Empire of Shadows

No one ever said that the Minister of Commerce had to know how to make money.

And for Mr. Cassia, the Rapa he was in was a poor and backward agricultural country. He also didn’t know how to make money in a developed industrial country like the Federation.

He was very honest.

Lance said with a smile, “Mr. President doesn’t know how to govern this country either, but he knows how to let the people who know how to govern the country govern this country.”

“What I’m trying to say is that you may not know how to make money, how to make big money, but you have the resources to make money.”

“Just like the power in Mr. President’s hands. He has the power, so there will be people who can govern the country who will come and work for him.”

“And you, you have the resources to make money, so naturally there will be people who are willing to cooperate with you, to make money together.”

Mr. Cassia was sitting in Lance’s luxury car. He stroked the soft armrest and the soft leather. His whole body felt as if he were sitting on a cloud.

The modern metropolis outside the car window also made him feel deeply fascinated, and desperate!

He was fascinated by how well the people of the Federation lived, their clothes, their expressions, and the fact that the streets would even be congested with too many vehicles!The people here were like they were living in heaven, rich and happy.

Also on the East Ocean, it could even be said that Yalan’s geographical location was more advantageous. It was located in the middle of the three major plates of the East Ocean, and with its unique tropical and subtropical climate, the natural climate was also very pleasant.

But as it happened, the Federation had already developed into an industrial powerhouse, and had won one victory after another on the battlefield of Tanfit.

And Yalan, Rapa, these poor countries, most of the people who lived here couldn’t even get enough to eat.

How could he not be desperate?

The Federation would only get better and better, while Yalan, Rapa, would only get worse and worse.

The problems between the gangs, the armed forces, and the warlords within the country, the thought of these made his head ache.

Just next door to Rapa, their newly appointed prime minister had declared that he would solve the problem of warlord separatism in the country. As a result, in less than a month after he took office, there was a military coup, and he was hung on the outer wall of the prime minister’s office building.

The poorer a place is, the more chaotic it is.

And the richer a place is, for example, the Federation, the more stable it seems to be.

He didn’t quite understand the reason for this, but he also hoped to live in such a country. Of course, the premise was that he had to have money.

He turned his head to look at Lance. “Mr. Lance, I don’t quite understand.”

“If I have the resources to make money, why haven’t I discovered them all along?”

“And… you see, I, and my country are very poor. We have done our best to export low-level agricultural and pastoral products to the Federation, but we are still very poor.”

“You just haven’t discovered them, and you don’t know how to use them.”

Lance gave him a small hint. “People are the most basic resource. Yalan, Rapa, all have a large population, but no one knows how to use these resources.”

“Your agricultural products are sold to the Federation for twenty or thirty dollars a ton, but you don’t know how to turn them into wine, where a single bottle can be sold for several hundred!”

“You have rich mineral resources, wild resources, tourism resources, and a very unique geographical location, but no one has ever considered these.”

“If you turn these things, which are considered disadvantages in your eyes, into your advantages, Mr. Cassia, tell me, can’t you make a lot of money?”

Mr. Cassia smiled bitterly. “We have also considered these, but the Federation’s immigration policy is quite tricky, and our wine can’t get in at all.”

“As for the other things you mentioned, I haven’t considered them, and I don’t know how to operate them.”

Lance patted the driver’s seat. The direction of the convoy soon began to change.

Lance, on the other hand, continued to look at him. “This is the importance of a partner, Mr. Cassia.”

“May I be so bold as to ask, are you on good terms with your president?”

When Mr. Cassia heard this, he sighed. “I can’t say it’s good, and I can’t say it’s bad. I work for the government, and also for him.”

Lance nodded thoughtfully. “That is to say, even if Rapa gets a large number of high-profit orders because of your efforts, you personally will not actually get any benefits. Can I understand it this way?”

Mr. Cassia nodded. “The president, the various ministers, all come from those few families, and I am not one of them.”

Lance actually knew some of this. Otherwise, he would not have invited Mr. Cassia over.

The political power in such backward regions is often in the hands of some of the ethnic groups that were formerly “chiefs” or “tribal leaders.” After many years of development, the chiefs, the tribal leaders have become the president. They continue to rule these countries to this day.

In fact, to some extent, Yalan and the Federation are the same. There is not much of a difference, but the ruling class of the Federation knows how to hide themselves better, while these people in Yalan, they are not so smart.

