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Temporarily seeking refuge with the Pasoretto Family was the best option Lance could imagine at the moment.
At any time, in any society, people are always talking about value and demonstrating value.
It might differ due to different social cultures, historical backgrounds, or other factors, but their essence is the same.
Sometimes, in some regions, value is considered to be wealth, but in other places, value represents status, or loyalty.
You have to make people feel that you are useful, that you have value worth keeping, then you will be kept.
Currently, Lance lacks tangible strength. If he doesn’t want to flee, the best way is to follow the rules of the game, join one side, and become a “valuable person.”
In fact, almost everyone has come this way!
Presidents, Speakers of the House, Senate Majority Leaders, various ministers, big capitalists, and even family heads.
They all came this way, it’s just that the path they took might be a little different from the path ordinary people take.
Important figures often drive cars, while ordinary people can only run.
Driving has many benefits: it’s easy, convenient, you can enjoy the scenery along the way, you can grip the steering wheel with one hand, and you can go further on the road of “achievement and glory.”
After all, if the car runs out of gas, they can eventually get out and walk a few steps.
But for those who run, all their attention is focused on their constantly depleting stamina, and on those… competitors.
They can’t go too far before being defeated by fatigue and hunger, then caught up by those who come after, and finally choose to give up.
The distance they travel from the starting point to where they stop is called “family accumulation.”
Those who are a little luckier, and unwilling to give up, might muster the courage and strength to run a bit further, but will eventually fall.
The smarter ones will try to hitch a ride when a car passes by. Perhaps you won’t be in the driver’s seat, perhaps you’ll be in the back, on the roof, or even hidden underneath the car.
But at least, you can go further and with less effort than those who run on their own two feet.
Although sometimes when the car has problems, you have to get out and push, or get your hands dirty fixing it, these costs are completely acceptable compared to those still running on their legs behind you!
As long as the car can still drive and the driver doesn’t tell you to get off, paying some price for this journey is worth it.
If one day, you suddenly discover that you also have the qualifications and money to buy a car, then it means a new life is about to begin.
Of course, it’s also possible that you can never afford a car, or don’t have the qualifications to buy one, and can only follow in someone else’s car.
If you’re lucky, you might make it all the way to the destination, though the probability isn’t high.
Because there will always be people on the journey who can push the car better than you, people who can fix cars better than you, and even people who are more brazen than you.
Being kicked off halfway is the norm.
But this is also accumulation, because your children will have more advantages than those who didn’t hitch a ride.
Everyone has to go through this. No one is born the President of the Federation. The current President of the Federation also started as an assistant to the mayor.
He had some background and status advantages, but he also climbed up from the “bottom” step by step.
If Lance wanted to climb higher, he needed a “car.”
After he hung up the phone, the people in the room were all looking at him. No one spoke, although some of them didn’t understand why they had to seek refuge with the Pasoretto Family.
However, based on their trust in Lance, none of them asked.
Lance patted his knees, stood up, “We can go home now.”
“Drive back?”
“Are you going to walk back?”
A long-lost smile finally appeared on the faces of the young people. They went back to the backyard, got into their cars, and openly set off for home.
On the way, several police cars passed them, but no one got out to stop them or check if these people had disturbed those in the police system.
This is the interesting part of being protected by the rules; you’ll find that many law enforcement agencies become deaf and blind.
On the way, Elvin asked, “Are we going to work for the Pasoretto Family?”
Lance leaned halfway out of the open car window. The outside wind carried a chill, blowing away the heat from his heart. “We don’t work for anyone. This is a transaction.”
“We follow the rules, give him money, and some loyalty, and he protects us.”
“When we have great power, he will willingly let us go.”
Elvin, while controlling the car, said, “I’m just worried he’ll make us do dangerous things…”
Lance wasn’t very worried. “He won’t do that until I help him establish a faster, safer, and cheaper money laundering company.”
Most criminal organizations are racking their brains over money laundering. On one hand, there’s the risk of money laundering. The tax bureau doesn’t calculate “how much tax you stole this time.” They will calculate how much you owe them by saying, “We heard your grandfather started doing this business.”
On the other hand, the high cost of money laundering is also a problem, with Kodak Family’s 55% to 45% fees being a typical example.
