Shadow Empire

Chapter 391 Leaving
"Lance!"

"Come over here!"

Councilman Williams waved to him from the crowd.

Senator Cleveland was not comfortable talking to Lance at close range, but Congressman Williams didn't care at all.

He has no intention of going to Congress, let alone standing under the magnifying glass and accepting scrutiny from the whole country or even the whole world.

In Jingang City, no one can stop him now, so he doesn't care whether others will say that he is with Lance and acts very familiar with him.

Lance said goodbye to William temporarily with a glass of wine and walked over there.

"Let me introduce you, this is Brand, Brand Jeffrey, the Secretary of State."

Lance placed the glass on the tray of a passing waiter. He took the initiative to extend his hand and shook hands with the Secretary of State. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jeffrey."

Brand kept a hypocritical smile on his face, which only politicians have. He shook Lance's hand twice and said, "I've heard of you in the capital, too!"

This was obviously a lie. Lance's influence had not yet expanded to the level of the capital. But in such a social occasion, especially a positive one, he had to say something to please the audience.

He couldn't just say something like "Who the hell are you? I've never heard of you and I'm not glad to meet you," because that would mess everything up.

Appropriate hypocrisy helps social interaction to be effective.

Lance smiled warmly in response, "It's my honor to let the big shots in the capital know my little name!"

Congressman Williams held his glass and watched the two of them pretend to be smiling at each other. "Okay, okay, let's talk about business."

The three of them walked to a corner, and the people around them took the initiative to keep a distance from them to avoid misunderstandings.

In today's social occasions, there is no doubt that Senator Cleveland has the highest status, but the Secretary of State's status is not low either.

He is the third most important person in Likale State, second only to the governor and deputy governor. And if nothing unexpected happens, he will continue to work here for a few more days, and maybe he will have a chance to become deputy governor or even governor.

No matter how powerful a guest is, he is just a guest. Only the owner of the house can decide the living conditions of the people in the house.

"I heard you have a very interesting company called Wanli Labor Agency?"

The men walked to the corner and lit cigarettes naturally.

Lance nodded. "We try to solve some employment issues and conflicts between local workers and immigrants. You know, not everyone likes immigrants."

Secretary of State Brand nodded in agreement. "That's right. They have always believed that the bad social environment is caused by immigrants."

"Immigrants rob their medical resources, rob their education resources, rob their job opportunities, and even prevent their wages from increasing!"

"But we've found in some studies that this is just an excuse and reason for laziness."

"I've seen immigrants who work three jobs but only make thirty bucks a month, and I've also seen federal workers who get angry if they work five minutes more a day and make the same salary."

He paused and said, "I am very interested in your business methods. Perhaps we can cooperate in some aspects."

Congressman Williams said, "We have a lot of construction projects, but the wages of federal workers are relatively high, and those refugees..."

He seemed to be looking for a way to describe this problem. After thinking about it, he found a more mainstream word, "It may involve moral hazard if we use them directly."

People flee to the federation as international refugees, which in itself is a manifestation of their trust in the federal government.

As a result, the federal government sends them all to do the hardest, most tiring and even dangerous jobs, which will create certain moral risks for the federal government in the international community.

To put it simply, they do not intend to employ these refugees themselves. They intend to be "deceived" into using a less compliant company, which then employs these refugees.

If something goes wrong, it has nothing to do with the state government.

Lance thought for a moment, "Why me?"

"Many people can do this, and we all know there will be huge profits!"

The profit mainly comes from the difference in labor costs. The state government pays wages according to the federal average wage, but in fact Lance may only need to pay half of the cost to the workers, which saves more than twenty dollars in labor costs.

For 10,000 people, the difference is more than 200,000 yuan a month. If you add the deductions from the food, even if someone is not so evil, he can still pocket 300,000 yuan a month.

Anyone could do this, Lance wanted to know why he was chosen.

Councillor Williams smiled and said, "We are planning to start the construction of the new port area. Before that, we need a more mature team."

"Newport Pier?" Congressman Williams smiled when Lance said the name.

"Yes, Newport Pier."

The New Port Pier and the New Bay Area are the core of the disagreement and conflict between the mayor and local forces, but this does not mean that people in the Bay Area really cannot see the necessity of building the New Port Area and the New Port Pier.

The mayor's biggest mistake was that he wanted to introduce other capital so that more people could share in the benefits of Jingang City's rapid development.

Therefore, the investors in the New Port Area and New Port Terminal are basically foreign capital, which seriously damages the interests of local capital.

