Empire of Shadows

Chapter 652: The Changing World [666+9]

Everyone was thinking.

This was a game, a gamble, but not a card game!

There was only one round here, and the stakes were not just the metal or other materials on the table.

You had to bet everything you had, which was not an easy choice, and it required not only money but also courage, so Lance didn't rush them.

He smoked his cigarette, waiting quietly.

Taking over the wharf management company and acquiring shares in the port wharf seemed like a simple act of supporting Mayor Williams in his war against the original interest groups.

But in reality, there were deeper reasons behind it.

This world was always changing: the change of day and night, the change of seasons, old neighbors leaving, new neighbors arriving…

Every moment, everything was undergoing changes that we could understand or couldn't understand.

Human relationships were the same.

For so many years, the Williams family and the Wade family had been both opposed and cooperative, forming a seemingly stable triangular system of the Golden Port City ruling class with the Bay Area and the five major families.

But as Mayor Sidney wanted to make a final stand, he broke this stable system, and the relationships within Golden Port City changed.

The Williams family and the Bay Area maintained their independence while relying on each other, and the five major families split due to the mayor's decision, eventually turning the entire city back into "three parts."

As the mayor fell in the struggle, the five major families fell into internal strife, the Lance family began to rapidly expand and rise, and irreconcilable contradictions appeared between the Williams family and the Bay Area, continuing to maintain the state of "three pillars."

Now, Lance and Mayor Williams had formed an "alliance" to eliminate the interest groups in the Bay Area and completely pave the way for the Williams family to seize interests in Golden Port City.

The relationships here had changed once again.

The Williams family and the people in the Bay Area used to be friends, but because of changes, conflicting interests and contradictions, they eventually became enemies.

Once the interest groups in the Bay Area were eliminated, only two "forces" would remain in this city: the Lance family and the Williams family.

Then, in the future, would Lance and the Williams family also have conflicts due to certain conflicting interests, or even clashes?

In fact, there was another possibility for development. Lance had been thinking about this matter: the "Lawrence family," which he had overlooked but was truly existing and rapidly rising.

It was very likely to become a new "third party," another side of the triangle, continuing to support the stable structure of interests and power.

It was just that Lance was not sure whether it could become that side. He couldn't guarantee it, and the three old men were probably unable to guarantee it either.

If the rise of the Lawrence family was not fast enough or strong enough, then this triangle would be fragile and unstable. The consequence would be that friction, collision, or even conflict would inevitably occur between Lance and the Williams family.

Therefore, Lance's acquisition of the wharf management company and the wharf's shares was actually a backup plan, a precaution.

After all, for the people in the Bay Area, the fact that the police chief was Lance's man was a result they couldn't manipulate and could only accept.

But for Mayor Williams, he only needed an administrative order, then sign his name, and he could immediately replace the police chief.

Replacing him with his own people, making them the sharpest weapon in his hand!

Including other candidates, he could even protest or accuse the prosecutor and the court, the judge, on certain issues, attracting the attention of higher-level political forces.

Politics!

It was a series of exchanges of interests. As long as he was willing to give up some benefits, someone would always enter the game.

In that case, Lance would be very passive, so his swallowing these things was equivalent to adding a reliable trump card for himself.

Mayor Williams was also well aware of this. His current "generosity" was to reassure Lance, releasing a signal of "Look, I won't stop you, and I won't deal with you in the future."

But would he really maintain a long-term friendship with Lance in the future?

It depended on whether the core interests of the two people would conflict in the future. If there were no overlapping and unresolvable interests, then they could live in peace with each other.

If there were, then they might not necessarily be at odds with each other.

Just like his relationship with the Bay Area, these relationships were constantly changing, and no one knew what tomorrow, the next step, would be like.

Establishing a new interest group could also be considered a way to protect the friendship between the two parties, at least allowing Mayor Williams to cool down faster when his mind was heated!

He felt his fingers getting a little hot, glanced at the cigarette that had burned to the end, and put it out in the ashtray.

At this time, a gentleman at the table asked, "Mr. Lance, if we… stand on your side, what can we get?"

They were ultimately businessmen. If they were to bet everything, they had to be given the motivation to do so—tempting interests.

