Chapter 172: Imperial Chamber of Commerce

The news of Lanse's return spread quickly in the Imperial District. He was now a super big celebrity in the Imperial District, and soon people came to his door.

It was Bo Dun. He had recently recruited a group of people. They didn't wear the uniform clothing like Lanse and his men, but wandered the streets in casual clothes.

When they discovered some abnormalities, they could call Lanse's side or notify Bo Dun.

This approach effectively curbed the occurrence of street crime. Some criminals didn't even know what had happened before they were beaten up and thrown at the door of the police station.

The entire neighborhood was already very quiet and peaceful, much better than before.

Many people were sincerely grateful to Lanse. After all, only Lanse had truly done something, instead of just thinking about blackmailing them or exploiting them.

But not everyone would be jubilant, or feel excited and happy. There were also some people who were very worried, for example... the operators on the street.

The regulation fee was something that couldn't be avoided, and the Lanse family hadn't said they wouldn't collect regulation fees. Now they were worried about how much the Lanse family would collect each month, whether it would be too much, and how often they would collect it.

The Imperial District police station actually didn't collect a small amount. If the Lanse family collected too much, they might... not be able to hold on.

Bo Dun had been showing off quite a bit on the street recently. Now everyone knew he was a person of the Lanse family. Although he didn't have the clothes they had, Mr. Lanse gave him money every month, and he distributed this money to those who wandered the streets all day.

So some people took the initiative to find Bo Dun.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Bo Dun walked out of the elevator. He spent his own money to buy a set of attire similar to Lanse and his men, but without the armband.

That thing looked like just a red silk ribbon, but he knew it was also a representation of identity, a symbol.

Before Lanse agreed, he couldn't do that yet.

However, he was already very satisfied with his current life. He could keep more than a hundred dollars every month.

Actually, he could keep more, but he knew this was the limit he could obtain; he couldn't blindly get more, otherwise, there might be trouble.

Although he was a mercenary and a small-minded person, he was also somewhat sensible.

Now he had resigned from his previous job. Actually, resigning or not made no difference. During the anti-Imperial period, he had already stood on the edge of unemployment. Many of the companies he worked for before were supporters of the Social Party.

These people were not only conservative but also very hostile to outsiders.

Sometimes they would stand in groups of three or five at the tea room or at the door of the tea room, holding coffee and chatting, laughing and talking.

But when Bo Dun walked over, they would immediately restrain their smiles and disperse.

This kind of blatant, unmasked workplace bullying and isolation was not uncommon in the Federation.

After the anti-Imperial movement broke out, the company found a reason to pick a fault and told him to go home and think about it. Until now, they hadn't let him go to work again.

But fortunately, he had a new job.

The duty manager on the first floor of the apartment stood up immediately when he saw him walking out of the elevator. His hand lightly lifted the brim of his hat. "Mr. Bo Dun!"

A very polite attitude. This was what Bo Dun wanted. "Good morning, Kaofuman. I hope Luo Bu and Nan Xi haven't caused you any trouble these past two days."

"How could they?" The manager named Kaofuman had a face full of enthusiastic smiles. "I helped them clean up some trash these past two days..."

Nan Xi was a very lazy girl, especially after Jie Laer came to their house; she handed all the work to Jie Laer to do.

Now Jie Laer had left, and she herself wasn't very willing to do work, so many times she would pile trash at the door instead of taking it away and cleaning it up herself.

The manager would check the hallway every time he changed shifts, and when he saw trash at their door, he would just throw it away.

You thought this was his job?

No, he just wanted to please Bo Dun, because Bo Dun's current situation was good.

Bo Dun also tipped his hat. "I'm really worried about the future of those two children. In short, thank you for your help, Kaofuman."

As he spoke, he walked to the mailbox, opened his mailbox, took out the newspaper and several letters, and walked out while looking at the letters.

He passed through two streets from the alley and arrived at a place slightly west of the center of the Imperial District. There was a nice bakery and coffee house here, with bread and coffee.

As soon as he entered, many people would greet him. After he took off his coat, he sat in a position by the window, which was reserved for him by everyone.

The shop owner sent breakfast and coffee. After he said thank you and paid the fee, some people kept coming over to say something to him, and kept leaving.

He liked this job. Although he... didn't become super rich because of it, or have super power, there were already some people who needed to rely on him to live. He loved this feeling to death.

And the way others looked at him, carrying respect—this was also what he liked.

While reading today's newspaper, as a... social elite in the rising period, he naturally needed to understand more about what was happening in this world.

He ordered all the newspapers that could be ordered in New Jincheng, including those newspapers that solicited prostitution; who knows when they might be useful.

While realizing the actions of big shots in some policies in the newspaper, several operators of surrounding shops walked over.

"Mr. Bo Dun..."

Bo Dun put down the newspaper and took a small sip of coffee. The owner of the bakery and coffee house next to him immediately brought a coffee pot to refill some.

