[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-110":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},2267730,4428,"Chapter 110","the-shadow-empire-chapter-110",110,"\u003Cp>Officer Ferren had worked at the Harbor Division for seven or eight years, and 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 harbor wasn’t a lucrative post; the best divisions were the two in downtown and the Bay Area Fenju .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, the graft here was no less abundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because there were so many people here, and countless operators thrived around these workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, they might extort thirty or forty yuan as “security fees” from merchants, but in the harbor district, it was at most ten or twenty yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the fees were halved, the number of businesses here was staggering, so everyone still had ample graft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the harbor was also the place with the most concentrated gray industries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divisions in downtown or the Bay Area dared not enter nightclubs backed by powerful figures to collect various fees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the Bay Area, those bars and streetwalkers had to pay up obediently, or they couldn’t survive here at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if a woman gave them just one yuan per day, incomplete statistics showed at least two thousand people engaged in this trade in the harbor district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This didn’t even include those unrecorded who were still paying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sometimes they’d use other methods to extort merchants—though calling it “extortion” was too harsh; it was more like “negotiation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just five minutes ago, he’d planned to squeeze a few dozen yuan from the owner of this Wanli Labor Agency—but now, he only hoped to leave safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most chaotic time for gangs; not long ago, Poli had opened fire with a submachine gun on a public street during daylight, and yet he still faced no punishment, sitting in his office smoking fine cigarettes and drinking expensive liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the young man across from him wasn’t a madman like Big Poli, which eased his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t understand why Officer Ferren was so tense, but he politely opened the cigarette box on the desk, gesturing that he could smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the cigarettes in the box, Officer Ferren hesitated, then took one, pulled out a lighter, and looked at Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans paused again, then smiled wider—he picked up a cigarette himself, stuck it between his lips, and pretended to rummage in his pocket for a lighter, but was actually waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got fire,” Officer Ferren stood up, leaning forward, and lit the lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lighters of this era were almost all kerosene ones, releasing a smell upon opening—some people disliked the kerosene odor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans disliked it too; he preferred carrying matches rather than stinking of kerosene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But some men believed the smell made them seem more manly, so they favored kerosene lighters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans stood up, leaned slightly across the desk, let the flame circle the cigarette tip, took two puffs, patted Officer Ferren’s hand, and said, “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren lit his own cigarette, and both sat back down—it didn’t feel like an interrogation at all, more like a social call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a drag, Officer Ferren seemed somewhat relaxed; he chose his words carefully: “Mr. Lans, do you know Hammer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A dockworker. Last night, people said your men were searching for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “Yes, I know this man, but I haven’t found him either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could ask—last night, he beat up my friend without cause, forcing him to undergo surgery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The total cost was over five thousand yuan. I want to find him and recover that money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren hadn’t heard of this; it was unknown to them. He quickly pulled out his notebook and jotted down the details, including Elvin’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re looking for him because he assaulted your friend first, causing injury?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “It’s several thousand yuan. My friend… you know, he has some status issues, so this expense can’t go through social insurance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if he can’t pay it all, he should pay at least half. Don’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many people saw it. Just ask around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren nodded. He’d verify it. “Mr. Lans, Hammer is missing. Some think it might be connected to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans showed disdain. “That’s classic slander. I want to find him more than you do—it’s five thousand yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think he probably ran away to avoid this. I heard he doesn’t have much money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren scribbled more in his notebook. “So you haven’t seen him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “If anyone gives me a lead to catch him, I’ll pay two hundred yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you bring him to me, I’ll pay a thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether it’s you, your partner…” Lans waved toward 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 Lans had truly never met him, but he didn’t care much—so what if he was dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were unsolved cases in Jincheng City rare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you tell me where you were last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans gave a brief account: “I was