Empire of Shadows

“Did you have a good time last night?”

At a little after eight, Senator Cleveland beckoned to Lance and greeted him.

He knew what Lance had been up to last night, but he had not obstructed him, nor had he interfered. He had just quietly listened to his subordinates’ report on the matter.

He knew that this was Lance taking the opportunity to flex his muscles.

Golden Port City was not bad, but for this country, no matter how good Golden Port City was, in the next fifty years, it could never catch up to this place, New Golden City!

He felt that it was a waste of Lance’s intelligence to stay in Golden Port City. He should come to New Golden City, or at the very least, to Golden State.

Lance himself actually also had such a plan, but not to move the whole thing over.

He wanted everything in Golden Port City, and he also wanted to establish a branch here.

So flexing his muscles in advance, letting the people here know that he was not the kind of person who would just swallow his anger when he encountered something, was a good idea.

If someone thought he was easy to bully, or wanted to try to test Senator Cleveland’s attitude by dealing with him, then he would make the other party suffer!This was a tough nut to crack!

This was what Lance wanted.

When people realized that he was a person who would definitely take revenge, before they offended him, they would consider the consequences of doing so more.

Lance smiled. “I was a little impulsive.”

The senator shook his head. “Have you eaten this morning?”

“If you haven’t, I’ll have them get you another serving.”

At this time, the senator was sitting at the dining table, enjoying his breakfast. A very simple breakfast, and also a very common one.

On the egg cup was an egg with its top opened. It should have been trimmed by the butler or the chef personally. The edge of the eggshell was very neat.

Of course, it was also possible that they had boiled many, and in the end, had chosen the neatest one to be placed on the dining table.

Next to the egg cup was a small plate, on which were three cut strips of bacon, and about seven or eight, or even more, thumb-sized breadsticks.

These breadsticks were all cut from toast bread, square, and then toasted in an oven until crispy, and then placed on the plate.

Besides this, in the upper right corner of the plate was also a piece of butter.

Lance just glanced at it and it was enough. “Thank you, I’ve already eaten.”

Senator Cleveland smiled. “Then I’ll eat by myself. You can go to the living room. There are already some friends there. You can get to know each other.”

Lance soon left the dining room. Senator Cleveland withdrew his gaze from Lance, and then put all his attention on his breakfast.

He was a focused person, whether in politics or in the matter of dining.

He picked up one of the small breadsticks and stirred it in the eggshell.

Some yellow and white stuff was hanging on the breadstick, the slightly solidified egg white and the uncooked egg yolk, but because it had been heated, it had become more viscous.

This way of eating looked勉强 okay. The viscous egg yolk would have a special visual feeling.

However, Lance could not accept this. He just glanced at it and felt a little uncomfortable, because this kind of egg yolk, similar to an onsen egg, was too fishy.

This era was a period of rapid industrial development. Every chicken, except for when it was just born, had enjoyed the freedom of running.

Soon they were sent into small cages to grow up. In addition, with the centralized feeding of low-cost feed, the eggs laid by these chickens were actually very fishy.

But the senator was eating with great relish, as if this thing were so delicious.

In terms of dining, at least for breakfast, he was really not picky.

After eating two or three sticks, he picked up a small white porcelain seasoning bottle on the table and sprinkled something into the egg from the opening, which should be a seasoning.

Then he took a silver spoon, scooped out the remaining egg inside, put it in his mouth, and even had a look of enjoyment on his face.

He must have never eaten anything good. Lance wanted to laugh a little, but fortunately, he held it back.

Two or three breadsticks were dipped in the egg. The remaining breadsticks were smeared with butter and then rolled up with bacon. Finally, he ate a few pieces of fruit salad. This was his breakfast.

He took a napkin and cleaned his face, and then walked out of the dining room and came to the living room not far away.

There were still quite a few people in the living room. His aides were almost all here, and there were also some people that Lance didn’t know, who looked like capitalists.

Senator Cleveland, who had walked into the living room, raised his wrist and glanced at the time on his watch, and then sat down on the sofa that belonged to him. “Five more minutes, gentlemen.”

“Five minutes later, you will witness history!”

When he said this, everyone would have their own thoughts in their hearts. Of course, they all knew what the so-called “witnessing history” referred to.

War.

Twenty-four hours had already passed. Mr. President was going to declare war on the Dantra Republic.

At 9:05 in the morning, the voice of Mr. President came from the radio station in New Golden City. In fact, it wasn’t just here. The radio stations of the entire Federation, at this moment, were all broadcasting the same voice, the voice of Mr. President.

“This is the Presidential Palace. I am…, to the country I am loyal to and to every citizen of the Federation, good morning.”

“Today is a solemn and important day for us. The Dantra Republic has refused to acknowledge, apologize for, and compensate for the fact that they sank our freighter and killed more than a thousand federal citizens.”

