Shadow Empire

Chapter 989 Trajectory, Reaction, and Telephone
Life's opportunities can change in an instant.

Juan was somewhat confused, but also filled with a mix of excitement and bewilderment as he returned home. The factory no longer needed him.

His mother greeted him immediately when she saw him return, "Why are you back so early?"

Her face was full of worry.

She had only been enjoying her good life for a few days, and she didn't want it to be just a fleeting moment in her life; she hoped it could last forever.

Juan turned to look at his mother, saw the slightly nervous expression on her face, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't worry, it's not a bad thing."

He walked to the chair and sat down, and his mother immediately brought him a glass of water.

Very clean water.

Many federal residents lived in what used to be the New Federal Central District, now the concession area. They were not used to drinking river water directly, nor were they accustomed to drinking groundwater directly.

So the first thing Lance built was a waterworks, which now provides filtered tap water to buildings throughout the concession.

However, it wasn't sweet, unlike the sweet water from the Federation, although he could make it that way too.

In Lapa and Cholan today, people often ask each other questions like, "Do you have access to tap water?"

This wasn't really asking if the people around them actually had access to tap water, but rather whether they had been selected by the federal company and allocated housing in the residential area.

Large numbers of residential buildings are under construction. Lance has leveled a slum of up to eight square kilometers and is building a commercial center in the part closest to the city center, an area of ​​about two or three square kilometers.

Then, outwards are various supporting neighborhoods, until the outermost perimeter, where the land that was originally in the suburbs is used to build apartments for ordinary people.

Apartment buildings ranging from twelve to fifteen stories rose from the ground, and the world once again witnessed what "Federal speed" meant. Steel-structured buildings have an unparalleled advantage in construction speed compared to other structures.

In a backward place like Lapa, seeing those rapidly constructed high-rise buildings is like witnessing a miracle from God!

More Lapa residents have moved into these apartments, and now those who join the company can only get the chance to live in a 60-square-meter apartment by paying money.

However, these apartments are also for sale, with each unit priced at one thousand dollars.

Given the capabilities of these Lapa workers, it would take them about twenty years of not eating or drinking to afford an apartment. Currently, only a very small number of them have purchased apartments out of their own pockets; most of them first obtain a job before moving in.

For ordinary Lapa residents, being able to live in an apartment is already a significant step up in social class.

Here, there is electricity and running water available 24 hours a day. Civilized life is so wonderful and sweet that it's hard to leave.

Juan's life changed immediately after his family moved in. Juan's salary wasn't low, especially in Lapa.

Because he was the tenth "employee" to register his personal information, he was placed in a management position to set an example.

They can earn about ten yuan a month, which is two to three times that of an ordinary worker.

His mother and his sisters also lived happy lives because of him.

So the family hopes that none of this will change.

His mother held the plate and looked at him expectantly, which made Juan put down his cup after only taking a small sip of water and explain, "Mr. White has given me a new job."

"A new job?" his mother exclaimed. "So, has your income increased or decreased?"

Juan was somewhat helpless; his mother only cared about his income, not his new job.

He explained, "It's gone up. My income is now twenty-five yuan."

Looking at the smile on his mother's face, he seemed to be infected by it and smiled back. "But this job is not easy."

“Mr. White is planning to set up a police department in the new federal center. He has been chosen, and I will become a police officer.”

His mother was no longer listening to what he was saying; all she could think about was the twenty-five yuan she earned.

With the Pala exchange rate against the Federation continuing to plummet, one Federation Sol can now be exchanged for approximately 113 Pala, and this rate is expected to continue to fall.

Now, in Lapa, especially in Zoran, most merchants are starting to charge Federal Sol instead of Pala.

The same piece of bread costs about thirty cents in Federal Sol, but according to the exchange rate, it would cost thirty-four dollars in Para.

However, if a customer actually uses Para to purchase, then it will cost between forty and forty-five dollars, because this price is based on the expected exchange rate fluctuations a week later.

Of course, they wouldn't use such professional terminology. They would tell customers that the price of this bread would be the same after a week, and that they would need a week to process their Pala, exchange it for Federal Sol, or use it to continue rolling over to buy bread or flour.

If they only charge fees based on the current exchange rate, they will definitely lose money.

This is actually a very bad market environment, and people's distrust of the Pala has caused the credit of the national currency in the market to begin to collapse.

