Empire of Shadows

”This is Rapa!”

”I am the President of Rapa!”

Diego looked at the Federal Ambassador, finally emphasizing this fact in a slightly low voice.

The Federal Ambassador’s smile held a lot of ridicule. ”My side will respect this fact that you have stated.”

And then?

And then there was nothing.

”The Secretary of State will call you later, Your Excellency the President of Rapa.”

He shook his head after saying that, then turned and walked towards the outside. He stood by the coat rack at the door, took his hat, put it on his head, and at the same time turned to glance at him.

”I think that compared to this matter, what is more important for you, for this country, is to solve those anti-government armed forces.”

He put on his trench coat, and then strode away.Looking at the ambassador’s departing back, watching his back disappear into the corridor outside the door, Diego suddenly slammed his fist on the table!

With a ”bang,” the things on the table all jumped a little.

His hand hurt, because his hand was not as hard as this table, but what made him feel even more pained was his dignity!

His dignity, at this moment, was wailing tragically.

And he had no way at all.

Lance is like this, the Federal Ambassador is like this, does it mean that in the future, anyone, as long as they are a foreigner, can treat him like this?

He stood there, his chest heaving violently, staring at the corridor where the Federal Ambassador’s back was no longer visible. After a long while, he finally sat back down, somewhat dejectedly.

Without a doubt, what the Federal Ambassador had said when he left was indeed more important than the problem he was currently facing.

That anti-government armed force led by Ross had, in just a few short weeks, expanded its territory to two cities. Although they were just two small cities, this was enough to tell everyone that the Rapa government had already lost control of the places outside of Zhuolan.

This meant that ”secession” would become a reality, and would come to the people’s side.

What was even more troublesome was Pedro, this anti-government armed force that had fired the first shot. They were still alive and well, and were fighting back and forth with the government army in Saige City.

For a time, it was even difficult to tell who was the government army, and who was the rebel army.

It was foreseeable that more and more anti-government armed forces would rise from the people. If they could also get various kinds of aid from the Federation...

...financial, in weapons, or in other aspects, then Rapa... perhaps had really reached a very dangerous point.

Compared to the terrible domestic situation now, the federal people wanting to, through non-governmental organizations, expand their influence and control in Rapa, seemed to be really nothing.

He sat there, still a little dazed, his eyes completely out of focus.

He was actually not a suitable person to be a president, because he was not smart enough, not outstanding enough, and was also too fat.

His image was not good.

Many people did not realize that for a ruler, image is actually a very important thing. It is not just the external manifestation of the ruler, but more importantly, the image in people’s minds.

If the ruler is a handsome, or a beautiful person, then the ruler’s subjects will respect him.

But if the ruler is an idiot with a lazy eye, looking left with the left eye, and right with the right, and his clothes are silly, then even if he does a good job, it will be very difficult to get people’s respect.

At most, when he does a good enough job, people will pity him—

”If only he were a normal person, how great would that be!”

But as long as he does not do so well, in the minds of the people, he will completely become a negative representative.

Ugly and evil!

Diego’s image was not good, and he was not smart enough. To be a president, for him, might be a bit difficult.

If it weren’t for the fact that his father really had no other suitable person, perhaps Diego would not have had the chance to sit in this position.

He was thinking, weighing the pros and cons. Sometimes he would even have a momentary impulse, to want to fight it out with the federal people!

But soon he would dismiss this unrealistic idea himself.

He needed to persuade himself.

The ringing of the phone on the desk had suddenly sounded. The ringing of the phone had pulled him back from his diverging thoughts. His out-of-focus gaze had regained its focus, and was focused on the phone.

After it had rung for a good few times, he had finally picked up the phone. ”This is Diego.”

”Your Excellency President Diego, hello. I am the Federal Secretary of State. I have something to inform you.”

”Because a federal citizen was killed on your country’s soil, and until now, you have not been able to give an explanation or a result, in consideration of protecting the personal safety and property safety of more federal citizens overseas,”

”After a presidential order signed by Mr. Federal President, and with the authorization of Congress, we will be encouraging the federal citizens in your country to spontaneously form non-governmental organizations to protect their own personal safety and property safety. We hope you can give this your attention and cooperation.”

Diego had gradually understood what he meant. It was about the same as what the Federal Ambassador had said, but even more shameless.

Those ”organizations,” they said they were non-governmental. Who would believe it?

But at this time, what else could he say?

”Your Excellency Secretary of State, I think this matter, we can still...”

He had still wanted to try to ask if there was any room for negotiation, but soon the Secretary of State’s tone had become a little impatient and tough. ”I am not discussing with you, Mr. President. I am just informing you!”

”If you have any other ideas, you can send a formal diplomatic note or arrange for a diplomatic delegation to come to the Federation for consultation on international affairs. We can sit down and talk about these things.”

