Empire of Shadows

Chapter 531: Starting Now [Cultivating the Mind, Too Lazy to Think of an ID.333 + 3]

Half an hour later, near the small wooden house by Angel Lake, Dean met Lance.

He had actually only been in Goldport City for a little over two weeks. The state government had the idea of investigating corruption in the Goldport City police force since the second half of last year.

However, ideas are often just ideas, especially in government agencies.

Turning an idea into reality is not an easy task, especially when it relates to the flow of benefits from Goldport City to the state and even Congress.

In addition, it was constantly delayed by other matters until recently when Terry instructed him to secretly investigate this case.

Just investigate. The results and evidence of these investigations may or may not be used, but they must exist.

When they need them, they can be used anytime, anywhere.

Senator Cleveland himself did not summon Sidney (the mayor) during his time in Goldport City, nor did he summon other Socialist officials or important party figures, those at the banquet not included.

Senator Cleveland only showed real closeness to Councilor Williams and a very few others.

The Socialist Party has seen obvious divisions internally due to the president's issues, and the Liberal Party's efforts have made the next election results unpredictable.

Investigating the government issues of Goldport City, an important area, can actually be seen as a pre-emptive political purification.

With Councilor Williams' son, James, taking over his position and becoming a city councilor, the current "Councilor Williams" is no longer a councilor. He is just an ordinary Socialist Party activist.

But at the same time, he announced that he would run for the next mayor, which makes people wonder if Councilor Williams' participation in the next mayoral election is instructed by high-level figures of Senator Cleveland's faction.

For Attorney General Terry, this is an opportunity. Mastering the evidence of corruption in the local police force, whether Councilor Williams can use it or not, is a good opportunity to build a relationship with the other party.

After building a good relationship with Councilor Williams, he can try to contact Senator Cleveland and even use this opportunity to enter his political circle.

Many people think that the State Attorney General is a high-ranking official, and of course, the fact is indeed so. This position can enter the top three in the ranking of positions in a state.

One, two, three, it's easy to count, even kindergarten children can count.

Since he is the number three figure in a state, is it necessary to actively associate with the mayor or even someone like Lance in order to enter the senator's circle?

Actually, it is necessary!

As long as Attorney General Terry still wants to improve and wants to climb to a higher level, then he must do so!

Wanting to go from the number three figure to the number one figure is a very difficult thing.

The election of the federal governor is nominated by the party. Of course, according to federal law, anyone can freely participate in the election, but the probability of winning a party nomination and a free election is completely different.

From beginning to end, very few independent candidates have been able to defeat those candidates who obviously have strong party support in this level of election.

The federation currently has thirty-six states. Except for a few swing states, the Socialist Party firmly controls the votes of fourteen states. In other words, the entire Socialist Party can only stably win the governorship in fourteen places.

Among them, there are a few states that belong to the "inherited power base," firmly controlled by local interest groups, and the governor always switches back and forth between a few families, just like their private land.

Attorney General Terry does not have any prominent background or surname, and these places will not be his to nominate. Then, the places that have the opportunity to nominate him may be only four or five regions.

In other words, if he wants to go further, he must defeat one-fifth or one-quarter of the Socialist Party's interest groups to win!

If there is no one behind him to support him, he cannot do this. At most, he will only reach the position of Deputy Governor in his life.

Anyone who has tasted the sweetness of power finds it difficult not to want to climb higher.

Therefore, if Attorney General Terry wants to continue to improve, he must have the support of important political groups within the party, otherwise, he will not be able to obtain the opportunity for nomination!

Senator Cleveland's political interest group is on the rise. If they are willing to support Attorney General Terry, if he can obtain a nomination, then it is very likely that he will be "Governor Terry Elliott" in the future.

The Governor and Deputy Governor, and the State Attorney General, seem to be just the number one, two, and three figures, but in reality, they are no longer in the same class!

Then, in order to be able to leap again, what's wrong with being friends with a gang leader?

The Kaien family hasn't even cleaned up their own mess yet, this is nothing!

Dean came to Goldport City with a "difficult" mission and bearing Attorney General Terry's expectations. The work had just begun to unfold, and it seemed that he had encountered some problems.

But it doesn't matter, his job is to obey, and the rest is incidental.

This was Prosecutor Dean's first time seeing Lance in person. He had heard of him before and had seen Lance's photos.

