
Empire of Shadow
Most people are born ordinary, but there are always a few who, even if born into mediocrity, aspire to greatness.
From a nameless exploited laborer to a godfather in the shadows;
From the bottom rung of society, bound by rules, to a secret emperor who crafts those very rules.
When the sun shines, this nation belongs to the Federation. But when night falls, it belongs to me!
“Sometimes, shadows can be just as vast as light—sometimes, they can even eclipse it.”
“We never extort or blackmail anyone. Every penny we earn can withstand the scrutiny of our conscience.”
If someone knocks on your door at night, they are either delivering my regards or bringing ruin for your arrogance.
As for what you will receive, that depends on the choice you make, my friend!
- Chapter 1: The Summer Breeze 1,492 Words
- Chapter 2: I Never Joke 1,708 Words
- Chapter 3: If It Shouldn’t Die, It’s Not a Vampire 1,605 Words
- Chapter 4: What Was That Saying? The Wheels of Fate Start Turning… 1,629 Words
- Chapter 5: I Have a Proposal, Too 1,627 Words
- Chapter 6: Gunmen and Bullets 1,583 Words
- Chapter 7: Start by following the rules 1,527 Words
- Chapter 8: I know a lot of people 1,496 Words
- Chapter 9: Have You Ever Had a Dream? 1,522 Words
- Chapter 10: An Iron Nail 1,580 Words
- Chapter 11: A Big Shot’s Joke Might Not Just Be a Joke 1,558 Words
- Chapter 12: Escalating Conflict 1,474 Words
- Chapter 13: Give and Take 1,306 Words
- Chapter 14: Courage Comes from Purpose 1,157 Words
- Chapter 15: A New Job 1,351 Words
- Chapter 16: A Fresh Start 1,070 Words
- Chapter 17: Everyone’s Just Trying to Survive 1,173 Words
- Chapter 18: First Earnings 1,036 Words
- Chapter 19: Thinking Smart and Basic Structure 1,067 Words
- Chapter 20: A Sleepless Night 832 Words
- Chapter 21: Begin Your Performance 1,583 Words
- Chapter 22: Compromise Costs Four Hundred Bucks 1,520 Words
- Chapter 23: Tap Water 1,665 Words
- Chapter 24: The True Treasure in Life Is Growing Together 1,272 Words
- Chapter 25: The Empire’s Circle 1,357 Words
- Chapter 26: Another Incident 1,332 Words
- Chapter 27: The Second Challenge 1,231 Words
- Chapter 28: A Smelly Day 1,014 Words
- Chapter 29: The Stubborn Old Man’s Defiance 1,159 Words
- Chapter 30: The Final Strike 1,056 Words
- Chapter 31: Home Run 1,034 Words
- Chapter 32: The Final Straw 1,256 Words
- Chapter 33: Officer Brayden 1,261 Words
- Chapter 34: How Did You Do It? 989 Words
- Chapter 35: A Business Card and the White Family 990 Words
- Chapter 36: Substitution 1,355 Words
- Chapter 37: A New Beginning 1,361 Words
- Chapter 38: Wanli 1,116 Words
- Chapter 39: Publicity, Interviews, and Attention 1,413 Words
- Chapter 40: A Spark to Ignite 1,318 Words
- Chapter 41: Tears 1,203 Words
- Chapter 42: Swift Justice 1,213 Words
- Chapter 43: Business 1,205 Words
- Chapter 44: The First Deal 1,176 Words
- Chapter 45: The Rolling Cash Machine 1,050 Words
- Chapter 46: Making Big Money and Going on a Date 1,518 Words
- Chapter 47: Home and Gathering 1,284 Words
- Chapter 48: Mutual Greed 1,791 Words
- Chapter 49: Far More Than That 1,572 Words
- Chapter 50: No Worries Behind You 1,100 Words
- Chapter 51: The Wooden Door and the Wooden Table 1,263 Words
- Chapter 52: The Definition of Happiness 1,382 Words
- Chapter 53: Crossing the Line 1,118 Words
- Chapter 54: A Small Problem 1,403 Words
- Chapter 55: One Chance 1,155 Words
- Chapter 57: Interest from a Month Ago 1,183 Words
