Empire of Shadows

Chapter 22: Independence Costs Four Hundred Bucks

Anderson sat on a chair in the back alley, smoking a cigarette. He enjoyed these brief moments of calm after the rush.

For the past two years, business in Jingang City hadn’t been as easy as it seemed. The whole Federation, and even the entire world, knew that Jingang City was crafting an economic miracle. Countless "adventurers" and "gold seekers" came here from all over the globe.

The most common arrivals? Illegal immigrants.

At this point in time, the Federation had thirty-six states and hundreds of cities. Yet the vast majority of these immigrants chose Jingang City as their destination, which said a lot about the city’s appeal.

If not for the thick scent of money wafting through the air, what could have drawn them across oceans to come here?

Were they really here to help build the Federation’s infrastructure?

No. They all came seeking their own miracles.

The massive influx of people from all walks of life had intensified the competition in Jingang City, slashing profits and introducing countless challenges.

Last year, Anderson’s restaurant faced a few setbacks. First, his business partner left him, forcing Anderson to spend all his remaining money to buy out the partner's shares and gain full ownership of the restaurant.

Then, his wife suffered an accident and was injured.

The insurance company refused to cover her expenses, claiming she had failed to disclose her slightly elevated blood pressure when purchasing the policy.

Without proof that her hypertension had developed after she got the insurance, the company argued that her undisclosed condition directly contributed to the accident.

Anderson fought them in court but ultimately lost.

The most infuriating part?

The insurance payout was supposed to be around $8,000. Yet, the company spent over $10,000 fighting him in court just to avoid paying.

In the end, not only did Anderson fail to receive compensation, but he also had to cover his wife’s medical bills and legal fees himself.

At that point, he was completely out of money.

He tried applying for a bank loan, but since he’d just lost a lawsuit, the bank flagged his application as risky. They told him it would take at least a month to process the loan.

Anderson couldn’t wait that long. He needed cash immediately to keep the restaurant afloat and cover family expenses.

So, he abandoned the bank loan idea.

Through a friend, he approached several finance companies. But these greedy hyenas sought to devour his assets, offering just a few thousand bucks in exchange for shares in his restaurant.

Eventually, he found a company called Fordis Finance. Although their interest rates were slightly high, they didn’t ask for collateral or covet his restaurant.

After a year of hard work, the restaurant began to recover. Recently, his new manager suggested a series of marketing strategies that kept the place bustling with customers.

Just that morning, Anderson had spent $400 to purchase ad space in Jingang Daily and was planning to rent the shop next door to expand his business.

Though he’d received several calls reminding him to repay the principal and stop-accrued interest owed to Fordis, he had no intention of doing so.

Expanding the restaurant required money. Marketing required money. Anderson dreamed of living a lavish life in his later years, supported by the restaurant’s success. At this critical moment, he couldn’t afford to entertain Alberto, that money-hungry scumbag.

He had only borrowed $2,000, but now they were demanding $5,000 in return. Anderson found the interest rates outrageous and refused to pay. He was even ready to take the matter to court.

As his lawyer had assured him, there was no need to worry.

Fordis Finance might threaten legal action, but the cost of pursuing a lawsuit would far exceed any potential recovery.

And if they tried anything illegal, Anderson could sue them directly and potentially win damages.

So, all he needed to do was stall.

With his lawyer’s assurances, Anderson had no intention of repaying the $5,000.

“I borrowed that money fair and square. Why should I have to pay it back?”

This mentality is common among those who refuse to repay debts.

While contemplating how to negotiate for the property next door, his manager suddenly came rushing in.

“Mr. Anderson, there’s been a situation in the restaurant.”

Anderson turned to him. “Someone’s boots catch fire?”

He was implying the manager was making too big a fuss, but the manager didn’t have time for jokes.

“A customer found a cockroach in their soup. Worse, they bit it in half and spat it everywhere…”

Anderson froze for a moment, then quickly stood up, dropped his cigarette, and hurried into the restaurant.

