Empire of Shadows

Auge was very dejected. At this moment, he felt that he had been deceived!

In just a few days, everything had changed!

At this very moment, he, a man in his forties, was crying his eyes out in his wife’s arms like a child.

His wife had been trying her best to hold back her tears and comfort him, but it was of no use.

”We are going to lose everything!” he said.

The bank would auction off the house he had not yet finished paying the mortgage on. The money from the auction would not even be enough for him to pay all the medical expenses. He and his wife, his children, would become homeless and live on the streets.

Ryder’s factory had already fired him. In his current condition, if he wanted to find a job, he would have to at least wait until he had fully recovered!

He didn’t know how long it would take for him to stand up again. The doctor had also told him that he still had some follow-up physical therapy to do.

He needed money.

Never before had there been a moment like this, where he was filled with a strong desire for money, and a deep regret for the stupid thing he had done!His wife also couldn’t help but start to cry. She knew very well what ”losing everything” meant.

It meant that their twenty years of hard work after they got married would be in vain, and all the happy moments they had had in the past would become meaningless!

This society had torn them apart like a monster, and was about to swallow them.

But she could only comfort the man. ”Everything will be fine. Maybe there will be a turn for the better.”

Just at this moment, the tapping sound of clearly heeled shoes approached from a distance. The man looked at the reporter who was walking over, a hint of vigilance on his face.

The reporter stopped about two meters away from them. He raised his hands slightly, showing that he was harmless. ”I’m a reporter. If you don’t mind, I can take my business card out of my pocket.”

Auge nodded. Then the gentleman took out a business card, stretched his body as much as he could, and handed it over.

Auge took the business card, but his vigilant expression did not relax. On the contrary, he asked, ”It says on it... you are an editor-in-chief.”

The man showed a gentle smile. ”I was a reporter before. I’m not lying.”

Auge seriously sized up this ”Mason” in front of him, and his expression also gradually softened, because the other party’s attire and dress looked like he was not a... a liar or something.

He was dressed very exquisitely, with great taste, and most importantly, he had a very good temperament.

”I’m sorry, I’ve just been through some...”

Editor-in-chief Mason nodded and took a step closer. He raised his hands and made a downward, calming motion. ”I know. If I were you, I would be like this too.”

He paused for a moment. ”You’re in trouble now!”

A very certain expression. Auge could only nod in agreement, and added a description, ”A big trouble!”

”Do you mind if we go to the side and have a chat?”

Auge shrugged. ”Can it be any worse than now?”

With his wife pushing him, he, sitting in a wheelchair, came to a small coffee house not far away with Editor-in-chief Mason.

A very simple coffee house, without even a place to sit down. People would take their coffee and leave, instead of enjoying it here.

The work atmosphere in the new industrial district was very strong. This place was not like the Bay Area.

The coffee houses in the Bay Area would have a large outdoor and indoor seating area. Those well-dressed people might spend thirty minutes, or even one or two hours, here to pass the time.

And the time they wasted would not have any impact on their work, their life.

But not here. People didn’t have so much time to stay here. They had to speed up, speed up, and speed up again!

The high-intensity work of eleven to twelve hours a day made them have no time here, whether they were on their way to work or on their way home.

They were more inclined to take a cup of coffee and drink it as they walked. By the time they reached the assembly line, they would have just finished it. The refreshing effect of the coffee would allow them to cope with the work that was to come.

By noon, if they had a little extra money, they could have another cup, and the afternoon would be another energetic afternoon.

Even for a supervisor, a manager, they would often order takeout, instead of sitting here.

Who the hell knew what would happen after they left? They would not leave their work posts for a long time.

Editor-in-chief Mason asked for three cups of coffee. The three of them came to his car. Editor-in-chief Mason opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat, directly facing Auge, who was in the wheelchair.

”I’ve heard some of your situation. I think your situation is very representative. I want to report what has happened to you, to let more people see it.”

”I will give you twenty dollars as a fee for my reporting of your real situation.”

”And if more people see it, it might trigger some social public opinion focus, and perhaps your problem will no longer be a problem.”

”How about it?”

”Do you agree?”

Auge took a sip of the bitter coffee. ”Do I have any other choice?”

Editor-in-chief Mason knew that this would be the outcome. He took out a notebook and a pen. ”Then let’s start now.”

He placed the coffee cup in the cup holder of the passenger seat, and then asked, ”Who do you think is responsible for your current situation?”

”The factory you work for, your manager, the labor introduction agency, the refugees who had a conflict with you, or the union and the labor federation?”

Auge had a certain representativeness. He was a union member, and also a registered member of the labor federation. He was a skilled worker and enjoyed all the various welfare benefits of the union and the labor federation.

For him to speak up would be more representative than to find an ordinary worker.

Auge was a little confused. He held the coffee in both hands. His hands were probably the hottest part of his body now.

