Empire of Shadows

The Minister of Industry was just about to say something when his son walked in. ”Uncle Rabour, and Father, dinner is ready.”

The Minister of Industry turned to look at Minister Rabour. The two looked at each other for a moment, then stood up at almost the same time. ”Let’s fill our stomachs first.”

”We’ll talk after dinner.”

Minister Rabour did not refuse. The two exchanged simple pleasantries and then walked into the dining room together.

The dinner was very sumptuous, but this was not a family banquet, so there were only two gentlemen at the table.

The two sat at opposite ends of the dining table. On the table between them, at least twenty dishes were placed.

Makan’s cooking is the same as in most countries in the world, mainly based on frying, deep-frying, boiling, and roasting, so multiple dishes can be cooked at the same time, as long as the order is arranged well, and with the help of some apprentice chefs.

Looking at this delicious food, Minister Rabour was also a little hungry.

Eating, enjoying delicious food, is one of humanity’s most primitive desires. To a certain extent, it is even more maddening than sex!

After all, sex is something you can take care of yourself, or even not.In the long river of human civilization, there have been some people who have, almost perversely, restrained their desires. They can abandon everything, including sex.

But they cannot not eat.

The terrible thing about hunger is that the desire to eat can be strong enough to destroy reason!

So even a person with the highest ideals and ambitions, when he feels hungry, must sit down and eat something.

Besides, this food wasn’t bad.

The two chefs began to introduce tonight’s food. Along with their introduction, the food they had made was also served onto the two ministers’ plates.

Every serving was very exquisite, like a work of art. It was hard to imagine that in such a poor and backward region as Yalan, there could be chefs of this level.

This also precisely reflected that whether in a developed country or a backward one, the gentlemen’s pursuit of enjoyment is relentless.

The Makan chefs had a gradual process, from relatively somewhat stimulating food to obviously stimulating food, so that it could be acceptable when eaten.

If one were to eat those very stimulating foods right from the start, it would be difficult to accept.

A very sumptuous and exotic dinner. Most of the twenty-plus dishes were not finished. They didn’t have the stomach capacity to eat all of this.

After they left the dining table, the butler would lead the maids to dump all this food into the trash can, mixed with other garbage.

As for waste?

This little bit of food, for the Minister of Industry, couldn’t be considered waste at all.

Back in the study, the two sat down again, and each poured a cup of fragrant black tea.

After eating some greasy things, having a cup of black tea was indeed an enjoyment.

Neither of them spoke at first, but sat facing each other. They seemed to be savoring the food from just now, or perhaps savoring the loose ends left in their last conversation before dinner.

After two or three minutes, the Minister of Industry continued the previous topic. ”Jede has invested a lot of resources this time, and also sent advisors and military officers. I believe this won’t be for free.”

”There is no such thing as a truly free lunch in this world. If it doesn’t cost money, then it requires you to pay with other things.”

”I don’t know what on earth Diego and they talked about, but it’s clear, he will, more or less, have to pay something to get these.”

”We all know Diego. He is not a generous person. It’s impossible for him to take this money out himself, but he also hasn’t proposed that we share this cost.”

”In addition to his recent attitude towards us, I have reason to suspect that he is considering walking down a path that none of us want to see.”

The Minister of Industry sighed. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. ”Although the Federation’s cigarettes are technically outstanding, I still prefer this simple and direct cigarette.”

The rich tobacco smell, with his first puff, filled the entire room.

The taste produced by raw tobacco is much stronger than that of flue-cured tobacco, with richer chemical components, flavor, and nicotine.

In this period, there were no filters, just cigarettes open at both ends. On top of that, it was raw tobacco. The taste was simply incredible!

Minister Rabour smiled and didn’t speak.

After the Minister of Industry had taken a puff of his cigarette and a while had passed, he finally continued, ”Unity...”

The concept of unity had actually existed for a period of time earlier. When Diego’s father was still in power, they had talked about this.

The Rapa government seemed to be a whole, but in fact, it was fragmented.

Everyone has their own interests; it’s impossible to truly be a whole. So at that time, Diego’s father had mentioned this concept.

For everyone to truly form a whole, this would ensure that Rapa’s regime was more stable, and could have some resistance when facing an international society with constantly developing science and technology.

Diego’s father, the previous president, although he wasn’t a particularly formidable guy, at least he wasn’t a fool. He saw these problems.

The rise of the Jede Republic, and the hidden ambitions of the father-and-son presidents whom he considered to be his rivals.

He saw the continuous development of the Federation, the shock and fear brought by those huge freighters docking from time to time—

If those freighters were used to transport soldiers, how many could they transport at one time?

So he had thought of this problem, to let the fragmented Rapa truly achieve unity, for everyone to be closely united.

But this idea, in the end, was just an idea. It had no foundation for realization.

