Shadow Empire

Chapter 857 The Banner Must Be Clear

"Mr. Lance, I'm ready." After Editor-in-Chief Mason received the report from his subordinates, he called Lance.

What this phone call actually meant was that Mr. Oger could commit suicide at any time and anywhere.

It doesn’t really matter whether he committed suicide or was killed.

In this confrontation between Lance and the AFL, and between the tentative forces of Congress represented by Lance and the AFL, they were ready.

It's like... a great date night, you kissed, touched each other, and now you're being honest with each other, and there's only one last step left.

This step is up to Lance to decide.

"Well done, Editor-in-Chief Mason. I will handle it as appropriate."

"If I want to do anything, I will call you first. Please keep an eye on these things during this time."

Editor-in-Chief Mason seemed very easy to talk to. He laughed and said, "This is all within my job scope. Besides, it is an honor for me to work for you, Mr. Lance!"

Logically speaking, Editor-in-Chief Mason is a "cultured person" who has read many books and has deep cultivation and self-cultivation. It is unlikely that he would say such blatant words.

But in this world, under the erosion of capital, even if you are a literati, even if you are well-educated and cultured, you will still bow your head when you should.

They even know better than ordinary people when to bow their heads and how to bow their heads.

No one doesn't like the feeling of being flattered. Lance smiled more and his tone became lighter. "When all this mess is over, we can get together."

"It just so happens that I still need to have a more formal meeting with the top executives of News Corporation. You should know them better than I do. We can meet together then."

This is equivalent to proposing in disguise that the editor-in-chief should be promoted from an editor-in-chief to the management level.

The wrinkles on Editor-in-Chief Mason's face were piled up with laughter. Hadn't he done all this just for this moment?

He had won the Golden Newspaper Award, but he still had to do things according to the requirements of the chairman of the newspaper's board who had only attended high school and had never even won the Golden Newspaper Award.

At his stage, in the upper-middle class, he could already see some of the essence of how the world works.

After personal ability reaches a certain level, it can no longer serve as a driving force to push him forward.

Editor-in-Chief Mason immediately replied, "I'm waiting for your call anytime, anywhere, Mr. Lance!"

Lance laughed twice more, "I will."

With that he hung up the phone.

After he hung up the phone, he thought about it and called Ms. Debbie.

Ms. Debbie was on vacation at home when she received the call. The failure of the general strike put the entire Likale State Labor Federation under great pressure.

And Ms. Debbie, a supervisor who clearly did not side with the AFL, was put on leave indefinitely.

Her friends in the branch and the headquarters have contacted her privately. The strike seems to have failed, but if they can turn the situation around later in the process of holding Lance accountable.

Then Ms. Debbie has another chance to return to the office, but this time not as a supervisor, but as a deputy supervisor.

The Federation was very sensitive about her "passive attitude towards the strike". If she had not been in good health over the years, she might have been expelled.

If the Labor Federation fails to turn the tables in the subsequent confrontation, then she will have to bear part of the responsibility and will be directly expelled.

After all, the strike is the most effective weapon of the AFL. If it fails the first time, some important people will have to take the blame.

She is one, the local branch president is one, and there are two vice presidents.

It's just that she was removed from the list, while the others were suspended from work or changed jobs.

The Labor Federation wants to tell people in this way that it is not that the strike knife is not effective, but that the Likalai branch used the wrong method and therefore failed to achieve the desired effect.

Ms. Debbie, who has now had some free time, doesn't actually care at all about losing her job. She has made enough over the years.

Most of the companies related to the textile industry in the entire Likale State have contacted her privately. She has been serving as a nominal consultant to more than 30 companies for more than ten years.

Even if each company only gives her 50 yuan per month, with more than 30 companies, that would be 1,500 yuan per month, 20,000 yuan per year, and 200,000 yuan in 10 years.

Not to mention two hundred thousand, even twenty thousand is a lifetime’s worth for many people!
So she is not worried about this at all, and she can also start her own business. She knows this industry too well and can set up her own factory and still make money.

The sudden ringing of the phone made her a little curious, and when she picked it up she realized it was Lance calling.

"I have something I want to talk to you about. I called your office and they said you were on temporary leave."

Ms. Debbie chuckled, "More like a suspension. I hope that doesn't affect why you came to me."

Lance was a little surprised, but only a little, "No, of course not, could you come to my office?"

"Some things can't be explained over the phone."

Ms. Debbie did not refuse, and soon she came to Lance's office.

"Please take a seat."

He asked his secretary to bring two drinks over, then sat on the chair and asked with a smile, "I hope it's not because of me."

