Shadow Empire

Chapter 995 The Master of Face Changing
Likale is a relatively young state, not in the sense that it was established late, but rather that it was relatively late in its development.

For many years, scientific and technological constraints have prevented many industrial products that people now consider commonplace from existing only in their imaginations, such as massive ships weighing tens of thousands of tons.

At that time, the ships themselves were not very heavy, and there was not much need for deep-water ports; they could dock at almost all of the Federation's coastal ports.

Then people wouldn't need to travel all the way to Likalai just to dock at the Golden Harbor.

They could dock at the port in Golden State, which was indeed one of the most popular ports in the Federation at the time, since the core area of ​​the country, New Golden City, was located there.

Compared to the docks and ports of New Gold City at that time, Golden Harbor City was like a rural area. Usually, only some three-masted or four-masted sailboats would dock there. Full-size five-masted sailboats would only dock in New Gold City.

At that time, Likale was primarily an agricultural region. As a relatively underdeveloped area, it naturally did not receive preferential policies and financial support from the federal government and remained in a relatively primitive state.

The vast farms are one of the few sights to behold here.

As scientists made progress and the shipbuilding industry underwent several evolutions, iron ships with greater carrying capacity and deeper drafts began to appear and continue to develop. As cargo ships grew larger, the berthing conditions at ports became increasingly stringent.

After searching around, they discovered that Jin Gang City has excellent water depth, which can accommodate larger, deeper super-sized ships.

As a result, this small place at the southernmost part of the Federation began to receive preferential treatment in terms of federal government policies, resources, and finances, which led to the tremendous development of the Likale State.

After all, the extra costs of transporting raw materials from Jin Gang City to other places for production and then transporting them back are not as high as setting up operations locally in Likalai State.

This avoids high transportation costs and speeds up product flow, so it can be said that the entire state of Likalai has benefited greatly from the "emergence" of Golden Port City.

This has only happened in the last two or three decades. When Mayor Williams was a child, his family farm had not yet been fully donated to the federal government, so Likale is a young state.

Governor Wade looked at Lance and said, "I'm just giving you a heads-up as a friend. As for what you want, I can give you anything, since I'm not over there anymore."

Since he became governor, the Wade family has been planning to completely sever ties with Licarle.

According to their own analysis, the next eight to twelve years will be a period of war dividends for the Federation.

To put it bluntly, even if a pig were sitting in the governor's seat and did nothing but maintain the current policies, people's living standards would still improve rapidly!
Because of the benefits brought by war.

Much of the world needs medical treatment due to war, and the "medicine" used for this purpose can only be produced by the Federation.

Numerous factories will emerge, creating a large number of jobs. Coupled with the young labor force that died in the war, life will be exceptionally good for federal workers in the coming years.

Perhaps the "golden age" they once longed for will return, with factories everywhere vying for workers, offering unbelievable prices to lure people into joining them.

As people's incomes increase, they become increasingly satisfied with their lives and with the authorities.

Voters elect a governor not to burden them with mountains of hardship, but to achieve a better life, and that is precisely what the future holds.

Therefore, Governor Wade can enjoy the benefits of this wave of dividends for up to eight years.

Eight years is enough time for the Wade family to re-establish themselves in this land and rapidly expand and grow stronger. On the contrary, their industries in Likalai State are too far away. Continuing to maintain them would not only be inconvenient but would also increase additional costs and risks. It would be better to hand them over to Lance as a favor.

Lance said "thank you," indicating that he would take over the properties that Governor Wade left in Likalai, while adding, "I am aware of what you've mentioned, and I know that Congress is de-localizing."

“But Wade, you should understand that if you don’t form a interest group now, someone else will.”

"Rather than letting others control some of the vital industries and lifelines of Likale, I'd rather hold them firmly in my own hands."

"As for Congress, I will keep an eye on it."

Governor Wade didn't know what method Lance intended to use to deal with Congress, but as a friend he had already said what he needed to say, and saying anything more would only be annoying.

He also gained some insights from his conversation with Lance, who mentioned that if he didn't form this interest group, someone else would. So what about Indenor State?

He also fell into thought: if he, as the governor of a state, didn't form his own interest group and let the people below him do it.

So, will he be sidelined?

Perhaps that's possible, but it won't be on the same scale as what Lance and his team did.

"Here's a business card for you. This is my cousin. He's still in Jin Gang City. You can contact him."

"If there's anything you like, just have him sign off on it and transfer it to you. I'll have him give you a cost price."

Lance expressed his gratitude verbally once again.

That was the end of that topic. Governor Wade then brought up the matter of allowing the Lance family to continue expanding.

