The matter of the police collecting money didn’t originally start with the police actively collecting it, but with the operators actively giving it.
The rate of gang turnover was too fast. So much so that you could pay a protection fee in the morning, and by the afternoon, that gang would be finished. Then the new gang that took over would demand that all the shops in the area pay again.
No one could withstand such a hassle. In an era when the police could still stop evil, people could only place their hopes in the police.
They would actively give the police some benefits—tobacco, liquor, or cash—so that the police could take extra care of them.
Over time, this act of actively bribing the police gradually developed into the police actively demanding fees from the merchants.
You could refuse to give it to them, but then they would release a message, letting people know that a certain shop had not paid its fees. For any criminal acts targeting this shop, the police would turn a blind eye.
The change and reversal of the relationship made what was once a willing payment something people were no longer so willing to do. So in fact, collecting this money was not a good job. Some police officers themselves were very resistant to it, but it was also one of their jobs: to extort merchants.
But to say that they would completely stop collecting it, as Sub-bureau Chief Bruce said, would destroy the rules that everyone was now abiding by, and make everything… uncontrollable.
No one liked this kind of uncontrollable change, and they originally could have chosen not to do it.
Lance looked at the two of them. “The Attorney General also came here this time. I had a chat with him, as you should also know.”
“They will dispatch some internal affairs police to investigate matters concerning some illegal operations, including accepting bribes and various forms of illegal profit.”
“I don’t want to discuss whether you have accepted bribes, nor do I want to discuss whether those ordinary police officers have accepted bribes. Just in terms of illegal profit, you personally have it.”
“This investigation will definitely need to set some examples. The public security problem in Golden Port has already spread throughout Likalai State. To ensure the purity of the law enforcement agencies, someone has to make a sacrifice.”
“And with the development and progress of society, this kind of thing will become more and more intolerable and unacceptable to society.”
“We have just chosen to run faster than the times, not to be left behind by it. When this torrent begins to sweep everything away, you will discover this point.”
“Others are still worried about being swept away and finished, but we have already entered the next version.”
“I don’t know if you can understand what I’m saying. I can only say that this is actually for the consideration of all of us.”
Every era will have its own changes. Perhaps at this time, black money and corrupt police are everywhere.
But as society develops, this situation will eventually become less and less common. The more developed the society, the more the federal government will care about the purity of the lower-level governments and institutions.
Compared to hastily dealing with a pile of shit in the future, it is better to wash your ass clean and go ashore at this time.
This internal investigation was actually of great help to Lance. It could help him first push for some rule changes in the two districts.
It would allow him to receive more attention and support from the people.
Attention and support is a kind of power, a very powerful power.
Sub-bureau Chief Bruce said softly, “We’ve heard about this, but we don’t know to what extent it will develop.”
Lance told them without reservation, “At least two or three will have to become examples.”
“I’m not sure if Charlie and their relationship is strong enough to provide protection for his people. Golden Port has eleven administrative districts. The two of you together already have a two-in-eleven chance of being selected.”
“If he can put his own people on the protected list in advance, then the probability of you being selected might be one in a few.”
His gaze fell on Sub-bureau Chief Bruce. Sub-bureau Chief Bruce had told him last time that he no longer attended Charlie’s private parties because Charlie was ostracizing him.
“I…” Sub-bureau Chief Bruce glanced at Duke beside him, and finally looked back at Lance. “I support your idea.”
Duke was also a little hesitant. He was not Charlie’s man. He had a good relationship with Hunter, but he was not sure if Hunter would protect him.
He hesitated for a moment. “What do you plan to do?”
“We will set up a new investment company in the county. All of you who participate in the plan will first invest a sum of money. It doesn’t need to be much, five or ten dollars per person is enough.”
“Then, in the form of investment rebates each month, according to our new rules, this money will be paid to you legally and reasonably.”
“You can use this money to pay taxes, you can use it openly. If you understand the local laws, you should know that investment income only requires a very small amount of tax.”
“There is no illegal behavior, nor is there any moral risk. There is no causal relationship between you and the merchants.”
“Then I will arrange for another company to collect this money from everyone according to a unified fee standard. I believe they will be very happy to pay this money because it will be less than before.”
As he said this, a lot of smiles had already appeared on Lance’s face. When the police in the two administrative districts needed the “investment rebates” in his hands, everyone’s interests would be highly bound together.
They would be more unwilling than others to see anything happen to Lance. After all, this money was so clean it was hard to imagine, and it involved no risks.
Listening to Lance’s introduction, although Sub-bureau Chief Bruce had decided to join from the beginning, at this moment he still felt an indescribable excitement.
