Empire of Shadows

"Lance, do you know a person named Russ?"

This was the second time Lance had heard this name from someone else.

The first person to mention Russ was William (Patricia's father), and his tone was full of mockery when he spoke of the Imperial District Councilor as not being a smart egg.

This was also one of the reasons he intended to run for election in the Imperial District.

Dealing with a Liberal who didn't have much backing and whose political views were radical was definitely better than dealing with the Socialists who had complex and intertwined local interests.

Lance supported his decision. William's rise to power would bring him some practical benefits. At least, before changes in policies and other aspects occurred, he could hear some news earlier.

However, Lance wouldn't show that he actually knew and understood a little about this person's thoughts. He shook his head, "Never heard of him. Sounds like the name of a loser in a bar corner."

Mr. Chobaf's lips curled up slightly, "A very interesting saying…"

He liked Lance's evaluation, which meant he had more opportunities?

"He is a municipal councilor in the Imperial District."

"Oh?"

"I plan to run for municipal councilor in the Imperial District next year."

Lance looked at him with a bit of… incomprehension, "Why did you suddenly think of doing this?"

Mr. Chobaf had some small movements in his hands, he was actually hiding his true thoughts, "I've been reading some books recently, about ideals and redemption, and you know, we all want to do something for the people of the Empire."

"I've found that being a banker can't solve people's problems, but being a municipal councilor, maybe I can help more people solve more practical problems."

Lance frowned, "A very lofty ideal, but it doesn't sound like you, Mr. Chobaf."

"Doesn't sound like me?"

He didn't understand the meaning of this sentence, "What aspect are you referring to?"

All aspects. In fact, people's impression of Mr. Chobaf was that of a generous banker. He wouldn't interfere with other people's lives, and he didn't mind providing help to others.

But only some help!

He had never done anything big for the people of the Empire that he claimed he wanted to do. He was just a celebrity with a certain reputation in a certain area. Suddenly wanting to make some changes must have a reason.

And that reason was the Mayor.

Lance didn't elaborate. This was a very insincere thing, just like people don't like being labeled, making their image rigid and solidified. If you think he is this or that kind of person, it will only make him feel that you are objectifying him, thereby negating all "views."

"Is it because of pressure from the Mayor?"

Lance skipped the topic and went straight to the heart of the matter, "Because the Mayor thinks you have a certain influence in the Imperial District, so he hopes you can become an Imperial District Councilor and provide him with some political assistance?"

Mr. Chobaf was amazed by Lance's keen sense, he smiled reservedly, without denying it, "There's a part of that reason, I'm squeezing into the upper circles, Lance."

He finally couldn't hold back and laughed.

The Mayor had talked to him and would support his candidacy for municipal councilor in the Imperial District. He had a natural advantage in running in the Imperial District.

He was an Imperial immigrant, and one of the more successful ones among the Imperial immigrants. Moreover, he was a banker and had a relatively complex social network in the Imperial District. People would vote for a real character they could contact and who would usually help them.

Instead of a radical politician who didn't care and was only more moderate in his attitude towards immigrants.

In the Mayor's view, Mr. Chobaf defeating Russ was as simple as men approaching the urinal, pulling down their zippers, and taking out that thing. It was just so natural to complete all the work.

Perhaps one less municipal councilor won't play a key role in disintegrating the local interests network formed by locals, but it can create momentum for him.

The masses are stupid. They can't see some of the realities hidden behind the appearances. They can't very well understand the "conversion method" that three or four useless councilors are not as good as one Wade councilor or one Williams councilor.

They will only simply think—"Oh, the municipal councilors who support the Mayor are as many as those who oppose him!"

As long as it doesn't make people think that "almost all municipal councilors are against the Mayor", that's fine.

But for Mr. Chobaf, this was the first time in decades since he came to the Federation that he had truly taken a step towards the upper class!

In the future, people would no longer call him "banker" with a slightly mocking tone that he thought he couldn't hear, but should call him "Councilor Chobaf". The circles of the upper class were opening their doors to him.

Lance could understand his mood, after all… this was his dream, but at this critical juncture, he didn't know whether to say Mr. Chobaf was unlucky or unlucky or unlucky.

"Things have been a little uneasy in the city recently."

Lance looked at him, not picking up on his sentence "I'm squeezing into the upper circles."

Mr. Chobaf reacted, "Yes, things have been a little uneasy. I heard that there have been some misunderstandings between you and the Mayor. Do you want me to say something to the Mayor for you?"

He had also heard that the manager of the Imperial Nightclub had been replaced. He actually hoped that Lance would stand with him, so that they could cooperate and become indispensable talents to the Mayor, and their positions could be more stable.

