Empire of Shadows

”I heard things got very unpleasant between you and Wade?” Tom chatted idly with Lance while eating an expensive steak.

Lance’s main purpose for coming to New Golden City this time was to attend Arthur’s wedding.

On November 28th, Arthur would hold his wedding at the St. Howa Cathedral in New Golden City. His wife’s father was a mid-level cadre in the Socialist Party. This was a political marriage.

Golden Port City’s development was going well, which meant the Williams family could reap substantial benefits from it.

Political development requires financial backing. No money?

How can you ’politick’ with no money!

Some want money, some want prestige. This was the most suitable kind of marriage.

Mayor Williams had already decided that he wanted James to succeed him, so naturally, he now had to continuously build up James’s momentum, letting him at least meet and get acquainted with some of the higher-ups in the Socialist Party.

The Federation’s politics was a very simple yet very complex system. Each link was interlocked, ultimately forming this complex, yet simple and stable, society.

If James wanted to run for mayor of Golden Port City, or if one day in the future he wanted to run for governor of Likalai State, he had to have his own supporters among the middle and high-levels of the Socialist Party.This required more people to know him and have a favorable impression of him.

Mayor Williams and James had already arrived. They were busy with Arthur’s wedding, which was a major event.

Since they were in New Golden City, a visit to Senator Cleveland was unavoidable.

Senator Cleveland had been rather busy lately. He didn’t have time to see him during the day, and wasn’t even necessarily available at night.

He often returned to his villa or manor after eleven o’clock. This was no longer a suitable time to receive guests; it was very impolite. So, it was truly uncertain if Lance would be able to see Senator Cleveland these few days.

Of course, if he had any urgent matters, the Senator would also postpone some work to see him.

Unable to see the Senator, Lance got in touch with Tom. Tom took the initiative to invite him to dinner.

If Lance’s arrival hadn’t been so sudden, he definitely would have had his wife prepare a sumptuous dinner to host Lance.

In the time he had known Lance, he could be said to have completed his basic accumulation of wealth. Lance alone had given him several hundred thousand. Adding what others gave, he had already received benefits of over a million from Lance and people associated with him.

At this time, the purchasing power of one million was absolutely terrifying!

When the two ate, it was impossible that they were just eating. Chatting was still the main event.

As they chatted, Tom brought up Governor Wade. Many people now knew that he and Lance had some conflict, which was very common in the Federation’s political scene.

Not to say it happened every year, but every few years, it would.

Some run for governor, some run for senator, and some even run for president.

Before they succeeded, they would often have very good relationships with their supporters. The purpose of these supporters backing them was to get their own share of the benefits from the results of their sprint.

Among them, the most famous case was during the years when the federal monopoly laws were being pushed, involving those capitalists, and the presidents they had pushed into office.

Before the ”Anti-Monopoly Act,” the Federation belonged to the super-trust groups. They, through various means, held absolute control over almost all industries.

From raw materials, to channels, to pricing power, everything was firmly in their hands, which had a huge negative impact on society.

Some opposing voices also appeared in society, believing that capital monopoly was digging at the roots of social development. If monopolistic behavior was not eradicated, the Federation would eventually split because of it.

Huge public opinion pushed the development of the entire situation. In order to ensure their profits in the Federation, these monopoly groups had supported a president to come to power.

The first thing the president did after taking office was to draft the ”Anti-Monopoly Act,” which was also what people loved to talk about at the time.

Under this president’s leadership, some super-trust groups in the Federation were all dismantled, and monopolistic behavior was no longer seen in the Federation.

Of course, some people believed this president and these super-trust groups were just putting on a show, a show specifically for ordinary people to see.

The companies that had achieved monopoly were indeed dismembered, but their actual monopolistic behavior did not stop.

The Federation originally had two steel companies that controlled more than 90% of the Federation’s steel production. After the Anti-Monopoly Act, these two companies became nine. It looked a lot more reasonable, but these nine companies still controlled the Federation’s steel production.

So much so that because they were ”dismembered,” the market share they occupied had increased. Each company looked as if it only occupied a large-single-digit percentage or ten percent, but added up, they almost completely monopolized the steel market.

Some believed this was a brilliant performance, because the people behind the nine steel companies were still the same ones. They were still manipulating the market.

But others believed this was real. At least the competition between the nine companies had made the market much more transparent, and the prices had become more reasonable.

Regardless of whether it was real or not, in short, similar incidents of becoming enemies after rising to power were common in the Federation. It could only be said that Lance’s luck was not very good.

Facing Tom’s curiosity, Lance didn’t hide anything. ”He wanted more money, but I didn’t want to give it to him. He was being overly aggressive, so it’s impossible for either of us to bow our heads.”

