Empire of Shadows

Hope's death still caused a great stir among his followers, especially the young and fanatical ones, who always believed that Hope was murdered by the Federation in a conspiracy.

Because his views, propositions, and the recent formal negotiations proposed by Ambassador Slade put great pressure on the officials of Jincheng.

Under tremendous pressure, they chose to use shady means to physically destroy the "Light of Slade", trying to plunge the Slade refugees in the Federation back into darkness!

Shameful Federation people!

Boni led those who followed him and gathered in Hope's house. Saying it was his house, it was actually a house they had broken into.

It's strange that they never considered one thing, that is, whether it is legal for them to occupy and use this house.

In fact, there can be a guess about foreigners.

If Hope's plan succeeds and he becomes a news figure and the focus of the country, then these houses pried open and occupied by the Slade people will most likely become the "loss" of real estate developers.

They will not return it, because Hope's view is that only toughness can gain respect, and returning the house is a sign of weakness. Only toughness can make them gain the respect of those real estate developers.

In addition, with so many Slade people living here, the entire New Port area may soon be renamed "Slade District".

Fortunately, however, this express train is slowing down.

The room was crowded with people, and everyone's face showed a look of grief. They were waiting, waiting for a message, an important thing!

Mr. Hope himself admitted that his closest assistant and partner had been urgently summoned to the Bay Area.

Time passed bit by bit. At about dusk, the door of the room suddenly opened.

A cloud of smoke, accompanied by heat waves and some strange smells, poured out from the door. Hope's assistant squinted and took two steps back, waiting for a while before readjusting to this terrible environment.

He frowned and walked into the room. The entire hall was full of people, at least thirty or forty people, maybe more, gathered here.

The moment he came in, everyone stood up, and the corners of his eyes twitched slightly.

Although he didn't want to admit it, he had to admit that he felt a little wonderful.

He went to the Bay Area, and Mr. Charles over there told him that the plan should continue, which just proves that they are on the right path.

Those Federation people who are preventing them from running towards happiness are starting to be afraid, so they will use such bad and despicable acts to stifle their plan.

It is precisely because they are so afraid that the plan cannot be stopped.

At the same time, Mr. Charles also mentioned another thing—

Hope is now dead, but his thoughts and everything need someone to inherit.

Among the many candidates, they chose him, Hope's assistant, the person who understands his thoughts and ambitions best!

At that moment, the assistant was excited. He almost knelt down to express his respect and loyalty to these gentlemen.

Of course, he was not completely accepted casually. He had to complete this task before he could become the next Hope and become the future "Slade Issue Expert Consultant".

It's just that when he walked into this room, when everyone stood up for him at the same time, he had a feeling of almost reaching climax.

He wanted to laugh, but he held back. He walked into the room with a heavy expression and the same heavy steps.

He casually put the briefcase aside, and someone took the initiative to make room for him to sit down, and someone brought coffee.

"I have been to the Bay Area. Mr. Charles from the Bay Area said that Mr. Hope's death was manipulated by someone behind the scenes!"

Hope's followers in the room suddenly boiled over. Some people clamored to show the Federation people some color, while others were thinking quietly.

After they made a fuss for a while, the assistant took two sips of coffee and waited for their attention to refocus on him before he continued, "Mr. Charles believes that Mr. Hope's position and views are correct. It is precisely because they are correct that they will be persecuted, just like some of the things we know…"

"Sage!"

He searched his mind for a long time before finding the word.

Praising Hope is also a good thing for him. He is the one who inherits Hope's legacy. The higher Hope's height is, the higher his starting point will be.

He nodded, "I know, everyone is very angry, and I am also very angry, so I discussed it with Mr. Charles, and we will still hold a large-scale demonstration in the square outside the city hall on the first day of the new year!"

"We will use our way to tell those Federation people that they cannot defeat us!"

"Mr. Hope has left us, but there are still people like us!"

"Even if he kills all of us, there are still thousands of people outside!"

At this moment, these words were spoken almost without thinking, and he himself felt a little unbelievable.

Perhaps this is the talent that one has after being with Mr. Hope for a long time and being inspired by him?

He doesn't know, but he only knows that he is going to become a big shot.

"Tell people that Mr. Hope told us with his life that we must unite, we must be angry, and we must shout out our voices!"

"If even we ourselves are unwilling to speak out for ourselves, then no one else will speak for us!"

