Shadow Empire - Chapter 936: Everlasting Friendship

A very crude method, but surprisingly effective.

Senator Cleveland looked Lance in the eye. "How much stock can you give?"

Lance considered it for a moment, "Eighty percent."

A very sincere number.

If they can combine a railway company that doesn't have a single rail or steel to make a market value of 10 billion, then for a "XX Mining Company" that still has a few mines in production, making tens of millions or even hundreds of millions should not be a problem.

And this number is directly related to how important Lance is in this matter and how much status he has.

If he can one day get on par with the Cleveland Senators, he might get more.

But right now, that's all he can take.

Senator Cleveland frowned slightly and calculated in his mind, "Fifteen."

Lance agreed almost without hesitation, "No problem, fifteen then."

The senator's tightly furrowed brows relaxed. He sat back and pointed at Lance, "When are you going back?"

His actions were obviously different from what he said. He actually wanted to make some comments about Lance individually, but he didn't say it out loud.

"What remains is to see how they successfully resist the government forces' encirclement and suppression, and how they eventually fight back."

"Diego and the ruling group have governed Lapa for so many years through high-handed methods, including their families and their ancestors."

"The whole Lapa is like a spring that has been compressed to the extreme. When people realize that resistance works, the force pressing on the spring will disappear, and the spring will bounce very quickly and very high!"

The two chatted for a while, and then Senator Cleveland returned to Callend Manor. He still had a lot of things to do, while Lance stayed in New Gold City.

In the past, Senator Cleveland would never let his staff accompany anyone, but Lance was an exception.

Tom has now been promoted to the important position of the second-in-command in Senator Cleveland's "office". With him by his side, Lance will not encounter any trouble in New Gold City.

In the morning, Lance planned to meet Ambassador Cassia. On the way to the embassy, ​​he handed two thin envelopes to Tom.

Tom looked helpless, but he accepted it gladly.

This is a very abnormal but reasonable thing. If your relationship with a person is initially connected by the transfer of interests, then the transfer of interests itself represents the stability of the relationship.

It would have been easy for him not to take the money, but he couldn't stop Lance from having wild thoughts.

If it were just two farmers, they would have had some random thoughts, but they were not ordinary people, and the consequences of their random thoughts were much more serious than a fight between two farmers.

"Thank you!" Tom took the envelope and expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Lance smiled and said, "There's another one for your colleague."

He was talking about the chief of staff, and Tom nodded, "I will."

Naturally, the two stopped talking about this topic and started talking about what happened to Lance in Lapa.

There are some topics that Lance can talk about with the senator, but some topics are not appropriate.

At least that is the essence of ordinary people's lives.

Lapa has many interesting customs and a beautiful environment, especially some pristine jungles that have never undergone any industrial development.

The "process of civilization" seems to have been stopped here by a great force, but this is also the saddest thing for the ethnic groups living there.

Because humans are not only competing with nature, they are also competing with their own kind.

Lance had contacted Ambassador Cassia in advance, so he and his family were prepared to welcome Lance.

He also heard about some of the things that happened in Lapa, and he could only say that he felt very heavy at the moment.

When he saw Lance and Tom getting out of the car, he could only force a smile on his face so as not to be rude.

But his family's smiles seemed much more genuine.

His wife, two children, and his wife's younger brother.

They also have another house that they bought with the money Lance gave them, and he has some family members living in another house that they don't live in here.

This is an embassy, ​​not a dormitory.

After a brief acquaintance, Lance, Tom and Ambassador Cassia entered the embassy.

According to federal law, the house used by the bar is the house of the Lapa Embassy and is on the land within the embassy.

The laws of Lapa are applied here. According to the laws of Lapa, drinking alcohol and running a liquor business are not illegal.

So he was able to operate legally.

Ambassador Cassia smiled and shook his head. "They have specially made very good soundproofing equipment. We can't hear any sound from over there, and it won't affect us."

The fact that Lapa Embassy suddenly turned into a bar also made some news in Xinjin City. When some people openly went to this business place to drink and were not arrested, those drunkards went crazy!

Bar business is booming!

There are people here almost 24 hours a day, and people really need a place like this where they can vent their emotions.

It is a little easier to deal with the rich and powerful people, but ordinary people, the middle class, need not only to drink, but also an environment, an environment that allows them to feel relaxed and release their emotions.

There were more than one or two ambassadors who were short of money these days, and there were certainly more than one or two people who had ways to make money. Soon, several embassies also followed suit and began to operate places where alcohol could be sold.

Some of the people who came here to consume have been dispersed, but Xinjin City is one of the largest cities in the Federation, and its population and consumption potential far exceed that of Jingang City.

Even if there are already several competitors, there is no need to worry too much about it losing all its business.

The bar brought in huge profits, allowing Ambassador Cassia and his family to live a happy life in the Federation.

Who made it so that the income from this thing is linked to his income?

The three of them chatted and laughed as they entered Ambassador Cassia's office and sat on the sofa instead of on either side of the desk, which would have been too formal.

"The situation in Lapa has become unstable recently. Have Diego and the others contacted you?"

Lance's question made Ambassador Cassia a little nervous. He nodded and said, "Diego contacted me. He wanted me to find out if we could get some food or aid from the Federation."

Lance nodded slightly as he listened. "Diego needs to take the main responsibility for Lapa's current situation, but he is guarding his wealth and is unwilling to give any of it away."

