[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-empire-of-shadows":3,"chapter-empire-of-shadows-empire-of-shadows-chapter-102":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Empire of Shadows",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1432331,1884,"Chapter 109: Not the Time to Open Blind Boxes","empire-of-shadows-chapter-102",102,"\u003Cp>Our Discord Server: .gg\u002FPazjBDkTmW\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren had worked at the Port Precinct for seven or eight years. His house had moved from the remote northwest corner of the city to a neighborhood closer to downtown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people thought the port wasn’t a place with much money to be made; the best precincts were considered to be the two downtown precincts and the Bay Area precinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, there was plenty of money here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because there were so many people, and many operators around these workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, they might charge merchants 30 or 40 bucks for “security fees,” but in the port area, it was only about 10 to 20 bucks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the fees were half as much, the sheer number of businesses meant everyone still had enough money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the port was also the place with the highest concentration of gray-area industries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The downtown and Bay Area precincts dared not collect fees from nightclubs backed by powerful people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if a woman only gave them one dollar a day, according to incomplete statistics, at least two thousand people in the port area worked in this industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This didn’t include those not counted but still paying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, they also extorted merchants by other means. Of course, “extortion” was too harsh a word—it was more like “negotiation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just five minutes ago, he planned to squeeze a few dozen bucks out of the boss of some “Wanli Labor Services,” but now he just hoped to get out safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the wildest time for gangs. Not long ago, Polly had sprayed the street with a submachine gun in broad daylight just a few blocks away, and yet he was still unpunished, sitting in his office smoking fine cigars and drinking expensive liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the young man sitting opposite him wasn’t a crazy person like big Polly. That relieved him a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance didn’t understand why Officer Ferren was so nervous but politely opened the cigarette pack on the table, signaling he could smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the cigarettes, Officer Ferren hesitated but took one, then pulled out a lighter and looked at Lance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance froze for a moment, then smiled wider. He took a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and his hand seemed to be searching for a lighter in his pocket but was actually just waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have fire.” Officer Ferren stood, leaned forward, and lit the cigarette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, lighters were almost all kerosene lighters, which smelled when lit. Some people didn’t like the kerosene smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance didn’t like it either. He preferred to carry matches rather than smell like kerosene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But some people liked that smell because it made them feel more manly, so they favored kerosene lighters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance stood and leaned slightly across the table so the flame curled under his cigarette. He took two puffs, then patted Officer Ferren’s hand, “Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren lit his own cigarette, and they both sat back down. This felt less like an interrogation and more like catching up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoking seemed to relax Officer Ferren somewhat. He carefully asked, “Mr. Lance, do you know a man named Hammer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A dock worker. Last night someone said your people were looking for him everywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance nodded, “Yes, I know him, but I haven’t found him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can ask around. Last night he beat up my friend outside the dock for no reason, and my friend had to have surgery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All the expenses added up to over five thousand. I want to find him and get that money back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren hadn’t expected that. He quickly took out his notebook and wrote down the details, including Elvin’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re looking for him because he first assaulted your friend and caused the injury, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance nodded, “Yeah, it’s several thousand. My friend… you know, has some identity issues, so this money can’t go through insurance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if he can’t pay all of it, he has to pay at least half. Don’t you think so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many people saw it. You just ask around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren nodded. He would verify it. “Mr. Lance, Hammer is missing, and some think you might be involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance showed a disdainful expression. “That’s typical slander. I want to find him more than you do—after all, that’s five thousand bucks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think he probably ran off to avoid this mess. I heard he doesn’t have much money either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren made a few more notes. “So you haven’t seen him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance nodded. “If any of you can give me a lead to catch him, I’ll give two hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you bring him here, I’ll give one thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether it’s you, your colleagues,”—he gestured at the officer standing by the door—“or your friends or family, anyone can claim this reward from me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferren wasn’t sure if Lance had really never seen Hammer, but he didn’t care much. Even if he was dead, so what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aren’t headless cases in Golden Port City common every year?