Empire of Shadows

Before the Prohibition was enacted, Gold Label Distillery was also a relatively large tax-paying enterprise in Indeno State. They also had a certain influence in the matter of the gubernatorial election.

Since this matter might be related to the gubernatorial election, they also had to join this game.

Capital is like this. You place a heavy bet on the politician you are optimistic about. As long as you can win, you can get back both the principal and the interest.

If you lose... then you also have to bear the serious consequences and be at a disadvantage in the competition.

This is also the reason why the financial groups of the Federation are keen on manipulating elections, because they want to win too much, and they don’t want to lose too much!

This time, they would still participate in the election, but compared to before, they had no choice.

Whether they were willing or not, they had to stand on the side of the lieutenant governor. They had no choice.

Mr. Richard quickly notified the board of directors of some of his ideas. This matter was not something he could handle alone, and it also required a resolution from the board.

Because it involved a large amount of funds, supporting the lieutenant governor’s campaign was not just a matter of words, or organizing some activities for the employees. It had to be something real—money.

Money is a panacea that can solve all problems.The problems of humanity, the problems of society, the problems of the country, all problems!

Some problems cannot be solved by money. That’s just because the money is not enough, not because the money is not good.

This was still something that his trusted subordinate had no right to say anything about. He just cautiously stated, ”If we make a decision, some of the company’s strategies may have to be adjusted.”

”In addition, I’m a little worried. If we stand too far in front, will we attract the attention of the Lance Family?”

”This person, Lance, is very crazy. For the past two months, they have been fighting with the surrounding gangs, and have taken over the liquor sales rights of a city.”

”So from the intelligence I have on these matters, even if we stand on the side of the lieutenant governor, we may not be able to hold on to our existing market.”

”This is not just a matter of the interference of the upper-level forces, but also involves the power game of the lower levels.”

Game is a very elegant way of saying it. To put it more directly, it is a firefight.

Whoever wins the firefight gets to call the shots. The victor is the one who decides all developments, not the loser.

This had added some more variables to everything. Mr. Richard rubbed his temples. ”I have a bit of a headache.”

”Let’s do it this way for now. You keep an eye on the matter of us establishing our own gang. I see it clearly now. It’s better to rely on ourselves than on anyone else!”

”You pay more attention to this matter. If it really doesn’t work...” he tilted his head and glanced at this trusted subordinate of his. The moment their eyes met, an indescribable emotion rose in the trusted subordinate’s heart.

It was like the speechless feeling of having fucked a dog!

He had seen from Mr. Richard’s eyes that the other party wanted him to play this role, a gangster boss, damn it!

However, fortunately, Mr. Richard had then shaken his head, which had made the trusted subordinate go and establish a gang. He could indeed be trusted, and he also believed that he could do it well.

But on the company’s side, he would then be short a hand.

Generally, a person who can be trusted 100% like this requires a long time to cultivate an unbreakable relationship with each other. This requires a very long time.

He no longer had such a long time to cultivate another reliable person. On the contrary, to cultivate a gang would not take so much time.

”Forget it. Let’s leave it at that for now.”

”Pay attention to the movements of the Lance Family, and also those wines of theirs.”

The trusted subordinate breathed a sigh of relief. Although a gang was indeed very impressive in this period, he did not want this kind of prestige.

As a middle-class person who could come into contact with the upper class, he knew very well that real power always came from above, not from below.

The power from below is always just for a short period of time. It will only exist when the development of society needs it to exist.

In other words, when the development of society no longer needs it to exist, these gangs will be swept into the garbage heap.

Even if Gold Label Distillery would support him, in the end, there was a high probability that he would find it difficult to escape the fate of a lifetime in prison.

After having his subordinate continue to work, Mr. Richard had called his secretary and had her notify the members of the board of directors to hold a board meeting as soon as possible to discuss these important issues.

A few days later, the intermediary had given Mr. Richard a call.

”Mr. Richard, I’ve investigated a little these few days. There is a high probability that this batch of wine was hijacked by the people of the Lance Family.”

”Someone witnessed two trucks that matched your description driving towards the direction of Likalai State. There were also some bullet holes on the body of the trucks, so there is a high probability that they were hijacked by them.”

”If you need, I can, through some of my channels, find a way to continue to follow up on this matter, but...”

”You know, this requires some risk.”

To put it more directly, it required an extra fee.

Mr. Richard had actually already anticipated it. When he had heard this result, he had not felt surprised, but just very unhappy!

It was this Lance Family again, and this person, Lance!

From the very beginning, they had been using the influence of Gold Label Distillery to make their own money. Now they were even robbing their goods. He really hated it to the core.

”Is this news reliable?” Although he himself had already believed the intermediary’s statement, he still asked.

An outstanding superior always has to show a questioning attitude towards some answers. This is a means of managing his subordinates.

The intermediary immediately replied, ”I guarantee this is the result of my investigation,” he said very sincerely, his tone also very firm, very resolute.

But in fact, no one had witnessed this process, and no one had seen the two cars go in the direction of Likalai State.

This batch of goods had just inexplicably disappeared in the wilderness. No one knew where this batch of goods had gone.

