Empire of Shadows

The other hand of the lieutenant governor, which had been empty, ran through his hair from his forehead twice. His movements were very gentle.

But the next second, he suddenly flicked the cigarette in his hand towards the director, and at the same time, he also threw the ashtray by his side.

The director didn’t dare to dodge. He just held his head and took a hard blow from the ashtray.

The ashtray fell to the ground with a clear impact sound. The butler’s voice came from outside the door at the right time. ”Master, do you need me to come in?”

The lieutenant governor’s butler was standing at the door asking.

The lieutenant governor shook his shoulders, letting the sleeves that had been raised by his sudden large movements fall back down. ”No need. I’ll call you if I need anything.”

After he finished speaking, he looked at the director. ”And then?”

The ashtray had just hit his arm. It was also fortunate that he had raised his hands, otherwise, this one blow would have been enough to break his head open.

The lieutenant governor had not shown any mercy at all and had gone straight for his head. Of course, this was also a manifestation of his extreme anger.

If everything was really as the director had said, that this ”key clue” of Police Captain Matthew had fallen into the other party’s hands, and that something had been interrogated out of him, the director would be the first to not be able to escape, and he would be the second.In fact, many times, you don’t necessarily need evidence to do something.

A government executive order is not a law. It does not need to comply with certain regulations or laws to take effect. It only needs a word from the governor, and then a signature, and many things will rush towards the worst direction.

Moreover, even if it is the law, it may not necessarily bring people true fairness and justice.

Once public opinion is pushed up, the governor, in order to solve the public opinion, might have to sacrifice them.

The lieutenant governor was still thinking of running for the next governor. He had not at all considered that his position as lieutenant governor was now a little insecure. How could he continue to maintain a good temper?

Most of the people in power are bad-tempered people. It’s not that they have no upbringing, or that they are inherently evil.

It is just because of the power they hold, which makes them more self-centered most of the time.

As long as their ideas and demands are not met, they will feel that they have been offended and will get angry.

It’s just that some people can hide these negative emotions, and always convey a positive emotion to the outside world, to make themselves look more glorious and righteous.

They will also get angry, and will also have a bad temper, just like at this moment.

The director, while rubbing his painful arm, continued with a stiff upper lip, ”In the process of looking for him, we found some clues...”

Before he could finish, the lieutenant governor couldn’t help but interject, ”Then why didn’t you bring him back?”

”What the fuck are you guys waiting for?!”

The director’s head lowered even more. ”He was picked up, and the other party might have used a private doctor.”

The lieutenant governor’s wide eyes immediately closed a lot. He leaned back in his chair, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes. ”Useless!”

If a private doctor had really been used, it meant that this matter was not just related to a gang like the Lance Family.

”What do you want me to help you with?” he asked.

This was the reason why the director had come here and had told him all these things.

Just like a child who can’t handle something, his most likely choice is to find his parents. The director hoped that through the lieutenant governor’s connections, or some other channels, he could find some clues that they couldn’t find.

The director said in a low voice, ”The matter was caused by the Lance Family’s side. If we end it here, and pay some price, can it be used as a compromise?”

The lieutenant governor lit another cigarette. He was thinking seriously, and from time to time, he would glare at the director.

After a while, he nodded helplessly. ”You can try.”

”I’d like to ask, this what’s-his-name Matthew, how much of the Lance Family’s goods did he swallow, to the extent that the other party had to use such means to deal with him?”

The director said in a low voice, ”Goods with a market value of about two million.”

When the lieutenant governor heard this number, he was also... indescribable. This number had made him waver. He suddenly understood why Police Captain Matthew had thought of swallowing this batch of goods.

Because it was too much!

A little over two million. It was no exaggeration to say that an ordinary family, for a hundred lifetimes, without eating or drinking, could not save so much money.

But at that time, in front of him, this two million, and possibly a little more, had fallen in front of him like a wallet that had not been picked up on the side of the road.

He only needed to lead his officers to attack, to stop these cars, and then to dispose of the bodies as usual, and this wine with a market value of at least two million would become their possession!

They were the highway patrol, the officers of the state police. Who the fuck could have thought that this batch of wine was not a black-on-black by a gang, but a black-on-black by the police?

But it was a pity that he had not achieved this.

The lieutenant governor looked at the director. ”How much did you get from this?”

The director lowered his head and gave a bitter smile. ”You might not believe it if I say it. I haven’t gotten my share from this money yet.”

The lieutenant governor couldn’t help but laugh twice. ”And then you made it into a mess like now.”

”You don’t even have the right to lick the bottom of the pot. Are you kidding me?”

The director shook his head. ”He might give it to me, but after all is said and done, we can’t wait until that day comes.”

The lieutenant governor sighed. ”You can always break my lower limit of your perception of you!”

He paused for a moment. ”Go and do your work. I’ll keep an eye on it for you. If there’s any news, I’ll call your office or your home.”

The director did not refuse. He had no right to refuse now.

