Empire of Shadows

The Post’s reporter had written a total of three drafts. Driven by multiple motivations, he had brought out 120% of his ability.

One of the three drafts was relatively radical. He had raised the question of ”whether the organizer needs to bear responsibility” and the ”statute of limitations for responsibility.”

If the organizer also needed to bear responsibility, then those demonstrators who had been injured in the past, should they be compensated?

It couldn’t be that just because the law against murder was established today, the person who had killed yesterday was innocent.

The entire article emphasized that the Labor Federation was a cold and ruthless political organization. All their slogans, including the heart-stirring ”Great Unity of the Working Class,” were just their political tactics.

Their core purpose was to turn the working class into their tools, not their brothers.

The second article was written very conservatively, interpreting this case from the perspective of the current existing laws. He had also consulted a lawyer, who had stated that at present, there was no legal basis to support the organizer bearing the main responsibility.

And this conflict was not some kind of an accident, such as a natural disaster, but a purposeful attack. The organizer should not bear too much responsibility, but it was also possible that they needed to bear a little.

And the third article was relatively stable, neither sharp nor conservative. He believed that the third article was very likely to be used.

But what he had not expected was that the Federal Post, which had always maintained a neutral stance, had this time used his more radical draft.This had also made him realize that there was a big hand, a bigger hand than he had imagined, that had been pushing this matter to develop rapidly from behind the scenes.

The next day’s Federal Post had published this article. Just as they had imagined, the entire Federation was in an uproar!

Then, the discussion centered around the Labor Federation as the organizer, whether they had an obligation to be responsible for the safety of the demonstrators they had organized.

There were many people in society discussing it. If it were any other time, a discussion would just be a discussion.

But this time it was different. The extensive reports, plus the photos, and the photo of Auge lying on the ground with his eyeballs almost bulging out, had made the entire federal low-level public like water that was about to boil, about to boil over!

It was said that in just one day, in various places, some people had appeared who had been injured or even disabled in conflicts in the past when they had supported the Labor Federation’s strikes and parades.

Among these people, some were real and some were fake. Some people were purely hoping to take advantage.

The Federation also had these people, and the number was not small, not at all as people had learned when they were in foreign countries, where every federal person was amiable, polite, kind, and friendly.

”Now there are people making trouble everywhere. We are very passive.”

In the conference room of the Labor Federation’s headquarters, the chairman, who rarely showed his face, had appeared here. On his hand, there was that newspaper.

The people at the side of the conference table did not speak, but remained silent. They didn’t know what to say, nor did they dare to speak recklessly.

In fact, the chairman himself had not thought that a matter that was so simple in his eyes would, as a result, turn out like this.

Walter had a great responsibility!

It was just that now Walter was still being held. He looked at another rotating vice president. ”Do you have any thoughts?”

The other rotating vice president shook his head. ”I am still very shocked, and I think this matter is not easy for us to handle.”

”It is very difficult for us to distinguish who among these people has been injured and disabled for our sake. If we can’t pick these people out, then there will definitely be people who will continue to make trouble.”

”You must know how annoying those mud-legged dogs are.”

The chairman’s expression did not change. ”So?”

”What are your thoughts?”

The rotating vice president’s gaze fell on the newspaper, on the photos of the angry, standing, injured people, and then he covered it with one hand. ”Find a way to press down the public opinion.”

The chairman thought for a moment and then shook his head. ”If at the beginning, Walter could have realized the seriousness of the problem, the situation would not have developed to this state.”

”At that time, the matter had not yet fermented, the public opinion had not yet been hyped up, and there was still a way for everything.”

”Now the heat of this issue is so high. If we don’t give money, and don’t properly handle these problems, will it affect our problem of the workers’ party’s establishment?”

”But at the same time, I also have some worries, because what we are facing is not necessarily the workers who were really injured because of us.”

”If every disabled person, every injured person, says that they are disabled, injured for us, how much money can we spend on them?”

”We can’t just let it go, but we also can’t meet all their conditions. We need to discuss a result.”

He raised his wrist and glanced at it. ”There are still ten hours before the end of work today. Before a result is discussed, everyone will just stay here for the time being. I will have someone send food and water over.”

A few of the managing officials looked at each other and all showed a helpless expression.

Without a doubt, this was definitely not an easy matter to handle.

If there were 10,000 injured or disabled people, and each of them asked for, not to say too much, but 300 in compensation, according to the current mainstream half of the accidental work injury insurance, it’s not too much, is it?

That’s three million.

But what if there are more than 10,000?

What if the compensation they are advocating for is not just 300?

This might mean several million, tens of millions in expenditure!

So from the very beginning, they had not agreed to bear the responsibility. It was not without reason.

It was just that it had been so unfortunate that the development of this matter had exceeded everyone’s expectations, including their own, and also the gentlemen in Congress.

Senator Cleveland had also seen the newspaper. After reading it, he had smiled and had thrown the newspaper to one side.

