Empire of Shadows

Half an hour later, Dean met Lance at a small wooden cabin by Angel Lake.

He had actually only been in Golden Port for a little over two weeks. The state government had been thinking about investigating corruption in the Golden Port police force since the second half of last year.

But ideas are often just ideas, especially in government agencies.

Turning an idea into reality is not an easy task, and it also involves the issue of Golden Port’s transfer of benefits to the state and even to Congress.

Plus, it had been delayed by other matters until recently, when Terry instructed him to come and secretly investigate this case.

It was just an investigation. The results of these investigations, the evidence, would not necessarily be used, but they had to exist.

When they were needed, they could be used at any time.

During his time in Golden Port, Senator Cleveland himself had not summoned Sidney (the mayor), nor had he summoned other Socialist Party officials or important party members, not counting those at the banquet.

The only people Senator Cleveland showed relative closeness to were Councilman Williams and a very small number of others.

The Socialist Party was already clearly divided due to the President’s issues. The advance of the Liberal Party made the results of the next general election unpredictable.Investigating the government problems in this important region of Golden Port could actually be seen as a preliminary political purification.

As Councilman Williams’s son, James, took over his duties and became a municipal councilman, the current “Councilman Williams” was no longer a councilman. He was just an ordinary Socialist Party activist.

But at the same time, he announced that he would run for the next mayoral election, which made people have to wonder if Councilman Williams’s participation in the next mayoral election was instigated by the higher-ups of Senator Cleveland’s faction.

For Attorney General Terry, this was an opportunity. By grasping the evidence of corruption in the local police force, whether Councilman Williams could use it or not, it was a good opportunity to get closer to the other party.

After establishing a good relationship with Councilman Williams, he could try to get in touch with Senator Cleveland, and even take this opportunity to enter his political circle.

Many people think that the State Attorney General is a big official, and of course, that is indeed the case. This position can be ranked in the top three in a state’s official rankings.

One, two, three, it’s easy to count. Even kindergarten children can count.

Since he is the number three figure in a state, is it necessary for him to actively associate with people like the mayor and even Lance in order to enter the senator’s circle?

In fact, it is necessary!

As long as Attorney General Terry still wants to advance, still wants to go one step further, then he must do so!

Wanting to become the number one figure from the number three figure is a very difficult thing.

The election of a state governor is nominated by a party. Of course, according to the laws of the Federation, anyone can run freely, but the probability of winning with a party nomination and running freely is completely different.

From beginning to end, not many free candidates have been able to defeat those candidates who are clearly strongly supported by a party in an election of this level.

The Federation currently has a total of 36 states. Apart from a few swing states, the Socialist Party firmly controls the votes of 14 states. In other words, there are only 14 governorships that the entire Socialist Party can stably win.

Among them, a few states belong to “hereditary power bases,” firmly controlled by local interest groups. The governor always switches back and forth between a few families, as if it were their private land.

Attorney General Terry does not have a prominent background or surname. These places are not his turn for nomination. Then the places where he might have a chance of nomination are probably only four or five regions.

In other words, if he wants to go a step further, he has to defeat one-fifth or one-fourth of the Socialist Party’s interest groups to win!

If there is no one behind him to support him, he cannot do it. At most, he can only reach the position of lieutenant governor in his lifetime.

Any person, after tasting the sweetness of power, will find it difficult not to want to climb higher.

So, if Attorney General Terry wants to continue to advance, he must have the support of an important political group within the party. Otherwise, he cannot get the opportunity for nomination!

Senator Cleveland’s political interest group is on the rise. If they are willing to support Attorney General Terry, if he can get a nomination, then there is a high probability that in the future he will be “Governor Terry Elliott.”

Governor and lieutenant governor, and state attorney general, seem to be just number one, two, and three figures, but in fact, they are already not in the same class!

So, in order to be able to make another leap, what’s wrong with making friends with a gang leader?

The founding families still haven’t wiped their own asses clean. This is nothing at all!

Dean, shouldering a “Herculean” task and the expectations of Attorney General Terry, came to Golden Port. Just as his work was getting started, it seemed he had encountered some problems.

But it didn’t matter. His job was to obey. Everything else was secondary.

This was the first time Prosecutor Dean had seen Lance in person. He had heard about him before and had seen photos of Lance.

