[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-31":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},2267651,4428,"Chapter 31","the-shadow-empire-chapter-31",31,"\u003Cp>Hearing “sewer truck,” Alberto suddenly became interested. “You planning to flood his restaurant with shit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a great idea—who the hell wants to eat in a sewage pit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans denied the possibility. “Though I hate to disappoint you, if we pump shit into his restaurant, we break the law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fines, cleaning up the mess, maybe even a public apology—those costs could exceed what he owes you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto thought it over and agreed with Lans. He wanted money and satisfaction, not to pay fines and apologize himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what are you planning to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t answer directly. “If you’re free around five-thirty, come over here. I’m sure he’ll beg for mercy soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’ll get there early. Surprise me, Lans!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call this number—he’ll arrange a fully loaded sewer truck for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alberto was about to hang up, Lans quickly asked, “Are you interested in the restaurant’s shares?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto paused. “The restaurant makes good money, but I know nothing about running one and have no interest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he wasn’t interested, Lans said no more. In truth, the restaurant still held considerable value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up, Lans used the number Alberto gave him to locate a sanitation service company contracted for that district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of their jobs was to suck feces and urine from public toilets into sewer trucks, then transport them to designated treatment sites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This work was bearable in cold weather, but doing it in summer was truly unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without touching the suction hose, just sitting in the cab after one run left you reeking of shit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So most of the time, sewer trucks operated only at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans made brief contact, then went to where the truck was parked. The driver stood under a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lans, he made no move to shake hands. “You won’t want to shake my hand—scientists say we’re covered in E. coli.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled at himself, then asked, “So, sir… what can I do for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans studied the sewer truck. “I need your help with a job tonight. All losses will be covered by the company. You trust Mr. Cotty, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver didn’t deny it. “Mr. Cotty is trustworthy. But what exactly do you need me to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans stepped closer and whispered what he needed done that night…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around four-thirty in the afternoon, Alberto, unable to sit still, shouted loudly, “Has Fordis come back yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call him—tell him I need him to go out with me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over ten minutes later, Fordis ran back in, drenched in sweat. “This damn weather’s getting hotter. What do you need, boss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto put on a thin casual outfit—the strangest thing about Federals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed oblivious to seasons: sometimes wearing suits in summer, sometimes shorts in snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, for appearances or trends, they ignored seasons entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis frowned. “Need a gun?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A gun?” Alberto stared at him. “Of course. We’re not going to the Presidential Palace—why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You drive. Lans said there’s a show coming up—I can’t wait to see it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis drove Alberto to the café Lans had named. Inside, they saw Lans sitting by the window, reading a magazine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Alberto enter, Lans stood to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered two fresh orange juices, then sat beside Lans. “So… what are you going to show me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans checked his watch. “Anderson’s restaurant opens at five-thirty, but there won’t be many customers at first. I’ve scheduled the show for five-forty-five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By six, nearby businesses are closing, and people are looking for dinner. Perfect timing. We just need to wait a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto shrugged. “You’re the director—you decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans then brought up another topic. “Mr. Cotty, I noticed the Federation’s laws include provisions on usury.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto nodded slightly. “So?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, strictly speaking, Mr. Alberto, your business is illegal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto didn’t deny it. “Yes. So even if we signed a contract with Anderson, he could tear it up and refuse to pay any principal or interest. All we could do is hassle him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Federation had legislated against usury, it hadn’t yet taken it seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taxes were high, consumption levels kept rising, and people simply didn’t have enough money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why even banks now actively offered personal credit loans—people truly had no cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The economy appeared to be booming rapidly, but at its core, much of that growth rested on overspending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once spending declined, the entire Federation’s economy would suffer a crushing blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even though the Federation knew usury harmed society, it tolerated it to keep people spending and avoid burdening the government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as no one died or no large-scale scandal erupted, they wouldn’t intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost every street had several finance companies—if the Federation truly enforced the law, there couldn’t be so many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if someone like Anderson actually sued, Alberto had no real recourse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things work like this: you do them, no one cares. But once you put them on the table, under the spotlight, you can’t ignore them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It affects the Federation’s public image and judicial fairness—this is its official propaganda theme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans said nothing more, but filed the thought away—he saw profit potential here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now wasn’t the time to pursue it. He still needed some “capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During casual chat, Alberto brought up the upcoming baseball league season starting in October. He and Fordis debated passionately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baseball, one of the Federation’s promoted sports, had shaped the upbringing of many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this front, the Federation had done at least decently—unlike promoting dancing or reading, it consistently pushed high-intensity sports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some said it was a conspiracy to make adults better able to withstand capitalist exploitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others said it fostered competitive spirit and built confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But undeniably, baseball was one of the most popular sports today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They started talking about the team’s batter, then moved to the pitcher’s wife caught cheating—nothing was off-limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time slipped away quickly. Before they knew it, it was five-forty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans interrupted their speculation about the championship and lottery plans. “Our show’s about to begin, Mr. Cotty. You might want to see it unfold firsthand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto checked his watch, ended his conversation with Fordis, downed his remaining fresh orange juice, and ordered another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, can you tell me now what’s going to happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the street, the restaurant had turned on its neon lights. The restaurant’s name and Anderson’s neon portrait now glowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His frying pan had been turned into a moving light strip that rose and fell, mimicking cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer dusk came slowly; at five-thirty, daylight still lingered, faintly dimming but not noticeably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a sewer truck slowly approached from afar. Alberto spotted it at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans no longer hid it. “I’m staging an accident. A truck will hit the sewer truck, knock it over, and spill its contents across the entire front of the restaurant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reporters are ready. Life section. Tomorrow’s front page.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The driver’s one of ours. This accident isn’t a crime—no one will be arrested.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked the driver—even if overturned, they’re insured. Even if the insurer denies coverage, repairs cost at most fifty credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto and Fordis stared at Lans, stunned. For the first time, they found him terrifying—and thrillingly exciting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At five-forty, the sewer truck rolled slowly to the intersection outside the restaurant. The next second, a truck suddenly burst from another corner, striking the sewer truck at speed from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The already top-heavy sewer truck instantly tipped over. As the tank hit the ground, its seven-tenths-full sludge erupted from the partially uncovered opening. Not just the restaurant’s front pavement—glass, doors, even the interior—were drenched in splattered feces and sludge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman’s scream pierced the air—and the whole street erupted in chaos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the woman’s scream, Alberto thought he heard Anderson’s voice shout, “Fuck!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1275,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5b71248aeabb60a8a2d556064025caf2a9e273d756e22ac0311cc02a93373cf6","the-shadow-empire-chapter-32","the-shadow-empire-chapter-30",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]