“They are trying to erase their evil deeds with silence!”

“We will remember these. The world will remember these!”

“The Dantra Republic and its line of ambitious men are full of greed for world hegemony and have long had the goal of conquering the world.”

“The Federation is a peaceful country, and the people of the Federation are peace-loving people, but this does not mean that we will also choose to remain silent in the face of hegemony and persecution!”

“God has given us the courage to defeat all enemies. The international order of peace has been challenged, and the Federation has also been implicated.”

“The brave and righteous people of the Federation are not afraid of any challenge, nor do they accept any compromise!”

“Today, January 11, 1024, at 9:20 in the morning, after a night of discussion by the presidential cabinet and Congress, we have finally decided…”

Mr. President’s words paused here. At this moment, it was as if the entire Federation had fallen silent. Even the moving vehicles seemed to have stepped on their brakes at the same time.

With the sound of “we formally declare war on the evil Dantra military alliance” coming from the radio, the time in this country returned to normal.

The distant city seemed to have become noisy at this moment. Many people rushed out of their homes and stood on the side of the road, chatting loudly with the surrounding pedestrians and neighbors.

Everyone was expressing their own views, saying their thoughts on the war.

A long queue had already formed in front of the bank. Since January 1st of this year, the federal tax law reform bill had been passed and had begun to be implemented. As long as there was an income, you had to pay taxes.

An industry that could be compared with lawyers was rapidly rising. Although people did not know how much money they had to pay, the news that buying national war bonds could reduce the tax amount was very crucial for the public. Whether it was out of the idea of not paying taxes, or out of the idea of wanting to support the country’s war, or for the 22% return rate in five years, people were all willing to buy some national bonds. In the mobilization order, Mr. President’s voice was impassioned and firm. There was only one thought in people’s minds, and that was “The Federation will win!”

Speaking of which, Lance also planned to buy some national bonds. It wasn’t that he was greedy for the not-so-valuable interest rate, but that this was a manifestation of “patriotism.”

Living in a country with the old Federation people as its core, you could be a citizen of the Federation, you could be an imperial person, you could be a Slad, you could be a dark-skinned person.

But you must love the Federation.

In the past, loving the Federation might not have had any specific manifestations. After all, at that time, there was no need to pay taxes, and there was no need for the people to do other things. Everyone could pat their chests and say that they loved this country.

But now, patriotism has a standard.

Paying taxes, and buying national bonds!

He didn’t want to get into trouble for a little money. During wartime, the “national consciousness” is very extreme. Lance didn’t want to become a victim of the national consciousness, although the real nation of the Federation was being required to live like savages in a reservation.

When the president began to read the mobilization order, Senator Cleveland turned off the radio. He looked at the gentlemen who were sitting or standing in the room and raised his chin slightly. “The war has begun, gentlemen!”

His face wore a kind of reserved arrogance. These two words did not seem to have any direct connection, but they were so cleverly connected.

Reserved and arrogant was the most true portrayal of Senator Cleveland at this moment.

The education he had received since he was a child had made him maintain a reserved attitude at any time, but behind the scenes, manipulating the fate of this country, and even this world, had made him instinctively have an arrogant emotion.

For him, for the senators of Congress, Mr. President, for these adults, besides themselves, the other people in this world were just pieces on a chessboard.

A chess player would also respect the chess pieces, but would only say king or queen, not pawn or any other piece.

The people in the room all looked at Senator Cleveland, their gazes filled with some solemnity, but behind the solemnity was an excitement that they had hidden!

War represented the centralization of power, and centralization of power represented a legal monopoly!

As long as they can monopolize, they can make huge profits!

For these capitalists, they were actually also very patriotic, but what they loved was the money in the pockets of the people in this country, not the country itself.

As long as the profit was large enough, selling out the country was like selling a commodity for them.

Negotiate the price, and then one hand gives the money and the other gives the goods.

“For the next period of time, Congress will not be shut down. We have already reached an agreement with the Presidential Palace.”

“Internal problems will still be led by us, but in terms of external affairs, the Presidential Palace will get more autonomy.”

According to the constitution and laws of the Federation, during wartime, the president automatically obtains the highest power in the Federation, the supreme power.

He only needs to sign his name to be able to do anything, without going through Congress.

The ancestors who had made the laws—to say they were ancestors, in fact, some of them might have died less than a hundred years ago, but for what they had done for this country, calling them ancestors did not seem to be a problem.

These ancestors knew very well what terrible consequences it would bring to this country if power was dispersed in the hands of multiple people during wartime.

So they had made this rule.

However, Mr. President was also very clear that his current position had not come so honorably, so he did not demand that Congress be shut down, but continued to respect Congress.