Originally, they could take 90 percent of the profits themselves, but if the new port area is completed and becomes competitive with Jingang Wharf, they may only be able to take 45 percent of the profits.

Another 45% of the profits will be eaten up by Xingang Terminal, and this is inevitable!

Those coming from afar would certainly want to resupply faster and leave. For these ocean-going ships, they face huge maintenance costs every day. Being able to unload and reload cargo faster and earlier means that they may make more profits.

Now Jingang Terminal is operating close to full capacity.

The war on the Tanfit continent has caused many international trade transportation routes to be diverted. It is foreseeable that as the intensity of the war increases and more areas are affected, the business volume at Jingang Terminal will also increase.

Get rid of the mayor, and then take over the New Port District and Golden Harbor Wharf themselves and continue to let the profits stay in their mouths. This is the result of consultations between Councilman Williams and some people in the Bay Area.

They will fully support Councilman Williams in his bid to win the mayoral election. Similarly, Councilman Williams must ensure that at least 60 percent of the profits from the distribution of benefits in Newport remain locally.

There are some interest transfer issues on the state government side, and they divide up the remaining 40%.

This is a result that both parties can accept.

Some people may wonder, how can 40% be enough for so many people?

In fact, having such an idea is wrong in itself, because there are not that many people in this 40%. Only when the interests of the top level are satisfied first, will the excess residues and debris fall to the bottom.

Once the interests of the upper class are met, the people at the lower class won't really do anything except complain.

They can't just ruin the master's dinner just because they are not full, right?

Is there really anyone that stupid?
If it was a project in Jingang, then Lance could understand why they came to him.

Seeing that he was still in deep thought, Senator Williams took the initiative to say, "Lance, you have also put in a lot of effort in this matter. You have safeguarded the common interests of all of us."

"So..." He glanced at the Secretary of State, "You also have a share in the Newport Pier!"

Lance showed some interest, "How much?"

"One percent."

"No, three percent." Lance directly rejected the ratio proposed by Councilman Williams. "I don't know what one percent is, but I don't like this number!"

"It's the smallest percentage, and I..." He glanced at the upper-class people in the Bay Area who were socializing around him, "I can do no worse than them!"

Perhaps moved by him, Senator Williams added, "1.2 percent, just this little bit, will bring you millions of dollars in revenue every year!"

Lance shook his head. "Two percent. I've already made the biggest concession."

Senator Williams frowned and thought for a while. "Before each piece of cake is served, it has been decided who gets which piece."

"Everyone is like this, it was decided at the beginning!" "If you want to get more, someone must give up their interests to you. This is not a small amount, no one will give it to you so easily."

Lance still maintained his position, "I can accept that you don't give me anything, but I can't accept that you give me so little. I'm not a homeless person, Mr. Congressman."

"And I believe that my role and my value are much greater than those who only know how to spend money!"

Congressman Williams's gaze lingered on Lance for a moment. "I'll take out 3 percent of my personal funds. 1.5 percent. No more."

Lance also smiled. "Deal..." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Whether in Jingang City or Likalai State, if the state government needs labor, please contact me anytime, anywhere."

"I can also help you solve problems like the one we are dealing with this time."

Likale State does have some construction tasks, and as the largest port in the Northern Hemisphere, Jingang City also faces great pressure and potential risks.

After discussion, Congress decided to station troops in Jingang City, so naturally there will be a large number of construction tasks.

Also, if the war spreads to the Eastern Ocean and affects the Federation's east coast and southern coastal areas, Likalai State will have to be prepared to respond passively to the war.

Some defensive fortifications, although it is not certain that anyone will come to provoke the Federation, and it is not certain that the attack can reach the land, but what if?
All of these require people to do the work, and if the state government wants to save money, it can only use cheaper labor.

After confirming the matter, the two exchanged business cards, and then the Secretary of State left on his own initiative.

Congressman Williams said to him, "After the order from the state government comes in..." He looked at Lance and didn't continue, but Lance understood what he meant.

It is certainly impossible for all the profits generated by government orders to be his. If he cannot even figure out such a simple thing, then he has no right to live in the small room.

“How much can I eat?”

Congressman Williams showed an appreciative expression, "30%, but I personally suggest you keep 20%, or even 15%."

"You will definitely have a share in all the large-scale construction projects. Although your profit from a single project is not high, they will have a lot of projects."

Although Lance knew all this, he still nodded and thanked him, because most people would never tell you this.

Even if they want to talk to you, it will be after you have fallen hard, and then they will come out like a good person and tell you what to do, not before you fall and get hurt.

If you are not hurt, their advice and experience will not be as valuable, and the effect will not be as good as if they tell you after you get hurt.

