Empire of Shadows

#688 - How can you have the right to take a stand if you can’t even get enough to eat?

At the moment almost everyone's eyes were focused on Hope, a feeling of joy grew within him, from the inside out!

This was the feeling of being valued, this was the realization of the Federal Dream!

He leaned forward slightly, behaving like a social elite who had received a higher education, although from other people's perspectives, his behavior seemed a bit pretentious.

"Willing to serve you gentlemen!"

Afterward, Mr. Charles temporarily dismissed him with the excuse that he "needed to work." He had to go to work, instead of sitting here like these old men, where sitting was their work.

When the door closed again, one of the gentlemen couldn't help but ask, "Are you really planning to bring this kind of person into our circle?"

Mr. Charles took it for granted, slightly raising his chin and saying in a dismissive tone, "Of course not. He doesn't have the qualifications. He's not even as good as a Federal citizen!"

"I don't like the current Williams, but I have to admit he's right about some things. How could a traitor, the lowest and most despicable person, mingle with us nobles?"

"Once he has no value, we'll throw him out. At that time, whether it's the governor, Congress, or the Secretary of State, they'll all need evidence as soon as possible to confirm that the problem wasn't caused by us."

"He's the most suitable one!"

As for whether this Mr. Hope would randomly implicate others after being caught?

They weren't worried because he absolutely couldn't be caught alive, only after he was dead.

Dead men don't talk, and they also believe that the people above want a reason, not a talking reason.

"Let's arrange this matter first. The New Year is coming soon, and we need to prepare."

Mr. Charles's gaze swept across the faces of these people, "Facts have proven that whoever is the mayor is unreliable. Only our own people can be the mayor, so I have an idea."

"After Williams is kicked out, we'll select a mayor from among ourselves, and then the mayoral candidate will always be born from among us."

"Goldenport City can be branded with the Wade family, it can be branded with the Williams family, why can't it be branded with us?"

"Lance's Imperial Chamber of Commerce gave me an idea. We can also establish a 'Goldenport Chamber of Commerce' to integrate the resources in our hands and let it exert a stronger force."

"Commerce, politics, culture, more fields!"

"We can completely monopolize all industries and markets in Goldenport City, and then expand it to other places."

"Ultimately, we'll establish a commercial empire with us at its core!"

Everyone in the room was moved by his words and ideas, their hearts pounding.

Monopoly is always the most profitable business.

About thirty to forty years ago, in an era when the average salary was one dollar, how were those billionaires with assets of over a billion dollars born?

The answer is simple: monopoly.

They don't even need to monopolize too many industries, just a portion of them, so that every Federal citizen, like the dream every Federal citizen has had, gives them ten cents a week.

Then they can have millions in revenue every week, four million a month, nearly fifty million a year, and five hundred million in ten years.

Even if the profit is only thirty-three percent, that's still a profit of 170 million. They don't even need ten years, six years, and they can achieve a billion-dollar asset.

If that sounds too exaggerated, twenty percent of Federal citizens need to pay them this fee, and it will only take thirty years.

As long as a monopoly can be formed, a super leap in class can be achieved in one generation, or even less than one generation!

Moreover, the current Federal economic development is much better than it was thirty or forty years ago. Thirty or forty years ago, they could have a scale of over a billion. What about now?

With the average income quadrupled, wouldn't it be easy for them to reach tens of billions?

Everyone was attracted by Mr. Charles's bait, even if they knew there might be a hook behind the bait, they still wanted to take a bite!

"How is the equity distributed?" someone asked.

Mr. Charles was able to propose this idea at this time, which means he already had a complete plan.

"In terms of equity, it is divided into three parts. The Congressional side probably needs 15% to 20%, the state government, parliament, and local Socialist Party internally probably need another 15% to 20%, and then the naval base needs us to take out at least 5% to 10% of the share."

"They may be a threat to us, but they may also be an important layer of protection."

Everyone agreed with this point. The military is a very unreasonable group of people and a very autocratic institution. There are only benefits to tying them to the chariot, and no harm.

"So, at most, only 50% can be left for us to divide. And this 50% will be estimated based on the total invested enterprise value. As the host, I additionally request 3% of the equity. Is that too much?"

