[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-empire-of-shadows":3,"chapter-empire-of-shadows-empire-of-shadows-chapter-99":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},1432228,1884,"Chapter 106: Investigation and the Garment Factory Manager","empire-of-shadows-chapter-99",99,"\u003Cp>Our Discord Server: .gg\u002FPazjBDkTmW\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hammer got beaten again—this time by Ethan—and then the group returned to the company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the garage, Morris and Lawn spread waterproof tarps all over the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then was Hammer brought in, looking very weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head had suffered continuous heavy blows and beatings, leaving his consciousness somewhat blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment Elvin entered, Hammer suddenly perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp adrenaline rush made him more “awake” than ever. He looked at Elvin kneeling on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all my fault. I… beg your forgiveness, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elvin lifted his shirt, pulling off the bandage to reveal a roughly fifteen-centimeter wound, with blackened thread edges on both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This process doesn’t take long, especially when caused by external force—swelling, rupture, bleeding, then shock and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the doctor had to take out his intestines, straighten them, and put them back—requiring a large incision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During surgery, many hooks are placed around the incision’s edge and pulled outward to keep the opening large enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s very painful. Even now, his stomach and intestines still hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The doctor told me I was lucky—I almost died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put down his shirt, looking at Hammer. Everyone else watched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t survive because you went easy on me. It’s because my fate was tough enough. Your God didn’t want me in your heaven, so He sent me back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, I’m going to do the same to you. If you survive, this ends here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t, don’t blame me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance disengaged the safety on his pistol, loaded it, and handed it to Hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Hammer jumped up and charged at Elvin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elvin wanted to say something but it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hammer pulled the trigger. The sharp gunshots echoed in the cramped garage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell less than two meters from Elvin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bullet hit his neck, four hit his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at three bullet holes in the wall behind him, Lance took back the weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you heal, you all better practice shooting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood flowed fast from his wounds, but thanks to the tarp on the floor, none soaked through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cleaned the scene, pried bullet heads stuck in bricks from the wall, then smashed the bullet holes into small pits to be cemented later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They dragged the tarp and Hammer’s corpse to the yard’s sewer, lifted one end to drain the blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oil barrels were ready. Following their usual method, Ethan threw him in and poured cement over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be no special farewell ceremony tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance ordered Mello to dump the body into Angel Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost everyone—good or bad—disposed of bodies there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew some places by Angel Lake had barrels hidden underground, but no law enforcement—FBI, local police, or state police—ever wanted to investigate or even think about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes they even helped cover up what happened there!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The federal social rules were strange and incomprehensible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the hospital, Elvin felt much better though still in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They said you won’t let me use painkillers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elvin, lying on the bed, felt another sharp pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance nodded, lighting a cigarette for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Painkillers today cause addiction. Once you start, you’ll need them for life—and chances are you won’t live past forty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elvin found it hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this poison or painkiller? Why do they do this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because it makes profits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know your wounds hurt now, but you have to endure. Until safe painkillers appear, you, I, and everyone else better avoid them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, doctors hadn’t fully realized—or already realized—the addiction problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But medical corporations loved this situation. If painkillers only sold for short-term pain, most people wouldn’t use them often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Addiction meant once people started, they used them for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The profits made federal and global medical capital ecstatic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had pills, suppositories, and injections for convenient use anytime, anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lance’s serious words, Elvin gave up trying to get painkillers from the hospital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, pain was adaptive—once he could endure, it gradually became less severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Hammer’s family reported him missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone on the way to work saw two police cars at the dock and told Lance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the police wanted, they could find out. The big commotion was partly to explain to the reporters and partly to give the perpetrators a countdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance called Officer Braden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which precinct handles port police, and who’s in charge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Braden was busy with the federal identity trade, but Lance knew not many people could get federal IDs through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, there were some.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In two months, by helping people confirm ancestry, Braden earned nearly five thousand bucks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the first two deals, his price was six hundred minimum. He kept two hundred; the rest went to recipients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He arranged to transfer those relations away from people after some time so he could continue making money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For many poor families, making money from missing children was uncomfortable but still better than poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance provided such a business. Officer Braden was grateful and quickly answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The entire port is managed by the port precinct. Their chief is about to retire and doesn’t handle work much. A new assistant chief named John, nicknamed Vulture, runs things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want him to do something for you, you only need to prepare money that moves him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you meet him, you can say I introduced you. Don’t expect him to do you favors or charge less. It’s just an excuse to approach him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance stored this info.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks, I’ll treat you next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waiting for good news!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up, Lance whistled. Then the phone rang again—it was Vaughn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hammer disappeared. Some say it involves you. They saw many illegal immigrants looking for him last night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vaughn’s tone was neither angry nor anxious, more like blaming Lance’s carelessness. It felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He beat my friend. Surgery cost a lot. I want to find him to get the medical fees back, but can’t find him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I promise this isn’t related to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vaughn thought a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You better solve this soon, or local workers will have conflicts with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, Ms. Debbie called. Your machines are already in your factory, and skilled workers are ready. You just need a professional manager before hiring and starting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Debbie moved fast—anyone even remotely political valued work highly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could easily monetize this—money, power, or other gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance was a little surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll arrange it immediately…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While pondering whom to assign, Mello knocked and poked his head in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The tailor and his son-in-law brought the clothes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance suddenly had an idea and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old tailor and his son-in-law had worked overtime to finish all the remaining clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not as meticulous as Lance’s two suits, they were still good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Much better than ordinary small tailors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was changing into new clothes, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old tailor held a notebook, standing by. If anyone found anything uncomfortable, he could note it and fix it later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the skill of a good tailor—clothes could be altered anytime, unlike unskilled tailors who just said, “I can’t do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw Lance approaching, they warmly paused and greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This deal would feed them for over a month, and Lance promised to help them open a shop downtown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance asked the son-in-law,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I recently opened a garment factory but lack a manager. Do you have experience?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were surprised but the son-in-law nodded quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I used to work in the empire, though not for a big operation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, it wasn’t really a factory, just a slightly larger workshop—still considered a small factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lance immediately invited him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to change jobs?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1271,"2026-06-06T01:02:09.488Z",1,"novelbin.me","28cd013993da01155e008f40d11a4df4a5e39a2ff8fb7845da4a9e15533916da","empire-of-shadows-chapter-100","empire-of-shadows-chapter-98",646,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fempire-of-shadows-cover.jpg"]