Shadow Empire

Chapter 309 Superficial
It was already the next afternoon when Lance woke up. All the wine had been sent to a farm in the suburbs and stored.

The situation in the city is a bit complicated now. The Hazardous Materials Management Bureau is like a wild dog biting people everywhere, and their reporting system is really attractive.

Although Lance and others have shown people the fate of betrayers, there will always be people willing to take risks in the face of high rewards.

By July, three bars in Lans had been discovered and sealed off, but the losses were not great.

The bail of the personnel became the biggest output, rather than the loss of alcohol.

After eating some of the food they bought, Lance lit a cigarette with satisfaction.

People who don't smoke will never be able to experience the joy of finding a comfortable place to sit down and lighting a cigarette after a full meal.

There were newspapers stacked together on the table. Lance picked up one at random, the International News, and curled his lips.

This newspaper has become "notorious" internationally because it fabricates various international news that have caused dissatisfaction among many of the countries mentioned.

What's even worse is that they always make up vulgar jokes about other leaders of other countries, such as a certain prime minister may be inhumane, a certain member of the royal family is a slut, etc.

Some fabricated news figures have publicly stated more than once that the existence of such media that distort the truth is a regression and shame for the overall civilization of the Federation!

But the International News doesn't care about all that. They don't care whether they are causing the federal civilization to regress. They only care about sales.

And readers love reading it!
They like to read the stories of the queen and the prince, and the stories of the prime minister and his son and his wife.

The front-page headlines of the newspapers were about the upcoming negotiations among the four countries. This time they used a very serious tone and relatively real words to describe the multi-party talks.

The editor who wrote this report believes that this could be the final step before peace returns or war ignites.

If the four countries can reach an agreement and put aside their armed confrontation, peace will continue.

If they refuse to negotiate, war will come soon.

It introduces the reasons for the escalating military conflicts between the four countries, including geopolitical issues, resource issues, political culture and even racial issues.

It also discussed the future direction of the Federation if a war really broke out.

This is a rare piece of news that does not contain any nonsense. Lance was very satisfied reading it. This kind of article that can make people think is one of men's favorites.

Another type is the "Chaotic" type, which is full of naked girls and call girl phone numbers.

This newspaper also mentioned that the emperor was once again beaten and forced to flee in a panic by the rebels, as if it was something that all the rebels could do at any time to wipe out the emperor's remaining forces.

Lance threw the newspaper aside and started to look through other newspapers. Just at this moment, Madore came in from outside.

He will continue to serve as Lance's bodyguard until the situation stabilizes.

"Have you eaten?" Lance pointed to the food on the table, the cooked beef and bread, as well as the ham slices and bacon. "I can't eat so much."

Mador shook his head. "I've already eaten. In fact, it's not suitable for people to eat too much. Once full, they will feel sleepy."

Lance nodded slightly, "You're right... Since you've eaten, then I need to eat some more."

Madore said he didn't need to care about him, and walked to stand next to Lance, but his eyes accidentally saw the newspaper on the table, "They are all talking bullshit."

Lance glanced back at him, "Who's talking bullshit?"

He pointed to the newspaper and said, "These reporters and editors are talking bullshit."

"Tell me about it?" Lance showed some interest.

Mador didn't know where to start for a moment. After waiting for about ten seconds, he said a little gloomily, "The situation in the country is becoming clearer now. Three rebel armies have been eliminated, and the emperor has begun to consider going north to retake all the areas."

“But in their description, it seems as if the emperor is about to fail. This is all false!”

Lance ate the bread while sighing, "He was almost surrounded and killed on the beach some time ago, but now he has taken back most of the country. Although I don't like him, I have to say that he is indeed a qualified emperor."

Mador was not very fond of the emperor either. He and most people in the empire believed that the current problems of the empire were caused by the emperor and the royal family.

But he couldn't really turn a blind eye. Everyone knew how difficult it was, but that ridiculous tyrant did it.

"Your former...rebel army, are they still fighting?"

Mador nodded, "Yes, they are still fighting, but the situation may not be good now."

"Lack of funds, lack of weapons, lack of ammunition, lack of recognition."

"They had already got the key and inserted it into the lock, and opened the door. All they had to do was push the door open, but it turned out like this. Sometimes I really don't understand whether the emperor is too smart or they are too stupid!"

The emperor's power grew stronger and stronger, and the royal family had the capital to return to the negotiating table.

Without the support of the nobles, these rebels could no longer pose any threat to the royal family.

