[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-981":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},2268601,4428,"Chapter 981: Seeds of Fire","the-shadow-empire-chapter-981",981,"\u003Cp>Zhuolan was like a giant gambling table, every faction a player at its edge—ordinary people were not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether ordinary residents here or the rioters who sparked this upheaval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they seized their first weapon and pulled the trigger, they became rioters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game’s pace suddenly accelerated; the gentlemen at the table could no longer see its future—except for one person, or rather, several.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the dealers, the players at the table, and the judges deciding victory or defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They manipulated the game; the outcome would be no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, wine glass in hand, overlooking the increasingly chaotic city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his vantage point, he could now see refugees running through the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They smashed shop windows with whatever they held, or pried open doors and stormed inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, they burst out carrying stolen goods; the entire city sank into chaotic disorder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fleeing back to the police station, the chief reorganized a group—but this time, instead of confronting the refugees entering the city, they vanished from public view under the pretext of “protecting vital urban infrastructure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had hoped to leverage this turmoil to gain more power; now it seemed he wouldn’t get any further chance—and might even lose his job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Diego at this moment, the police chief’s incompetence had already tightened a noose around his own neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stupidity wasn’t in failing to stop the refugees from entering the city, but in firing shots and losing some weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned harmless refugees into a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lans was pondering how the situation would unfold, Ma Duoer stepped beside him and whispered, “Mr. Smith is here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Smith was Albert, the leader of the federal government’s later-arrived visiting delegation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon Albert entered with a smile, walking to Lans’s side and standing slightly behind him, gazing down at the city rising with smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under their gaze, a burst of flame erupted on a nearby street; moments later, the building ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building was only four stories tall—a common local structure—with the fire starting on the second floor, spreading visibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two watched as tiny figures fled from inside, while others screamed for help from windows on the third and fourth floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire city had ground to a halt; Zhuolan had only ten fire trucks, utterly insufficient for so many blazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, people leapt from the third and fourth floors of the burning building, like a matchbox; others climbed to the roof and hid inside water tanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lans shook his head slightly. “A human tragedy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans’s voice broke the silence of the room; the atmosphere softened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albert smiled in agreement. “Jumping down may break a leg, but at least you live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But hiding in a water tank? You’ll end up as soup.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans turned to him. “Want a drink?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albert hesitated, then said, “Whiskey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Duoer poured a glass of whiskey over ice and brought it over; Albert thanked him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuolan’s air was damp; though the weather wasn’t hot, it felt like a film clung to the skin, creating a stifling sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Diego sweated constantly, even when temperatures were low—though perhaps that was only part of the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Lans, shall we begin contacting some of these people now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albert and Andy came to Lapa to provide operational funding and supplies to anti-government factions, under the guise of “humanitarian aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This model was Lans’s idea: if you’re going to give, give openly—it’s not a bad thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assisting those in need showcases the noble character of the federal government and its people; local governments refusing such aid become villains in the international eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senator Cleveland admired this plan—it delivered tangible benefits without losing face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his head. “Wait a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait?” Albert sipped his whiskey, his gaze returning to the chaotic city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, now was the perfect moment to reach out to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans nodded. “Yes. Wait a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re too scattered, without purpose, and no one’s stepping forward to stop them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re even less organized than labor unions or worker strikes—those workers at least knew how to unite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at what these people are doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albert’s gaze fell to the street below—they had no clear objective. Logically, they should be gathering outside the Presidential Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, with their sheer numbers, they could pressure the president into meeting their demands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Federation, that’s exactly what would happen—thanks to labor unions and worker organizations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here, these people were participating in such an event for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their desires for destruction, greed, and every other impulse were unleashed; they drowned in bottomless pits of insatiable cravings, utterly forgetting what they should be doing now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were just scattered sand—no intimidating effect, no value at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After this riot is crushed, then contact some of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After enduring this painful failure, they’ll realize: whether they want to demand change from the government or overthrow this rotten society, they must unite, organize, and discipline themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now is not the time to invest in them. Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albert nodded in agreement, his smile unwavering, his emotions unreadable—impossible to gauge his inner thoughts from his exterior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such people were far harder to deal with than Andy, who wore his emotions on his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Lans, do you have any candidates in mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swirled his glass. “I heard that before our arrival, you held a seminar at the library and invited some people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m certain those you invited are extraordinary individuals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans made no denial. “I’ll have someone send you a list. You may find it useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These people… I call them ‘seeds of fire.’ They are the first awakened, the sparks that can ignite all of Lapa!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for whether some of these ‘seeds’ can survive their first trial…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans shook his head, sipped his drink, then smiled and spread his hands toward Albert. “Who knows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city was already this ruined; both Lans and Albert knew the next phase would be Lapa’s government crushing the rebellion without mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A significant portion of those flooding into the city may never return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they felt no regret or sorrow—this was how the world progressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether society or the people who composed it, all played the role of “fuel”—burning themselves to advance the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those who broke through the storm had the right to access federal funding, resources, everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This money wasn’t blown in by the wind—it was painstakingly accumulated from taxpayers’ pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, ordinary federals might not have had the right to begin with “our taxpayers’ money”—the federal government didn’t want to tax ordinary social classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now they had that right—even if their income was a single cent, they still had to file taxes at year’s end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a responsible young member of society, even if the federal government refused to be accountable to these taxpayers, he intended to be accountable for their money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their conversation ended as both saw a crowd of two or three hundred heading toward the Lapa Grand Hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this group had begun to form a “gang.” Their actions differed from the aimless mobs Lans had seen earlier—no longer driven purely by instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their destination seemed to be this hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lapa Grand Hotel must have plenty of food—and lots of foreigners!