He looked at Ambassador Cassia and said, "I just happened to come back these few days, and there are some things I need to talk to you about." Ambassador Cassia glanced at Tom. Of course he knew Tom, and what he wanted to express was very clear.

Can Tom also know what Lance wants to talk to him about?To be honest, he felt a little embarrassed now because he was participating in the discussion from the perspective of a traitor.

But if you ask whether he hates Lance, the Federation, or anyone else, those politicians, it's obviously not necessarily the case.

Even if there is no Lans and no Federation, there will be other countries to do these things, such as the Republic of Jede.

The Czech Republic's desire to unify the Alan region is very obvious, and as their national strength increases, this desire is almost obvious.

If Lapa will be destroyed sooner or later, Ambassador Cassia hopes that it is the Federation that destroys the Lapa government and the Federation that rules it next.

"We need to accelerate the liberal democratic process in Lapa, and we need some...relatively neutral ruling groups, or capital groups."

"This doesn't fit into our plan for the whole thing, so I need you to provide me with a list of high-ranking officials we can win over."

Lance said with a half-smile, "I hope this doesn't make you feel embarrassed. After all... you are a Lapa, and this may make you feel uncomfortable!"

Ambassador Cassia was a little sensitive. He lowered his head slightly with a smile on his face and said, "Mr. Lance, I need to correct a mistake you made."

Lance was a little surprised, "Sorry, did I say something wrong?"

Lance was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. He glanced at Tom, who was also laughing. The two were laughing at the same thing.

"Sorry, this is my problem, there is something wrong with my expression!"

"So are you willing to give us some help in this matter?"

Ambassador Cassia smiled and asked back, "Why not?"

According to Ambassador Cassia's description, Lapa's ruling group is not a monolithic entity and there are some contradictions among them.

It’s just that the Lavila family has always been the strongest. They control a large number of troops, and many officers and generals in the army are from the Lavila family or have relations with their family.

But this does not mean that other ruling groups have no ability to resist at all.

What Lance needs is to pry open a gap in the ruling group first. Just like what happened in the empire before, when the nobles choose to stand by and watch, the situation will deteriorate very quickly!Senator Cleveland said that there must be a breakthrough within a year, otherwise the plan might be shelved, so every possible means must be used.

Senator Cleveland didn't have time to deal with Lance's affairs in the short term, so Lance planned to go back to Golden Port City to visit his son and Patricia, and to see the development of the winery.

He said hello to Tom and then boarded the train back to Likalai State.

Tom told this to Senator Cleveland, who also did not respond.

In the evening, he also went to Callend Manor.

There was no name written on it, which meant that the amounts in both envelopes were the same.

This is a very smart approach, at least it won’t make people feel uncomfortable.

Even though Tom's current position is not as good as the chief staff, if Lance still writes his name on the letter, or tells who is responsible for whom, then Tom will definitely feel uncomfortable, thinking that Lance thinks he is not as good as the chief staff.

It's not like now, making him feel comfortable.

And the scent of that special ink is really great!

When he met the chief of staff, he handed the envelope to him.

The chief of staff raised the envelope in his hand and asked, "What is this?"

"The local specialties that Lance brought from Lapa."

Now he has quite a few local specialties, almost all of which are gold.

Gold is still appreciating in value, and this thing is small in size and easy to operate, which is more convenient than giving money directly in some ways.

He is a little sensitive about "local specialties" now!"Have you read it?" he asked as he opened the envelope.

He was sure that Tom would have one, too.

"Then you must be very satisfied, you were smiling while talking." He looked down at the number on the check, and the expression on his face became very vivid in an instant.

"It is indeed a happy number. I have to thank him in person."

One hundred thousand yuan.

Do you think it’s a lot?

Coupled with the conscription of several million soldiers, it made people feel as if they were back in the "golden age". Just an ordinary worker could earn a salary that was almost as high as some white-collar workers.

Especially those in some industries that require technology, such as logistics and factory technicians and skilled workers, their income is higher than that of the general middle class.

This is an era of renewed glory. In order to compete for more workers, wages must be continuously raised.

Many people say that maybe in the second half of next year, the federal salary will break through the fifty dollar mark!This has given the society a positive attitude.

One hundred thousand yuan would require them to work without food or drink for two thousand months, a total of one hundred and sixty-seven years...

When you get this money, your mood will definitely change.

Later, Senator Cleveland returned to the house after finishing work outside. Everyone in the living room stood up. He looked at his two aides in surprise, "What good thing happened?"

The chief of staff and Tommy did not lie or cover up. "Lance sent some local specialties."

"one hundred."

Senator Cleveland nodded and said, "He is a man who is willing to give." This was consistent with his impression of Lance.

He has met many people, some of whom are very stingy. They have a lot of money but are reluctant to give it to others.

Although some people are willing to give, they will clearly emphasize the "transactional nature". If they give you money, you have to bring them benefits.

Senator Cleveland didn't feel unhappy about not having his share, because Lance had given him one yesterday, which was much bigger and more than what he gave to his two subordinates!"Well, you guys definitely know better than me what to say and what not to say."

"Just cooperate with whatever he wants, but don't cross the line."

They were given so much money, and even without Lance telling them, they all knew that the money was definitely not given for free.

Smart people are like this, they will understand without you saying anything.

This is not an easy job!

(End of this chapter)