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you tell me where you were last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance briefly explained, “At first, I was working here. Then I heard my friend got seriously injured, so I went to the hospital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can find the doctors there. By the way, we invited doctors from the Bay Area to do the surgery. They can testify for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later, we couldn’t find Hammer, so we went back. My friends can all testify to this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Until you came to see me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, if we still can’t find him, I’ll sue him directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren recorded the whole story, though these testimonies couldn’t be verified. Everyone who could confirm was somehow connected to Lance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he wouldn’t get much from Lance and didn’t want to stay longer. He soon said goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance suddenly remembered something. “Sorry, I thought you’d stay longer. I even forgot to have them bring two cups of coffee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Officer Ferren was about to explain, Lance opened a drawer, took out four five-dollar bills, and placed them on the table. “My treat. You and your partner should get a drink. It’s too hot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferren wanted to refuse, but before he could, Lance spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t refuse too quickly. I know you’ve been working hard under the blazing sun. Police work isn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those office workers won’t understand, but I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The coffee next door is good. You should try it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren glanced at his partner. They exchanged looks, and he raised an eyebrow with a “You got me” expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right, thanks for your generosity, Mr. Lance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance extended his hand. “You keep us safe. I buy you coffee. What’s wrong with that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren put the money in his pocket, smiling. “Yes, yes, no one can say anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance shook his hand. “Contact me if there’s news.” He took a business card from the table and handed it over. “I know many officers well. We’re good friends. I think we can be good friends too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren fully understood Lance’s meaning and replied warmly, “Definitely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll continue the investigation, Mr. Lance. Goodbye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two left the office. Officer Ferren’s partner whistled, “He’s a good man.” For twenty bucks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Lance didn’t need to give them money. The gangsters before had made it clear this wasn’t some shop they could extort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the fact that Lance said he was friends with many cops guaranteed he had people speaking up for him inside the police system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of person who’s not easy to mess with still gave them twenty bucks. This wasn’t just money; it was about dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Lance was a man of dignity, so they had to act decently too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren raised an eyebrow, holding his notebook. “So we have to verify if what he said is true. I don’t want the port area to lose a good man and gain a bad one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those intimidating people and weapons on the table, he didn’t care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the damn Federation. The constitution allowed people to carry weapons. If carrying weapons was a crime, seventy percent of Federation citizens should be hanged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The investigation went smoother than expected. Many saw Hammer beating Elvin, and some saw Elvin being sent to the hospital by Lance’s people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren asked around many places. Everyone said they hadn’t seen Hammer. Lance’s men also searched Hammer’s home and found no direct contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferren took the evidence and testimonies back to the precinct and handed everything with his conclusions to his superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sergeant in charge looked over the materials and asked, “So you think Hammer ran?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferren nodded. “From what I heard at the hospital, Lance’s friend has no insurance, and the surgery plus aftercare cost about 5,200. Hammer probably realized he was in big trouble and hid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sergeant put the files down and glanced over them again. “A typical impulsive idiot. Now the consequences are beyond what he can handle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head and tossed the files into the basket with other Hammer-related cases. “Go tell his wife if the victim wants to sue but they can’t pay, they might have to auction their house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better have her try to contact Hammer. You can’t run away from some things. You have to face them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what happened to Hammer—whether he ran or was dead—the sergeant knew one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without solid proof Hammer was dead, like finding a body, this case wouldn’t reach the threshold for criminal prosecution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The criminal division wouldn’t get involved. The regular cops would continue handling it, but with so many cases daily in the port, they couldn’t watch this case every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So chances were, this case would become another unsolved one that nobody paid attention to after a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for going all the way to Angel Lake to open blind boxes for a bottom-tier guy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t it better to live?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>TN: Translation Change\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jinggang City -> Golden Port City\u003C\u002Fp>",1659,"2026-06-06T01:02:09.488Z",1,"novelbin.me","948797c9b686381dfbf645eba298b6b2b580f3540e7e477a5668f047b96fa619","empire-of-shadows-chapter-103","empire-of-shadows-chapter-101",646,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fempire-of-shadows-cover.jpg"]