[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-66":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},2267686,4428,"Chapter 66: First Meeting","the-shadow-empire-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>Officer Lu Ka returned to his office and immediately made a phone call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you familiar with the underground casinos in the Imperial District?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...No, it’s not about the Koda family. I have a case... You’d better cooperate with me. I don’t want to say anything that might hurt our relationship...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, see you then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He contacted one of his informants—being a police officer in the Federation, especially a detective, was impossible without a few informants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many cases that were hard for police to solve were known immediately by those in the gray or underground world—they just lacked evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the role of informants: to quickly narrow down suspects, then gather evidence around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Sifa Force always claimed they operated on the presumption of innocence, such words only fooled the lower classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If everything truly followed the presumption of innocence, why did they sometimes arrest suspects and use harsh methods to force confessions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to some non-public Sifa Force reports, many officers and precincts used torture to make innocent people confess, just to close cases faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, he met his informant in the Imperial District—he had over a dozen informants there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, working as an informant for Federation officers has long been one way for illegal and legal immigrants to survive. Though dangerous, at least they could call a familiar officer in a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, when officers needed them, they’d apply for operational funds on their behalf—funds that came from the precinct’s budget, not their own pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having someone protect you, while occasionally earning extra income, became one of the few options available to marginalized imperial people living in the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After meeting, Officer Lu Ka immediately laid out his question: “How much do you know about the underground casinos in the Imperial District...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The informant was tense—every meeting with Officer Lu Ka made him nervous. If anyone found out he’d betrayed imperial people to the Federation, he’d be killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes later, a man in a white shirt left, holding fifteen credits, looking delighted. Officer Lu Ka got everything he needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What remained was subtraction—until he identified the victim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Lans did not know that police had begun investigating the deaths of Kent’s gang—even if he had known, he wouldn’t have been surprised, let alone panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wiped down every surface that might have left fingerprints, swept the floor, ensuring no prints or footprints remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car was parked in another alley—even if there were witnesses, they had no direct evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone might have seen them and their trusted enforcers enter the alley leading to the basement, but who could prove the dead were the same people they saw?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And who could produce direct evidence proving Lans shot them? It had to be direct evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no direct evidence at any stage, and witness testimony was easily overturned—so he didn’t care about this case at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the grand opening of “Wanli Labor Intermediary Office.” Many flower baskets lined the entrance. They hadn’t planned it, but Lans insisted they arrange some—and even set off firecrackers—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, three police cars showed up just to handle the firecrackers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they realized it wasn’t a gang shootout but a company opening, they prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lans stopped them: he apologized for his recklessness, donated money to be given to those in need, and treated them to iced juice and donuts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers were happy to build a good relationship with Lans—they knew he was generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, they exchanged contact details and agreed Lans would treat them to a lavish meal next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived in a rush, departed fully satisfied—police-community relations were this warm and harmonious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans transferred the young men who hadn’t joined him against Kent to work here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their income might be slightly lower, but not so low that they’d starve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke frankly with them: in the loan-sharking business, you can’t just see the joy when someone borrows money—you must also consider what you’ll do when they can’t repay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible. This is company money. Once you lend it, you’re responsible for collecting it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not everyone has the psychological strength or the will to act—what they do is, in some ways, terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Lans’s methods were gentler than those of traditional financial firms, they still caused great suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some young men couldn’t bear it—their stress tolerance was too low; guilt from hurting others or causing pain tormented them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So rather than let them suffer in a role they couldn’t handle, it was better to move them to a different path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans deliberately opened this intermediary office next to a cheap café—many people might notice the place while sipping coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this wasn’t just a pure intermediary—it had other business lines—it would naturally attract attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just after seeing off the officers, a car pulled up beside the road. The abrupt braking made Lans stop and turn. A middle-aged man in a dark shirt, jeans, and sunglasses stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked about thirty. He glanced at Lans, gave a slight nod. Lans returned the gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked past Lans to the café next door and ordered an iced coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While waiting, he turned and noticed the newly opened labor office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sign hung outside listing the services offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you the boss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your accent doesn’t sound Federation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t deny it. “I’m local. But as a child, I was kidnapped and sold to a black factory. I only found my way home after adulthood. It was reported.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smiled. “I hope your terrible past didn’t leave you with irreversible pain. You’re interesting—most people avoid talking about such things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He extended his hand. “Let’s get acquainted. Lu Ka Wei Zi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his hand. “Lans. Lans White. Just call me Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hands quickly parted. Officer Lu Ka crossed his arms. “I see your sign says ‘Work Plan Management.’ I don’t understand what that means.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans explained. “You must be native.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Lu Ka nodded. “Yes, native.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you must have a work card.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. So?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to earn at least thirty-two credits a month without working yourself, you can talk to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Lu Ka instantly understood. “You mean I give you my work card, you assign someone to work under it, and we split the earnings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know the current situation here—many people don’t know how to do it, and they dislike dealing with illegal immigrants. So I came up with an idea—and acted on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Lu Ka naturally continued: “You handle the dealings with illegal immigrants!” He couldn’t help but marvel. “A brilliant idea. I’ve never heard of a company like this before. You’ll succeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, people relied on word-of-mouth referrals, and not everyone was willing to do it—making it hard to scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially hardworking Federation citizens—they already held two jobs, or one respectable one with higher pay. They didn’t know how, or even want, to find two people to use their work card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can’t just walk the streets asking, “Are you an illegal immigrant? Want a night shift?” That’s unrealistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, that problem no longer existed—Lans solved it for them. All they had to pay was a fifteen-credit intermediary fee per job. Each work card could bring Lans at least three credits profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That amount might seem small—but remember, in Jincheng City, there are at least two hundred thousand illegal immigrants. Even if only ten percent, or less—five percent—got jobs through Lans’s labor office...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just monthly management fees alone would exceed ten thousand credits!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he believed he’d grow this market—future income might be even higher, though it depended on policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone now opposed illegal immigrants becoming legal, Lans was unquestionably one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New arrivals are always like this: seeing others still trying to climb aboard, they don’t offer a hand—they kick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iced coffee was ready. Officer Lu Ka pulled out a business card and handed it to Lans. “Forgot to mention my job—I’m Lu Ka, with the police. I think we’ll meet again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Lu Ka thought he could turn Lans into a good informant—or even a friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this office would inevitably deal with countless illegal immigrants, and not all of them in the Federation were harmless people who got excited over donuts—some were dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps someday he’d need Lans to provide tips on illegal immigrants. So he needed to build a good relationship with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans glanced at the card, tucked it away. “Didn’t know you were an officer.” He looked at the café waiter. “This one’s on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officer Lu Ka wasn’t rigid—he didn’t refuse Lans’s gesture. “Thanks. Next time, I’ll pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at his watch, tilted his head. “I’ve got something else to do...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See you!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1469,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e1e0dafa81ecb66a95b564b1ea6ad1cb3816a97222ab883775210323e1684603","the-shadow-empire-chapter-67","the-shadow-empire-chapter-65",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]