The others looked at each other. They didn't think 3% of a roadside bakery was too much, because 3% would only be a few hundred dollars at most.

But if the "Goldenport Chamber of Commerce" could really be established as Mr. Charles said, monopolizing various industries here, then this 3% might be 3% of a hundred-billion-dollar empire.

Not to mention 3%, they would all want to fight for 0.3%.

Seeing these people silent, he wasn't disappointed or anything. Everyone was a businessman, so naturally they understood that they were just fighting for their own interests.

"Let's set it like this for now. In short, my plan is roughly like this. As for the details, you can also consider them. We'll discuss them after this matter is over."

At this time, Hope didn't know that in the future Goldenport City and even Licarley State, there was actually no place for him at all, and even the old men in the room wouldn't allow him to live.

Being valued and becoming the focus made him think that he had become one of them, even if it was the most marginal, the outermost one.

Like those who had just arrived in the Federation, he still believed that as long as he worked hard, he could always realize his Federal Dream.

But they actually didn't understand that, given the conservatism of this country and society, they simply wouldn't allow first-generation immigrants to succeed.

It was difficult even for the second generation. Perhaps the third, fourth, or even fifth generation, those who looked completely Federal and would only say "I have one thirty-second" or "I have one sixty-fourth" of a certain bloodline when introducing themselves to gain more support, could be allowed to succeed.

But before that, they had better honestly dedicate two or three generations to the Federal people and the Federal society.

Back in his house, Hope immediately summoned his subordinates, "You all already know what's been happening these past two days. We are facing the worst situation since coming to the Federation!"

His face was serious and solemn, and everyone in the room also became serious.

Boni was standing in the middle of the crowd. He had previously gained importance because he knew some Federal citizens and could help refugees find jobs.

However, recently Hope heard that he had some conflicts with Federal citizens for some reason and lost that job, so he was no longer as important as before.

Considering that he still knew a lot of people, Hope continued to let him stay here. After all, he, as a social activist, also needed people around him.

"The Federal people have never treated us as human beings from the beginning. We just wanted to express some of our views, and many people have died because of it."

"It's not just like this here. I learned that all our compatriots, brothers and sisters in the Federation are living very poorly."

"The Federal people discriminate against us, antagonize us, and hurt us without any concealment!"

"We can't remain silent anymore!"

"If we choose to remain silent again in the face of this disaster, then they will only hurt us even more, because they know we won't speak out!"

"I am not a truly powerful person. I also have things that I am afraid of: pain, injury, death, many things."

"But I am willing to become a powerful person for my brothers and sisters, unafraid of anything that makes me uneasy!"

Hope's eyes contained light and stars. Many young people were so excited by his words that they clenched their fists. At this moment, if he asked them to charge towards the next copper wall and iron barrier, or even a chariot, they would not hesitate to crash into it with their bodies!

Young souls were brainwashed by this seemingly glorious and righteous ideology, and Boni was also flushed with excitement.

Carl, who was once lost in his ideals, was now, like him, lost in the grander ideals woven by Hope!

Hope took a deep breath, calming his agitated emotions slightly. "I heard that the state government and the federal government have begun to pay attention to this matter."

"The Slader ambassador to the Federation has also discussed the tragic events that occurred here with the Secretary of State. People all over the country are now paying attention to the situation here."

"This is an opportunity, brothers and sisters, an opportunity for us to show people our suffering, and to show people our beautiful hearts that still pursue ideals in suffering."

"Whether for ourselves or for our brothers and sisters all over the Federation, we must stand up!"

"If we don't act and wait for others to act first, perhaps no one will ever stand up for our justice!"

"We must stand up ourselves and become the warriors who will shoulder the future, to support a sky for our families, friends, and compatriots!"

"We need a larger gathering to attract the attention of the world and make everyone realize that we are not weak, we have the courage to face them!"

He felt that the atmosphere was right, and the emotions were right, so he began to assign tasks. Soon everyone received their tasks, organizing manpower, making signs, or doing something else.

Boni also had his own job. He knew many people, and Hope asked him to find more people to come over. The more people, the stronger the power of this demonstration!