The intermediary had communicated with the client’s side. The other party had said that they had paid a deposit, and had not seen the wine, so it was naturally impossible to pay any of the final payment, and they had reserved the right to claim against Gold Label Distillery.

If he couldn’t figure out where this batch of wine had gone, the intermediary would be worried that Mr. Richard’s side might shirk responsibility.

This was something he did not want to see, so he had directly fabricated a fact and had told Mr. Richard where this batch of wine was now.

If he was willing to get this batch of goods back, then he would go and get it.

If he was not willing to get this batch of goods, then he would send another batch over.

In short, he still had to send another batch of goods, because the client’s side did not want a deposit. They just wanted the wine!

There was no further sound from Mr. Richard in the receiver. The intermediary could only take the initiative to say, ”The client’s side has also asked when to send the goods to him.”

A wave of戾气 suddenly rose in Mr. Richard’s heart. ”I have already sent the goods I was supposed to send. The rest has nothing to do with me!”

The intermediary was stunned for a moment after hearing these words. ”Are you fucking not joking with me?”

”That batch of goods was robbed on the way. What does it have to do with the client?”

”Mr. Richard, I respect you as a big shot, but what you are doing now is not at all like a big shot!”

Goods with a market price of over a million, the cost was also two or three hundred thousand, maybe a little more.

The brewing standard of Gold Label Distillery was definitely a little higher than that on Lance’s side, and their labor cost was also higher.

It wasn’t like on Lance’s side, where it was all the farmers on the farm who were doing it, and they didn’t have to be paid too much. There were even some farmers who were like ”indentured servants.”

They got a very low salary, maybe only a dozen or so a month, but the Lawrence Farm would be responsible for their birth, old age, sickness, and death, as well as their food, clothing, and housing, including their children’s school fees, which were all included.

In addition, the agricultural products on the farm were directly sent for brewing, which saved the cost of transportation and storage, so the cost on Lance’s side was a little lower, while the brewing cost of Gold Label Distillery, which was produced in the city, would be higher.

To have lost such a large sum of money for no reason, the board of directors and the shareholders’ meeting would definitely not support them bearing it themselves, so they needed to find someone to bear it with them.

Mr. Richard’s idea was to shout high, and then to see if the two sides could each recognize half, so that the loss could be reduced.

But what he had not expected was that the client’s side was not yet unhappy, but the intermediary had started to shout first.

”Mr. Richard, this is impossible, and this does not conform to the rules!”

”Your goods were lost before they were transported to the designated location. This has nothing to do with them!”

Mr. Richard’s tone was very annoyed. ”Who said I sold the wine to them?”

”We sold the wine to you. As for who you sold it to, it has nothing to do with us!”

For a moment, the intermediary didn’t even know what to say.

After about seven or eight seconds, he finally said with some exasperation, ”Are you for real?”

”Alright, alright, if you’re going to say that, then I’ll return the deposit to them, and you don’t have to look for me anymore!”

”Indeno State is not the only one selling wine. Besides the small-scale smuggling, there is also the Lance Family selling wine. Without you, we still have a place to make money!”

”Fuck, Richard, you’re a fucking bastard!”

The intermediary slammed down the phone. Mr. Richard was stunned for a moment, and then his face began to flush!

A lowly intermediary actually dared to threaten him?

Alright, he had succeeded. He took two deep breaths and redialed the intermediary’s number.

”What else do you want to say?”

Mr. Richard closed his eyes and brewed his emotions. ”I was just too impulsive just now...”

In fact, the intermediary was not really planning to have those people go and buy the Lance Family’s wine. At least the Lance Family would not give him a commission, but this side would.

The intermediary had also calmed down. Fortunately, Mr. Richard needed him, far more than he needed Mr. Richard.

Now that Mr. Richard had handed over a ladder, he naturally had to step on it and come down.

”I was also a little impulsive...”

”But in any case, we have no reason to let the client pay for our problem.”

”This way, I won’t take the commission for this transaction, to show my sincerity.”

Mr. Richard’s face was frosty, but his tone was very gentle. ”No, no need.”

”I’ve run into a lot of trouble recently. I didn’t control my emotions well.”

”You’re right. This has nothing to do with you, and it has nothing to do with the client.”

”I will arrange for another shipment as soon as possible. Have them pay attention to receiving it. It would be best if they could give a small welcome.”

After putting down the phone, Mr. Richard cursed a few more times. When their gang was established, he would definitely kill this intermediary!

The whole of March had passed in peace. Besides some firefights that had broken out from time to time in some of the eastern cities of Indeno State, the Federation was very quiet.

During this period, Lance had not gone out, but had stayed in Golden Port City to handle the company’s affairs.

Patricia had accompanied Lance for a few days, and then had returned to the farm.

She found it very difficult to leave Little Ace, and also Little Victor.

This was a very magical feeling. Her own younger brother and her own son were growing up together. She didn’t know how to describe this feeling.

But maternal love did not really make her treat Little Victor as her own younger brother, but as another child.

During this period, William had also gone to Lake City and had begun to get in touch with the work here. Lake City was not a city with a large population. The original mayor had recently, due to his health, found it very difficult to continue to work.