After seeing the real person, he found that Lance was even more handsome than in the photos. At the same time, he had a very special aura, like...a lion walking towards him, exuding a power that may not be so obvious yet, but is indeed intimidating!

"Mr. Lance, hello," he said, snapping out of his thoughts and actively extending his hand to shake Lance's hand.

Lance smiled and greeted him, "Attorney General Terry said you are the most capable one under his command..." Actually, he hadn't said that, but who cares?

Dean also knew that his immediate boss would not say that, but like the sentence above, who cares?

It was enough for him to be happy.

"You flatter me too much!" He didn't say that Attorney General Terry flattered him too much, but said "you," which indicated that he knew this was Lance's compliment.

Neither side cared about this small problem. Lance let go of his hand and invited him to walk and talk.

"The scenery of Angel Lake is the best in leaving Lai Province. It is as beautiful as an angel who has fallen into the mortal world."

"But right next to it, evil is breeding in the city."

Prosecutor Dean, who was slightly behind Lance, had a slightly strange expression. Is it a bit odd for a gang leader to use such words?

He was in a daze for a moment, and his pace slowed slightly. Lance turned around in surprise and looked at him. He quickly smiled and followed, "I've heard about it, and I've seen it. It does make people feel uneasy."

Lance nodded and continued to walk forward. He couldn't read minds and didn't know what Prosecutor Dean was thinking just now.

"Charlie has been in the position of Chief of the Goldport City Police Department for more than thirty years. He is the longest-serving police chief in the history of Goldport City."

"The entire police department is full of his confidants and subordinates. It can even be said that the police force has become his private reserve!"

"Too much ugliness, corruption, and even evil has bred here."

Lance was very good at speaking. Under his paused tone, Prosecutor Dean's attention was also drawn into his narrative, sinking into his voice.

"Absolute power breeds absolute corruption. When the police force becomes his toy, no one knows how many shocking things he has covered up with the power in his hands."

"Do you know his nickname?"

Lance asked suddenly. Dean, who was stunned, didn't react for two or three seconds before saying, "Are you talking about the nickname 'Bay Area Hound'?"

Lance nodded, "Yes, the Bay Area Hound."

"The more agile and skilled the hound is, the more exquisite the feed it needs."

"The salary Charlie has obtained from the police force over the years cannot support his current consumption and wealth at all. He might not even be able to afford the gold watch on his wrist."

"Where did this money come from?"

Lance stopped when he came to an open space. The sparkling Angel Lake gave people a sacred feeling.

His gaze shifted from Prosecutor Dean to the lake, "The entire Goldport City is like this Angel Lake. When we stand here and look at it, we will have a sense of sacredness and relaxation."

"But when you dive down, you will find that it is full of corpses!"

Prosecutor Dean's emotions also fluctuated constantly with Lance's words. He turned his head to look at the beautiful Angel Lake, and a huge wave had already been set off in his mind.

Neither of them spoke. After a while, he asked, "Mr. Lance, where should I start investigating?"

Lance pursed his lips, "Start from..."

"Start from tomorrow!" A police officer looked at the two people at the same table with a serious expression. They were sitting in the corner of a fast-food restaurant.

The kind of fast-food restaurant with a long bar and booths on both sides of the door.

They were from the Creek Valley District Branch. The guy sitting on the east side was the branch chief, and the person across from him was his subordinate.

The Creek Valley District Branch does not have much presence in the entire Goldport City, and the number of people is also the least, but no matter what, they are also a complete branch, with a total of more than 300 police officers.

They had already contacted about one-fifth of the police officers, that is, fifty or sixty people, to participate in this strike.

Not all police officers are willing to participate, after all, this kind of "high-level game" is still too far away for ordinary police officers, and it also makes them feel scared.

Although the number of people is not large, the momentum must be great. They are now discussing the strike arrangements for tomorrow.

The branch chief, who was about to continue saying something, suddenly froze. He saw three police cars stopping very wildly outside the restaurant, directly blocking the door of the restaurant.

"Wang De Fa, what's going on?" he frowned. Soon, he saw a police officer he recognized walking in from outside with some people.

He knew this guy; he was from the Empire District branch. He stood up, frowning, hands on his hips, and looked at the officer. "This isn't the Empire District…"

Before he could finish his sentence, the officer directly drew his weapon and pressed it against his head. "You're under arrest!"