Ms. Debbie shook her head, "No, it's not. You don't need to feel guilty, Lance."

"I have lived in Jingang City for many years and I know the situation of this city very well, so this is my own choice!"

She didn't make it very clear, but it was almost clear enough.

Lance nodded slightly, and the secretary outside brought two cups of coffee. Because Ms. Debbie liked Lance's coffee very much last time, Lance ordered coffee again this time.

After the door was closed, Lance asked, "They've been very quiet lately and haven't caused me any trouble. They must be planning something."

Ms. Debbie nodded, "I heard it, just heard it!"

"They have a case against a young man named Carl, and they intend to extradite Carl to another state for trial."

Lance whistled, "That's very Federal!"

The situation in each state of the federation is different. In some states, theft is a misdemeanor and you may be fined fifty dollars and leave the court immediately.

But in some states theft is a felony, and some people have been sentenced to twenty years in prison for theft.

How to extradite a criminal to a state that is favorable to him for trial and hearing has always been one of the best tasks for senior lawyers.

Hearing her say this, Lance realized that this might be a real challenge for Carl, but at the same time, he couldn't let Carl get caught.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Thank you for your reminder. This is very important to me."

He picked up the coffee stirrer and stirred it, then took a sip. "Are they still going to ask you to come back to work?"

Ms. Debbie seemed relaxed. "They didn't think about it that much, and I don't have any particular desire to go back. It doesn't matter whether I go back or not."

“To them I may be an irresponsible supervisor, but I am responsible for myself. I am a Golden Harborer first, and then a supervisor of the AFL.”

In this way, she expressed her attitude to ensure that Lance could feel it accurately.

Of course Lance could sense that she was being too blunt, but that was also a good thing, because sometimes being more blunt could help avoid misunderstandings.

He thought for a moment and said, "So it's not too presumptuous of me to invite you here today. I plan to give you a new job."

Ms. Debbie became interested. “Can I know what it is?”

"Of course!"

Lance adjusted his sitting position. "As a senior consultant and vice president of a labor company, you have come into contact with many factory owners, entrepreneurs, capitalists, and many workers."

“You know how to deal with capital, and you know how to deal with labor.”

"Your experience is what we need. As you know, my company is growing rapidly, and I plan to make it a larger labor system within this year."

"You will be one of the founders!"

Lance is also a person who likes to draw pie in the sky, but at the same time he draws it very realistically. Ms. Debbie used her own actions to feel how destructive Lance's company is to the unions and the labor federation!
In other words, what Lance said could really come true!
If his labor service company really becomes another behemoth, then a new "Union of Labor" will be born. As the vice president and one of the founders, what kind of honor will she receive?
Like Vice President Walter?
Above millions of people?

She didn't know, but she was intrigued.

She put down her coffee cup. "I appreciate you thinking of me, Lance, but I'm not sure if I'm qualified for this job."

“And will my identity as a labor union member become an obstacle to building trust between me and my new colleagues?”

In the case of a head-on conflict between the Wanli Group and the Labor Federation, if Ms. Debbie joins as the industry director of the Labor Federation, perhaps some people, a small group of people, will be dissatisfied with her.

The AFL is a huge organization, so you are bound to see many things here that you don't usually see, such as power struggles among ordinary people and political infighting in offices.

And she only has "one", so even if she is given the position of vice president, will it be just a nominal position?
She has a lot to think about.

As for what she was worried about now, Lance thought it was not a problem at all.

"So there is an interview that you need to complete, and if you can complete it, then I can guarantee that you will be the best person for the job."

"Even... there is still a chance for him to become the president in the future!"

Ms. Debbie's breathing quickened slightly and her heart beat faster. She picked up her coffee again and lowered her head to adjust her mood.

After she took a big sip, the bitterness began to dissipate, and a rich and fragrant smell began to spread, and her emotions stabilized a little.

"What interview?"

Ms. Debbie did not go home immediately after leaving Lance's office.

She actually didn't tell the whole truth about whether she was from Jingang or not.

She was not from Jingang, in fact, she came from Maintenon, she was from Likalai State, but not from Jingang.

Because Jingang City's textile industry is large in scale and industry-focused, the Labor Federation's textile industry office was set up in Jingang City.

This makes it easier for her to connect with those companies and unions, and the other offices of the AFL are all in Maintenon.

She was alone here, her husband and children were at Maintenon.

Now even if she wanted to find someone to discuss it with, it seemed that she couldn't find anyone.

After sitting on the street for a while, she thought about it and dialed her husband's phone number.

