Empire of Shadows

Lance stayed in Manteno for a few days and also took the time to meet with Commissioner Dale.

Commissioner Dale’s current work in the State Prohibition Committee was going very smoothly, because he was able to bring everyone a more direct income!

Sometimes, this thing called corruption, going from zero to a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, all it lacks is a small ”breach.”

Commissioner Dale himself was this breach in the Prohibition Committee. Through him, everyone in the entire Prohibition Committee, under Lance’s ”golden bullet” offensive, had completely compromised.

It’s true that some people didn’t want to compromise, but in the end, they still did. After all, as long as they lived in Likalai State, lived in the Federation, Lance’s influence was everywhere.

Maybe his influence in other places was slightly weaker, but this didn’t mean he couldn’t arrange for some people to go and work in other places.

When those committee members received calls from their families, when their families told them that strangers had appeared around them, coupled with some intimidation, some invitations, and even some reprimands from the congressional Prohibition Committee...

Soon, these people also joined in.

If they didn’t join, not only would they be in danger, but their families would also be in danger.

But after joining, not only did their own income increase, but their families would no longer be threatened!When 70% to 80% of the people had become good friends with Commissioner Dale, they would, in their spare time, attend various activities together, and even organize some exciting parties.

One or two individuals not joining in wouldn’t make them seem so incorruptible, or independent, in the eyes of others.

In the eyes of others, they could only be abominable!

Everyone else has taken the dirty money, so how come you few aren’t?

What are you trying to do?

Are you trying to use your colleagues’ corruption to highlight your own integrity?

The more this was the case, the more they would be targeted.

Human thoughts and actions are a very interesting thing. When they haven’t had a change of mind, they can often hold on to their original intentions.

Once their thoughts have changed, they will become worse than the bad guys!

It was as if they were taking revenge on their past, righteous selves!

Commissioner Dale’s job, to put it bluntly, was also in a state of doing nothing.

The Dangerous Goods Administrations from all over would regularly report their various prohibition achievements. Large batches of seized liquor were sent from different parts of the state to Manteno, and then they would destroy it in front of media reporters and many members of the public.

Every once in a while, the newspapers would report on their prohibition achievements in Likalai State, and the congressional side would also call to praise them for their efforts and contributions to the cause of prohibition.

It was already like this. If they still wanted to make trouble, then they really didn’t want to live!

Commissioner Dale was very satisfied with his current work and life. At the same time, he also knew that he had taken Lance’s money. He was not just a person in Lance’s circle now; at the same time, he was at the ceiling of his life.

To want to obtain a higher status was no longer much related to whether he worked hard or whether Lance was willing to help him.

The congressional side definitely knew the situation here, and also the situation of these people. The congressional side pretending not to see the terrible situation here didn’t mean they weren’t clear in their hearts.

They would not let a tainted person like Commissioner Dale continue to advance, so the highest point of his political career was this moment!

However, his son still had a chance to climb higher!

But it was a pity that Commissioner Dale did not have the opportunity to participate in the Harvest Festival party. For Lance, this was just a person who could be replaced at any time. He was not yet qualified to enter the core.

Besides these two, Lance also went to meet with the lieutenant governor.

The lieutenant governor was also very happy about Lance’s visit. He was considered a big shot now. For a big shot to take the initiative to visit, it could only mean that the other party still had him in mind.

The lieutenant governor invited Lance into his study. He personally poured Lance some coffee. ”I hear you’ve already been to Terry’s side?”

These few days, this news had been circulating in Manteno, saying that Lance had already decided to support Terry. The city, which had originally had a bit of an election feeling, had, in an instant, lost that pre-election tension.

Because people already knew the result of this election—Attorney General Terry would win the Likalai State election with an absolute advantage and become the next governor.

Since the results are already out, why waste money?

With so much campaign funding, wouldn’t it be better to put it in your own pocket?

The atmosphere and heat of the election had cooled down, which people could certainly feel.

