Empire of Shadows

As the wedding march began to play, Lance turned to look towards the entrance of the church. A gentleman in a well-fitting suit, holding his daughter’s hand, walked in along the red carpet.

Arthur was getting married.

Lance was invited to attend this wedding. He sat next to Mayor Williams.

Mayor Williams had arrived in New Golden City by train early in the morning, and had rushed over to attend this wedding. He would probably stay in New Golden City for two days, and after visiting some of the middle and high-level members of the party, he would return to Golden Port City.

This was a good opportunity for him to formally step into the middle level of the Socialist Party. Arthur’s wife’s father was a mid-to-high-level cadre in the Socialist Party. With his help, Mayor Williams’s ”advancement” would be very smooth.

And no one would find him unsuitable. The taxes that Golden Port City could submit to the Federation every year were a considerable amount. As the mayor of Golden Port City, it was naturally a very important position.

To firmly hold this money-making machine in the hands of the Socialists was a long-term political goal of the Socialist Party.

Moreover, some of the recent actions of Mayor Williams and Lance were quietly spreading, in the manner of ”I have a secret.” They all knew that Likalai State might be forming a new interest group.

Spanning capital, politics, and gangs. In this new interest group, Lance played a very crucial role. He connected all the key factors, allowing them to form a whole.

This was the most interesting thing. In the past, the people who did this kind of work were often the capitalists, but this time, it was Lance.Mayor Williams also played a relatively important role in this, after all, Likalai State was not like those major industrial states, where every city could bring in huge tax revenues.

In Likalai State, only the coastal cities had higher tax revenues. Valley City was now very close to Golden Port City. They only needed to control a few of the major tax-paying cities to have control over the key to the state’s tax revenue.

Coupled with the large number of votes controlled by Lance and the Lawrence family, they could be said to have initially grasped the ability to appoint and dismiss the governor.

This was the purpose of federal politicians’ relentless pursuit of votes and voters. Although these people were just ’mud-legged dogs,’ they could really, with the votes in their hands, create one miracle after another in their eyes!

Now that the miracle was in their own hands, it was only natural for them to form a local interest group with Lance as the core.

Senator Cleveland had also not discussed this issue with Lance. The entire Federation was now focused on stability. The federal government and Congress had no good way to restrain the localities.

Before they could find a good way, as long as Likalai State still, at least on the surface, obeyed the federal government and Congress, they would not interfere too much.

After all, the federal government and Congress could not truly manipulate the ”internal affairs” of a state. The term ”internal affairs” was used here.

So as long as they respected the rights and status of the federal government, and did not withhold the federal tax due to the federal government, turning a blind eye was not impossible.

De-localism, de-factionalism, was a long-term political task. Before there was any viable plan, compromise was more appropriate than provocation.

In fact, it wasn’t that they had no ideas, but all of this had to wait until the authority of the federal government had reached its peak due to the victory of the war.

When the federal government still only wanted to be a ”major housekeeper,” even if they wanted to do it, they might not be able to.

The gentlemen of New Golden City were also willing to get acquainted with Mayor Williams, this newly promoted local dignitary. Perhaps they would have something they could cooperate on in the future.

Since he had arrived here, his face had been all smiles, and he hadn’t stopped for a moment.

He also watched as the young lady who was about to become his daughter-in-law, guided by her father-in-law, slowly walked to the front of the church, and handed his daughter’s hand to Arthur.

Mrs. Williams was seated one seat away from Lance. She was wiping her tears with a handkerchief. As a young mother, seeing her son truly married and a man, she had an indescribable feeling of emotion and sighing.

In fact, she was still very young. She was only eighteen or nineteen when she gave birth to Arthur. She was probably only thirty-nine or forty this year.

Because she had taken good care of herself, she looked like she was only in her early thirties.

After she and Mayor Williams had arrived in New Golden City, some people even thought she was Mayor Williams’s daughter, although in some ways, this was not entirely wrong.

Sensing his wife’s crying, Mayor Williams held her hand. ”You should be happy. This bastard has become a man. He needs to become mature, and become the person we want him to be.”

Lance, sitting on the side, listened to Mayor Williams’s words and also felt some emotion. He certainly hadn’t seen Arthur’s appearance when he had extorted Mr. Jobav (the banker).

That arrogant and overbearing expression, that look of ”if you don’t give me money, I’ll make you unable to stay here.” What more could he be than ”mature”?

However, this was also a common problem of the big families. These people seemed to never know how bad those young people, whom they still regarded as children, were on the outside.

In fact, they might not be unaware. It’s just that for them, this kind of ”bad” behavior was just a kind of playing unique to children.

So what if he extorted a banker?

So what if he played with some commoner women?

This was the biggest problem between the classes.

However, as a member of the vested interest group of the era, Lance would not say anything, but just maintained a smile.