"What's that sound?" She frowned, having heard some sounds that could easily arouse her imagination.

She actually knew that her husband... would definitely cheat on her sometimes. Her husband worked in the financial industry.

What a crazy industry!

Either everyone will become crazy or depressed. Working in this industry is very stressful. Behind those strings of numbers are not math problems, but money problems.

She had heard that the industry was a bit chaotic, but the financial industry did make money.

In 1010, the federal financial industry began to move from ignorance to maturity. Major exchanges began to emerge and finance became more standardized, which also announced the arrival of the financial era.

Her husband has been in this industry for a long time and is considered one of the first practitioners. He now works for a securities firm and makes money as if he had picked it up.

But the pressure is really great. It is said that more than half of his colleagues have either been to jail or jumped off buildings.

The two of them had been separated for a long time, so she actually knew it clearly.

But as a woman, a wife, she can pretend not to know 50% of the things in the marriage as long as they don't come to her face.

There was a sound of clothes rubbing against each other coming from the receiver. She was very familiar with this sound. After all, she was also a textile worker at first.

"Honey...um...what did you say?"

Ms. Debbie stood there holding the receiver for a while, "No, nothing, I just wanted to ask if the child is okay?"

"child?"

"Oh, God, yes, child, he is very good, very good. You know I have hired the best tutors, housekeepers and maids. They will take good care of him. Don't worry."

It could be heard that her husband wanted to say something, but Ms. Debbie did not give him the chance. "He is fine, that's all. I just asked about this matter."

"I have other things to do, so I'll hang up now."

She hung up the phone, stood in the phone booth for a while, and then left.

Sometimes what drives a person to make a difficult decision may not be "support" but "harm".

On the other side, Ms. Debbie's husband put down the phone, looked down at the naughty girl, and showed an equally naughty smile on his face, "You little troublemaker, let me check it out..."

He didn't take the phone call seriously at all. Since both he and his wife had their own careers and had been separated for a long time, marriage was just a way for them to prove to others that they had assumed their own social responsibilities.

As for real life, who the hell cares about that?
Ms. Debbie strode back to her car and drove back home.

She took a piece of paper and started calling the numbers and names on it one by one.

A little later, some people came to her villa one after another. These people were all members of the labor union in the textile industry or related to the textile industry, the so-called "skilled workers" or "certified technical workers."

It can be seen that their conditions were not very good. They were basically all injured. Some had broken arms, and some had broken legs. In short, they were not doing well.

Ms. Debbie made a total of seventeen or eighteen calls, but in the end only six people came, not even half of the number, but it was enough.

Sometimes even if the sound isn't too loud, people will still listen.

These people all knew Ms. Debbie to some degree, and she first invited them to sit down and then looked at them.

"You know who I am and what I used to do."

Five people nodded. One of them was not very clear, but the person next to him told him.

"In fact, before this strike, if you still remember, you should know that I once advised you not to participate in the strike because this is Jingang City."

"The situation here is a little special. It's different from other places. Does anyone remember it?"

Two of them raised their hands to indicate that they knew about it.

Ms Debbie continued, "I have been relieved of my duties now because I know that our general strike will not succeed and they may think I am a traitor or that I have... caused the failure of the strike."

"They never look for reasons in themselves, and always think that as long as someone goes on strike, they can achieve their goals."

"Gentlemen, it is not the refugees or the Lans family that caused your current situation, but the unrealistic greed of the Labor Federation!"

Seeing this "former head of the Likalai State Textile Industry Office of the Labor Federation" say such words, the only six people who came were shocked and speechless!

One of the middle-aged men whose arm was broken couldn’t help but ask, “Ms. Debbie, I don’t understand what you mean!”

Others also looked at Ms. Debbie, wondering what she meant by these words.

Ms. Debbie tilted her head slightly and relaxed her shoulders. "I've made my point very clear. If it weren't for the wrong ideas and practices of the Labor Federation, you wouldn't be like this now."

"I heard that you couldn't afford the hospital's medical expenses, so some of you mortgaged your properties for loans, and some of you borrowed from loan sharks."

"How is it? Is it hard to find a job nowadays?"

"Or is it that your current situation is difficult to sustain?"

This sentence made everyone's face change, because Ms. Debbie was right.

They basically all borrowed usury, of course not the kind in casinos, but more normal usury.

It is worth mentioning that the interest rate of some federal loans to ordinary people is not much higher than bank loans, and this is especially true in the South.

Sometimes these financial companies can even be called philanthropists!

But no matter how charitable you are, it is not easy to pay back this money.

(End of this chapter)