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“Lance, do you know a person named Russ?”

This was the second time Lance had heard this name from someone else’s mouth.

The first person to talk about this Russ was William (Patricia’s father). He spoke with a tone full of mockery when he mentioned that the Empire District councilman was not a smart cookie.

This was also one of the reasons that prompted him to decide to run for election in the Empire District.

Dealing with a Liberal Party member who didn’t have much backing and held radical political views was definitely better than dealing with those Socialist Party members whose interests were intricately intertwined with the locals.

Lance supported his decision. William’s rise to power would bring him some practical benefits. At the very least, he would be able to catch wind of some changes in policies and other aspects earlier.

However, Lance wouldn’t show that he actually knew and understood a bit about this person’s ideas. He shook his head, “Never heard of him. Sounds like the name of a loser in the corner of a bar.”

Mr. Jobav’s lips curled up slightly, “A very interesting way to put it…” He liked Lance’s assessment. Didn’t this mean he had more opportunities?

“He’s the city councilman for the Empire District.”

“Uh-huh?”

“I plan to run for the Empire District city councilman next year.”

Lance looked at him, a bit… uncomprehending. “Why the sudden desire to do this?”

Mr. Jobav’s hands fidgeted slightly; he was actually hiding his true thoughts. “I’ve been reading some books recently, about ideals and redemption. And you know, we all hope to do something for the people of the Empire.”

“I found that being a banker can’t solve people’s troubles, but by becoming a city councilman, perhaps I can help more people solve more practical problems.”

Lance frowned, “A very noble ideal, but that doesn’t sound like you, Mr. Jobav.”

“Doesn’t sound like me?” He didn’t understand the meaning of this sentence. “In what way do you mean?”

In every way. Actually, people’s impression of Mr. Jobav was that of a generous banker. He didn’t interfere in others’ lives, nor did he mind providing help to others.

But only a portion of help!

He had never done any of the great things he claimed he hoped to do for the people of the Empire. He was just a celebrity with a certain reputation in a certain area. For him to suddenly want to make a change, there must be a reason.

And that reason was the mayor.

Lance didn’t elaborate. It was a very disingenuous thing. Just as people don’t like to be labeled by others, to have their image rigidly stereotyped, if you think he is a certain type of person, it will only make him feel that you are objectifying him, thus denying all “opinions.”

“Is it because of the mayor’s pressure?” Lance skipped over the topic and went straight to the heart of the matter. “Because the mayor thinks you have a certain influence in the Empire District, so he hopes you can become the Empire District councilman and provide him with some political assistance?”

Mr. Jobav was amazed at Lance’s keen sense. He smiled reservedly and did not deny it, “That’s part of the reason. I’m squeezing into the upper-class circle, Lance.”

He finally couldn’t hold it in and laughed.

The mayor had spoken with him and would support his campaign for the Empire District city councilman. He had a natural advantage in running for election in the Empire District.

He was an Empire immigrant, and one of the more successful ones. He was also a banker and had relatively complex social connections in the Empire District. People would cast their votes for a real person they could interact with and who usually helped them.

Not a radical politician who was indifferent and only had a relatively moderate attitude towards immigrants.

In the mayor’s view, Mr. Jobav defeating Russ was as simple as a gentleman approaching a urinal, unzipping his pants, and taking out that thing. The whole job could be done as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Wanting to dismantle the local interest network formed by the locals, perhaps one more or one less city councilman wouldn’t play a key role, but it could build momentum for him.

The public is stupid. They can’t see the reality hidden behind appearances. They can’t properly understand the “conversion method” that three or four useless councilmen are not as good as one Councilman Wade or one Councilman Williams.

They would simply think—”Oh, there are as many city councilmen who support the mayor as there are who oppose him!”

As long as it didn’t look to people like “almost all city councilmen are opposing the mayor,” it was fine.

But for Mr. Jobav, this was the first time in the decades since he came to the Federation that he was truly stepping into high society!

In the future, people would no longer call him “banker” with a slightly mocking tone that they thought he couldn’t hear, but should call him “Councilman Jobav.” The doors of the upper-class circle were opening to him.

Lance could understand his feelings. After all… this was his dream. But at this critical juncture, he didn’t know whether to say Mr. Jobav was unlucky, unlucky, or unlucky.

“The city has been a bit restless recently.” Lance looked at him, not picking up on his line about “squeezing into the upper-class circle.”

Mr. Jobav reacted, “Yes, a bit restless. I heard some misunderstandings occurred between you and the mayor. Do you want me to say something to the mayor for you?”

He had also heard that the manager of the Empire of the Night nightclub had been replaced. He actually hoped that Lance would stand with him, so that they could cooperate and become indispensable talents for the mayor, and their respective positions could be more stable.

