Empire of Shadows

The moment the gunshots rang out in the Triangle District, Mr. Charles knew that Richie and his men were most likely finished.

Since the Five Families were dead and gone, and Lance had roughly consolidated the entire underworld of Golden Port City and cleaned up the gangs once, the remaining gangs basically revolved around bars and making money.

Lance did not allow them to collect protection fees at will, which also made it difficult for some of the new-generation gangs to get started.

They couldn’t do the most profitable liquor business, and they couldn’t rely on snatching territory to make money from the protection fees paid by a sufficient number of merchants. Now there were not many businesses they could do to make money.

Of course, no matter how they survived, in short, the current gangs were not like in the past, with a strict “sense of territory.” If other gang members invaded their own gang’s territory, there was a high probability that they would have a firefight.

Now that there was no such environment for a firefight, the reason for the exchange of fire in the Triangle District was obvious.

Mr. Charles did not have many thoughts when he learned of this matter, but just felt that the Holy Bell Party, which had a somewhat bad reputation outside, was just so-so.

He did not care about the life and death of Richie and his men. The only thing he was concerned about in this matter now was whether something had happened to Arthur.

This would affect some of Mayor Williams’s subsequent practices and attitudes, but this kind of thing was very easy to find out, so he was not in a hurry.

He was now on the phone with Mr. Mike. As a representative of the Socialist Party in Likalai State, he had a relatively important status and prestige in the Likalai State Socialist Party Committee and the Socialist Party National Congress.Perhaps in the context of the whole country, he might not be so influential, but in Likalai State, he was very influential.

To pry loose the ruling power of the Williams family in Golden Port City was not something that these capitalists could accomplish on their own. They also needed to use political power.

Mr. Mike was very keen on power and wealth. When the former mayor had shown that kind of potential sign of being able to control the overall situation, he had taken the initiative to come over and show his closeness.

What if he was really nominated as a candidate for governor, or nominated for lieutenant governor and the like? This would also be considered leaving a friendship.

When the current mayor was hammered to the ground and couldn’t get up, he pretended to know nothing and also forgot how close he had once been with Sidney!

If it were fifty years ago, Mr. Charles might not have been able to persuade him.

At that time, the “capital politics” of the Federation had just started. The capitalists and politicians had been fighting and cooperating for so many years, and they had finally found the correct way to cash in the wealth in their hands into power.

At that time, the politicians were still very “noble.” Although they also liked money, most of them saw the businessmen, the capitalists, as a hunting dog that could bring them prey.

But as time went on to the present, the influence of capital on politics became greater and greater. Politicians began to move from passive contact to active contact.

Mr. Charles called Mike, trying to persuade him to help him overthrow Mayor Williams, but Mike was also a little hesitant.

“Williams has some connections in the state government and the state party congress, and he also has connections in Congress.”

“It’s not as easy as you think to overthrow him. Otherwise, the state government would not have ignored what has been happening on your side for so many years!”

Golden Port City had almost become a paradise for the “locals.” The three forces were in a stable tripod, opposing each other and also cooperating with each other.

Whether it was the state government or other places, it was simply impossible to mix sand in.

They had also tried to arrange for some courageous mayors to come over, but in the end, none of them had succeeded.

Now that Mr. Charles had brought this up again, Mike was not very optimistic about his idea.

Mr. Charles continued to try to persuade him.

“Mike, my friend, we all know this very well!”

“In Golden Port City, in the past, it was the Wade family and the Williams family who had the final say. They controlled a large amount of local political power. At least nine of the eleven district municipal councilmen were their people.”

“The various government departments, law enforcement departments, and even the judicial departments were also people who had a good relationship with them.”

“If it were at that time, you wouldn’t have to say it. I would have told you that this is impossible!”

“But now it’s different!”

“Councilman Wade has left with his men. Although Mayor Williams has successfully come to power, his control over the city is declining.”

“And a very terrible thing happened today. I believe that in the next day or two, when the media begins to report on it on a large scale and expose it, even his friends in Congress will not be able to suppress this matter.”

“Think about it, Mike. If you contribute in this matter, then when it comes to selecting a successor, won’t your say be greater than others’?”

“Besides, the interests generated after the fall of the Williams family, can’t you also get the most lucrative piece from it?”

“Opportunities are few, Mike!”

Mike was a little moved by his rhetoric. He considered for a while, “First, tell me about that big news you mentioned.”

