Empire of Shadows

Likalai State was a relatively young state. This wasn’t to say the state was established recently, but rather that it had lagged behind in its development.

For many years in the past, certain technological shackles meant that industrial products people now considered commonplace existed only in their imaginations, such as 10,000-ton ships.

At that time, the ships themselves were not very heavy, and there wasn’t a high demand for deep-water ports. Almost all of the Federation’s coastal ports could accommodate them.

Therefore, people had no need to go all the way to Likalai State just to dock at Golden Port.

They could dock at the ports in Gold State. At that time, that was indeed one of the hottest ports in the Federation. After all, New Golden City, the core region of the country was right there.

Compared to New Golden City’s ports at the time, Golden Port City was like a countryside place. At most, only some three-masted or four-masted sailing ships would dock there. Full-sized five-masted ships would only dock in New Golden City.

At that time, Likalai State was mainly agricultural. Such a relatively backward place naturally wouldn’t receive policy and financial favoritism from the federal government, and it remained in a relatively primitive state.

Large swaths of farmland were one of the few sights to see.

It wasn’t until scientific progress advanced and the shipbuilding industry underwent several evolutions that iron ships—capable of carrying greater loads and sailing with deeper drafts—began to emerge and steadily develop. As freighters grew larger, their requirements for port docking conditions also became increasingly demanding.

After searching around, they discovered that Golden Port City had very high-quality deep-water conditions, capable of docking even larger super-freighters with deeper drafts.Thus, this small place at the southernmost tip of the Federation began to receive policy, resource, and financial favoritism from the federal government, which in turn led to the great development of Likalai State.

After all, transporting raw materials from Golden Port City to other places for production, and then transporting them back, incurred extra costs. It was better to just set up locally in Likalai State.

This avoided high transportation costs and accelerated the flow of products. So it could be said that the entire Likalai State, because of the ”emergence” of Golden Port City, obtained a huge boost and development.

This is something that has only happened in the last twenty or thirty years. When Mayor Williams was a child, their family’s farms had not yet all been donated to the federal government, so Likalai State is a young state.

Governor Wade looked at Lance. ”These words I’ve said are just a reminder, as a friend. As for those things you want, I can give them all to you. After all, I’m not over there anymore.”

Ever since he became this governor, the Wade family had already decided to make a clean break with Likalai State.

According to their own analysis, in the next eight to twelve years, it would be a ”war dividend period” for the Federation.

To put it bluntly, even if a pig sat in the governor’s position, doing nothing, and just maintaining today’s policies, the people’s standard of living would still rise rapidly!

Because of the dividends brought by the war.

Half the world needed to heal because of the war, and the ”medicine” used for healing could only be produced by the Federation.

A large number of factories would appear, creating a large number of jobs. Coupled with the young labor force that had died in the war, in the next few years, the days of the federal workers would become exceptionally good.

Perhaps the ”Golden Age” they had once longed for would come again. Factories would be everywhere, snatching up workers. They would offer incredible prices to get people to join them.

People’s incomes would get higher and higher, and they would become exceptionally satisfied with their lives and the authorities.

Voters don’t elect a governor just to have mountains on their heads, but to get a better life. And as it happens, the future is just that.

So Governor Wade could ride this wave of dividends for another eight years.

Eight years was enough time for the Wade family to re-establish its roots in this land and to rapidly expand and grow. On the contrary, the industries on the Likalai State side were too far from them. If they wanted to continue to maintain them, it would not only be inconvenient, but would also add extra costs and risks. It was better to just hand it all over to Lance as a personal favor.

Lance said ”thank you.” This indicated that he would take over those industries that Governor Wade had left in Likalai State. At the same time, he added, ”The things you mentioned, I’m actually aware of them, and I also know that Congress is ’de-localizing’.”

”It’s just, Wade, you should understand, if you don’t form an interest group now, someone else will.”

”Rather than letting others control the important industries and lifelines of Likalai State, it’s better for me to grasp them firmly in my own hands.”

”As for the congressional side, I will pay attention.”

Governor Wade didn’t know what method Lance planned to use to handle Congress, but as a friend, he had said what he should. To say more would be a bit annoying.

At the same time, from his conversation with Lance he had also get some enlightenment. Lance mentioned the view that if he didn’t form this interest group, someone else would. Then what about Indeno State?

He also fell into deep thought. If he, as a state governor didn’t form his own interest group, and let the people below do it...

Then, would he be sidelined?

Perhaps there was such a possibility, but he wouldn’t make it as large-scale as Lance and his group.

”I’ll give you a business card. This is my cousin. He’s still on the Golden Port City side. You can contact him.”

”If there’s anything you fancy, just have him sign and transfer everything to you. I’ll have him give you the cost price.”

