Empire of Shadows

William walked down from a small platform, clapping his hands.

It was just an ordinary wooden box, its only purpose had been to hold things, but now it had a new purpose: to make people stand taller.

Soon someone picked up the box and put it into a van parked by the roadside, while William was talking to the passersby who hadn't dispersed yet.

It seemed that some of his views were supported by the people here, which was a good sign.

Low-level politicians have few channels to promote themselves; only by going to the people can they hear what he has to say.

He couldn't be like those well-known politicians, who, even if they just farted in public, the media would use the headline "So-and-so Dignitary Loudly Makes Noise in Public" to tell the public about it.

This book is first published on the entire network by 𝕥 𝕨 𝕜 𝕒 𝕟 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞

Moreover, he didn't have any fame. Even if he really made it into the newspaper, people wouldn't know who he was and wouldn't leave a deep impression.

Unlike now?

After waiting for more than twenty minutes, people gradually dispersed. William whispered a few words to his two assistants and ran across the road.

He opened the car door and sat inside, "You're passing by here?"

Lance nodded, "Going to the bank to handle some things."

He paused for a moment, "They seem to like you very much."

William had a hint of triumph on his face, "No, what they like is the truth and the future."

He talked about what he had said to the people, "Now you have made the security here very good, so we can't start from here. I thought of medical problems and education problems."

"There are too few schools in the Imperial District. I told them that I would try my best to persuade some education groups or municipal councils to build more schools here so that more people can enjoy the right to education without having to be so far from home."

The Federation had actually started discussing and implementing compulsory education seventy or eighty years ago. More than ten years ago, the Socialist Party president proposed the "National High School Student" education reform plan during the election and implemented it very smoothly.

However, implementation does not mean thorough implementation. Implementation only means that children have the right to go directly to high school, but whether there are high schools near their homes and how much various fees are are things that the federal government cannot decide.

They only promised and realized that as long as citizens are willing, they can receive high school education.

This is a major reform of the education system, but whether it can really bring a turning point in the fate of children going to high school has not shown any significant changes so far.

Elementary school and high school students are still working in the same workshop. High school students will not have a higher starting point because they have studied for three more years.

On the contrary, they have studied for a few more years than their peers who graduated from elementary school. When they start entering the workshop, perhaps those elementary school students are already skilled workers, earning higher wages and enjoying better factory benefits.

It is true that grassroots people can change many things through schooling, but most of the things they want to change the most cannot be changed, such as fate.

That is something that only a very few lucky people can do, and their ability to change their fate often has nothing to do with studying.

In short, there are very few high schools in the Imperial District, and William plans to use this as a breakthrough point for publicity.

"I also encourage people to assume more obligations and enjoy more rights."

Lance couldn't help but laugh after listening, "A very federal politician's tone."

William couldn't help but laugh too, "But they like it."

Lance took out a pack of cigarettes, worth nine cents. It wasn't that he didn't have money, but that he was maintaining the image of a new-generation politician who was closer to the people.

When an official takes out a pack of cigarettes worth one dollar, although it seems... only twenty times the price of a pack of cigarettes worth five cents, it is enough for those who smoke a pack of cigarettes worth five cents to shut their mouths at critical moments.

Because the price of this pack of cigarettes will make them clearly realize one thing: we are not the same kind of people.

But cigarettes worth nine cents are very good.

Its price is higher than the hand-rolled cigarettes or cheap cigarettes worth two, three, or five cents that everyone smokes, but it won't exceed too much. Instead, it will give people a feeling of no class constraints.

The two leaned together, lit them, and Lance took a puff. It was very strong.

The relatively inferior raw tobacco leaves directly rolled into cigarettes seem to have two boxers in the body, one is hitting his throat hard with left and right swings, and the other is hooking his brain with left and right uppercuts.

Lance usually smokes a little more money, but it is much softer.

Lance quickly rolled down the car window to let the outside wind in.

"I found that the people in the Imperial District lack a sense of identity with the federal government and the federal people. I have talked to some people about these things, and they hope to be respected."

"If you care about national affairs, you will understand that Congress has been discussing the issue of ordinary people paying taxes."

"I inquired about it within the Federal Party, and they plan to make anyone with an income of more than eighteen dollars pay taxes."

"The Socialist Party is strongly promoting this policy, the Federal Party seats have already been persuaded, and the Liberal Party's resistance will not last long."

"So this is a breakthrough point."

Lance nodded in agreement after listening, "Paying taxes is a very good idea. We also contributed money to build this country, and we are also the masters of this country."

William was stunned for a moment. He quickly took out a notebook and wrote down what Lance said, "I'm appropriating what you said. I'll use it in my next speech."

