Empire of Shadows

Mr. Jobav sat in the car. The driver had to ask several times before he reacted, realizing the driver was asking him “where to go.”

“Just drive around,” he said.

He took out a cigarette and lit it, looking at the laughing and running children on the street outside the window, at the young men and women with smiles on their faces, at the old men sitting at round tables by the roadside, drinking coffee and chatting.

Time seemed to suddenly slow down, in a way he couldn’t understand.

He smoked, the smoke entering his lungs through his throat, and his entire lungs felt as if they were soaking in warm water.

Nicotine was absorbed through the mucous membranes and sent into the bloodstream. After seven or eight seconds, the nicotine penetrated the blood-brain barrier and acted directly on the brain. The brain began to secrete hormones, making Mr. Jobav feel a little more relaxed.

He didn’t know since when he had stopped properly looking at the streets of the Empire District.

In fact, this place was equivalent to his second hometown. He had come here when he was very young, and had been completely devoted to his work.

He and his wife had no children, and he did not remarry after his wife fell ill and died.

He had once thought about remarrying and having a child, but later gave up because he gradually felt that this city, this country, was not friendly to him.He began to strive, to work hard, to struggle. He hoped to make people look up to him and respect him through some changes.

In the future, if he had a child, the child would not have to bear the heavy things he had borne.

By the time he had achieved this, but not completely, he had already missed the opportunity.

But fortunately, he still had relatives. He could also set up a foundation…

He hadn’t looked at the streets here so calmly for a long time because the more he was suppressed, the more he wanted to stand up and tell those people that he could do it too.

When did life change its appearance?

Starting to chase after work?

He didn’t know. Maybe from the time he was looked down upon, he was like that, but he himself didn’t know.

Now that his mind was empty of everything, he suddenly felt that the things he had done were quite boring.

Did it matter whether others respected him or not?

He was rich and respected by people. He didn’t need to care at all about what those people thought of him.

He had a thought that “he himself was very ridiculous.”

He was a little envious of Lance. He had easily achieved what he wanted but couldn’t, and his envy turned into jealousy, and even some hatred and disgust.

The cigarette in his hand was a little hard to smoke. He suddenly experienced the situation people often talk about—

When you think you are a very smart person, the worst situation is when you meet someone who is smarter than you!

Now he was in this situation. He felt that he had actually reached the limit of what an Empire immigrant could achieve, but Lance had done it better in a shorter time and with less cost.

His stomach suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, and he wanted to vomit. He quickly threw the cigarette out of the car window, “Let’s go back.”

The driver turned the car around, and the vehicle quickly merged into the traffic.

When it was mixed with other vehicles, no one could tell which car was carrying a big shot and which was the ride of a small character. Perhaps this was also one of the few moments when everyone was the same!

After returning to his office, the head of his campaign team pulled him aside, and they had a meeting together.

“Joe, the current situation is very bad for us. You have to be prepared for failure,” he said very pessimistically, which made Mr. Jobav’s mood a little low.

Seeing that this client didn’t want to talk, as the one providing the service, he could only continue, “From a campaign strategy perspective, our strategy is completely fine, but from a campaign tactics perspective, we are far behind.”

“You can’t get the support of the local gangs. Even if we last until the final voting day, how many voters can you guarantee will be on our side?”

He sighed longly, “I don’t want to sound so pessimistic, but that’s the fact.”

It wasn’t the first time Jobav had taken Lance so seriously. His level of importance for Lance had risen another step. He couldn’t help but ask, with some envy and jealousy, “If I don’t get their support, I can’t become a councilman?”

“How can they do that? I don’t understand!”

The head of the team organized his thoughts and then said, “They may not have that much political influence, but they can sabotage our election and campaign activities.”

“They can also threaten the public not to vote for us, and even take more extreme measures.”

“The people at the bottom of every district want a stable and safe life. I heard the Lance Family has done a good job in this regard.”

“They are not an ordinary gang; they are a gang with social and political influence.”

“Within the rules of the election, we are not necessarily their opponents, let alone now that they are using means outside the rules.”

The meaning behind his words was very clear and direct. The Lance Family had started to disrupt their campaign activities. If they couldn’t stop them from doing this, all their campaign plans would be just a joke.

Jobav was a little unwilling. He had paid so much to get to this point today.

Now he was only one last step away from leaving and entering the high society of Golden Port.

Why?

Why couldn’t he just be a little more considerate of him?

Why did he have to run now, instead of next time, or in the future?

Mr. Jobav was very annoyed. His fists were clenched tightly, but he quickly relaxed them.