After seeing him in person, he found that Lance was even more handsome than in the photos. At the same time, he had a very special aura, like… a male lion walking towards him, exuding a power that might not be so obvious yet, but was indeed intimidating.

“Mr. Lance, hello,” he said, coming back to his senses and proactively extending his hand to shake Lance’s.

Lance smiled and greeted him. “Attorney General Terry said you are the most capable man under him…” In fact, he never said that, but who cares?

Dean also knew that his direct superior would not say that, but just like the sentence above, who cares?

He himself was happy enough.

“You’re too kind!” he didn’t say that Attorney General Terry was too kind, but said “you,” which indicated that he knew this was Lance’s flattering statement.

Neither of them dwelled on this small issue. Lance let go of his hand and invited him to walk and talk.

“The scenery by Angel Lake is one of the best in Likalai State. It’s as beautiful as an angel fallen to earth.”

“But right next to it, evil is breeding in the city.”

Prosecutor Dean, who was slightly behind Lance, had a slightly strange expression. A gang leader using such wording, wasn’t that a bit…

He was in a daze for a moment, and his steps paused slightly. Lance turned to look at him in surprise. He quickly followed up with a smile. “I’ve heard, and I’ve seen. It’s indeed a bit unsettling.”

Lance nodded and continued to walk forward. He couldn’t read minds, so he didn’t know what Prosecutor Dean was thinking just now.

“This person, Charlie, has been in the position of Golden Port police chief for more than thirty years. He is the longest-serving police chief in the history of Golden Port.”

“The entire police force is filled with his trusted subordinates and men. It can even be said that the police force has become his private domain!”

“Too much ugliness, corruption, and even evil has been bred here.”

Lance was a very good speaker. Under his rhythmic tone, Prosecutor Dean’s attention was also drawn into his narrative, sinking into his voice.

“Absolute power breeds absolute corruption. When the police force becomes his toy, no one knows how many appalling things he has covered up with the power in his hands.”

“Do you know his nickname?”

Lance suddenly asked. Dean, who was startled, didn’t react. After two or three seconds, he said, “You mean the nickname ‘Bay Area’s Hound’?”

Lance nodded. “Yes, Bay Area’s Hound.”

“The more agile and skilled a hound is, the more exquisite its feed needs to be.”

“The salary Charlie has received from the police force over the years simply cannot support his current consumption and wealth. It might not even be enough for him to buy the gold watch on his wrist.”

“Where did this money come from?”

Lance stopped when he reached an open space. The sparkling Angel Lake gave people a sacred feeling.

His gaze shifted from Prosecutor Dean to the lake’s surface. “The whole of Golden Port is like this Angel Lake. When we stand here looking at it, we will have a refreshing and sacred feeling.”

“But when you dive down, you will find that it is covered with skeletons!”

Prosecutor Dean’s emotions also fluctuated with Lance’s words. He turned to look at the beautiful Angel Lake, and huge waves were already stirring in his mind.

Neither of them spoke. After a while, he asked, “Mr. Lance, where should I start my investigation?”

Lance pursed his lips. “Just start from…”

“Just start from tomorrow!” a police officer said with a serious expression, looking at the two people at the same table. They were sitting in a corner of a diner.

It was the kind of diner with a long counter and booths on both sides of the main door.

They were from the Creek Valley precinct. The guy sitting on the east was the precinct chief, and the one opposite him was his subordinate.

The Creek Valley precinct didn’t have much of a presence in the whole of Golden Port. It also had the smallest number of people. But no matter what, they were a complete precinct, with a total of more than 300 police officers.

They had already contacted about one-fifth of the police officers, which was about fifty or sixty people, and asked them to participate in this strike.

Not all police officers were willing to participate. After all, this kind of “high-level game” was still too far away for ordinary police officers, and it also made them feel afraid.

Although the number was not large, the momentum must be great. They were now discussing the arrangements for tomorrow’s strike.

Just as the precinct chief was about to continue saying something, he suddenly froze. He saw three police cars parked very aggressively outside the restaurant, directly blocking the main door.

“What the fuck, what’s going on?” he frowned. Soon he saw a police officer he knew walk in from outside with some people.

He knew this guy. He was from the Empire District precinct. He stood up, frowned, and looked at the other party with his hands on his hips. “This is not the Empire District…”

He hadn’t finished the second half of his sentence before the other party directly pulled out his weapon and pressed it against his head. “You’re under arrest!”

(End of a Chapter)