Today was not a congressional day, nor were there any large or small meetings or hearings. He and his friends were sitting in the garden of his manor, on the one hand getting close to nature, and on the other hand, chatting.

In order to make this place look more stylish, Senator Cleveland had also raised some deer and small animals in the garden of the manor.

They were like the elves in the manor and would give the people who came here for the first time a dreamlike feeling.

Although for the senator himself, he was already used to it.

The deer were not afraid of people, but they also maintained the most basic vigilance. They were wandering around, and occasionally they would turn their heads to look at the laughing people here.

”This guy Lance...” the senator smiled and deliberated for a moment, and found a suitable wording, ”...is really a likeable guy!”

”He can always find the crack on an egg that none of us can see, and then fiercely pierce through it!”

”This time, the Labor Federation is going to be in trouble!”

The others all expressed their agreement. They had long been very unhappy with the Labor Federation, who would, at any moment, threaten them with a nationwide general strike.

Originally, the idea of Congress was to let them establish a workers’ party. A political party and the Labor Federation are two different organizations.

If they wanted the workers’ party to also get the support of the people, just relying on those poor people would not be enough.

They had to get the sponsorship of the capitalists to be able to go further on this path of politics.

The idea of Congress was to first paralyze them, to have them find a way to cut themselves off from the working class, and then to give them a heavy blow, to crush them, and then to put a collar on the union and the working class, and to completely control them.

It was just that they had not expected that Lance would, so quickly, catch them off guard.

Once they could not handle this problem well, their influence among the working class would drop sharply.

At the very least, the next time they demanded a major strike, the workers would have to think about whether they should do it.

To lose your job, to be beaten and disabled, and not to get any compensation, in the end, for what?

Just to contribute to the greatness of others?

This angle was very novel, and the key was that it was something that was happening. People would be more focused on the things that were happening.

The Speaker of the House was sitting in a rattan chair, his legs crossed. To be honest, he felt that this rattan chair was very uncomfortable. It was woven from rattan.

It was said that it was made from the rattan that was still growing, and through shaping and then promoting its growth, in the end, it had grown into the shape of a chair.

After it was harvested and dried, it was coated with tung oil and varnish, and it had become what it was now.

By the way, the most crucial point was that this was produced on the indigenous side.

Each of the strangely shaped rattan chairs was priced at more than twenty dollars. There were a dozen or so such chairs placed here in a scattered manner.

The center of gravity of his body, because he had wanted to speak, had shifted, and he had immediately felt a wave of soreness and pleasure. He had no choice but to change his position. ”What do you think they will do?”

”Now they have been put on the fire, and there is no chance to get off.”

Everyone was casually chatting about how they could get through this crisis, and as they chatted, they had come to the topic of Lance.

”This young man is very interesting. Some of his actions have made me feel a sense of amazement. Have you considered pulling him in?”

Senator Cleveland nodded, and then shook his head. ”He can’t get in. Whether it’s his background or his personal resume, it’s very difficult for him to get to this point.”

The Speaker of the House raised his eyebrows and nodded. ”That’s quite a pity.”

”But it’s also good to be useful.”

”I hear you’re planning to send him to Rapa?”

”Are you very confident in him?”

The ”Yalan Strategy” was one of the next key points. Last year, when Lance had revealed ”what benefits it could bring if the Federation could take down the Yalan region,” Congress had already begun to study it.

They had sent many people to Yalan to do on-the-spot investigations. Of course, there were many kinds of reasons and excuses, such as commercial investigation, scientific investigation, investment. In short, there was always a way to go over and get some important geographical information.

Yalan did indeed have rich mineral resources and oil, and the climate was also not bad, and the population was not small. This was a ”battery” that could provide assistance for the Federation to become great.

Now there was already a battery. Although it was not very easy to use, it was there.

So how to ”conquer” Yalan, everyone also had their own views.

Some people felt that... just like how their ancestors had dealt with the federal natives, it would be fine to deal with the Yalan people in the same way.

Those who were obedient, they could get the grace of working for the federal people for generations.

And those who were disobedient, there were so many tropical rainforests. There would always be a resting place that belonged to them.

There were also some who believed that such a method was too crude, and that a relatively gentle means should be used to completely integrate Yalan into the Federation.

Congress was not all one interest group. There were many interest groups here. If they wanted to get more benefits from Yalan, and to get more benefits than other interest groups, then they had to show their own strength and ability.

Whoever could help them to solve this big problem faster, then that interest group would get more benefits.

Senator Cleveland had chosen Lance and his own chief of staff. He would send two people, but on the surface, there was only Lance.

This matter was not easy. Even Senator Cleveland himself did not dare to say that he was sure he could subvert a country’s regime, and then to make the people of this country have a good feeling for the Federation.

So this was also just an attempt. Anyway, the benefits were certain. At most, it was just a little more or a little less.

Senator Cleveland smiled and shook his head. ”Who knows?”

