Chapter 307 - Empire of Shadows - NovelsTime

Empire of Shadows

Chapter 307

Author: 三脚架
updatedAt: 2025-11-02

A thin mist had surprisingly risen on the sea at night. Compared to the surprise of Lance and his group, McCock and his men seemed much calmer.

Having seen it for decades, they had long since gotten used to it.

The sound of the waves attacked their nerves day and night, accompanying this treacherous and ever-changing yet season-in-and-out sea.

Many people who don’t often see the sea always have a feeling of being refreshed when they come to the sea, as if the space between heaven and earth has suddenly become much larger. They can also feel their own insignificance and the magnificence of the ocean.

People always say that the ocean nurtured life, and in fact, it is true. From the not-so-reliable theory of evolution, the ocean is indeed the origin of life.

It is mysterious, beautiful, and full of attraction.

But for people who have stayed by the sea, on the sea, for a long time, they don’t see these things in their eyes, only desolation, boredom, and even despair.

McCock sat in the observation room, smoking his pipe. This armed gunboat actually only had two small cannons, but even so, it was much stronger than before.

Lance and his group, having received Luigi’s goods, knew the approximate sea area. After arriving at the location, they turned off the lights, dropped anchor, and waited in place.

No one spoke. In the dark night, everything seemed mysterious and terrifying.

Everyone was thinking about their own things. McCock was thinking about what $40,000 plus $50,000 could bring to his life, just as the others were thinking about what changes $14,000 could bring to them.

The Coast Guard had never been considered a very powerful department before this epic enhancement.

They couldn’t beat the smugglers, couldn’t patrol the coastline. The most frequent work might still be towing and rescue work for the Golden Port docks.

They did the work of dockworkers with the Coast Guard badge. The only thing that could make them feel a little more comfortable might be that their salary was slightly higher.

But it was only a little higher, not yet exceeding the level of a class. They were actually also poor people.

I don’t know how long they waited. Everyone was observing the surrounding sea surface with binoculars. Suddenly, someone said, “There’s a ship at the four o’clock position!”

Soon, everyone gathered around him. Through the binoculars, they saw a ship with a few lights on, drifting on the sea.

You could vaguely see a lot of cargo on it, and some figures were moving around.

“Get closer, and be a little quieter.”

McCock ordered. The sound of the anchor being raised came, and the ship also began to move slowly.

The sound of the waves covered the sound of the ship’s advance, and at the same time, the thin mist became the best cover on the sea.

On the ship in the distance, a few Summurian men were eating and chatting, not at all aware of the approaching danger.

Luigi’s life had gotten a lot better, so the people around him could naturally get a little more money. On this point, Luigi was still able to be clear-headed.

Everyone’s income had become very high now, plus the Republic of Aldra was not a rich country.

The money Luigi gave them was enough for them to live a life of superiors in the Republic of Aldra!

Money, weapons, power, this was a life like heaven!

A few people were chatting, eating, and drinking. Suddenly, one person stopped moving.

He stared straight ahead with a dumbfounded look. After the others noticed something was wrong, they waved their hands, but there was no reaction.

They thought he might have had some sudden illness, or some other emergency, but someone inadvertently caught a glimpse of the warship coming through the thin mist, and their mouths also gradually opened wide.

This armed ship was actually not very large, but compared to this transport ship modified from a fishing boat, it was much larger. And it was an ironclad ship. Besides being majestic, it also gave people a sense of oppression.

The “Federation Coast Guard” logo and emblem on the ship’s body made them realize that they had encountered big trouble!

“What now?” someone asked.

The small leader in charge of escorting this batch of liquor looked at the approaching armed ship and lowered his voice a little, “Cooperate first, if there’s a chance… kill them!”

His eyes were slightly red. If this large batch of goods was lost in his hands, Luigi would definitely not let him die easily!

That fat bastard was no pushover. He knew this very well.

But now…

“This is the Federation Coast Guard. Please stop immediately for inspection.”

“Stand where we can see you, with your hands held high.”

“Repeat, stand where we can see you, with your hands held high.”

Under the illumination of the searchlight, the people on the ship finally gathered together. They were waiting, waiting for an opportunity.

If the patrol officers were to board their ship, then this would be the opportunity!

They felt it was highly likely that the other party would come over. As long as they wanted to inspect the goods here, they would definitely have to come up.

But they did not expect that these people appeared here, at such a coincidental time, in such a coincidental place, precisely for the things on their ship!

So what they waited for was only bullets, and death!

