Empire of Shadows

Inside the interrogation room, everyone else had left, leaving only the deputy chief.

The two of them lit cigarettes. The deputy chief's expression was terrible. "So, we just let him go?"

Hunter was silent for a moment, his voice filled with helplessness, "The mayor is protecting him with his life."

That one sentence was enough for the deputy chief to understand why Lance could leave. If the mayor protected him, then no one in this city could stand against him.

Or rather, unless some people in the Bay Area with huge political influence stood up to confront the mayor, they simply couldn't hold Lance.

Politics isn't like a street brawl, where you punch me and I punch you.

Political games are very complex. Even if the old guys in the Bay Area plan to step in again, they will first make all sorts of preparations before taking action.

Hunter glanced at the deputy chief. "When Lance left just now, what did he mean by 'that night'?"

The deputy chief felt very uneasy. He didn't know what to say, and after a while, he said, "That night, Camilla helped make arrangements."

Hunter immediately thought of "that night." Heller, through his connections in the Bay Area, contacted Charlie, saying he wanted to eliminate the Lance family in one fell swoop, which might involve a fierce fight.

In fact, this matter was not a big deal to Charlie at all. When the five major families fought in the past, they didn't have the habit of calling in advance.

However, later they formulated a series of rules to maintain their authority. This is equivalent to "I need to apply to you for an 'I want to take you down' permit," which is a way to protect their own interests.

Heller is a very timid person. Because of his immigrant status, he doesn't have a very high position in Goldport City, even in the underworld, so it's normal for him to do this.

The Lance family is disrupting the stability of the Empire District, which is very unfriendly to the rulers.

The purpose of the existence of gangs in this society is to help the rulers manage the lower levels of society and those criminals who are conducive to administrative duties, not to create trouble.

Whether it was the mayor or Charlie, they both agreed to ensure that the battle would not affect ordinary people and also to solve this small problem once and for all.

Charlie also arranged for people to "maintain order" at the scene.

At that time, when Lance knew that they had no hope of escaping, he planned to let the two girls leave first, but he was rejected.

And the person who refused was him.

Hunter didn't know what to say after hearing this. He could only comfort him, "Lance is in trouble now, he won't move you casually."

"I'll find a way to transfer you to another place first, and you can come back after Lance is dealt with!"

The deputy chief was a little depressed. He asked without any confidence, "Can we win?"

Hunter held the cigarette to his mouth for two seconds, then took a deep puff and nodded vigorously, saying, "We can win!"

As he spoke, Lance had already walked out of the police station. When the iron gate of the police station was opened, a "Boss" sound came from outside, loud enough to be heard inside the police station.

Some police officers couldn't help but look sideways, with both dissatisfaction at the Lance family surrounding the police station and fear of them.

Lance nodded slightly and turned to look at lawyer Robben, "Thank you for tonight."

Lawyer Robben came back to his senses from the verbal storm and immediately said with a smile, "It's all my job. I also want to thank you, Mr. Lance, for giving me such a job opportunity."

He paused as he spoke, "You shouldn't need me now, but at any time, Mr. Lance, as long as you are facing the police or in a law enforcement agency, you must not say anything and wait for me to come over!"

Lance nodded in agreement, "I will. Before you come, I won't say a word."

As he said that, he had someone take a kraft paper bag from the trunk, which contained two thousand dollars, and he stuffed it to lawyer Robben, "Thank you for making the trip."

Lawyer Robben had a rough idea of the amount when he received it. His face was all smiles, "It's no trouble, no trouble. Then I won't bother you. Call me anytime, anywhere if you need anything!"

As he said that, he got into the car next to him and left quickly.

Lance got into the car, "Find out about the situation of that deputy chief. He seems to be the one who blocked us from leaving the Triangle District that night."

"If it's him…"

Lance looked at Elvin without saying what he would do if it was him, but Elvin could understand what Lance meant.

He nodded, "I understand."

"Have the Cody family people come in?"

This question was for Bolton.

Bolton nodded, "They are searching for those cars on our side."

The five modified cars have very obvious features. If they can find these cars, they can not only catch Lance's weakness but also possibly recover some of the lost money.

A look of disdain flashed across Lance's face. He looked around, "Where's Hiram?"

"Here, here!"

