[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-117":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},2267737,4428,"Chapter 117: Seeking Justice and Meeting the Officer","the-shadow-empire-chapter-117",117,"\u003Cp>After crying for a while, Jamie’s emotions had mostly spent themselves; he suddenly felt embarrassed, yet also troubled. “Even if we don’t want to let this go, what can we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, federals hold prejudices against us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not prejudice—discrimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone once tried reporting it after being robbed, but the illegal immigrant worker refused to say where he came from and had no money for a ticket home, so they sent him to an immigration prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dockworker who robbed him never even faced a quick court; the police dismissed the case with a warning: “Don’t give us any more trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only do local workers discriminate against and harm us, but even the police, who represent justice, discriminate against and bully us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This leaves many illegal immigrants desperate, because here, even the police and the law stand against us—we have no basic human rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even legal immigrants who have obtained immigration status still face discrimination when dealing with many issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This country has never been as wonderful as it claims to be abroad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first person to refuse compromise named a name: “Mr. Lans, we’ll speak with Mr. Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jamie was uncertain. “Will this even help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mean, I’m not like Erwin and the others—I don’t know him well. Will he stand up for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s voice was firm. “We’re Empire people—that’s enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting that firm gaze, Jamie hesitated, then agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before lunch, they returned to the office’s exterior; the office was still bustling, with many people asking about work uniforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many were upset that the office only accepted applications from illegal immigrants; they said they were willing to work there too—meaning legal immigrants or local workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue sent Sean to calm everyone down, then began thinking about the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His original intent was to give these illegal immigrants a sense of collective pride through uniform attire, binding them more closely to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now it seemed even this benefit attracted legal immigrants and local workers; this forced him to broaden his thinking—perhaps he could open another office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet problems existed: legal workers’ labor dispatch jobs weren’t as easy to manage as those of illegal immigrants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For illegal immigrants, as long as they had steady income, they didn’t care whether it was one dollar more or less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But local workers and legal immigrants demanded wages; if their pay demands weren’t met, it would be hard to take a cut from them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s simple: they can find a dock job themselves for thirty-three dollars; Blue finds them one, also thirty-three dollars—but he takes one dollar. They’d never agree!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But illegal immigrants agree—even two dollars, they’d accept, as long as they have stable work and a stable environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, Jincheng is full of job opportunities; Blue felt that even if he did it, not now—but he could build good relations with them; someday, they’d be useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he left it to Sean to handle, telling everyone only that he’d consider it—when, or whether, he’d act, was another matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You should’ve seen their expressions—they were hilarious!” Gerald said with a grin, recounting his departure from Mr. Burton’s house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Burton’s family treated him like a money tree; at first it was fine, but starting in August, they found every excuse to squeeze more money from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald’s salary was never high, and after their exploitation, he ended each month with only ten or so dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Luo Bu (Gerald’s cousin) frequently borrowed money from him—one or two dollars—and never paid back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could say the whole family was draining his blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he’d finally left; and now Blue had begun gaining minor fame among Empire immigrants, so Mr. Burton, being pragmatic, tried desperately to keep him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he couldn’t stop him, he let him go without saying anything harsh—only told him that if life outside became unbearable, he could return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the art of being a petty person, Luo Bu still had much to learn from Mr. Burton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...So what should I do next?” Gerald was eager for his new life—no more Mr. Burton’s exploitation, no more Luo Bu’s overt or covert sarcasm, no more Cousin Nancy’s sneers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt better than ever—everyone was a good friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue sized Gerald up. “First, tell me what you want to do?” He already had some ideas, but he wanted to hear Gerald’s thoughts first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald looked lost. “I don’t know... maybe you could just assign me a job?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue listed current job roles; they discussed, but found nothing Gerald could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, nothing he particularly liked—he came here hoping to work alongside everyone, not to become just another ordinary laborer elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only work left for Gerald seemed to be clerical tasks—and he might not even be good at those.