Shadow Empire

Chapter 789 Some minor changes and a new director

When I walked out of the labor company, there were at least a thousand people waiting or looking for jobs at the door.

Many people took off their hats and saluted Lance, including some company recruitment specialists.

Because of the existence of trade unions, the power of workers in the federation is unprecedentedly strong, and it can be said that this is one of the societies with the strongest workers' power in the world.

Therefore, if capitalists need to recruit workers, unless they are small workshops, they basically have to deal with workers' unions.

During this period, it is common to see some companies adding this line to their job postings:

"No union members are allowed to apply!"

Once people from a workers' union join a company, it will cause huge trouble.

The majority of the people on the Lans side are illegal immigrants, and the number of refugee workers is also surging, most of whom are workers who have no connection with the labor union and are loyal to the capitalists.

Similarly, if a worker is injured at work, a worker without a union background will only have to pay some compensation, a few dozen yuan, or at most one or two hundred yuan.

But with the background of a workers' union, they may ask for thousands or more, and also require that employers are not allowed to fire workers who are disabled due to work-related injuries, and that they must continue to employ them at a certain standard wage.

This also led to some people paying union dues during this period and then injuring themselves on their own initiative.

Not only can you make some money, but you can also transfer to those idle positions without reducing your salary much.

The conflict between labor and capital has become increasingly fierce, with large-scale demonstrations and strikes occurring frequently. Capitalist groups, including top chaebols and conglomerates, have also been severely "persecuted" by trade unions and labor federations.

They are actively uniting Congress and want to paralyze trade unions and labor federations, otherwise capitalists are not as happy in the federation as people imagine.

This is a rare "capital holy land" in Jingang City. Workers without trade union background have become the favorite group of all capitalists.

In addition, there are more and more newly built factories recently, and their shortage of workers is getting bigger and bigger, so many capitalists are recruiting directly here.

When you see the owners here, no matter who they are, you have to take off your hat and bend down.

Lance raised his hand to greet those people and got into the car.

Erwin sat in the passenger seat, "You are very popular with people!"

Many of the workers on the street were watching the convoy and Lance behind the glass.

Lance thought this was normal, "Because I gave them a chance to survive here. If you give them this chance, they will welcome and love you."

"But this is what we need." The convoy moved slowly and he withdrew his gaze from these people.

The Federation has been very stable in the past two months without any major disturbances. With the Holy Farmer's Day approaching, the news from the front lines has been lukewarm, with occasional small victories, and the atmosphere in the country is very harmonious.

Everyone is preparing for the Holy Farmer's Day. This festival is very important to the people of the Federation and is equivalent to New Year's Day to a certain extent.

Although there are still twenty days left, the streets already have the atmosphere of the Holy Farmer's Festival.

The roadside shops have already decorated themselves in the unique style of the Holy Farmer's Day, with crowns of crops and pumpkins, and decorations everywhere.

Although Jingang City is a port and light industrial city, the land here has also been stained with the sweat and blood of countless slaves.

It doesn't seem to matter.

between the two.

It is a festival for slave owners and slaves, but even so, slaves can get a good sleep on the Holy Farmer's Day.

In addition to stability during this period, Lance's liquor has begun to infiltrate the surrounding areas, taking advantage of the geographical advantages of Jingang City, and the cheap smuggled liquor from Yalan is only allowed to be sold to him.

Lance has already gained control over the pricing of alcohol throughout the state, although many people feel that he rarely sells retail goods and most of the profits are taken away by retailers.

But Lance actually makes more money than before.

Some small domestic wine companies supply him with goods, as well as those wine dealers in Yalan. The goods he has are enough to spread his business more widely.

Some Imperial gangs in Indeno State now get alcohol from him.

When the vehicles were crossing the street, the vehicles on the road would actively move aside when they saw that it was Lance's convoy coming from behind.

"We've got some news from Indno State that one of our shipments is missing."

Alvin told the news when the convoy was not far from Lance's company.

Lance lit a cigarette and waved the match to extinguish the flame. He was not surprised by the result.

If you want to take money from other people's pockets, you must accept their resistance.

This is how a society where the strong prey on the weak is. Just because the predator is hungry, the prey cannot just lie down obediently. Resistance is inevitable.

"Do you know who did it?"

Erwin shook his head. "It was handled very cleanly. It disappeared on the interstate highway. No one saw our car or our people. They must have been thrown into the wilderness."

"With such a large area, it is highly likely that you will not find it if you look for it."

Lance nodded, "Ask the locals. Don't worry about spending money."

After Erwin noted this, he said, "There is a Sumurian named Camilo on the west coast. They are exporting brandy and a small amount of whiskey to the west coast on a large scale, and are also infiltrating into the central region. We may face competition."