Lance once again verbally expressed his thanks.

This topic ended here. Then Governor Wade took the initiative to talk about letting the Lance Family continue to expand.

”I would have called you even if you hadn’t come over.”

”Now that I’ve won the election, your liquor business can also continue to expand its scale.”

After he had finished saying this, he looked at Lance. Lance also looked at him. The two looked at each other’s eyes, and neither of them looked away.

It was clear that Governor Wade was trying to express something, and his attitude was very firm.

Without him opening his mouth, Lance knew what he wanted—more liquor profits!

But Lance couldn’t possibly give him more.

The huge profits of the liquor business were visible to everyone. A cost of five or six hundred could be exchanged for a profit of two thousand. The most crucial thing was that the liquor would never have to worry about sales. This was the most terrifying.

Wade had not gotten much profit from this, or rather, when he was the mayor, he had gotten half of the profits from his city’s sales.

But now he was the governor. He was already not satisfied with the previous distribution method. He wanted more!

The two, neither of them backing down, looked at each other. But to just keep looking was not a solution. Governor Wade, who could be said to understand Lance’s character to some extent, knew that at this time, he had to take the initiative.

Otherwise, Lance might really not say anything, and just stand up and leave.

”Look, I’m the governor now,” he said, in a not-so-fast pace, as if to remind Lance that he had ”leveled up.”

He was no longer a mayor. Lance couldn’t just brush him off with the standard of a mayor. And if the mayors wanted a cut, how much should he, this governor, get?

Lance frowned. ”Ten percent of the profits.”

A dissatisfied expression appeared on Governor Wade’s face. ”A mayor can get fifty percent, but I, a governor, can only get ten percent?”

”Lance, let’s be frank. This is a bit low.”

Lance stared at him for a few more seconds. To be honest, sometimes he really couldn’t adapt to the... personality of the federal people.

Sometimes they were too direct, so direct that it made people feel a little uncomfortable.

Just like the things that Governor Wade was showing at this time. How much he had gotten as a mayor, and how much he was getting as a governor, he would be very direct and would put it on the table.

Many federal people were like this. Even if they had cooperated for a long time, because the other party’s status, or position, had been promoted, they would immediately demand a remuneration that matched their current status.

Perhaps this was, in itself, a part of the federal social culture. They attached too much importance to value.

”Wade, when you were the mayor, what you got was fifty percent of your city’s sales.”

”But now you are the governor. What you are getting is ten percent of the entire Indeno State’s liquor sales. Fundamentally speaking, your income has increased.”

”This math is easy to calculate.”

”Suppose there are twenty cities in Indeno State, and each city can sell 100,000 worth of liquor.”

”When you were the mayor, you could only get the profit from one of the cities, 100,000, which is about 60,000, and 50% of that is 30,000.”

”But now, the entire state has 2 million in sales, and 10% of the 1.4 million in profit is 140,000. Your income is four to five times what it was in the past, or even more.”

”I don’t think this number will make people dissatisfied.”

Governor Wade did not nod. He just looked at Lance. ”My idea is twenty percent.”

His expression was calm, but it was precisely this calmness that was filled with a force that showed he would not change his mind.

In order to make Lance realize this, he even added, ”You can’t let a governor just take this little, can you?”

Lance shook his head. ”I will not budge.”

Governor Wade also appeared very resolute. ”Me neither.”

After a while, he continued, ”You can think about it carefully. To be honest, this number is really not much. After all, you can take down the entire state’s liquor business. No one knows better than you what a huge fortune this is!”

”You can earn a wealth that people can’t imagine. Why are you not willing to take out a little?”

”Call me when you’ve thought it through. I’ll be looking forward to your call, Lance.”

This was a typical way of telling him that the conversation was over, and that he had to leave.

Regarding the matter of Governor Wade suddenly changing his face, Lance was indeed a little surprised. He didn’t even have the thought of continuing to talk. He nodded, stood up, and left.

After they had left the room, Governor Wade lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and then walked to the window and looked down.

He saw Lance get into his car, and under the protection of his convoy, he had quickly left.

Governor Wade’s aide, while helping him to clear the things that had been prepared for Lance, had curiously asked, ”Was that asking for too much?”

Governor Wade’s aide was also a member of the Wade family. Strictly speaking, this guy was still his cousin.

This aide had graduated from an elite alliance university, and had almost become one of the candidate sailors for the Ark.

During his time in school, he was very active, and had participated in many political activities, but his background had limited his future.

The Federation was actually also a person who attached great importance to bloodline. When people were, with great relish, talking about some of the good stories of ”three presidents from one family” or ”two generals from one clan,” they had, on the contrary, ignored, on what basis these prominent families could, one after another, produce presidents, and generals.

