Empire of Shadows

Every era has its own characters, just as the cover figures of ”Time Magazine” are always changing.

No one can occupy that cover forever, no one!

Whether he is an emperor, a president, the CEO of a financial conglomerate, or those invisible people.

It doesn’t take long for their era to pass. This is the truest and most cruel side of this world.

Even great men have their moments of leaving dejectedly. This world has never been short of great people, nor is it short of people who are about to become great.

The fact that the governor was unwilling to come to the victor’s election celebration party, although it put a tiny blemish on Governor Terry’s victory, a governor is a governor. Whether the previous governor comes or not cannot change this fact.

The era belonging to the previous governor was over.

Likalai State had welcomed its new ”master.”

”Master” should be in double quotation marks, because the main body of this country is the people.

The people give power to the government. In a sense, the governor’s election represents the transparency of federal politics!”A call from Mr. President!” Following an aide of Governor Terry’s who took the initiative to walk over with a telephone, the courtyard quickly quieted down.

This was a kind of custom. Today, the President would personally call the governors of the nineteen states to congratulate them on their successful election, and to wish them success in accomplishing what they wanted to do during their term.

Governor Terry directly turned on the speaker function, so that the people nearby could all hear.

”Terry?”

”It’s me, Mr. President!” Governor Terry stood next to the phone. He didn’t even need to hold the phone himself, because his aide was holding it for him. He just needed to stand by and talk.

”I have already learned the results of this year’s Likalai State election. Congratulations, Terry, you have become the new governor.”

”As per custom, I have to make this call, and of course, I am also very willing. I hope that during your term in office, you can make the people of Likalai State even more satisfied with the place they live!”

”If you have anything you need to know, and I happen to be able to help, feel free to call me anytime.”

”I know you should be holding a celebration party right now, so I won’t disturb you. I wish you a pleasant evening!”

”Thank you, Mr. President. Goodbye.”

”Goodbye!”

The call quickly ended. Governor Terry looked at the people around him, his face flushed red, brimming with a happy smile.

This was one of the happiest moments of his life.

The other part was the first time he had entered that damp, warm environment. He had been so excited that he had shivered!

”Mr. President...” Governor Terry smiled and spread his hands. ”He is a very easy-going person. I don’t know why some people always feel that he is not good enough, but from my perspective, he is actually a good person.”

Having reached this point today, the political compromises that needed to be made had already been made, so whether the President was good or bad was no longer that important.

This is the peculiarity of politics. As long as you drag it out long enough, there is nothing that cannot be resolved, even if the resolution is slightly flawed.

He gazed at the crowd, and was just about to say something when the phone rang again. He was a little surprised, but still took the initiative to answer the call. This time he didn’t turn on the speaker, because he didn’t know who was calling.

After a brief conversation, he took the initiative to ask, ”Can I turn on the speaker?”

”Of course, you can do that!”

The person on the other end of the line agreed to his request. He soon put down the receiver, turned on the speaker, and introduced, ”This is a call from Senator Cleveland of the Congressional Senate. He is also very concerned about the gubernatorial election in Likalai State.”

Very concerned about the gubernatorial election in Likalai State?

Oh, that’s a good way to put it. How come he doesn’t care about the gubernatorial elections in other places?

Political expressions often make it difficult for people to understand what they really want to say at first, especially for some mature politicians. They will hide their thoughts under some word games.

This is actually a way of self-protection. If the actual meaning of a certain sentence of his might have some problems, it would be very difficult for others to use this sentence as leverage against him.

Likalai State also played a significant role in Senator Cleveland’s plan. Once the Federation annexed the Yalan region, Golden Port City, which was the closest link to the Yalan region, would have to take on the role of a ”transportation hub.”

Connecting the Federation and Yalan, not just in terms of transporting supplies, but also in culture and politics, could strengthen the influence and radiation on the Yalan region.

Golden Port City, Likalai State, is the bridgehead for the cultural invasion of Yalan—

He had gotten the term ”cultural invasion” from Lance. At first, he hadn’t thought much of it, but after pondering it for a while, he had come to like this term.

Culture and invasion, combined, had allowed him to see some new scenery that he had not discovered in the past.

What Senator Cleveland was concerned about was not the Likalai State’s election, but whether Governor Terry could win, and whether the subsequent series of plans could be better implemented.

Although it was said that every governor would also cooperate with them, why not choose one who was more in tune?

After all, Governor Terry, through Lance’s matchmaking, had already gone to New Golden City and had met with Senator Cleveland, and they had also chatted in private several times, and had agreed on some cooperation matters.

Now that Governor Terry had won the election, it meant that the deals they had agreed on before could continue, which was a good thing.

Politics is just like this. To find a way to make yourself and your own people stronger, this is politics!