When he arrived, his blood pressure spiked. The sour stench of vomit hung in the air, making it impossible for most customers to continue eating.

People crowded around a particular table, whispering amongst themselves. On the table was a pristine white napkin holding two halves of a cockroach.

Judging by the pieces, they could easily be reassembled into a whole insect.

Anderson had spent his entire life in the restaurant industry. From apprentice to chef, and eventually head chef at a renowned establishment, he had worked his way up.

A few years ago, he’d saved enough money to open his own restaurant, where he served as both head chef and owner.

To him, this restaurant was more important than life itself.

Having dealt with various restaurant-related crises in his younger years, Anderson knew how to handle situations like this.

As he instructed staff to clean up the vomit, he approached Lance, intending to wrap the cockroach pieces in a napkin. But Lance blocked him.

“Trying to destroy evidence?”

The scrutinizing gazes from the crowd made Anderson’s scalp tingle.

“I just want to resolve the issue,” Anderson said calmly. “If you don’t mind, we can discuss this in my office. I’m sure we can come to an agreement.”

It was obvious he was offering money to settle things quietly, and Lance saw right through it.

He raised his voice, “You think I’m trying to extort you?”

“My friend and I came here to eat, and now there’s a cockroach in our soup. And you think we’re extortionists?”

“If you truly want to address this, you should do so here, in front of everyone. After all, we might not be the only victims—others may just not know it yet.”

Lance’s words caused Anderson’s expression to shift, and the spectators’ faces grew uneasy.

If a cockroach had made its way into someone’s soup, could it mean their utensils or food had also been exposed to roaches?

Some customers began voicing complaints, demanding the health department be called to inspect the restaurant.

A public health scandal could spell disaster for any restaurant—especially one that had just bought ad space.

Though it seemed inevitable that the incident would spread, Anderson still hoped to minimize the damage.

He shot a glare at the two young kitchen staff responsible for cleanliness, silently cursing them.

Leaning close to his manager, he whispered instructions. The manager then stepped forward to address the crowd.

“We deeply apologize for today’s incident. Mr. Anderson has decided that all meals today will be complimentary…”

Meanwhile, Anderson noticed Elvin’s attire.

He didn’t look like someone who could afford to dine at such an upscale establishment. This strengthened Anderson’s suspicion that the two were here to cause trouble.

With this thought, Anderson even began to doubt whether the cockroach had come from his kitchen.

However, now was not the time to debate whether the pair were scammers. He needed to focus on resolving the immediate hygiene and trust crisis.

Lowering his voice, Anderson said, “I’ll pay you $100 to end this here.”

“I know who you are and what you’re trying to do. $100 is generous. Don’t push me.”

Elvin, still gagging, managed to retort, “$100 can’t buy my integrity!”

Lance stood silently, showing no intention of compromising.

Anderson took a deep breath. “$200. That’s my final offer…”

“$500.”

“This is blackmail. Extortion! Aren’t you afraid I’ll call the police?”

Lance patted Elvin’s back and said calmly, “You’re scaring me. Now I don’t even want a single penny…”

Elvin gagged again, even louder this time.

Grinding his teeth, Anderson finally relented. “$400.”

“Deal!”

Lance stepped aside, and Anderson used the napkin to bundle the cockroach remains, stuffing them into his pocket.

Meanwhile, the manager smoothed things over with the other diners.

“These two individuals have been incredibly unreasonable,” he explained. “They’ve gone far beyond what we expected. But the restaurant sincerely apologizes for today’s events. All meals today are free of charge.”

He then handed out signed cards to each diner.

“Next time you visit, present this card for a complimentary bottle of wine valued at $10,” he said.

The wine, listed on the menu at $9.99, cost the restaurant less than $5 wholesale.

The manager knew that offering a free bottle of wine would likely lead customers to order $20 or more in food, ensuring the restaurant still made a profit.

Most diners accepted his explanation, though a few remained skeptical.

When they saw the two customers leave with Anderson, they assumed the matter had been resolved.

But in truth, it wasn’t over yet…

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