Lance nodded and said, ”I’ve already spoken with him. He also expressed his gratitude for your withdrawal.”

The lieutenant governor laughed heartily. ”Terry has already called me twice, both times to express his thanks.”

Lance nodded. ”Are you planning to serve another term as lieutenant governor here, or are you planning to transfer to another state after Terry takes office?”

The lieutenant governor leaned back in his chair, looking exceptionally relaxed. ”I will be transferring out after Terry takes office. It’s already been arranged over there.”

As a high-level member of the Socialist Party, this kind of transfer was still relatively easy for the lieutenant governor.

The new governor of another state controlled by the Socialist Party was his friend, and they had made some exchanges of interests within the party. He would be able to smoothly go to another state to be the lieutenant governor, and to participate in the gubernatorial election four years later.

This thing, politics, for those who don’t understand it, is indeed a very complicated, and difficult thing to understand.

But for those who understand it, there is nothing complicated in it.

”Is there anything I can do for you?” Lance asked.

The lieutenant governor had taken the initiative to make a concession. He certainly had to show something in return. This was a kind of etiquette, a kind of courtesy.

The lieutenant governor said with a smile, ”At that time, I might need your support.”

He sighed as he spoke. ”Going to a new place, everything has to start from scratch. Although it’s a bit difficult, for me, it’s also a challenge.”

Lance said as he took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it over.

The lieutenant governor was a little surprised to see the envelope he handed over, but then he felt that it was all within reason.

He did not refuse. In these last three years in Likalai State, he had watched with his own eyes as Lance had, from Golden Port City, gradually covered the entire Likalai State.

The support from the congressional side had also played a big role, and it was also the key among keys!

He would not be too polite with Lance. So much so that in the deepest part of his heart, he had a ”this is what I deserve” thought.

He took the envelope and glanced at Lance. ”Can I open it?”

This was a very clever inquiry. If Lance let him open it now, it meant that the contents inside would definitely satisfy him.

As for Lance saying he couldn’t open it now?

He didn’t think there was such a possibility. After all, everyone knew Lance’s style. This was a very generous person, who never scrimped on money!

Sure enough, Lance nodded. ”Of course!”

The lieutenant governor opened the envelope, took out the check from inside, and looking at the long string of zeros on the check, at this moment, he felt as if he were a blooming flower, completely bloomed!

”Three million!” The lieutenant governor smiled and placed the check on the desk in front of him. He said, joking, ”I didn’t know I was worth this much!”

Lance also maintained his smile. ”A part of it is to compensate you for your losses, and the other part is my support for a friend!”

”When you need to run for governor, contact me, and I will continue to support you.”

This was tantamount to a promise, a promise that would allow the lieutenant governor to face the election in another state with composure.

He nodded. ”Then I won’t be polite.”

Lance made a gesture for him to put it away. He put the check back into the envelope.

For a person like the lieutenant governor, he had plenty of ways to handle this money, so he didn’t need Lance to help him. At the same time, this also had a certain relationship with the fact that he was not considered a core member of Lance’s interest group.

A small investment return couldn’t possibly have such a huge ”dividend profit” of three million. If Lance had used the foundation he was currently using to handle these bribes to give him three million, it would have meant that others would also have to be paid according to this standard, otherwise there would be a loophole.

Why did the lieutenant governor’s investment share not be large, but he had received an investment return that was clearly not in compliance?

And why did the others not get this extra investment return? Is there a situation of using investment to transfer benefits?

The gentlemen of the Federation sometimes had very bad brains. On the one hand, they tried their best to open a back door for themselves to legally receive black money, and on the other hand, they put a stop to obvious black money transactions.

Maybe this was also a way for them to protect their own receiving of black money.

As for how the lieutenant governor would handle this three million, there was a high probability that it would still be in the form of an investment return. After all, at his level, there would always be people who were willing to help him to handle this, which seemed to be, an unreasonable sum of money.