[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-94":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},2267714,4428,"Chapter 94","the-shadow-empire-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>“Nice clothes!” Alberto said as he stepped in, sizing up Lans’s outfit. “I like the style—introduce me to your tailor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked around his desk and shook Lans’s hand. “Local federal tailors have no idea how to make a decent suit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many federal people dislike tight clothing, so their fashion has grown looser over time, especially for men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, tailors fall into two extremes: one copies ancestral styles so tightly it’s hard to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other turns clothes into squares—no lines, sagging and shapeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto wasn’t from the federal; he hated this style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few brief words, Lans sat down on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you been following the alcohol market lately?” He handed Lans a cigar. “Pure hand-rolled cigars from Sumuli Island—I had someone oversee their making.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans took it, sniffed—it was rich, with a hint of sweetness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto pulled out his cigar tools, cut open one for Lans, and now he seemed genuinely enthusiastic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans passed his cigar over, watching as Alberto sliced and toasted it. “Is the liquor market in Jinggang City really this good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto nodded. “Better than expected. And you know… I’ve got bigger bosses above me. They told me the Alcohol Prohibition Alliance is gaining major political influence across the federal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every region has seen increased production and lower crime rates due to prohibition, so Congress plans to enforce a full federal ban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is also part of the president’s reelection deal with those people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before this, prohibition wasn’t nationwide—it was voluntary by region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Members of the Temperance Alliance, some church figures, plus behind-the-scenes politicians and power brokers formed lobbying teams to convince each state to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t sure if it truly helped urban development or social progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it clearly works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Jinggang City’s media have said it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our production is up, work efficiency is up, crime is down—what reason is there not to push it fully?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sacred Federal is coming under prohibition—anyone who stands in its way is the federal’s enemy!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly dragging the president into this gave Lans a strange feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eating beef for less than a dollar, yet worrying about cabinet politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s talk about Jinggang City’s alcohol market instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto handed the cigar back to Lans. Lans took a puff, nodded under his expectant gaze. “Excellent flavor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged glances for a few seconds. Lans couldn’t help asking, “You don’t expect me to describe tasting notes or aftertastes, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s too much to ask!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto looked disappointed. “I thought you’d say something more flattering—each cigar costs over a dollar fifty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans looked again at the cigar, took another puff, then paused. “Now that you say it’s worth over a dollar fifty, I suddenly think it tastes even better!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Giving this to you is a waste, Lans!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed, lit his own cigar. “Our state’s prohibition just started—it’s being enforced strictly. No alcohol can get in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They expect this crackdown to continue until January 1st. Beyond that, we don’t know what’ll happen. So right now, only existing stock is available in Jinggang City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“November and December—sixty-plus days. How much alcohol can this city consume?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your stock of Gold Label Napo Whiskey? Market price is around eleven dollars now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of bottles sound like a lot from one person’s view—but this city has 1.1 million permanent residents, plus massive daily influxes from maritime traffic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city hall estimated, based on surveys, a population of 1.25 million, including short-term residents and those planning to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excluding illegal immigrants—everyone knows they don’t exist on paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you include them, it’s nearly 1.5 million people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alcohol consumption of 1.5 million people is staggering. Jinggang City’s economy is thriving; people aren’t poor. Federal citizens have a habit of drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans hadn’t expected his liquor to rise so fast. At eleven dollars a bottle, forty thousand bottles meant over 460,000 dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Businesses with zero cost always yield the highest profits. No wonder capitalists and political families who built fortunes this way pushed laws to ban newcomers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto looked at Lans, meeting his gaze. “Someone wants your whiskey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans held the cigar between three fingers. “So you told people I’ve got a big stock?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face showed nothing—no anger, no displeasure, as calm as before. But Alberto knew: beneath the calm, turbulence stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head quickly to avoid misunderstanding. “No one knows you have liquor. Two days ago, at a family gathering, my big boss mentioned this. I said I could get some—he got interested.