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burly man led the group—he was one of the “seeds,” a factory worker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a “seed” wasn’t reserved for the highly educated; anyone could become one, but they all needed something unique, something different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put more mystically, Lans needed to see leadership potential or a special aura of leadership in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, they couldn’t become “seeds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This worker below possessed a distinct aura; Lans had heard he frequently negotiated with factory owners on behalf of workers, and was well-respected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been given an opportunity—but whether it would ignite a flame that stained the sky remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, his chances of thriving had diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chose the wrong place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chose the Lapa Grand Hotel—the only foreign-facing hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans didn’t mind if federals here were harmed; it could serve as a pretext for federal pressure against the Asian Alliance—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We promoted cultural, economic, and trade exchanges with the Asian Alliance, sending people there—only for them to suffer accidents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you obligated to explain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nation’s “explanation” was entirely different from an individual’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But opportunity wasn’t entirely lost—if he didn’t act recklessly, he might still survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this man survived to the end despite choosing a hellish starting point, his probability of ultimate victory would rise to its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the hotel entrance, several guards stood watch, holding steel pipes and similar items—but no firearms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Lapa had always been docile; they seemed to have accepted their numb existence, with no thought of resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always so—except for rare gang conflicts involving weapons, overall, the populace remained safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the head of security and several deputies carried weapons—but they wouldn’t draw them unless it was the final moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the guards saw the crowd approaching, they immediately reported it; more guards emerged from the ninth floor to reinforce, including the head and deputies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bolder deputy stepped forward toward the group; they halted at the hotel entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, more people had begun to follow—aware the group’s target was the Lapa Grand Hotel, they grew excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lapa natives, they knew the hotel’s significance and luxury; they wanted to tag along for scraps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it looked like one crowd—but many more trailed at the edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[101] “You cannot enter here,” the deputy security chief raised his hand to stop them. “If you want money or food, I can arrange to send some to you—but you cannot enter here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are many foreign guests resting inside; if you disturb or harm them, it will be a huge trouble!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We hope you can understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worker spark chosen by Lans stepped forward from the crowd—he was strong, with a rugged, determined face and deep-set eyes, giving off a positive, trustworthy aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was powerfully built; beneath his thin shirt, his muscles bulged, radiating explosive strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the deputy captain, he smiled slightly, “I heard the Lapah Hotel doesn’t welcome the lower classes, is that right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still vividly remembered Lans’s first incident—he had originally planned to arrange lodging and research discussions for them at the Lapah Hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Lapah Hotel refused, because they didn’t welcome the lower classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the worker spark, naturally branded as a lower class, was smiling, everyone could sense his displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deputy captain was momentarily speechless; he found it hard to justify the hotel’s rule barring the poor, and facing these already transformed rioters, he felt fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could clearly read the turmoil in his face—the worker spark took a deep breath, “Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressed to the brink, the deputy captain could only shake his head and say, “We welcome every guest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worker spark smirked, “Good. Now we’re going inside to spend money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved to step forward, but the deputy captain blocked him again, “We’re not receiving guests right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worker spark shoved him aside and strode toward the hotel; farther away, people onlookers smiled—these people ate meat, and they drank the broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deputy captain tried to say more, but was immediately knocked to the ground by several men—he fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the hotel’s guards grew tense; as the mob advanced, they could only retreat step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until there was nowhere left to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain knew these people would not be stopped—he watched them draw nearer, and had no choice but to decide—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hit hard. Kill them. If they die, it’s on me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice carried a ruthless edge—if he survived this, he would surely be promoted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One guard could no longer bear the mounting pressure—he charged out swinging his steel pipe, and others followed him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two torrents crashed together at the hotel’s entrance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouts drowned out the sounds of fighting; many foreign tourists sat in the lobby, accompanied by young, beautiful companions. They watched without much fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some foreign tourists even smiled, pulling out cameras to photograph the scene outside the lobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They believed the guards would protect them—or that these people wouldn’t dare harm them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, these foreigners had felt something unprecedented here—privilege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unlike in the Federation or their own countries, where even if they were rich, they were never part of the privileged class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were truly wealthy, they wouldn’t be here—they were merchants, merely richer than ordinary people, with no ties to officials, and their limited wealth granted them no privilege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here, they felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether from the Lapah government, the local merchants’ association, or every ordinary citizen, they were met with reverence and fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes they went too far, but with help from the hotel manager or others like him, they negotiated with the victims—and always walked away unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One foreigner forcibly had sex with a girl who didn’t offer bed services; she reported it to the police, but the case vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the sweet taste of privilege!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still believed those people outside the hotel wouldn’t dare touch them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fight erupted fiercely—these guards weren’t mere decorations; when they went all out, they were truly brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because they were fighting lower classes—lower classes had no rights in Lapah—so they could be so merciless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sides fought evenly, but it was clear the guards were being crushed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they were outnumbered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brawls and mob fights are decided by sheer numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his men about to break, the guard captain drew his pistol and fired at the nearest lower class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the piercing gunshot shattered the lobby’s calm—the foreign tourists grew uneasy, thinking of fleeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, escape seemed too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worker spark also drew his weapon and fired at the guard captain; the brief exchange lasted less than twenty seconds before ending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard squad collapsed completely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2335,"2026-06-19T21:10:31.886Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","25644695951013b982ae02586d6e67dd7935d783f8e04732faee5d41089667a3","the-shadow-empire-chapter-982","the-shadow-empire-chapter-980",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]