Empire of Shadows

Initiative is a very special thing. Many people may not usually feel the difference between being proactive and passive, but it does exist and is a very important social element.

Mastering the initiative can help a person gain more benefits in social interactions and better protect their own rights.

It's like right now, if Lance speaks first, what can he say?

“What do I need to do?”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“How should I solve this problem?”

“What do you want me to do?”

No matter what he says, he will be in a passive position. He becomes a “subordinate” of Councilor Williams. What he will do next is equivalent to an instruction from Councilor Williams.

If he completes it, it is what he should do. If he doesn't complete it, it is his problem. This is not an equal relationship.

But if he doesn't speak and lets Councilor Williams speak, he will say, "I want you to do this and that," or "You have to find a way to do this and that." No matter what he says, it becomes an equal interaction.

He makes a request, and then Lance decides whether to satisfy him. This is equal, rather than letting him issue orders.

The higher the occasion, the more invisible the forms, rules, and regulations are, the more they need to be followed. Even who takes the first step, who reaches out first, and who shows a smile first have very strict requirements.

Councilor Williams looked at Lance for a while, then looked at James. James said, “I just discussed with my father that we have not completely lost control of the situation. We even have a way to turn the tables.”

Lance nodded slightly, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one.

He gestured for James to continue. James glanced at Councilor Williams again, who pretended not to see and lowered his head as if thinking about something.

James had a very strange experience, because Lance showed a kind of… very special temperament. He didn't seem entirely like a gangster who hadn't received higher education. Some of his actions were obviously beyond the grasp of ordinary people.

Perhaps he should continue to investigate Lance's background. Perhaps he is not as simple as people see him.

“The striking workers at the dock are an opportunity for us to fight back.”

Lance didn't make any other moves. His previous interruptions made James feel that Lance would once again “control the rhythm,” but this time he didn't, which made him feel a little subtle and unaccustomed, a very contradictory feeling.

It's like wiping your butt. Logically speaking, you should wipe it at least twice to get it clean. He wiped it once, but didn't wipe it a second time, which makes people wonder if he wiped it beforehand, or didn't even poop at all.

This suspicion will continue to surround James, affecting some of his thinking and judgment.

He blinked and came back to his senses, “If we make the workers believe that part of the purpose of the militia entering the city is to suppress the strike, and then kill a few more people to escalate the incident…”

“Then the congressional side will notice some changes in Goldport City. Once Congress starts to intervene, then all of Sidney's plans will fail.”

Lance took a deep drag of his cigarette and then slowly exhaled, “What will be the result of congressional intervention?”

“What do they usually do?”

James shrugged, “Negotiate.”

Lance immediately said a word, “Tanfite.”

James nodded and said, “Yes, now everything is based on stability. They will not interfere too much in local government affairs, but they will not allow similar things to happen.”

“If Sidney doesn't want them to hold a grudge!”

Lance sighed, “If we artificially escalate the conflict, many people may die.”

The militiamen all have weapons. They don't care whether you are a local or a foreigner. As long as the commander gives the order, they will pull the trigger.

James was silent for a while and said in a slightly heavy tone, “Someone has to take the first step.”

Councilor Williams picked up his pipe and knocked it against the wooden trash can, the sound attracting the attention of Lance and James.

While adding tobacco to his pipe, he said, “It was not the mercy of the slave owners that ended slavery, Lance.”

“You are sitting at the poker table, and people don't pay much attention to you unless you push all your chips out.” He picked up the lighter and lit the tobacco in the pipe, while continuously inhaling through the pipe.

Soon, thick smoke began to come out of his mouth. He put the lighter back on the table, held the pipe in one hand, took a breath, and smoke was coming out of his nose and mouth.

“There will definitely be casualties. We can take some precautions, and even connect other industries to strike together.”

“The faster the strike, the larger the scale, the faster the congressional intervention will be.”

“This will be more beneficial to us.”

Lance frowned, “I don't like gambling, and I don't like going all in. Maybe we can change our approach.”

Councilor Williams became interested, “Do you have any better suggestions?”

Lance shook his head slightly, “It's not so much a better one, but if someone has to use blood to speak for us.”

“Do you think, is the life of a capitalist more likely to attract people's attention, or those mud-legged workers on the docks?”

Councilor Williams was stunned for a moment, then frowned. He knew what Lance meant. Similarly, escalating the conflict, the death of a few capitalists would indeed attract the attention of Congress.

But this would also arouse the dissatisfaction of the capitalists!

Moreover, the capitalists in the Bay Area are very unusual!

While Councilor Williams was still thinking, Lance began to talk about his ideas, or rather, his plan.

“The death of some workers on the docks will at most only facilitate the basis for our negotiations with Congress.”

“But then what?”

