Shadow Empire

Chapter 368: Meaningless Interrogation

Initiative is a very special thing. Many people may not feel the difference between active and passive in their daily lives, but it does exist and is a very important social link.

Taking the initiative can help a person gain more benefits in social situations and better protect his or her own rights.

Just like at this moment, if Lance spoke first, what would he say?
"how should I do?"

"What can I do?"

“How do I solve this problem?”

"How do you want me to respond?"

No matter what he said, he would be in a passive situation. He became Congressman Williams' "subordinate". What he had to do next was equivalent to the instructions given to him by Congressman Williams.

If he completes it, that is what he should do. If he fails to complete it, that is his problem. This is not an equal relationship.

But if he doesn't speak and lets Congressman Williams speak, he'll say "I want you to do this and that" or "You have to figure out how to do this and that," and no matter what he says, it becomes an equal interaction.

He makes the request and then Lance decides whether to satisfy him, which is equal, instead of letting him give orders.

The higher the occasion, the more invisible the format and rules are, but the more they need to be followed. Even who takes the first step, who extends a hand first, or who smiles first, all have strict requirements.

Senator Williams looked at Lance for a while, then looked at James. James said, "I just discussed with my father that we are not completely out of control of the situation. We even have a way to turn the situation around."

Lance nodded slightly, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit them.

He motioned for James to continue, and James glanced at Congressman Williams, who pretended not to see him and lowered his head as if thinking about something.

James had a very wonderful experience, because Lance showed a... very special temperament. He didn't completely look like a gangster who had no higher education. Some of his practices were obviously beyond the grasp of the lower class people.

Maybe he should continue to check Lance's background, maybe he is not as simple as people see.

“The workers striking at the docks are our chance to fight back.”

Lance didn't make any other moves. His interruption just now made James think that Lance would "control the rhythm" again, but he didn't this time. Instead, he felt a little subtly uncomfortable and had a very contradictory feeling.

Just like wiping your butt, it should be wiped at least twice to be clean. He wiped it once but didn't wipe it a second time, which makes people wonder whether he wiped it in advance or didn't poop at all.

This kind of doubt will always surround James and affect some of his thoughts and judgments.

He blinked and came to his senses. "If we let the workers think that part of the purpose of the soldiers and civilians entering the city is to suppress the strike, and a few more people die, the situation will escalate..."

"By then, Congress will notice some changes in Golden Harbor City. Once Congress begins to intervene, all of Sidney's plans will fail."

Lance took a deep drag on his cigarette and slowly exhaled, "What would be the result of Congress's intervention?"

“What do they usually do?”

James shrugged, "Negotiation."

Lance then uttered a word, "Tempet."

James nodded and said, "Yes, everything is based on stability now. They will not interfere too much in local government affairs, but they will not allow such things to happen."

"If Sidney doesn't intend to make them bear a grudge!"

Lance sighed, "If we artificially create an escalation of the conflict, many people may die."

The militiamen are all armed. They don't care whether you are a local or an outsider. As long as the commander gives the order, they will pull the trigger.

James was silent for a while, and then said in a slightly heavy tone, "Someone has to go first."

Congressman Williams picked up his pipe and tapped it against the wooden trash can. The sound attracted the attention of Lance and James.

"It wasn't the kindness of slaveholders that ended slavery, Lance," he said as he added tobacco to his pipe.

"You sit at the table and people don't take you seriously unless you push all your chips out." He picked up the lighter and lit it in his pipe while continuously inhaling through the pipe.

Soon thick smoke began to come out of his mouth. He put the lighter back on the table, held the pipe in one hand, took a breath, and smoke came out of his nose and mouth.

"Someone will definitely get hurt, and we can take some precautions and even join forces with other industries to strike together."

“The faster and bigger the strike, the quicker Congress will intervene.”

“It’s more beneficial for us.”

Lance frowned, "I don't like gambling, and I don't like going all in. Maybe we can try another way."

Councillor Williams showed some interest, “Do you have any better suggestions?”

Lance shook his head slightly. "It's not that it's better, but if someone must speak for us with blood."

"Do you think that the lives of capitalists are more worthy of people's attention, or those lackeys on the docks?"

Congressman Williams was stunned for a moment, then frowned. He knew what Lance meant. It was also to escalate the conflict and kill several capitalists, which would indeed attract the attention of Congress.

But this will also cause dissatisfaction among capitalists!
And the capitalists in the Bay Area are very special!
While Congressman Williams was still thinking, Lance began to talk about his ideas, or his plans.

"Some dock workers died, and Congress was at best a basis for our negotiations."

"But then what?"

