Empire of Shadows

The police arrived very quickly. After all, a senator had called the police.

The federal police had different attitudes when dealing with these matters based on the person reporting the crime.

For reports from a rich district, their response speed would often be within a few minutes.

For reports related to politicians or government departments, a police car would be parked around the reported location within three minutes.

But if it was just the middle class, the time might be a little longer. Ten minutes was a more reasonable time.

As for ordinary communities or slums, the person who reported the crime could still do whatever they wanted after reporting it.

According to the regulations of some cities, the rule that a police car must arrive at the reported location within fifteen to thirty minutes after the alarm is sounded shows that whether the police of this period can effectively organize against crime has nothing to do with the case itself.

As for those dark-skinned people who call the police in the slums, they had best pray that the police, after arriving, will not shoot the person who reported the crime a few times out of nervousness.

Although this often happens.

After Senator Porter had given his name, the surrounding blocks quickly sounded an alarm. The New Golden City police have their own police channel, and they can easily notify the nearby patrol officers to rush to the scene as quickly as possible.Two police cars arrived. The officers surveyed the scene and, after confirming that Senator Porter was not injured, suggested that Senator Porter immediately return to his home, close the door, and have his bodyguards take good care of him.

”We haven’t gotten many eyewitness testimonies from the surrounding area, and this matter... you know, it takes time to investigate.”

”We cannot ensure whether the suspect will launch a next attack on you. The best way to deal with it now is for you to protect yourself first. Of course, if you need the cooperation of the police, we will also arrange for officers to protect you.”

This was probably the most appropriate way to handle it. The officers didn’t even initially mention protecting Senator Porter.

A big shot like Senator Porter, his bodyguards are much more reliable than police officers, whether it is in equipment or professionalism.

Senator Porter had gradually calmed down by this time. His butler brought him a change of clothes.

The previous set of clothes was covered in the blood of the two poodles. He had already taken it off.

After changing into a complete set of clothes in a nearby shop, he walked out, his face slightly pale. ”I have a place I need to go now...”

He paused as he spoke. ”I’m going to see my son. Someone called me and said he might be in danger.”

”I was calling him constantly before I came out, but he never answered. I’m worried that something has happened to him.”

In fact, at this moment, a part of the unease in his heart had dissipated.

On the one hand, the police were all here, which made him feel a sense of security.

On the other hand, if the target was him, then his son must be fine.

The officer was stunned after listening. He then inquired about Senator Porter’s son’s information and notified the police department.

The police department had patrol officers all over the city that they could deploy. Soon, information was returned. Senator Porter’s son, Mr. Porter Jr., a senator in the Golden State Legislature, had not had any accident.

When the officers went to his home to check on him, he was working in his office.

They quickly found the reason why the phone couldn’t get through. Someone had cut the phone lines of those few offices.

The state legislature is not an enclosed place. Anyone can enter. Moreover, as long as someone is dressed as a repairman, they can easily enter some places that ordinary people cannot.

This matter had Senator Cleveland’s support behind it, so Lance’s men had easily found those phone lines and had cut them all.

Mr. Porter Jr., after hearing that his father had encountered such a thing, was also anxious to talk to him. He used a public phone booth.

”I hear you were attacked!” Mr. Porter Jr.’s voice was filled with anxiety.

As a politician, he knew very well how far he could go depended on how far his father could support him.

If Senator Porter had an accident now, the possibility of him entering Congress would be infinitely reduced.

The political arena is not a gentle place. There is no warmth here. It is filled with naked aggression.

Not all the families of the people in the federal founding oil painting had survived. Some people and their families had also gradually disappeared in the past struggles.

It might be that something had happened to the whole family, and they had suddenly died violently.

It was also possible that overnight, the entire family had suddenly disbanded, and had all gone to live the lives they wanted.

The political arena is very cruel. It’s just that this cruelty is covered up by all kinds of civilized things, making some people who don’t know the real situation here believe that the political arena is a civilized place.

People would talk very politely. Everyone was a gentleman.

In fact, no. Everyone is a hunter, and also prey. This is a hunting ground. Everyone is playing their own different roles.

There are many roles, but there are definitely no good people!

Hearing his son’s voice, Senator Porter finally breathed a sigh of relief. He tore at his tie. ”I couldn’t get through to you when I called. It made me feel terrible.”

”Before, someone called me and said that something had happened to you. Then your phone couldn’t get through. Your secretary’s phone was also the same. I could only think of the worst.”

”Now I understand. Their target is me.”