“At the negotiating table, no one cares whether the chips are chipped. We have no real loss of benefits. The mayor's side is actually taking advantage.”

“Who cares if some grassroots workers die?”

He looked at James, “Do you care?”

“James?”

James didn't expect the topic to suddenly shift to him. He was a little embarrassed, “I… may not care much.”

“You told the truth!” Lance praised him, “Telling the truth is a virtue.”

He looked at Councilor Williams again, “Actually, none of us care. Would you worry about the factory's profits decreasing this year because the apple in your neighbor's yard was eaten by worms?”

“No, you wouldn't, because we all know that's just a small thing.”

“No matter how many small people die, they cannot attract people's attention. The death of a farmer is just the withering of a life, while the death of a king is the pain of a country!”

“But if one or two high-end people die, influential people, then we will seriously consider, seriously negotiate, and not let this kind of thing happen again!”

“Because no one knows, if we don't solve this problem, will we be the next unlucky ones!”

“Who cares if a few workers die?”

“Moreover, we can escalate the problem before the militia enters the city, let the congressional side directly intervene, and not give our mayor the opportunity to use the power of the militia to achieve his goals!”

Councilor Williams took puffs of his pipe one after another. Lance's words made him think deeply. James was also thinking about the possibilities of these things.

After more than ten minutes, Councilor Williams put down the pipe in his hand. The way he looked at Lance also changed a little, “I need to make a few calls…”

Lance stood up with a smile, “My brother said your villa is very beautiful. I can take a tour.”

“James, take Lance and his friend to visit our villa.” Councilor Williams stood up, “I'll excuse myself first.”

After coming out of the study, James was obviously very happy to have closer contact with Lance, “Have you considered a question?”

“What?”

He tilted his head and looked at Lance, “Those wealthy people in the Bay Area may target you, target the workers on the docks.”

Lance didn't seem to care, “Have you ever heard of exquisite crystal bottles going head-to-head with stones?”

Before he could reply, Lance said with a smile, “We are stones, gangsters, the lowest class of society in their eyes.”

“And they are crystals, the upper class of society. They have power and wealth. We seem to be at unequal ends of society.”

“But in reality, we are absolutely equal in some ways.”

Lance held out a finger, “God only gave each of us one life, no one is an exception!”

James had never seen someone like Lance before. He had never seen them before. Those gangsters would obey the orders of the Bay Area, which made him always feel that the gangsters, or rather, the order of society, should be like this.

It is pyramid-shaped, from top to bottom, with absolute rule, until this moment!

Lance took Alvin to visit Councilor Williams' villa. The villa's architecture and decoration were carefully crafted, and it did look extraordinary.

The two of them were thinking about different things. Lance was considering how to escalate the situation as soon as possible and solve the problem within forty-eight hours.

And Alvin was thinking that in the future, he would also buy such a big house and bring his family in.

In the Pasreto family's manor, which was not too far from here, Paul was also thinking about this problem.

He used Muller's method to test all the senior executives who attended the meeting that day, but did not find anyone who had leaked the information.

At this time, in the room, he, Muller, and Alberto were sitting together.

“They have been very normal these past two days…” Paul was visibly more haggard. Traitors, being attacked, the Cassia family could always find their weak points to launch an attack.

This made them somewhat unable to act freely. If they couldn't find a way to break the deadlock, they would soon be trapped in this manor.

So, the most urgent task was to find that bastard!

He glanced at Alberto. Alberto hadn't given him a good look these past few days, and he was indeed very guilty.

"If it wasn't them, who could it be?"

"It seems they were the only ones there that day."

Alberto frowned. He suddenly remembered something, "That day… I remember Dover was also there."

Paul looked up at Alberto, and Muller also widened his eyes, seeming to have remembered something, "He's right, Dover came last, but you let them leave soon after he arrived."

"He might have only stayed here for two minutes."

Paul's face turned ugly, "What has he been doing these past two days?"

"He brought some friends back and has been with them all day."

Paul scratched his head; his scalp was particularly itchy now!

"I need to talk to him."

Alberto still couldn't understand, "You've been good enough to him, giving him the best territory, the best income, and letting him do whatever he wants. You're better to him than you are to your own sons!"

"Even now, when he's a suspect, you still want to talk to him?"

Paul's expression changed slightly, "His father took a bullet for me. He saved my life. In a way, he's also my son!"

"But does he treat you like his father?" Alberto's voice grew louder, "If it was him who betrayed us, I wouldn't doubt it for a second, because that's the kind of person he is, Paul!"

Paul was still hesitant, "I want to talk to him, whether he did it or not, I insist on this!"

Alberto sighed heavily, "Alright, alright!" He stood up, "Paul, I respect you, but your personality is unbearable."

"Notify me immediately if there's any news. I'm going back."