”If you don’t, then I think our decision is very reasonable.”

”I have a meeting right away, so if there is anything, we’ll talk later. Goodbye!”

He had not given President Diego any chance to refute him or to negotiate with him at all, and had directly hung up the phone.

This naked, contemptuous attitude had made Diego’s hand, which was holding the receiver, tremble slightly. He had not been so angry for many years!

But anger was of no use.

He had put down the phone, and after a few minutes, he had picked it up again, and had dialed the phone number of the Jede Republic’s presidential office.

Although some time ago, there had been a small misunderstanding between him and the president of the Jede Republic—he had not wanted to admit that the train that had been stopped in the territory of Rapa and the lost grain should be borne by him, and the two had even had a fight over the phone.

But now, after thinking and thinking, the only one who could help him was, perhaps, only the Jede Republic.

The call was quickly answered. The president of the Jede Republic was clearly a suitable person to be a president.

“He had a good image, had received a federal-style elite education, and was also smart, healthy, and decisive.

He would, almost all the time, be in his own office, handling official duties. Although the Jede Republic still maintained a lifetime presidency, but... he had really, like a public servant, been working in his office every day.

Of course, the occasional enjoyment was also acceptable to the people. After all, he was the president, the ruler. No one would say anything if he enjoyed himself.

”This is Diego...”

The Jede Great President was stunned for a moment. ”If you are calling to quarrel with me, then I can only say that I don’t have time to play with you right now.”

This sentence had made Diego feel a slight sting. It was clear that the Jede president on the other end of the line did not really respect him. He even treated the quarrel with him as a kind of a pastime, a kind of a play.

At this moment, Diego seemed to have really regretted a little, regretted that in his position as president, he had not done something for this country, for his family.

If he could be like the president of the Jede Republic, perhaps the situation would be different?

He had just been in a daze for a moment, and had quickly come back to his senses. ”Something has happened on my side...”

He had told the president of the Jede Republic what had happened. The latter, after listening, his tone was already filled with some blame. ”You should have told me earlier. This way, perhaps we could have delayed a little less.”

Diego just sighed and did not say anything, which had also made the Jede president sigh lightly. ”Now that things have developed to this point, it is already very difficult for us to change their decision. You can only obey.”

”Of course, on my side, I will lodge a protest with the Federation. Next month, we will send a new visiting delegation to the Federation, to conduct a series of new negotiations, and I will add this problem of yours to the list.”

”For now... the only advice I can give you is to do as they say.”

A fleet had appeared in the inland sea bay of the Jede Republic, which had put a huge pressure on them. In the face of those giant war machines, the industry that the Jede Republic had developed in these years was like a small child. It was simply no match for the federal people.

What was even more terrifying was that the entire Yalan region did not even have an assembly line for producing bullets. They did not have this technology. They could only, through their local methods, to make bullets by hand.

This meant that if they really went to war with the Federation, and if there was no third party who could provide weapons and supplies, their existing supplies would simply not be able to last for long.

During this period, the Jede Republic had been buying all kinds of military supplies, through legal and illegal means. He was just worried that what if one day, they and the Federation had a falling out, and a war broke out, at least they would not be so constrained by others.

While the two presidents were sighing over their respective futures, the Federal Ambassador had already, in his car, arrived at Lance’s modern manor.

The style of those manors in the Federation was actually all inclined towards the last century, with some composite, medieval style. But Lance’s manor had a very strong, modern atmosphere.

The streamlined lines and the softer walls had made it look less solemn and dignified, but had added a lot of liveliness and a feeling of freedom.

”I have already spoken with the Secretary of State. They will immediately call and inform Diego. Next, you can do as you have told me before.”

Lance was very satisfied. His power had finally been released. He smiled and placed an envelope on the desk, and pushed it over. ”Thank you for your help in passing on the message during this period. I don’t know how to thank you. I hope you will like these.”

The smile on the Federal Ambassador’s face was completely sincere, completely different from the hypocritical smile he had had when he was with Diego. He was almost about to laugh out loud!

He had originally thought that to come to a backward place like Rapa to be an ambassador, his life would be just like this. Who would have known that the political situation of the entire Federation would suddenly change?

Under Lance’s promotion, Congress had also begun to be filled with greed for this region of Yalan.

When Lance had first proposed this plan, they had sent many scientific expedition teams to the Yalan region, to investigate, and to sort out the resources here.

In the end, they had discovered a very heartening fact.

If they could take down the Yalan region, then the Federation’s resources, in the next one hundred years, would not have any problems!

This was a choice that could affect the future destiny of the country, so they had also listed it on the execution list.

An ambassador who had been almost or it could be said to have been banished, had become somewhat of a hot commodity.

