Empire of Shadows

Chapter 568 You Are Doing Great Things! [666+22]

"...Okay, let's play ball together when we have time."

Senator Cleveland hung up the phone, a hint of impatience on his face.

Although everyone is a senator, senators are not all the same.

For example, there are majority party senators and minority party senators, core senators in political cliques and those on the fringes, as well as committee members and executive committee members; these are all different.

They are all senators, but can you say that their status, position, and power are the same?

No, they are not.

In the past two days, several people had called him, their words hinting at wanting to inquire about some news.

He sat at his desk in a daze for a while, or perhaps his mind was wandering. After about ten seconds, he pressed a few buttons on the phone, "Have Tom come over."

Five minutes later, Tom knocked on the door and entered the office with his permission.

Senator Cleveland did not deal with Tom immediately, but first attended to the documents in his hand. After another seven or eight minutes, he threw the documents into the file basket labeled "Return" before looking up.

"How are things going with Lance over there?"

"Several people have called to inquire about this matter in the past few days. Has he come up with some news I don't know about?"

He sipped his coffee while leaning back in his chair, using the strength of his toes and ankles to gently rotate the chair back and forth.

Tom nodded. "He has already purged the Goldenport City police force. I heard that only the Coda family is left of the Five Great Families…"

Senator Cleveland couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. He raised his hand and said, "Sorry," "I couldn't help it."

"The Five Great Families… what a ridiculous title."

This feeling was like… a lord in a big city hearing that his dog and a farmer's dog in the countryside had the same name. He wasn't laughing because the two dogs' names were similar, but because the farmer's dog dared to have the same name.

He was laughing at the farmer and his dog's overestimation of themselves!

He laughed for a while. "Alright, I've laughed enough. Please continue."

Only then did Tom nod and continue to recount the recent events. However, he wasn't sure how Lance was going to deal with the Coda family, and Lance's series of actions had piqued Senator Cleveland's interest.

Looking back at these events from a God's-eye view, one would get the feeling that Lance handled the problem very well.

He wasn't a fool, a simpleton who only knew how to solve problems with violence. There were fools like that everywhere in the Federation, and they wouldn't attract his attention at all.

On the contrary, Lance's clever handling of things had aroused his interest. Most importantly, Lance had not left himself any terrible handles!

This meant that his value had increased once again!

Thinking of this, he had Tom call Lance. After switching two numbers, the call was answered.

"This is Tom,"

he said quickly, stating his name as soon as the call connected, afraid that Lance would say something that would displease the senator.

"Tom?"

"What's the matter?"

Tom glanced at Senator Cleveland, who shook his head slightly. Only then did he continue, "How are things going on your end?"

"It's almost June. I remember you said everything would be resolved in June. Have you done it yet?"

Lance didn't know why Tom was suddenly calling. Perhaps Bundy was seeking help from Congress again. He immediately replied, "It's almost done. They'll be finished soon."

Tom glanced at Senator Cleveland again and asked cautiously, "How do you plan to deal with them?"

When he asked this question, Lance knew that it wasn't Tom's own question.

Tom was actually a handy tool, just like him.

A tool wouldn't ask another tool how it worked. They didn't care about each other. Tom only cared whether Lance had done his job well, and Lance only cared whether Tom could provide him with help.

He wouldn't care how Tom usually handled work problems; that was none of his business.

But now that Tom had asked, it could only mean that someone had instructed him.

The only person who could instruct Tom to ask these details was Senator Cleveland.

He adjusted his train of thought and said, "I plan to use legal means."

"Legal means?"

Tom felt like he had misheard. Senator Cleveland couldn't help but laugh.

Two jokes today had made his whole day happy!

Lance also heard the laughter, although it wasn't loud, he really heard it, but he continued as if he hadn't heard it, "Yes, legal means."

"The core figure in charge of dealing with the underworld and crime in the Coda family is now in my hands. After friendly communication and persuasion, he is like a lost lamb in heaven, finding his way home."