Mr. Porter Jr. was a little confused when he heard this. ”What have you done recently?”

They did not live together.

Not living together was certainly not the ”independence” that federal society promoted, but because of work needs.

The father and son were both politicians, one a Senator of Congress, and the other a Senator of the State Legislature. It could be said that they were both big shots.

A big shot like them had to meet many people on a daily basis. Capitalists, politicians, or whatever.

If they still lived together, these people who came to visit might run into each other, which might make them feel awkward.

It was like when Mr. Porter Jr.’s friends came to visit him, they might run into his superior coming to visit Senator Porter. Both would be very embarrassed.

So they lived separately, and they were not very close to each other.

This was why, after Senator Porter couldn’t get in touch with Mr. Porter Jr., his first thought was to go to the state legislature to have a look, because on a workday, he would definitely be in his office.

Facing Mr. Porter Jr.’s inquiry, he thought for a moment and did not hide anything. He also knew that if something happened to him, his son would also be affected by it.

”I’ve been anti-war recently...”

Mr. Porter Jr. was a little speechless when he heard this. ”Why are you anti-war?”

”We all know that this war has put the economy back on track. Now the entire Federation is achieving an economic recovery under the war economy. To be anti-war is to be anti-society, anti-humanity, Dad!”

He used slang, ”Dad,” instead of ”Father.” This showed that when he was faced with this problem, he also showed the same view as an ordinary person—What the hell are you joking about?!

Senator Porter smiled bitterly. ”I’ll tell you about this after you come back. Now, it’s enough for me to confirm that you are fine.”

”I’m going home now. If you want to come back, it’s best to bring a few more people with you. I can’t be sure if they are going to stop here, or if they will continue to attack and intimidate us.”

Mr. Porter Jr. said ”hmm.” ”Good. I’ll deal with the work in my hands and then go back to you.”

The two exchanged a few simple words and ended the call. The Police Chief had also rushed over. After hearing the reports from the officers at the scene, he immediately realized that this must be a ”warning” from a political opponent.

He was just about to go and talk to this Senator Porter when the officer who was in charge of disposing of the two poodle corpses walked over and whispered something in his ear.

He was stunned for a moment, and then nodded, and walked towards Senator Porter.

Senator Porter knew the Police Chief. After all, this guy often appeared in the local newspapers, and was also a big celebrity.

A big celebrity, and a big shot. They look similar, but in fact, they are very different.

He was not in a good mood when facing the Police Chief, and was a little angry. He felt that the city was so terrible. For those people to so unscrupulously attack a senator like him was one of the signs of poor public security.

Perhaps sensing that he was not a welcome person from his undisguised expression, the Police Chief did not beat around the bush. ”Mr. Porter, my colleague just told me that the teeth of the two poodles were all pulled out, and their mouths were sewn up with needle and thread.”

”I think this is very likely a hint, or a piece of advice, that the attackers are giving you.”

”If you have any clues, you’d better tell me. This will be a great help for us to find the people who attacked you.”

Senator Porter fell into a deep thought after listening. His teeth were pulled out, and his mouth was sewn up. This was a very clear hint of ”shut up.”

It also easily made him link it to his own matters, and pushing for the anti-war stance.

But this kind of thing, could he say it out loud?

He looked at the Police Chief. A look of a half-smile appeared on his face. He knew the Police Chief’s intention in suddenly saying this.

He was trying to ”advise” himself in this way. He, Senator Porter, was not a real big shot in this city, so there was no need to put on a cold, high-and-mighty front in front of him, a Police Chief.

This was a ”counter-attack” that Senator Porter rarely experienced, and it was still from a Police Chief. He laughed and shook his head. ”I dare to say it. Do you dare to listen?”

Just one sentence made the Police Chief silent.

Senator Porter certainly dared to say it. He was a Senator of Congress. As long as he did not do anything that would make everyone hate him.

Before he lost his status as a Senator of Congress, he was safe. But the people he would name, those behind-the-scenes figures who dared to attack a big shot like him in the Congressional Senate...

Did the Police Chief dare to know?

If he knew, would he become the next target of attack?

They had used such a violent method when dealing with Senator Porter. Would they just find someone to shoot him a few times when dealing with him, a law enforcer?

Watching the Police Chief fall into silence, Senator Porter did not continue to press him. He smiled and shook his head, and directly bent down and got into his car.

The entire convoy quickly left the scene.

The police chief in charge of the scene walked over. ”What do we do next?”

The Police Chief sighed. ”What do we do?”