Congressman Williams can speak so bluntly, and it is clear that he is continuing to lay the foundation for James, or for the Williams family.

“Thank you for passing on your experience, Congressman Williams.”

Congressman Williams laughed. He took two glasses of wine from the waiter's tray and gave one to Lance. "It's a pleasure to work with you, Lance."

"Happy cooperation!"

On the way back, Lance saw William chatting with Charlie. When they saw Lance coming, they took the initiative to greet him.

Hunter and Lance shook hands, then Charlie.

"We cooperated well this time!" Hunter showed a smile on his face. They handled this terrible riot, and Senator Cleveland also praised the execution ability of the Golden Port City police system.

Charlie's face was full of smiles. "I just chatted with William and exchanged some thoughts and experiences."

"This election for alderman is a unique opportunity for all of us, Lance."

He glanced at William and said, "You, me, and William, we are all..." He lowered his voice and said, "People who are not qualified to enter here may not be willing to accept us in their hearts."

"So we have to unite with each other. We don't intend to hurt anyone, but we can't be hurt by others either!"

Lance nodded, "Yes, you are right." He seemed to agree with this point of view.

Charlie's face was full of smiles. "You, me, if we work together, we can definitely run a stable Jingang City!"

They didn't talk much, and Charlie and Lance didn't really have much to say.

After they left, William’s smile faded, “I don’t like him like that, he’s not likable.”

Lance agreed with his point of view. "Charlie has been a dog in the Bay Area for so long that he doesn't quite know how to be a human being now!"

"Even if he succeeds in the election, he won't be able to last long."

William became curious and asked, "Do you have any inside information?"

“I just saw you over there talking to the Secretary of State and Williams.”

There was a look of amazement in his eyes. He knew Lance's situation very well. In just one year, everything had changed. He could even stand in front of the Secretary of State and the next mayor and communicate on an equal footing!

This young man has an indescribable magical power!
Lance shook his head and took a sip of the wine. "Because I want to reorganize and integrate the entire police system of Jingang City, Charlie will be a stumbling block to my plan."

“When you encounter a rock that blocks your progress, the only thing you can do is to move it away!”

William opened his mouth slightly, not knowing what to say. He could only raise his glass and clink it with him, "I wish you... uh... fulfill your wish!"

The two "little people" stood in the corner, looking towards the hall. Under the brilliant lights, these upper-class ladies and gentlemen stood in groups of three or five.

As they talked and talked, exchanges of interests were reached one after another.

This scene happens in every corner here. Countless interests are exchanged and arranged at this moment. It is difficult for ordinary people to imagine that the operation of society is not that complicated, because in these exchanges of interests, many things have been decided.

The party was a great success, and although the AFL-CIO and the Dockers' Union continued to protest to the federal government, their hopes of instigating a national strike were dashed.

This incident will definitely have aftermath, and the destructive power caused by the aftermath is within an acceptable range.

Senator Cleveland still has a lot of work to do. He serves on two committees and is very busy.

The next morning after the party, we took the train back to the Special Administrative Region.

The whole city seemed to become a little more relaxed because of this.

State police were also continuously evacuating from the streets, and the order of the city seemed to be "recovering" rapidly.

At this time, Lance has taken over more than half of the port area, and there are still some people with unclear minds in the remaining territories.

After returning to the office, he dealt with some work first, then he called Hiram over and told him that he could start...

The leisurely afternoon sun shone on the street. On a street close to the Triangle District, the leader of a small gang and his men were sitting in front of a delicatessen playing cards.

There were seven or eight people watching nearby, they were there to make money.

Everyone has a small money box in front of them, which is basically filled with five-cent and ten-cent coins. Twenty-five-cent and fifty-cent coins are not very common.

Sometimes people watching around would also take out a dollar or two to join in, and after losing they would watch for a while before leaving.

The leader had another bad hand. For some reason, he had been losing money since lunch today and hadn't been able to get any good cards.

Sometimes he got good cards, but there was always someone with better cards than him, which made him very annoyed.

It’s not that he can’t afford to lose so much money. This amount of money may not be a small amount for ordinary people, but for him, it’s just a drizzle.

What he hates is the frustration of losing money, not the money lost!
"I caught God's shit with these fucking hands, and there wasn't a single winning hand!"

The round ends and starts over.

When he got the cards in his hand, a smile finally appeared on his face after being depressed for the whole afternoon.

This time, it's a good hand.

It was so good that he couldn't even hear the sound of car brakes ringing next to his ears!

(End of this chapter)