The cold air and environment of winter had aggravated his health problems. He was the mayor. It was impossible for him to stay at home all the time when the weather was cold. He always had to go to City Hall to work.

Just during this time on the road, his physical condition was getting worse every day.

The state government had already arranged for a special commissioner to investigate the situation here. Once he had completely lost the ability to work, they would activate the emergency measures, which was to rearrange for a mayor.

The Federalist Party was working hard to get this opportunity for William. If the mayor could last until the second half of this year, then they would go through the normal election process.

But if he couldn’t, then the state government would appoint a temporary mayor to temporarily preside over the daily work of Lake City, until the election.

If they could get such an opportunity, it would also let the citizens of Lake City have a better understanding of William’s ability.

If he could get the nomination of the current mayor, to nominate him to temporarily manage the city, the state government’s side would definitely consider his opinion seriously.

Everything was developing in the direction that everyone had hoped for.

In late March, early April, the mayor of Lake City was finally unable to continue to hold on to his job.

In fact, he himself felt that he could still hold on for a little longer, but the special commissioner sent by the state government believed that his physical condition was no longer able to manage this city, so the state government’s side, after a discussion, the governor had given the mayor of Lake City a call.

On the one hand, it was to appease his emotions, to have him take good care of his health and recover.

On the other hand, it was also to ask if he had any candidates who could temporarily take over his work and manage the city well.

If he had a candidate to recommend, then the state government’s side would refer to the candidate he had recommended to see if it was suitable.

If there was nothing inappropriate, a new temporary mayor would be appointed.

But if he had no one to recommend, then the state government would make its own arrangements. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s only for a little over half a year. There are still many people who are willing to be a temporary mayor.

This was not only a resume, but also an opportunity, an opportunity to let all the citizens of Lake City get to know them.

An election is like this. People often don’t choose the most suitable one, but the one they know.

Although it was only a half-year mayor, it was enough for the citizens to get to know this temporary guy.

As long as this person was not a fool and did not do some things that would obviously provoke the citizens, then the probability of winning the election would be much higher than others.

The old mayor was lying in bed, and many candidates flashed through his mind.

There was his own child, his... should be considered a student, a colleague in the same party, and also some who had taken the initiative to contact him.

Among these people was William.

He looked at the special commissioner from the state government. Soon some ideas and answers came to his mind. ”I...”

But before he could finish, he was interrupted by the special commissioner.

The special commissioner took the initiative to close the door, and then walked back to his bedside and sat down. ”Before you name this candidate, can you listen to my idea?”

The mayor nodded with a look of doubt on his face. ”Of course.”

The special commissioner smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, expressing his thanks. Then he said, ”I don’t know who you are going to choose. It may be your child. I hear he is doing okay.”

”It may also be your student. Now many of the work in City Hall is done by him. It can be seen that he does have some of his own insights and ideas on the work of city management.”

”Maybe it’s still those who have contacted you.”

”But no matter how you make a choice, I must remind you. You can also see it as a well-intentioned suggestion.”

”That is, you must be cautious!”

The special commissioner’s words were clearly suggestive, but he did not completely say it. The politics of the people of the Federation was mostly very clear, but sometimes they would also express it euphemistically.

Especially when their thoughts were dirty.

Just like now.

The mayor could read his meaning. ”Mr. Commissioner, if there’s anything, you might as well say it more clearly. I’m old. Sometimes age will hinder my thinking.”

The special commissioner said with a smile, ”I’m just making a suggestion!”

”Now many people have noticed the situation here. They all want to compete for the mayor of Lake City.”

”I know your child, and your student, are actually more suitable to be the next mayor than them.”

”But you should also know that in the Federation, whether you can become a mayor actually has not much to do with a person’s ability.”

”What’s important is whether this person has a supporter behind him, and whether the person who supports him is enough to shield him from the wind and rain.”

”It’s easy to let your child or student go up. The governor’s side will respect your choice. But have you considered whether your child, your student, can withstand the attacks from others?”

”You should also understand the cruelty of a political struggle without me saying it. Do they have the courage and perseverance to stand on?”

”And do they have the ability to fight against these people?”

”On this point, I reserve my skeptical attitude.”

”What we hope you can choose is a stable mayor who is not afraid of competition, not a mayor who will have to step down due to some scandal not long after he takes office.”

”This is my little suggestion. You can make your recommendation now.”

Many candidates once again flashed through the mayor’s mind. He knew that the special commissioner was right.

When no one was paying attention to this place, his child and student were absolutely qualified enough.

But when people noticed this place, his child and student, even if they were made to be the mayor, they could not sit firmly in this position.

The damn war!

Of course he knew why there was such a change, but he was also powerless.

The faces in his mind were constantly dimming. In the end, only the face of a ”young man” who had taken the initiative to visit him several times was left.

He took a deep breath, and then exhaled heavily. ”I recommend... Mr. William Lawrence.”

The special commissioner asked with a smile, ”Mr. Mayor, are you voluntary?”

”Did someone coerce you to say this?”

The mayor looked at him and rolled his eyes. ”No, I’m voluntary.”