Empire of Shadows

Goldport City, Bay Area, the power of real estate, a villa.

Federals have a fondness for "heaviness," especially those in the upper class, who greatly appreciate aristocratic demeanor.

Everything must be resplendent, exuding wealth, nobility, and gravitas.

Therefore, most upper-class individuals' studies evoke this feeling.

Huge bookshelves, large and heavy desks, red or white wide-backed chairs, adorned with some gold trim.

They would lay down fine camel wool carpets, and some would place a globe in the corner, along with some antiques and perhaps animal specimens.

Everything showcases nobility and luxury.

This room was no exception. Councilman Williams sat in his chair, puffing on a pipe, with his son, Arthur, sitting opposite him.

Arthur, in his early twenties, had platinum blonde hair and looked handsome, a trait he inherited from his mother.

Councilman Williams' eyes seemed half-closed. He was already in his sixties, an age that qualified him as an old man even in the Federation.

However, no one in this city dared to underestimate his influence and power.

The occasional glint from his slightly opened eyes revealed a radiance that could not be ignored. Arthur, usually so arrogant, became as meek as a quail in his father's presence.

"The Temperance League will be here in the next few days. You'd better not do anything foolish, or I'll personally send you to prison."

Arthur nodded quickly. "I won't leave the estate for the next few days."

Councilman Williams glanced at him, trying to discern whether he was telling the truth or just being perfunctory.

Seeing his foolish son's earnest demeanor, he felt a little gratified. "I'm not asking you to do nothing, just don't cause trouble."

Arthur asked curiously, "Father, is there really a need for us to be so nervous about a mere Temperance League?"

"Just a Temperance League?" Councilman Williams was surprised by this statement and soon chuckled, his voice filled with mockery towards Arthur.

He knew that this son was not the best candidate to inherit his power, so he didn't intend for Arthur to become his heir. He had other sons.

Arthur was the product of his marriage to his fourth wife. Although he liked Arthur very much, as he resembled himself, that was not a reason to make a wrong decision.

In a good mood, he didn't mind explaining a bit, "The Temperance League originally developed from the Church, and that alone involves many prominent figures in the upper echelons of the Federation."

"Not to mention the political struggles and social experiments behind it. Telling you this is actually meaningless because your brain, filled with dog shit, wouldn't understand what I'm trying to express."

"Just know that you shouldn't cause trouble in the next few days, or I'll really send you in myself."

Seeing Arthur's pitiful and aggrieved expression, Councilman Williams softened after all. "I heard you've been hoarding alcohol recently."

Arthur was startled. He thought his old man was going to make a move on him and quickly explained, "I'm just… storing it for a friend!"

Councilman Williams scoffed. "You lie the same way you did when you were little, not changing at all. Don't lie to me, Arthur. I'm your father, you can't fool me."

"However, you've done well in this matter. You can store more alcohol. October 25th is Saint Farmer's Day. On this day, the entire state will join the Prohibition League, and the governor will announce a ban on alcohol."

Saint Farmer's Day has another name here, called "Harvest Day." People celebrate the grand autumn harvest and look forward to another bountiful harvest in the coming year.

Announcing the ban at this time is particularly meaningful. The autumn harvest is often the peak season for brewing. Announcing it on this day is essentially declaring war on the industry and culture represented by alcohol.

This war has already been won before it even started. Everyone will gain recognition from mainstream society, representing another boost in influence, status, and power!

Seeing Arthur's somewhat bewildered look, Councilman Williams could only sigh. "You're hopelessly stupid, my dear."

"So I hope you can earn a little more money before I fall. That's the only gift I can leave you!"

"Now, you can get out. Looking at you hurts my eyes!"

Arthur scurried out of the room and went straight to see his mother, a woman who looked only thirty-six or thirty-seven years old.

She was lounging on the sofa in casual home clothes, reading a magazine. She glanced askance at Arthur and motioned for him to sit on the opposite sofa. "Didn't your father beat you?"

"That's rare."

Arthur glanced at his mother's heavy breasts and averted his gaze. He always wanted to recall some things from his childhood, but he could never remember them. It was impolite, but he couldn't help but want to.

"Father told me to hoard more alcohol."

She put down the magazine. "So you came here to ask me for money?"

"I heard you've been making a lot of money outside, relying on your father's name."

He was clearly not as afraid of this mother and was even somewhat flippant.

He sat directly at the woman's feet, massaging and relaxing her calves. "I just stored 45,000 bottles of alcohol, and I don't have much money left."

"Forty-five thousand bottles?" The woman, who had been squinting, couldn't help but open her eyes. "You wouldn't have bought cheap alcohol, would you?"

"Gold Label Napovee Whiskey."

The woman looked at him with hidden meaning. "The one that costs six dollars a bottle?"

Arthur corrected her triumphantly, "It's closer to eight dollars now, and some Delain Gin."

The woman raised her eyebrows. "You're richer than I thought."

Forty-five thousand bottles, that's three hundred and sixty thousand.

It doesn't seem like much, but if a person only has thirty or forty dollars of income a month, this money is almost the income of a worker for a thousand years, and he can't eat or drink.

Sometimes this world is indeed unfair. Everyone comes naked at birth, and it is possible that you have put in more effort, but you do not get the rewards you deserve.

On the contrary, those who never work hard have everything that most people can't reach in their entire lives from birth.

The woman thought for a while, "I probably only have… three hundred thousand here. I can give you two hundred and fifty thousand, but you have to give me three hundred thousand when you pay me back."

Arthur was overjoyed when he heard this. He knew why his old man told him this, just to let him hoard a large amount of alcohol before Saint Farmer's Day!

With this money, and then he "borrows" some more, as much as he can get, this is a 100% profitable business!

He walked to the woman's side and kissed her hard on the face. "Thank you so much, my good mother!"

The woman pushed him away with a coquettish laugh. "You got your saliva all over my face. Just go to the bank and wait for Malone, he will help you sort out the transfer problem."

Malone is her fully authorized lawyer, and he is also responsible for things like transfers. In fact, the woman only has a few thousand dollars in her own account.

The money she promised to Arthur will be transferred from the Goldport City Love City Charitable Foundation, which is a private charitable foundation she presides over.

Arthur left immediately after hearing this. Although he also likes his mother very much, compared to the two hundred and fifty thousand that is about to be in his hands, and more wealth, these are obviously more important.

Although he may feel a little guilty in his heart, he will make up for it in his dreams.

In the president's office of Bolton Bank, Malone was chatting with the president. Before long, Arthur rushed over in a hurry.

Malone also doesn't like Arthur, but he doesn't show it. After showing the authorization letter, he transferred the money from the foundation account into Arthur's account.

Arthur doesn't really like Malone either, because Malone is too good. Stupid people never want to play with smart people, because once they are together, stupid people will realize that they are really stupid.

After finishing the simple signing, Arthur left. After thinking about it, he locked his first stop on Chobaf.

He had extorted Chobaf. Although this kind of thing… sounds a bit excessive, but for the sake of Councilman Williams, how many immigrant capitalists in this city haven't been extorted by him?

Sometimes he even thinks, I'm giving you face by extorting you, not everyone will be extorted by me!

When his convertible, of which there is only one in the entire Goldport City, and which is particularly flamboyant, stopped below Mr. Chobaf's bank, the assistant rushed into Mr. Chobaf's office in a hurry.

He stood at the door, holding the doorknob, with a panicked look on his face, "Arthur is here."