He looked at Lance with some expectation, but Lance didn't answer this sentence, "The locals are at war with the Mayor, Mr. Chobaf."

"This is not a suitable time. Whether you have squeezed into this circle or not, you are the one who is not blessed."

The smile on Mr. Chobaf's face faded a little, "What have you heard?"

"A lot. Which aspect do you want to hear?"

Lance took out a cigarette, gave him one, and the two leaned in to light it.

"Everything!"

While exhaling smoke, Mr. Chobaf said what he wanted to know.

Lance was silent for a while, "The local forces, you should know better than me."

Mr. Chobaf nodded. He had been here for decades longer than Lance. He certainly knew those local prominent families. At the same time, he truly realized Lance's meaning at this time, "Are you saying that the Mayor is not their opponent?"

Lance shook his head and said, "Whether the Mayor is their opponent or not, he will leave here, so what about you?"

"Can you leave here?"

The Mayor's term will end in two years and he will leave Goldport City. Whether he goes to the State Assembly or the State Government, or if he doesn't return to party duties in any position, he has a place to go.

As long as he doesn't leave in disgrace, his position in the Socialist Party will not be shaken, and the identity of "Former Mayor of Goldport City" is very weighty when competing for other nominations.

But Mr. Chobaf can't leave here, because his "base" is his identity as an "old Imperial immigrant."

He is not as rich as those capitalists outside, nor does he have as rich connections as those politicians outside. He is actually a local, but he stands on the Mayor's side.

Lance felt that all the locals who were standing on the Mayor's side at this moment were idealist speculators. They believed that the Mayor could defeat the deeply rooted local forces and then obtain a piece of reserved land.

But… how is that possible?

No one can guarantee that the next mayor will have the same ability as this one, and no one can guarantee that every successor in the future can keep these fruits of victory.

As long as there is one mayor who is not so outstanding, all the locals who have sided with the outsiders will be purged under the counterattack of the local forces.

Lance said some things to him, talking about the struggle between the locals and the Mayor, "Mr. Chobaf, the Mayor will leave Goldport City in two years, regardless of whether he wins or loses."

"In order to bet on whether he can do in two years what he couldn't do in the previous six years, I think the gamble is too big."

Mr. Chobaf kept smoking. He thought for a while, "Do you think I should give up?"

Lance gave him a more euphemistic statement, "You should choose to wait and see."

Mr. Chobaf looked up at the clear sky, "The locals don't like us."

A fact.

He has been here for decades, and it wasn't this year that he started thinking about clinging to these powerful people. In fact, he had done it before.

Being blackmailed by Arthur, being blackmailed by others, he actually wanted to form a kind of interpersonal relationship with the locals in this way.

He has money and is willing to make friends. If Arthur is willing to be friends with him, he doesn't mind being blackmailed by Arthur.

If he could get to know Councilor Williams by being extorted a sum of money, he would definitely be willing to give the money to Arthur.

But the problem is, Arthur never mentions this matter, nor will he mention this matter to Councilor Williams.

He can't say that he blackmails some immigrant capitalists outside, and then they want to meet Councilor Williams, right?

He's afraid that he can't beat his old man anymore, and let James come back and slap him!

The locals don't accept him, only the Mayor accepts him now, and also shows him the channels and ladders to move up, the things he has wanted most in these decades, are now within reach!

Listening to Mr. Chobaf's somewhat dejected tone, perhaps this is his greatest helplessness!

Although he has made money, he has never understood that this Federation, which everywhere touts itself as a civilized society, is essentially a darker jungle society than the Imperial society.

You must be strong and aggressive for people to respect you.

If you are just big, but don't have any aggressiveness, then to the predators hiding in this jungle, you are a mobile granary!

Lance took the last puff and threw the cigarette butt on the lawn.

The damp lawn and soil extinguished the tiny cigarette butt. Even as it sparked, it couldn't ignite anything on this lawn teeming with vibrant life.

“I have a girlfriend,” Lance said.

Mr. Chobaf snapped out of his thoughts. “That’s a good thing. Everyone goes through that stage. Is she here today?”

Lance shook his head. “She’s not here. She’s a local.”

His expression became slightly odd. Mr. Chobaf vaguely sensed something, otherwise, Lance wouldn’t have brought this up at this moment. “So, her family…”

“Her last name is Lawrence. Her ancestors were farmers, right in this area.”

“Perhaps not as prominent and powerful as the Wade family and the Williams family, but definitely not ordinary.”

“Their family members are involved in every aspect of the Gold Harbour City political system, and her father intends to run for Empire District Councilor.”

Mr. Chobaf's expression was hard to read—envy, jealousy, admiration, appreciation, annoyance…

Many emotions were mixed together. Even his expression, from Lance's perspective, was slightly distorted!