Some shops even explicitly stated that they do not accept Para, but only Federal Sol, silver, gold, gems and other finished products.

Para is also experiencing a continuous sharp decline due to obstructed market circulation. No one knows how low it will fall, but everyone knows that it is being phased out.

Twenty-five yuan, a huge sum of money. Her son receives such a large sum every month, and she has become somewhat "crazy".

"I have great news to tell my sisters!" she said, entering the inner room, followed immediately by her sisters' screams...

Seeing his family so happy, Juan concealed the uncertainty about the future in his eyes. "Let's go out for a meal!"

"Celebrating my job change?!"

A meal outside costs about four or five yuan, but for a group of them, it would cost about seven or eight yuan or even more.

But now they can afford it.

The whole family agreed, and going to a restaurant was an absolute temptation and a great desire for them.

This was the first time their family had ever been to a restaurant, and everyone was very cautious. However, the restaurant staff did not underestimate them because they seemed a little uneasy.

The new federal center has tremendous opportunities and development potential. Perhaps these people who might not be able to afford the meals will become big shots in a while.

This has happened more than once, and the people of the Federation call it the "Federal Dream," and the term "Federal Dream" has begun to enter people's lives.

The family sat down at a table, eating the dishes the restaurant had recommended, and everyone's face reflected a longing for a better future!

It was during this simple meal that they went from being timid to becoming confident.

It seems there's nothing special about dining in a restaurant...

The meal cost seven dollars and eighty cents. Juan had heard that if you were satisfied with the service at the restaurant, you could give a small tip, so he paid eight dollars directly.

Amid the waiter's words of gratitude, he seemed to feel that what he had lost—dignity and personality—had returned!
The next day, he recruited a group of young people to begin training together. A month later, the police station in the concession would be established, and he would become one of the many police chiefs!
As for the police chief, he was naturally appointed by one of Lance's men.

Lance is handling not only the police department, but also many other aspects of life.

The top ten people by registration number all received significant promotions; some became police chiefs, some became deputy directors, and some entered the company's management.

Each of them is like a giant lighthouse, guiding people in the right direction!
This is the power of role models.

At the same time, they became increasingly unable to leave the Federation and Lance. Without even realizing it, they developed a noble quality—loyalty!
The upward transfer of these people was not a simple matter. For example, with the establishment of the police station in the concession and some government departments in the concession, the federal government would send some people to help with management, but most of the manpower still came from these people in Zhuolan.

More people began to live around this concession, forming a group with shared interests. Whoever harmed Lance was essentially taking their lives!
Once you join, no one will ever yearn to go back to that kind of life again.

After all, they are human beings, and they also crave respect. Many people are talking about the concession and Lance, Diego, the privileged elites, and even the insurgents.

"Did the journey go smoothly?"

When Rose walked in from outside, Pedro stood up to greet him and they hugged.

Both of them are growing at an extremely fast pace. In just over a year, from last year to now, they have grown to an astonishing level.

Judging solely from their demeanor and presence, it's difficult to connect them with their former identities.

People who meet them for the first time are more likely to believe that they come from a privileged family, a noble and prestigious clan.

In reality, they were just an unknown high school teacher and a factory worker doing manual labor.

Now they possess something that shouldn't be there for someone of their status: the aura of a leader!

The two hugged briefly before separating. Ross smiled and said, "It went smoothly. There were no government troops on the road. I heard they're changing their uniforms."

Pedro sighed. "Lance gave Diego so much money, plus the aid from the Czech Republic, he has at least forty or fifty million in cash on hand."

"This money is enough to solve their problems."

"They are currently changing equipment, so they have narrowed their battle lines. Once they finish changing equipment, the intensity of the fighting will only continue to increase, not decrease."

He spoke with a very serious expression. If the government forces had sufficient military equipment, it would definitely not be good news for these insurgents.

Ross couldn't help but slam his fist on the table. "Damn Lance White, none of these Federation people are any good!"

Pedro's expression was slightly complicated. Ross turned to look at him. "You don't still think Lance is a good person, do you?"

Pedro shook his head. "I knew from the beginning that he wasn't a good person, but I never expected him to go this far."

From the moment they attended the seminar hosted by Lance, they knew that Lance might not have had any good intentions.

He appeared to be discussing the differences between the two countries during the seminar, but in reality, he was constantly sharing some of his own ideas with them.

