[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-19":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},2267639,4428,"Chapter 19: Thinking Strategically and the Basic System","the-shadow-empire-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>After finishing the second order, Alberto gathered the chips from the table and put them back into the brown paper bag; the casino’s representative from the Koda family would take these chips to exchange for cash and bring them back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then pulled out two twenty-dollar bills, placed them on the table, pressed them with his index finger, and pushed them toward Lans: “Take your friends out for a good drink, and buy some clothes—get yourself dressed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t just represent yourselves anymore—you represent the company’s face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen the look of this group and could imagine how bad it must have been; luckily, Lans hadn’t brought his friends inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, his nose would’ve suffered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like he’d given Lans one hundred and ninety dollars today, but in truth, this money was originally what Lans had brought back for him—and it was also an investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could handle Mr. Anderson, Alberto would entrust Lans with more debts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always felt Lans would one day have greater fame and a bigger stage in Jincheng City; this investment cost little now but would surely yield rich returns later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the investment failed, there would be no loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Lans bid farewell to Alberto; by the time he reached the lounge, the boys were already playing with the company staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan and Fordis sat at a dedicated arm-wrestling table, surrounded by people loudly cheering them on, some clutching handfuls of one-dollar bills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men at the table had flushed faces; Ethan was straining with all his might, yet still couldn’t overpower Fordis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Fordis was equally stunned—he couldn’t beat a young man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were pushing with all their strength, the table shaking back and forth under their force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, Ethan’s arm was gradually pressed down; amid the crowd’s boos, Fordis won!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked delighted, collecting bets from others—small amounts, mostly one or two dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money wasn’t much, but his spirits were high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took five dollars from his winnings and handed it to Ethan, patting his shoulder: “You’ve got the potential to be a strongman, Ethan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come find me when you’re free—I’ll take you to the gym. You’ll love the place and its atmosphere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans imagined two burly men wearing those tight, strap-and-shape-contouring one-piece suits, their testicles clearly outlined—and he shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done talking with the boss?” Fordis bumped shoulders with Lans. “You seem to be in a good mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans smiled without denying it. “Where’s the Koda family casino?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going to cash in your chips?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis gave him the location: “Someone at the door will check your identity—just show them your chips. If they ask who referred you, say my name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Koda family holds high status in Jincheng City. Don’t cause trouble once you’re there—no one will save you if you do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jincheng City has five major families—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These five families aren’t political dynasties or “interest clans” built around powerful figures or big capitalists; they’re five powerful, clan-based criminal organizations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Koda family is one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These five families jointly established the framework of Jincheng City’s underworld order; though they often don’t act like gangs, if you underestimate or dismiss them, you’ll pay dearly for your stupidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every year, one-third of the new oil drums dumped into Angel Lake belong to them; another third are indirectly linked to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jincheng City holds too much wealth, drawing eyes from around the world; without real power, it’s nearly impossible to survive here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Koda family monopolizes seventy percent of Jincheng City’s casino business and also arranges private poker games for high rollers and prominent social or political figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they’re not doing bad things, it’s hard to label them as “good” or “bad,” since most of their casino operations are legal and licensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the current head of the Koda family is passionate about charity work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, charity work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pry the last dollar from gamblers’ mouths while donating to charities—and by the way, the two charities they donate to have some connection to the Koda family themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After repeatedly warning Lans about what to be careful of, Lans left with the boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the car, Ethan suddenly said, “I could’ve beaten him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps others hadn’t reacted yet, or perhaps he wanted his words to sound more convincing—he continued: “If I’d just put in a little more force, I could’ve crushed him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I thought I shouldn’t win, so at the end I held back a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans was surprised—Ethan was thinking? Or maybe it was just instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good job, Ethan. You really shouldn’t have beaten him in front of so many people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He holds a high position in the company. If he lost to you in front of everyone, he’d lose face. So you did the right thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not saying losing face is right or good—but analyzing the situation matters more than winning or losing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the traffic light turned red. He pulled back the accelerator and stepped on the brake: “Mr. Cotty gave me one hundred and fifty dollars today. For every job we complete for him, he gives us five percent of the recovered debt as a reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I plan to rent a house and give each of you five dollars. Any objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone shook their heads—no objections. For just riding around in a car and getting five dollars, they were already thrilled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elvin had a concern, but it wasn’t about money: “Living in the storm drain is fine. No need to rent a house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We need a safe, comfortable place to rest, somewhere to wash up, and closets and beds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The storm drain is free, but it’s not a place to live long-term. I plan to rent a standalone house in the western suburbs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jincheng City was built along the coast, and its most developed areas are nearly all along the shore and downtown; the city’s future development aims to expand its coastline as much as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city is growing overall toward the east, leaving the western side significantly behind the downtown, bay, and port areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In underdeveloped areas, housing prices are naturally low—whether for sale or rent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lans said this, everyone had no objections—who wouldn’t prefer sleeping in a bed over a storm drain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the storm drain really was cool right now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already afternoon; there wasn’t enough time to work, so Lans bought a large amount of food and took it back to the storm drain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boys were overjoyed at the sight of so much food; as Ethan drank beer and bragged about how bravely he’d handled his first job, the others couldn’t wait—they rushed to Lans’s side, demanding to join the next job!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t refuse. These people were future core members and needed serious cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also explained the housing plan and income distribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty percent of income went to Lans; thirty percent went into a shared account—currently held by Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining forty percent was distributed according to effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This system established Lans as the “group core” for wealth distribution, created a communal fund, and ensured fairness: those who worked harder got more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To earn more, you must contribute more than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To sit at home doing nothing and still get paid every month? Not a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boys’ enthusiasm was reignited—by money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money was truly magical: it could lift the depressed and make the proud lower their damned heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans could feel that his income and the way he distributed wealth had made these people more cohesive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They talked until dusk, and only then did Lans rise to leave. Though it was late, he’d come by car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jincheng City’s nighttime security was poor, but carjackings were still rare—you had to get the vehicle to stop first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And stopping a car at night was inherently dangerous; most drivers wouldn’t stop—they’d just floor the gas and run you over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to the bakery without incident. When he pushed the door open, the apprentice mopping the floor didn’t look up: “Sorry, we’re closed…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1341,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f7b1e6f62ff2d1ade243f7260e1da18638b6ba3d1603d46818af25b505e44ec3","the-shadow-empire-chapter-20","the-shadow-empire-chapter-18",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]