Every family has its own family interests. Some families’ interests are irreconcilable, conflicting.

So until his death, this matter had not been pushed forward.

But now, the Minister of Industry, from Diego’s eyes, saw the possibility of it being realized.

But for them, this group of people who were not considered die-hard loyalists of the Ravila family, this was not a good thing.

”If it had been in the past, I wouldn’t have considered it this way, but now the situation is changing too fast!”

”Internationally, within Yalan, and within ourselves.”

”This civil war is indeed a terrible catastrophe, but for him, for us, and even for those anti-government armed forces, how is it not also an opportunity?”

He didn’t understand what ”the shattering of class barriers” meant, but he understood this truth: when people start to speak with weapons, then in the face of bullets and death, true equality can be achieved.

A pariah dies from one shot, and a gentleman also dies from one shot.

The gentlemen’s identity, status, wealth, power, any other material and non-material wealth that could show his nobility, at this moment, could not stop a bullet from taking his life.

Just like a pariah!

So in the face of death, they had finally achieved equality for all.

After equality for all, some people will be eliminated. Then those who survive, those with influence and dominant positions, will set new rules, and will restart a cycle.

The broken class will quickly re-condense, become hard, and finally become unbreakable and close every upward channel, entering the next cycle.

The Minister of Industry did not want to be one of those eliminated by this era. He hoped to be able to stand on this land for a longer time, to protect the wealth, power, and everything that his family had passed down.

Minister Rabour, listening to his words, nodded constantly. ”You have described a very realistic situation. We all don’t know which step Diego will take.”

”What you said has indeed made me realize that he is becoming more and more dangerous. If we don’t consider countermeasures, it is possible that he will become a trouble for us.”

”But!” Minister Rabour’s tone suddenly became heavier. A ”but” had made the context take a big turn. The grave and serious expression on his face had also faded a lot. ”Whether he can win against those anti-government armed forces is still an unknown.”

Minister Rabour also needed allies, and this Minister of Industry had already very clearly expressed his own thoughts and opinions, so he didn’t beat around the bush anymore.

However, he did not say it too directly, but instead, with a smile full of confidence and this one sentence, he answered the Minister of Industry.

The Minister of Industry, after listening, frowned slightly. ”You mean, he will fail in the civil war?”

After he had finished speaking, he himself had taken the initiative to shake his head. ”This is impossible!”

”With the participation of the Jede Republic’s military officers and also advisors, the army in his hands will become unlike a Rapa’s army. It is impossible for the anti-government armed forces’ side to defeat him, unless...”

He had subconsciously said this ”unless.” His mind was doing an inertial deduction, but he had not said the latter part. His brain had reacted.

And then he had given Minister Rabour a very meaningful look. ”Unless the federal people are behind it, supporting those anti-government armed forces.”

Minister Rabour smiled very ambiguously. Of course, it wasn’t that he and the Minister of Industry had any special feelings. His ambiguity was referring to his attitude towards this sentence of the Minister of Industry.

Neither admitting, nor denying, leaving a large space for imagination.

The Minister of Industry did not, because of Minister Rabour’s ”statement,” become surprised or even frightened. A few smiles had gradually appeared on his face. Wasn’t this exactly the answer he had wanted the most?

”The federal people now have several different teams here.”

”The Federal Ambassador to Rapa, some non-governmental exchange teams, the Empire Chamber of Commerce and Lance White, and also the official federal delegation, the Agency for International Economic Cooperation, and those experts.”

”Who do you think is the best to contact among them?” He suddenly changed the question.

Minister Rabour raised his eyebrows. He crossed his legs, his posture very relaxed. ”I don’t quite understand your question, but if you let me choose, I will definitely choose Lance White.”

”The Federal Ambassador’s level is too high. Your conversation with him will be very official and formal. You may not be able to say what you want to express, nor will you necessarily get what you want from him.”

”That Agency for International Economic Cooperation does not connect with us on an official level on some issues. They mainly focus on the non-governmental sector. If you go to them, it’s not certain what you can talk about.”

”Lance White is a good choice. I hear he has very powerful connections and network in the Federation, and is also a formidable character himself. If you go to him, you will definitely get something.”

Hearing him say so, the Minister of Industry breathed a slight sigh of relief. ”I will go and visit him in these two days.”

The two looked at each other, and both had seen something in each other’s eyes, but at this time, there was still a layer of something between them.

The Minister of Industry was a man of action. The next morning, he had gone to find Lance. The reason was also very simple.

After Minister Rabour had left, he had already found a reason—

Rapa needs to develop basic industries, but it just so happens that it does not have all the supporting facilities and technology for basic industries. So he wanted to communicate with the Empire Chamber of Commerce, to see if they could introduce some relatively basic industrial facilities.

