Empire of Shadows

Weapons were actually quite prevalent in Golden Port City.

When violence became the rule under the sun, weapons inevitably became an important resource to ensure one's rights and invade the rights of others.

"Holding a gun in hand," and "I will call the police afterward," the clever folks of Golden Port City knew how to choose.

Although it was said that weapons were prevalent, not just anyone would possess and so directly display them.

There were only three types of people who dared to do so—

Federation official law enforcement officers, legitimately armed with gun permits. Even if they shot you, they only needed to write a report, "…I presented my identification, then he came at me to snatch my weapon, according to rule number... and rule number..., I fired my gun," followed by a vacation and the warm welcome of colleagues upon the holiday's return.

The second type was gang members who not only did not hide their weapons but instead hoped more people would see.

The fear induced by the lethal power of weapons excited them.

The third type was the business inclined.

They were more terrifying because while the first two types might adhere to some rules, the businessmen recognized only money.

In the face of money, nothing could stop them from pulling the trigger—neither laws nor morals.

In the West Suburb of Golden Port City was a place called "Angel Lake", a tourist destination, and there's a local saying known only to the residents of Golden Port City.

"When a businessman gets angry, the water level of Angel Lake rises!"

Perhaps outsiders wouldn't understand this, but locals knew, the rising lake surface was due to the many gasoline barrels dumped!

Be it any type, a drunkard raised by a female entertainer couldn't afford to offend any.

These small figures at the bottom of society actually knew better how to cope with crises and make choices than the adults imagined.

When faced with a potential crisis, he conceded immediately without hesitation—so fast that it felt… practiced!

"I will do it right away, I assure you this won't happen again!"

Fodis withdrew his hand, and his coat naturally fell down, covering the weapon, relieving the female entertainer raised-drunkard.

In just a few seconds, he felt his head heat up, sweat covering his body, almost as if he had nearly died!

His glance at Elvin and Lance then started to waver uncertainly.

"I have some words I would like to discuss with… this gentleman."

Fodis looked at Lance for a few seconds and then turned away, "I'll be right here, call me if you need anything."

In the entire company, Fodis was a close associate of the boss, assigned to handle tasks surely because the boss found this young man interesting.

He knew what to do.

Lance looked at the female entertainer raised-drunkard, signaling him to make way, "Unless you wish to speak by the door, your neighbors will surely be curious about our conversation."

"If you want to become the joke of this apartment block by tomorrow morning, we could stand here and clear things up."

Realizing the situation, the female entertainer raised-drunkard, though fearful, disgusted, and resentful, nonetheless stepped aside and welcomed Lance in.

Federation people were also concerned with face, even a drunkard raised by a female entertainer.

A typical low-class apartment, less than forty square meters—kitchen, dining area, and bathroom nearly squeezed together, then inside there was a bedroom, and a small storage room.

This was interesting.

The lowest societal tiers of the Federation might lack a separate kitchen, but they could not be without a storage room.

Despite their poverty, most lower-tier folks always had a pile of inexplicable, unnecessary yet, un-discarded items, typically called encumbrances.

Just like themselves, in the trajectory of their lives' value.

Without a storage room, the house would only be a mess.

No trace of a woman, no trace of children, but there was a frame on the dining table with a photo of the man with a child, suggesting the female entertainer raised-drunkard Mr. was not in a good state of life.

Suspicious stains on the sofa and an odd smell emanating dissuaded Lance from the idea of sitting down for a chat, so he stood not too far from the door.

"Listen, Ethan is my friend. I will have him apologize for his reckless behavior but you are also at fault, you should not have tried to deduct money that belonged to him."

"So, after the case is dropped, I will have him apologize to you, but you must also return the deducted salary to him."

"I can have him not pursue your actions this time, but you also have to promise that this is the last time."

"Your relationship will still exist, he will continue to use your work card every month, paying you a suitable reward, and you can't trouble him anymore, exploiting the issue of payment."

Lance walked over to the dining table, picking up the frame, "A beautiful little one, is this your child?"