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about being a enforcer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at his delicate, almost androgynous face—perhaps the person he hit would beg him to “go harder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Gerald discouraged—he thought he could do something for Blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his disappointed expression, Blue offered his own idea: “I have an immature suggestion—perhaps you should consider it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald looked at Blue. “You don’t have to comfort me—I really can’t do anything well. How about I clean up for you? I’m good at that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Mr. Burton’s, he cleaned everything—that was part of his boarding cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue shook his head. “Why not hear me out first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald fell silent. Blue offered him a path he’d never imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should become a star, Gerald.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You mean... a star?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I become a star?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“God, I never even considered this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue thought the idea highly feasible. “You’re handsome—so handsome it borders on beautiful. I know you might be sensitive about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Gerald, you can’t deliberately ignore the gifts God gave you. You must use your strengths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, Empire people’s status in the Federation is low, and with that damn emperor’s madness, the whole Federation is hostile toward us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald nodded. “I’ve noticed too—they always look at us differently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had legal status, yet still faced the same problems—colleagues mocked him under the guise of “jokes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One went too far: he asked if Gerald screamed during sex like a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Gerald furious, but he had no recourse—the man immediately added, “I was just joking—don’t tell me you’re upset?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood how hard it was for Empire people in the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Gerald’s agreement, Blue continued: “So we must not only grow stronger ourselves, but also find ways for Federals to understand us. Stars, as public figures, are a good entry point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ll become curious about your life, your people—and that curiosity can become a turning point for changing the status of Empire immigrants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, provided that you don’t object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Blue, Gerald suddenly felt this might be a good choice—he was one of the victims of discrimination, and he felt it deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I really do something for all of us? Change our situation and environment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue was certain: idols held unique power, and more importantly, this was a superior “platform voice”—Federation fans would speak up for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gerald had his own worries: “But I can’t act, can’t sing—I can’t do anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this meant he agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those aren’t problems—I’ll arrange teachers for you. You’re still young.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And I’ll find you opportunities to appear on the big screen. Whatever the outcome, at least we tried, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gerald took a deep breath. “Blue, I trust you—I believe you won’t lead me astray...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue was about to explain his next plans when the office door knocked. Hiram poked his head in. “Something happened—I’ve got the people waiting in the yard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yard meant the courtyard behind the street-facing house. Blue nodded, called Gerald, and they went outside together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jamie wore nothing but underwear; his friends told him only this way could Blue see how badly he’d been hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue frowned at Jamie’s appearance. Erwin wasn’t here; Hiram had become the number one toady—but Blue didn’t like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because he disliked the man, but because he hated how Hiram constantly hovered around him. Hiram’s habit of flicking his hair was ridiculous—it damaged Blue’s image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Hiram thought his hair-flip looked cool; he claimed girls screamed because of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue suspected they screamed from disgust, not admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought Blue a chair. Blue sat down; Hiram lit a match in advance. Though he looked foolish, he was sometimes useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled. “What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jamie’s emotions had steadied; his sorrow turned to hatred. He gritted his teeth and recounted the whole story. Blue listened in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Gerald couldn’t take it anymore. “This is too cruel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized he shouldn’t speak—Blue was in charge—and stepped back, embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was only sixteen; Blue wouldn’t hold it against him. He gave Gerald a reassuring glance, then turned to Jamie. “A deeply infuriating incident. What do you want me to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jamie didn’t know what to say, but his companion pressed his shoulder, forcing him to bow low. “Mr. Lans, please seek justice for us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue nodded without comment. “Are you certain your account is accurate? You understand—this isn’t simple. If I seek justice for you, it won’t be easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jamie realized this was his only chance to stand tall again. He knelt on the ground. “I swear every word I said is true. Please seek justice for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stand up. I’m not one of Camilla’s people. I’m no different from you—we don’t need this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought a moment. “I’ll handle this. Come to me before work tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Hiram. “Give Jamie a new uniform. Take him to the doctor for treatment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue flicked ash from his cigarette. “He used violence against our brothers—so we’ll use violence to make him understand his mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re all my brothers. I want you to know: even far from home, I’ll protect you. No one will harm you without reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t initiate violence—but