Empire of Shadows

Chapter 648 Feeling the Trouble [666+7]

For the federal rulers at this stage, using gangs to control gangs is one of the simplest and most effective methods, and the key is that it works very well.

Unfortunately, Charlie and Bandi messed up the stability inside Goldport City, leaving them with an extremely passive situation.

If the police force were still in their hands, they could easily deal with Lance. Whether it was investigating his criminal business or directly causing him trouble, they could make Lance disappear quickly in Goldport City.

Or if the five major families hadn't had any problems, then any one of the families could easily deal with Lance.

These guys are such trash!

But neither Mr. Hoff nor Mr. Charles realized a problem.

Goldport City's internal "stability" has lasted for so many years, why did it suddenly collapse in the past few years?

Is the system not perfect enough?

No, this set of city rules and regulations has been implemented for twenty or thirty years and has always been very stable and efficient. This is not its problem.

Is it because the people executing it lack ability?

Also no, whether it's Charlie, Hunter, or the heads of the five major families, they are all the best choices for their positions in this era.

There are no problems with the rules and regulations, and there are no problems with the candidates, so what exactly is it that has led everything to destruction?

No one noticed this. They won't think about it, and they won't look for it. After all, for these gentlemen, it's just one "small thing" after another, countless of them.

Until these small things accumulate and become big things, when they want to find the root of the problem and then make up for it, it's already too late.

In fact, the problem lies in this era itself.

If Lance had a good job and the boss didn't deduct his salary.

If Ethan wouldn't face huge extortion for some minor issues.

If…

Lance, plus too many ifs, ultimately overturned everything.

People can't see the ants beside the first domino that falls, they can only see the domino that falls and the Empire State Building that is finally toppled!

It was Mr. Hoff who proposed this idea, so he was also the one who contacted Joshua, and here, only he and Joshua knew each other.

Others may also know him, but they will not take the initiative to take on this matter, because the reputation of the Holy Bell Party is really too bad.

Now that the handling method had been discussed and everyone's emotions had relaxed a bit, the butler suddenly came to say that someone had come to visit.

Mr. Charles asked the butler to bring the person over. The unlucky businessman was holding his hat in his hand, his shoulders slightly forward, looking as if he was curling up his body.

Although he also lived in the Bay Area, living in the Bay Area did not mean that he was at the core of the Bay Area's interests.

Just like living in New Gold City doesn't necessarily mean you're a senator, you could also be a homeless person.

"What's the matter?"

Mr. Charles glanced at this unlucky businessman. He had seen this guy several times, but he could never remember his name.

But he never thought about remembering this person's name, whether in the past or now.

He doesn't need to remember the name of such a small character, just like a person wouldn't care what a ditch on the way to and from work is called.

For them, they are collectively called "dogs."

The unlucky businessman nodded, "Customs said that my goods have some warning risks and need to be inspected before they can be released."

Mr. Charles and the other gentlemen in the room looked at him with a condescending gaze, which made him feel a strong sense of inferiority and discomfort.

His voice was even softer. He was originally holding his hat with one hand, but now it was with both hands.

The hat covering his chest could provide him with some security. He didn't even know it himself, but he did it instinctively.

Mr. Charles frowned slightly, "Is there a problem with that?"

He himself also does import and export trade. He also knows that exported goods must first be inspected by customs before they can be released and loaded onto ships for export.

This is to avoid some possible criminal acts. At the same time, due to the recent international tensions, the federal government has begun to impose trade sanctions on member states of the Dentra Military Alliance.

A large number of materials that can produce military equipment have been completely stopped from being exported and sold to these member states, so inspections will be stricter.

The unlucky businessman swallowed, "But my goods are just some cold-resistant cotton clothes and some heating items. They detained my things and said that it would take at least two weeks before it's my turn for inspection."

Mr. Charles became a little impatient, "Then what exactly is the problem?"

He didn't wait for the unlucky businessman to speak, and reminded him, "You'd better grasp the key points of the matter, gentlemen."

"Our time is very precious, I hope you can understand this!"

He increased his tone a bit, "Get to the point!"

The unlucky businessman nodded quickly in agreement. He didn't dare to continue to express himself implicitly, and directly stated his thoughts, "Customs may be making things difficult for us factory operators. If this batch of goods can't be shipped out, I may face huge claims."