Others had to pay for refills, half price, but Bo Dun didn't have to pay for refills.

It looked like just a difference of a few cents, but in people's eyes, this was the gap of class, the meaning of privilege!

"Is something the matter?"

"Gentlemen?"

Several shop operators stood in front of them and didn't sit down. One of them, who should be the one representing them, stood out. "Mr. Bo Dun, the Lanse family has already stabilized the territory previously left by the Kamila gang. Shouldn't we talk about the regulation fee?"

"To be honest, Mr. Lanse has made this place very safe. We are actually very happy to hand the money to them, but... we want some further news."

Listening to the other party's words, Bo Dun vaguely understood. They were afraid that the Lanse family would open their mouths like a lion and want too much.

But this was indeed a problem. He thought for a while. "I'll ask Mr. Lanse. Wait a moment."

There was no phone here. His things were all on the table, and no one would take them. There was a public phone booth at the door of the coffee house.

Originally, others wanted to follow him, but when he opened the door of the coffee house, he looked back, and these people stayed in place immediately.

They knew he didn't want them to eavesdrop on his conversation with Mr. Lanse.

Walking into the phone booth with his head held high and even somewhat spirited, elegantly lighting a cigarette, at the moment he turned around, the calmness and composure on his face turned into fawning flattery.

He held the phone with both hands, avoiding other people's sight. The phone was quickly connected.

"Mr. Lanse, it's me, Bo Dun."

"Is something the matter?"

Lanse had just finished threatening Sam and hadn't had time to do anything when the phone bell rang.

He actually wasn't afraid at all that Sam would report to the Mayor. First, Mr. Pasleto could cover him; second, as long as the value he showed was higher than the value of Sam and those girls, the Mayor would definitely choose him.

Federation politicians are as realistic as capitalists. As long as you have value and can bring value to them, you are good friends.

But if you have no value and cannot bring benefits to them, then they can turn their faces in a second, and then point to the door and tell you that if you want to talk to him, you have to make an appointment first!

Politics and capital have no warmth to speak of.

He had to handle some things at the pier as soon as possible, so that even if the Mayor was somewhat dissatisfied, he would make a choice after weighing.

But he hadn't had time to do anything when Bo Dun called. He was also very curious whether Bo Dun had discovered anything.

"It's like this, Mr. Lanse. The shop operators on the street are all very grateful for everything you've done during this time. Stable street security and community relations are what everyone of us longs for."

"At the same time, they don't understand some of the following business... er, regulation fee issues, for example, how much money we collect, when we collect it, and how we collect it."

He used a "we" to pull the relationship between him and the Lanse family closer. Lanse didn't deny this point. If you want people to work for you, besides money, you can also give them a sense of recognition, a sense of glory.

He pondered for a moment. "You go and publicize it. Let each street elect two to three people who can represent them, and come to the nightclub this afternoon. We'll discuss it properly."

This wording surprised Bo Dun because he used "discuss." Obviously, he didn't intend to learn from others, directly setting a price he thought was appropriate, and without regard to whether it was reasonable, started collecting.

Bo Dun also realized that perhaps he would establish a new trend, or even a wind vane!

"Of course, Mr. Lanse. I'll do it immediately."

"This afternoon, around four o'clock, Night of the Empire nightclub, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I understand. I won't disturb you anymore. Goodbye!"

When Bo Dun hung up the phone and turned around, the originally somewhat hunched body straightened up again. He pushed open the door of the phone booth with a cigarette in his mouth, looked left and right, and then stepped toward the bakery and coffee house.

He felt it was very cool to do this, and he really did it, without any other reason.

After entering the bakery, he restated the content Lanse conveyed. "This news needs you to spread it. It's best to be as soon as possible. I will also have people convey this news."

After hearing this, several operators finally let their hearts fall to the ground. They expressed their gratitude to Bo Dun one after another, and then left quickly.

Not long after, Bo Dun made a few more calls, and soon some people started talking about this matter door-to-door to those small vendors in the streets currently controlled by the Lanse family.

"Mr. Lanse hopes you can elect some representatives for this street, and talk to you about the regulation fee at the Night of the Empire at four o'clock this afternoon..."

The news spread very quickly. This was also the first time in history. Some people were very worried, worried that Lanse asking them to go was some kind of trick to collect money under a false name.

Regardless of what they said, they were ultimately not white, and even if they were white, it was impossible not to want their money.

But some people felt that this might not be a bad thing. At least until now, they hadn't heard of anyone being harmed by the Lanse family.

On the contrary, there were many stories about them accidentally injuring passersby, or accidentally breaking things in roadside shops, and actively compensating.

This also made some people think this should be a good thing.

Today was a workday, and it just so happened that there weren't many pedestrians on the road. After everyone discussed it, they elected the candidates they thought could represent them.