Therefore, the civil strife in the empire was not a conflict between the rebels and the royal family in the real sense, but a conflict between the nobles and the royal family, which was expressed in another way.

Mador was very angry when he mentioned this. Lance thought about it and commented, "It's because the leaders of the rebels are too greedy."

"They want more than just to overthrow the emperor's rule!" Looking at Mador's confused eyes, Lance didn't mind going a little deeper, "What they want is to be the emperor themselves!"

They ignored the fact that they were actually puppets of the nobles and only thought that if they could overthrow the emperor, they could become the next emperor.

In a feudal country, without the support of the great nobles, the first step of the rebel army would not be successful.

They have no money, no people, no weapons or equipment. Why should they revolt?
In fact, the world has always been like this, with power always shifting in the hands of some people.

The son of an emperor is still an emperor, just as the son of a president is either a senator or a former president.

Everything was destined from the beginning!

Madore was a little confused, or rather, a little bit unable to accept it. "So, it was impossible for us to succeed from the beginning?"

Lance thought for a moment and said, "If those people in the country always wait for others to save their lives, then they are doomed to fail."

"There are no saviors in this world, only people who can't stand it and finally stand up and resist."

Lance stuffed the last piece of bread into his mouth and clapped his hands. "But these are too far away from us. What we need to do now is to make our lives at least look not so bad!"

There was nothing major happening at the office. After the Wolf Gang's bar was shot up, it was put under renovation again, so there was no movement for the time being.

Towards evening, William called and asked, "Did you buy financial products from Barr Investment Bank?"

The question was a little abrupt, but Lance immediately realized what the problem was. "No, did Barbara say that?"

"Yes, Barbara said you bought a lot of products, too, so they are borrowing money and planning to invest it all at once."

"Lance, do you really think this is a good investment?"

"Last time you said its returns were a little abnormal."

It can be seen that William was also tempted. After all, with a 15% rebate every month, if the referral fee is included, all the money can be recovered in half a year, and it would be pure profit.

Four hundred percent profit in two years is enough to drive many people crazy.

Lance quickly stopped him, "It's indeed abnormal, and I didn't invest a penny."

"William, use your brain and think about it. If these businesses are real, do you think the big capitalists will turn a blind eye?"

“Capital will flow into anything that makes money.”

"I've heard a very true saying before, if hard work can bring success and wealth, then the threshold of hard work will be so high that ordinary people can't touch it!"

“Capital is always many times faster than ordinary people. If they can really provide such high rebates stably, then you, me, and others will not be able to know about it, and its so-called share will be eaten up.”

“Think about it carefully, why is it that Baltz Investment Bank is so famous, but those wealthy people in the Bay Area don’t buy it?”

“Is it because they really have too much money?”

"Or do they already know what this is?"

William was not a dull or stupid person. Lance's few words gave him a creepy feeling, "You mean... the Bay Area is also involved." The participation he mentioned definitely did not mean investment, but behind-the-scenes participation.

Lance said nothing. "You can talk to them, but if they insist on investing, then let them do it."

He said so, but William would definitely not let them do so. "I will convince them."

He hung up the phone quickly.

Then Lance received several more calls, including one from Roger.

He was also asking Lance about the Barz Investment Bank.

"I heard from my son that they can give us a large rebate..." Roger has never been so rich in his life.

He and some other people have gradually tasted the beauty of "investment" and are now a little impatient to find new projects.

Lance doesn't have time recently, so they have to do it themselves. Balz Investment Bank seems to be prepared for them.

However, the old man Roger was not very courageous. He thought it would be best to ask Lance about this matter, after all, Lance was a "big shot".

Fortunately, he asked.

"That's a scam, Roger. You can tell the other people in the Chamber of Commerce not to touch anything related to Balz Investment Bank!"

"If you can't convince them, and you don't have to make them obey, I can only say that this is a bottomless pit, and no matter how much money you have, it won't be enough to cover your losses..."

The final madness of the Balz Investment Bank made their fame spread faster, affecting a wider range and social levels.

In the evening, William invited Lance to have dinner together, and he did not refuse.

As usual most days, Emily was in the kitchen cooking dinner while William sat on the sofa.

"Patricia went to play tennis and might be back a little late." William explained that there was a tennis court in the community and they were playing tennis there.

This is the daily life of the federal middle class. For the lower-class people, they have to pay to rent a tennis court, but in middle-class communities, there are free ones, which are indoors.