"If it really doesn't work, I... can only ask Mayor Williams for help."

Mr. Charles finally understood what he was trying to say, and at the same time, his tightly furrowed brows were almost twisted together, because he realized that this was indeed a problem.

The capitalists in the Federation have already figured out how to play the game of claims quite well.

Claims that are beneficial to them must be written high, and claims that are detrimental to them are best not included.

But international trade is also a game between capitalists, and the other party will definitely demand huge claims as well.

If this was really done by Mayor Williams' side, he had to admit that this punch hit very hard!

"Wait a moment, I'll make a call."

Mr. Charles went to another room, but the atmosphere in this room did not ease as a result.

The unlucky businessman stood at the edge of the wall. Every gentleman here needed him to look up to. He even had to slow down his breathing carefully, for fear of causing these gentlemen to be unhappy.

After waiting for seven or eight minutes, Mr. Charles returned from another room. He glanced at the unlucky businessman, "It seems there is indeed this problem. Leave your contact information, I will contact you later."

The unlucky businessman wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded in agreement.

He left his personal contact information and left immediately.

After he left, Mr. Charles said, "They have detained several batches of containers that are about to be shipped out, and these customs declaration companies of the Congress are all companies in the old industrial zone."

The previous mayor, in order to better serve the commercial interests of Goldport City, specially took out the work related to companies from the Social Services Bureau and established a special Commercial Services Bureau, which is the government department where Patricia works.

This government department holds the registered enterprise information of the entire Goldport City, which naturally also includes the factory information of the old industrial zone.

Therefore, if Customs wants to block these declared containers from a technical level, there is absolutely no problem, they can catch them accurately.

After the door was closed again, someone couldn't help but ask, "Is what he said true?"

Mr. Charles nodded, "It's very likely to be true."

The Federal Customs belongs to the Federal Department of Commerce, but at the same time, the United States Department of State also has certain management powers. On the surface, it is a department directly managed by the federal government, but it also needs the cooperation of local governments, so local governments also have a certain influence here.

In other words, Mayor Williams can indeed influence the decisions of Customs.

"Does anyone know the local customs director?"

Mr. Charles looked at the others, focusing his gaze mainly on several people with political affiliations, like Mr. Hoff.

But unfortunately, these people, including Mr. Hoff, remained silent. They didn't have much room to contact Customs.

After all, the appointment of internal members of Customs is not appointed by the local government, but by the Customs General Administration and the Department of Commerce. Even people like Mr. Hoff who have local Socialist or Liberal Party political affiliations, it is difficult to interfere with these appointments.

There is no conflict of interest between the two parties, and there is no exchange of interests. At the same time, they do not do import and export business, so there is even less talk of any friendship.

Seeing that these people remained silent, Mr. Charles closed his eyes.

"I'll make an appointment with him later to talk and see if we can find a way to solve this problem."

"If it can be solved, then this is the best result."

"But if it can't be solved…"

He shook his head, "Then, gentlemen, we have to consider the next response!"

At that time, more factory operators will leave them and bow their heads to Mayor Williams.

Once fewer and fewer people on their side resist the tyranny of the City Hall, and fewer and fewer people are left, their confrontation will eventually become meaningless!

The City Hall has issued a rigid policy regulation that smoking chimneys are not allowed in the old industrial zone, the use of large industrial machines is not allowed, and noise above a certain decibel level is not allowed.

They have ways to prevent these factories from starting work, and at the same time, the land they take away is enough to support the development of a district, and their persistence becomes dispensable.

"This is a special time, I hope each of us can make a small contribution to our common interests!"

He paused as he spoke, "Okay, that's it for today. I still have to make an appointment with the customs director later, so…"

He glanced at Mr. Hoff, "Contact Joshua as soon as possible and finalize this matter."

"Ideally, I want to see news of Lance's assassination in the newspapers within a week."

Then, he looked at the others, explained their tasks and missions, and the meeting came to an end.

He stood by the window, lit a cigarette, and watched them leave his house, walking out of the front gate.

For some reason, he had a nagging feeling of unease.

It was like a gambling addict in a casino; they'd already hit 'big' so many times in a row, wouldn't it be 'small' this time?

Definitely not!

This time, it's still 'big'!