He looked at Lance with some expectation, but Lance did not answer this question. “The locals are at war with the mayor, Mr. Jobav.”

“This is not a suitable juncture. Whether you squeeze into this circle or not, you are the one who is not blessed.”

The smile on Mr. Jobav’s face faded a little, “What have you heard?”

“A lot. What aspect do you want to hear about?” Lance took out his cigarettes, gave him one, and they leaned in together to light them.

“Everything!” While exhaling smoke, Mr. Jobav stated what he wanted to know.

Lance was silent for a moment, “The local powers, you should know better than I do.”

Mr. Jobav nodded. He had been here for decades longer than Lance; he certainly knew those local prominent families. At the same time, he now truly realized Lance’s meaning. “You mean, the mayor is no match for them?”

Lance shook his head and said, “Whether the mayor is their opponent or not, he will leave this place. What about you?”

“Can you leave this place?”

The mayor’s term ends in two years, and then he will leave Golden Port. Whether he goes to the state assembly, the state government, or returns to a party position with no official title, he has a place to go.

As long as he doesn’t leave in disgrace, his position in the Socialist Party will not be shaken, and the identity of “former Golden Port mayor” carries a lot of weight when competing for other nominations.

But Mr. Jobav couldn’t leave here, because his “base,” was his identity as an “old Empire immigrant.”

He wasn’t as rich as those capitalists from outside, nor did he have the extensive connections of those outside politicians. He was actually a local, but he stood on the mayor’s side.

Lance felt that all the locals standing with the mayor at this moment were idealistic speculators. They believed that the mayor could defeat the deeply rooted local powers and then obtain a piece of reserved land for themselves.

But this… how could it be possible?

No one could guarantee that the next mayor would have the same abilities as this one, and no one could guarantee that every future successor could protect these fruits of victory.

As long as one mayor was not so outstanding, under the counterattack of the local powers, all the locals who sided with the outsiders would be purged.

Lance said a few things to him, talking about the struggle between the locals and the mayor. “Mr. Jobav, the mayor will leave Golden Port in two years, whether he wins or loses.”

“To bet on whether he can achieve in two years what he couldn’t do in the previous six, I think the gamble is too big.”

Mr. Jobav smoked incessantly. He thought for a moment, “You think I should give up?”

Lance gave him a more tactful suggestion, “You should choose to wait and see.”

Mr. Jobav looked up at the bright sky, “The locals don’t like us.”

A fact.

He had been here for decades. It wasn’t just this year that he started thinking about currying favor with these powerful people; he had done so before.

Being extorted by Arthur, being extorted by others, he actually wanted to form a relationship with the locals through this method.

He had money and was willing to make friends. If Arthur was willing to be friends with him, he didn’t mind being extorted by Arthur.

If being extorted for a sum of money could lead to meeting Councilman Williams, he would absolutely be willing to give the money to Arthur.

But the problem was, Arthur never mentioned this, nor would he mention it to Councilman Williams.

He couldn’t possibly say that he was out extorting some immigrant capitalists, and then they wanted to meet Councilman Williams, could he?

He was afraid he couldn’t beat his old man anymore and would have James come back to whip him!

The locals didn’t accept him. Only the mayor accepted him now and showed him the channel, the ladder upwards. The thing he had wanted most for decades was now within reach!

Listening to Mr. Jobav’s somewhat dejected tone, perhaps this was his greatest helplessness!

Although he had made money, he had never understood that this Federation, which advertised itself everywhere as a civilized society, was in essence a darker jungle society than the Empire.

You must be strong and aggressive for people to respect you.

If you are just big but not aggressive, then to the predators hiding in this jungle, you are a mobile granary!

Lance took a final drag and threw the cigarette butt onto the lawn.

The damp lawn and soil smothered the small cigarette butt. Even if it was sparking, on this lawn full of surging vitality, it couldn’t ignite anything.

“I’m seeing a girlfriend.”

Mr. Jobav came back to his senses, “That’s a good thing. Everyone goes through this stage. Is she here today?”

Lance shook his head, “She’s not here. She’s a local.”

His expression became slightly odd. Mr. Jobav vaguely sensed something, otherwise Lance wouldn’t say such a thing at this time. “Then her family…”

“Her surname is Lawrence. Her ancestors were ranchers, right here in this area.”

“Perhaps not as prominent and powerful as the Wade and Williams families, but definitely not an ordinary class.”

“Their family members are involved in every aspect of the Golden Port municipal system, and her father also plans to run for the Empire District councilman.”

Mr. Jobav’s expression as he looked at Lance was very hard to describe: envy, jealousy, admiration, appreciation, annoyance…

Many emotions were mixed together. From Lance’s perspective, his expression was even slightly distorted!

