Empire of Shadows

Everyone was trying to get closer to Lance, whether they were his peers or those of a higher generation. They all wanted to be closer to Lance.

Controlling the casino's operations, coupled with the companies seized from the Kodar family, Lance had become one of the rule-makers of this city.

And they, too, would join the privileged class because of Lance.

【Writing this, I hope readers remember our domain name Taiwan Novel Network → 𝑡 𝑤 𝑘 𝑎 𝑛 . 𝑐 𝑜 𝑚】

This was a core driving force. People would gather around Lance to achieve a better future, be driven by him, and work for him.

If Lance was the root of this interest group, then these people were the branches spreading out from the interest group, an indispensable part.

Some people who were continuing to walk on the road to success, but who had gone further than others, would tell those who came later not to have too many people in the company who got there through nepotism.

Uncles, aunts, younger brothers, younger sisters, all kinds of relatives, don't let them appear in the company, let alone in management.

The more people who said it, the more people believed it. Eventually, some people, even though they could easily solve the problem, still used the most troublesome way to hire people from outside to work for them.

Maybe they would think in the background... I'm doing this to avoid trouble in the future, thus ignoring some problems that might be overlooked.

Family businesses are often very rapid in the early stages of development. Driven by core interests, everyone will exert their full strength.

Everyone yearns to change their lives and the destiny of their family through hard work, everyone working together.

The real problem that makes them stop and settle for pleasure is that the leader can no longer provide them with higher goals, nor can they realize more self-worth!

If a company is a country, then when this country is constantly expanding outward in order to obtain more land, wealth, and population, they are closely united from top to bottom.

Everything will reflect a terrible efficiency and execution because they have goals and the ability to achieve them.

But if the monarch of this country no longer aims at external expansion and begins to lie on his laurels and enjoy everything he has gained in the past, then people who have lost their goals will put their goals on infighting.

A department head in a company, if the company has no intention of expanding outward, he cannot actively say that he wants to develop new things. He can only put his goal on how to climb higher.

So the biggest difficulty in the development of family businesses is not nepotism, but the lack of goals.

Lance was not afraid of this happening because his goals were still very far-reaching, not enough to make these people stop and think about internal power struggles.

They would spend their entire lives running forward with all their might.

As long as they didn't stop for a day, the problems encountered by those "experienced people" would not be encountered by him for a day.

Everyone also very much recognized the goodwill released by Lance. As long as they were willing to work and were not idiots, Lance was willing to give them some opportunities.

Like the company's managers, department heads, Lance would not be stingy with these.

But he also made his attitude clear, that is, if someone couldn't do their job, then Lance would replace them.

Everyone understood this very well and had no psychological resistance.

As they chatted, dinner began, and everyone sat on the sides of those long tables, their faces full of contentment.

This gathering was at William's villa, so William sat in the main seat. On another table specially prepared for the women, Emily also sat in the main seat with a smile on her face.

Lance sat in the first seat on William's right-hand side.

The Lawrence family were devout believers, and the Pureblood Federation people were believers. In many years past, belief was not only a matter of faith but also a matter of position.

Under William's leadership, after a round of prayers, they could finally begin to eat.

The children did not understand how complex the adult world was. They only cared about the change and the large pieces of roast meat on the table.

The ladies were chatting about more fashionable topics, mainly hosted by Emily. She was talking about the social interactions of the upper class and the small circle social interactions that William's wife, the councilor, attended.

The men were talking about broader and more macro issues.

"...Lance, what do you think about the issue of the garrison?"

As they chatted, they naturally talked about the marriage between Lance and Patricia.

"I really don't have any free time these days. After all the casinos reopen after July, we can hold an engagement ceremony first."

The person who asked him the question was Bennett. Bennett had a certain position in the Lawrence family. He was Barbara's uncle.

He was also a civil servant and a lawyer. These two identities destined him to be different from ordinary family members and ordinary civil servants.

He worked in the city community development department of the city hall. Recently, because of Lance, he had the opportunity to be promoted and was currently the third-ranked official in the department.

The work of this office was relatively complex, related to urban planning, the formulation of residents' social welfare, and also able to deal with enterprises.

They could require enterprises to provide more jobs for community residents to meet the basic needs of residents' survival.

This was a department that could be very strong, but also potentially very weak, depending on whether the specific person had their own energy and background.

Ordinary civil servants were punching bags in this department. Citizens would scold them, capitalists would scold them, and even their superiors would scold them.