"The day after tomorrow, I want to see a grand parade and demonstration, so that Likalai Prefecture, the Federation, and even the whole world can see our determination!"

He waved his fist, and the faces of many people in the room were filled with excitement. They are now full of energy!

"Everything, act according to plan!"

After the assistant finally summarized, he asked people to continue to publicize these things.

Boni left here with his men. His eyes were a little red. Mr. Hope's death had a great impact on him.

When he came outside the room, he took a breath of cold air, and the tip of his nose visibly turned red. He looked at the brothers around him and wanted to say something.

But in the end, he didn't say anything. After a while, he said, "Go to work."

One of them left quickly. He turned around and came to a telephone booth, dialed Carl's number, and told him about the situation here.

Carl quickly told Lance the news, and Lance asked him to go there.

Soon, Carl came to the company and met Lance in his office.

"Sit down."

During this period of time, Carl showed his value, and Lance didn't mind giving him more "emotions".

Carl was a little flattered and patted his clothes at the door, making sure that the snowflakes on his body did not fall into Lance's office, then took off his coat, put it on the hanger, and rubbed the soles of his shoes on the blanket on the floor by the door before walking into the room.

He came to sit carefully opposite Lance, without the publicity he had when he was sitting in his own office.

"Mr. Lance."

Lance nodded slightly, "These two pieces of news are very valuable, and the work over there is also done very well."

Carl took a deep breath and smiled, "This is what I should do. Mr. Lance, you gave me such an opportunity. If I don't do things seriously, then I'm too inhuman!"

Lance laughed twice, "I like your smart attitude!"

He paused, "Now there is one more thing that needs to be handed over to you. If you can do it well and do it beautifully, I can guarantee that there will definitely be a place for you in Jincheng in the future."

Carl was so excited that his face turned red. He clenched his hands on his legs into fists, and his body was trembling slightly!

"Mr. Lance, no matter what!"

"Very good!"

Lance affirmed his attitude again. He didn't say anything like "within my ability" or "I will try my best to do it well", he directly agreed.

This means his determination, his determination to become a superior!

In fact, in some respects, Carl, Boni, and Hope are all the same in essence.

They all had their own thoughts and opinions; some were just more proactive, while others were more passive.

Everyone wants to be heard when they speak, and there's nothing wrong with that!

Lance rubbed his thumb against the ruby ring. "They're having a gathering on the first. I need you to take some men and break it up."

"Don't use guns, just knives, long knives, clubs, things like that."

"Bring more people, the kind who are ruthless, not afraid of trouble, and willing to fight for their ideals!"

Lance looked at Karl. "There will be police arranged nearby. When the time is right, they'll sound the sirens and come over."

"Remember, cooperate after the police get out of the car. If you're still acting like an idiot, you should understand the consequences without me having to say it!"

He emphasized the point, then took a small briefcase from behind the table next to him, placed it on the table, and pushed it over. "Open it and take a look."

Karl's mind was still occupied with the things Lance had just instructed him to do. He subconsciously opened the unlocked briefcase and was immediately drawn to the contents inside.

Ten stacks of twenty-dollar bills, probably twenty thousand dollars, and two sets of keys, which seemed to be car keys. Finally, there was a social security card?

He wasn't sure. He picked up the social security card, flipped it open, and the moment he saw his photo affixed to it, he felt a slight surge of excitement.

"You now have a legal Federal identity, and no one can trace any problems back to you. This person actually exists; you just need to remember your personal information."

"I have a suggestion for you!" He paused, and Karl immediately put down the social security card he was clutching and looked at Lance. "Go find a bank, Bailyway, or something else, and open a safe deposit box. Put it in there, instead of carrying it around."

"It's not appropriate for you to reveal the fact that you've become a Federal citizen right now. Do you understand what I mean?"

"You can only be a Federal citizen when you need to be a Federal citizen!"

Karl nodded quickly, "I understand, I understand, Mr. Lance. I'll go do it right away!"

Lance nodded. "This is your reward. You'd better take some of it out and distribute it to your men, so they know what kind of benefits come from working for you, from working for me."

"Two cars, you drive one, and the others drive the other. Of course, you can buy some more yourself; you'll need these vehicles."

Watching Karl nod repeatedly, Lance glanced at his watch. "If there's nothing else, go put your social security card away first."