Mayor Williams comforted his wife for a while, and only then did he let go of her hand. At this time, Arthur was making a vow to God in front of the priest that he would love his wife forever.

And his wife also stated that she would never leave Arthur.

God is sometimes difficult to be. Because both of them were fucking lying, but God couldn’t perform a miracle and tell people that they were lying, and wouldn’t bless their marriage.

He had to remain silent, and had to pretend to bless their marriage.

God is truly difficult to be!

Seeing the two exchange rings and begin to kiss, people all stood up and applauded. This was a political marriage that was in line with everyone’s wishes.

The central magnate had connected with the local magnate, giving them a way out, and had also gained local support.

And the local magnate had opened up the road to the center, having the possibility of going further, and had laid a solid foundation for the family’s future development.

As for the two young people on the stage, who had not even met much, whether they truly loved each other, and how long this marriage would last, actually, no one cared.

Lance also stood up and applauded, doing what a guest who had been invited should do.

The wedding ceremony ended at this point. If it were a commoner’s wedding, everyone would likely return from where they came.

But this was not a commoner’s wedding. There were still buses outside the church that transported the guests to a large hotel nearby. There was another party for the wedding, which was also a kind of high-level socializing.

”I hear you’ve been very busy lately. I hope I haven’t taken up too much of your time. If you have something to do this afternoon, you don’t have to attend the rest of the activities.”

In the car, Mayor Williams expressed his goodwill. He knew that Lance had indeed been very busy recently.

Even before he came to New Golden City, he had heard about some of the things Lance had caused in New Golden City. As for why he could be certain it was Lance, it was because nothing like this had ever happened before Lance came.

After he came, these things happened. To say it had nothing to do with him, who would believe it?

He had publicly beaten a direct member of the Perez family, and had also crashed a few, making one a vegetable. In the end, the Perez family had to give up the idea of immediate revenge and had negotiated with Lance again.

Then there was the matter of Senator Porter being attacked. Ordinary people had many guesses. They guessed everyone, but anyone with a little political sensitivity knew that the war hawks, led by Senator Cleveland, were the most suspicious.

And Lance was a person close to Senator Cleveland. Others might only be suspicious, but Mayor Williams was already certain.

However, he did not bring this up, and had no intention of asking Lance to confirm this rumor.

Some things you can think. It’s like you have a very good friend, and you always feel that he smells good. You can think this in your heart, and even try to investigate.

But you can’t ask. Because if you really ask, your relationship with him will become bad.

Such a busy person certainly had a lot of things to do.

Lance shook his head slightly. ”I won’t have much to do these few days. I’ll still go over later. After all, this is Arthur’s wedding. If I leave halfway, it might hurt his young heart.”

Mayor Williams, listening to Lance’s explanation, couldn’t help but laugh. ”What harm can he have?”

His tone was filled with a kind of disdain, but deep down, it was full of doting.

James had also come this time. He sat in another car. Although he would inherit all of Mayor Williams’s political legacy, there was a high probability that he wouldn’t inherit much ”fatherly love.”

When he had gotten married, his wedding was not as grand as this. Mayor Williams had just made a brief appearance and had left soon after.

For Arthur, the whole family had come from Likalai State, and they had to participate until the very end.

It was hard to say whether this was what he wanted. He had power, but he had lost other things.

As for Arthur, this half-brother of his, besides having only a little power, he had almost everything.

Including the love from his parents.

The convoy quickly arrived at the hotel. Lance and Mayor Williams went up to the floor where the wedding party was being held. A joyful atmosphere filled the entire room.

Lance noticed that many people from Golden Port City had also come, including Governor Terry’s sister, and some others.

The Lawrence family had also sent a few people to attend. In the eyes of ordinary people, this was just a party after a wedding, but in the eyes of those who were good at observing, this was a battle for fame and fortune.

Soon, someone took the initiative to walk over and wanted to chat with Lance, to get acquainted. Lance had indeed done a lot of things in New Golden City recently. His popularity was also continuously opening up here.

The first person to find Lance was Arthur’s wife’s father, a Socialist in his fifties.

He looked healthy and flushed. He had platinum blonde hair, neatly slicked back. He was wearing a slightly loose suit. He had laughed heartily and had walked over, stretching out his hand, when he saw Lance from a distance.

”Mr. White, I’ve always heard about you. This is the first time we’ve met!”

Lance shook his hand. ”Indeed so...”

Arthur’s father-in-law had a sufficient understanding of this person, Lance White.

The more he understood, the more he marveled at his rapid growth. In the past history of the Federation, and even the world, he couldn’t find a single person who had developed as fast as he had.

In fact, it wasn’t just him. In the entire Federation, many people had begun to pay attention to this person, Lance. And some were even trying to find something that could be replicated from his past development trajectory.

