Empire of Shadows

Regarding the thoughts of the people from the Labor Federation, Lance would not agree, but he also didn’t need to strongly oppose them. He just needed to let them retreat in the face of difficulties.

The current Labor Federation was still a powerful and undeniable political force.

They were really too strong. Just as Mr. Wood had said, behind them were the twenty million working class!

They were invincible!

For the politicians, they had at least a few million votes in their hands. No one would offend these votes, and the people who could control these votes.

For the capitalists, the Labor Federation could decide whether to strike, how large the strike would be, and what areas it would cover, which was tantamount to holding the capitalists by the neck.

But they had overlooked one point.

Lance was neither a politician nor a capitalist. They had no way to deal with him!

If Mr. Wood and this Mr. Gebulous could persuade the Labor Federation and the industry unions to arm the workers and have a firefight with Lance, then even if Lance didn’t make a move, Congress would laugh wildly and send out the army to wipe them all out—

Not the workers, but the Labor Federation behind them.Even if the war were to be paused, all of this would be worthwhile.

They couldn’t threaten Lance. On the contrary, it was Lance who had grasped the throat of their fate. For Mr. Wood to use the same set of tactics he used against politicians and capitalists on Lance was clearly of no significance.

And Lance could also see that these people from the Labor Federation were too arrogant, so arrogant that they didn’t at all seem like people who represented the power of the working class.

They were actually also politicians. They had opened up a channel for advancement for themselves, and then had become the people they had once disliked the most.

Mr. Gebulous, seeing that Lance’s attitude was very firm, had to speak. Otherwise, there was a high probability that they would return empty-handed today.

“Mr. Lance, I noticed that the Lance White Rating Method we are currently using is from your idea, is it not?”

He was very good at finding a topic. After all, as a vice president of the state, as soon as he opened his mouth, he had found a topic that could ease the atmosphere and also flatter Lance.

The Lance White Rating Method had already spread throughout the country, and there was even a trend of it spreading to the surrounding countries and regions.

This set of things was too easy to use, so easy that you didn’t even have to use your brain to be able to simply and easily identify the work ability of a worker.

It was very easy to use, and its versatility was impeccable.

As he said these words, he was also paying attention to Lance.

Lance couldn’t help but laugh twice. “Yes, a very simple concept.”

“In the education system, if people want to know our level of education, they will set questions to test us.”

“So at that time, I thought, why not use a technical level as a standard for grading, and so this rating method was born.”

Mr. Gebulous was also smiling. He nodded with considerable approval. “Although the concept is very simple, only you have thought of it and proposed it over the years. This shows that you are not the same as others.”

“Mr. Lance, you have a good influence in the Labor Federation. This is a foundation, an advantage.”

“I’m not saying that the Labor Federation is necessarily better than anything else, but you already have an advantage on our side. Why not use it?”

“We can go further, do better. We have never been enemies, Mr. Lance.”

“On the contrary, we can be very good partners!”

Lance nodded noncommittally. He then looked at this Mr. Gebulous with a smile. “I know a very worldly capitalist. The clothes they wear are of the same brand as yours.”

“Do the workers know that your clothes cost at least seven or eight hundred a set?”

This sentence might not sound like a big deal, but soon the faces of Mr. Gebulous and Mr. Wood had changed.

They had heard the sarcasm in Lance’s voice, the sarcasm that they were also “capitalists.” Thinking deeper, the capitalists bought and sold the goods in their hands.

What did these people from the Labor Federation buy and sell?

It was precisely their cornerstone, the twenty million workers!

The smile on Mr. Gebulous’s face faded. He frowned. “It seems we have a deep misunderstanding between us.”

Lance shook his head and said, “Rather than a misunderstanding, it’s more like you don’t understand yourselves enough, and you don’t understand me enough.”

“This is not the attitude of asking for something, Mr. Gebulous, and Mr. Wood.”

“You can go back first, think it over, see what you can say to convince me, to move me, find your own correct attitude, and then come here, and we can talk.”

“Instead of this… coming up and thinking that I have to listen to you.”

“This is Golden Port City, this is Likalai State. Here, I can protect my own interests!”

As he spoke, he put down his crossed legs. “Alright, I still have work to do. you have to leave.”

This was directly kicking people out, and it was already very impolite.

But Mr. Gebulous and Mr. Wood had no other choice. They could only get up with a cold face, and they still had to say a few farewell pleasantries, and then they strode out of Lance’s office.

When the two of them had walked out of Lance’s company, Mr. Wood couldn’t help but complain, “This guy has no manners at all, and he’s too arrogant!”

“He completely doesn’t understand the power of twenty million worker brothers united together, what kind of a power it is!”

“We created the world!”

“Damn!”

Mr. Gebulous was a little calmer. He had understood what Lance had said. If you wanted Lance to do as they said, you had to meet some of his conditions, or rather, you had to come up with something that could move him.

