Empire of Shadows

At a little after six in the morning, the young man from Rapa woke up from his sleep.

His mother had woken up even earlier and had already prepared his lunch.

The poor don’t eat breakfast in the morning. Anyway, they won’t necessarily be hungry. The grass and wood fibers they had eaten last night had not yet been fully digested.

So the balls that were prepared were for the young man to eat at noon. He needed to work outside for a whole day to earn money to support his family.

To be born in Rapa, maybe it was really because they had done too many bad things in their previous life.

The young man packed his food, and then said goodbye to his mother and left home.

He had specially gone to the riverside to take a look. There were indeed two tables by the river, and also some slogans with words written on them, but he didn’t know what they were. It was just that there was no one now.

He thought that he could only come back at noon. These federal people were really lazy.

In the morning, he still went to the federal people’s construction site. Now the federal people’s construction site needed a large number of workers, which was good news for him.

For all the poor people of Rapa who needed a job and a stable life, it was good news.He had come very early. Because he had worked here yesterday, he could be considered to know the workers, so the foreman had directly called his name.

He had entered the construction site with the other workers, and had also seen the workers he had worked with yesterday.

”Did you just take your salary and leave yesterday?” His work partner was a young man in his twenties, but he looked like he was in his thirties.

The sun and the poverty of Rapa were the biggest killers of the poor people’s aging. Of course, hunger and malnutrition were also.

The young man nodded. ”What else?”

”Where else can I go?”

”Do they need people to work at night?”

His partner shook his head. ”I’m not sure if they need people to work at night, but I know you can’t just leave like that.”

”Listen, after you get your wages today, take out five dollars and give it to the foreman.”

The young man was stunned for a moment, and then he reacted.

Because he had never slacked off, his partner also liked him, and didn’t want to change to a partner who would slack off.

The young man’s distraction, in his partner’s view, was a ”short circuit.” He might not understand why he had to give money to the foreman.

So he continued to explain, ”You see, there are only so many jobs on the construction site, but there are many people who are waiting for a job.”

”He doesn’t have to choose you. After all, you have no relationship with him. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

His winking appearance looked a little comical, but the words he had said were indeed very important.

”If you give him five dollars, there will be a connection between you and him. If he still wants this five dollars tomorrow, he will definitely look for you.”

”You give him five dollars every day, which is 150 a month. It doesn’t look like much, but there are at least four or five hundred workers here.”

The young man sucked in a breath of cold air. ”Four or five hundred, how much money is that?”

The two had looked at each other, and in the end, neither of them had been able to calculate how much this was, but it was definitely a large sum of money.

However, the young man had also taken these words in. He realized that this partner opposite him was not deceiving him or doing anything else. This was also a kind of education, a social education, and it was even more precious than a simple knowledge education!

The two had worked for a whole morning. At noon, they had had half an hour of rest. After eating the lunch they had brought from home, in the afternoon, the two had worked up a sweat again until six in the evening.

The moment the bell for the end of the work on the construction site had been rung by the foreman, who was pulling the bell rope, the spines of all the people, who had been bent by life, had slowly straightened.

A few more smiles had also appeared on the people’s indifferent or somewhat painful faces.

They had put a finishing touch on the last of their work, and then had begun to line up to get their money.

The young man had followed his partner’s words. After he had received his money, he had rolled up five of it, and had stuffed it into the foreman’s hand.

The foreman had glanced at him with a half-smile, and had nodded slightly. ”Come early tomorrow.”

The young man had immediately smiled, revealing his somewhat yellow teeth. ”Goodbye, sir. See you tomorrow!”

The foreman had smiled and nodded. ”See you tomorrow.”

Just as his partner had said, five dollars was not much, but when gathered, it was not a small amount.

The young man had run very fast. He was already hungry. After working for a whole day, and having only eaten one meal, the fact that he could last until now was also thanks to ”being young.”

By the time he had run to the riverside, there was no one here who was queuing up or handling anything. On the contrary, there were many people around who were observing everything that was happening here.

This was not the scene he had imagined. He was stunned for a moment, and had hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he had still walked to the front of the table.

”I want to ask about the identity card matter,” his voice was not loud. When he was facing these foreigners, he had a feeling of being innately inferior.

And he had heard that these foreigners, especially the foreigners who were wearing red armbands, were very barbaric and cruel. They not only had privately used lynching to deal with those who did not follow the rules, but it was also said that they had killed some people.

This might also be the reason why some people were not willing to come over. They were afraid of these federal people.

Whether it was the rumors of them drinking blood and eating people, or the matter of them lashing or killing others, it all made people feel uneasy and afraid.

”You want to get an identity card?” The federal person, who was sitting behind the table, bored, had suddenly become a little interested. ”Can you tell me why you want to get one?”

He had gestured to the side. ”Those people would rather watch there for a whole day than to come over and get this identity card.”