After the director had left the room, the lieutenant governor’s frown, on the contrary, grew tighter and tighter.

Just now, when the director was still here, he had already thought of something, but he hadn’t said it.

He picked up the phone and asked a few of his friends in the political world. They had provided him with a very important piece of information—

In Indeno State, Mayor Wade was not the only cross-state mayor from Likalai State, but he was the first mayoral candidate from Golden Port City to be successfully elected.

Similarly, the Lance Family was a local evil force in Golden Port City.

To say that there was no connection between them at all, the lieutenant governor did not believe it.

Perhaps Mayor Wade knew something, but he didn’t really want to call Mayor Wade now.

He didn’t like Mayor Wade. This outsider, after he had come, had been very forcefully pushing for economic construction and local development. He had used some of his influence and connections from his time in Likalai State to promote the rapid development of the local city’s economy.

In this general environment of a continuous economic downturn and depression, a city was getting better and better in a counter-trend manner.

More jobs, more social welfare. It was said that the food stamps they issued were more than in other places, and there were also very important reception centers and free food.

The city’s tax revenue was also higher than in other places!

All of this was telling people a very simple and unadorned fact—Mayor Wade had the ability to manage the economy well!

For the people of the Federation, the most simple idea is to have a stable job, a stable income.

Even if you accidentally lose your job, you can still, with odd jobs and food stamps, maintain a life where you can at least fill your stomach.

Even if, in the one in a million chance, they accidentally become homeless, at least there is free food and a place to avoid the cold in the winter, so that they will not starve to death.

There were many who supported him, including the state government. Some believed that Mayor Wade was indeed a good hand at managing the economy.

He had accumulated a lot of experience in economic development in Golden Port City, and this experience had been effectively demonstrated after he had taken office in the city, which meant that this experience could be replicated locally.

To be able to replicate meant that more cities could improve their economic situation through this replication. This was the most simple idea of the ordinary people. They wanted to be fed and clothed, and it would be best if they could also have some extra money to deal with risks.

This had made the lieutenant governor’s election path full of bumps. This was definitely a strong competitor, so he didn’t want to call Mayor Wade.

But things had come to this point, and it was no longer a matter of whether he wanted to or not.

After a long while, he brewed his emotions and dialed Mayor Wade’s number.

His mental construction might have been in vain, because Wade was not there.

The secretary had told him that after Mayor Wade returned, he would have Mayor Wade call him back.

After putting down the phone, he began to think again. It was just that this time, he was not thinking about Wade, not about that what’s-his-name... Police Captain Matthew, but about the director.

To protect him, or not to protect him?

He had just listened to the director talk about Police Captain Matthew and the crazy things those crazy highway police had done, and he had a feeling of sweating.

Cold sweat, without a bit of warmth. The already cooling weather made him feel even colder!

These bastards were so fucking crazy. He had never thought that these people could be so bad!

If he were to forcibly protect the director...

He had a headache. He might have to pay a huge price, and in the end, he might not get any actual benefits. He might also ruin his own gubernatorial election!

If he didn’t protect the director, the director also knew many things. How could he make him shut up and not talk nonsense?

Although the lieutenant governor had not been involved in these horrifying matters, the transfer of interests did exist, even if he himself did not know.

Even if he could clear most of the accusations, a charge of accepting bribes and official crimes would definitely be unavoidable. His election dream would be completely finished!

A headache.

The director had been right about one thing. They were in trouble.

A little later, Mayor Wade took the initiative to call. He had received it.

”Is there anything the governor needs me to do?”

Because he was holding a good hand, Mayor Wade’s tone was very cheerful, without the annoyance and dullness of their previous forced calls.

Now, he was like a teenager dancing in the rain, full of joy!

And this expression of emotion made the lieutenant governor even more believe that that damn Police Captain Matthew was in Mayor Wade’s hands.

”I want to make a deal with you, Wade,” the lieutenant governor said very directly. He didn’t want to beat around the bush with someone he disliked, so he went straight to the point.

Mayor Wade seemed to have also realized something. A person who had almost never contacted him had suddenly called and wanted to have a duel with him. It was definitely not just for the sake of the matter on the surface.

”What deal?” he asked. ”I don’t have anything valuable in my hands, and I don’t have much money myself.”

The lieutenant governor was not willing to beat around the bush with him. ”Police Captain Matthew is on your side, isn’t he?”

”Give him to me. You name the conditions.”

If there was any other way to not have to consider whether to protect the position of the chief of the state police, then there was only one possibility: Matthew was in his hands.

Mayor Wade said with a laugh, ”Do I have this person by my side?”

”How come I don’t know?”

The lieutenant governor’s emotions became even worse. ”Are you refusing?”

This sentence actually carried a hint of a threat, but Mayor Wade was not afraid at all. ”If you think so, then so be it. I don’t care.”

The lieutenant governor was so angry he laughed. ”You think you can threaten me just by getting a Matthew?”

”Wade, you’re not a child anymore. Can you not be so naive?”