But what could move him?

Mr. Gebulous didn’t know. He sighed, a failed negotiation. “Alright, let’s go back first and report the result of the negotiation.”

Mr. Wood was fuming. At this time, a hundred thoughts were constantly turning in his mind. He felt that he had to teach Lance a lesson.

In the face of twenty million working class, what is a gang?

“Why don’t we call the immigration bureau and say that those factories are using illegal immigrants?” he took out his key and walked towards a car parked on the side of the road that was worth seven or eight thousand.

Mr. Gebulous thought for two or three seconds and shook his head. “In Golden Port City, the immigration bureau will not, for your sake, get involved in Lance’s affairs.”

“This matter still needs to be discussed again. I gradually feel that we may have really hit a rock.”

Mr. Wood did not speak. He opened the car door, got in, and then started the car.

After Mr. Gebulous got in the car, he stepped on the gas, and the car soon disappeared into the traffic.

Ms. Debbie, who seemed to have been forgotten by them, finally came out of the bathroom.

She, while cleaning the water droplets on her body, knocked on the door of Lance’s office. After the sound of “come in” came from inside, she then pushed the door and entered.

And then she saw the empty sofa, and Lance sitting behind the desk.

She didn’t know how to describe it.

Lance, sitting on the sofa, would give her a sense of stability, like… she couldn’t describe it well. Anyway, there was not much of a difference.

But at this moment, Lance was sitting behind the desk. The sunlight from outside the window was shining in through the glass window, and half of Lance’s body was hidden in the shadow.

The fine dust dancing in the air was illuminated by the light.

At this moment, Lance’s body naturally burst forth with a strong momentum, something that made people subconsciously hold their breath!

She was stunned for a moment, and it was not until Lance spoke that she came back to her senses.

“Mr. Gebulous and Mr. Wood have left for some business,” he gestured for Debbie to sit down.

Debbie had also wanted to take her leave, but Lance’s invitation had made her subconsciously obey. She walked to the opposite of Lance’s desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

“Is the Labor Federation very nervous?” Lance smiled and pursed his lips. “About the matter of the labor service company directly connecting with the factories.”

Debbie took a deep breath. The huge, invisible pressure was tiring her out. If she didn’t say anything, the pressure would be even greater.

She lived in Golden Port City, and her family also lived in Golden Port City.

An official of the Labor Federation’s light industry textile office was just one of her identities, not her all!

In just seven or eight seconds, she nodded and said, “It’s mainly the industry unions. Their reaction is very fierce.”

The Labor Federation itself was a national working-class organization with skilled workers from all industries as its backbone. They were not a union, but in the eyes of all the workers’ unions, the Labor Federation, which had a greater influence, was their upper-level organization.

The general office of the industry unions had told the Labor Federation about these matters. The Labor Federation, which had always been seeking a greater voice, could not sit by and let this happen.

“I heard a not-so-reliable rumor. I don’t know if it’s true or not.”

Lance gestured for her to continue. She organized her words and said with some deliberation, “I hear that the chairman of the Labor Federation is seeking to go a step further in politics…”

She took a deep breath and looked at Lance. “They plan to, in the general election after the war is over, to push for a person from the Labor Federation to participate in the election, and to elect the first president of the Federation from a worker’s background!”

Hearing this, Lance understood some of their urgency in destroying his foundation.

Now was the weakest stage for the Socialist Party after it had split from the Liberal Party. Not to mention the Liberal Party, even the Federalist Party had begun to operate.

Then the Labor Federation, this largest private organization in the Federation with twenty million working-class brothers, having the idea of fighting for the election was actually not at all surprising!

With money, with votes, and with a strong backing, perhaps they really had a considerable probability of winning the election!

Lance scratched his head. “A not-so-good, not-so-bad piece of news. But thank you for telling me this.”

“No matter what the Labor Federation does, you are you, and they are them. You will always be my friend.”

Lance opened the drawer and took out a small piece of paper from inside and handed it over. “A shopping voucher that my family gave me during the Harvest Festival. I can’t use it myself. I see that there is still a time limit on it, so you see if there is anything you need. It’s best if you can use it.”

Ms. Debbie picked up the small card on the desk. On it were the words “one thousand dollar shopping voucher,” and on the back it also said that you would get change back.

This was equivalent to her income for four or five months. A smile appeared on her face. “Thank you so much. It just so happens that there are some things I want.”

She was very tactful, or rather, living in Golden Port City, she was very clear who was the king here.

Lance nodded and was silent for a few seconds. “Let’s leave it at that for now!”

“If there is any further news, give me a call anytime, anywhere.”

He stood up, extended his hand and shook hands with Ms. Debbie, and then watched the other party leave.

He did not sit back down, but walked to the window and took out another cigarette. A mellow cigarette is always intoxicating. He looked at the quiet street outside, at the young men in groups of three and five everywhere on the surrounding streets.