Hiram's voice came from the entrance of the police station. People voluntarily made way for him, and a car adjusted its direction to let the headlights illuminate Hiram.

He took off his pants and squatted at the entrance of the police station, now sticking out his butt, with the other hand obviously wiping his butt.

Lance could even see the pile of shit between his legs!

"Fuck!"

Lance cursed and couldn't help but laugh, "You always manage to bring me something new!"

He paused, "Clean up the little rats that sneaked in."

Hiram wiped his butt while repeatedly agreeing, "Okay, I'll go do it right away. Just wait for my good news!"

Lance nodded slightly. What needed to be said and what needed to be ordered had been done. He rolled up the car window, and the cars and people at the entrance of the police station quickly disappeared.

After returning to the villa, Lance made a phone call to the mayor, starting with a "Thank you."

"How could you tell it was me?"

The mayor asked, "Maybe there were other people who put pressure on Hunter, such as Williams. I heard you've been getting close recently."

Lance didn't deny it, "Councilman Williams will definitely ask about this matter, but whether he can get me out so quickly is uncertain."

For Goldport City at the moment, Councilman Williams still belongs to the "Bay Area" faction. They are one.

Before Councilman Williams has truly reached that position, he will not excessively offend the Bay Area.

In fact, both he and the old guys in the Bay Area know very well that some things will change after he takes office, but at least they are a group now, and things may not necessarily have some new changes.

After listening, the mayor had a little more understanding of Lance, "What are you planning to do next?"

In the one-by-one error-free version!

Lance said with a smile, "What else can I do?"

"Take them down!"

Listening to Lance's words, the mayor vaguely had a very strange feeling. If he hadn't considered so much at the beginning, wouldn't he have lost at the last moment?

However, no one can say for sure about things that have already passed. He can only sigh softly, "I hope you succeed."

Originally, they were enemies, but now, the two of them inexplicably have some common interests again.

"I will!"

In the evening, intense gunshots occurred in several places in the Empire District, but no one called the police. They were already used to it.

The next day, except for a few places where some bloodstains that were not noticed at night remained, they were basically cleaned up.

Even those that were not noticed last night, now someone is actively taking a brush and dipping it in caustic soda to scrub the ground fiercely.

These people are not necessarily from the Lance family. They may be people living nearby. They are doing this not because they are afraid or threatened, but simply because they don't want anything to happen to the Lance family.

There is no better gang than them. In this world, they can't even be called a gang!

Bandi didn't sleep until almost dawn, and as a result, he woke up after only three or four hours.

He really couldn't sleep!

Like him, Gaoli, Stone, and Fleming also couldn't sleep. This time, what they had to face was no longer the small families that they could easily crush in the past.

They had pinched a nail, and the nail pierced their fingers, making them bleed!

"None of the people sent to the Empire District last night have returned."

In the restaurant, Gaoli also said somewhat listlessly, "I knew it, we can't let these small gangs expand wildly. Their strength is already enough to threaten us."

Bandi was a little hungry and wanted to eat something, but now he had no appetite at all.

He had lost so much money, and now he had lost so many people. He didn't know what he would have to face next. He had a headache.

Before he could slowly have a headache, the phone rang quickly. He glanced at it, walked to the corner, and answered the phone, "This is Bandi."

"I heard you've encountered some trouble?"

The voice on the other side of the receiver was very familiar. Even if he didn't introduce himself, Bandi knew who it was.

A broker from the capital, as part of the local interest delivery, he connects the Koda family and some state politicians.

Bandi also understood what he meant by calling, not to ask him if he needed any help, but to ask if these things would affect the normal delivery of benefits.

This made Bandi a little stuffy, "Just a small trouble, it won't affect our cooperation."

The voice on the other side of the receiver relaxed a lot, "Is there anything I can help with?"

That was clearly bullshit. He might be able to connect two unfamiliar politicians or help capitalists willing to pay to associate with politicians realize their ideals. He could even help some people in the state legislature pass or repeal proposals.

But he had no way to actually interfere in the internal affairs of a region.

"No need, I can handle it!" Bandi emphasized his tone.

The guy on the other end chuckled twice. "Alright, it seems you really don't need it. If you need anything and I happen to be able to help, remember to give me a call!"