Mayor Wade did not show the slightest weakness or concession. ”I am not threatening anyone, nor am I planning to fight with anyone. I am just communicating with you calmly now.”

”You insist on me admitting to something I can’t admit. What do you want me to do?”

The lieutenant governor’s voice grew a little louder. ”We all know what’s going on. While you are teasing me, are you not also making a fool of yourself?”

”I am very sincere in wanting to solve this problem, and I can promise you that Matthew and his police officers will all be dismissed from their posts. Whatever your friends want to do is fine. This matter will end here!”

Mayor Wade said with a laugh, ”I’m just afraid you won’t be able to accept the conditions I set.”

This sentence also amounted to an admission of the lieutenant governor’s point of view. This Matthew was in Mayor Wade’s hands. He asked in a low voice, ”Name your conditions.”

Mayor Wade pondered for a moment. ”Since you are so sincere, alright, I’ll change the conditions. If you can do it, I’ll give you Matthew.”

”If you can’t, then our call will end here.”

The lieutenant governor took a deep breath. ”You speak!”

Mayor Wade said with a joking tone, ”You publicly announce your withdrawal from the next gubernatorial election, and fully support me in winning the election, and I will return Matthew to you.”

”The fact that you can come to me to negotiate conditions shows that you actually know Matthew’s value. Don’t say I’m not giving you a chance!”

”I can’t fucking do it!” The lieutenant governor on the receiver directly cursed. ”You’ve only gotten a low-level chess piece. You can’t change the situation!”

He slammed down the phone after saying that.

A few more days passed. Mello gave Lance a call, telling him a somewhat outrageous piece of news. Alan and his men had already returned to Golden Port City.

Lance also found it incredible. Then, on the phone, Alan explained their escape situation—

”We’ve been heading west into South Anan State.”

”South Anan State,” Lance repeated.

South Anan State was the southernmost state on the west coast. This was Alan’s first time on the west coast. After entering South Anan State, he had felt a different kind of charm.

If his impression of the east coast was of the tall buildings, the elites in exquisite suits and carrying briefcases, shuttling between various financial companies, the white-collar workers who held sandwiches and coffee and ran on the crowded streets in the morning to start a new day of work, a fast-paced city where people talked about the economy, about development, about politics, then South Anan State was like... the pastoral school!

The west coast was also the base camp of the Liberal Party. They supported this free and unrestrained life, letting people shout ”long live freedom” and then head towards economic recession—this was reported by the Socialist Party newspapers.

They claimed that a large part of the reason for the Federation’s economic downturn was that the Liberal Party did not know how to make society progress on economic issues. They would only do their own set of ideological things.

As for the Federalist Party?

The Liberal Party and the Socialist Party were also in collision. The more people who joined them, the greater their proportion in Congress, in the entire federal society.

On the contrary, the Federalist Party, which had dominated a period of social status after the founding of the country, had gradually declined to this day, and there was still no sign of a comeback.

The west coast also had many companies, but the slowness of people’s pace of life made them look more free, more casual.

People would not race against time. They might, between being late for work and sitting down to drink coffee, choose to order another sandwich and then sit down to drink coffee.

This could also be considered as letting Alan experience a different kind of local customs and practices.

They had not stayed in South Anan State for too long, and then they had crossed four states from the interstate highway in the north. The three of them had been driving in turns for twenty-four hours. Finally, after almost a week, they had driven the car back to Likalai State.

Mello said that the car needed a major overhaul before it could be driven again, and the inside of the car was very stinky, and also needed to be disinfected.

In fact, the smell was some of the blood that had not been cleaned up. They had to thank the fact that the temperature was not high now. Otherwise, they might not have come back, and would have been infected by the bacteria and viruses in the car.

In short, that was roughly the situation. They had thrown the body of Police Captain Matthew’s eldest son in an abandoned warehouse on the side of the road west of Red Rock City. This kind of warehouse was not only on the east side, but also on the west side.

They were all bought by the ultimate speculators who were betting that the city’s development could exceed expectations, and were waiting for the day when everything could go back to the way it was.

Lance, after listening to him recount the entire kidnapping process, gave him an evaluation—too foolish.

However, fortunately, the whole matter had a very good result, which could also be considered a good thing.

In late November, the major newspapers in Indeno State had all received a material package with ”important news” written on it.

Many newspaper offices, especially the major ones, could receive many similar packages every day.

There are always some people who think they are the great writers of their time, and that anything they write will be sought after by thousands.

These kinds of freelance manuscripts are all handed over to the editors and chief editors who are specialized in reviewing manuscripts. Higher-level editors, for example, the editor-in-chief, will only review the serious political news, for example, the front-page headline.

As for the news of an entertainment nature, or not so serious, it is all handed over to others to be screened, and only then is it decided whether it should be published.

He was busy with his work when a chief editor knocked on the door. ”Can I come in?”

The editor-in-chief nodded. ”Of course.”

The one who had come was a chief editor. His job was to select the news materials provided by the public.

He handed over the package in his hand. ”You have to see this.”