[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-999":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},2268619,4428,"Chapter 999: Fired","the-shadow-empire-chapter-999",999,"\u003Cp>In the morning, a passenger ship from the Lianbang slowly docked at Zhuolan’s pier; as the gangway lowered, more and more passengers from the Lianbang stepped ashore with their luggage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene was unfolding across all of Yalan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negotiations between the Yamen and the Lianbang were still ongoing; only part of the cooperation had been agreed upon, with more matters left to discuss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the Lianbang was seeking mining rights to two oil fields in the Yalan region; extracting oil was no simple task, and only two small oil fields in all of Yalan had been confirmed and were currently being exploited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All others—confirmed, unconfirmed, or even undiscovered—waited for their owners to arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could not produce the equipment needed to extract oil, let alone build storage tanks and pipelines meeting safety standards; they could only rely on the Lianbang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lianbang government wanted to buy these oil fields for independent operation, but the Yamen insisted they should develop them jointly—even if they received a smaller share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Capital groups dominated by several major Lianbang oil giants were still negotiating with them; a good outcome was unlikely in the short term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone understood one thing: oil was a massive profit engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lianbang conglomerates would never pay them based on proven reserves to buy these oil fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All they could afford to pay was a tiny fraction of the total estimated reserves—perhaps one-tenth, or even less!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond oil fields, many other opportunities still existed here, drawing ever more “gold seekers” to this land in search of fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The largest number of people were heading to the Jide Republic; as the strongest nation in the Yalan region, it already had some industrial infrastructure and welcomed investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they found the right project, rapid class mobility was guaranteed—this unequal trade was always a goldmine for merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Christopher had previously run drug smuggling deals with backward nations’ royal families, a single dose of a Lianbang specialty drug worth a few yuan could be exchanged for its weight in gold—or even several times its weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why so many people were obsessed with smuggling between two civilizations of vastly different levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone hoped to become the most successful, to reach the pinnacle of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large capital groups or teams found greater prospects in the Jide Republic, while smaller teams or individuals were ill-suited to seek opportunities there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t negotiate supply and pricing terms or rules as deeply as capital-backed teams could; all they could negotiate were based on the foundation provided by capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t compete with big capital or large teams; instead, relatively backward places like Lapa or similar neighboring countries suited them better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, faces filled with hope and longing appeared on the gangway, quickly merging into the crowd and blending into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they would realize their dreams here—but perhaps this would be where their next nightmare began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans kept his gaze fixed on the gangway; from the initial crush of people to the now-empty stairs, his brow gradually furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the next moment, his brow relaxed, a smile appeared on his face, and he opened the car door and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haelam appeared on the gangway; he glanced down, saw Lans, and broke into a grin, jogging down the steps to embrace Lans, who was approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He squeezed hard, making Lans feel suffocated; Lans had to pat his back and shoulders. “Get the hell off me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!” Haelam laughed and released his arms, stepping back two paces. He sized up Lans, and Lans sized him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haelam had clearly gained weight; Lans pinched his arm. “Did Elvin feed you feed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think you’ve gotten a whole circle fatter than before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Haelam’s smile faded; he began complaining, “I was bored stiff over there—nothing to do, just eat and sleep every day, God!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xinboming was not a fast-paced, lively city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although since last year’s second half, the city’s development seemed to be accelerating, as many gangs came here to buy whiskey, boosting local economic activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the city remained dull, nowhere near as vibrant as Jingang City; every day was just wasted in boredom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I came to see if you’ve got a lot of work here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several people trailed behind Haelam, each carrying square, rigid cases; their uniform attire gave them an intimidating presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans’s gaze lingered on each of them, greeted them, then walked as he answered Haelam: “Yes, you’ll find something to do in the next few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haelam instantly brimmed with energy. “Who do we kill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Diego guy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll shoot him full of holes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans rolled his eyes. “No. Some disobedient locals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened the car door for Haelam, then got in himself. “I need you to give them a Lianbang-style lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Lapa people didn’t know a madman had just landed; they were still protesting to the factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t adapt to over ten hours of high-intensity labor; they lacked the Lianbangers’ grit, perseverance, and endurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t bear it, so they gathered, demanding the factory rescind yesterday’s decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lapa people weren’t used to high-intensity repetitive work; most did short-term jobs—work a few days, lose the job, then wait for the next one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they found it impossible to sit still in one fixed position; after a while, the novelty faded, leaving only mental and physical exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who never worked on a high-intensity assembly line could never understand how terrifying the pressure of just sitting there could be!