He didn’t know how to answer this question and could only lower his head and think.

”I don’t know, the manager... to be honest, he was not bad to us.”

”After the New Year, he gave us a raise, and there was also some meal allowance.”

”As for the labor introduction agency, actually I’m not familiar with them at all. I’ve been working in the factory all along and have had no direct relationship with them.”

”Some people say they will destroy the entire labor market of Golden Port City. I don’t know what that means, and I don’t know what it will look like, but for me at present, they have not affected me at all.”

”As for those refugees... they say that these refugees were arranged by the Wanli Group.”

Editor-in-chief Mason recorded it word for word. ”Auge, you know, the Federation is a place that values the law. Do you have any evidence to prove this?”

Auge shook his head. ”Everyone is saying it.”

”Everyone is also saying that the president is a lizard person.”

This made the dejected Auge couldn’t help but laugh twice. ”Alright, I have no evidence.”

Mason nodded. ”Then... what do you think of the union and the labor federation?”

”If they hadn’t launched this strike that had nothing to do with you, do you think the current situation would still have happened?”

This sentence made Auge, who had originally not thought there was any problem with the union and the labor federation, suddenly even more confused. It seemed... this Editor-in-chief Mason had a very good point!

If they hadn’t pushed for such a strike and parade and demonstration, he wouldn’t have appeared in the Port District that day, but would have been in the production workshop of the new industrial district.

While flirting with those beautiful female employees, he was also demanding that the others strictly follow the work rules and procedures.

Finding fault with them, and being a tyrant.

Auge fiercely grabbed his hair. Editor-in-chief Mason had described this scene in his notebook—

”When I mentioned the union and the labor federation that had masterminded all this, this Mr. Lame, in his pain and regret, had grabbed his own hair.”

”It can be seen that what he probably regretted the most now was that he had been incited.”

After a long while, Auge finally sighed. ”I don’t know what to say, Mr. Mason. They do have some problems.”

Editor-in-chief Mason continued to add an adjective, ”A big problem!”

”They, through the method of shifting the conflict, have made you, these workers, and the Wanli Group have a confrontation and conflict.”

”But in fact, there was originally no conflict between you. I hear you are still working for a factory of the Wanli Group. They have hired you and have not fired you and used those illegal immigrants or refugees.”

Auge regretted it even more. ”Yes, but I have been fired now!”

Editor-in-chief Mason asked, ”For what reason?”

Auge answered almost subconsciously, ”Because I participated in the strike.”

”Who had you participate in the strike?”

”The union and the labor federation...”

A horse, a sheep, a donkey, any animal, including a human, as long as you are led by the nose, your own thinking will soon move closer to the guided thinking.

Editor-in-chief Mason had just used some very simple methods, not even complex and skillful, and had imposed his own point of view on Auge, and had made him believe that this was his own thought.

He was in great pain, at this moment.

And the one he resented the most in his heart had now become the union and the labor federation. If it weren’t for them inciting him to go and participate in some strike and parade, none of this would have happened!

He could still get a salary of seventy a month, and this year, he would have paid off his mortgage, and then he would have lived a happier life!

He was in so much pain that he could hardly breathe. How could he have done such a stupid thing?!

Editor-in-chief Mason was very satisfied with the result of the interview. He also took a few pictures of Auge to serve as a testimony to his pain.

When the interview was about to end, he asked, ”How much do you owe the hospital?”

”A little over nine hundred,” Auge’s voice was already filled with a deep exhaustion.

”So the union and the labor federation don’t care about you anymore?”

He did not answer this question, but just continued to remain silent, because the answer was very obvious.

If the union and the labor federation had not abandoned him, he would not have come here and had told him these things.

Editor-in-chief Mason sighed. ”Nine hundred. Unless God opens his eyes and looks at you, otherwise I can hardly imagine where an ordinary family can get this money in a short period of time!”

Auge suddenly looked at him with hope. Editor-in-chief Mason very directly shook his head. ”Don’t count on me. I’m not a philanthropist. I can’t give you this money.”

”If you don’t mind me having someone follow you for these few days, I will give you another twenty dollars.”

”It may not solve your trouble, but it can make your big trouble a little smaller.”

Auge did not refuse. Now, as long as he could get money, he was willing to try.

Then Editor-in-chief Mason called over two of his trusted reporters.

Every ”manager” will have trusted and untrusted subordinates.

The subordinates who have gained their trust will obviously get more opportunities, and have more channels for advancement, as long as they do not perform so badly.

The two reporters came very quickly. Editor-in-chief Mason and them went to another corner alone.

”Your job is to follow him twenty-four hours a day and to record what happens to him.”

”He now owes the hospital a large sum of money. The hospital’s side will definitely go through judicial channels in a short period of time. If they don’t want to lose their house and their years of hard work, they will have to find a way to raise this money.”