Of course, there were also some who came to watch the fun, or didn't want to be represented, totaling about a hundred people.

These hundred-plus people weren't many for the Night of the Empire nightclub; a large hall could hold them.

People came one after another after three o'clock, and until five minutes past four, Lanse arrived late.

He walked directly onto the stage, looked at those people sitting below, and had Bo Dun move a chair up.

He sat on the stage.

"Actually, even if you didn't come, I intended to have Bo Dun contact you..." Hearing Lanse call his name, Bo Dun stood up immediately, turned to face those "representatives," and bowed slightly.

Some people didn't know him, but now they did.

From Lanse's perspective, this kind of true small-minded person was actually easier to use than a hypocrite.

He raised his hand to press down, signaling Bo Dun to sit down. "You will have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other later."

"I also inquired before. The regulation fees in the Imperial District range from ten dollars to sixty dollars. In areas with the best business, regulation fees are basically above forty dollars."

"For shops that are more remote, they are basically around ten dollars."

These representatives nodded one after another. They actually didn't want to pay money either. Now, the income of most shops is basically earning the wages for themselves and their families, and then having some surplus.

Just like Qiaoni, besides the wages for him and his daughter, he had more than a hundred dollars extra each month.

It looked like a lot, but if he had to pay wages for Lanse and the apprentices, even if he only paid thirty dollars for each, he would end up with an income of forty dollars.

This was also why the sprout of capital would definitely put exploitation first, because the income brought by exploitation was sometimes higher than operating income.

The more people exploited, the higher the income.

Although not all shop operators were Qiaoni, the situation now was just like this.

The reason they could endure lower income was that they operated a business themselves, didn't need to look at the faces of Federation bosses, wouldn't be angered, and wouldn't be dug out as human mines by others.

And the income was ultimately a bit more than going to work.

As long as the regulation fee wasn't too outrageous, they could actually continue to do it.

These people were a bit nervous now, because what Lanse was about to say next related to their family income situation in the future.

Lanse pondered for a while, and although the voice wasn't loud, it fell into everyone's heart like thunder—

"I don't intend to collect protection fees from the neighborhood."

*Whoosh*, almost everyone stood up. They looked at Lanse in disbelief. One of the old gentlemen, who should be sixty or seventy years old, had hands that were trembling slightly. "Mr. Lanse... you aren't joking with us, are you?!"

Clearly, his age was several times Lanse's, but he used honorifics toward Lanse. He was too excited, and also too surprised.

You must know, the Imperial District had at least two or three thousand shops, and about sixty or seventy percent were currently under Lanse's control. Even if it was sixty percent, twelve hundred shops, if averaged out, each household could count to twenty dollars, that was twenty-four thousand dollars.

This wasn't a small amount; this was an astonishing number. How could he... be willing?

But in fact, this account wasn't calculated this way. It wasn't that all merchants would pay this regulation fee. There were always some thorns or those who truly couldn't take out the money. You let them pay, and they wouldn't do it.

Once you didn't care, they would reopen, and those who didn't know whether they truly couldn't afford it or were pretending they couldn't afford it—they didn't give, and you couldn't really do anything to them.

The big accounts for regulation fees were still those commercial-concentrated streets. These streets were generally collected by "higher-level gangs," while other places without much oil and water were collected by street families.

But Lanse intended to change this previous state. He didn't intend to collect protection fees anymore. On one hand, even if these fees could be thirty thousand a month, paying wages, and giving the "protection fees" he should pay, there wouldn't be anything left.

To have a bad reputation among Imperial people for this little bit of money, this wasn't a good thing.

The biggest mistake of Haile and his family was that after they overthrew the gangs that had previously oppressed Imperial people in the Imperial District, they didn't raise the banner of Imperial people, but became a new big mountain.

It wasn't that a big mountain was necessarily bad. If this big mountain could shelter from wind and rain, and could also produce rich materials, becoming people's backing.

Without you saying it, they would all scramble to find ways to hand the money over.

But if you only thought about constantly extracting and squeezing from them, then in the end, they would only think about ways to overturn this big mountain.

Lanse didn't want to be a short-sighted mountain; what he wanted to be was a bigger mountain, a backing in people's hearts!

This was the most beautiful era, because everything was very barbaric!

Everyone seemed to be holding their breath at this moment, looking at Lanse, wanting to see if he was really joking with them, and next, Lanse affirmed his statement again.

"I don't have the idea of joking with you; this is my decision."

"I won't collect any fees of a protection fee nature from any merchants within the Imperial District..."

People had already revealed smiles and laughter in disbelief. If they could have dozens of dollars more each month, even ten-plus dollars, it was a good thing for some operators, and this could also be counted as a not-so-small income.

Lanse raised his hand to press down, letting them quiet down. "Besides this matter, I also have one thing I intend to chat with you about. I intend to establish an Imperial Chamber of Commerce..." ===== CHAPTER 173 =====