But if it was the kind of person with a background, then this was definitely a department that could quickly produce political achievements.

Everyone ate while paying attention to the issue here.

Although Lance was young, no one really regarded him as a "child."

Lance took the beef off the ribs with a fork and said, "This is a good thing!"

"I noticed that many people in the city are very worried about whether the navy's stationing here will bring some negative impact to our city. After all, some rumors in some places do make people feel uneasy."

"But we can't therefore think that the garrison is bad."

"Gentlemen, if there are suddenly eighty to one hundred thousand, or even one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand people with spending power in this city, do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for here?"

The income of soldiers was not low. Lance had learned a little bit about it. Even the income of recruits was ninety-five dollars.

Like those veterans, their basic monthly income was more than one hundred and twenty dollars. Tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people must have a lot of officers.

The income of those officers was even higher.

This did not include various subsidies. If you count them, their income was indeed not low!

At the same time, their wages came from federal military funding, not from the output of this city.

They could not stay in the barracks forever here. As long as they had the opportunity to leave the barracks, this prosperous city would definitely be consumed.

If everyone spent half of their income in the city every month, then this would be a new market of five million!

This was much more than Lance had initially predicted!

At the same time, the construction of naval bases and military ports was also a large project, and the jobs created were enough to change the economic depression of Goldport City.

This was a great thing!

Lance shared his thoughts with everyone, which did make many people think.

William frowned slightly at this time and asked, "But we can't ignore the possible damage that the military may bring to the local area. This is a problem!"

Military crimes were handled by military courts, and military courts were the military's own judicial institutions, which in other words meant "I judge myself."

Unless it was a very serious case, it was basically raised high and then gently put down.

The Federation had had more than once various vicious military-related cases before, but in the end, those that could be covered up were firmly covered up, and those that could not be covered up would not be judged strictly. Many people could continue to serve after being sentenced to two or three years, which was simply unheard of.

But from the military's point of view, it seemed that all this was not so incomprehensible.

After all, the soldiers really had to sell their lives to them. Now that they had made a small mistake and the military had also paid money, what else did they want?

Those young men who were full of energy that could not be vented might have done something wrong. They could not hold on to them for doing something wrong and not let go.

What they did was actually nothing compared to their contribution and the pain they had to endure in the army.

And in the final analysis, what the generals needed was for the soldiers to obey them. This was the core!

So everyone feared them more than respected them!

Lance nodded after listening, "This is indeed a problem. If they really mess around, I will find a way."

After he ended the topic, someone suddenly asked, "Lance, it is said outside... that you have some contact with Congress?"

Everyone's movements stopped suddenly, and they all stared at Lance intently.

Congress was too far away for the civil servants of a city. Even when they pretended not to see their wife's resentful eyes at night and curled up in bed, they could not imagine such a scene.

To be able to know the Congressmen, how lucky would you have to be to have this honor?

If Lance knew the Congressmen...

Just thinking about it made people feel excited!

The potential of their Lawrence family would probably go up several levels.

With so many eyes focused on him, Lance wasn't intimidated. He calmly nodded, speared a piece of tender beef with his fork, rolled it in the sauce, and then used his spoon to support it as he placed it back on his plate.

“Yes.”

“But due to certain reasons, I'm not at liberty to tell you his name. However, you might be able to guess.”

Some people still looked puzzled, but others had already realized!

William and Bennett exchanged glances, both seeing understanding in each other's eyes.

Senator Cleveland.

Why guess that person?

Because Lance only had the opportunity to meet him!

Rumor had it that Councilman Williams knew Senator Cleveland, so it was possible that Lance had connected with this rising star of Congress at that time.

Thinking of this, those who knew the information whispered introductions to those who didn't, and everyone's expression became excited!

William raised his glass, "I suggest we all raise a glass to Lance!"

Who could refuse that reason?

The gentlemen all raised their glasses. The Lawrence family's future was secure!

The most excited person at this moment was probably William. He might even have a chance to run for mayor!

However, that thought quickly disappeared from his mind. He had never been dissatisfied with being a Federalist, but at this moment, he felt it was a damn bad thing.

The Federalists couldn't give him much help in the mayoral election, and the State of Lycoming wasn't their traditional territory either. Their territory was more in the northwest.

Suddenly, the originally mellow wine became somewhat bitter.

But it didn't matter. There were Socialists and Liberals in the family. If they could become mayor, the effect would actually be… the same.