Paul watched Alberto leave, his expression constantly changing. He sat blankly for a while before letting out a heavy sigh.

Although Alberto respected Paul, he didn't necessarily understand him.

Muller was Paul's cousin. He understood his cousin and realized from these changes in Paul that he was actually starting to suspect Dover, but was subconsciously protecting him.

"I'll go with you."

Paul nodded. He opened the drawer and took out an exquisite ivory-handled pistol and holster, and put it on.

Although he took good care of Dover, if Dover really did it, he would make Dover pay the price.

Muller stayed by his side, "Maybe it wasn't him."

Paul shook his head, "I don't know, I'll believe my eyes and ears."

Muller asked tentatively, "If it was him, what do you plan to do?"

Paul showed him his weapon, "Give him a dignified end. After all, his father sacrificed his life for me. Even if he did wrong, I can't let people judge him."

"This is the last thing I can do for him. Even in death, let him leave quietly."

Muller sighed softly, "Do you need my help?"

Paul shook his head, "I'm enough alone. Although he's a bit out of line sometimes, he still listens to me."

"But you will kill!" Muller looked at him.

Paul also looked directly at Muller, "He won't know."

Seeing his insistence, Muller didn't say anything more. In fact, he knew that this was Paul's guilt acting up.

As someone who understood him, Muller could only support him, not oppose him.

Dover didn't know that Paul was coming to find him. He was on the phone with Owen, who told him the truth.

"The militia will enter the city the day after tomorrow. The council has already voted to approve it, and the mayor will also come out to work again at that time."

"Do you know what this means?"

"It means that all those who don't submit will meet their end!"

"Christopher, the Pasreito family has reached its most critical moment. Now, the only person who can save the family is you."

Christopher's mind wasn't working properly at this moment. He just followed Owen's words and asked, "What should I do?"

Owen appreciated this kind of fool. He didn't like smart people. People like Lance were obviously not good partners, but people like Dover were.

"You've actually done very well, but you're still a little short."

"We need to kill Paul, and then you will become the next head of the Pasreito family. Only in this way can you represent the Pasreito family, and we will spare the entire Pasreito family."

Hearing this, Dover was already a little flustered and his hands were shaking. He held the receiver with both hands and lowered his voice slightly, "Mr. Owen, I'm not Paul's son. Although my last name is also Pasreito, I can't inherit the business here."

"His cousins and children are more qualified to inherit the family…"

Owen chuckled, "If these people are gone, will it be your turn?"

Dover's heart was beating violently. The rumors about "If his father hadn't taken a bullet for Paul back then, maybe his father could have become the head of the family" reappeared in his mind.

Although Paul had been very good to him over the years, every time he thought of these things, he felt like he was being played!

Because that position could very well have been his father's, and this family could also belong to him in the future!

Paul stole what belonged to their father and son, and then rewarded him with what originally belonged to their father and son, and still hoped that he would be grateful?

Until now, he hadn't joined the core of the family. He had always been excluded from the core circle of the family. He was being placed under house arrest in disguise. He had lost not only his freedom of movement, but also more freedom!

While he hated Paul, he also had a deep fear of him. He was still a little hesitant, "I'll think about it."

Owen didn't urge him. Leaving the Pasreito family was just a backup plan for their upcoming departure. From the current stage, whether they had it or not didn't really matter much.

So, he wasn't anxious to have Dover make a decision that would benefit him. "Whatever, just remember that once the time comes, nothing will change."

He had just hung up the phone when Muller and Paul came over.

The hall was full of those peripheral figures of his family. They all stood up when they saw Paul.

Paul squeezed out a smile, nodded casually, greeted them, and then looked at Dover, who was walking out of the room.

The two didn't look at each other for long before Dover looked away.

Paul's heart had already turned cold at this moment. He walked towards a room inside and said as he brushed past Dover, "Come in with me."

The two entered the room, and Muller stood at the door, looking at those people.

He didn't go in to prevent these people from running to the door to eavesdrop. As a housekeeper in a large family, he knew these things too well!

In the room, Paul looked at Dover and asked directly, "Was it you who sold the family's information to outsiders?"

Dover, who had been a little excited, suddenly felt a chill!

He looked at Paul and couldn't speak clearly, "I don't know what you're talking about, Paul."

Paul suddenly said loudly, "Why did you betray us?"

Dover forced himself to calm down, "Did you hear something from someone?"

"Paul, you know me. Although I'm sometimes… a bastard, I've never betrayed the family!"

He shouted loudly, his face red, as if trying to prove something in this way!

But the more he was like this, the more Paul, who understood him, could see his panic and fear.

"It really is you…" Paul suddenly seemed to lose his strength and sighed heavily, "Have we done anything to let you down?"

"Why did you betray us?"