Because he was an ambassador in Rapa, some of the congressmen in Congress would also privately contact him, and through him, to understand some of the matters here. This was a network.

And now, he was also about to receive a sum of wealth. He was extremely satisfied.

”It’s all for the service of the Federation and the people!” he said a sentence that sounded very fake and empty, but at this moment, in his heart, he really thought so.

While he saying these embarrassing words, he had taken the envelope in his hand, and without any embarrassment, drawn out the check inside.

He couldn’t help but whistle.

”Mr. Lance, you are truly a generous gentleman!”

200,000 Federal Sols. This sum of money... was already the largest single sum he had received since he had become a federal government employee, bar none. And the previous eight, added up, were not this much.

This feeling of being filled had made him feel an unprecedented comfort. The whole world seemed, at this moment, to have become friendly and sunny, and was even smiling at him!

Lance raised his hand and smiled. ”I like to make friends. We are friends.”

The ambassador repeated the last sentence, ”Yes, we are friends!”

”Then next...”

The smile on Lance’s face became even wider. ”Next, is our moment!”

At this time, the people who were living in Zhuolan did not know that just half an hour ago, their tyrannical dictator, the Great President Diego, in the face of the federal government’s unreasonable and groundless, tough demands, had actually had no way at all.

If he could take out one-tenth of the courage and toughness he had when he had been waving his whip at the people, and use it in the dialogue with the Federation, perhaps this matter would not have developed to this point.

A large batch of foreigners, in dark trench coats, with a red armband on their left arm, were, with their weapons slung, appearing on the streets of Zhuolan. They seemed to be looking for something.

For a time, people did not know what was happening. Some had even thought that it was those anti-government armed forces that had already fought their way into Zhuolan.

The city had also, as a result, had some commotion. People are just like this. When things happen that they cannot understand, they will either feel fear, because they have put themselves in a relatively weak position.

Or, they will feel excited. They are considering how to use the chaotic situation to profit for themselves.

Hiram with a cigarette dangling was striding on the street. Lance had requested them to control at least one-third of the Zhuolan urban area.

A part of the city center, plus a part of the slums.

If they were to control the entire city center, Diego and his group would definitely resist, but if it was just to control a part, and then to add a part of the slums, then the Diego government, including those rulers, would not be so strongly opposed.

After all... they had also, to these ruling groups, reserved the most basic respect!

Hiram had just passed an alley when he had suddenly heard a woman’s cries and struggles from inside, and also the laughter of some men who were releasing their nature.

He had taken two steps back, and had returned to the entrance of the alley, and had looked at the deepest part of the alley.

In the deepest part of the alley, which was very dirty in his eyes, a woman was being pressed to the ground, and some men were surrounding her.

In fact, in Rapa, in Zhuolan, the price of the women who provided services was not expensive. Often, a single service only cost twenty or thirty.

But even so, the people here were more willing to obtain their release through a free way, instead of paying a fee.

Looking at the terrible things that were happening, Hiram had blown at his hair, and then had walked towards the alley.

The sound of his leather shoes, ”pa pa,” hitting the water on the ground, had made the people inside, who were committing the violence, look towards him.

A guy who looked a bit fierce had stood in the middle of the alley. He had taken out a dagger from his pocket, and was tossing it back and forth in his hand. ”This has nothing to do with you, foreigner!”

”If I were you, I would just pretend that I didn’t see anything, and then leave here!”

Hiram had casually grabbed a piece of wood that was leaning against the wall in the alley, and in the other party’s somewhat incredulous gaze, he had suddenly swung it at his head.

After a ”dong” sound, which was muffled, but also a bit crisp, the guy had fallen heavily to the ground.

The other men who were committing the violence had stopped what they were doing. They had all looked at Hiram with an unfriendly look.

And the woman, at this time, had immediately curled up in a corner and was crying, holding her head.

Looking at these people who had walked over, Hiram had thrown away the stick, and then had taken out his submachine gun.

A few minutes later, seven people, all covered in blood, and who couldn’t even stand up, had been dragged out of the alley. Then, a woman, who was wearing an ill-fitting man’s clothes, had followed behind them.

The people who were walking on the street had all seen this scene. They had all, more or less, shown an expression of surprise.

Hiram had lit a cigarette, had glanced at the man at his feet, who was dying, and had taken a step back. Then he had stepped out, and with a powerful kick, the man had, in an instant, lost his breath.

The onlookers were a little scared, but more were still staying here to watch the fun.

He turned his head to look at the woman. ”I don’t know what kind of treatment you will receive after you go back. If your family or your husband is not good enough to you, you can come and find us.”

”We will arrange a place for you to live, and also give you a job or something.”

The woman was a little surprised. She looked at Hiram’s eyes, and then had knelt down, and with her forehead pressed tightly to the ground, had thanked Hiram for his help, and even for his redemption...