“Even if you hadn’t come, I would have called you anyway.”

"Now that I have won the election, your beverage business can continue to expand."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Lance, and Lance looked at him. The two looked into each other's eyes, neither of them looking away.

Clearly, Governor Wade is trying to express something, and his attitude is very firm.

Without him saying a word, Lance knew what he wanted—more profits from alcohol sales!

But Lance couldn't give him any more.

The exorbitant profits in the beverage business are obvious to everyone. A cost of five or six hundred yuan can yield a profit of two thousand yuan. Most importantly, there is never a shortage of buyers for beverages, which is the most terrifying thing.

Wade didn't actually make much profit from this, or rather, when he was mayor, he took half the profits from sales in his own city.

But now that he's the governor, he's no longer satisfied with the old distribution method; he wants more!
Neither of them gave in as they stared at each other, but this wasn't a solution. Governor Wade knew Lance's character to some extent and knew he needed to take the initiative.

Otherwise, Lance might have simply stood up and left without saying a word.

“Look, I’m the governor now,” he said in a slow, deliberate manner, as if reminding Lance that he had “leveled up.”

He's no longer the mayor, so Lance can no longer use the mayor's standards to fool him. And if the mayors are going to divide the money, how much should he, as the governor, get?

Lance frowned. "Ten percent of the profits."

Governor Wade's face showed a dissatisfied expression. "The mayor can get fifty percent, while I, the governor, can only get ten percent?"

“Lance, to be honest, this is a bit too little.”

Lance stared at him a few more times. To be honest, sometimes he really didn't get used to the Federation people's... personality.

Sometimes we're too direct, so direct that it makes people feel uncomfortable.

Just like what Governor Wade is showing right now, he will put out in a very direct way how much he received as mayor and how much he received as governor.

Many people in the Federation are like this: even if they have cooperated for a long time, they will immediately demand compensation commensurate with their current status if the other party's position or job is promoted.

Perhaps this is part of the culture of federal society, where people place an excessive emphasis on values.

“Wade, once you become mayor, you’ll get fifty percent of the city’s sales.”

"But now that you're the governor, you're taking 10 percent of the total alcohol sales in Indenor, so fundamentally, your income has increased."

"This is easy to calculate."

"If Indenor State had twenty cities, and each city could sell 100,000 dollars worth of wine."

"When you are the mayor, you can only get 100,000 yuan of liquor profits from one city, which is about 50% of 60,000 yuan, or 30,000 yuan."

"But now, with two million in sales across the state, and you having 10% of the 1.4 million in profits, that's 140,000. Your income is four to five times, or even more, than before."

"I don't think this number is unsatisfactory."

Governor Wade didn't nod; he just looked at Lance and said, "My opinion is twenty percent."

His expression was calm, but that calmness was filled with a power that indicated he would not change his mind.

To make Lance realize this, he added, "You can't let a governor get only this much, can you?"

Lance shook his head. "I will not back down."

Governor Wade was equally resolute, replying, "Me too." After a moment, he continued, "You can think about it carefully. To be honest, this amount isn't much. After all, no one knows better than you how enormous this fortune is, considering you've secured the entire state's liquor business!"

"You've earned wealth that most people can only dream of, so why aren't you willing to give some of it away?"

"Call me when you've made up your mind. I'll be really looking forward to your call, Lance."

This is a typical way of telling him that the matter is over and he has to leave.

Lance was genuinely surprised by Governor Wade's sudden change of attitude. He didn't even want to continue the conversation, so he nodded, stood up, and left.

After they left the room, Governor Wade lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and then walked to the window and looked down.

He saw Lance get into his car and quickly leave under the protection of the convoy.

As Governor Wade's aides helped him clear the things prepared for Lance from the table, they asked curiously, "Isn't this going too far?"

Governor Wade's staff member is also considered a member of the Wade family; strictly speaking, this guy is his cousin.

This staff member graduated from an elite alliance university and almost became one of the candidate sailors for the Ark.

He was very active during his school years and participated in many political activities, but his background limited some of his future.

The Federation is actually a people who value lineage very much. While people are talking about the stories of "three presidents from one family" or "two generals from one clan", they overlook why these families can produce presidents and generals one after another.

Those in the lower and middle classes of society have almost no chance of becoming such high-ranking officials or military personnel.
Because of bloodline.

His cousin didn't have any illustrious background, and the more he participated in the activities, the clearer he became of this fact. The reason he failed to become a candidate sailor was that he lacked an illustrious background or strong supporters.

So after graduation, he did not enter politics on his own. He knew he wouldn't go far. He needed to be with someone who was capable of going far, and through that person, he could realize his ambitions.