”Maybe he will give me a huge surprise, who knows!”

There should be a surprise, right?

The senator tilted his head back slightly, squinted his eyes, and faced the sun. There should be!

Lance did not know that the senator had such high hopes for him, but even if he had known, he would not have found it strange. This was an image that he had wanted to create.

He, was omnipotent.

For the next few days, the Labor Federation had issued several announcements in a row.

They had announced to the outside world everything about the handling of the Golden Port City strike, including their providing legal aid to the victims, and providing them with all kinds of necessary help. It was just that the effect was not good. It wasn’t that they hadn’t done it.

Now, under the leadership of Ms. Debbie, these victims in Golden Port City had grouped together to sue the Labor Federation, which had pushed this matter to the crest of the wave of public opinion.

The Labor Federation’s side had stated that they were willing to bear all the consequences that the law required them to bear, and would not appeal.

Whatever the court sentenced them to bear, they would bear. This statement had also made a part of the unfavorable public opinion in the media lessen, and there had even been a part of a reversal.

”To obey the judgment of the law” was the result of their two days of discussion. This way, no one was offended, and it could also reflect their reverence for the law.

At the same time, it had increased the cost for those who wanted to take advantage of them.

Want to ask the Labor Federation for this part of the compensation?

Alright, go to the local court and sue the Labor Federation.

With your lawyer and evidence, to prove that your injury was caused during the strike, because you had participated in the parade and demonstration.

As long as the evidence is sufficient, whatever the court sentences, they will pay.

As it happened, it was just such a seemingly very fair decision that had, on the contrary, made many people give up the idea of asking for the medical expenses.

Some people, at that time, their medical expenses were only a few dozen dollars, but to sue the Labor Federation, the litigation fees might be one or two hundred.

Besides those who were seriously injured, and the disabled, there was a high probability that the others would not sue the Labor Federation.

They had just said that they would obey the ruling, but they had not said that they would not hire a lawyer for their defense.

Besides the people who were indeed seriously injured, and had no money to live on, most of the people with minor injuries had chosen to give up the idea of asking for medical expenses.

Although the Labor Federation had indeed successfully stopped them, it had also caused their status in the minds of the working class to drop.

The legal team of the Labor Federation had not requested to be tried in another court. After all, the matter had happened in Golden Port City, so it would naturally be tried in Golden Port City.

There was a relatively controversial point in this case. Because the attackers had already been imprisoned, and there was a first responsible party, so the lawyers of the Labor Federation believed that although they had to pay, they could lower the proportion of the payment.

If it could be reduced to below 50%, then even if someone wanted to pursue their responsibility in this aspect in the future, with the cost of pursuing increasing, and the benefits decreasing, it would be more effective in curbing those old accounts.

On the day of the trial, it was very much in the spotlight. Many media had come to the scene, including major newspapers such as the Federal Daily and the Federal Post. Some people had gradually realized that the result of this trial might become a standard for pushing for the legislation of a new bill!

This would become an important ”historical moment”!

This was not a trial that could be ended in one session. However, from the very beginning, the smell of gunpowder between the two sides was very strong, and sparks were flying.

The legal team of the Labor Federation had always been making a ”no-responsibility” defense for themselves, although they knew that the final result would definitely be unfavorable to them.

This was Golden Port City. From the mouse in the corner of the courtroom, to the judge who was sitting high on the bench, they were all Lance’s people.

The Labor Federation could not win here, could not win in Likalai State, and could not win in the Supreme Court.

But they would still do their best!

The heat of the news about these matters had once suppressed people’s attention on the war.

The war was too far away from the ordinary people, especially for those who lived in the coastal areas. Their understanding of the war in their lives might all come from the newspapers.

So compared to the case that was closer to their lives, the attention on the war had naturally also decreased a lot.

Just like this, as time went on, it was the middle and late July, and at the end of the month, it was time to distribute the money again.

Lance had given Admiral Diaz a call, saying that he wanted to pay a visit. In the first contact after more than half a month, Admiral Diaz had not refused either.

He had invited Lance to meet him in his office, not in his villa. Although they were friends, their relationship was not so close.

Lance had chosen to go and see Diaz at five in the afternoon. Diaz also knew what Lance meant. He found that this person, Lance, was actually very aggressive in some aspects.

To visit at this time meant that Lance was sure that Admiral Diaz would keep Lance for dinner.

This had also made Admiral Diaz very curious. On what basis was he sure that he would definitely keep him?

With this doubt, he had waited until 4:55, and soon his adjutant had knocked on the door, telling him that Lance had arrived.

”Is he alone?”

”No, he has also brought two people. They are all carrying a large box in their hands.”

Admiral Diaz frowned, but it soon relaxed. He didn’t believe that Lance would hurt him.

He knew that these people, who had ambition, and ability, were actually, in many times, more willing to abide by the rules than the hooligans.

”Let him in.”