Shadow Empire

Chapter 869: Lifting a Stone
Gomez has been very busy recently, busy analyzing some situations in Lapa and trying to figure out the situation of his brother-in-law and his people.

When he heard that the city of Jingang was bombarded and Congress pushed for the passage of the Eastern Ocean Security Defense Act, he knew that Yalan and Lapa had been thrown into the kitchen by the federals.

It may only be three months to six months before they are served on the table.

This was the result of his analysis with Ambassador Cassia, and the situation was not optimistic.

Both of them could feel that the situation in the Federation was very tense at this moment, and they could also feel their firm attitude towards occupying the Yalan region.

Ambassador Cassia sat in a chair and looked out the window at two children playing on the lawn outside.

After they came to the Federation, they got two large pet dogs.

When they were in Lapa, Ambassador Cassia's two children had a pet dog, but unfortunately it was stolen not long after they had it.

I don’t know if it ended up in someone’s stomach or something else.

There is a high probability that they were eaten by people because there are too many poor people and they have limited access to safe food and opportunities to obtain food safely.

Although a dog is not big, it can provide a person with at least one or two meals, which is very tempting for poor people.

In Lapa, many rich people will build a yard specifically for their pets and arrange bodyguards for their pets, otherwise the poor will try every means to steal and eat these pets.

Even if we catch them, it's useless. At most we can beat these poor people up, beat them hard, that's all.

Between being beaten after a full meal and starving to death, people know how to make a choice that is beneficial to them.

It was not until they came to the Federation that they got two large dogs again.

Although it is called a large dog, it is only a little over one year old and does not actually look that big.

Ambassador Cassia calmed down as he watched the two children and two big dogs running and playing happily, and heard their happy laughter coming from outside the window.

He looked back at Gomez, his good friend.

Of course, the word "good friends" needs to be put in quotation marks. In essence, they are in a relationship of mutual benefit. It's just that as they benefit from each other more and become more familiar with each other, they become good friends.

But if they really encounter a choice between two people where only one can survive, they will find a way to kill the other before the other makes a choice.

However, as long as there is no such choice between the two, they will still be good friends.

"What's the situation at home?" Ambassador Cassia took off his glasses, took out a deerskin leather specially used for wiping glasses, and wiped it briefly.

Gomez, who had just come from China, sighed. He also looked at the dog and two older children running on the lawn, thinking that he should send his family over as soon as possible.

He knew very well that once his family came to the Federation, they would most likely be inseparable, just like Ambassador Cassia at this moment.

He can leave, but his family cannot, which is a kind of check and balance.

But...it doesn't matter, at least the Federation is safe.

Diego was a little flustered.

He lit a cigarette and recalled what his brother-in-law, the president of Lapa, the guy he called "Diego", had done recently.

"They are very scared and very angry. I heard that they are contacting the rulers of the surrounding countries and want to form an alliance to fight against the federals."

"I heard that they plan to recruit more personnel and purchase a batch of new weapons to prevent any invasion war."

"Besides that..." He took a breath and then couldn't help laughing, "They have also entrusted me to transfer as much funds as possible to the Federation."

"Otherwise you won't have a chance to see me now!"

When Ambassador Cassia heard the previous few sentences, he felt a little bit of recognition and acceptance of these rulers in his heart, even though they were all bastards and scum.

But when faced with real problems, he was still able to show such a heroic side.

To be honest, Master Cassia felt that he had underestimated them in the past.

But when he heard what Gomez said next, his expression control immediately got out of control.

He certainly knew what it meant to speed up the transfer of assets abroad, which meant that these people would abandon Lapa at any time.

As long as the situation is not right, they will flee overseas.

For a moment he didn't know what to say. Diego's family, as well as the families of other rulers, had ruled Lapa for many years, plundering and exploiting the wealth of Lapa and its people.

Now that they are in trouble, the first thing they think of is to escape!

If they had waited until the situation forced them to move forward before considering these things, Ambassador Cassia would have looked up to them.

"Have you transferred their money?"

Gomez nodded, then shook his head, "I'm thinking about something."

Master Cassia motioned for him to continue.

Gomez sorted out his thoughts and said, "I am just a small character. I am not a ruler like Diego, nor am I the descendant of a tribal chief. I am just an ordinary person who happens to have a beautiful sister."

"It's hard for me to get into the eyes of the bigwigs in the Federation. I'm different from you in this respect!"

Gomez's expression and eyes when he looked at Ambassador Casillas were somewhat complicated.

In the past... Although the two of them were good friends, what he hid deep in his heart was that he didn't think much of Ambassador Cassia.

