[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-923":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},2268543,4428,"Chapter 923: If We Can't Agree, We Can Still","the-shadow-empire-chapter-923",923,"\u003Cp>A private talk means discussing something without anyone else knowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in Jincheng City knows what this rotating vice-chairman looks like, but everyone recognizes him by name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to sit with Lans under the spotlight—it would be too formal, and their “identity” and “position” would be locked in immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the spotlight, there is no ambiguity: he is the vice-chairman of the Labor Union, representing the interests of the Labor Union and the industry guilds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans represents his own interests—and possibly some interests within the Federal political sphere—on the matter of dismantling the Labor Union.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of conversation is not free: they can only speak words that align with their identity and position; everything else is forbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the vice-chairman wanted to meet privately, so neither side would meet as fixed roles or identities, allowing them to discuss more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans did not refuse; he agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This linked his current affairs—such as the people and events beginning to take shape—to this vice-chairman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Powerful people are like this: even if they’ve just arrived, within an hour or two, they can restore order to chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Lans arrived at a private club; the vice-chairman had already arrived and was waiting for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew they would meet here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lans entered the room, the vice-chairman, who had been reading a newspaper, stood up, smiled warmly, and walked toward Lans, extending his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was in his own room, his attitude and stance were not those of a host—he placed himself in the position of a guest, so he walked toward Lans and extended his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not standing still, waiting for Lans to come to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans extended his hand and shook it. “You know who I am—Lans, Lans White.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice-chairman nodded with a smile. “Before I came, I read your file several times, Mr. Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I place great importance on this conversation between us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Walter Carril, currently the rotating vice-chairman. You can call me Walter—my friends all do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can call me Lans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pleasure to meet you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief pleasantries, the two sat down on the sofa. Private clubs like this were common in the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, under the Federation government’s deep corruption, people needed countless such venues to conduct money-power transactions—hence their prevalence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a lowly police officer to the Federal President, everyone needed private space; private clubs emerged to meet that need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Lans, you’re much younger than I imagined. May I boldly ask—how old are you this year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans smiled and replied, “Twenty-five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty-five—a fine age. I miss my twenty-five. I’m even ashamed I only went on dates back then!” Walter was clearly skilled at setting the mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flattered Lans bluntly and directly, with no subtlety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans smiled. “Everyone has their mission. Yours is to be happy. Mine is to stand tall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This answer surprised the vice-chairman, but he reacted quickly. “Do you know what my mission is right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “To persuade me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter pointed at him. “Bingo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I don’t really like this job. But I’m the rotating chairman—I have to do what they need me to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Lans, can we find a point acceptable to both sides—a solution we can both be satisfied with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his head. “I’m not saying I disagree with your ideas—I’m saying it’s nearly impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rejecting the guild is my fundamental requirement. That’s our biggest disagreement. Unless you accept my demand, we’ll always be at odds on this issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And look—if you had accepted it, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter sighed. “Yes, reaching consensus is difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused. “But I still want to try to persuade you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans gestured for him to continue and pulled out a cigarette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cigarettes and nicotine helped him focus better on Walter at this moment—it was a strange thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nicotine doesn’t actually have this effect, yet people become focused because of cigarettes and nicotine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can easily separate workers registered with the guild from those who aren’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For example, set up another company—a labor agency identical to yours, but one that exclusively registers guild members.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If factories only need non-guild workers, fine—send those non-guild workers over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If factories have no clear preference, you can mix the workers you send.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is no different from what you’re doing now, and it won’t provoke resentment or opposition from the workers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because they’re not from the same company—they won’t meet, won’t influence each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clients simply gain a new option, and our disagreement ends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The guild and the Labor Union won’t interfere in your work or operations—we respect your ideas and choices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guild workers have many advantages: most have spent years in this industry, and many are skilled laborers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jincheng’s new industrial zone will see many new enterprises—they need ordinary workers, but also skilled laborers with experience and expertise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we create excessive opposition, it will make things hard for both sides—and for the factories too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, there’s potential for cooperation here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We control high-end labor; you control vast quantities of low-level labor. We have no competition—we can complement each other’s resources.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned forward and pulled out a cigarette himself. “Mr. Lans, we’ve always closely monitored these illegal immigrants, refugees, these black workers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But due to legal issues, we couldn’t address them—you’ve filled this gap in the Federation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re excellent complements, as I said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like light and shadow—only together do they make up the world!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This won’t harm you—it’ll increase your influence, as more people register with you and their backgrounds become more complex.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won’t harm each other’s interests, yet we resolve the current disagreement. What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Lans said, “In practice, this is still me making concessions, Mr. Walter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter added, “Mr. Lans, are you interested in politics?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans frowned. “I don’t understand what you mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter explained, “We’re about to form the Workers’ Party—a powerful faction with twenty million worker brothers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t care about anyone’s origin or background—anyone willing can join.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Lans, we can offer you a party position—a respectable one, like… a committee member of the Licanai State Workers’ Party.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This would make handling affairs in your work and life easier—even if you later want to run for mayor or governor, we can help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We never withhold friendship or enthusiasm—you’ll see!