Lance also talked about many things, such as the potential for future urban development and his ideas for redeveloping the Empire District, which provided everyone with a lot of ideas and information.

Especially the issue of restarting the construction of the New Port District after Councilman Williams took office. Knowing this news half a year in advance allowed them to seize the initiative more quickly and effectively in some work!

Everyone was very satisfied with the meal.

In the evening, the "guests" all left the villa, and the villa, which had been lively all night, suddenly became quiet.

After Lance and Patricia washed up, they lay in bed. After a short and intense workout, the two of them were now cuddling together and chatting.

The cool moonlight didn't make them feel bored. Patricia's satin-like skin glowed white in the moonlight, making her irresistible.

Lance inhaled the natural fragrance emanating from her body, and his whole person, his whole world, seemed to quiet down at this moment.

“Barbara’s eyes when she looks at you are a little strange,” Patricia finally said what she had been holding back all night.

Although she hadn't experienced many terrible things, that didn't mean she was stupid.

Barbara's eyes could drip water when she looked at Lance, the kind that was sticky and cloying. Even if she was slow, she could still notice it.

Lance ran his hand through the girl's hair, feeling its smoothness, "Yeah, a little bit."

“She might have suffered some blows or setbacks, which is why she's like this.”

Patricia didn't quite understand, "Why?"

After thinking for a while, Lance explained, "When she realizes her powerlessness in many matters, she will become more dependent on others for help."

“Unfortunately, I'm the one who can help her.”

“She doesn't have anything to repay me for my help, whether it's money or anything else. The only thing she can offer is herself.”

“But you don't have to worry so much. I'm not interested in her.”

Lance hugged the girl, his tone without the slightest fluctuation, "Don't worry about these boring things. What you need to do now is be happy…"

Soon, the emotions and thoughts that bothered her dissipated in a series of impacts.

The next morning, the family sat down together for breakfast. Lance noticed that William and Emily came out of different rooms.

He was a little puzzled at first, but then he remembered that Emily was already pregnant, and it seemed… a little obvious.

No wonder they slept separately.

During breakfast, William asked a question, "I forgot to ask last night, are there still some unfinished matters with the Kodak family?"

Lance enjoyed his breakfast made by the maid, bacon and eggs, while asking, "What do you mean?"

Lance liked to spread the runny yolk of a half-cooked fried egg on the bacon, so that the smoky flavor of the bacon combined with the sticky, mellow fragrance of the yolk could form a new flavor.

But he didn't like to spread the runny yolk on bread.

William also fiddled with his knife and fork, "Those remaining members of the Kodak family, will they compromise?"

“I'm worried that some of them will secretly do bad things.”

He wanted to remind Lance, although he felt that Lance didn't need his reminder, but reminding and not reminding were two different things.

Not all things need to be reminded, such as wiping your butt.

If you see someone pulling up their pants and walking out of the toilet after taking a dump, and you say "Did you wipe?", that person will not only not be grateful to you but will think you are sick, and may even scold you a few times or even beat you up.

But if it's something that concerns safety, such as "Are you sure you've silenced everyone?", it won't make people feel disgusted. Those horses have already been silenced.

Lance nodded, "They plan to do that!" He put a piece of bacon wrapped in egg yolk into his mouth, "But they don't have a chance anymore!"

In the swimming pool of the Kodak family's manor, a family was struggling in terror. They were dragged into the water by some young people, and they tried to struggle out, but in the end, they were pressed to the bottom of the water by those people in turn.

On the side of the interstate highway leading to Mount Vernon, five cars were parked in the wilderness. Seven or eight people were kneeling in the wilderness with their hands and feet tied. The people behind them raised the weapons in their hands at them.

On the top of a building, several people cried and begged in tears, and some were even scared and peed their pants, but they still couldn't escape the fate of being thrown off the top of the building!

Some people cursed loudly for a while, and then begged for a while, but in the end, they were injected with snake venom, turning blue and black in painful struggles…

These people were all those who opposed Lance. They were betrayed by their own people, named by Lance, and left this world in various bizarre ways.

But one thing they had in common was that all of this was just an "accident" or "suicide."

The police would quickly give their judgment and quickly close the case. No one would stir up any waves for them, and they couldn't stir up any waves.

I believe that soon those people will know how to get along with Lance. In fact, Lance is not a difficult person to get along with.

You see, some people died because they opposed Lance.

Some people not only didn't die, but also retained their previous jobs and privileges because they agreed with Lance.

Opposition and agreement have never been a difficult choice, right?