But unfortunately, they couldn’t find a single thing that could be replicated. His every step had, unexpectedly, landed in an unexpected, but just-right place.

Whether it was the ability to discover opportunities, or the ability to seize them, he was first-rate. Moreover, he possessed a daring that ordinary people did not have.

He had had a falling out with the Admiral, just like that. If it were anyone else, they would probably have gritted their teeth and endured it, and would have maintained the relationship.

But he had broken it off, just like that. This was no longer about daring. It was his absolute confidence in his own decisions!

This kind of person is terrifying. As long as they step on the crest of a wave, and the wave of the era doesn’t stop, they won’t stop.

So many people were willing to get to know Lance. His gang background was actually not considered a negative label in the eyes of many.

If it were in normal times, a person like Arthur’s father-in-law, who wanted to make friends with Lance, would have to put in some effort. After all, the people Lance interacted with in New Golden City were all at the level of a Congressman.

He, on the contrary, didn’t interact much with the mid-level politicians.

The two were exchanging very decent pleasantries. Today was just a preliminary introduction. If they wanted to get to know each other in depth, it certainly wouldn’t be here. This was not the suitable occasion. They would choose another place.

Seeing the two talking eagerly, some others had already started to line up, waiting for Lance to be free, and to reach out their hands to greet him!

Mayor Williams stood on the side, his face full of smiles. He looked around. These socialites from Likalai State, from the local area, were gathered together.

Maybe there were no congressmen here today, and no federal cabinet members, but he believed that one day, there would be a young man with the Williams family’s blood flowing in his veins, who would stand in the most dazzling place, talking and laughing with those who were now out of his reach.

He glanced at James. This matter would, with a high probability, fall on James. Only if his wife could give birth to a daughter, could they be even more thoroughly tied to Lance.

James, who had been inexplicably glanced at by Mayor Williams, suddenly shivered. He didn’t know why he was a little afraid of Mayor Williams’s gaze at this time. He had never seen this kind of intensely emotional and aggressive gaze on his father before. He was a little panicked.

...

While Mayor Williams was beaming, ushering in the most glorious moment in the Williams family’s history, Diego, the President of Rapa, was sinking into the bottom of his life.

The continuous defeats in the war had made him lose a lot of weight recently. He had dreamed of losing weight all his life, but had never succeeded.

Now he had unexpectedly succeeded, but he couldn’t be happy at all.

Starting from August, the intensity of the battle had continuously increased. The 200,000 soldiers were quickly reduced to only half, and the anti-government armed forces were also continuously replenishing their troops.

The scale and intensity of the war had escalated, and the money in his hands was not enough again.

So he had quickly set his sights on the Jede Republic. Anyway, they had been aiding him all along. Naturally, the first one he thought of was the Jede Republic, not the Federation.

Lance, the Federation. Their aid was not easy to get!

The President of the Jede Republic had already made some predictions about Diego’s initiative to call, but he had still underestimated Diego’s appetite.

”Fifty million?”

”Diego, do you know what 50 million Federal Sols means?”

It was clear that the President of the Jede Republic did not want to pay this money, and he was also a little tired now.

Clearly, Diego was not a qualified president. Before, he had hoped that Diego could hold on, and become a banner against the federal people, but now it seemed that he couldn’t do this at all.

And the President of Jede and his officials, his aides, had also gradually given up on their illusions.

For a world-class large country to deal with a small country, even if they didn’t directly invade militarily, it was still very difficult for the small country to resist.

Just like the current Rapa. With the support of the federal government, the strength of those anti-government armed forces was getting stronger and stronger. From being chased around by the government army at the beginning, they were now actively squeezing the government army’s living space.

The downfall of the Diego government was only a matter of time. The President of the Jede Republic, who had completely realized this result, was no longer willing to invest.

Anyway, no matter how much they invested, it was meaningless, so why waste this money?

As for what would happen after the downfall of the Diego government, they already had some premonitions.

Sometimes, if you can’t resist, you can only endure and enjoy it with a stiff upper lip.

Diego hung up the phone with some despair. He sat slumped in his chair, looking at the nice weather outside the window.

The current Rapa was still around twenty degrees. It was not yet the coldest time. The coldest time would be in February, when Zhuolan might only have a temperature of ten or so.

So in terms of the current temperature, the weather, and all aspects, it was one of the most comfortable months of the year.

It was not hot, but cool. A gust of sea breeze blew in from the open window. The wind, which had only made people feel cool before, now hid a knife, constantly irritating Diego’s joints.

With every gust of wind, his joints would ache. In the end, he had no choice but to put on a jacket, and only then did he feel a little better.

The chilling, murderous intent in the wind made people feel uneasy, but human power simply couldn’t stop the arrival of winter. They could only welcome it.