Empire of Shadows

In a very short time, as if overnight, the noise of war suddenly quieted down, so quiet that it caught people off guard.

On the day the news reached the Federation, the Federal Industrial Index plummeted by seven percent. It fell by four percent on the second day, and remained in a state of small decline in the following days.

Even Lance, who was in Rapa, heard about the series of reactions brought by the domestic ”stock market crash.”

If the war were to stop now, would the domestic industrial orders in the Federation still be so busy that they couldn’t keep up with production? Not to mention the problem of overcapacity.

The major problem with the federal economy before was overcapacity. The internal circulation was not strong enough. Capital held a large amount of money in its hands and did not participate in the overall social economic circulation, leading to the Great Depression.

People were very afraid of the Great Depression, and were very unwilling to mention this word, and that period of time.

For ordinary people, they hoped they could forget that unpleasant time as soon as possible.

But it existed after all. It wouldn’t disappear just because you didn’t think about it.

People were afraid that the Federation would experience such a terrible thing again. Investors had, in just two or three days, lost confidence in their investments in the Federation.

Besides those active social activists on Deterland Street who were constantly encouraging everyone to continue holding their positions and wait, or even to proactively buy shares when the rich were panic-selling, many people were already ready to run.As soon as any accurate news was finalized, they would, with the speed and posture of a race champion, rush out!

”Mr. Senator, what is your view on the widespread rumors that the war will end and the world will embrace peace?”

A beautiful female reporter squeezed to the very front of the crowd. The moment she saw Senator Cleveland walk out of the Capitol Building first, she immediately held up her notebook and pen and rushed over.

Many reporters followed her, all asking their own questions. Senator Cleveland did not panic at all as he looked at the reporters who had surrounded him.

Because around him, there were several bodyguards protecting him. They formed a human wall, separating him from these frantic reporters.

But there were too many reporters here. If he didn’t say something, he would likely be unable to leave this place.

When reporters get crazy, they are much crazier than criminals. At least criminals wouldn’t dare to so brazenly charge at the Senator’s bodyguards.

Of course, there was another difference between criminals and reporters. Criminals might want many things, but reporters only wanted one answer.

Standing on the steps, Cleveland thought for a moment, and selected some speakable content from his mind. ”Peace is the ultimate goal that every one of us strives to promote. If peace can come as easily as the rumors say, it would be a good thing for us, and for the entire world.”

”War has brought too much pain and sorrow. Perhaps it really is time to stop.”

These words had actually indicated an attitude. Perhaps peace really might come.

Logically speaking, he should not express such a view, after all, war continuously brought benefits to the Federation.

Orders, international sales, profits from the international community, and more job opportunities.

It could be said that war had activated the Federation’s blood-making ability, allowing every class to gain considerable benefits from it.

But as a politician, he had to show a side of himself that conformed to the world’s values. If he said that he longed for war, tomorrow’s front-page headline would be about him, a fanatical warmonger.

So he expressed his longing for peace. As for whether peace could truly be achieved in the end, it was something no one knew.

As people were quickly taking notes, another person immediately asked loudly, ”Mr. Senator, if the war stops, will our economy be affected?”

”The Federal Industrial Index has been falling for many days. People are very worried that the Great Depression will sweep the Federation again. What is your view on the panic people are feeling now?”

Senator Cleveland waved his hand. ”There is no need to worry about this at all. In fact, the war’s dividends have only just begun. It will last for at least ten to twenty years.”

”No matter how peace comes, it will be a good result for us, and for all of humanity.”

”But there are still some problems here. For example, do the destroyed cities of Slad need to be rebuilt? Does the destroyed industrial system need to be rebuilt?”

”In what attitude and manner will the Dantra people end this war with us?”

”What benefits can we gain from it?”

”The Federation has not yet entered the dividend period that the victory of the war will bring, and the duration of this dividend period will exceed everyone’s imagination!”

At this time, another reporter suddenly interrupted and asked, ”Mr. Senator, you just said that we will gain war dividends as the ’victors of the war.’ Does this mean that we have already won this war?”

