[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-6":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},2267626,4428,"Chapter 6: The Gunman and the Bullet","the-shadow-empire-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>Weapons are actually very common in Jincheng City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When violence becomes the rule under the sun, weapons inevitably become essential resources for protecting one’s own rights and infringing upon others’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Having a gun in hand” versus “I’ll call the police afterward”—clever Jincheng residents know which to choose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although weapons are widespread, not everyone carries them, let alone displays them so openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only three kinds of people dare to do this—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Federal law enforcement officers, who have legitimate firearm permits; even if they shoot you dead, all they need to do is file a report: “...I showed my ID, then he rushed me to seize my weapon, and under Rule ... and Rule ..., I fired,” followed by a vacation and warm welcomes from colleagues upon return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second kind are gang members, who don’t hide their weapons—they want everyone to see them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear caused by the lethal power of weapons excites them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third kind are the capitalists’ men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are more terrifying, because the first two kinds still follow some rules, but the capitalists’ men recognize only money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before money, no law or morality can stop them from pulling the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the western suburbs of Jincheng City lies a place called “Angel Lake,” a tourist attraction, and among locals there’s a saying only they know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When capitalists get angry, the water level of Angel Lake rises!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outsiders might not understand this, but locals know—the lake rises because too many gasoline barrels have been thrown in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter which kind, the son of a bitch drunkard is someone you dare not offend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These low-class minor figures actually understand better than adults how to respond to such crises and make choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When faced with potential danger, he immediately surrendered, without a moment’s hesitation, so fast it felt... practiced!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do it right away—I promise it won’t happen again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis retracted his hand; his coat naturally fell back, concealing the weapon, and the son of a bitch drunkard exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just those few seconds, he felt his head heat up, sweat pouring down his body, as if he’d nearly died!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze at Aierwen  and Lans became uncertain and wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to have a word with... this gentleman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis stared at Lans for several seconds, then turned away. “I’m right here—if you need me, call out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the entire company, Fordis is one of the boss’s trusted men; his being sent here means the boss finds this young man interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knows exactly what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans looked at the son of a bitch drunkard and signaled him to move aside. “Unless you want to talk to me right here at the door—your neighbors will surely wonder what we’re discussing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want tomorrow morning to turn you into the laughingstock of this apartment building, then we can stand here and settle this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The son of a bitch drunkard instantly realized—he felt fear, disgust, and hatred, but still stepped aside and invited Lans inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a son of a bitch drunkard cares about face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A typical low-class apartment: less than forty square meters, kitchen, dining area, and bathroom squeezed together, with a bedroom and a small storage room inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Federal low-class residents may lack a private kitchen, but they cannot lack a storage room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most low-class people are poor, yet they always accumulate a pile of strange, useless things they refuse to throw away—these are called burdens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like themselves, in the value of their own life paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a storage room, the home would be a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no traces of a woman’s life, no traces of a child’s life, but on the table sat a photo frame with a picture of the man and a child—this son of a bitch drunkard clearly lived poorly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suspicious stains on the sofa and the foul odor made Lans unwilling to sit down; he stood near the door, not too far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen, Eiseng is my friend. I’ll make him apologize for his reckless behavior, but you’re also at fault—you shouldn’t have tried to withhold his money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The son of a bitch drunkard was dazed, nodding instinctively, mumbling “uh-huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So after the case is dropped, I’ll have him apologize to you—but you must return the wages you withheld.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can make him drop charges against you, but you must promise this is the last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afterward, your relationship continues—he’ll keep using your work card and pay you fair wages, and you must no longer harass him or exploit the payment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans walked to the table, picked up the photo frame. “Nice little kid—is he your child?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The son of a bitch drunkard, who had been half-dazed, snapped awake—he looked tense. “This has nothing to do with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans put the frame down and smiled. “Whether it has to do with him depends on your choice, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re all despicable smugglers, thieves from other worlds—here, there’s nothing for us to cling to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you have family here. You have a child, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drunkard nodded frantically. “I know—I’ll give him all the money. But don’t do anything reckless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans rested his hand on the table edge; the sticky grease made him feel sick, but now wasn’t the time to show it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always believed one thing: everything operates along paths and rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When rules exist, we follow them—that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The market price is fifteen yuan—that’s what you’re owed. No one can take what belongs to you. That’s the rule.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as you follow the rules, we’ll follow them too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aierwen  stood by the door, gazing at Lans with worshipful eyes—he never imagined so much could happen in one day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eiseng ran off, they got into trouble, then Lans took him to borrow money—though they didn’t get it, the problem was solved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They even rode in a car, and saw this incredibly cool Lans right now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Totally worth it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So cool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A string of surprises—even the son of a bitch drunkard, though still dazed, was now fully awake. “I know what to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated. “Can I know your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans wore a faint smile—calm, confident, almost arrogant. “Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, the son of a bitch drunkard changed clothes; though still smelly, it was better than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat silently in the car, then at the precinct immediately explained the situation, signing a document amid the impatient prodding of the police.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the car, Lans watched everything unfold through the window—this feeling was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis couldn’t help asking, “Aren’t you afraid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans turned, looking at him through the rearview mirror. “Afraid of what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis smirked. “This is a police station. And as far as I know, you’re an illegal, and so is the kid beside you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans couldn’t help running his hand along the car door—the fine walnut grain felt pleasant. No wonder some people love classic cars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I know why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because between me and them, there’s a distance of twenty thousand yuan—and that’s a gap they can’t cross.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fordis thought for a long while, then sighed. “A wise statement. Are you really only eighteen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t answer, only smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eiseng was hiding under a bridge nearby, in a disused culvert, where many vagrants lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The advantage is that it’s warm in winter—the wind can’t get in—and cool in summer, as shade and cold air from pipes slowly seep out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Lans and Aierwen , Eiseng apologized to the son of a bitch drunkard. “I shouldn’t have hit you so impulsively. I’m sorry, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the son of a bitch drunkard felt his cheekbones throb again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eiseng was only twenty, but looked at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight—even older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was strong. His father was a tanner—in the Empire, and even in the Federation, tanning was a respected trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it represented a craft and social status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s hard to imagine tanners having social status, but historically, it did exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, only nobles could afford leather goods, so tanners served nobility first, enjoying higher status than commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because tanners had stable income and better status, Eiseng’s father raised him tall and strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This intimidating figure, who had terrified the son of a bitch drunkard, bowed deeply—and it lifted some of the man’s gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Lans and Fordis beside him, then accepted reality. “I did wrong too. It’s not all your fault. Let’s make peace...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eiseng received his twenty yuan—exactly, no more. The drunkard had planned to give a few extra, but Lans refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rules are rules. Don’t be a rule-breaker when you lack power—that’s survival experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching the son of a bitch drunkard leave, Lans told Fordis to wait a moment—he had something to say to Eiseng.\u003C\u002Fp>",1455,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bc2049b988954847db371c0c576ad5549fa7b0ab21350f876c1a3c8ae0995cc5","the-shadow-empire-chapter-7","the-shadow-empire-chapter-5",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]