“What if… I’m just saying if, the mayor could say a few words for me?” This seemed to be his only option. He looked at the head of the campaign team with a glimmer of hope.

The latter still shook his head, “It can’t be done, Joe. The mayor is not from Golden Port. He doesn’t have that much influence.”

“It might even have the opposite effect.”

“The best way now is for you to persuade the people of the Lance Family to compete with you fairly.”

“Or you give up this election, or persuade them to give up this election.”

“Besides these few options, I really can’t think of any other way.”

Jobav pursed his lips, “What if we hire a security company to protect our campaign activities?”

He had never thought that one day he would have to do this kind of thing.

He had only seen it in the newspapers before. At that time, he didn’t quite understand why the candidates from various parties in the presidential election not only had local police and state police cooperating, but also had the military involved.

Weren’t their opponents all fellow Federation citizens, and possibly even acquaintances and friends? Why did they still have to do this?

Now, Mr. Jobav had more or less come to an understanding.

The temptation of power was too great. Even friends, even their own people, if a single bullet could solve the problem and allow them to achieve final victory.

Those masters would never be stingy with five cents to send a copper bullet into the other party’s body.

The head of the campaign team thought for a moment after hearing this, “This is also a good idea. I know a security team. I’ll contact them first and see.”

He made a phone call in front of Mr. Jobav and explained the situation.

When the other party heard that the troublemakers might be the Lance Family, they refused to take the job.

The reason was that they didn’t have enough manpower to take on another job right now. This was not quite the same as what they had said on the phone just now.

The person in charge, unwilling to give up, made another phone call, and the other party still refused.

They were unwilling to stand on the opposite side of these gangs who could have firefights on the street with submachine guns. They just wanted to make money, not to die.

“I’ll go find the mayor!”

Mr. Jobav left these people behind and went directly to the mayor’s office.

He had paid so much for the mayor. Now he needed help.

If the mayor was willing to help him, then he would still be the mayor’s best follower.

If the mayor was unwilling to help him, then he would not… take any drastic actions, just quietly return to his correct position.

He had paid so much, and the mayor was still unwilling to treat him as one of his own. Then it didn’t really matter whether he was one of his own or not.

The mayor was still at work at this time. Recently, many people had come to Golden Port to check out the investment situation here.

It sounded quite incredible. The city’s order had clearly become chaotic, so why would people still come to check the investment environment?

In fact, this was the environment that those capitalists liked the most.

Like the Golden Port of the past, with stable order and rigid class structures, no one could easily change the status quo.

Almost all the profitable industries were firmly controlled by the locals. They had ways to force those investors to hand over everything and then leave in disgrace.

That kind of Golden Port was safe and peaceful, but not a good place for investment!

Large areas of buildings already stood there, and newcomers had no place to set foot. But now it was becoming different.

Large areas of ruins also meant there was a chance to build their own skyscrapers!

The secretary came out of the office and said to Mr. Jobav outside, “The mayor is waiting for you, Mr. Jobav.”

Mr. Jobav really liked this secretary. He was young, energetic, very measured, and first-class in his conduct.

Being with him gave one a feeling of being respected and valued, without feeling slighted.

He nodded with a smile and then entered the mayor’s office.

The mayor twisted his wrist, and the joints made a cracking sound, “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Jobav sighed lightly, “My campaign has run into some trouble.”

The mayor pressed his hands on the edge of the desk, leaned back in his chair, his eyes showing no fluctuation, “So, what’s wrong?”

Mr. Jobav explained all the trouble he had encountered. Listening to his troubles, the mayor yawned. He was a little tired.

He hadn’t rested much at noon, which made him a little sleepy now. He reached out and pressed a button on the phone, “Send me a cup of strong coffee.”

After speaking, he looked at Mr. Jobav again, “Didn’t you find bodyguards or a security company?”

“I did, but they are unwilling to take my job.”

The mayor was stunned for a moment, then chuckled a few times, “It seems your fellow countryman Lance is very famous, at least more so than you.”

This was a fact. Mr. Jobav had nothing to argue about, just felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

This kind of discomfort, this dissatisfaction, was actually very normal. When a person has been leading in a field they are good at for a long time and is proud of it.

And then one day someone breaks his lead in a very short time, he will feel dissatisfied.

He said nothing, just remained silent.

The mayor frowned, “The situation in Golden Port is indeed a bit chaotic right now, but I believe it will get better soon.”

He paused as he spoke, observing Mr. Jobav’s expression, “I know Lance and the Lance Family. We’ve had contact. They are indeed very arrogant.”