The gunshots that suddenly broke the silence of the midnight tore apart the curtain of silence. Several submachine guns fired at the same time, and the people standing in the spotlight were immediately riddled with bullets.

They seemed unwilling to believe until they died that these people from the Federation Coast Guard would shoot at them regardless of what was on their ship.

When there was no one left standing on the deck, Lance and his men slid down from the armed ship along ropes.

The small leader lying on the deck, on the verge of death, saw Lance. His eyes went from confusion to shock, and then to regret, in a very short time.

He was the one who had delivered the goods to Lance last time. He was very familiar with the situation here, having run it several times. He knew Lance.

He couldn’t have imagined that Lance would actually collude with these Coast Guard members, let alone that someone had sold out their intelligence.

Blood flowed from his mouth, nose, and wounds. Everything before his eyes began to turn dim, to turn dark…

A safe slaughter. They threw the bodies on the deck into the water, and everything returned to tranquility.

“From four to five o’clock, there are no patrols in these areas.”

With $90,000 already within reach, McCock’s whole person became a little… uneasy. He was now a little impatient for the day to break.

Only then could he see his money!

Lance had him arrange for two of his trusted men to help sail the ship. The two coast guards actively jumped over.

The two ships circled around one after another and began to return from the other side.

The dead silent sea at midnight was the same as in the past. It did not become different just because there were a few more bodies in the water.

After about forty minutes, a few more transport ships approached. They used searchlights to constantly send signals to the surrounding sea according to the agreed-upon rendezvous signal.

But after more than half an hour, there was still no response.

Stone (the older brother among the younger generation of the Kodak family) was a bit hot-tempered. He took out his pistol and emptied the magazine into the sky. When the gunshots ended, there was still no response from the surroundings.

At this point, even if he were slow, he knew that if they hadn’t taken the wrong path, then something must have happened to the other side!

The Kodak family had had several batches of liquor seized in a row, which had already caused problems with their casino supply. Buying liquor locally was too expensive, so they also set their sights on the various low, medium, and high-grade liquors from Yalan.

This time, through some connections, they contacted Luigi. Although Luigi’s liquor was not the best, it was the fastest to ship.

What the Kodak family needed was an emergency supply. Whoever could provide them with a batch of liquor faster, they would order from them.

Unexpectedly, a problem occurred on the first business deal. These Summurian people were really unreliable!

But what he didn’t know was that under the escort of the Coast Guard, the liquor that should have been sold to him was being sent to their warehouse by Lance!

As soon as the large batch of liquor docked, someone began to load the trucks. At the same time, Mello also brought two large travel bags, filled with money.

$200,000, not $250,000, because McCock had privately told Lance that the $50,000 was what he deserved.

In the dim light, Lance threw the two travel bags to McCock, “This is your money.”

The breathing of the surrounding coast guards became rapid. Their gazes constantly shifted between McCock and Lance, and also on those travel bags, wishing they could help McCock open those travel bags and carefully count if the money was enough!

At this time, McCock’s heart was also a little nervous. He looked at the two travel bags on the deck and signaled his absolute trusted subordinate to put the money away first, “I trust you.”

He said to Lance. It wasn’t actually that he trusted Lance, it was that he believed Lance’s business was large, and he would also need to smuggle in the future, so he couldn’t do without them!

This was just the first contact. He might as well make it look good.

The two did not shake hands. After a brief exchange of glances, they went their separate ways. Lance returned to the shore, and the patrol team’s ship also set sail again.

McCock, at the urging of the crew, opened the two travel bags. The densely packed banknotes tied with rubber bands inside made a smile appear on everyone’s face!

Before the sky was bright, Luigi was awakened by the ringing of the phone. He picked up the phone, cursing, “You’d better find a reason for me to forgive you!”

His temper was not good. After he started making big money, his temper was not very good.

Stone’s voice came from the other end of the phone, “Your goods did not arrive at the designated place.”

Luigi’s whole person woke up at once, “That’s impossible, I watched them get on the ship!”

Stone was also a little annoyed, “Are you saying I’m lying to you?”

“Why the f—k would I lie to you?”

“What kind of joke are you playing?!”

Luigi calmed down, “Maybe they were delayed on the way…”

Stone gave him no face, “Do you believe your own statement?”

“It only takes one day to get from Aldra to the Federation. Don’t f—king tell me they got lost.”

“Luigi, I’ll give you two paths.”

“Either give me back my deposit.”

“Or send me another batch of liquor!”

“Don’t force me to come to your place!”

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