This was perhaps the most genuine reflection of Mr. Chobaf's inner state at this moment.

When he first came to the Federation, he was already married. After his children grew up, he never considered marrying into a local 'family' because, at that time, his understanding of the Federation remained superficial—as long as you work hard, you will definitely succeed.

By the time he began to understand things, it was already too late. Over the past decade or so, he increasingly felt constrained everywhere.

And now, Lance, a… he wasn't sure if Lance was even twenty years old, was talking about marrying into a local family.

This made him feel like he had lived his whole life in vain.

“I…” he wanted to say something, but his emotions were on the verge of collapse. He first forced a smile. He had intended to congratulate Lance, but his emotions made it impossible for him to maintain a natural smile, so he reverted to that ordinary, even somewhat indifferent, expression.

But he quickly realized that showing this expression upon hearing this news was not good. He could only force himself to look more amiable.

It wasn't that he disliked Lance or disliked the news, but that his emotions had simply collapsed. The questioning of everything in his past made it impossible for him to smile.

“That’s really good news. Congratulations on finding your place,” he finally said, maintaining his dignity.

Especially when a young man, a newcomer, whose foundation was even inferior to his own, found the right direction in a very short period of time and had the potential to surpass him.

He began to question all his past efforts and results!

He even questioned his own character!

Lance shook his head. “Thank you. What I wanted to say is, Chobaf, we can unite.”

Mr. Chobaf was somewhat absent-minded. He understood Lance's meaning, but he didn't accept it.

“I’ll consider it,” he replied to Lance, but this was also reasonable.

On one side was the nominal ruler of this city, the Gold Harbour City Mayor appointed by the Federal Government, and the series of forces and backers behind the mayor.

On the other side was a gang leader from the old Empire, still a regional gang, relying on some legal or illegal business to make a living, yet claiming to have a bright future.

Even if Mr. Chobaf thought what Lance said was good, he most likely wouldn't choose Lance.

He had bet small ninety-some times, this time he should bet big!

Moreover, what Lance wanted was to support his girlfriend's father to become a councilor, not to support him.

He didn't want to go around in circles and end up back at the starting point. He wouldn't agree with Lance's choice, nor would he accept his invitation.

Seeing Mr. Chobaf's unhesitating refusal, although he used "consider" as a term, Lance knew he had refused, and could only feel helpless about it.

“Alright, I respect your choice, Mr. Chobaf. I hope we can still be friends.”

Mr. Chobaf forced a smile. “This has nothing to do with our positions and relationship as friends.”

“We will always be friends!”

Lance extended his hand and shook hands with Mr. Chobaf. “They’re waiting for me over there.”

“Go on, interact more with the young people. They need your advice.”

“Then, goodbye, Mr. Chobaf?”

“Goodbye, Lance.”

The two released their hands and walked in completely different directions, like forks in the road of life, each having made and affirmed their own choices.

When he arrived at the young people's side, they quickly surrounded him.

Lance and the Lance family were too famous in the Empire District. Moreover, unlike the Camilla Gang, they neither collected protection fees nor extorted their fellow countrymen, and had a very good reputation among Empire immigrants.

Everyone rushed to greet Lance. This was a very meaningful Saturday for them, every Saturday was like this.

They could tell other peers that they knew Lance and had talked to Lance. These could become their talking points at school.

Some time ago, due to the rainy and snowy weather, the gatherings at St. Naya Cathedral had been suspended for many sessions. This was the first one after the spring thaw, and many people came, much more than before.

Many people came for the name, wanting to get close to Lance. When Lance showed that he didn't mind interacting with everyone, people also responded with extremely high enthusiasm!

It could be seen that he was very popular among young people.

Rob, who was originally talking to people in the crowd, changed his expression when he saw Lance appear.

Even though he told his family that he had come out of the shadow of his breakup with Selena, he still felt very uncomfortable seeing Lance, whom he considered the culprit for his breakup with Selena.

“Look at his smug look!” He glanced at Nancy beside him, but Nancy was flipping her hair and looking at Lance in the crowd with a smile.

This made Rob feel a stabbing pain of betrayal. “Don’t fucking tell me you like this guy too!”

Nancy asked back, “What’s wrong with liking him?”

“He’s good-looking, rich, and has status. Everyone likes him…”

“I don’t like him!” Rob emphasized his position again, but didn’t get Nancy’s support.

She scoffed. “Okay, brother, you don’t like everyone who is better than you. We all know this fact. You don’t need to keep emphasizing it to me!”

“Fuck!” Rob cursed in a low voice. “I’m leaving. Do you want to come with me?”

Nancy hesitated for a moment, but eventually left with Rob, because Rob had a car.

He said it was the company’s car, but it was still a car!