we won’t let others harm us. Remember that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they left, Blue called Ennio over. “We need someone from your side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ennio bowed deeply to Blue, without hesitation. “No problem. What do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow I plan to settle matters with that fool Johnny at the docks. This will surely draw the harbor police’s attention—I’ll need someone to take the blame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But don’t worry—I’ll handle the police, and I’ll make Johnny drop the charges. He’ll likely be jailed for a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As compensation, whoever does it gets ten dollars a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enio listened and said, “I’ll do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans glanced at his arm. “If you’re not afraid your arm will break again and leave you disabled, then go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Enio pulled back—he was now most afraid his arm would become deformed. “I’ll go back and tell them. I believe everyone will be willing to do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better make sure of it. Pick someone strong, fearless, bold. Even if they’re likely locked up at the precinct, conditions inside won’t be good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans’s instructions were serious. Enio nodded. “I understand. I’ll handle it right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enio’s group totaled seven people. Besides him and Mo Lisi, there were five others, all now working for Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained briefly. A man named Beck volunteered for the job. Lans sized him up—he stood about one meter eighty, tall by this era’s standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bulky, but definitely not thin—he had muscle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans clapped his arm. “Scared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head. “We all feel honored to work for you, Mr. Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call me Lans!” Lans emphasized, tossing him a cigar. “Tomorrow morning we’ll go to the dock, find the man who bullied us, and I’ll break his arm. The police will arrive afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just confess. I’ll arrange everything else. They’ll likely hold you three to seven days. I’m giving you seventy dollars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too much, Lans,” Beck said, surprised by the extra money. “You’ve already taken good care of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans raised a hand to cut him off. “If you won’t take it, how will others take it when this happens again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve paid a price for us. If you don’t take it, others will think it’s my problem, not yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not a good habit, Beck. You should take it. And if anyone asks, tell them it’s what you earned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beck scratched his head, not quite understanding why, but still agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans handed him seventy dollars outright, regardless of how long he’d be held, then told Hailam to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That dumbass face might be annoying sometimes, but he was truly capable inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans then called Officer Feren and invited him out—to a coffee shop nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is for you, Mr. Lans,” the owner said as Lans sat down, bringing over a cup of coffee and a plate of pastries. Lans was surprised, glancing at him questioningly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, looking kind. “Thank you for running your office nearby—it’s brought us much more business. I don’t know how else to help you, so… this one’s on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” Lans raised his coffee. “Excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner didn’t linger and left soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About ten minutes later, a police car pulled up outside the café. The owner saw Officer Feren step out and was about to go greet him, to tell him his monthly payment had been settled, when Lans raised his hand first. “Don’t worry—he’s here for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three more coffees. One here to drink, two to take away. And a large bag of donuts. I’ll get it myself this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner smiled and went to prepare the coffee. He felt Lans was a truly respectable man—talking with him gave a very special feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like… being respected!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the café owner was a Lianbang citizen, he still lacked respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this about?” Officer Feren’s partner stayed in the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feren himself walked over, adjusting his weapon belt. Lans pointed to the chair beside him. Feren sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow morning I need your help with something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then the owner brought the coffee. Neither spoke until he was gone. Then Feren asked, “What’s it about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t answer what it was about. Instead, he pulled out a stack of bills, counted out forty dollars. “Some idiot provoked my people. I plan to teach him a lesson so he won’t keep calling the police and disrupting my plans. When it happens, you and your partner show up right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow all normal procedures. He’ll be held at your precinct. Arrange for someone to look after him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll make sure that idiot withdraws his complaint within a week and settles privately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feren ran his fingers through his hair. “That might be hard to arrange…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans added ten more dollars to the stack. Now it was fifty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feren stared, startled. “That’s not what I meant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lans…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People’s minds are strange sometimes. He licked his lips. “I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his mouth to say more, wondering if he could push for more, when Lans placed a pistol round atop the stack of bills and looked at him…\u003C\u002Fp>",2505,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f8e315b2c27ed8fcdf9350e918fe509fc912523b3b6b462a2176d3f4e3669cf8","the-shadow-empire-chapter-118","the-shadow-empire-chapter-116",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]