”What about you?”

”Why?”

The young man scratched his head, a little shy. ”I hear that the construction site will give priority to recruiting people with an identity card in the future. I want a stable job.”

The federal young man behind the table was stunned for a moment. He took a few more looks at the young man. ”You are a lucky one.”

”You need to tell me where you live, and also your family situation...”

Soon, the two sides had begun to seriously handle this identity document. They had asked many questions, including who else was in his family, how his father had died, and also how he was now helping his family to survive.

Until the very end, the young man had looked at the registration card he had written, which was more than half a page, and had repeated it again to confirm that it was correct. Finally, his pen tip had landed on the name column, and he had asked, ”What’s your name, young man?”

”Juan, sir.”

”Juan Ica.”

The young man opposite him had written his name in the name column, and then had taken out a card, and on it, he had written his name and a file number, and also some other things that he didn’t quite understand.

Then this card had been placed under a machine. The person who was helping him to get the identity card had stood up and had pressed down hard. With a ”ka” sound, the machine had then spat out the card.

He had torn the card from the fold in the middle, and had handed one half of it to Juan. On it was his name and all kinds of information, and also a steel seal.

”Lucky kid.”

The young man had handed the card over. ”Keep it well. You’d better be able to remember the number on it. If you lose it, it’s not too troublesome to get a new one.”

Juan, holding the card, had been flipping it over and over, and had been looking at it non-stop. He had a vague feeling that this would be an opportunity to change his destiny.

He had properly saved the card. ”Sir, this ten, does it mean that I am the tenth person to get it?”

The person who was handling it had nodded. ”Yes, you are the tenth. Cherish this number. It will bring you good luck.”

A smile had appeared on Juan’s face. ”I think so too...” he had paused for a moment, and had asked with some hesitation, ”Do I need to pay you a sum of money for it?”

The young man opposite him shook his head. ”Money?”

”No, no need, little fellow. You don’t need to pay us any fees for it. You can leave now, or you can, like them, be a spectator on the side.”

Juan had breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and a smile had crept back onto his face. ”Then I’ll be leaving?”

”Yes, you can leave.”

”Goodbye, sir.”

”Goodbye, Juan!”

Juan had skipped back to his own home. He had told his mother why he only had twenty-five dollars today, and his mother had been very much in agreement with the advice his partner had given him.

Although he was five dollars short every day, he had an extra job of 750 a month.

This money was enough for them to live very well here.

In the evening, he had put the card under his pillow. Although he still didn’t really understand what this card meant, he had just done so, and had also had a dream.

In his dream, he had gone to the city center, to the rich district, that he had always wanted to go to. When those who looked down on him had seen him and had wanted to stop him from entering, he had just shown his identity card, and had been allowed to enter.

This had made him laugh out loud in his dream. That bizarre and motley world had also attracted all his attention.

On the other side, after the various stations had been withdrawn, in the evening, Lance couldn’t help but ask, ”How many people have handled their personal identity information today?”

Only by grasping the situation of the people here can one better manage these people, and also to grasp some of the people who may be harmful to society, and to the new policies.

Lance was not yet the ruler here. He was not these people’s father. He didn’t need to take care of everyone’s emotions. He only picked what he wanted.

This matter was being handled by Roger, in cooperation with the cadres in the family. Roger’s expression was slightly embarrassed. ”Less than two hundred.”

Lance had divided the territory he controlled into three districts. In these three districts, there were at least 200,000 to 300,000 people, but in a whole day, the number of people who had handled their identity information was less than 200, which had made even Lance a little confused.

He put down his knife and fork. ”What is the reason for this?”

Roger also put down his knife and fork. ”I hear from them that there are some rumors and slanders against us. Some say that we are getting their identity information in order to treat them as food or some kind of a resource, just like numbering livestock.”

Hearing this explanation, Lance couldn’t help but laugh. ”This is a manifestation of ignorance, but I believe that many of them must be very much in agreement with such rumors!”

Roger pursed his lips, and showed a helpless expression. ”Even though we have already explained.”

”In fact, there are many other similar rumors, all of which are unfriendly to us.”

Lance picked up his knife and fork again. ”This shows that the local rulers are not doing nothing. They have done something, but it’s just in a place that we haven’t seen, but is very effective.”

He, from a platter in the middle of the table, had taken a piece of steak back to his own plate. What famine? It simply didn’t exist here.

The aroma from the food was mouth-watering. Although Rapa was very poor, the quality of the beef and beef here was still very good.

Those who were herding might, because they couldn’t afford to eat, starve to death. This could also be considered a manifestation of an absurd society.

”Just do your best.”

”After a while, they will understand the importance of these identity cards. Just continue to do these things. You don’t have to worry about doing a good job or not.”

He was worried that Roger would feel that he had not done this well, and would on the contrary, become a little radical.