With Lance's current status and position, obtaining a legal identity was just a phone call away, and it wasn't even that troublesome.

Chief Blue found old cases in the personal files of the entire Goldport City, those that had been reported missing but never found, and whose parents or direct relatives had passed away.

Some were missing for a few years, some for over a decade, and some for twenty or thirty years. After such a long time, if these people hadn't returned home and hadn't been found, they were basically dead beyond dead.

Tens of thousands of people go missing in the Federation every year. This kind of information, one person per household, was too easy to find.

So there was no need to forge any information at all; they could arrange everything clearly for them.

After Karl returned with the money, he kept less than half for himself and distributed the rest to everyone.

He also sent money to the families of those who were currently stuck in the police station.

When you're poor, life really isn't worth much.

The next day, an Slader social activist named Fitz held a personal public speech in an unfinished square in the Newport District.

Many people came to the scene because there was free bread and canned tomato beans!

Facts once again prove that the Federation's methods in political propaganda are ahead of all regions in the world and are the most advanced version!

Regardless of why these people came, as long as they wanted bread and canned tomato beans, they had to listen to Mr. Fitz finish his words.

Anyway, they were just hanging around, so why not listen?

Besides, the loudspeaker was so loud.

The things these social activists and politicians say are even more terrifying to the lower classes of society, who lack the ability to distinguish and think, than these lower classes themselves imagine!

Brainwashing is completed unconsciously. Brainwashing doesn't necessarily require a very long process; as long as the brainwashing method can be in tune with these people's frequencies, brainwashing is as simple as drinking water.

Mr. Fitz's views were actually closer to the life perspectives of some young, middle-aged, and even elderly people. They had been beaten by society more often and had long lost their determination to be enterprising and tough.

They valued the latter more and didn't care so much whether they were standing or kneeling.

At the same time, the previous conflict had also made them realize that this was not Slader. Although this place advocates freedom, the price of freedom is also heavy.

Mr. Fitz's words quickly attracted the attention of those who were idly listening. He advocated for a gentler approach, obtaining things through labor or paying a price, rather than seizing or demanding.

This was more in line with the values of ordinary people.

His speech was very successful, and he stated that he would represent these "kind Slader people" to negotiate with the local government and find more living space for everyone.

Afterward, people received free whole-wheat bread and a can of tomato beans. These foods would at least allow these people and their families not to worry about food for the next two or three days.

Whether they admitted it or not, they all owed Mr. Fitz a favor.

A day passed quickly, and people returned to the places where they lived, perhaps in houses pried open on the roadside, perhaps in unfinished construction sites, or perhaps in some unused culverts.

In the dark of night, they looked at the colorful neon lights in the direction of the city center, illuminating the sky, and fell asleep with longing for a better life.

The next day, the new year, outside the Federal City Hall, quite a few people had already gathered to wait for the demonstration and march, even though it was only morning.

It must be said that Hope did do a good job in some aspects, giving these people some hope in despair, so that even without free bread and canned tomato beans, many people still came.

They spontaneously gathered together, and the signs in their hands gradually raised.

As time came to noon and the temperature rose slightly, more and more people gathered in the square outside City Hall. A large-scale march and demonstration was about to begin.

Lance stood in Mayor Williams's office, holding a square glass in his hand, the amber liquid inside swirling slightly.

Mayor Williams stood beside him, holding a cigar in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

Neither of them spoke, they just waited quietly, waiting for the situation to develop further.

Many people would die here today, but... it was their own choice. When they decided to come here, to confront the country's political system as refugees, some things were already destined.

In an alley next to City Hall, the people Karl had gathered were carrying steel knives and steel pipes, and their breathing was slightly rapid.

For these young people, this was definitely an unprecedented experience.

What they didn't know was that on the other side, there was also a group of people in the same situation as them, except that those people were wearing police uniforms.

As the momentum of the march and demonstration grew, they had approached City Hall, shouting various tough slogans, and even demanding that Mayor Williams come out to apologize and take the blame and resign.

Seeing this scene, Mayor Williams couldn't help but laugh and commented, "Interesting," but he couldn't see "how interesting" in his eyes.

Lance glanced at his watch, "It's about time."

At the same time, Karl took one last drag of his cigarette, then threw it on the ground, stomped on it hard, then tightened his gloves, wrapped the anti-drop rope of the steel knife tightly around his hand, and a group of people, led by him, quickly rushed out of the alley...