Tom roughly understood Lance’s meaning upon hearing this. Whoever backed down would become very passive.

Governor Wade was a ”governor,” the highest-ranking person in a state. He would definitely not make concessions.

Lance was not a small character either, now. If he made a concession, it wouldn’t just be a concession. This would trigger a series of problems. He also didn’t just represent himself.

Tom pursed his lips. He casually poked the food on his plate with his fork. ”Actually, at a time like this, all you need is a middleman, and you can solve your problem.”

The role of a broker is basically demonstrated at this moment. Find a middleman, definitely the kind with status and authority, such as a former governor or a former congressman.

These people, their status and position are all qualified to do the governor’s work, and in the entire federal political arena, they all have a very rich network of contacts.

At this time, it would not be Lance making a concession to Governor Wade, or Governor Wade making a concession for Lance, but them making a concession to this middleman—

”For my sake...”

This is the importance of a middleman.

”If you need it, I can find a suitable candidate for you.” Tom’s status in the political scene had risen somewhat recently. He could already engage in direct dialogue with those senators, instead of having to go through Senator Cleveland.

This was a huge improvement, and it also represented that he had the potential to transform from an aide to a politician. Of course, the premise was that Senator Cleveland had to agree.

For a person like him, who served as an aide to Senator Cleveland, he definitely held many political secrets related to Senator Cleveland.

If Senator Cleveland himself didn’t agree, he would probably be an aide for the rest of his life. No one would let a guy who knew some of his private affairs run wild outside.

Unless Tom didn’t want to live.

As for his future development, Tom himself didn’t really have any thoughts. He was very satisfied with his current life and situation.

Although he didn’t have any authority in his own hands, as Senator Cleveland’s aide, he could still ’borrow the fox’s prestige by walking with the tiger.’

And he was also very rich. People would also respect him. Apart from not having direct power of his own, he was not much different from those big shots.

Lance shook his head. ”I know finding a middleman can solve this problem, but I don’t want to. I just want to see what he’s capable of, and how far he can push this matter.”

”Wade also has people in Congress backing him,” Tom took the initiative to mention this after roughly understanding. A guy like that, with huge influence in a state and who had just successfully run for governor, couldn’t possibly lack a patron in Congress.

He casually picked up a small lamb chop, tore off a piece, and while chewing, he said, ”And to get rid of a governor, you have to pay a big price. It’s hard for the Senator’s side to agree to such an idea.”

”Now everyone is united against the outside. The war is the most important thing at the moment, not internal political squabbles. So they won’t agree with your idea, unless you can persuade the senator behind Wade.”

Lance nodded. ”I also haven’t considered using the Senator’s side’s method to solve the problem between me and Wade.”

”Besides, this matter isn’t actually that serious. My goods aren’t sold through the governor. He has no authority over me.”

As they were chatting, the restaurant’s doorbell suddenly rang. Lance glanced towards the door. The man who had just walked in, clearly the leader of the group, seemed to sense Lance’s gaze and looked over, meeting his eyes.

The two’s gazes met in mid-air, as if their eyes had a suction force for each other, firmly attracting their gazes.

They just stared at each other, their eyes filled with something of considerable weight. In the process of their stare-down, the temperature in the restaurant seemed to have changed a little.

Many people had noticed this. They all turned to look at Lance or the guy who had just come in, and then had averted their gaze.

There were even two tables of guests who had hastily finished their dinner, had put their money in the bill, and had quickly left.

Tom also turned to look at the restaurant entrance. It was seven or eight middle-aged men, just standing there by the door.

The restaurant manager seemed a little confused. He was, in a low voice, appeasing these guests, and was hinting that they shouldn’t be standing at the door.

Tom’s gaze finally rested on the face, and the body, of the guy who was clearly the leader, and was constantly observing. He didn’t know these people, but he could feel that these people and Lance must have had a history.

The other party’s eyes were very fierce, not at all like the eyes of looking at a friend.

”Who are they?” Tom asked.

Lance hmphed twice. ”People from the Perez family.”

”The Federation’s Five Great Families?” Tom was stunned. ”I’ve heard of this group. Is their power significant?”

Lance averted his gaze, and glanced at Mador, who was standing by his side. Mador nodded slightly and walked to the side of the window.

If Lance dared to come to New Golden City, he certainly hadn’t come alone. And he also had his own ”business” here, the embassy’s bar.

In order to prevent any guests from causing trouble inside, the Lance Family also had many people in New Golden City.

Lance continued to enjoy his food, his attention seemingly focused on it, not on the Perez family members. ”Significant?”