But in exchange, he would be in charge of external affairs. Unless it was a major matter that could affect the future development of the Federation, otherwise Congress would not ask.

One of the gentlemen asked, “Mr. Senator, after the war breaks out, will international shipping be affected?”

Lance glanced at this guy. Tom, who had walked to his side at some point, explained to him in a low voice, “This is the vice chairman of the board of directors of Hongsheng Shipping.”

“You know Hongsheng Shipping, right?”

“One of the largest shipping companies in the Federation.”

Lance nodded and said, “I’ve heard of it.”

Many of Hongsheng Shipping’s ships often appeared in Golden Port City, so Lance certainly had heard of and knew of the vastness of this company.

But what he didn’t know was that Hongsheng Shipping Company had also participated in the promotion of this war.

They only thought that this was just an ordinary capitalist. After all, a secret of this level was only known to a very small number of people.

Senator Cleveland shook his head. “It won’t be affected. On the contrary, because of the war, our domestic transportation demand will be greatly increased. You ocean shipping companies will all get more government orders.”

Seeing this, the others also quickly asked if their own industries and businesses would be affected by the war. Only Lance and a very small number of people stood at the very back of the crowd, without moving.

No matter how this country changed, the business of the gangs would not be affected.

Not only that, Lance had also had the Lawrence estate increase the intensity of brewing liquor. It was also at this time of emotional tension that the stimulation of alcohol was needed more.

When the war is at an advantage, people need to celebrate, and need a little stimulation from alcohol.

When the war is at a disadvantage, people feel uneasy and need a little alcohol to numb themselves.

The soldiers on the front lines also needed it. In short, the business was getting better and better!

After Senator Cleveland had answered some questions, he raised his hand and pressed it down, silencing the voices in the room.

“The war will bring many new changes. If there is anything you are not sure about, you can call me anytime, anywhere.”

“War brings destruction, but for you, it also brings a brand new opportunity!”

He paused for a moment. “Only after experiencing destruction can one welcome a new life (reconstruction)!”

Then Senator Cleveland had someone send the others away, leaving only Lance behind.

Last night, he and his political friend had talked about the things Lance had said. His friend was a little older than him, and the other party believed that this matter should be led by him, with Lance doing the talking.

Because Lance was a small character.

For them.

If the ideas that Lance proposed caused trouble, then they could abandon this small character at any time, and would not bring trouble upon themselves.

But if it were Senator Cleveland who personally went to talk about this matter, then if a problem arose, he would have to bear all the responsibility.

Although in essence, the core purpose and content of the two operations were the same. Whether Lance said it or Senator Cleveland said it, it would not have any other impact on the process of the entire matter.

But politics, this thing, is sometimes just that unreasonable.

You say, I say, are not the same thing.

After considering for a moment, Senator Cleveland agreed with his friend’s view. And Lance was just a gang leader, not a politician.

There was no need to worry that Lance could strip those political resources from Senator Cleveland. He did not have that much ability yet. And this matter did indeed have the possibility of causing problems and needed a person to bear the responsibility when necessary.

No matter what the consideration was, in the end, Senator Cleveland still decided to let Lance do the talking.

After all, compared to him telling others these ideas and letting others say them, it was obviously more harmonious to have the person who had designed this line of thought explain it.

“This morning I have an appointment with a few executive committee members of the military committee. You can talk to them about your ideas.”

Senator Cleveland looked at Lance, carefully observing the changes in his expression. Seeing that there was no emotional fluctuation on his face, while feeling satisfied, he was also a little unsure whether Lance had understood or not.

He had to explain again. “These few executive committee members of the military committee are responsible for the approval of military operations. In Congress, it is also a top-level important department. When you speak, you have to be as skillful as possible. You should be able to understand what I mean.”

Lance nodded and said, “I know. Appropriately exaggerate the benefits and downplay the possible difficulties.”

Senator Cleveland looked at Lance and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “You really are an interesting person, Lance!”

He didn’t care at all about the bad things Lance had done last night. For him, those were all small matters. Making money and making the Federation continuously great were the big matters.

In the process of ensuring the big matters, some people were “accidentally injured.” That was also their honor!

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at another manor in the suburbs.

From the time the car entered the private road to the time it stopped in front of the building, it had taken nearly ten minutes.

Although the speed of the car was not particularly fast, this was the luxurious and low-key life of the rich.

The surrounding area was a dense forest. Even in winter, some holly plants also hid everything in it behind layers of tree crowns.

There were flowing, patrolling bodyguards everywhere. The security system here was even more exaggerated than that of Senator Cleveland’s manor.

When the car stopped, Lance came out of the car, and two security guards immediately came up to him.

One of the security guards was holding a tray in his hand. The other said, “Sorry, Mr. Lance. No weapons are allowed here, so I need to check if you have abided by the rules here…”

(End of a Chapter)