He suddenly felt a little ridiculous. How did these people plan to show their strength?

To have these subordinates of his “go on strike”?

Or to do something else?

He shook his head. After he had finished a cigarette, he finally returned to his chair and sat down, and then dialed Tom’s number.

He briefly recounted what had happened today, and also mentioned the “secrets” that Ms. Debbie had revealed to him.

After Tom had seriously listened to what Lance had said, he said with a laugh, “Your news is not too… up-to-date. They have already begun to consider the matter of establishing a ‘Federal Workers’ Party.’ Now they are just short of an opportunity.”

To establish a political party, and then to launch a candidate, and then to try to use their influence over the twenty million workers, at least a few million votes, to get the position of president in one go.

Even if it was only for four years, it was enough to stabilize everything for the Workers’ Party.

It has to be said that this is a fucking crazy era. All kinds of ideas are constantly colliding.

“Can they succeed?” Lance asked.

“I don’t know either, but it should be very difficult, because Congress has been paying close attention to them.”

“You know, if someone is always paying attention to you, then there is a high probability that he doesn’t hope you will have a better life.”

Lance couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re so humorous!”

He paused for a moment. “Have you received my gift?”

Tom’s voice became more eager. “I have. To be honest, I was taken aback. Actually, you…”

“Alright, I won’t talk about this anymore.”

“I also took the things to the senator. The senator liked this little gift of yours very much. It is now on the corner of the senator’s desk.”

A small pumpkin made of pure gold with a Harvest Festival theme. This was a very meaningful souvenir, not something else.

After chatting about this for a while, Tom took the initiative to say, “I will mention what you said to the senator. From my personal point of view, what you are doing is indeed a meaningful thing. Keep it up.”

“Although the senator and the congressional side will not take the initiative to support you, if they go to the immigration bureau, the immigration bureau’s side will not pay them any attention either. You know what I mean!”

Lance nodded and said, “I know.”

Since these illegal immigrants are called “illegal,” they must have violated the laws and regulations of the Federation. No matter who it is, especially a public figure, it is even more impossible to publicly support this kind of behavior and people.

So it was very difficult for the senator to support Lance, for example, to support him in organizing more illegal immigrants to compete with the unions and the Labor Federation for jobs.

If they did so, it would definitely be a terrible political disaster.

But they can stop the law enforcement agencies that can cause harm to these illegal immigrants under Lance’s command from enforcing the law.

After all, as gentlemen, law enforcement, who enforces the law, whose law is enforced, and how it is enforced, isn’t it all up to them?

Lance knew that this matter would definitely not be over, and there would definitely be a follow-up, but he did not pay special attention to it.

After all, his field, and the field of the Labor Federation, did not have a single bit of overlap!

The Labor Federation’s side definitely also had some capitalists. The matter of Mr. Gebulous and Mr. Wood being frustrated on Lance’s side soon spread throughout Likalai State.

Originally, not many people were in contact with the labor service company. After this matter had spread, all of a sudden, more people came to talk about it.

Along with that, it also made more illegal immigrants realize that the only one who could really provide them with a stable job was Lance’s labor service company.

And with some of the reform plans for the labor service company that Lance had proposed beginning to leak out, more illegal immigrants, and even local workers, were all inquiring about how to register.

The industry unions did have their advantages. For example, they could organize large-scale parades and demonstrations (without the drive of interests, it was almost impossible for ordinary workers to suffer), and they also provided better legal aid, and some workers’ unions also provided places for leisure and entertainment.

But there were also disadvantages. Not only did you have to pay money to the union, but sometimes, for something you didn’t want to do, but the union required you to do it, you had to do it.

Now, it seemed that there was a substitute. Many people were inquiring about more details.

The business of the labor service company became busy, and it also brought a little something that people had not noticed before to the labor market of the entire Federation.

On the first two days of November, Elvin had already led his men and had arrived in New Birmingham.

After they had arrived at the place, they had directly rented two villas and had stayed there, instead of staying in a hotel or the like.

Elvin was not very clear about the style of the local gangs, but they would definitely notice some of the strange situations that had suddenly appeared in the hotel.

On the contrary, the villa area, it was not so easy for the gangs to enter. After all, capital was not friendly to the gangs.

After they had rented the house, they had changed into plain clothes and had begun to monitor the private liquor dealer.

They had had Clara’s little cousin, on the grounds that “the wine is finished and I want to buy a few more bottles,” give the private liquor dealer a call.

During this period, Clara had already seen her grandfather, and had also embarked on the journey back to Golden Port City. But before that, she had also introduced her cousin’s family to Elvin.

Clara knew Elvin. After all, as the number two figure in the Lance Family, she had more or less heard of or seen Elvin.

With her as the “intermediary,” the little cousin’s family had easily accepted this matter. Their family’s Clara, who had married far away to Golden Port City, seemed to have married an old gangster…

(End of a Chapter)