Senator Cleveland said some nice pleasantries, affirming the legality and compliance of the Likalai State election results, and at the same time, affirming that the voters of Likalai State were voters with their own opinions. In short, everyone had performed very well, which was why such a good result had occurred.

He also, on the phone, wished everyone a good time at today’s party, and for everyone to have a few more drinks.

The words spoken by Senator Cleveland were constantly being spread, letting the people further away know who had said what.

For those who were attending the governor’s election victory celebration for the first time, this was extremely shocking!

After Governor Terry’s victory, the President had called, and a big shot from the Congressional Senate had also called. Who would be next?

After Senator Cleveland’s call had ended, a few more calls had come, all from some congressmen from Congress, and also some cabinet members. They and Governor Terry were now, it could be said, in the same camp. Naturally, they would support him at a time like this.

The more people who called, the more it made people think that Governor Terry had an important position in the entire federal political system. This would also become a topic of conversation, and would be constantly spread.

When the calls were almost over, Governor Terry turned around and said to his aide, ”You have to take the phone inside. If anyone else calls, just say that I’ve had too much to drink. I have to leave my time for the people here.”

”Remember their names, positions, and phone numbers. After the party is over, tell them I will personally call back to thank them for their call.”

The aide nodded, and, carrying the phone, quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Only then did Governor Terry remember what he had originally wanted to do. He gazed at the crowd, and soon he had found the person he was looking for in the crowd.

”Lance, come here, come over here!”

People’s gazes all followed his gaze to Lance, who was in the crowd, holding a wine glass. Lance waved his hand, signaling that he didn’t really want to go over, but Governor Terry was on the small stage, waving at him.

And he was, while waving, constantly saying ”Come on.” In the end, Lance couldn’t refuse, and had reluctantly handed his wine glass to William, who was beside him, and then had walked through the crowd and onto the small stage.

Governor Terry did not, just because he had won the election, feel that he was superior.

He knew very well that in this matter of the election, Lance had been a great help. And in his liaison with the high-level of the federal government, he had also played a key role.

His victory in the election would not make him lose his reliance on Lance. On the contrary, it would aggravate his reliance on Lance.

It could be said that in the past, he was playing a relatively low-level game, and he could handle most of it himself.

But now, the game he was playing had been upgraded. Just by relying on himself, he couldn’t handle these. He needed Lance’s help.

Governor Terry was very affectionate. He directly gave Lance a hug, and in front of everyone, he had patted his back, and then had put his arm around his shoulder and had him turn to look at the people in the yard.

He walked to the side of the microphone. ”Here, I must emphatically thank Mr. Lance White for his help in this election and in his daily life.”

”Some of you must know some things. Mr. Lance has solved my headache on the campaign funds, and in helping me to canvass for votes, he has also played a very key role.”

”If it is said that half of my victory is due to me and you, then the other half is Lance’s credit!”

This was said very ”grandly.” Lance was stunned for a moment. He turned his head and glanced at Governor Terry, and did not find anything abnormal, but in his heart, he still had a little bit of vigilance.

It wasn’t that he felt that Governor Terry’s brain was not good and that he wanted to do something to him, but this was just a habit, a habit of self-protection.

”Lance, say a few words to everyone?”

Lance nodded. Governor Terry let go of his arm around Lance’s shoulder, and then took the initiative to give up the position in front of the microphone, letting Lance take a step across and stand there.

Lance looked at the dense crowd in the yard. He was not at all stage-frightened. This kind of small scene would not cause any emotional changes in him.

He was just thinking, thinking about how to say a few simple words.

After about a few seconds, he finally opened his mouth. ”The praise that Terry gave me just now is actually a bit of an exaggeration. Governor Terry’s victory is not my, or any one person’s credit. I think it is his own credit.”

”During Governor Terry’s tenure as the Attorney General of Likalai State, under his leadership, he had solved many cases with a major social impact, and had laid a good foundation of credibility for the judiciary of Likalai State.”

”Fairness, justice. This is the quality that a prosecutor should have. It is not special, but it is very noble!”

”And as it happens, Governor Terry has these qualities, which is also the reason why the voters were able to vote for you!” he turned his head to look at Governor Terry. ”The people need a leader like you, to bring us a better future!”

”This is all what you deserve, Terry. Even without me, without the help of others, you would still be this governor!”

People all began to applaud. Regardless of whether what Lance had said was true or not, at least he had said it very well, hadn’t he?

Governor Terry’s face had also become much rosier. He walked over and hugged Lance again. ”Thank you, thank you all. You are my biggest support and confidence!”

Lance once again moved aside. Governor Terry took two wine glasses from the attendant by his side, and gave one of them to Lance.

