[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-995":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},2268615,4428,"Chapter 995: Pedro","the-shadow-empire-chapter-995",995,"\u003Cp>As the famine dragged on, all of Lapa had slipped into a “hell countdown,” with people continuously dying of starvation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elderly, the children, the sick, those in need of nourishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunger was a rusted, dull blade, killing humans slowly and cruelly, bit by bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, though Lapa was poor, backward, and uncivilized, people walking its city or village roads could still feel the pulse of life, could feel others around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro and his group had passed through two villages—both were empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only corpses, half-eaten and unrecognizable, lay strewn along the roads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air reeked of a thick, foul stench; he had to lift his hem to cover his nose and mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the odor kept gnawing at his sense of smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another abandoned village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes of those around him were filled with sorrow—a once-good nation, reduced to this hellish state solely because of the greed of its ruling clique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People already knew, thanks to deliberate spreading—and earlier reports in Lans’s newspaper—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank President Diego for his contributions to world peace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He sold millions of tons of grain, helping countless people in need!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, he helped people in other countries—while ensuring the people of Lapa were utterly forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newspaper also published a photograph taken from a low, looking-up angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>President Diego shook hands with someone just out of frame, holding a document on grain sales, his face beaming with smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the photo, he seemed to glow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone reading the article could feel the radiant light emanating from him as he generously sold grain to help others!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side: Diego, radiant, the new humanitarian icon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other: corpses littering the land, the air thick with the scent of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro’s emotions churned endlessly; before this, he had merely thought he could do this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, at this moment, he knew he must do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would rescue this nation, these people, from the hands of that greedy dictator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few steps further, he saw something happening by the roadside and cursed aloud, “That fucking bastard deserves to die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the roadside, seven or eight stray dogs were devouring corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this humanitarian disaster, humans struggled to survive—but small animals seemed to thrive, even better than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing those fat, red-eyed strays staring at them, he felt, for the first time, a surge of murderous desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the dogs lay scattered, chewed-up bones; from the small, round bone, he could tell it belonged to a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, the ground bore chaotic marks—he didn’t know if they were signs of struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the child had still been alive when dragged out, too weak from hunger to move, and was slowly devoured alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro had never truly believed in God—but he had respected Him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, at this moment, he believed only in himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the weapon in his hand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took down his simple bow from his back, drew the string taut, and with a “beng,” shot one stray dog, which yowled and bit at the arrow lodged in its body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shook violently, trying to bite through or pull out the arrow—but it couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its mouth wasn’t flexible enough; it could only stare helplessly as the long arrow stuck deep in its flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With its frantic movements, the wound tore wider, and blood shifted from slow drips to a rapid stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sudden change sent the other strays scattering, barking furiously at Pedro and his group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro kept drawing and shooting, but only managed to hit two strays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pack, no longer bold, fled quickly, tails between their legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man walked toward the two dead strays. Pedro shouted, “What the hell are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man looked at him, confused. “I just thought… we shouldn’t waste it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck, don’t you know what they’ve been eating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over everyone. Pedro pointed at the young man, said nothing more—but all knew his fierce opposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would feel sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to eat it, and he didn’t want anyone else to eat it—this wasn’t food for humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group continued into the village. Perhaps they were growing accustomed to the stench—it no longer seemed as overpowering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through the village felt like walking through hell. Even though Pedro had witnessed such horror once before, he was still shaken to his core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His scalp prickled, his skin crawled with goosebumps—fear and rage side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group moved in silence, scavenging the village for seasonings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salt, sugar, and other things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about forty to fifty minutes, they left. The village was small—no living souls remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the temporary camp, everyone’s mood was grim. Along the way, their group had grown—now nearly twelve to thirteen hundred strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combined populations of the three villages must have exceeded two or three hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a terrible era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered the camp, a colleague approached, others watching them, hoping for good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t truly expect any village to still function normally—they longed only for the last remnants of order to remain intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro shook his head, briefly described what he’d seen. Everyone fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, someone began cursing Diego and the ruling clique—like an infection, more joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro had once cursed Diego and those greedy ministers too—but recently, he’d begun pondering another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had this happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was the root of all this disaster?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others might say it was all Diego and the ruling clique’s fault—but Pedro believed it wasn’t just theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also the fault of the Federals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Federals hadn’t wanted to station troops, if they hadn’t been greedy for Yalan’s resources, life might have been hard—but not this horrific!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the darkest moment in Lapa’s history!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All because of the Federals’ presence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered this inevitable connection, another scouting team returned—their leader was also Pedro’s colleague, a high school gym teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was grim. The village he’d checked hadn’t been fully evacuated—but only twenty or so people remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From them, he had obtained something that unsettled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to speak with you alone,” he told Pedro.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro rose, puzzled, and walked with him to the edge of the camp. His colleague pulled out a poster and handed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his colleague’s urging, Pedro slowly unfolded it—and there, in second place, was his own photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression turned serious. The poster included nearly everyone who had attended Lans’s seminar, plus some he didn’t recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Diego is hunting you—and these others. They’ve labeled you ‘anti-government criminals’ and accused you of stealing grain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro stared at the wanted poster in silence for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a high school teacher to a wanted anti-government leader—he suddenly felt like laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real life was more surreal than any fantasy novel he’d ever read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you going to do?” his colleague asked, his expression grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If everyone had merely crossed moral or legal lines to survive, he could still accept it. But this wanted poster—he could no longer accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only wanted to live—not to overthrow the government!