"No one at the negotiation table cares whether the bargaining chips are lost or not. We have not suffered any substantial loss of interests. The mayor is actually taking advantage."

“Who cares if a few low-level workers die?”

He looked at James, "Do you care?"

"James?"

James didn't expect the topic to suddenly shift to himself. He was a little embarrassed, "I...maybe I don't care too much."

"You told the truth!" Lance praised him, "Telling the truth is a virtue."

He looked at Councilman Williams again, "In fact, none of us cares. Would you worry about the lower profits of your factory this year just because your neighbor's apples were eaten by worms?"

"No you wouldn't, because we both know it's just a small thing."

“No matter how many small people die, it will not attract people’s attention. The death of a farmer is just the withering of a life, while the death of a king is the pain of a country!”

"But if one or two high-class, influential people die, then we will seriously consider and negotiate seriously to prevent this from happening again!"

"Because no one knows if we will be the next unlucky ones if we don't solve this problem!"

“Who cares if a few workers die?”

"Moreover, we can escalate the problem before the militia enters the city, allowing Congress to intervene directly and not allow our mayor to use the power of the militia to achieve his goals!"

Congressman Williams puffed on his pipe, Lance's words made him fall into deep thought, and James was also thinking about the possibilities of these things.

After more than ten minutes, Senator Williams put down his pipe, and his eyes changed as he looked at Lance. "I need to make a few calls..."

Lance stood up with a smile, "My brother said your villa is very beautiful, I can take a look at it."

"James, take Lance and his friends to visit our villa." Senator Williams stood up. "I'll excuse myself for a moment."

After coming out of the study, James was obviously happy to have closer contact with Lance, "Have you ever thought about a question?"

"what?"

He tilted his head and looked at Lance, "Those wealthy people in the Bay Area might target you and the workers on the dock."

Lance seemed nonchalant. "Have you ever heard of a fine crystal bottle going head-to-head with a stone?"

Before he could reply, Lance said with a smile, "We are the stones, the gangsters, the lowest class in society in their eyes."

"And they are Crystal, the upper class of society, they have power and wealth, and we seem to be at the two ends of the social inequality."

"But in reality, we are absolutely equal in some ways."

Lance held up a finger, "God only gives each of us one life, no one is an exception!"

James had never seen anyone like Lance before. Those gangs would obey the orders of the Bay Area, which made him feel that this was how the order of the gangs, or society, should be.

It is pyramid-shaped, from top to bottom, and has absolute dominance until this moment!
Lance took Alvin to visit Senator Williams' villa. The construction and decoration of the villa were very thoughtful and it looked really extraordinary.

The two of them were thinking about different things. Lance was thinking about how to escalate the situation as quickly as possible and solve the problem within 48 hours.

And Alvin was thinking that in the future he would also buy a big house like this and move his whole family in.

In the Pasletto family's estate, which is not too far from here, Paul was also thinking about this question.

He used Mueller's method to test all the senior officials who attended the meeting that day, but found no one who leaked the information.

At this moment in the room, he, Muller, and Alberto were sitting together.

"They have been normal these two days..." Paul looked visibly more haggard. Traitors and attacks, the Cassia family always managed to find their weak points and launch attacks.

This made it difficult for them to move their hands and feet. If they could not find a way to break the impasse, they would soon be trapped in this manor.

So the most urgent task is to find that bastard!
He glanced at Alberto. Alberto had not been treating him well these past few days, and he did feel guilty.

"If not them, who would it be?"

“It seemed like they were the only ones there that day.”

Alberto frowned, and he suddenly remembered something, "That day... I remember Dover was there too."

Paul looked up at Alberto, and Muller's eyes widened as if he remembered something. "He was right. Dover was the last to arrive, but you let them leave not long after they arrived."

"He was probably only here for two minutes."

Paul's expression turned ugly. "What has he been doing these two days?"

"He brought some friends back and stayed with his friends every day."

Paul scratched his head. His scalp was extremely itchy now!
"I need to talk to him."

Alberto still didn't understand. "You've been very good to him. You gave him the best land, the best income, and you let him do whatever he wanted. You treat him better than your own sons!"

"Even now, he is a suspect, you still want to talk to him?"

Paul's expression changed slightly. "His father blocked a bullet for me. He saved my life. In a sense, he is actually my son!"

"But does he regard you as his father?" Alberto's voice became even louder. "If it is him who betrayed us, I have no doubt at all, because that's who he is, Paul!"

Paul was still a little hesitant, "I want to talk to him, whether it is or not, I insist on this!"

Alberto sighed heavily, "Okay, okay!" He stood up, "Paul, I respect you very much, but I can't stand your character."

"If there is any news, please inform me in time. I'm going back."