- Chapter 58: New Acquisitions 1,200 Words
- Chapter 59: Don’t Be the One Left in the Sewers 1,075 Words
- Chapter 60: What’s for Lunch? 1,066 Words
- Chapter 61: Eat More If You’re Hungry 1,260 Words
- Chapter 62: A Light in Life 1,245 Words
- Chapter 63: Court Session 1,141 Words
- Chapter 64: A Moment of Relief 1,129 Words
- Chapter 65: The Crime Scene 1,066 Words
- Chapter 66: The First Meeting 1,155 Words
- Chapter 67: Extortion 1,227 Words
- Chapter 68: The Hitman 963 Words
- Chapter 69: Family and Work 892 Words
- Chapter 70: A Life Lost, A Debt Paid 973 Words
- Chapter 71: Investments and Unpaid Wages 1,339 Words
- Chapter 72: Watchdogs and Watchdogs 1,311 Words
- Chapter 73: Arthur Arrives 1,173 Words
- Chapter 74: You Scheme Against Me, I Scheme Against You 1,365 Words
- Chapter 75: Torrential Rain 1,108 Words
- Chapter 76: A Conspiracy and Revenue Distribution Principles 1,204 Words
- Chapter 77: Abnormalities and Identification 1,205 Words
- Chapter 78: Who Did It 1,030 Words
- Chapter 79: Offering Advice, Small Talk, and Mistakes 1,196 Words
- Chapter 80: Congratulations on Getting Rich 1,200 Words
- Chapter 81: The Tailor, the Union, and Three Questions 1,339 Words
- Chapter 82: The Answers, Hide and Seek, and Protecting the Family’s Interests 1,362 Words
- Chapter 83: Family and Relatives 1,418 Words
- Chapter 84: Misfortunes Come in Waves 1,282 Words
- Chapter 85: Forget the Source of Light; It’s Still Light 1,137 Words
- Chapter 86: Rumors and a New Dinner 1,287 Words
- Chapter 87: A Movie and a Family Dinner 1,335 Words
- Chapter 88: Quick Wit and What You Owe Me 1,129 Words
- Chapter 89: The Dockworkers’ Union 1,197 Words
- Chapter 90: Prohibition 1,203 Words
- Chapter 91: News, Journalists, and Features 1,504 Words
- Chapter 92: Closer to the Truth… and a Warehouse of Wealth 1,423 Words
- Chapter 93 – The Shipment 1,531 Words
- Chapter 94 – The Growth of the Foolish Son and the Imminent Crisis 1,389 Words
- Chapter 95 – Small Talk and the Cost of Politics 1,397 Words
- Chapter 96 – Renting Land and the Duties of Friendship 1,305 Words
- Chapter 97 – Uncertainty and the Labor Union 1,387 Words
- Chapter 98 – Miscellaneous Affairs, Houses, and the Pursuit of Security 1,257 Words
- Chapter 99 – Trouble Brewing 1,180 Words
- Chapter 100 – Who Can Save Me? 1,332 Words
- Chapter 101 – Different Perspectives, Different Attitudes 1,188 Words
- Chapter 102: Resistance Only Leads to Greater Harm and Becoming a Social Butterfly 1,531 Words
- Chapter 103: Conflict and Getting Beaten 1,564 Words
- Chapter 104: Do It Now 1,564 Words
- Chapter 105: Some Impressions and Who Hammer Is 1,670 Words
- Chapter 107: Mr. Lance Treats Everyone to a Drink 1,585 Words
- Chapter 106: Investigation and the Garment Factory Manager 1,302 Words
- Chapter 108: Photos and Investigation 1,702 Words
- Chapter 109: Not the Time to Open Blind Boxes 1,678 Words
- Chapter 110: Family Thoughts, Starting Work, and Birthday Party 1,433 Words
- Chapter 111: Complex Family Ties and the Pause Button 1,418 Words
- Chapter 112: Listen to Mom and the New Bar 1,430 Words
- Chapter 113: Huge Profits and Reflection 1,505 Words
- Chapter 114: New Policies, Uniforms, and Going on the Offensive 1,365 Words
- Chapter 115: Helplessness and Humiliation 1,702 Words
- Chapter 116: Seeking Justice and Meeting the Officer 2,700 Words
- Chapter 117: Friends, Brothers, Family 2,925 Words
- Chapter 118: Routine and Paving the Way 2,992 Words