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big boss?” Lans raised an eyebrow. “I thought…” His expression said clearly: “I didn’t think you were just a lackey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto burst out laughing. “Come on, this is the federal, not our homeland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sumulians, Pattis, Glaes, Rishis, and you Empire folks—so many from all over the world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The federal’s environment is complex. Don’t tell me you didn’t know—we must unite to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you paid even a little attention to Jinggang City’s five major families, you’d know one is the Sumulian Pasreto family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Paul Pasreto? He’s my big boss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans stayed silent. Alberto continued: “Mr. Pasreto wants to buy all your Gold Label Napo Whiskey at eleven dollars per bottle. He’ll pay in cash, bearer bonds, securities, or whatever you prefer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to pay taxes, he can transfer it directly.” Alberto burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Investigation Bureau doesn’t ask how he got so much liquor, just paying enough taxes would take half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans froze on this point—the sum was simply too large. He’d only thought of the liquor, never the money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, if he wanted to cash out, he needed a plan to handle over 460,000 dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bury it in cash in a safe underground? Or launder it another way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money laundering isn’t easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even by Lans’s standards, laundering in this era wasn’t hard—but clearing tens of thousands in cash quickly? Still difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the federal Tax Bureau would definitely notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Investigation Bureau? Lans didn’t care. Everyone knew if you fed their director, they were sleeping tigers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Tax Bureau? Hard to deal with. They only want money—and lots of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lans lost in thought, Alberto, a finance company man, knew his worry and offered two suggestions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want cash and plan to spend it, let the Koda family launder it for you—but they charge high fees.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t want cash, bearer bonds are a good option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casinos have always been a… relatively reasonable laundering method—but the cost is extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casinos are already tied to crime. If you don’t pay enough, the Koda family won’t risk conflict with the Tax Bureau over a few thousand dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give this money to the Koda family? Better to just pay taxes directly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Koda family won’t feel indebted to you; they’ll think you owe them. They solved your problem of hidden funds; your fee is payment, not charity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’d owe them a favor just to save maybe fifty thousand dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to pay taxes outright—the Tax Bureau will think you’re a good citizen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cash. I’ll handle it myself.” Lans finally decided. “How’s the transaction?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto stood, paced a few steps. “If you want to meet in person, I’ll introduce you to Mr. Pasreto.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t want to show up, sell the whiskey directly to me—I’ll pass it to the family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both options seemed fine. But Lans preferred not to meet this top-tier family boss over this deal—he wanted another reason, to avoid leaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to sell the whiskey directly to Alberto for a total of 465,000 dollars, saving Alberto about a thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cash sum was staggering—and looked even more so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No hundred- or fifty-dollar bills. Only tens and twenties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred bills per bundle, tied with rubber bands. They used two waterproof gasoline drums to hold it—both packed to the brim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of trust—and because he couldn’t possibly count it all—he chose to trust Alberto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, where to store these two full drums became a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only transport them back for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buying a reliable, secure house became Lans’s top priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alberto quickly informed Mr. Pasreto of his acquisition of the high-end whiskey. The latter praised him lavishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, a strange phenomenon had emerged in Jinggang City: most hoarders stockpiled only low- and mid-tier alcohol, especially cheap brands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generic cheap whiskey and Copper Label Napo Whiskey were their main stock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, their choice made sense—when alcohol prices skyrocketed, the mainstream consumers could only afford these cheap or low-quality drinks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They simply couldn’t afford mid- or high-tier liquor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glass of Gold Label Napo Whiskey in an underground bar cost one dollar and thirty-five cents—and even the bar made no profit. Who the hell could afford that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the amount of mid- and high-tier liquor currently hoarded by Jinggang City’s dealers was actually quite small…\u003C\u002Fp>",1469,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","772ec73c1205da7949503359ed554581565ece5cedf4e976ed777329e66c39ee","the-shadow-empire-chapter-95","the-shadow-empire-chapter-93",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]