Boni agreed without any hesitation.

He had read the newspaper and heard some people talk about what happened that day.

Their workers could not bear the torment, abuse, exploitation, and whipping of the Federation people. They were severely beaten for resisting slightly.

Others just wanted to rescue their companions, but were shot by the police who came.

He subconsciously ignored some facts, such as the deaths of the Federation people. Of course, some people said that those people were not Federation people at all, but were disguised refugees who had died.

He believed that it was now necessary and imperative to stand up and contribute his strength to changing the living environment of his compatriots!

After these people left, those who remained were Hope's true confidants, people who shared the same dreams as him and wanted to become superior people in the Federation.

They participated in the most core plan, inciting riots, but some of them did not expect the consequences to be so serious.

At this time, Hope kept them behind, and these people remained silent.

This attitude was actually not very good. Hope laughed twice to ease the atmosphere. "Are you afraid?"

Some people didn't speak, and some couldn't help but say, "They will really shoot!"

Hope shook his head, "I didn't expect this either."

"But this time we still need to do something."

The man couldn't help but say again, "What if they shoot us?"

Who can say for sure about this kind of thing?

Maybe the Federation guys will really disregard everything and have to beat them to death, what should they do?

Life is so precious. Their ideal is to become superior people, not to become a pile of ashes!

Mr. Hope pursed his lips. He was actually very embarrassed to be questioned in front of so many people.

He felt very uncomfortable, even angry, but he didn't show it. There was even a comforting smile on his face, "This time you won't be so dangerous, because you need to play the role of Federation people."

The people in the room were stunned, "Play the role of Federation people?"

Hope nodded, "We all know that those big shots are paying attention to the situation here. Do you think Mayor Williams and his group don't know?"

"They definitely know better than us, and they are very likely to try their best to appease us, rather than stimulate us."

"But this is not what we want to see. If the opposition between us eases, then all our previous sacrifices will be meaningless."

"We must make the conflict break out again!"

He looked at these people, as if he saw his former self, and saw the greed hidden deep in their hearts.

"After doing this, the federal government will soon respond. The big shots in the Bay Area told me that they will find a way to urge the state government to establish an advisory office."

"A 'Slader Immigration Issues Advisory Office', and there will even be one in the federal government. By then, we will be consultants to this department, legitimate federal politicians."

"We can obtain federal citizenship, and then join their political parties, and use this identity to realize our dreams!"

"Whether you want wealth, status, or the freedom you have always wanted to pursue, you can all be satisfied!"

The eyes of the people in the room lit up immediately. If what Hope said was true, then they could definitely give it a try!

They had already learned about the attitude of the Federation people from the press conference.

As long as they are not refugees, they will be relatively tolerant.

As for creating another "bloody case" that may cause more compatriots, brothers and sisters to be injured or even die?

For a better future, some sacrifices are always necessary.

Once the advisory office is established and they become "Slader issue experts", they can help other people live better!

Seeing that they were no longer resisting, Hope immediately began to tell them what to do...

After returning to his residence, Boni began to contact those friends who had left the "company" with him.

He told them Hope's ideas and asked them to gather more people.

Although this matter does not have to be done immediately, it should not be delayed for too long, otherwise it will lose its timeliness.

Mr. Charles gave Hope two or three days. He tightened his grip, hoping to gather more than five thousand people by the day after tomorrow at the latest!

A gathering of five thousand people is not a small number. It is a large dark mass. If they hold up banners or something, it will be even more like covering the sky and the sun.

Boni took this matter very seriously, but what he didn't know was that one of his partners, after agreeing to help him recruit some people to participate in the gathering, ran directly to Karl.

After this guy came out with Boni, his life suddenly became very bad. First of all, he had to buy his own meals, and he could no longer bring food back from the company to his family like before.

The huge gap in life made him feel some dissatisfaction with Boni's decision. It's just that the young man couldn't bear to go back without doing anything after coming out from there, he couldn't save face.

The conflict between refugees and locals made him even more urgent. The lives of refugees are indeed too worthless. He didn't want to be the one sacrificed in a similar activity.

It's just that he hadn't thought of any reason or excuse to go back, but at this time, Boni offered a good reason!