Empire of Shadows

“Do you have some time…,” Lance said, returning the signed form.

Patricia glanced at his signature and said softly, “I'm not sure, this seems… too fast. We've only met once and you're already asking me out…”

Lance chuckled softly, “I meant I wanted to ask about the registration process…”

Patricia suddenly felt a little awkward. In matters of the heart, whoever shows their hand first is at a disadvantage.

Just as she didn't know what to say, Lance skillfully defused her awkwardness, looking into her eyes, “While also wanting to take this opportunity to get closer to you.”

Patricia looked at him, covering her face, feeling even more fond of this young man, “Saturday morning…”

After agreeing on a time and address, Lance left the City Commercial Services Bureau.

The Commercial Services Bureau was even more crowded now, with people packed even at the entrance. He stood at the doorway, head down, lighting a cigarette, then looked up at the sky.

He exhaled all the good and bad feelings in his chest along with the smoke.

The ship of dreams had set sail, the future had arrived!

Unbeknownst to him, a reporter happened to capture this moment and planned to use it in tomorrow's *Goldenport Today* newspaper's business section, even coming up with a title—

“The Young Entrepreneur and the Future of the City,” using the contrast between the individual and the city to showcase the city's vibrant vitality to the citizens (see image at the end of the article).

This was also one of the City Hall's requests; they hoped to showcase the city's youthful dynamism.

To focus more people's attention on this!

Lance may have noticed someone taking pictures, or perhaps he simply sensed it, he glanced over, and the reporter immediately felt a little embarrassed.

He walked over with his camera, “Hello, sir, I'm a reporter from *Goldenport Today*. Just now… the image was too compelling, I might use your photo in tomorrow's newspaper.”

“If it's okay, I can pay you… two dollars?”

Lance declined, “It's free, friend, I'd even be grateful if you did! ”

He paused, then said, “Then do you have any interview assignments? Perhaps we could chat.”

The reporter's eyes lit up instantly. There was no better material than interviewing the subject of the photo, and he immediately pulled out his pen and paper, “Did you come here today to register a company?”

“Yes.”

“What made you decide to register a company in Goldenport City?”

Lance thought seriously for a moment, “Goldenport is not the only city in the Federation with excellent commercial development potential, but it has a group of efficient and honest government officials who boldly and cautiously installed a high-horsepower engine for our economic development, allowing us to always speed on the fast track of economic development.”

“It is foreseeable that, with the efforts of the managers and all of us, Goldenport will not only lead the entire Federation, but even lead the world. I firmly believe this!”

“I can't allow myself to miss such an opportunity, it may be the most important opportunity in my life…”

The interview ended quickly. The reporter looked at the notebook full of material, unable to contain his excitement, and reached out to shake Lance's hand tightly.

“Well said, Lance, these words may not even need to be changed to be put in the newspaper. Which university did you graduate from?”

In his view, someone who could say such sophisticated things.

Definitely wasn't an elementary school student.

Lance said with a smile, “I didn't go to university.”

The reporter found it hard to believe, “I can't believe that, but regardless,

Lance, I will use your material…”

“So I want to thank you, you saved me time, and this article will definitely be outstanding.”

Seeing the reporter's enthusiasm, Lance considered for a moment, “Then treat me to a

cup of coffee, I haven't officially introduced myself yet, Lance White.”

He held out his hand, and the reporter quickly capped his pen and freed his right hand to shake Lance's hand tightly, “George Smith, a reporter from *Goldenport Today*.”

The two sat down by the roadside. George ordered two thirty-nine coffees and a pastry rack, totaling less than one and a half dollars.

In fact, these were already very high-end products in this coffee shop. Most people would only drink ten-cent or twenty-cent coffee, and it was impossible to order a pastry rack.

“Are you a Goldenport native?” George asked, taking a sip of coffee, “I hear your accent…”

Lance nodded, “That's right, but there's actually a story behind it.”

“When I was a child, due to an accident, I was sold to another state. I was only a few years old at the time, and they demanded that I work.”

“Later, when I grew up a bit, they locked me in a small workshop to work. There were people from all over the world, you know, as long as you pay wages, there will always be people willing to provide labor.”

“So my accent is a bit complicated, many people can tell.”

George nodded, agreeing with this point, “That's a nightmare scenario. Then what?”

“Then, some time ago, my adoptive father, nominally speaking, passed away. I left there, wandering around looking for my family, and then they told me, there was a match.”