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was perfectly normal that these free-spirited Lapa people couldn’t take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they accepted it immediately, that would be abnormal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the noisy crowd refusing to work, the factory manager, sweating profusely, called Roger. Roger then called Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall we go take a look?” Haelam sat on the spacious sofa, stroking the smooth leather; he was now visibly energized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t seen Lans in a long time; meeting him again made him feel as if he’d come back to life—he couldn’t describe the feeling, but he felt alive again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans picked up the phone and looked at him, not hanging up. “Are you sure you don’t need rest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haelam shook his head. “Since Richard was killed, I’ve been so bored I’m growing fur. Perfect chance to see what needs doing.” After Richard’s death, Jinbiao Group reversed his policies; the gangs ceased their confrontation with Lans’s family. Though state police still harassed them, losing a group of enemies made things noticeably easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that something needed doing, he was clearly eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans picked up the phone. “I’ll go take a look later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than twenty minutes later, the convoy arrived at the cigar factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cigar factory was in the suburbs of Zhuolan; they’d even planned an industrial zone here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever made this plan must have still held some hope for this country—but so far, only a few factories had been built.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost all the new ones belonged to Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car pulled up to the factory; many locals had already gathered at the entrance, shouting loudly, drawing more and more people until the area was packed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though few companies had moved into the industrial zone, its supporting infrastructure and personnel were abundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hadn’t learned the advanced parts of those countries, but they’d mastered bureaucratic bloat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An empty industrial zone still had its own police station and over two hundred officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many police were present, but they didn’t interfere with the protesting workers—only stood on the periphery watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d arrived right when the disturbance started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They immediately reported it to the industrial zone police station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The station chief had clearly gotten his position through connections; he had more wit than mere lackeys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t decide whether to act or not—he called his superior for instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That question landed in Diego’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it involved “foreign guests,” some people didn’t want to bear the consequences, so they passed it up the chain to Diego.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Diego asked one question: “Is this illegal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in his office understood; he repeated: “I mean, these people opposing unreasonable foreign work demands—is this legal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief thought, someone answered: “Not illegal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clever answer—neither “legal” nor “illegal,” but “not illegal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diego had already resented Lans after being threatened before; now, with this incident and legal backing, he ordered his subordinates to do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t the Lianbang love to talk about human rights, democracy, freedom?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t they claim protest and resistance were basic human rights?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they got what they wanted—Lapa people had these rights too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The order trickled down; when it reached the industrial zone police, they stopped interfering and simply watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching foreigners’ troubles was rare in Lapa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans’s car stopped on the road outside the factory; he didn’t get out or approach—just watched from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haelam whistled. “What’s your plan?” He turned to Lans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lans stared at the crowd. “Can you use a baseball bat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haelam grinned, eyes narrowing. “I’m damn good at it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the manager was worn down by the crowd, someone ran up and whispered in his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head toward the roadside, saw the line of parked cars, and his expression changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shoved the nearest workers aside, climbed onto a nearby crate, and shouted: “Listen up! Shut up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shout earned no respect; instead, someone burst out laughing, finding him ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager was a Lapa native, formerly middle-class; he’d worked in cigar production before and was hired for this role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never directly managed frontline workers before—this was his first time—and he was nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that Lans or Roger didn’t want to hire local managers; it was that most local managers were tied to the ruling elite—hard to poach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager could only turn red and shout: “This is the company’s decision—not mine or anyone else’s. You don’t have to agree—that’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t expect everyone to comply. The gate is right there—you can leave anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s your freedom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you want to stay and keep working in our factory, you must follow our rules—do as we say!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was clearly furious—his boss was watching nearby; he had to show strength, prove he could handle these people!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The workers grew agitated, pushing forward, shouting what they wanted to say, regardless of whether it mattered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the crowd grow restless again, the manager suddenly pointed at a few loud individuals in the crowd: “You’re fired!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire scene fell suddenly silent; most assumed this might just be a “strategy,” but they hadn’t expected someone would actually be fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some wore expressions of disbelief, and those fired clearly could not accept this outcome!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man, after a brief shock, suddenly flew into a rage, shoved through the crowd, and shoved the manager hard—“What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager tumbled off the crate; his junior staff caught him, and this made the manager feel his authority had been gravely challenged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way they looked at him no longer held the same awe as before!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was utterly enraged—he stepped up to the guy who towered over him by a full head, jabbing a finger into his chest—“Don’t make me say it again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re fired. Now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of the factory right now, or I’ll make your life hell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1880,"2026-06-19T21:10:31.886Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d925bf3c451558eb9d8f70745b9ab9b353692941381c8643cf3ba22c6e5b9208","the-shadow-empire-chapter-1000","the-shadow-empire-chapter-998",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]