The Senator glanced at this reporter. He had asked a good question. ”Of course, it is undeniably correct. We are the victors of this war, and also the saviors who have brought peace back to the human world!”

He then took a deep breath. ”Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the questioning time is over. I have other work.”

The reporters were sensible and made way. To have Senator Cleveland answer three questions was already a good harvest.

Next, they would get more useful and valuable news from other senators.

...

After Senator Cleveland returned to his manor, many more cars soon arrived here. These people were senators in Congress, or some important officials.

They gathered together to further discuss the matter of ”the shadow of peace,” which was getting closer and closer to people’s lives.

It wasn’t until the Speaker of the House arrived late that Senator Cleveland ended his conversation with the people around him.

”I hope the President didn’t find any extra work for you,” Senator Cleveland and everyone else stood up, expressing their respect for the Speaker of the House.

The Speaker of the House is a very crucial role. If he were to be ranked in the federal political arena, he would be third.

That is to say, if the President and Vice President were both eliminated, he would become the new successor. As for the President of the Senate, he was busy with his and the President’s work outside. Moreover, for the President of the Senate, the so-called President of the Senate was just an identity.

The one who truly led the senators was the Senate Majority Leader, who was sitting next to Senator Cleveland and had just been chatting with him.

The Senate Majority Leader was responsible for many things that should have been done by the President of the Senate. His position in Congress was very prominent.

After Congress was dismissed today, a call came from the President’s side, hoping that the Speaker of the House could go over. They needed to chat about work. The Speaker of the House did not refuse, but also made a request, which was not to be too late.

He was unwilling to miss today’s gathering at Senator Cleveland’s place. Even though he was the Speaker of the House, he was very clear that if he was not at the meeting, someone might cast a vote on him.

So, as soon as he had finished some matters at the Presidential Palace, he had rushed over from the bypass freeway.

He greeted Senator Cleveland and the Senate Majority Leader, and then the others. ”We just had a brief chat. He is very concerned about the stability of the order in Congress now. Congress cannot be in chaos.”

This was an obvious principle. If Congress were to fall into chaos, many problems would become very troublesome.

There are many committees in Congress. A considerable portion of the federal government’s work, and also very crucial projects.

If Congress were to fall into chaos, these committees might stop operating, leading to many problems. The President was very concerned about the current situation in Congress, and had the Speaker of the House go over to briefly talk about what had happened recently.

And also if there was anything that the federal government needed to help with. He was very willing.

After the Speaker of the House had sat down, they began to talk about this ”world peace movement” that had quickly erupted. Now the anti-war groups on the street seemed to have come back to life again. However, this time they were not parading and demonstrating. Instead, they were petitioning outside the Presidential Palace with a supportive attitude, hoping that Mr. President could end the war as soon as possible.

”This is all a trick of the Dantra people. I even suspect that Slad has already agreed with Dantra on some peace terms,” Senator Cleveland immediately dropped a bombshell.

At first, everyone’s reaction was quite surprised. Because the Slad people and the Dantra people were mortal enemies, hereditary enemies, the kind of hatred that was difficult to resolve.

Otherwise, such a fierce war would not have broken out between their two countries. If it weren’t for the federal government’s intervention, the Dantra flag might have already been hoisted on the tallest building in their capital.

But to say that there was no possibility at all was not entirely true.

There is actually no such thing as a hereditary enmity or a mortal feud between nations. There are only interests.

No matter which side had offered enough benefits to make the other compromise, then there was nothing good or bad.

Another senator also chimed in. ”I also received a piece of intelligence that mentioned that the Dantra people have been frequently contacting Slad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently. It’s still unclear what they have done, but it’s definitely not a good thing.”

”It is very likely, just as you said, that they are having peace talks, but we don’t know anything!”

Listening to the statements of his other colleagues, Senator Cleveland continuously nodded. ”The Slad people have always had a problem with us, feeling that we have taken their status and plundered the benefits that originally belonged to them.”

”They do indeed have a need to contact each other. If they reach an agreement on a peace treaty between themselves and cannot agree with us, and exclude us, it will be very awkward for us.”

”So we must thwart their conspiracy...”