Lance shook his head slightly, "I will keep some of the shares in these people's hands, and the rest will be given to you."

"In addition, I can guarantee you a certain investment quota in the Newport Wharf."

"You have been investing in the wharf for so long, you should be very clear about its value, and I believe this is enough to reflect my greatest sincerity!"

The gentlemen in the room began to talk in low voices again, discussing how many shares they could get.

Then the gentleman who asked the question asked again, "How many shares do you need to keep?"

Lance thought for a while, "It depends on how many shares we can squeeze out of them."

"If, I mean if, the entire wharf is only held by us, then my requirement is no less than a minority (≥ 33.4%)."

"If we can't get that many shares, I can appropriately lower my requirements for shareholding, but we need to sign an agreement."

"As long as I maintain my shareholding, I want to have the right to veto."

They began to discuss again. When it came to interests, they had to be more cautious.

Perhaps it was Lance's sincerity that moved them, or perhaps the interests were too tempting. In the end, they chose to accept Lance's conditions.

"I think it's acceptable…"

"I think so too!"

Soon everyone reached a consensus on their opinions. If people want to achieve leapfrog development, they always have to gamble.

If they lose the bet, they will just take the money, lose their shares, and then get out, they won't be left with nothing.

But if they win, they can embrace tomorrow!

The content of the conversations in the room quickly returned to food, news, and some rumors.

Anderson and his apprentices' skills were still good, everyone enjoyed the meal very much, they had filled their stomachs for a few days, and they had also booked the next feast, what else could they not be satisfied with?

Someone rushed to pay the bill, but failed, because the manager waived the cost of their dinner, a total of more than five thousand yuan.

Mainly some ingredients that seemed precious in winter, and several bottles of good wine.

However, Lance still paid the money. The more status you have, the less willing you are to easily owe favors.

It would still take a few days from the discussion and confirmation of the entire plan to its implementation. They needed to raise funds and win over more people, all of which would take time.

After several days of gloomy weather, a sunny day suddenly arrived. After the last snowfall, on a certain morning, golden sunlight once again shone on the earth, bringing light back to Golden Port City!

From the convoy rapidly entering the city from outside the city, David smiled as he looked at the dazzling sunlight, "The newspaper has always said that the weather in Golden Port City is terrible, but now it seems to be pretty good."

"It's like welcoming us!"

The convoy was no different when it returned than when it left, so no one would notice that they were actually different.

They were empty when they left, but when they came back, they were filled with people.

The old men on the street saw the license plate numbers of several of the vehicles in the convoy, and they knew that these vehicles belonged to Mr. Hoff, and then reported them as usual, that was all.

Mr. Hoff's face showed no expression, maintaining that indifferent calmness. He knew that no matter how things turned out this time, he would have to face some troublesome things at the Social Democratic Congress.

Now his only hope was that they could really deal with Lance, at least let him keep his wealth.

Listening to David talking about the weather, Mr. Hoff also glanced out the window. He nodded in agreement, "Yesterday it was still cloudy, and today it's sunny, as if to welcome us."

"This is a good sign!"

He didn't believe this before, but inexplicably, at this moment, he believed it.

The convoy quickly passed through the city roads and arrived at his villa.

He arranged for these people, and then went to the study to make a phone call to Mr. Charles.

During this period, more and more goods from industrial zone factories were detained by customs. No matter who asked, the reason was the same: suspected violation of the embargo list, and they had to be checked thoroughly before they could be released.

"Someone has gone to Williams again, and we don't have much time left."

Mr. Charles's tone rarely showed anxious emotions. He concealed it very well, but Mr. Hoff could still detect it.

The "authority" of the Bay Area was being challenged, being questioned by people.

The "building" that they and their fathers had built over decades was collapsing little by little!

Before it completely collapsed, the moths that caused all this must be eliminated as soon as possible.

After a brief silence, Mr. Charles asked, "Have they arrived yet?"

"Yes, they've arrived and are at my home now."

"So, besides me, you, and your people, no one else knows about their existence?"

Faintly aware that the situation seemed to be developing beyond his expectations, Mr. Hoff immediately asked警觉ly, "What are you going to do?"