This was perhaps the truest reflection of Mr. Jobav’s heart at this moment.

He was already married when he first came to the Federation. When his children grew up, he never thought about arranging a marriage with a local “family,” because at that time his understanding of the Federation was still on the surface—as long as you work hard, you will succeed.

By the time he began to understand something, it was already too late. Over the past ten-plus years, he increasingly felt constrained everywhere.

And at this moment, Lance, a… he wasn’t sure if Lance was even twenty, a young man, was talking about his impending marriage into a local family.

This made him feel as if he had lived his whole life like a dog.

“I…” He wanted to say something, but his emotions were collapsing. He first squeezed out a smile. He had wanted to congratulate Lance, but his emotions made it impossible for him to maintain a natural smile, so he returned to that ordinary, even somewhat cold expression.

But he quickly realized that showing this expression upon hearing this news was not good. He could only force himself to look more benevolent.

It wasn’t that he disliked Lance or the news, it was just that his emotions had collapsed at this moment. His questioning of everything in his past made him unable to smile.

“This is really good news. Congratulations on finding your home.” In the end, he still maintained his dignity.

After doing some mental preparation, he said something a bit against his will.

Especially when a young person, a latecomer, whose foundation was not even as good as his own, found the right direction in a very short time and had the possibility of surpassing him.

He questioned all his past efforts and results!

He was even questioning his own character!

Lance shook his head, “Thank you. What I want to say is, Jobav, we can unite.”

Mr. Jobav was somewhat lost in thought. He understood Lance’s meaning, but he didn’t accept it.

“I’ll think about it,” he replied to Lance, but this was also to be expected.

On one side was the nominal ruler of this city, the mayor of Golden Port appointed by the Federation government, and the series of forces and backers behind the mayor.

On the other side was a gang leader from the old country of the Empire, currently just a regional gang, relying on some legal or illegal business to make a living, yet saying he had a bright future.

Even if Mr. Jobav thought what Lance said was good, he would most likely not choose Lance.

After hitting small over ninety times in a row, this time it should be big!

Moreover, what Lance wanted was support for his girlfriend’s father to become a councilman, not support for him.

He didn’t want to go around in a big circle only to end up back where he started. He wouldn’t agree with Lance’s choice, nor would he accept his invitation.

Seeing Mr. Jobav refuse without hesitation, although he used “consider” as a turn of phrase, Lance knew he had refused, and could only feel helpless about it.

“Alright, I respect your choice, Mr. Jobav. I hope we can still be friends.”

Mr. Jobav squeezed out a smile, “This has nothing to do with our stance and relationship as friends.”

“We will always be friends!”

Lance extended his hand and shook Mr. Jobav’s. “They are waiting for me over there.”

“Go ahead, interact more with the young people. They need your advice.”

“Then, goodbye, Mr. Jobav?”

“Goodbye, Lance.”

The two released their hands and walked in completely different directions, like a fork in the road of life, both having made and firmed up their respective choices.

When he reached the young people, they quickly surrounded him.

Lance and the Lance Family were too damn famous in the Empire District, and unlike the Camille gang, they neither collected protection fees nor extorted their fellow countrymen. Their reputation among the Empire immigrants was very good.

Everyone scrambled to greet Lance. For them, this was a very meaningful Saturday. Every Saturday was like this.

They could tell other peers that they knew Lance and had talked with him. These could all become topics of conversation for them at school.

For a period of time before, due to the rain and snow, the gathering at St. Nayea Cathedral had been suspended for many sessions. This was the first time after spring began. Many people came, many more than before.

Many people were attracted by his fame and wanted to get a closer look at Lance. When Lance showed that he didn’t mind interacting with everyone, the people also responded with great enthusiasm!

It was clear that he was very popular among the young people.

In the crowd, Rob, who had been talking with people, saw Lance appear, and his expression became less comfortable.

Even though he told his family that he had moved on from the shadow of his breakup with Selena, seeing Lance, whom he considered the main culprit for their breakup, still made him feel very unhappy.

“Look at that smug look on his face!” He glanced at Nancy beside him. Nancy, however, was flipping her hair and looking at Lance in the crowd with a grin.

This made Rob feel the sting of betrayal. “Don’t f—king tell me you like this guy too!”

Nancy retorted, “What’s wrong with liking him?”

“He’s good-looking, rich, has status, everyone likes him…”

“I don’t like him!” Rob emphasized his position again, but did not get Nancy’s support.

She sneered, “Alright, brother, you don’t like anyone who is better than you. We all know this fact, you don’t have to keep emphasizing it to me!”

“F—k!” Rob cursed in a low voice, “I’m leaving, want to come with me?”

Nancy hesitated for a moment, but ultimately left with Rob because Rob had a car.

He said it was the company’s car, but it was a car after all!

***

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