Mr. Charles organized his thoughts. “This afternoon to this evening, the refugee workers and the Williams family’s demolition company, as well as the police, had a conflict. A lot of people should have died.”

“Should have?” Mr. Mike’s voice rose slightly. His dissatisfaction with the uncertainty in his words could be clearly felt.

At a time like this, you come up with “should have,” “maybe,” “probably.” That will definitely not make people feel very happy!

Mr. Charles also realized this. He said, “Wait a moment,” and then picked up another phone and dialed a number.

He also had his own “informant” in the police station. The police was just a “job.” Although there was no shortage of those in the federal police who were proud of their identity, more of them just saw it as a job to live and support their families.

If the salary was low and the benefits were not good, they would also resign and change jobs.

So some people were willing to accept some extra “gifts,” and then pass on some not-so-important news. This was also a way of life for them.

Just like before, Lance could spend money to buy off the police. A more decent big shot like Mr. Charles could naturally also do it.

Soon he picked up the receiver of the phone that was calling Mr. Mike again. “A total of more than seventy people have died, and some others are seriously injured and are being rescued.”

When he finished saying this, the sound of Mr. Mike sucking in a breath of cold air came from the receiver. “So many?” His voice was even a little off-key.

A smile appeared on Mr. Charles’s face. “The conflict was quite fierce. They were planning to attack the police at the scene, and the police over there opened fire decisively.”

Hearing these explanations, Mr. Mike quickly calmed down. “This is what happened at the scene, but you can’t tell the public this.”

He had already entered into his own role. Just as Mr. Charles had said in his persuasion, if he really, as the “main force,” overthrew the Williams family and “liberated” Golden Port City from local factionalism, then he would definitely gain huge political capital!

“De-localization” has always been promoted by the federal government and Congress, including those states that are monopolized by political families.

Whether it’s the Presidential Palace or Congress, they are all trying to find a way to take them back from the hands of a small group of people.

If he could really do it, prestige and wealth would not be a problem. He might even be promoted a little higher.

These were the bait in the trap. He had been persuaded.

Mr. Charles, hearing him “correct” his statement, also understood this. “What do you think should be said?”

Mr. Mike’s reaction was very fast. For a politician, lies come easily. “I remember that the Williams family used to be a large landowner class. They were famous farmers near Golden Port City, and they had a habit of keeping slaves in the past.”

“They treated the refugees like slaves and used them. Under the cruel exploitation and oppression, the refugees began to resist.”

“The Golden Port City Police Department, under the instruction of Mayor Williams, launched a cruel suppression of these refugees who were resisting exploitation and oppression.”

“Causing more than a hundred people to be killed or seriously injured.”

“And they also planned to cover up the truth of the matter afterwards, to deceive the public with lies!”

After saying this, he couldn’t help but laugh. “The cooperation negotiations between the Federation and Slad’s side are still ongoing. If such a scandal breaks out at this time, in order to stabilize the situation, the federal government might consider dealing with him to give the Slad people an explanation.”

“Don’t be stingy with the money. Make it a big event, a big event that everyone is talking about.”

“You know, once a matter is linked to politics, and the impact is huge, even if it’s just a small mistake, someone will lose their job, or even their life, because of it!”

Mr. Charles was very inspired after hearing this, and at the same time, he said flatteringly, “I would never have thought of so many things. Mike, this matter can’t be done without anyone, but it absolutely can’t be without you.”

“I’ll go and arrange it now. If there are any changes in the future, I will call you in time.”

Mr. Mike also continued to express his willingness to get involved on the phone. “I will also continue to let others pay attention to this matter. We must show the contrast.”

“A tyrannical ruler, and the refugees who resisted under unbearable oppression and exploitation, but were bloodily suppressed. Find some award-winning reporters and photographers. This money is nothing compared to what we are going to do!”

The two discussed the subsequent plan and then hung up the phone. With the addition of this party representative, Mike, many people could be connected.

Originally, there were many people on the Manteno side who were dissatisfied with the change in the interest transfer chain of Golden Port City. They could have gotten a share of the money before, but now they couldn’t, and they had no good solution.

Unexpectedly, now they had sent the handle into the hands of those people.

After getting rid of Mayor Williams and replacing him with one of their own, then the profits from Lance and the casino, and even the huge scale of the liquor market, could they also fall into their hands?

(End of a Chapter)