“They have bought off the police of the Empire precinct, bought off the local residents. It’s normal that no one is willing to take your job.”

“Because those people are just bodyguards, security guards. They are not gang members who are used to fighting.”

“If you want to find someone who can compete with him, you have to find another gang similar to him.”

Mr. Jobav shook his head and said, “I don’t know that many gang members. I’ve heard of them, but I have no contact with them.”

“The only gangster friend I knew was also killed by Lance when he was dealing with the Camille gang.”

The secretary walked in with coffee, placed it on the desk. After the mayor said thank you, he took a small sip.

It was very bitter, but also very refreshing, “Do you know the Wolf Gang?”

Mr. Jobav shook his head, “I don’t know much about these gangs, but I know a little about the Five Families.”

The mayor didn’t talk to him about the Five Families, but focused on the Wolf Gang, “The people of the Wolf Gang have some conflict with Lance and his men. The friction between the two sides is escalating.”

“You can ask for their help.”

“You still have some influence in the Empire District, and you also have a base of public support. These are what the Wolf Gang needs.”

“If you can cooperate, you can curb Lance to a certain extent, at least in the matter of the election. They will become more cautious again.”

When the mayor said this, he stopped talking, “That’s it. You think about it. Later, I’ll have my secretary give you a number. After you’ve made a decision, you can call this number.”

He picked up his coffee and took another sip, then looked at Mr. Jobav, “I have to work.”

Mr. Jobav also bowed slightly and left the office, and got a number from the secretary.

On the way back, he kept hesitating about this matter. Should he do as the mayor said?

He was very conflicted now. This was an internal matter of the Empire people. He believed that external forces should not be introduced.

But… Lance had indeed sabotaged his canvassing activities, making him farther and farther away from his dream.

This intense conflict and struggle made it impossible for him to make a decision.

After returning home, until late at night, he had no good decision.

The next morning, he came to the office and talked about this matter with the head of his campaign team. Listening to Mr. Jobav’s troubles, this person in charge asked him a question.

“You think this is a conflict between you, and the problem should not be escalated.”

“But, Joe, did Lance and his people communicate with you in a friendly way?”

“They were the ones who escalated the conflict first, not you!”

“You are no longer friends, so why do you still have to consider these things that only friends would consider?”

“If you really want to treat him as a friend, then you might as well just give up the election!”

“Sometimes I think Lance and William are the suitable politicians. They will do anything to win, but you can’t!”

His words made Mr. Jobav fall into deep thought. His heart was full of contradictions.

On one hand, he didn’t want to completely fall out with Lance. On the other hand, for the sake of his pursuit of certain victory, he was also able to give up everything.

Perhaps, it was time to make a decision!

The person in charge did not continue to persuade, but quietly left. At this time, what Mr. Jobav needed was quiet.

Just as he was thinking about whether to make a complete break with the past, the mayor and his secretary were also discussing this matter.

“Do you think Jobav will call the Professor and his men?” the mayor asked the secretary while writing a document. He seemed to be giving the secretary a “test.”

The secretary considered for a moment and gave an affirmative answer, “He definitely will.”

The mayor became interested, “Why so sure?”

“I heard that the relationship between Lance and Jobav has always been very good, until he wanted to run for the city council of the Empire District, and then they had a falling out.”

“But these conflicts are not absolutely irreconcilable. How are you so sure that he will definitely make the call?”

A smile appeared on the secretary’s face, “Because he has no way out.”

“In the past, even if he retreated, he was still the respected Mr. Jobav.”

“But now people obviously respect Lance more, not him.”

“He has no money, no prestige, no status. He has already lost everything. Besides becoming a city councilman, he has no second way out!”

The mayor was very satisfied with the secretary’s answer. He smiled and leaned back in his chair, “You analyzed it very thoroughly. Yes, besides continuing to run forward, he has absolutely no way back.”

“The longer he hesitates, the firmer the result will be!”

The mayor also had no doubts about this. This was like those scams. Sometimes when a scam was halfway through, some people already understood that it was a scam.

But the sunk cost was too high, so high that even if they knew it was a scam, they would definitely be scammed one more time to beg to get back what they had lost!

Just like Jobav at this moment. If he didn’t give in, everything would still have a chance, and he could still get back everything he wanted.

But as long as he gave in, everything would be completely gone!

Some people can’t see through this. This is also the reason why many scammers can go from tens of dollars, hundreds of dollars, to thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands.

They have already figured out human nature to the core!

The mayor felt the breeze from the window. A look of contentment appeared on his face, “Wade will be transferred soon.”

“We don’t have many enemies left!”

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