”I don’t know much about them. Maybe they are. But the reason their power is so significant is only because...” Lance forked a cut piece of beef, put it in his mouth, and simultaneously looked at Tom, ”...they hadn’t met me before.”

Tom was infected by the confidence radiating from his very bones. He laughed. ”Why are they looking at you like that?”

”As if you’ve done something unforgivable!”

Just now, the way those people had glared at Lance was as if they wanted to eat him, full of a feeling of violence.

If it weren’t for the fact that the congressional side had mediated the battle between them and Lance, perhaps at the first moment they had met, they would have already started a firefight.

New Golden City does not allow firefights. This was a new rule after the last incident. Even the five major families of the Federation did not dare to do so at a time like this.

Lance shrugged. ”They have some opinions about me. They attacked my people, so I hung one of their important family members on some pole and roasted him.”

”Roasted?” Tom looked at Lance in disbelief. ”Is it ’roasted’ in the way I’m understanding it?”

Lance scraped the skin of a piece of roasted lamb with his knife. The crispy sound made Tom curse directly, ”Motherfucker, you’ve completely ruined my appetite!”

He directly put down his knife and fork and looked at Lance in disbelief. Lance had an innocent look on his face. ”I just hung him up, but a fire broke out over there. In the end, that’s what happened. He got roasted.”

This sounded much more reasonable. Only then did Tom remember that Lance was, after all, still a very famous gangster boss in the Federation.

Usually, in their interactions, Lance had behaved too much like a politician, or a political fringe person, which was why it had made Tom overlook some of his attributes.

He covered his cheeks with his hands, his index fingers on his temples. ”God, just thinking about it, I might lose my appetite for the next few days.”

Lance, however, ate with relish. ”You’re missing out on this delicious food, Tom. God will punish you.”

Tom shook his head with a bitter smile. As he shook his head, he saw those men walking over. He immediately warned Lance, ”Your enemies are coming.”

Lance didn’t turn his head, but just sensed the approaching footsteps. A mocking look appeared on his face. ”You know what?”

”If it were me, I would have opened fire at the first opportunity.”

Tom watched them approach. ”But they’re not you.”

A chair was taken directly from the next table and placed beside Lance’s. Paige sat down on it, staring at Lance intently. ”Lance?”

”Lance White?”

Lance put down his knife and fork. He picked up his napkin and wiped the grease from his lips and the corners of his mouth. He turned to look at the man. ”I’ve seen your photo. You must be Paige, Paige Perez.”

Paige’s expression changed subtly. Lance wore a slight, disdainful smile. ”Did you know?”

”I’ve seen the photos of all the main members of the Perez family. Including you, your father, your mother, you and your younger brother, and you also have an older sister in university.”

Just that one sentence made Paige jump to his feet, his face filled with anger and a trace of fear he himself hadn’t noticed. ”Fuck!”

”Are you threatening me?”

Lance spread his hands. ”Threatening?”

”No, no, no. This is just a friendly understanding.”

”You all want to kill me, but I don’t plan on being killed by you. So I had to get to know all of you first.”

Paige looked down at Lance. ”Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you right here?”

The men behind him all surrounded them, their hands in their clothes. Clearly, as soon as Paige gave the word, they would open fire.

Mador and his two men also stood up, their hands also inside their clothes. A firefight seemed inevitable.

At this time, Tom had become nervous. He admired Lance. Even now, Lance still had that relaxed, unhurried, calm, and collected look.

There were clearly more of Paige’s men around, but he acted as if he didn’t see them.

And he also discovered that Lance had completely gained the upper hand, even though he only had a few men on his side.

Paige’s breathing was rapid, which showed he was already somewhat... flustered. He looked at Lance, wanting to pierce him with his gaze.

The atmosphere had, once again, become somewhat frozen. The restaurant manager, who was being pressed against the wall, could only close his eyes, and pray that they would not be reckless in the restaurant.

This was a high-end restaurant. If they were to be reckless here, let alone how much it would cost to redecorate, and how much business time would be lost.

Just the negative impact of their firefight would make the customers here reduce a lot. This kind of loss was very difficult to make up for.

Who would be willing to dine in a restaurant where a gang firefight had taken place?

To want to get a close look at a gunfight?

Shit!

He could only, at this moment, hope that someone had called the police, and that the police could come here faster.

Just as the two were in a standoff, the sound of braking suddenly came from outside. Tom turned to look outside. Seven or eight cars were parked there, and at least twenty or thirty of Lance’s men were getting out.

They didn’t enter the restaurant, but just stood outside. These men were in uniform attire, and submachine guns could be vaguely seen under their trench coats.

Lance looked at Paige again, a mocking expression on his face. ”What now?”