"He is willing to testify against some of the Coda family's criminal activities. With his accusations and some of the evidence he has submitted, they are like lambs in a lasso, unable to escape."

"When to tighten the noose depends only on when I want them to be finished."

Senator Cleveland's face showed a satisfied expression. This time, without waiting for Tom to speak, he took the initiative to ask, "Is there anything you need my help with?"

After all, this involved the transfer of tens of millions of dollars in profits every year, and even he was looking forward to the arrival of this money.

He seemed to say this without meaning, but in reality, it was not so.

Because if he followed normal legal proceedings, it might take two or three years before they were finally sentenced and the Coda family's assets could be liquidated.

And he obviously didn't want to wait that long. If he intervened, he could use his connections in the political arena to quickly advance the case.

However, Lance didn't need it. "Not for the time being, Senator. The Attorney General has given me some help…"

"You know Bob?"

Senator Cleveland frowned. Bob wasn't exactly one of his people.

If Lance had contacted Bob, did it mean that he wasn't necessarily on his side?

Fortunately, Lance explained quickly, "You misunderstood me. I'm talking about Mr. Terry, the Attorney General of Licari State."

An image appeared in Senator Cleveland's mind, somewhat vague. "I remember, Terry, yes, he's also an Attorney General, but a State Attorney General."

"What, are you very familiar with him?"

Lance's laughter came from the receiver. "For your sake!"

Tom felt somewhat emotional. He had seen many interns, congressional interns, or some office interns who were placed here through connections.

These interns graduated from elite league universities, and many of them had prominent family backgrounds.

Without a prominent family background, they wouldn't be able to get letters of recommendation that would allow them to intern in Congress or a senator's office.

These people had a very high starting point. They might usually come into contact with politicians or big capitalists of roughly this level with their parents.

But even so, it was difficult for them to communicate so smoothly with the senator when they first came, let alone flatter him.

But look at Lance, he spoke so smoothly and subtly praised the senator. Looking at the smile on the senator's face, you could tell that he liked Lance's flattery.

"You didn't promise him anything, did you?"

Although Senator Cleveland liked Lance's flattery, he didn't completely fall into it and lose his mind.

"Of course not, Senator."

"I didn't promise him anything. I didn't even mention you!"

This made Senator Cleveland even more satisfied. If this little fox wanted to use his prestige as a lion, he didn't mind.

But he couldn't use his name to promise anything outside, as that would only bring a lot of trouble.

Lance did this very well and was deeply liked by him.

"Very good, you are the most capable young man I have seen in recent years. Your future should not be limited to Goldenport City."

"Do it well, do it beautifully. If you have face, we all have face, understand what I mean?"

"If there are any problems you can't solve, call Tom. You have his number."

Senator Cleveland's hand rested on the end call button. "That's it. Notify me when you have good news."

After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for Lance's response.

Then he thought for a while, "Terry…"

He looked up at Tom, "Whose man is he?"

An Attorney General, the third person in the state government, took the initiative to approach. Although it might seem a bit blind from Lance's perspective, he believed there must be a reason.

If there was no one behind him, how could he sit in the position of the third person in a state?

Would anyone really be like foreigners, believing that as long as you have ability in the Federation, you will definitely be valued?

What a fucking joke!

Tom shook his head. "Not sure. I can investigate."

The governor, the president, the Secretary of State, cabinet members, and numerous senators in Congress could all be his former backers.

The third person in a state is indeed worth something, but you can't take risks or be reckless.

On the other side, Lance also put down the phone. He looked at the dumbfounded Stone and said with a smile, "You see, I have people above me too!"

"So, you aren't hurting your family; you're protecting it."

"Without you, they would face complete destruction."

"But because of you, some of them who would have died now have the chance to live. You are greater than Bandi, greater than Gauri, greater than Fleming!"

If Lance had said this before, Stone would never have believed it, but now he did.

Bandi talked about going legit every day, making them understand who really held power in this country.

Anyway, it wasn't in the hands of the people.

It was precisely because he knew this that he understood how terrifying that phone call just was!