This reason, even if God had come, he would have to nod and admit that it was reasonable, so he was not afraid of being found out by Diego’s men.

Even if he knew, so what?

Eat him?

The Minister of Industry’s ”rash” visit was not a surprise to Lance, because last night, Minister Rabour had already called him and had told him about this.

So when Lance had heard that he had come, he had invited him into the reception room.

He had also brought some gifts, some local specialties, a few football-sized gold nuggets.

A gold nugget, this thing, for a gold prospector, is just a natural, raw gold that is not pure enough, but for a rich person, this is an alternative collectible, and it is very valuable.

”I like the items, thank you!” Lance had someone take these things to the vault. Then he looked at the Minister of Industry. ”We don’t seem to have any friendship before. I don’t know what I can do for you.”

The Minister of Industry, seeing that Lance had put away the things, had calmed down in his heart. His face was also filled with a relaxed smile. ”I am very interested in the factories and assembly lines that you are currently investing in and building!”

”Rapa is an industrially backward country. There is almost no industrial foundation or trace of industry here.”

”We only have a small amount of industrial machinery, and it is very backward. We can only produce some equally backward commodities.”

”Although I am the Minister of Industry, I am very ashamed that I have not played the role that this position should have.”

”I would like to inspect your factories. In addition, if it is possible, I would also like to go to the Federation to study and exchange.”

As he spoke, as if he had remembered something, he quickly added, ”Just like Minister Rabour!”

Lance did not immediately agree. He considered for a moment. ”I am very happy for you to do so, but I hear that President Diego has some misunderstandings about us. If at this time you go to inspect our factories, and even go to the Federation to exchange and study, will it cause some unnecessary trouble?”

”Perhaps President Diego will think that you are betraying Rapa?”

The Minister of Industry suddenly became a little angry. ”He is just a member of the Ravila family. He cannot represent the entire Rapa, nor can he represent us!”

As he spoke, his expression had turned soft again. ”Mr. White, the Federation is the center of world industrial technology, with the world’s most advanced theories and technologies!”

”I yearn for these very much, and I also yearn to go to the Federation to see, to study, to exchange, and to have a deeper understanding, to understand the Federation and all the people and things there.”

Looking at his somewhat anxious appearance, Lance did not continue to beat around the bush with him. ”I will help you to make contact. But before that, I still need to remind you, Mr. Minister.”

”Once you have made a decision, you are not allowed to change it.”

”The price of fraud is not something you can afford!”

The Minister of Industry immediately agreed, decisively!

Diego might make a move on them, and the federal people had completely manipulated the civil war. These two factors had made him completely make up his mind, the kind that would not be changed. At this time, he had agreed without any hesitation.

That same afternoon, the Rapa’s Minister of Industry had led some of his staff to visit and inspect the factories that the Federation had invested in and built in Zhuolan.

They had visited their construction sites, and also the assembly lines that were in the process of mass production.

After the visit and inspection, the Minister of Industry was amazed at the advanced level of the Federation’s technology, and believed that the only way to change the current embarrassing situation of Rapa’s industry was to throw away the baggage, to recognize the reality, and to actively learn from the Federation.

The Minister of Industry had said that he would organize an industrial inspection team to go to the Federation for an industrial achievement visit and inspection activity for about three weeks.

At the same time, for the development of Rapa’s industry, to conduct some negotiations with partners.

This report did not take up much space in the newspaper, but in the eyes of some, it was already very, very stunning!

At a time like this, when Diego’s desire for power was high, to suddenly want to go to the Federation for an inspection, what was this for?

In fact, many people in the ruling group could understand, and at the same time, they had also understood another thing—

Not long ago, Minister Rabour had just gone to the Federation. Now the Minister of Industry was also going. Then who would be the next?

Why were they going to the Federation? Had they and the federal people reached some agreement in the Federation?

This was very thought-provoking.

Diego, after he had learned of this, had rarely, not made any statement, but had just said, ”I know.” He was now putting all his energy on the civil war!

He believed one thing: as long as he won this civil war, and had killed all those anti-government armed forces, then this country, would completely become his country!

The ”great cause of unification” that his father had not completed would be personally completed by him, this son who had not been favored by the old president. He would also, like the two presidents of Jede, become the ”Master of Revitalization” of Rapa!

After he had finished dealing with those anti-government pariahs and mud-legged dogs, he would turn around and deal with these fence-sitters and opposition rulers.

Rapa didn’t need to have so many voices. It was enough to have his one voice!

At the end of July, the battle had officially begun. The areas around Zhuolan had all fallen into a state of a fierce exchange of fire.

It was obvious that the military officers and advisors of the Jede Republic did not have any advanced technology in street fighting. They had even come with a learning attitude.

But in the end, the ability of these people was a little stronger than that of the Rapa military officers. From the results of the battle, it was still not bad.