The car soon entered the fast lane. Lance seemed to be thinking about something and did not speak.

Since Lance was not speaking, Mr. Cassia did not dare to take the initiative to speak. For a time, the car became quiet.

After about a dozen minutes, the convoy left the bustling and lively city center and stopped inside a building in the Bay Area.

Lance’s men opened the car door for them. Lance invited Mr. Cassia to get out of the car.

This was a “super project” of Lance’s. Its name was “Super Project.” To be more direct, this was a high-end entertainment center.

Eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling were all available here. It had replaced the previous high-end casino model of the Koda family.

It was no longer just a simple high-end casino. It provided everything that Golden Port City could enjoy!

If you want to corrupt a person, take him to see the life that is out of his reach, but within his grasp.

“I have something to do in a while and will have to leave for a bit. This is also my business. You can relax here.”

“Please don’t worry. Everything is on me. You just need to empty your mind and then experience it. I will be back soon.”

“After I get back, we can talk about making money again.”

Mr. Cassia hesitated for a moment, just for a moment, and then agreed. He also wanted to know how to make money.

He was too poor, and Rapa was also too poor. And he felt that what Lance was hinting at was not just about making money.

Soon, two young and beautiful girls appeared in the building and led Mr. Cassia into the building.

This was a real den of pleasure. The richest people in the entire city, and even the entire state, all liked to come here to play.

Lance had added many projects here that were not available in other places. It was said that now, on the Paradise City side, some rumors of the “Super Project” were being spread, and they were even planning to form a group to come and learn!

In fact, Lance had nothing else to do now. He just wanted to continue to increase his bargaining chips, to let Mr. Cassia feel the extreme enjoyment that wealth, power, could bring him at a deeper level!

At this moment, Mr. Cassia just felt that this was paradise!

Two hours later, they met again. The two girls sitting next to Mr. Cassia took the initiative to stand up, bowed to Lance, and then left the room.

“How was it? They didn’t neglect you, did they?” Lance asked with a beaming smile, walked over and shook hands with Mr. Cassia again, and then sat down next to him.

Mr. Cassia let out a long sigh of relief after seeing Lance. “Mr. Lance, your hospitality is too… I don’t know how to describe my thoughts at this moment.”

He had really tried his best, but he really couldn’t think of anything. Lance patted his arm. “We are friends. To treat you well is a friend’s duty.”

“Returning to our previous topic, the Federation has a certain shortage of labor now because the war has summoned many young men.”

“And the war itself also needs fresh blood. If you can get some people, then I can, according to the number of people, give you a loan.”

“You can get a one-time referral fee from me, or you can deduct a portion from their salary every month and give it to you!”

“The difference is that with the former, you can get a large sum of money directly. If I give you seventy for each person, and you get ten thousand people, that’s 700,000.”

“But the subsequent income that these people get through their own hard work, their labor, will have nothing to do with you.”

“And with the latter, as long as they don’t die, you can always get this money. I can give you one dollar a month for each person.”

“Ten thousand people, that’s an income of ten thousand a month, and 120,000 a year.”

“The more people you have, the higher your income.”

“The situation with the liquor is the same. As long as I nod, your liquor can enter Golden Port City, and then I will be distributed to the entire south.”

“I can give you at least 50% of the profit. That is to say, if you produce a million worth of wine, you can get a profit of 150,000.”

“I know you might say that these liquors can be sold for a higher price in my hands, but that’s my business, and it has nothing to do with you.”

Mr. Cassia nodded, but there was no expression of emotion or excitement on his face.

This was also within Lance’s expectation.

“I have said so much. In fact, how much can you put in your own pocket?”

Mr. Cassia was stunned for a moment, and then he laughed drily. “This is the wealth of the state.”

Lance unhesitatingly exposed his “lie” this time. “This is the wealth of the ruling family!”

He did not speak, but just remained silent.

Lance laughed twice. “Mr. Cassia, what do you think of the Federation?”

He came back to his senses. “Very good. Last time Alberto took me for a tour. This place is really too good, so good that it’s unbelievable that we are neighbors!”

“Then do you want to come and live in the Federation?”

“Do you want to let your children live and work in the Federation?”

“Do you want your children’s children to grow up in such an environment from a young age, to receive the best education in the Federation, and to become the elite of the future society?”

(End of a Chapter)