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans studied him longer. This offer was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Senator Cleveland had asked him the same question: whether he wanted to enter politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew clearly: in his lifetime, he had a 99% chance of never becoming a Federal official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core issue remained: people could accept him as a “front-page figure”—frequently appearing in headlines and public events—but not as a politician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was a gang leader—and not a native of the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he cleaned up his affairs, people could still dig them up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The substitution method wouldn’t work at the top level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Federation’s top officials—senators, the President, the Vice President, governors—they were all “accounted for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who their ancestors were, what contributions they made during the nation’s founding—they could all be traced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they ignored his gang ties and his false identity, the fact that the White family’s ancestors were merely freemen or farmers meant he could never go far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best, he might become a mayor—that was his political ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even marrying into a political family wouldn’t help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because that circle, that tier, had an “entrance ticket”—and the ticket was their surname, their bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That saying was right: if you didn’t have something at birth, you likely never would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you lack the right to enter that circle, no amount of post-birth effort will get you in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe things will improve in fifty years, a hundred years—but now, in this era, everything is predetermined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone else were here, Walter’s words might have swayed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lans was different—he was rational, calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Walter’s expectant gaze, he shook his head. “I’m sorry—I don’t find this convincing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter paused, then added, “With our support and your local influence, running for governor isn’t a joke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have great influence here—you’re very likely to become governor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans chuckled. He knew Walter was right: if he truly ran, he might actually become governor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could take office, the Federal government would pass laws restricting him—or the Federal Investigation Bureau would immediately launch an investigation into his crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he framed others, the Bureau wouldn’t even need to investigate—they could simply frame him. After all, the power to interpret everything rested with the Federal government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he pursued elections, the closer he came to prison—or the electric chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Walter, if your persuasion ends here, then I can only say I’m sorry—I don’t find this an irresistible offer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Walter still wanted to speak, Lans shook his head. “You know—the problem isn’t with us, not with you or me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words stunned Walter for a moment, then he laughed. “Brilliant observation. Precisely accurate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The problem has never been with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood what Lans meant—he knew that for a gang to grow strong enough to control a state, and to be invading Denuozhou, Lans had someone behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had reviewed some materials indicating that Lans had closer ties with Senator Cleveland, and also collaborated with the Defense Department and the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This makes it easy to know which side he belongs to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military and the Defense Department have no need to support a gang; if they want to control a place, they simply build a military base there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldiers are far more useful than these gangs, so Lans is not someone’s agent within the military or the Defense Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That leaves only one possibility: he is Senator Cleveland’s man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Congress and the Labor Union have always been at odds; the Labor Union, leveraging its influence over the working class, has consistently sought to seize power, so there is a natural division and conflict between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans made his position so clear this time precisely to tell Mr. Walter: if you want to persuade Lans, you must first persuade Congress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laughing for a moment, Mr. Walter stopped. “Alright, in any case, I’ve done my best!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s see what each of us is capable of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “I look forward to your performance, Mr. Walter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Walter felt a pang of regret, but it quickly turned into determination. “We’ll meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans agreed with this view. “Yes, we will definitely meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up, and Mr. Walter rose as well. “Then… shall we end here for today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, see you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two shook hands once more, bidding each other farewell in a light and cheerful atmosphere, after which Lans stepped out first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Lans’s retreating figure, Mr. Walter returned to the room, sat on the sofa, and took a sip from his glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to clash directly with Lans either; after all, this was Lans’s territory, and given the current circumstances, they dared not expand the strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This put them at a Xiantian  disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only option now is to cooperate with someone from the Free Party or the Lianbang Party, find a way to bring these issues to the surface, rather than trying to resolve them here in secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the police station, a refugee attacker was brought into the reception room by officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behave yourself—I’m watching you outside!” After making the refugee attacker sit down, the officer left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the constitution and local laws, police must ensure that suspects receive complete and independent judicial services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The refugee attacker looked confused at the well-dressed lawyer sitting across the table; he didn’t remember Karl saying he’d hire a lawyer, and as for his family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they pooled all their wealth, they couldn’t scrape together five dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These lawyers clearly cost a fortune—his family couldn’t afford one, and there was no need to hire one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So his eyes were filled with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the door closed, the lawyer wore a professional smile. “You needn’t doubt my identity—I am a lawyer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A kind benefactor paid for your legal fees, which is why I’m here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know what you’re about to face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke rapidly, giving the refugee attacker no time to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of stunned silence, the latter answered instinctively, “I’m not sure—I’ll probably be deported back home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lawyer nodded. “Yes. What else did the people organizing you tell you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The refugee attacker immediately grew alert. “No one organized us. I was furious they tried to destroy my stable job and income.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I lose this job, my family and I won’t have enough to eat—we’ll starve, or freeze to death in winter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hate them, so when I saw others act, I acted too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lawyer laughed. “The first two men said exactly the same thing—you all use the same script, yet claim no one organized you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the refugee attacker preparing to repeat these claims again, the lawyer raised a hand to interrupt him. “Listen to me first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you read?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The refugee attacker nodded. “A little—not everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lawyer abandoned the idea of handing him documents and read aloud instead: “This incident resulted in approximately eleven deaths among protesting civilians, over two hundred serious injuries, and more than five hundred minor injuries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the past twenty years, this has been one of the rare conflicts with such severe consequences.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you understand what this means?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The refugee attacker shook his head. “I don’t know, sir. That’s your business, not mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lawyer’s expression turned sympathetic. “It means you—and all of you—may have to pay for these deaths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone may be sent to the electric chair; others, like you, will very likely end up in prison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five years, ten years, or more—I’m not certain, but five is the minimum.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think prison is the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it won’t end there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’re released, immigration will put you on a ship and send you back to Slad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the Slad government will send people to meet you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what promises they made you—maybe some money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or legal status? Or legal employment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m certain whatever they offered you isn’t worth five years in prison and deportation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re here for money, or to gain Lianbang citizenship, they aren’t your only partners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2390,"2026-06-19T21:10:31.886Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c91c713c2b7de77216bd636d341cef2807b2141b22a55f1fbcbc41bd2db4d36d","the-shadow-empire-chapter-924","the-shadow-empire-chapter-922",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]