- Chapter 119: Picking Someone Up, Dinner, Discussion, and a Whip 2,882 Words
- Chapter 120: Target Locked, Deal Struck, and Conversation 2,795 Words
- Chapter 121 1,691 Words
- Chapter 122: Mutual Surveillance and Taking Action Tonight 2,947 Words
- Chapter 123: Coincidence 3,032 Words
- Chapter 124: Rat-a-tat-tat 1,820 Words
- Chapter 125: No Evidence 2,946 Words
- Chapter 126 3,049 Words
- Chapter 127 3,086 Words
- Chapter 128 2,776 Words
- Chapter 129 2,944 Words
- Chapter 130 2,796 Words
- Chapter 131 2,489 Words
- Chapter 132 2,943 Words
- Chapter 133 3,028 Words
- Chapter 134 2,880 Words
- Chapter 135 2,913 Words
- Chapter 136 2,872 Words
- Chapter 137 1,752 Words
- Chapter 138 2,959 Words
- Chapter 139 2,998 Words
- Chapter 140 2,847 Words
- Chapter 141 3,043 Words
- Chapter 142 1,693 Words
- Chapter 143 2,959 Words
- Chapter 144 3,027 Words
- Chapter 145 1,918 Words
- Chapter 146 3,071 Words
- Chapter 147 3,065 Words
- Chapter 148 2,965 Words
- Chapter 149 2,975 Words
- Chapter 150 2,902 Words
- Chapter 151 2,881 Words
- Chapter 152 2,856 Words
- Chapter 153 2,826 Words
- Chapter 154 3,008 Words
- Chapter 155 2,967 Words
- Chapter 156 2,880 Words
- Chapter 157 3,035 Words
- Chapter 158 2,798 Words
- Chapter 159 2,767 Words
- Chapter 160 1,723 Words
- Chapter 161 2,786 Words
- Chapter 162 2,944 Words
- Chapter 163 2,984 Words
- Chapter 164 2,903 Words
- Chapter 165 2,946 Words
- Chapter 166 3,017 Words
- Chapter 167 1,644 Words
- Chapter 168 2,922 Words
- Chapter 169 2,826 Words
- Chapter 170 2,954 Words
- Chapter 171 3,033 Words
- Chapter 172 2,859 Words
- Chapter 173 2,938 Words
- Chapter 174 2,846 Words
- Chapter 175 2,891 Words
- Chapter 176 2,836 Words
- Chapter 177 2,886 Words
- Chapter 178 2,860 Words
- Chapter 179 3,001 Words
- Chapter 180 1,755 Words
- Chapter 181 3,127 Words
- Chapter 182 3,049 Words
- Chapter 183 3,156 Words
- Chapter 184 3,143 Words
- Chapter 185 3,136 Words
- Chapter 186 3,179 Words
- Chapter 187 3,106 Words
- Chapter 188 3,146 Words
- Chapter 189 1,933 Words
- Chapter 190 3,158 Words
- Chapter 191 3,058 Words
- Chapter 192 1,976 Words
- Chapter 193 3,131 Words
- Chapter 194 3,134 Words
- Chapter 195 1,847 Words
- Chapter 196 3,161 Words
- Chapter 197 3,062 Words
- Chapter 198 1,922 Words
- Chapter 199 3,102 Words
- Chapter 200 3,069 Words
- Chapter 201 2,923 Words
- Chapter 202 3,111 Words
- Chapter 203 2,990 Words
- Chapter 204 3,185 Words
- Chapter 205 3,110 Words
- Chapter 206 3,244 Words
- Chapter 207 3,077 Words
- Chapter 208 3,044 Words
- Chapter 209 1,809 Words
- Chapter 210 1,948 Words
- Chapter 211 2,848 Words
- Chapter 212 3,117 Words
- Chapter 213 3,020 Words
- Chapter 214 3,009 Words
- Chapter 215 2,958 Words
- Chapter 216 2,881 Words
- Chapter 217 3,111 Words
- Chapter 218 3,116 Words
- Chapter 219 3,091 Words
- Chapter 220 2,974 Words
- Chapter 221 2,592 Words
- Chapter 222 3,233 Words
- Chapter 223 3,093 Words
- Chapter 224 1,915 Words
- Chapter 225 3,037 Words
- Chapter 226 3,110 Words
- Chapter 227 3,135 Words
- Chapter 228 3,065 Words
- Chapter 229 3,176 Words
- Chapter 230 3,099 Words
- Chapter 231 3,240 Words
- Chapter 232 3,263 Words
- Chapter 233 2,069 Words
- Chapter 234 3,229 Words
- Chapter 235 3,111 Words
- Chapter 236 2,987 Words
- Chapter 237 2,449 Words
- Chapter 238 1,946 Words
- Chapter 239 3,257 Words
- Chapter 240 3,193 Words
- Chapter 241 2,997 Words
- Chapter 242 3,164 Words
- Chapter 243 3,148 Words
- Chapter 244 3,113 Words
- Chapter 245 1,763 Words