For example--

"The unhappiness of the people of Lapa is caused by the leadership. If we want the people of Lapa to live a happy life, we must get rid of the ruling class."

"The best way to express dissatisfaction is not to tell others that you are not happy with the outcome, but to use your fists, your weapons, to tell them that things should be done the way you want them to."

"Any change in a social system will inevitably be accompanied by sacrifice and bloodshed. There is no change that can be accomplished without sacrifice and bloodshed, and even if there were, it would not last long."

"Human happiness is always in one's own hands. If you expect others to share their happiness with you and entrust your fate to them, that is probably the stupidest thing you've ever done!"

He said many such things, constantly instilling the idea that rebellion was necessary, because only through rebellion could Lapa be brought back into the sunlight.

Now they have truly rebelled, and Lance has used them to achieve his own goals.

Ross snorted. "I've spoken with the leaders of the other two rebel groups, and they've accepted our idea of ​​attacking Zoran first."

"As for the future, they can accept a federal system."

Time is of the essence, and they are all worried that since Diego has already begun to betray the country, he has no bottom line left.

If the tug-of-war with the government forces continues for a long time, he may have to sell even more things in order to win the civil war.

Therefore, their plan is to eliminate Diego as soon as possible, so as not to give him the opportunity to continue selling out the country.

Once Diego is dealt with and a new president is elected, all decisions of the previous government can be overturned.

At worst, they can find a way to repay the money Diego borrowed to Lance, but the concession system absolutely cannot continue to exist.

Pedro nodded. "That's good news. They've basically all agreed on my end as well."

Ross seemed to want to say something, and Pedro asked, "What's wrong?"

Ross pursed his lips. "They plan to assassinate Lance."

"Wang Defa?"

"At this time, to assassinate Lance?"

"Who the hell came up with this idea?"

"Don't they know that assassinating Lance at this time will only worsen the situation?"

"Even if they succeed, the death of Lance, a prominent figure representing the interests of the Federation, in Lapa will only divert some of the Federation's attention from the battlefield to us!"

“As long as Lance is alive and we are still within the rules of the game, he will admit defeat when he is supposed to lose.”

"But if he dies, and the federal government gets involved, then there will be no rules at all, and everything will be over!"

"You didn't stop them?"

Seeing Pedro's annoyed look, Ross chuckled dryly twice, "I didn't think that much about it."

Pedro knew that Ross might have the same idea. In fact, they had done quite well in their battles against the government forces during this period, and had been winning one victory after another.

The land that had been taken back by the government forces has been brought back into their hands.

If nothing unexpected happens, they all believe that they may be able to push the battle line back to the outskirts of Zhuolan by February or March of next year.

Once the "Battle of Zoran" takes place, it will mean the complete end of the Lavila family's rule, and the new Lapa will usher in its new "life"!
But at this damned time, Lance gave Diego's government a large sum of money, enabling him to rearm, which made the outcome of the war even more uncertain.

They seem to have overlooked the fact that their ability to drive the government forces into retreat was not due to any outstanding military achievements or skill, but simply because the government forces' logistical support was inadequate.

The government troops no longer had enough bullets to sustain their high-intensity fighting. Besides constantly retreating, were they expected to go out with their weapons raised and fight bullets with bayonets?
When victory is achieved, no one considers what the Federation did; now that trouble is imminent, they finally remember the Federation. This is simply one of the inherent flaws of human nature.

Furthermore, Ross did not believe that eliminating Lance White would prompt the federal government to intervene directly, as the Republic of Geed would certainly do its utmost to ensure the independence of this region.

Ross knew it in his heart, and Pedro knew it in his heart too. The two, who were originally classmates and now comrades-in-arms, had completely gone in two different directions.

Pedro quickly put the matter out of his mind and began discussing the next phase of the offensive plan with Rose.

After everything was discussed, he returned to his room.

After thinking for a long time, he dialed the number on Zhuolan's end and connected the line to Lance's desk.

"This is Lance White."

“Mr. White, I am Pedro. I hope you still remember me as a minor character.”

Upon hearing Pedro's voice, Lance laughed and said, "You're no nobody, Pedro."

“You’ve appeared in the federal newspapers, and they’ve called you ‘Lapa’s most brilliant rebel.’”

Pedro chuckled twice. "I thought they'd use something like 'evil anti-government leader'!"

“They don’t actually like Diego either!” Lance joked. “So, is there something you want to tell me when you call me this time?”

(End of this chapter)