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro, however, was calm. “Do we have a choice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head, walked outside with the poster, gathered the crowd, and held it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Diego has branded me the leader of an anti-government force—and put a bounty on my head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s see how much I’m worth…” He hadn’t noticed the number beneath his photo until now. He glanced at it, then gave a wry smile. “Fifty thousand Palas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I think they’re underestimating me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter rippled through the crowd, easing the earlier tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We now face two problems.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First: I know some want to leave. If you do, tell me—I’ll let you go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second: Do we pretend this wanted poster doesn’t exist—or do we accept this identity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, the second question only applies to those who stay. Let’s handle the first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is anyone here ready to leave? We’re in grave danger now—I’m the leader of an anti-government force. Staying with me makes you a member of that force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the government army catches you, you’ll be killed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave now—maybe you can still clear your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he finished than someone stepped away. Then more followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not everyone had the resolve or courage—nor had all been truly pushed to this desperate edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some people, they simply don’t want to starve—they don’t necessarily have to rebel against the government!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, someone in the crowd said, “If we leave here, how much food will they give us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people turned to look at the speaker—he was one who had joined only recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro adjusted his glasses. “What right do you have to take this food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you lifted a finger for this food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or did you bring this food here yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve done nothing—you have no right to share in this food!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man grew frantic upon hearing this. Without food, and now cast out from the group, it was no different from seeking death. He shouted immediately, “This is unfair!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Food should be divided equally among everyone! I demand my fair share!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Pedro. He pointed at the man. “Throw him out of our camp!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young men immediately rushed forward to shove him. He tried to resist, but was quickly beaten down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who wanted to leave Pedro were the timid; those who stayed were the bold, with their own ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the man lay motionless, then was tossed outside the camp. Pedro looked around at the others. “Anyone else planning to leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once we move on, you won’t get another chance to leave!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some more people left the group and stepped aside. After triple-checking that no one else wished to depart, Pedro nodded toward them. “You may go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at each other, then slowly filed out of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Pedro raise the second issue. “Now let’s address what comes next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think it’s better for us to become the ‘anti-government force’ in Diego’s eyes—or to remain a band of refugees, scavenging for survival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matters to us—it will determine the path we take and the fate we face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You all know me. I’ve always admired the Federal social system, and I despise dictatorship. So every choice we make must be democratic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll lay out the options, and then you choose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you choose to embrace this identity, I’ll contact those willing to fund us—they’ll supply us with food, intelligence, all the resources we need, even weapons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we don’t embrace it, we’ll remain on the run—because the government army will soon target us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With bounties on our heads, people will keep betraying us until we’re caught.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone asked at that moment, “Who will help us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro thought of the Federal “International Human Rights Investigator,” Mr. Andy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in his mind surfaced the face of Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two men were likely allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Federal people,” he said. “The Federals are greedily obsessed with Yalan. The Yalan Alliance is merely...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant to explain further, but seeing the blank stares around him, he suddenly realized—perhaps this was precisely the strength of the Federals, of Lans and his kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because people want to live!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They merely stitched together a few factors, forcing the government to harass them—and forcing these people, to survive, to keep fighting the government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled a key point the Yalan Alliance had raised during negotiations with the Federal government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a middle-school teacher with some education, he cared about politics, much like Federal voters—but with a difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Federal voters cared about politics because they felt they had a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro cared about politics only to know what the future would hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During negotiations, the Yalan Alliance demanded that the Federal government respect internal governance within the Alliance and guarantee the political independence of its member states.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Federals had spoken beautifully then: they promised to respect the political sovereignty of Yalan’s nations and not interfere in their internal affairs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, they didn’t interfere—they merely used subtle tactics to plunge Rapa into civil chaos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t yet know what other nations were enduring, but it surely wasn’t better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had intended to explain all this—but now he realized it was unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wouldn’t try to understand. They only wanted to live—even if it meant picking up weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His guess was right: no one asked, “Why would the Federals help us?” They only asked how the Federals would help, and how the supplies would reach their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro himself didn’t know the answer—but he knew one thing: the Federals would send the supplies, because they needed these rebels active across the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief discussion, they quickly agreed: embrace the identity of an anti-government force, and strive to rebuild a better Rapa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This outcome didn’t surprise Pedro. The constant turmoil and hunger had already weeded out most of the elderly; those left were young and strong—the very age most prone to fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hatred for Diego, their inner drive to realize their own ideals, and the raw power within them—all forbade them from begging for survival on their knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome was predictable. What followed would be simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planned to find a way to contact Mr. Andy, to discuss supply lines and further aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that evening, gunshots from afar forced them to move again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably those who left during the day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others speculated too. Everyone was uneasy now, no longer buoyed by the excitement they’d felt when deciding to oppose Diego and his government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedro said nothing—only urged everyone to pack quickly and leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they hadn’t seen what happened, each felt a premonition: those who left during the day had been discovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this only strengthened their resolve to oppose Diego’s rule!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days passed. Bargas had transferred to him ownership of the Mabashan Silver Mine and an active iron mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Pedro had paid Bargas the promised sum—in cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans had smuggled vast amounts of cash into this region—and barring accidents, this flow would continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even considered entering a similar business. After all, money laundering had always been a high-profit industry in the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Federation had long been awash in illicit money, invisible to the law. In the past, this was somewhat easier—most people didn’t pay taxes anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with tax reform, ordinary citizens must pay. The terrifying Federal State Tax Bureau is poised to rise onto the historical stage in a new form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2419,"2026-06-19T21:10:31.886Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a06192c26c100bf2865b7da4ac8a386900ae1c9b2d18da9f4a007e6342221d5d","the-shadow-empire-chapter-996","the-shadow-empire-chapter-994",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]