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墨書 Inktalez
Andaro raised his glass, a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth, his eyes revealing a sinister disdain and mockery. He spoke softly, "You see, the government's so-called funding shortage isn't due to a tight budget; it's because the Serpent Bite Gang hasn't paid their dues." He deliberately elongated his words, savoring each syllable of this dark secret. A flicker of cruel delight flashed in his gaze, as if he could feel the undercurrents of power flowing through his words.
Anna feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow slightly, her lips parting as if she had never heard such secrets before. She gazed quietly at Andaro, her expression a perfect blend of curiosity and admiration, like an innocent bystander. Seeing her reaction, Andaro relaxed with a sense of pride, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes as if the insider knowledge elevated him above others.
"The Serpent Bite Gang has been paying a hefty sum over the years; that money goes straight into the city government's pockets, sustaining the power of these people," he said in a low tone, as if deliberately widening the cruel gap between reality and ideals. "This is their lifeline from black market dealings, their protection money to the mayor and his cronies. But," he lowered his voice further, a chill creeping into his tone, "that money has been dwindling lately, and now the entire city government is starting to struggle; the financial gap is becoming increasingly apparent."
"Do you know that this financial shortfall is all due to that Chen Ying from the Serpent Bite Gang? On the surface, he seems to have packaged up and submitted all the black money owed, presenting reports to the mayor that make it look like the gang has dutifully paid their 'tribute.' But in reality?" He scoffed coldly, disdain and malice flashing in his eyes.
Anna raised an eyebrow slightly, pretending to be shocked, her expression conveying innocence and curiosity. She looked at Andaro and lowered her voice: "Are you saying... Chen Ying falsified the payments?"
"Isn't that exactly what he did?" Andaro sneered, resentment glimmering in his eyes. "This guy is cunning! He kept part of the money that was supposed to be paid and instead created a fake report that made the mayor believe everything was settled. To cover up for himself, the mayor didn't even send his trusted aides to investigate; he practically handed Chen Ying a golden opportunity!"
He leaned closer to Anna, sarcasm dripping from his words: "The mayor has no idea that he’s been protecting the very culprit causing his financial strain. Now look where we are—the city government has a gaping hole in its finances and is pushing all its funding needs onto our industrial and tech districts, forcing us to fill this massive void."
Andaro's face darkened as he spat out his words with gritted teeth: "The mayor is terrified of anyone finding out about this; he doesn't want anyone to know he's been duped by Chen Ying. So he refuses to dig deeper into it. This matter has been covered up so thoroughly that even He Jianye pretends to know nothing about it. Our region's financial pressure has been unjustly shifted onto us—cleaning up after these people!"
Anna's face showed shock as she covered her mouth slightly, her voice softening: "I see... Mr. Andaro, you really see through everything."
Andaro let out a smug snort, as if he held the dark threads of this city in his grasp. He leaned back on the sofa with a shadowy smile in his eyes. "Miss Anna, this city has always been manipulated by power and money. The mayor may seem high and mighty but is merely a pawn in this game. Only now has he been outsmarted by the very gang he sought to protect."
Anna's face was filled with terror as she deliberately shrank back slightly, leaning toward Andaro as if seeking refuge in this perilous city. She gently grasped Andaro's arm, her voice weak and trembling, her eyes flickering with unease: "Oh my... I had no idea Shadow City was so terrifying—gangs, government, and these hidden struggles... I really shouldn't have come back." Her voice quivered as if the darkness of this city had completely engulfed her.
Seeing Anna's pitiful demeanor brought Andaro immense joy; pride swelled within him. He burst into hearty laughter that resonated with raw power as if every inch of Shadow City lay under his control. His thick hands instinctively patted Anna's shoulder, confidence radiating from him as if he were her guardian in this dark city.
"Miss Anna, don't be afraid. With me, Andaro, by your side, no matter how dark this city gets, it won't touch you at all. Not even those gangs; even the people from the city government will have to give me some respect!" Andaro patted his chest, his eyebrows raised high, his voice brimming with confidence and arrogance, as if he held all the power and secrets of the city in his hands. He looked at Anna, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth, his tone becoming increasingly friendly. "You can rely on me. If you have any troubles, just come to me."
Anna lowered her head, displaying a deep trust in him. She slightly lifted her eyes to look at him, seemingly comforted by his grandiose words, yet a hint of deeply concealed calmness flickered in her gaze. She sighed softly, her eyes filled with vulnerability and trust. "Mr. Andaro, I really appreciate it. My family values their business here so much; I don't want to disappoint them..."
Hearing Anna's words, Andaro laughed proudly, his eyes shining with self-assuredness, his tone filled with smugness. "Rest assured, I will take good care of your family business. After all, we know each other so well; I wouldn't let you suffer any losses." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping as if sharing a secret meant for just the two of them. "As for the extra fees the city government wants to collect this time, I can help you fend that off. Why should your family have to pay more? As long as we gather enough in total, the city government only cares about the amount; they won't check each household."
Anna looked up at him with surprise and admiration, softly saying, "I can't thank you enough... You truly are a powerful and kind person."
Andaro felt increasingly pleased with himself upon hearing her words. A self-satisfied smile adorned his face as he seemed to radiate confidence, as if he were indeed an indispensable figure in Shadow City. He took a sip of his drink and said quietly, "In this city, both the underworld and the upper echelons cannot bypass me, Andaro. With my involvement, your family's business will be secure; who would dare disrespect you?" He leaned in even closer, his tone becoming more exaggerated. "You know that as long as you and I work together, your career will be as solid as a rock. My connections and influence are vast; with just one word from me, they will handle all your troubles."
After saying this, Andaro looked at Anna with satisfaction. His greedy eyes sparkled with possessiveness as he eagerly awaited her admiration, believing that everything was under his control and that this beautiful woman would ultimately be won over by him. Anna smiled faintly, her eyes reflecting harmless gratitude while she coldly calculated how to further exploit this arrogant yet cunning shark for her own benefit.
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