He walked to the front of the microphone, and raised the wine glass in his hand. ”Thank you all for your support, and thank you to every guest who has graced us with your presence today.”

”Because there are too many people, if there is any place where I have not been able to take care of you, please forgive me!”

”Please raise your glasses!”

The people below the stage all raised their wine glasses. Lance also raised his. This actually made Lance feel a little stupid, but this was federal social etiquette. The federal people just liked this.

”Cheers!”

”You must have a good time!”

With everyone’s joint ”Cheers,” Lance raised the wine glass in his hand and took a large gulp.

The band, which had been resting for more than half an hour, had started to work again. The music, which was full of a sense of rhythm and power, had, in an instant, rung out. The entire yard—to be precise, the huge lawn, this was the yard of Governor Terry’s manor.

The people on the lawn had all begun to enter this party. Some were twisting their bodies on the temporarily laid-out dance floor, and some were, with their arms around a topless girl, chatting in a corner.

More, were holding a wine glass and were constantly moving between the different guests, chatting about some high-end topics.

Governor Terry and Lance shook hands. ”I won’t say any more words of thanks. I’ll go and take care of the others first.”

Lance nodded. ”Our time is still long!”

Governor Terry waved his hand, and then, with his wine glass, he left.

Lance also, with his wine glass, returned to the side of Mayor Williams and William.

Their expressions, as they looked at Lance, were a little off. They knew that Lance had played a big role in this, but they had not expected that his role could be so big—

Before this, in the entire celebration party, besides Governor Terry who had spoken there, who were the others who had spoken on the stage?

The President, a Senator, a cabinet member (Minister or Undersecretary), and then only Lance had gone up and had said a few words. This meant that in Governor Terry’s heart, he had placed Lance on the same level as these people!

Meeting their gazes, Lance smiled. ”Actually, it’s not as important as he said. Do you believe me?”

Mayor Williams chuckled. ”What do you think?”

He was now even suspecting if Lance had helped Governor Terry to get rid of some of his competitors. Otherwise, how could Governor Terry have attached so much importance to Lance?

Before they could say anything more, soon another mayor had come, the Mayor of Valley City.

The Mayor of Valley City was a small old man, in his fifties, slightly bald, and not tall. He was a native of Valley City, and gave people a feeling that he was not easy to talk to.

He was the kind of person who always had a straight face, and his eyes had a gloomy feeling!

But in fact, this little old man was still quite easy to talk to.

He walked over with a wine glass. ”Mr. White, Mayor Williams, and...” his gaze had rested on William for a good few seconds. It seemed that he couldn’t call out William’s name in one go.

William was just about to introduce himself, to end this awkward scene, but the Mayor of Valley City had raised his hand to stop him. ”Don’t, don’t say it. I actually know it. It’s just that I’m a little older now. Sometimes, those things are clearly in my mind, but I need some time to find them. Let me think!”

He thought for a moment, and then a look of pleasant surprise had appeared on his face. ”The Mayor of Lake City, William, right?”

”I’ve seen you in the newspapers. They say you have brought some new blood and vitality to Lake City, and have made that old city begin to glow with a new vitality!”

This was a nicer way of saying it. There was also another saying, which was that after William had, with the Lawrence family, gone over, he had broken the local, past, market environment. Now the market had begun to roll up again.

It was like a pool of stagnant water that had been stirred up. You could say that it had become vibrant again, or you could say that it had been stirred up.

William had breathed a sigh of relief. His expression was a little exaggerated as he had taken the initiative to extend his hand and had shaken the hand of the Mayor of Valley City. ”I was afraid you would call me by the wrong name. In that case, I wouldn’t even know if I should answer!”

”Hahaha, you are a humorous person, William!” the Mayor of Valley City said, as he was shaking his hand.

The federal people like people with a sense of humor, whether it is the president, the governor, or the mayor, it is all the same!

Then he had again, shaken hands with Mayor Williams and Lance. ”Seeing that Golden Port City is developing so well, I’m getting a headache!”

He glanced at Mayor Williams, who had a somewhat surprised expression. ”I hear they are already discussing whether to let Golden Port City just annex Valley City.”

”We are too close!”

”If such a day really comes, I might become a councilman of a district in Golden Port City!”

Mayor Williams shook his head with a dumbfounded smile. ”A day like this will not come. Don’t worry.”

It won’t be in the short term, but in the long term, it’s not certain.

Now, to revoke a city is not a simple matter. It means that many jobs will disappear, and the people in these jobs will have opinions.

And this is related to some of the problems and conflicts in the merger and planning of the two cities. At least for the next ten years, it is unlikely that they will merge.

The Mayor of Valley City turned his head to look at Lance. ”Mr. White, when will you also come and invest in our Valley City?”

Lance said with a smile, ”Haven’t I already invested?”