It didn’t matter if this was done well or not, because he had already heard that the money in the state treasury of the Rapa government was already running low.

Once their money was used up, a conflict would soon appear. In yesterday’s meeting, he had heard that Diego had already slammed the table with his ministers, and had hoped that the ministers could also take out some money to alleviate the upcoming financial difficulties.

But it was clear that these ministers had no intention of going through this difficult time with Diego. They might all have some of their own ideas, but it was not out of the question that some would fall to Diego’s side.

If Diego was just by himself, then he would have been overthrown by the ministers long ago, so some of the ministers should be on his side, but had not immediately expressed their stance.

In fact, it was not too important whether they expressed their stance or not. Lance would continue to support the expansion of the anti-government armed forces, to make the battle between them become a little more intense.

He would not let the anti-government armed forces’ side win, and to really drive Diego out of Zhuolan, nor would he let Diego’s side swell to the point where he could solve the anti-government armed forces.

They would always be at a level of an evenly matched, and would let them constantly consume, and to constantly strengthen the consumption. Only in this way would it be more valuable to him, to the Federation.

Albert, who was sitting on the other side of the dining table, couldn’t help but ask, ”Mr. Lance, can I know what your next plan is, roughly?”

Lance thought for a moment, and did not refuse his request. After all, in this matter, there was also a part of the work that the Agency for Economic Cooperation’s side needed to contribute to.

”I, through the relationship of some friendly individuals, have learned that their state treasury is already running low.”

Mr. Albert nodded. ”Yes.”

”I plan to, in conjunction with the banks, including the federal government, to give them some loans.”

”To give them loans, to support them in using the loans to strike at those anti-government armed forces.”

Albert showed a puzzled expression. ”But I hear that they have a lot of wealth in the banks of the Federation. Not long ago, a total of more than 55 million Federal Sols had been deposited into these accounts.”

The money he was talking about was the money from selling the grain. Lance nodded and said, ”Yes, it’s not that they don’t have money, but that money is their own money, not this country’s. Can you understand what I mean?”

”If it were you, Mr. Albert, and now the Federation needs you, would you liquidate all your wealth and donate it to the country?”

Albert was stunned for a moment after he had heard this question, and then he smiled in embarrassment. ”I’m sorry, I may not be able to be so great.”

Lance pursed his lips. ”As it happens, these rulers also can’t do these. Of course, I’m not satirizing you, Mr. Albert.”

”I am just stating a fact.”

Albert quickly raised his hand. ”Yes, I can understand what you mean, Mr. Lance.”

”But to do so...”

Lance continued to enjoy his steak and beef. ”The federal government will talk to them about some political matters. In this aspect, I’m not sure how they will talk.”

”The bank’s side will definitely ask for more economic benefits. I’ve heard, just heard.”

”Some of them are more interested in becoming a shareholder of the Rapa National Bank.”

Mr. Albert showed a knowing expression. The war of capital against capital has always been hidden in a very deep place. What the federal banks wanted might not just be to become a shareholder of the Rapa National Bank, but to directly annex it.

To annex a small, private bank, they simply wouldn’t care. What they wanted was the central bank, a bank that had a dominant position in this region.

A population of 12 million. After this incident is over, the population might drop to within 10 million, but it is still a populous country.

This labor force has a huge potential in terms of wealth conversion. They will not give up this financial market.

Maybe now it still looks very barren, but after ten years, twenty years, or even half a century?

The look in Albert’s eyes had changed slightly. Lance said with a smile, ”As for me...”

He was chewing the beef in his mouth. In the process of this beef being torn and crushed by his teeth, the meat juice and the fat were all squeezed out, and were fully mixed, emitting a very strong aroma of beef and milk.

”I will be leasing the area we are currently controlling. Of course, the period will not be too long. After all, in the end, our purpose is to take it.”

”So at that time, I will need to be able to manage this place more conveniently, and to continue to set an example for Congress.”

He had not said it so in detail, but Albert could already associate some of the things. He could only show a look of amazement and admiration. ”You are truly a genius!”

Lance responded with modesty, ”Thank you for the compliment!”

The matter of the identity information card, in the next period of time, although some people would get it, the number was always not large, only a few hundred in total every day.

This was really too little for this area with a population of two or three hundred thousand. But Lance could afford to wait.

Because a new batch of aid from the Federation had arrived.

More weapons and ammunition. Lance was going to put some pressure on the Diego government.

More and more anti-government armed forces were rising, and were attacking cities and plundering land. If Diego didn’t make a response, soon his influence would only be limited to Zhuolan and the nearby areas.

He was clearly not willing for such a result to appear, so in July, the second wave of army expansion had begun.

Diego and those ministers, it was unknown how they had discussed it. They would be expanding the number of the army to 200,000, and had also obtained a large amount of military aid from the Jede Republic’s side.

Diego had even, in a public speech, claimed that they would, before December, at least regain control of half of their territory.