Paul watched Alberto leave, his expression kept changing. He sat there for a long while before he sighed heavily.

Although Alberto respected Paul, he did not necessarily understand him.

Muller is Paul's cousin, and he knows his cousin well. He discovered from these changes in Paul that he had actually begun to doubt Dover and was only subconsciously protecting him.

"I'll go with you."

Paul nodded, opened the drawer, took out an exquisite ivory-handled pistol and holster, and put them on.

Although he took good care of Dover, if it was really Dover who did it, he would make Dover pay the price.

Mueller stayed with him the whole time, “Maybe not him.”

Paul shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ll trust my eyes and ears.”

Mueller asked, "If it was him, what would you do?"

Paul showed his weapon, "Give him some respect, after all his father gave his life for me, even if what he did was wrong, I can't let people judge him."

"This is the last thing I can do for him. Even if it means death, I want him to leave in peace."

Mueller sighed softly, "Do you need my help?"

Paul shook his head. "I am enough. Even though he sometimes goes a little out of line, he still listens to me."

"But you want to kill!", Mueller looked at him.

Paul also looked directly at Mueller, "He won't know."

Seeing how persistent he was, Mueller said nothing more. In fact, he knew that it was Paul's guilt that was at work.

As someone who understands him, Mueller can only support, not oppose.

Dover didn't know that Paul was coming to see him. He was talking to Owen on the phone, and Owen told him the truth of the matter.

"The militia will enter the city the day after tomorrow. The council has already voted to approve it, and the mayor will be back to work by then."

"Do you know what this means?"

"This means that all those who refuse to submit will meet their end!"

"Christopher, the Pasretto family has reached its most critical moment. Now the only one who can save the family is you."

Christopher's brain was not enough at this moment. He just followed Owen's words and asked, "What should I do?"

Owen admires this kind of idiot. He doesn't like smart people. People like Lance are obviously not good partners. People like Dover are.

"You've actually done pretty well, but you're still a little short."

"We are going to kill Paul, and then you will become the next head of the Pasreto family. Only in this way, you can represent the Pasreto family, and we will let the entire Pasreto family go."

Hearing this, Dover was already a little flustered and his hands were shaking. He held the receiver with both hands and lowered his voice a little, "Mr. Owen, I am not Paul's son. Although my last name is Pasletto, I cannot inherit the business here."

"His cousins ​​and children are more qualified to inherit the family than I am..."

Owen chuckled, "If these people are gone, will it be your turn?"

Dover's heart was beating violently, and the rumors that "if his father had not blocked a bullet for Paul, perhaps his father could have become the head of the family" appeared in his mind again.

Although Paul had been very good to him over the years, every time he thought of this, he felt that he was being fooled!

Because that position may very likely belong to his father, and this family may also belong to him in the future!
Paul stole what belonged to them, and then rewarded him with what was rightfully theirs, and expected him to be thankful?
Until now, he has not joined the core of the family. He has been excluded from the core circle of the family. He is under house arrest in disguise. What he loses is not only the freedom of movement, but more freedom!
While he hated Paul, he also had a deep fear of him. He was still a little hesitant, "I'll think about it again."

Owen did not urge him. The Pasreto family was kept only as a backup for their upcoming departure. At this stage, it didn't really matter whether they had it or not.

So he was not anxious, not pressing Dover to make a decision in his favor. "It's up to you. Just remember that when the time comes, nothing will change."

Not long after he hung up the phone, Mueller and Paul came over.

The hall was filled with marginal figures of his family, and they all stood up when they saw Paul.

Paul forced a smile, nodded casually, said hello, and then looked at Dover who walked out of the room.

The two men didn't look at each other for long before Dover looked away.

Paul's heart had already sank. He walked towards a room inside and said as he passed Dover, "Come in with me."

The two men entered the room and Mueller stood at the door, looking at those people.

He didn't go in to avoid these people running to the door and eavesdropping. As a butler in a big family, he knew these things too well!
In the room, Paul looked at Dover and asked directly, "Did you betray the family's information to outsiders?"

Dover's blood was boiling at first, but suddenly his blood turned cold!
He looked at Paul, his words were unclear, "I don't know what you are talking about, Paul."

Paul suddenly shouted, "Why did you betray us?"

Dover forced himself to calm down, "Did you hear something from someone?"

"Paul, you know me. Although I am sometimes... a bastard, I have never betrayed my family!"

He shouted loudly, his face turned red, as if he wanted to prove something in this way!
But the more he did this, the more Paul, who knew him well, could see his panic and fear.

"It's really you..." Paul suddenly seemed a little discouraged and sighed heavily, "Have we ever done anything to let you down?"

"Why did you betray us?"

(End of this chapter)