He looked at Duke again. “I think… it’s pretty good. I’m in!”
After hearing this, Duke had to admit that this plan, these new rules, were very attractive. He couldn’t find any reason to refuse.
However, he also raised some questions. “Besides these, we also have some slush funds to deal with emergencies…”
This was even less of a problem.
Once all these people joined the plan, it was equivalent to giving Lance the privilege of “legal crime.” All his criminal businesses would not be investigated, and he could make super profits openly.
He gave Duke a “don’t worry” look. “I will set up a special foundation for this situation. For just one dollar a month, I will solve all your worries.”
“Serious injuries, even death, including children going to college, not having enough money to buy a house…”
He crossed his legs and spread his hands. “All the problems where you need money but don’t have enough can be solved by me.”
“Directly give some subsidies, or give you a low-interest long-term loan.”
Duke could no longer refuse. He knew that once it was known that he had rejected these plans, the grassroots police in the sub-bureau would definitely make it impossible for him to continue as the sub-bureau chief.
“If it can really be like you say, then I’ll join too!”
A more obvious smile appeared on Lance’s face. “You have made the most correct choice of your life.”
He paused. “After you go back now, gather some information and tell me, from the lowest-level patrol officer to the sergeant, how much each person can get from this black money, a rough number.”
“I will also arrange for people to investigate this. We need to do a statistic to ensure that every police officer in the plan can enjoy fair and just treatment and benefits.”
The two of them nodded repeatedly after listening. “This is as it should be.”
Sub-bureau Chief Bruce asked with a smile, “Lance, this plan… I mean the overall plan, does it have a name? This way it will be more convenient for us to explain when we make some adjustments.”
“Instead of telling them that you have a ‘what-plan-we-don’t-know-the-name-of’ that needs them, what do you think?”
Lance nodded slightly. “Yes, it’s called the ‘Umbrella Plan.’ We will be each other’s umbrellas, protecting us from the storm.”
“Very vivid. I can already imagine the joy and excitement of people when they hear about it.”
The two left with satisfaction. There was no way to be dissatisfied. Even if their identities were switched, Lance would not refuse.
This plan only had benefits for everyone, no drawbacks—Lance might have to put in a lot of money every month, but this money would be exchanged for the fact that his business would at least not be hindered by the police.
The law enforcers and the criminals would become the closest partners.
The Bureau of Hazardous Materials’s good times would only last for a few years. After their time was over, whether it was the future Federal Bureau of Investigation or some other law enforcement agency, they would not be as large as the increasingly massive lower-level law enforcement agencies.
So this investment was very worthwhile.
And Lance believed that it would become a huge, even city-covering, giant umbrella. No one could refuse to turn illegal income into legal, tax-paying investment income.
The next morning, the people with prestige on every street in the Port District also, as Lance had requested, came to a movie theater.
Lance had booked the place, but not to show a movie. They sat in their seats, discussing in low voices, waiting for Lance’s arrival.
Many people were a bit nervous, because the previous gangs were not easy to talk to. They always collected various protection fees for various reasons.
Even if you paid the protection fee, they might still extort an extra sum from you. After all, for these gangs, this was their way of making money.
However, the Lance Family was different. They had long heard that the Lance Family had already stopped collecting fees in the Empire District, which also made these people a little excited.
After all, for a person to have prestige on a street, it certainly wasn’t because he was old enough.
In a capitalist society like the Federation, to have prestige and be respected, you must have some “hard power,” that is, be richer than others.
So these people were often in business themselves, running small businesses, or even family-style factories.
They could be said to be the middle class living in the poor districts, or close to the middle class, which is why they had prestige, for the sake of money.
Around ten-thirty, Lance arrived at the movie theater. He didn’t know the people here, but many of the people knew him.
Watching him walk onto the stage under the big screen, everyone stood up one after another.
He raised his hand and pressed down, sitting on the chair that had been prepared earlier. “Please sit, everyone. I am not the mayor, and you are not my subordinates. We don’t need to be so formal and serious.”
He paused. “I’ve called you all here this time because there are a few things I need to inform you of, and I also need you to help me pass them on to the people in the Port District.”
“You are more familiar with this place than I am, and the people are more willing to believe you. This is a bridge, built between me and them.”
“First of all, the first thing. From today on, the collection of fees on our side in the Port District will be completely stopped…”
He hadn’t even finished speaking when the theater immediately erupted with sounds like “My God,” “Oh my God,” and “Is this real?”
It was very noisy. He waited for them to release their emotions a bit, then raised his hand and pressed down again, signaling them to quiet down.