He felt that although Ambassador Cassia was a government official, he was just a government official, and his unreliable brother-in-law was the president!
But now looking back, Ambassador Cassia has been able to connect with the Federal Congress, and his status is obviously much higher than his own.

Ambassador Cassia is able to get good treatment and live here, but what about him?
The wealth in his hands may very likely be the reason why the bullet is shot at him in the end.

He has to find a way out for himself and for his family.

Ambassador Cassia listened to what he said, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He was in a good mood and said modestly, "In fact, there is no difference between us."

Gomez did not argue with him, but said, "I plan to use these funds as a donation in exchange for some opportunities and a little power."

Ambassador Cassia was stunned for a moment. He looked at Gomez in disbelief and couldn't help asking, "How much money do they have in the Federation through your hands?"

Gomez didn't tell the truth, but he also said a shocking number, "70 to 80 million."

The actual number is much higher than this. He did not say it all because he had his own ideas and he was also wary of Ambassador Cassia.

Although the money passed through his hands, he did not know the bank's withdrawal receipt, but he believed that the account number he provided was sufficient.

The federals will not let go of the precise positioning.

Ambassador Cassia gasped, "So many?"

"Who are you going to contact?"

Gomez looked at him and lowered his voice. "How is your relationship with Senator Cleveland?"

Ambassador Cassia frowned slightly and said, "Actually, you can contact Lance and ask him to help you with this matter."

Gomez shook his head slightly, "He's just a gang leader, you have to help me with this!"

His idea was simple. It wasn't that he didn't think Lance couldn't do it, but that he wanted to give himself more "chips".

A person recommended by a gang leader and a person recommended by an ambassador to the Federation, who is inclined towards the Federation, definitely have different statuses among those politicians.

He himself is from the privileged class, so he has this kind of cognition and judgment.

If a Lapa gangster wanted to introduce someone to him, he would definitely not take it seriously.

What remarkable people can the gang introduce?

But if a government official said he wanted to introduce him to an interesting person, even if he didn't take it very seriously, he would certainly not be so perfunctory or casual about it.

He had contacted Lance, and last time Lance said that the big shots wanted some local specialties, golden local specialties.

He tried to get some golden local specialties that could represent Lapa and have Lapa characteristics overnight, and wanted to give them to Senator Cleveland. But Lance did not help him, but asked him to give the things to Lance himself, and then Lance handed them over on his behalf.

Then Lance told him that the big shots had already taken his things, and that was all.

He had no idea whether they had really received it or whether the item might still be in Lance's hands.

So he still wanted to bypass Lance and contact those big shots directly.

If Ambassador Cassia was a little... unqualified before, he is definitely qualified now.

Master Cassia hesitated, "Actually, finding Lance is the best choice."

Gomez shook his head. “I’m not familiar with him and I don’t trust him very much, but we are good friends and I believe you.”

"Of course I know it's not easy for you in the Federation right now, so..."

As he spoke, he took out a brown paper file bag from the briefcase he was carrying and pushed it over on the table.

Ambassador Cassia looked at him and he met his gaze. After the two looked at each other for a moment, Ambassador Cassia opened the file bag and took a look inside.

A federal cashier's check can be redeemed directly for cash at any bank that does business with the bank.

He took it out and took a look. It was three hundred thousand federal soles.

He had not intended to agree to it so easily, but the money made him waver.

He knows very well what the use of money is in the Federation!
He might be of some use to Lance and these big shots now, but he won't be useful forever.

What will he do if Lance cuts off his income?
Now, without this extra income, how can they maintain their family’s expenses and living standards?

Three hundred thousand is not a small amount of money, and the current situation is really tense. No one knows what the future will be like.

Even he himself doesn't know how long his value can last, maybe a month, maybe a year?
Once he loses his value, will Lance still provide him with benefits?

He thought it wouldn't happen. The longer he stayed here, the more he could feel the cold and cruel reality behind this seemingly beautiful society!
Ambassador Cassia's eyes rested on the bank drafts that looked so complicated and exquisite, and on the number.

He stared at the promissory note for a long time, then resealed the file bag and put it in the drawer at hand. "Let me try."

He also had to think about the future. He couldn't let his family live worse in the Federation than in Lapa, right? !

Gomez smiled a little, "No matter what, I will appreciate everything you do for me!"

Ambassador Cassia nodded. "But I still have to add that you'd better not offend Lance. He is very familiar with those adults, but you are just a stranger to them."

Gomez nodded repeatedly, "I will also bring him some gifts."