There are only three states in the southernmost part of the federation: Likalai State, Indenno State, and South Ya'an State.

Likalai Oblast is the easternmost in the south, Indeno Oblast is in the middle, and then there is South Ya'an Oblast at the westernmost.

In Likalai Province, Lance has already formed an absolute advantage and does not need to worry about sales. If he continues to develop westward, he may encounter this group of Sumur people.

"Camilo?"

"People from the four major families?"

Erwin nodded. "I heard it was from the Bianchi family, and people from the other three families have also started selling alcohol there."

"The locals didn't resist?" Lance asked a question casually, but he soon realized that this question was actually stupid.

The locals would certainly resist, and their resistance would be fierce, but they were facing the Sumurai people.

The greatest strength of the Sumuli people is their gunmen. These gunmen are very tough, decisive in their actions, and have good marksmanship. Ordinary small gangs are definitely no match for them.

The "big gangs" on the West Coast are just a name, and it doesn't mean that they are really strong.

Erwin did answer that, "There was some resistance, but it wasn't very intense."

“Our counterparts on the West Coast seem to be a little lacking in this area,” he said with a laugh.

Lance was also laughing. The "quality" of gangs on the East Coast was obviously much higher than those on the West Coast, which also led to the fact that some of the largest gangs in the country were almost all concentrated on the East Coast.

For example, three of the five major families in the Federation are concentrated on the East Coast, and only one of the other two is in the Western region.

It is normal to look down on each other. While these states in the East are really fighting for their lives, those in the West are still playing negotiations.

How could these guys, who were used to direct violence, look down upon those gangsters who were not so powerful?

Moreover, there is a huge gap in the speed at which each of them makes money.

There is a chain of contempt in any industry. In gangs, a more general chain of contempt is that those in the east look down on those in the west.

Of course, according to the West, they actually look down on the East. Anyway, everyone has always looked down on each other.

The car slowly stopped in front of the company gate, and some young people in the company immediately came out to maintain order. There were many children following Lance's motorcade, and they had been doing so for a long time.

These were children from poor families. Some of them wore clothes that were obviously altered from their parents’ broken clothes, and some of them were barefoot.

Every time Lance came back they would run after him, and Lance would also have people give them some change.

As for the homeless, there are none.

Previously, the killer disguised himself as a beggar and tried to assassinate Lance. After he failed, beggars, homeless people and the like were banned from appearing in the surrounding area.

When Lance got out of the car, someone was already giving change to the children, and they were all loudly thanking "the kind Mr. Lance".

They knew who to thank, and they also knew who made them have these. Back in the company, Lance sat on the chair and stretched out his arms. "It seems that there is not much going on recently, but if you say a little, there is a lot."

He touched his hair and said, "Check the situation of the Bianchi family. I remember Christopher joined them."

Erwin nodded, "I'll talk to Bolton."

He was about to go to work when he suddenly seemed to remember something. "There is something I don't know if it will be of any use to you. I heard that the director of the FBI in Jingang City has been replaced."

Lance gave a slight nod to show that he understood, and Erwin went out to work.

He sat in the chair and thought for a while, then dialed Tom's number.

FBI, this name gave Lance a little pressure.

Because the FBI is nominally the law enforcement agency of the Presidential Office and is directly responsible to the President. This is true whether it is the FBI here or the FBI he knows in another world.

He had heard that the previous director rose to the position by flattering the president and helping him frame his political enemies, but during the midterm elections the director clearly did not play his true role and has now been replaced.

The person over there had just been replaced, and the director of the FBI's Jingang City branch in Jingang City had also been replaced. There must be some problems involved.

Tom's call went through easily. "This is Tom."

In a very businesslike voice, Lance smiled and said, "It's me."

"Lance?"

His voice suddenly became softer, without the stiffness of being in a businesslike manner. "You must have called me for something. Tell me, and I'll see if I can help you!"

"I'm sad when you say that. Can't I just call you and chat for a while?"

"Kang Busy, Lance, I don't know if you are busy or not, but I must be very busy, and you know I am busy."

What he meant was that Lance would not disturb him casually when he knew he was busy, which was a kind of "understanding".

Lance smiled and said, "Well, you guessed it right."

“What’s up with the new director of the FBI?”

"The director of my branch has changed. Maybe the director of other places has changed as well?"

"It makes me a little sensitive, Tom. I'd feel better if all the precincts were changed, or if most of them were changed."

“If only a few places changed people, I would feel like I was being targeted.”

Tom rubbed his forehead after hearing Lance's question. "The new gentleman... I don't know how to tell you, he is a very smart guy."