After he finished writing, he stopped writing, "Yes, we built this country, and no one can deny that we are the masters of this country."

"Anything else?"

"Words like that that can cheer people up!"

Lance shook his head, "If I think of anything, I'll write it down and give it to you."

After chatting about some other things, William left here. He had other places to go. He had to let the people in the Imperial District know about him as soon as possible.

Before Luther reacted and formulated countermeasures.

On the way back to the nightclub, Lance saw two more vehicles from the Hazardous Materials Management Bureau. The Brothers Gang had lost face because of them. The longer it took to catch Big Polly, the more face they would lose.

Director Dale of the Hazardous Materials Management Bureau had privately stated that his only target had always been Big Polly. He caused this shocking bombing, so he must be brought to justice no matter what.

As long as he is caught, everything will return to calm.

Because of these words, the underworld of Goldport became a little uneasy.

At night, in a detached house near the coast in the port area, Polly paced back and forth irritably.

Several senior cadres were sitting in the living room, including Jimmy.

Everyone was watching him.

"Recently, our territory has been heavily raided by the Hazardous Materials Management Bureau. Almost all the bars have been shut down, and some other places that can bring us profits have also basically closed."

"They keep disturbing every guest who comes, and some are even taken away for questioning. If they don't stop immediately, most of our income will be cut off."

"Even the protection fees have become a little difficult to collect now."

A senior cadre sat on the sofa with a frown. The Hazardous Materials Management Bureau is not the police station or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They need to go through judicial procedures to search a place.

The Hazardous Materials Management Bureau has received strong support from Congress and the Department of Justice, and the process was originally very simple.

After the bombing, they can even enforce the law first and then supplement the legal documents.

For some strip clubs or places that run the flesh trade, these people come once a day, and then make the guests stand in a row at the door, and light up each person's face, and also ask them questions.

No guest can stand this. They are here to spend money, to find happiness, not to suffer!

So the Brothers Gang's industries have basically come to a standstill and can no longer provide them with a steady stream of cash.

At this time, another senior cadre said with some complaints and emotions, "You really shouldn't have set off those bombs!"

Polly seemed to be stimulated by something. He suddenly turned around, pulled out a pistol, and pointed it at the head of the person who was speaking, "I'll say it again, I didn't set off those bombs!"

The person who was being held at gunpoint wasn't that scared. They had all developed from street gangs, and the core of the street gangs was almost all children who had experienced miserable childhoods in welfare homes and orphanages.

Their values, spirits, and attitudes towards society are different from normal people, including their attitudes towards life and death.

Although they are also afraid, they are not as afraid as ordinary people.

The senior cadre whose head was already being held by the gun didn't show any fear at all. Instead, he looked at Polly sharply, "You can't prove that, and this style is very similar to yours."

"People are guessing how you plan to deal with the destruction of your hundreds of thousands of dollars of alcohol, and then they were bombed. Everyone can accuse us without any evidence, and only you have this motive."

The two people's eyes met, one without any fear, and the other full of anger. Polly finally retracted the pistol, "I fucking say it again, I didn't do it!"

The senior cadre straightened his clothes and adjusted his sitting posture, "Whether you did it or not, it's you now. We all have to find a way to solve this trouble."

"Now the Red Dog Gang has been driven out of the Imperial District by Lance and them, and they have begun to expand and operate on our territory."

"If we don't get out of here soon, by the time things calm down, there might not be a place for us in the port district, or even in King's Harbor City."

Polly's face was flushed red. I felt like he was a wounded dwarf lion. Why a dwarf lion? Because he wasn't tall.

His chest was heaving violently as he paced back and forth, seemingly having made some kind of decision. "Since they insist it was us who did it, then let's do it again!"

"Anyway, we can't clear our names now, so we might as well help them make the accusation stick!"

Almost everyone looked at Polly with the eyes of someone watching a madman. Perhaps this was why Polly was able to become the leader; he was ruthless enough, crazy enough, and didn't value his life enough!

As long as he could maintain this, those gang members at the bottom who saw him as an idol would continue to risk their lives for him.

Although people thought this idea was crazy and outrageous, no one spoke out against it.

They had also been holding in a lot of anger lately. Since Polly had an idea, perhaps it might have miraculous effects.

At this moment, these senior executives were well aware that this was actually a dead end, because once Polly was caught, he would definitely end up in the electric chair.

Losing Polly didn't mean the Brothers Gang couldn't find a second leader, but now it had become a key target of the Hazardous Materials Administration. No matter who came up, it would be difficult to change the gang's decline.

So, why not take a gamble? What if it succeeded?