The previously groggy female entertainer raised-drunkard Mr. suddenly snapped to alertness, looking very nervous, "This has nothing to do with him."

Lance put down the picture frame and smiled, "Whether it's related to him or not depends on your choice, sir."

"We're just some despicable smugglers, thieves from another world, there's nothing here for us to cling to."

"But you have family here, you have children here, right?"

Mr. Drunk nodded repeatedly, "I know, I'll give all the money to them, but don't mess around."

Lance steadied himself on the edge of the dining table, the sticky greasy sensation suddenly made him feel uncomfortable, but he wasn't apt to show it at that moment.

"I always believe one thing, that everything operates on a trajectory, with rules."

"When rules exist, we follow the rules, that's enough."

"The market price, fifteen dollars is what you deserve, and no one can take away what belongs to you, that's the rules."

"As long as you follow the rules, we will too."

Elvin, standing by the door, looked at Lance with admiration. He had never imagined so much could happen in just one day!

Ethan had run away, they had encountered trouble, and then Lance took him to borrow money, though they didn't get the loan, the problem was resolved.

They even took a ride, and saw Lance looking so handsome at this moment!

Totally worth it!

So handsome!

A series of surprises, even if his mind were muddled, Mr. Drunk, raised by a woman remarried to a drunkard, sobered up completely, "I know what to do now."

He hesitated for a moment, "May I know your name?"

Lance's face bore a slight smile as if everything was under control, full of confidence, even a bit proud, "Lance!"

Minutes later, Mr. Drunk, raised by a woman remarried to a drunkard, changed into a new set of clothes, which still had a strong smell but was much better than before.

He sat in the car without speaking a word, went straight to the precinct, and immediately explained the situation once there, signing a document amidst the somewhat impatient urges of the police.

Sitting in the car, Lance witnessed everything through the glass window, and it felt incredible.

Fodis couldn't help but ask curiously, "Aren't you afraid?"

Lance turned around and looked at him through the rearview mirror, "What are you referring to?"

Fodis pursed his lips, "This is a police station, and as far as I know, you are unregistered, and the youngster with you too."

Lance couldn't help but caress the car door, the delicate feel of the walnut wood made him feel comfortable—it's no wonder people love vintage cars.

"Not at all."

"May I know why?"

"Because between me and them, there's a distance of twenty thousand dollars, and that distance, they can't bridge."

Fodis pondered for a while before saying with some emotion, "Filled with wisdom, are you really just eighteen?"

Lance didn't answer the question, just smiled.

Ethan was hiding under a big bridge in a nearby culvert, which had been abandoned. Many homeless people lived here.

The advantage of this place was that it was warm in winter because the outside wind couldn't blow in, and cool in summer as the shade and some piping's cold air would slowly release.

Ethan, in front of Lance and Elvin, apologized to the woman remarried to the drunk, "I shouldn't have impulsively hit you, I apologize, sir."

While saying this, the remarried woman's drunk husband could still feel his cheekbone aching.

Ethan was only twenty years old, but he looked at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight, or even older.

He was strong, his father was a leatherworker, a respected job both in the Empire and in the Federation.

Because it represented a craft and social status.

It was hard to imagine that a leatherworker could have any social status, but considering the evolution of social classes from the past, it indeed existed.

Originally, those who could afford leather goods were often nobles, so leatherworkers initially served noble communities, their social status higher than common people.

And because leatherworkers had stable income and better social status, Ethan's father raised him strong and tall.

The man who scared and shocked the remarried woman's drunk husband bowed, dissipating some of the gloom on his mind.

He looked at Lance and Fodis beside him and finally faced reality, "I also did something wrong, it's not all your fault, we've reconciled..."

Ethan got his twenty dollars, not a cent less, although the drunk had intended to give a little extra, Lance refused.

Rules are rules, try not to be a breaker of rules; this is survival wisdom when one has no power.

After watching the remarried woman's drunk husband leave, Lance asked Fodis to wait a little longer, he had something to talk about with Ethan.

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