"He submitted a proposal about... well, let me explain it to you, it's a proposal to strengthen the central government's power."

"What this proposal is about is that the FBI would be able to go into all local cases and open a case if they feel something is suspicious."

"In other words, the presidential office now has the power to directly intervene in local law enforcement."

“It hasn’t been passed by Congress yet, but it’s only a matter of time before it passes.”

If they weren't afraid of a major police strike, they would have voted to pass it by now!
Although it has not been passed yet, everyone is aware of it. The new director of investigation has already begun to make personnel changes and adjustments to the entire federal branch.

Be prepared to ostensibly strengthen the FBI's authority once the war is over; once the war is over, they will become one of the most powerful law enforcement agencies in the federation.

Of course Tom was not aware of these things. He only knew that the new director was not easy to deal with.

After Lance had a general understanding of the situation, he felt that this matter was not that simple. He still thanked Tom for telling him this.

"The Shengnong Festival is coming soon. I'll have someone send you some local specialties. Please check for them when the time comes."

When Tom heard this, a smile appeared on his face uncontrollably. Lance was really a very generous person. Compared to those who gave money directly to the senator, he was willing to let Tom get some as well.

However, now that the words were out, he couldn't just continue and had to refuse.

Human beings are so strange. The person who gives a gift knows that the gift can definitely be given away, and the person who receives the gift will definitely accept it, but there still has to be such a process.

"I'll keep the senator's share for you, and forget about mine."

"Tom, are we still friends?"

"And I told you, they are local specialties, all agricultural products. What do you think they are?"

For a moment, Tom couldn't tell whether Lance was telling the truth or lying, his tone was too sincere.

After a moment of hesitation, he reluctantly agreed, "Okay, just send some agricultural products. I suggest you prepare an extra portion."

"The senator's chief of staff should also send a copy. I will deliver it to you when the time comes."

Lance agreed. This was the process he was familiar with, and he took the initiative to ask for the gift.

The privileged class who do not actively ask for gifts are not a good privileged class, because they cannot make people feel at ease when getting along with them.

Of course Lance didn't lie, what he prepared was indeed some agricultural products.

The one given to Tom was a large cabbage made of gold, weighing about two kilograms, while the one given to the senator was a small pumpkin made of gold, weighing ten kilograms.

These are all local specialties and agricultural products. Even if God comes, he can't say that Lance is wrong.

After hanging up the phone, Lance called Dale (former director of the Hazardous Materials Administration and current executive member of the State Prohibition Committee). Dale had been in the Golden State circles and peripheral circles for some time, so he should know some information about the new director.

After the call was made, Dale was not clear about the matter. He asked Lance to wait for a while and then went to ask his old friends.

When he had no opportunities to advance in the past, his old friends would not answer his calls, for fear of running into him.

Since he was promoted to executive member of the State Prohibition Committee, he has been in power. His old friends have taken the initiative to call him and hold celebrations for his promotion.

Federal politics is more realistic and direct than Lance knew.

If you can do it, you can do it.

If you can't do it, say it immediately without hiding it at all.

Dell, who has experienced a lot, sees things more clearly. He seems to not mind these people's previous indifference to him at all. He still chats with them on the phone frequently to maintain his relationship.

You can make friends in official circles, but you cannot make brothers. This is an iron rule!
He soon found out the information about the new director, who was a top student who graduated from the Jinzhou University's Department of Justice and was an alumnus of the current director.

He previously served as a district attorney and handled several major local cases during his tenure. He is highly regarded as a capable person.

He is now married and has three children. The eldest has just entered high school and the youngest is still in elementary school. His family lives in Jinzhou and did not come to Jingang City with him.

This was enough news for Lance.

When Lance was asking about the new director, the new director had already reorganized the Jingangcheng branch from top to bottom.

Who could have imagined that the FBI was established just to catch those who spoke ill of the president.

This is totally inconsistent with the freedom of speech they advocate, so all the people in the Jingang City branch add up to less than ten.

Normally, their only job is to go around and if someone says something bad about the president, they will investigate and record the information of these people.

If they need to deliver on their "performance", they will arrest people.

If they don't need to, they pretend they know nothing.

This kind of good days lasted for more than ten years and finally came to an end.

The newly appointed director was very executive and decisive. On his first day here, he fired everyone except the security guard. These people made a fuss for a while, saying that they would go to the higher authorities to complain about him, and finally left the investigation bureau.

At this time, there were only this director and the five agents he brought with him in the entire investigation bureau.

Before officially starting work, he must have a chat with his subordinates, let them face reality and not be blindly optimistic.

Because this is Jingang City!

(End of this chapter)