."

Detective Rucker immediately understood, "You mean I give you my work card to use, then you arrange for someone to work, and then share the money with me?"

"Yes!"

"You know that this is the current situation here. Many people don't know how to do it, and they don't like dealing with illegal immigrants, so I had an idea and put it into action."

Detective Rucker naturally continued, "You come to help them deal with illegal immigrants!" He couldn't help but be amazed, "A genius idea. I've never heard anyone say there was such a company before. You're sure to be successful."

In the past, everyone passed it on by word of mouth, introducing each other, and not everyone was willing to do so, so it was difficult to form a scale.

Especially some hardworking Federation people, they themselves do two jobs, or have a relatively decent job with a higher income, it is difficult for them and they don't know how to find two people to use their work card to work.

It's not realistic to ask strangers on the street if they are illegal immigrants and want to find a job in the middle of the night.

But now, this problem no longer exists, because Lance will help them solve it, and they only need to pay an intermediary fee of one and a half dollars per job. A work card can bring Lance at least three dollars in profit.

It seems like this money... is not much, but you need to know that there are at least 200,000 illegal immigrants in King's Gold City. Even if only one-tenth, or even less, five percent, get jobs here through Lance's labor agency.

Just the management fees collected each month will exceed ten thousand dollars!

And he believes that he will build this market, and by then, the income may be even greater, but this is also related to policies and the like.

If there is anyone who has now become someone who does not want illegal immigrants to become legal immigrants, then Lance is undoubtedly one of them.

People who have just gotten on the boat are like this. Seeing that there are still people behind them who want to get on, they will definitely not reach out a hand, but give them two kicks!

The iced coffee was ready. Detective Rucker took out a business card and handed it to Lance, "I forgot to introduce my job. My name is Rucker. I work at the police station. I think we'll meet again in the future!"

Detective Rucker thought he could develop Lance into a good informant, or a friend.

Because this office is destined to deal with a lot of illegal immigrants, and not all illegal immigrants in the Federation are honest people who are happy after eating a donut. There are also ruthless people.

Perhaps in the future, he will need Lance to provide him with some clues about illegal immigrants, so he wants to have a good relationship with Lance.

Lance glanced at the business card and put it away. "I didn't expect you to be a police officer."

He glanced at the cafe waiter. "This cup is on me."

Officer Lucar was not a rigid person. He did not refuse Lance's kindness. "Then thank you. I'll get the next one."

He glanced at his watch and tilted his head. "I still have something to do…"

"See you."

"See you!"