“I met with… sorry, it's hard for me to say that kind of title, I met with Mr. and Mrs. White, we do look alike.”

“I'm home!”

George listened with amazement, “Unbelievable, no wonder you speak with such depth, life has taught you everything!”

“Lance, I have to say, it's an honor to meet you. Can I publish your story in the report?”

“I think this is a very inspirational story, and you know, it actually fits some of the things that politicians want to see, it will make your path easier later.”

George was completely impressed by Lance's demeanor and his magical experience. He wanted to make Lance's persona and image more complete.

Lance naturally wouldn't refuse this. The Federation is a super huge arena of fame and fortune, fame and fortune are the most important things here.

“I'm not too willing to recall those things and people that have happened, but no matter what, my adoptive father at least didn't leave me

disabled or dead, and I don't want my past life to bother me and my family again…”

George nodded repeatedly, “I understand, I will replace other people with pseudonyms, including the location and time, don't worry, I am a senior reporter, I can handle this.”

After Lance provided George with some more material, the two exchanged contact information and said goodbye. George told Lance to keep an eye out for tomorrow's newspaper, he would definitely write it carefully.

Meeting George was a pleasant surprise. In this era where information technology is not developed or even a desert, the main way people understand the world is through newspapers.

Magazines are too expensive, and the consumption power of salaried workers on magazines is extremely limited. Although television has more content, most ordinary salaried workers watch television outside shop windows on the street.

Besides these, radio may also be the main way, but radio is limited by time and playback equipment, and people can't carry radios around.

But newspapers can, five cents a newspaper, whether on the way to work or on the bus or subway, or even when shitting, it can be used to receive information.

And finally, it has additional value, such as being used to wipe your ass, or wrap things, etc.

Expanding his media relations was also a part of his plan, only this part expanded more smoothly than imagined.

In fact, if you look closely, reporters can often be seen on the street. As the most important channel for information dissemination in this era, it is far closer to the lives of ordinary people than people think.

The next morning, the director of the City Commercial Management Bureau came to his office with a box of donuts. As soon as he sat down, the phone rang, “This is…”

“Mr. Mayor, I haven't had time to read today's newspaper…”

“Okay, I'll look at it right away.”

“Yes, I understand.”

He frowned a little blankly, picked up the phone and asked his assistant to bring in today's *Goldenport Today*.

Opening the business section, the first page was the gate of the City Commercial Services Bureau, crowded with people, all with their heads down or talking to the people around them.

But in this crowded composition, there was a person who was out of place with the surrounding environment.

A young man, standing at the door, holding a cigarette in his hand, looking up at the sky, this photo revealed a very peculiar feeling.

It was like reminding people that sometimes we should also look up, the language of the picture revealed positive things, making people reminisce for a long time.

Then he looked at the main body of the report. The long paragraphs of text first described the good economic development situation of Goldenport City today, using a lot of data to compare the changes in the last quarter, last year, and within five and ten years.

The growth of the city's commercial scale, economic growth, the increase in the number of registered enterprises, the increase in tax revenue…

Simple numbers, but giving people very convincing content. Then the reporter interviewed the person in the photo. The words spoken by the interviewee looked

as if he was always saying that the city's development was the result of everyone's efforts.

But the director tasted something from it. This person was different from others. On the surface, he didn't tout the achievements of the bureaucrats, nor did he say that it was all everyone's efforts.

But in every sentence, he placed the officials before "us," creating a clear distinction in status.

Subtly yet explicitly, he made people feel that the city's development was essentially the result of the bureaucratic group's efforts.

Finally, the report mentioned the specific details of the interviewee, which were also quite legendary.

After reading the entire report in one go, the bureau chief felt as if his whole being had been elevated, and he could even hear the city's powerful pulse throbbing and roaring in his ears!

He sat there for a while, thinking, then called over the assistant bureau chief, flipped the newspaper page to the top, and pointed at Lan Si, asking, "Is this someone we arranged, or is this a report we arranged?"

The assistant bureau chief looked at the unfamiliar young man, somewhat at a loss, "We didn't arrange any interviews or reports. This should be their spontaneous behavior, shouldn't it...?"

The bureau chief pursed his lips, "The mayor read this report and thinks it fits our Jincheng City's image very well, and it also serves the purpose of shifting attention away from recent events."

"But since he's not one of ours, we don't need to worry about it. Have someone check and approve his application first..."

After the assistant bureau chief left, the bureau chief looked at Lan Si's young face and felt that they would definitely have opportunities to deal with each other in the future.