Polly's emotions seemed to have eased somewhat after making the decision. He lit a cigarette and stood in front of these senior executives.

"Let's give them a hard one, let them know that this is King's Harbor City, and I, Big Polly, am not someone they can frame at will."

"Whoever caused the first explosion has nothing to do with me, but since they've identified me, then I'll bomb them again!"

"Then, I'll negotiate with them. If they don't want to keep getting bombed, then we'd better sit down..."

The others were analyzing this possibility. Some nodded in agreement with his idea, while others, although not agreeing, didn't object either.

An agreement was reached in an unbelievable situation, and a long-lost smile appeared on Polly's face.

He was a very decisive person. Once he made a decision, he started having people assemble bombs. This time, he was going to make it a big one!

Two days later, on a morning where vehicles constantly entered and exited the Hazardous Materials Administration, it looked extremely busy.

Everyone had been working non-stop for a week. Many people hadn't gone back to rest for a week. When they were tired and sleepy, they would sit in a chair in the office and lie down for a while, or find a car to lie down in.

The explosion that killed colleagues and endangered their own safety filled everyone with fear and anger!

If they didn't catch Big Polly, no one knew if he would cause a second bombing!

Including Director Dale, who hadn't returned to his house to rest for the entire week. He ate, drank, and relieved himself almost entirely in the office building.

The most common food people ate during this week was various pizzas and takeaways. Initially, some agents who didn't often eat takeaways were quite happy.

After all, takeaways were always much better than the food at home, but after eating them for so long, even the best appetites were ruined. Everyone didn't want to eat those takeaways that made them lose their appetite just by looking at them.

But if they didn't eat these, there was no other way.

The entire Hazardous Materials Administration had more than two hundred people. No business could carefully prepare two hundred portions of food, so the quality of the takeaways was often not very good, which was unavoidable.

At noon, the agents staying in the office calculated the number of people and ordered some more pizzas, hot dogs, and hamburgers, as well as fries and fried chicken.

Coffee and juice were also essential, as well as the increasingly popular sparkling water with strange flavors. Initially, it was said that the merchants promoted its efficacy in treating colds.

When the others found out it was these lunches again, they couldn't help but complain, but they could only complain.

Time pointed to 12:10 noon, a large number of takeaway delivery people appeared in the office building, they brought lunch for the agents.

Although these agents said they didn't like it, saying that they had a physiological reaction just looking at these foods, they still had to eat when it was time to eat.

In fact, fast food also had the advantages of fast food, at least it could quickly fill people's stomachs, bring a lot of heat, and help people fight against the difficult afternoon.

"Hey, there's still a big box here. Whose thing hasn't been taken away?"

When lunch was almost over, a female agent stood in the very middle of the office holding a box that was about the size of a basketball.

Its exterior was printed with the "Delicious Home" logo, and a note read "Multi-layered Pineapple Pie."

The people in the office looked at her, but there was no reaction, because everyone's order had arrived in their own hands.

Someone said, "Maybe it was ordered by mistake, or ordered too much, who knows?"

"What is it, apple pie, or strawberry pie?"

The female police officer handed the box over, "It says pineapple pie on it. If you're not full, I think it can handle your stomach."

The male agent was a little embarrassed, because his appetite was indeed not small, but he still had to confirm, lest he eat someone else's food.

Although this kind of thing was nothing big, everyone was now working non-stop, with their emotions, psychology, and physiology somewhat tense, and he didn't want any misunderstandings to occur.

Director Dale was in the office discussing some upcoming work matters with the Assistant Director and several senior agents.

Polly and his gang had hidden themselves, and couldn't be caught in a short time.

Just as people, including Lance, were thinking, the longer they took to catch Polly, the more their faces would be tarnished!

"We have put a lot of pressure on the Brothers Gang. At this time, we need some breakthroughs. If someone is willing to reveal Polly's location, we can negotiate terms with them."

Director Dale took out a document and showed it to them, "These are some suggestions from Congress. When necessary, in order to expedite the progress of some cases, we can appropriately promise them some conditions."

A relevant explanation and judicial support document regarding "plea agreements". To put it simply, as long as they admit their guilt and accept the charges given to them by the Administration, they can receive a shorter sentence.

If they also have meritorious performance, they can even get out without spending too much time in jail.

"We continue to maintain a high-pressure policy on the Brothers Gang, and then persuade those who have been caught to confess where Polly is."

"They must know something, and those senior executives who haven't been caught, they must be together."

Just as Dale was about to say something from the bigwigs in Congress, he suddenly felt that he was a little unsteady, followed by a huge explosion from downstairs…

His face immediately changed drastically, and a "Fuck" burst directly from his mouth.