Governor Wade took this cousin quite seriously, asking, "Do you know how much alcohol Lance sells every day in Indenor?"

His cousin's aide shook his head. "I really haven't heard of this."

Governor Wade held up two fingers. "More than two million."

"This is only half of the region he controls. If he controlled the entire Indenor state's liquor supply, he could sell at least 3.5 million worth of liquor every day, and I'm talking about a minimum."

“At peak times, such as the Sheng Nong Festival, people need the stimulation of alcohol to celebrate, and daily sales may exceed ten million.”

"If it can generate 80 million in profit per month, and 60% of that is profit, that's 48 million in profit."

“After deducting the approximately 20 million he distributed to the mayors, the rest was all his own profit.”

Governor Wade's tone became slightly more forceful, "Twenty-four million in profit, all by himself!"

"So I asked him to take out a small portion of that, ten million, and give it to me. Do you think that's excessive?"

"He still has 14 million in profits."

The cousin's aide hesitated for a moment. He actually wanted to say that this was quite excessive, but looking at Governor Wade's serious eyes, he reluctantly said, "I think it's alright."

Governor Wade's face immediately broke into a smile. "See, I knew you would understand me."

"Because I became the governor, he was able to get more profits. Even if he gave me 20% of his profits, his income would still be more than before. What more could he want?"

Governor Wade pursed his lips. "Hopefully he can understand. To be honest, I still enjoy working with him."

"He is very generous, and I like generous people."

The cousin's advisor finally couldn't help but ask, "What if he doesn't agree?"

Governor Wade walked back to his desk and sat down. "Then let's find another partner, Jinbiao Winery."

“Lance is not the only company in the world with the right to produce under license; Gold Label Winery is also authorized to do so.”

“They were kicked out of the market by Lance and are eager to come back. I believe they will agree as long as I propose the idea of ​​splitting the profits equally!”

Upon hearing this, the cousin's aide knew that Governor Wade had a complete plan, so he didn't say anything more and expressed his approval of Governor Wade's decision, although he felt that doing so might have some problems.

Sitting in the car, Lance's expression was somewhat gloomy. Everything had been going so smoothly lately that he had almost forgotten that this was the Federation!

Federal politicians and capitalists are known for their ruthlessness.

If the profit is big enough, they are even willing to cut off their own heads and weigh them on a scale!

As the wheels rolled forward, his emotions seemed to change constantly with the slight undulations of the vehicle.

Around 11 p.m., they returned to New Birmingham. Irwin was a little confused. Lance had said he wouldn't be back for two or three days, but he hadn't expected him to be back so soon.

Seeing Erwin's bewildered expression, Lance wasn't angry. He had someone bring some food over. They hadn't eaten dinner that night, as they had been on the road all the way back to sleep.

He had no desire to stay in Redstone City any longer; Governor Wade was like a pile of shit, emitting a unique stench.

Irwin quickly had some food brought over, and Lance ate while saying, "Wade asked us to give him 20% of the profits separately, but I refused."

This left Erwin somewhat puzzled. "Why would he think that?"

"Because he's now the governor, he feels he should get more."

Erwin's expression gradually turned serious. "So what should we do next?"

"Withdraw?"

"Withdraw?"

"why?"

Lance put down the food he was holding and looked at Erwin. "We got in here on our own merits, why should we retreat?"

"No need to withdraw, continue our business."

"He's just the governor, not the mayor. He can't make decisions about the mayors of the cities below him."

Erwin nodded. "But won't that anger him?"

Lance continued eating, saying somewhat indistinctly, "So what if he's angered? What can he do?"

"Interfering with the city's administrative orders?"

"He may be the governor, but he can't do it."

He put a large piece of meat into his mouth and chewed it vigorously. In order to let Lance and the others eat faster, the beef was cooked to medium-rare or medium, and there was still some blood in it.

“I acknowledge him; he is the true governor.”

"I don't acknowledge him. What is he anyway?"

　"Why, why could you break the contract?!!"

　　Facing the questions of the unwilling ones, the devil made a contract.

　　The contract was magnified, and he could see clearly the 'paper' that made up the contract.

　　Those were extremely thin silk threads, woven in a special pattern to form words that carried information.

　　[Supplementary Clause 1: ….]

　　[Supplementary Clause 2: ….]

　　[Final Supplementary Clause: The final right of interpretation of this contract belongs to the demon Nims.]

　　Nims, who traveled to another world and became a demon, waited for the perfect wave that would come once in a lifetime. Then, having obtained part of the divine power of the commandments, he gradually stole the throne and wrote his own Bible.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)