”Of course, we handle it by the book. Do as we should, but don’t take the initiative to investigate. Insufficient evidence, you understand?”

”If we really find something, are you going to arrest them, or am I?”

He glanced at the chief. The chief immediately shrank his neck.

Being a law enforcer in New Golden City was not a good experience. There were simply too many big shots here. No one knew if the person who brushed past you on the street was a big shot or not.

If he really investigated and found out who was behind all this, for example, a certain senator, would he dare to arrest them?

No, no one would dare to do that.

Because before he made the decision to arrest him, everyone would be against him, including the Police Chief’s immediate superior, the mayor.

The Chief waved his hand and directly got into his car and left the scene. He was really fed up.

...

Senator Porter quickly returned home. His son also quickly returned home. The father and son sat in the study. There were only the two of them. Even the butler was not here. They had secrets to discuss.

”I...” The father and son had not spoken immediately at first. They were both thinking, pondering.

Just as Senator Porter opened his mouth to say something, the phone on the desk suddenly rang.

He and his son glanced at each other. He picked up the receiver and put it to his ear. ”This is Porter.”

”Senator Porter?”

”I hear you were attacked. I hope you weren’t injured or anything.”

”Were the people who attacked you caught?”

The voice in the receiver was very familiar. He didn’t even need the other party to give his name. He knew who it was.

His face had a stiff expression, but his tone was very gentle. ”Senator Cleveland, thank you for your inquiry. I am fine. I was not injured. The people who attacked me were not caught either.”

”That’s really good news. I hope it won’t affect your work. I will put pressure on the police department to find the criminals as soon as possible and give you, and the people of New Golden City, an explanation.”

”It’s really too bad!”

Senator Porter chuckled two sentences, forcing a smile. ”Thank you very much for your concern and your call.”

”Alright then, I won’t disturb your rest. Having suffered such an attack, I believe you definitely need a few days off.”

”Is that right?”

Senator Porter did not answer immediately, but after thinking for a moment, he said in a sighing tone, ”Yes, I need a few days off. My nerves are a bit frayed.”

”I will come and visit you with my colleagues after work is over.”

”Then I’ll see you later?”

”See you later.”

Senator Porter put down the phone, and then looked at his son. The father and son looked at each other. Senator Porter’s gaze gradually softened. He sighed. ”The attacker’s call.”

”Senator Cleveland?” Mr. Porter Jr. asked. This name, for him, for almost everyone who cared about politics, was a very prominent name.

At present, Senator Cleveland’s political group had already occupied seventeen seats in Congress.

One-third of the entire Congress was from Senator Cleveland’s faction. This had already set a congressional record!

And the reason why such a ”miracle” could be created was because Senator Cleveland was very generous.

It was said, only said, that the annual dividends distributed within Senator Cleveland’s own political faction exceeded 100 million.

Seventeen people sharing 100 million?

And this was only what they could hear of. As for the things they hadn’t heard of?

Would it be more?

It was no wonder that the allies of this political group were growing more and more. He was giving too much!

And behind this war, the rapidly expanding industrial groups and military-industrial complex were also standing behind Senator Cleveland.

Because he not only advocated for participating in the war on the Tanfit continent, which originally had nothing to do with the Federation, but he also advocated for further annexation of Yalan.

In a plan he had presented, it mentioned that the Federation should become the navigator of world civilization. In order to maintain world peace, the Federation needed to have the ability to suppress local wars at any time.

What does this mean?

This meant that he was continuously expanding the Federation’s war potential, which meant that the military-industrial complex, the industrial groups, would have more orders and profits!

How could they not follow Senator Cleveland closely? The benefits and interests that these military-industrial complexes gave to Senator Cleveland were unknown, but they were definitely much more than 100 million!

So when Mr. Porter Jr. found that his father’s opponent was the most popular person in politics now, the shock and the expression of looking at a fool on his face were almost impossible to hide.

He had tried to open his mouth to speak several times, but because the fool in front of him was his father, he didn’t know what to say!

Senator Porter could certainly read his son’s expression changes and emotional reactions. He waved his hand. ”Say whatever you want to say.”

”How could you... make such a judgment and decision, to stand on the opposite side of Senator Cleveland?”

Senator Porter sighed. ”Although I am a senator, I am outdated, you understand?”

”After the general election, after the war is over, I will be leaving the Senate. They are no longer willing to invest in me.”

”I can’t just, like those... low-class people, take the initiative to surround them and wag my tail, can I?”

”And who do you think I did all this for?”

”Myself?”