working here first. Then I heard my friend was severely injured, so I went to the hospital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can ask the doctors there. Oh, we also brought in doctors from the Bay Area to perform the surgery—they can testify for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After we couldn’t find Hammer, we returned. My friends can all confirm this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Until you came here now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, if we never find him, I’ll sue him directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren recorded the entire timeline, but these testimonies couldn’t be verified—all the people Lans mentioned had some connection to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized he wouldn’t get anything more from Lans and didn’t want to stay longer, so he asked to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Lans seem to remember something. “Sorry—I thought you’d stay longer, and I forgot to have them bring two coffees.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Officer Ferren opened his mouth to explain, Lans pulled open a drawer, took out four five-yuan bills, and placed them on the desk. “My fault. Treat yourself and your partner to a drink—it’s too hot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren wanted to refuse, but before he could speak, Lans cut in: “Don’t rush to refuse. I know how hard you work under the sun. Police work isn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those sitting in offices won’t understand you—but I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The coffee shop next door makes good coffee. Try it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren glanced at his partner; they exchanged a look. Then he raised an eyebrow, feigning helplessness. “Well… alright. Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Lans!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans extended his hand. “You protect our safety; I buy you coffee. Who says that’s inappropriate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren slipped the money into his pocket, smiling broadly. “Yes, yes. No one could say otherwise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his hand. “If you get any new information, contact me anytime.” He took a business card from the desk and handed it over. “I know many officers well—we’re good friends. I think we can be too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren fully understood Lans’s meaning and responded warmly. “Absolutely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll continue our investigation. Mr. Lans, goodbye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two left the office. Ferren’s partner whistled. “He’s a decent guy.”—for the twenty yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Lans didn’t need to pay them; even the gang members who’d come before had made it clear this wasn’t some small shop they could easily extort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Lans’s claim that he knew many officers ensured he had allies within the police system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This intimidating man still gave them twenty yuan—it wasn’t about the money anymore. It was about dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Lans was a man of dignity; so must they be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren raised an eyebrow, gripping his notebook. “So we need to verify whether his story is true. I don’t want the harbor to lose a good man and gain a bad one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the weapons on the table, they didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the damn Federation—where the Constitution allowed weapon ownership. If carrying weapons was a crime, seventy percent of Federation citizens should be hanged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The investigation went far smoother than expected. Many had seen Hammer beat Elvin, and others had seen Elvin taken to the hospital by Lans’s group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren visited many places, asking questions. Everyone said they hadn’t seen Hammer. Lans’s men had also searched Hammer’s home—there was no sign of direct contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Ferren returned to the station with the evidence and testimonies he’d gathered, submitting them along with his conclusion to his superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The case was assigned to a sergeant, who reviewed Ferren’s materials and asked, “So your view is Hammer ran away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferren nodded. “I checked with the hospital—Blas’s friend had no insurance. The surgery and follow-up cost about five thousand two hundred yuan. He probably realized he’d stirred up trouble too big for him and went into hiding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sergeant placed the file back on his desk, skimmed it again. “A typical dumb, impulsive fool. The consequences exceeded his capacity to handle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head, stacked the file with other Hammer-related documents, and tossed them into the bin. “Go tell his wife—if the victim sues and they can’t pay, they might have to auction off their house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Best to get her to contact Hammer. Some things can’t be avoided—you have to face them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what had happened to Hammer—whether he ran or was dead—the sergeant knew one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without concrete proof that Hammer was dead—like finding his body—the case wouldn’t meet the threshold for criminal Lian .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Criminal Division wouldn’t get involved; the case would remain with regular patrol officers. But the harbor had so many cases daily—they couldn’t assign someone to monitor this every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So most likely, this case would fade like other unsolved ones—ignored after a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for digging through Angel Lake for some lowlife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t being alive better?\u003C\u002Fp>",1619,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","51f96b80ba3d4a2df0a57206a093c25298372ae4ade77d57b7c04e950d7a2531","the-shadow-empire-chapter-111","the-shadow-empire-chapter-109",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]