”You not only have to record and report on them, but also have to be responsible for guiding.”

”Whether you can get a Golden Newspaper Award this year depends on this.”

The reason why an editor-in-chief is an editor-in-chief is not only because his administrative ability is outstanding, but more importantly, he has won a Golden Newspaper Award!

He knows how to sting society!

And he knew very well one thing: the federal government did not like the union, nor did it like the labor federation. This was something that everyone knew.

So he could be sure that this report would definitely get a Golden Newspaper Award.

He already had a Golden Newspaper Award, and his current height had made him realize that the Golden Newspaper Award was actually... just a toy. What he wanted was not a Golden Newspaper Award, but a better channel for advancement!

His two trusted reporters had to seize this opportunity, and he actually also had to seize this opportunity.

The two trusted reporters had not yet won a Golden Newspaper Award. They could also be considered the editor-in-chief’s apprentices, so they were listening very seriously.

”Lead him in a few directions.”

”The first, have him find a way to take all the money he has now and go to a casino.”

”If the money is not enough, have him find a way to mortgage his property to a bank as soon as possible, and use the loan to go to a casino.”

The two trusted reporters’ hearts turned a little cold, but they still listened and recorded seriously.

One of them asked, ”What if he doesn’t go?”

Editor-in-chief Mason said with a smile, ”You can bring some magazines and newspapers that introduce the casino’s gameplay and the people who have won, and put them in a place where he can see them. you have to give him an idea that he can take a gamble.”

The two trusted subordinates both nodded. This was all fucking experience. They would normally not be taught these things. It seemed that the editor-in-chief also had his own ”mission.”

”The second, now there are many girls who walk the streets. You can, when you are chatting, find a way to guide his wife in this direction. I hear he also has a daughter who is in high school.”

”Don’t be so deliberate. Just like you are talking about some of the materials for a report, and you inadvertently say that she knows, so that she has an idea that in a short time, she can pay off all her debts.”

”As for their daughter’s side, you can find a way to give her a sense of guilt and a sense of mission that her parents have sheltered her from the wind and rain for more than ten years, and that it is her turn to repay the family.”

The two were silent and recorded. They had an important feeling for the gap between themselves and the editor-in-chief, why the other party was a Golden Newspaper Award winner and the editor-in-chief of the Golden Port News Group, while they, after so many years, were still inconspicuous little reporters.

”Third, if they have all resisted these, then let them guide them to... you know, I don’t really want to say this.”

”But all the stories that can be sublimated must end in tragedy. A comedy cannot shock people’s hearts, just as a comedy cannot move the judges to give you a Golden Newspaper Award.”

”Only a bloody death can deeply sting society, sting everyone, understand?”

The two reporters took a deep breath. The editor-in-chief was really not a human, but these ideas of his were really awesome.

Editor-in-chief Mason patted the two’s shoulders. ”I’m optimistic about you!”

”I hope I have a chance to see your names on the list of candidates for this year’s Golden Newspaper Award, and to cast a vote for you!”

The previous winners of the Golden Newspaper Award will all become ordinary judges of the Golden Newspaper Award. They have the right to vote for the candidate news and candidates. The one with the most votes may not necessarily win a Golden Newspaper Award.

Because in the end, there is also the final review by the executive committee of the judges. They have a veto right.

But the one with the most votes, the probability of winning is definitely much greater than the one with fewer or no votes!

As he spoke, the three of them returned to Auge’s side. Editor-in-chief Mason looked very elegant, like a gentleman. ”Auge, I have talked it over with my reporters. They will be following you during this period and will report on your situation.”

”This may get some people’s attention. We will publish the specific situation of your need for help in the report. Maybe someone will donate, who knows.”

”So... this is not just for me, but also for yourselves.”

Auge took a deep breath. This was indeed a possibility. He nodded vigorously. ”I will cooperate!”

Editor-in-chief Mason walked over and put another twenty dollars in his hand. ”I will also be paying attention to you. I hope you can get through this difficult time!”

He paused for a moment, greeted Auge’s wife, and then left by car.

After watching Editor-in-chief Mason leave, Auge said to his wife, ”Mr. Mason is a good person. Now everyone is staying away from us, but he is willing to help us.”

The corners of the two reporters’ mouths twitched. Maybe this Mr. Auge didn’t know what the ultimate purpose of this ”good person” was.

The strike in Golden Port City had had no effect and had begun to spread more widely. This was the first time in recent years that a strike organized by the Labor Federation had failed.

Of course, they were not willing to admit that they had failed just like that. They began to collect evidence, wanting to prove that those refugees had a relationship with Lance, with the Wanli Group, but it was meaningless.

Because this city, from top to bottom, from inside to outside, was all Lance’s people!

As for those who wanted to talk nonsense, they might not have a chance to talk nonsense before they were liquidated.