[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-105":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Shadow Empire",{"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},2267725,4428,"Chapter 105: Do It Now","the-shadow-empire-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>Mr. Chobav was going to do something about the toilet, and Lans had a premonition about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly had the guts to flip the table and walk away, he wouldn’t have been extorted for hundreds of thousands and still done nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always wanted to avoid being dragged into these affairs, slip into the upper class, then consider reclaiming what he’d lost along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he ignored one thing: the Federation’s upper class was always for Federation citizens, never for outsiders or immigrants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how grandly they spoke, just look at how few first- or second-generation immigrants sit in the Senate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think again: how many immigrants have become President of the Federation? That’s all you need to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They loudly chant about equality, yet enforce inequality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like fishing—you don’t bait the water, how do you lure the fish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the fish come, you, the angler, aren’t planning to befriend them—you only want to feed them so you can reel them in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Federation’s upper class is no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Mr. Chobav craved dignity, the less he’d have it—but that had nothing to do with Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d already offered the optimal solutions: violent upheaval or quiet upheaval—but Mr. Chobav chose to lie down and dream of “someday.” Let him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can never wake a man pretending to sleep, even if you stab him until he bleeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding dozens of thousands in debt claims, some easier to collect, others harder, he’d sort them first, then collect them in order, putting the money into his own pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While reviewing these documents, Ethan suddenly burst in, shoving open the office door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared to be glancing sideways at him, as if asking, “Why didn’t you knock?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elvin was beaten at the dock. They say he’s unconscious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was closest to Elvin; his eyes were red—not from tears, but from rage. He wanted to kill right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans paused, then rose and walked to the safe, opened it, placed the documents inside, and pulled out the pistol within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gather the team. Let’s go see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some heard Elvin was beaten and wanted to come; Lans picked a few. They drove four cars and arrived at the dock in about ten minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elvin had woken up, but looked terrible—curled on the roadside, face twisted in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His companions saw the cars and were startled, but soon recognized Lans and his group in the fading sunset light—and sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where does it hurt?” Lans walked over, checked him: his jaw was swollen, his face had a wound—likely a penetrating injury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clutched his stomach, making Lans’s expression grow grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My stomach…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans looked at Ethan. “Carry him to the car. We’re going to the hospital.” Then he scanned the crowd. “Anyone who knows what happened—come with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some, afraid of trouble, stepped back. Others, unafraid, stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans pointed at one. “You. Come with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smiled slightly, then realized this wasn’t the time—he forced a solemn nod and got in the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a hospital nearby, but not a famous one. Medical conglomerates knew dockworkers had no money—nothing to squeeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jincheng City, the best medical resources were concentrated in the Bay Area—full of villas, full of the rich, who alone were willing to spend endless gold on their health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the hospital, Ethan carried Elvin straight to emergency. The ER doctor examined him carefully, his expression darkening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s responsible here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crowd gathered around him, making the doctor nervous. “Send someone who can make decisions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans made the others step back, stood beside the doctor, and handed him twenty dollars. “What’s my friend’s condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor hesitated. Lans shoved the money directly into his chest pocket. Only then did the doctor react. “There’s good news and a…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty dollars put him in a good mood—he almost wanted to play the classic good-news\u002Fbad-news game—but seeing Lans’s murderous gaze, he dropped it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your friend’s intestines may have a problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d planned to say, “He’s still alive after ten minutes—that means the internal injury isn’t severe.” But seeing their expressions, he chose honesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So he needs surgery?” Lans asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor nodded. “We can do it here, but it’s expensive. Does your friend have social insurance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his head. Elvin was still an undocumented—how could he have insurance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor pursed his lips. “If our own doctor performs it, about a thousand to twelve hundred. If you want a famous doctor from the Bay Area, it’ll be around four thousand five hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those behind Lans gasped. Even a thousand-dollar surgery stunned them speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a famous doctor costing four thousand five hundred? That meant the doctor’s fee alone was three thousand five hundred?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, he wasn’t truly famous—just moderately known, skilled, and willing to take extra jobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real celebrity surgeons didn’t need this money and never took outside work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the horrifying surgical standards of this era, Lans told him to book the so-called famous doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he ordered Ethan to return to the office and fetch five thousand dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor nearly laughed out loud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the big cut went to the outside doctor, he’d still earn hundreds more than doing it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem, sir. I’ll arrange it immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t ask if he was an illegal immigrant—only that money was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, finally, Lans had time. He turned to the young man who’d followed them, still stunned. “What’s your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alan, Mr. Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, Alan. Tell me what happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man recounted the events. When someone heard Hammer had punched Elvin and then kicked him, they slammed a fist into the hospital wall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loud thud drew everyone’s gaze—but they quickly looked away under the weight of threatening stares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good kid. You can go now.” Lans pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and slipped it into his pocket. But the guy didn’t leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have something else?” Lans asked, growing impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan swallowed. “Mr. Lans, I want to join your family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans paused, then laughed, gripping Alan’s nape and squeezing. “You’re already family. Go sleep. Come to the office tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan’s eyes lit up with joy. “Mr. Lans…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call me Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lans, can I stay? I can help—anything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. He let him stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a doctor arrived with two nurses. From this angle, four thousand five hundred… still expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lans had recently gained a large income—he could afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor quickly assessed the case and reached the same conclusion as the local doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it were a ruptured spleen or other organ, he wouldn’t have made it here. Likely his intestines twisted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the operating room ready?” After receiving confirmation and pocketing the money, the doctor shook Lans’s hand. “I’ll do my best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he entered the operating room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surgery lasted about forty minutes. When the doctor emerged, he smiled—everyone exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He removed his mask. “His intestines twisted several times from external force. I opened his abdomen, untangled them, and put them back. He’ll wake soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No special care needed. I’ve given the instructions to the local doctors—they’ll follow them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll be able to walk or do simple things soon, but full recovery may take two or three months.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans smiled, shook the doctor’s hand again. “Thank you. Can I have your business card?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you need me, I can contact you directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doctor hesitated, studied Lans and his men, then handed over a card. “For medical issues, call me. But don’t bring me trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans gripped his hand firmly. “I swear it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, Elvin woke from anesthesia. He looked at Lans and the furious Ethan, and smiled. “Sorry. I messed up this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his head. “Rest. Tell me his name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hammer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd dispersed, leaving Alan and another man to care for him. At the hospital entrance, Lans lit a cigarette. “I know the smart move is to wait at the dock tomorrow morning—he won’t escape. That’s rational.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But from my personal emotion, my gut—I don’t want to wait until tomorrow for this revenge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty-some men stood silent, watching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans met each of their eyes, holding their gaze, his cigarette hand gesturing lightly. “Rouse our people. Find out where he lives, where he is now. I want to see him before dawn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spend what you must. I don’t care who you disturb or how much you spend. I only care about seeing him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, go do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1412,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","027d912283369a946a23e186e8b5e8a66bf48cb038506b1a6be0822b80e79742","the-shadow-empire-chapter-106","the-shadow-empire-chapter-104",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]