“Someone is asking if this is real.”
“Of course it’s real.”
“We’ve already stopped collecting in the Empire District, and it seems everyone is willing to accept this result.”
He smiled as he spoke. “If anyone really feels uncomfortable not paying, you can also donate this money. I will help them give it to those in need.”
He paused for a moment, lit a cigarette. People needed time to let their minds accept this fact, and then think.
In fact, humans are sometimes very contradictory. It’s like if you suddenly give a prisoner in prison a good meal, he might not show any happy expression, but instead will cry and beg you, saying that he has already recognized his mistakes and is actively correcting them.
People need time to accept and understand things that don’t follow common sense. They have to think clearly about whether there are any other traps in this.
Fortunately, with the Empire District as a precedent, their acceptance speed was still very fast.
The sound of discussion did not last long, maybe just a minute, before the voices gradually quieted down.
Lance held up two fingers. “The second thing. I have spoken with the chiefs of the two sub-bureaus about the police’s collection of fees. There will also be a reform.”
The theater, which had still had some discussion, became silent in an instant, leaving only the sound of people’s heavy breathing.
Looking at them, Lance showed a slight smile. “Just as some of you are thinking, the part you pay to the police each month will be reduced a lot.”
“For ordinary shops, they may only need to pay a fee of five dollars.”
People began to praise God again. Lance said with a laugh, “This matter is actually not God’s decision, but my decision. It makes me a little sad that you say that.”
The people’s tone changed, and they quickly began to praise Lance.
These two fees were the biggest difficulties faced by the bottom-level merchants in Golden Port right now. Most of their profits were taken by the gangs and the police.
They had to bear the business risks, and in the end, they might not even be able to pocket a third of their income.
If Lance released these two pressures, it would make the entire Port District become prosperous. People would become more enthusiastic about starting businesses because they would have a greater ability to resist risks.
With this district becoming more prosperous, Lance’s income would naturally be higher.
A district where the average monthly disposable income per person does not exceed ten dollars, and a district where the average monthly disposable income per person exceeds thirty dollars, will have a huge gap in consumption.
“In the future, this part of the police’s fees will no longer be collected by the police themselves. We will set up a company to collect it uniformly, and we will give you a payment voucher, probably something like… business consulting.”
“If a gang or the police try to collect extra fees from you again, that is extortion. You can call the police, or you can give them the money first, but you must remember their appearance and identity information.”
“So that we can get your money back for you.”
“The third thing, my men will appear on the street, responsible for a part of the public security in this district, just like in the Empire District.”
“If you have any problems, besides being able to find the police, you can also find my men.”
“You have paid the money, so I have an obligation to protect your personal safety, as well as your business safety.”
The news quickly began to spread. Before long, Roger (the old man from the Empire Merchants Association) called.
“Mr. Lance, everyone hasn’t seen you for a while and misses you very much…”
When Lance heard these words, he knew what their purpose was. “Don’t say you miss me. What you miss are the new rules.”
He laughed twice as he spoke. “Old friend, I am an Empire immigrant. How could I leave out the Empire District?”
“Even if you didn’t call, I would have notified you. It’s the same here.”
“The police will completely stop collecting fees. I will arrange for a special person to collect them later. Before that, we will definitely have a meeting. There are still some things that need to be resolved through consultation.”
“As for meeting, I don’t think it’s necessary right now. I don’t have time recently. We’ll talk about it when I’m free.”
Roger did not insist. Since what he wanted, or rather, what everyone wanted, could be achieved, he would not disturb Lance. “Of course, Mr. Lance, you take care of your business first. I will tell everyone, and everyone will definitely understand you.”
“Please forgive this old man for saying a few more words. You must take good care of your health. We all hope that you and the Lance Family can exist for a long time.”
The more benefits these people at the bottom get from Lance’s actual rule changes, the more inseparable they become from Lance. They will also become a part of the “Umbrella Plan.”
Many people had heard about this. After all, Lance didn’t expect to be able to hide this kind of thing from everyone.
The public would publicize it. Just like the matter of the Lance Family not collecting protection fees, everyone knows about it now.
If he also made some beneficial changes to the police’s fees, whether it was the public or the police, they would publicize and communicate it to the outside world. So he didn’t expect to be able to hide it, nor did he try to.
After the news spread, different people had different reactions. The old Five Families were busy with their battles and didn’t have time to care about this yet.
The one with the most intense reaction was Charlie, who was preparing for his election.
The police were his base. Now Lance was actually planning to pry at his base. How could he not react at all?
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