Hearing him say this, Ambassador Cassia did not say anything else, and they turned the topic back to the latest issue.

"If the Federation really invades Alan and Lapa, what are you going to do?" asked Ambassador Cassia.

Gomez shrugged. "I'll have my family immigrate to the Federation as soon as possible, and then... my idea is that they'll need a Lapa person to rule Lapa for them, right?"

"They can't find a federal person, or anyone else, to rule Lapa. The people of Lapa won't accept that."

"I can be this puppet!"

Hearing his good friend say this, Ambassador Cassia once again said that this was the most surprising thing he had heard recently.

Is there anyone willing to be a puppet?

He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Gomez laughed twice, as if explaining, "Then at least I am the ruler, no matter how many years I work, four or five years, or eight years according to their federal rules."

"Eight years is enough time for a lot of things to change."

Gomez is a man with ideals, drive and motivation. He already has a complete plan. If he becomes this puppet, he will definitely make himself the puppet that the federal people cannot do without, rather than a puppet that can be replaced anytime and anywhere.

He is just listening to others and doing things for others. Hasn't he been listening to Diego and working for Diego for all these years?

Working for someone doesn't matter who you're working for.
As for the possibility that he might harm the Lapa people?
Everyone will die eventually, and in a crappy place like Lapa, dying early is actually a relief!
Mr. Casillas did not call Senator Cleveland in front of Gomez. Instead, he waited until Gomez left before he carefully thought out what he wanted to say and then called Senator Cleveland.

It was Tom who answered the phone.

Because of Lance, Tom has more opportunities to perform and has successfully become the third-ranked staff member of the Cleveland Senator.

The chief of staff has a lot of things to do. He is like the senator's shadow and is responsible for some things that the senator asks him to do.

The second staff member also has his own work to do and basically will not follow the senator closely.

The only ones who could follow the senator were those lower in the rankings, such as Tom.

"Mr. Tom?"

"I want to talk to Senator Cleveland. I'm Cassia, Lapa's diplomatic ambassador to the Federation."

Tom knew who it was and agreed with a smile, and then he told Senator Cleveland.

Nowadays, there are many meetings to be held every day, big and small, discussions, research, all kinds of things from morning to night, without stopping at all.

Senator Cleveland, looking somewhat haggard, came to the lounge. He leaned back on the sofa and sighed. He was not feeling well as he had not been active for a long time.

I sit there all day long.

"Cassia, it's me, I'm listening."

Although Cassia is useless as a diplomatic ambassador, he is still somewhat useful.

He can help Congress understand some of the information among their top leaders, and at the same time convey some opinions from the federal side to their president.

But to say that he is really useful is not necessarily true. He is just a mouthpiece. Even if he wants to get closer to the Federation, he is not of much value.

Especially now that the plan against Lapa has been finalized, his role is actually not that big.

However, considering that he still had some value, the Cleveland Senators still answered his call.

"Mr. Senator, I have a friend named Gomez. Like me, he has always admired everything about the Federation. He is Diego's brother-in-law and has some special resources."

Senator Cleveland showed a little more interest. "What resources?"

"He knows the bank accounts of Diego and other Lapa dignitaries in the Federation and how much money is in them."

"how many?"

Ambassador Cassia did not expect Senator Cleveland to ask so directly, "About 70 or 80 million."

It is a lot, the senator needs to admit, but it is not that much.

Since he established a relationship with Lance, the various funds he received from Lance added up to tens of millions every year.

Doesn’t sound like a lot?

You have to know that Lansko is not only delivering benefits to him, but to a large group of people. At the same time, it is not just once, but it is an uninterrupted and continuous delivery!
It was impossible for these 700 or 800 million to fall into his hands alone. He still had to share it with a large group of people. It would be a relief if he could get a few million. So he was not as excited or caring as Mr. Cassia imagined.

Even if the money is two or three times more, it will be the same.

It may be a huge income in the short term, but in the long run, it is definitely not as good as the benefits from Lance.

Moreover, there is a complete set of procedures for federal politicians to accept money. It’s not that anyone can just come and give the money to the politician and then the politician can accept it!
The federal government has enacted various laws targeting politicians for illegally accepting bribes in order to prevent rent-seeking, at least on the surface.

Giving money directly is the stupidest thing to do!
This is also why interest transfer is also an industry in the federation. If you want to get money into the hands of the masters, you have to have connections. Many people, including some brokers, rely on some people who don’t know how to send money and help them send money to the masters to make a living.

"Tell him to contact Lance. Lance knows what to do. I'll have someone call Lance."

"If nothing else, I have a meeting."

(End of this chapter)