There are also basketball courts and swimming pools provided free of charge to residents. Although they are free, they are actually included in the bill, but no one cares.

Lance smiled and sat on the sofa with William.

"Jobaf has been preparing to organize free clinics and micro-loans these days. I want to get some people from you, the Imperials."

If a lot of non-Imperial immigrants cause trouble in the election of municipal councillors in the Imperial District, this could easily have the opposite effect.

So he could only ask Lance to do this, and Lance naturally would not refuse. The higher William could go, the more he would get as the actual beneficiary, so he agreed immediately.

"What are your plans?", he asked.

William stroked his stubble and said, "It's a very simple plan. All we need to do for the free clinic is to arrange some people to stir up trouble."

"You know, I'm not disparaging ordinary people, they just don't have much brains."

"If we stir up his emotions, all his plans will fail."

"As for the micro-loans..." He smiled, "This is what I want you to do for me the most, mobilize some people to apply for loans."

"If he succeeds, he'll have less money in the bank."

"If he fails, they can also publicize that he was just putting on a show and didn't really want to lend money to people. In any case, he will be the one who suffers in the end."

Lance didn't refuse, they were all simple things.

Before dinner, Patricia came back from outside, panting slightly. Her face was red from a healthy exercise. She was surprised to see Lance, but considering that her body was covered in sweat, she simply hugged Lance and went back to take a shower.

After a while, he changed into a set of home clothes and returned to the living room, then asked Lance why he came.

At the dinner table, everyone was talking about light topics, and William started talking about Barbara and her family.

"They have mortgaged their house to buy financial products at Barbara's workplace."

"I remember you said last time that these were all scams, right?"

William was once tempted, but was persuaded by Lance. He believed in Lance and finally overcame his greed.

Before Lance could answer, Emily interrupted and said, "Barz Investment Bank?"

"We also have quite a few families here who have purchased their financial products, and the rate of return is amazing."

“They’ve been hosting a lot of lively events lately, and these are the people who benefit from it,” she said, talking about what’s happening in the community as she spooned creamy soup from her bowl into her mouth.

William frowned, “A lot?”

Emily mentioned the names of several ladies who had a good relationship with her. "They also wanted to get me to invest. They were willing to split the commission with me in half, but I didn't agree."

"There are too many people playing this, and many have bought it but are unwilling to speak out. This is normal."

She looked at Lance, "Last time I remember you said they were liars, but can liars last this long?"

Lance nodded. "We've discussed using the principal to pay the rebate. Even if you give you a 20% rebate, the money you give them will be enough for them to survive for half a year."

"As long as there are other people participating in the six months, they will have a steady stream of funds to pay rebates until they think the fund pool is big enough."

"This time they set the deadline to the 25th of this month, which is actually a sign that they are planning to abscond with the money."

“Maybe some of them have already left.”

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence found it a little unbelievable, while Patricia looked at Lance with admiration. In her eyes, Lance was a very capable person.

Whether it is illegal business or legal business, he can play it well.

The firm's monthly income of 20,000 yuan is already the ceiling in the same industry, not to mention his other industries.

Legal, and illegal.

What Lance is concerned about at this moment is that if so many people bought the products of Balz Investment Bank, and they suddenly ran away and lost their money, what would these investors do?
March, demonstration, outside City Hall.

He seemed to be able to sense that day coming. Was this a counterattack on their part?

After dinner Lance and Patricia went to her room, a girl's room was always clean and smelled good.

The girl leaned in Lance's arms and talked about things she thought were interesting, and as she was talking, Lance kissed her.

Her face was always red, her earlobes were red, and her neck was red.

She was a little uncomfortable at first, but soon began to respond vigorously.

The Lawrence couple have left here. They went to talk to Barbara's parents again. Although William sometimes doesn't like Barbara's father, they are brothers after all.

He couldn't just sit there and watch his brother lose everything, so he tried to persuade him whenever he could.

Lance and Patricia were the only ones in the house now, and for once they didn't need to worry about anyone disturbing them.

The girl already had some experience in kissing, but she was a little inflexible in other matters, so Lance had to teach her little by little.

This is actually not an easy thing to do. You have to take your own feelings and each other's feelings into consideration, so Lance came slowly, carefully, and gently.

After a tough and arduous battle, Lance finally got what he wanted.

Patricia hugged Lance's waist, "Do you like me?"

Lance nodded, "I like it."

"What do you like me?"

"nice!"

(End of this chapter)