And those from the middle and lower classes of society, how come there was almost no chance for such high-level officials or military men to appear?

Because of bloodline.

This cousin of his did not have an illustrious background. The more activities he had participated in, the more he was able to clearly recognize this. He had not been able to become a candidate sailor, just because he had lacked an illustrious background or a strong supporter.

So after graduation, he had not, by himself, thrown himself into the political arena. He knew that he couldn’t go far. He needed to be by the side of a person who had the ability to go far, and through this person, to realize some of his own ambitions.

For this cousin, Governor Wade still attached great importance. ”Do you know how much liquor Lance can sell in Indeno State every day?”

His cousin-aide shook his head. ”I really haven’t looked into this.”

Governor Wade held up two fingers. ”Over two million.”

”And this is just him controlling half of the region. If he controls the entire Indeno State’s liquor supply, he can sell at least 3.5 million or more every day. I’m talking about the bottom line.”

”At other times, for example, a festival like the Harvest Festival, the revelers will need the stimulation of liquor. The daily sales may even exceed 10 million.”

”In a month, let’s say he can sell 80 million, and 60% of that is profit. That’s 48 million in profit.”

”Deducting the 20 million he gives to those mayors, the rest is his own profit.”

Governor Wade’s tone had, slightly, become heavier. ”Twenty-four million in profit, for him alone!”

”So I’m asking him to take out a small half of this, ten million for me. Do you think that’s excessive?”

”He still has 14 million in profit.”

The cousin-aide ”uh”ed. He actually wanted to say that this was still quite excessive, but looking at Governor Wade’s serious eyes, he had, against his heart, said, ”I think it’s fine.”

A smile immediately appeared on Governor Wade’s face. ”You see, I knew you could understand me.”

”Because I have become the governor, he can get more profits. Even if he takes out 20% of the profits for me, his income will still be more than before. What else is he not satisfied with?”

Governor Wade pursed his lips. ”I hope he can think it through. To be honest, I am still very happy to cooperate with him.”

”He is very generous. I like generous people.”

The cousin-aide, in the end, still couldn’t help but ask, ”What if he doesn’t agree?”

Governor Wade walked back to his desk and sat down. ”Then we’ll just change to a different partner, Gold Label Distillery.”

”In this world, it’s not just Lance’s family that has the license to produce. Gold Label Distillery also has it.”

”They were kicked out of the market by Lance, and are very eager to come back. I believe that as long as I propose this idea of an equal share of the profits, they will definitely agree!”

The cousin-aide, hearing this, knew that Governor Wade already had a full plan. He also did not continue to say anything, but had expressed his approval for Governor Wade’s decision, although he felt that to do so might be a little problematic.

...

Sitting in the car, Lance’s expression was a bit gloomy. Recently, all the matters had been going so smoothly that he had forgotten that this was the Federation!

The politicians, the capitalists of the Federation, have always been known for being ”heartless.”

As long as the benefits are large enough, they can even, personally, cut off their own heads and put them on a scale to be weighed!

The wheels were constantly rolling forward. His emotions also seemed to be, because of the slight ups and downs of the vehicle, constantly changing.

At a little after eleven in the evening, they had returned to New Birmingham. Elvin was a little strange. Lance had said that he would be back in two or three days, but he had not expected him to come back from that side so quickly. He was a little confused.

Looking at Elvin’s dazed look, Lance was not angry. He had someone get some food. They had not had dinner in the evening, and had been on the road all along, just to come back and to sleep.

He didn’t want to stay in Red Stone City at all. Governor Wade was like a pile of shit, exuding a unique stench.

Elvin had soon had someone get some food. Lance, while eating, said, ”Wade has demanded that we take out 20% of the profits for him alone. I have refused.”

This sentence had made Elvin a little confused. ”How could he think of that?”

”Because he is the governor now, so he feels that he should get a little more.”

Elvin’s expression had also gradually become serious. ”Then what do we do next?”

”Do we pull out?”

”Pull out?”

”Why?”

Lance put down his food and looked at Elvin. ”We got in with our own ability. Why should we pull out?”

”There’s no need to pull out. Continue to do our business.”

”He’s just a governor. He’s not the mayor. He can’t make decisions for the city mayors below him.”

Elvin nodded. ”But will this provoke him?”

Lance continued to eat, and said, with some muffledness, ”If he’s provoked, he’s provoked. What else can he do?”

”Interfere with the city’s administrative orders?”

”Although he is the governor, he can’t do that.”

He put a large piece of meat into his mouth and chewed it hard. In order to let Lance and his group eat faster, these were all 70-80% cooked beef, and there was still some blood when he ate it.

”If I acknowledge him, he’s the governor.”

”If I don’t acknowledge him, what the hell is he?”