You work hard to get a million, and then after a quick turnover, only fifty or even forty-five percent is left. Who can stand that?
So when Lance proposed a more stable, secure, and lower-loss money laundering method, Mr. Pasoretto was somewhat tempted.
But it hadn’t reached the point of needing to be implemented, because every year, some people would say sweet words, trying to get something from him or others.
“As long as you know what you’re doing.”
The convoy returned to the new house. They put the submachine guns and pistols into sacks and hid them in a basement Lance had dug out specifically.
Although it was highly likely that the police department wouldn’t cause him major trouble, it was still necessary to be vigilant. Just because they weren’t bothering him today didn’t mean they wouldn’t in the future.
He slept soundly until dawn, never having slept so comfortably. However, at around seven in the morning, he was woken by Alberto’s voice.
Alberto had come. Retrieving the guns was one thing, rescheduling the trip to Yalan with Lance was another, and also meeting his “new brothers.”
“I knew it, Lance, I knew it! The moment I saw you, I knew we would become good brothers!” Alberto, hearing that Lance had officially joined, couldn’t help but come over to talk to him.
From the perspective of Federation people and others, Summurians are very united. However, within the Summurian community, there are some discords between the four major families on Summuri Island and the Summurian forces here in the Federation.
Just like all ancient forces that were once prosperous but are now declining, they always cling to orthodoxy, because only by doing so can they continue to bask in the glory of their ancestors’ past prosperity!
Summurians who left Summuri Island, no matter how well they developed outside, even if they became national presidents, when they returned to Summuri Island, if they were meant to be grandchildren, they should still be grandchildren.
Their rigid, inflexible approach has created some rifts between the local four great families and the people here in the Federation. Perhaps it’s not too obvious yet, but it will eventually erupt.
Within the Summurian immigrants in the Federation, it’s not a completely monolithic bloc either. The developed capitalist society and clear values of the Federation have challenged many Summurians’ traditional views.
They no longer adhere to some traditional concepts and are becoming more like Federation people.
Of course, not all traditions are good, but at least in terms of “having family and religious organizations,” they believe it’s important to respect tradition, but some people feel it’s outdated.
In short, there is also internal strife among them.
If, one day, something really goes wrong, it will definitely be the most powerful people who live more comfortably.
Alberto hoped that Lance could become a valuable asset to him, bringing a rich return on his investment.
After exchanging hugs, the two sat on the sofa. Alberto was very interested in what happened last night. When Lance briefly recounted the entire process, he couldn’t sit still and paced back and forth.
“How exciting, Lance, you should have called me at the last minute…” He knew it was nonsense, but this way of expressing himself enhanced his sense of involvement.
“And your dry humor is very interesting, how did you come up with it?” He was referring to Heller “diving” next to him for half an hour.
Mr. Pasoretto, when he called, mentioned this, and kindly commented on Lance’s sense of humor, believing he could achieve better growth opportunities.
The Federation is a very strange society. On one hand, they refuse “rookies” to join high-level circles, but on the other hand, for people they like, they spare no effort to help them improve.
In social interactions, humor and self-deprecation are always the most attention-grabbing methods. Every successful person has these characteristics.
Even if they don’t, they must pretend to.
There was once a politician with no sense of humor. To make himself seem humorous, he found people who specialized in writing joke books to help him write many humorous things, which led him to some success.
When he retired, he shared this experience, saying, “What if you don’t have a sense of humor?”
Lance shrugged, “Maybe it’s natural.”
Alberto chuckled for a while, “Now that your matters are mostly settled, can we set off for Yalan?”
Lance apologized for the sudden delay in their trip. “I didn’t expect the problems to erupt all at once, and for things to escalate so quickly.”
Alberto didn’t mind at all. “We both didn’t want it to turn out this way, but fortunately, you handled it perfectly.”
“If nothing unexpected happens, you’ll have good news when you return.”
Lance looked into Alberto’s eyes, and without him needing to dodge, roughly understood the meaning of his earlier words.
He didn’t point it out. “So, this also counts as a trip, right?”
Alberto nodded. “Yalan has many unique features, you’ll love it!” He winked. Beautiful women, fine wine, and passionate beaches; traveling there as the weather starts to cool down is indeed a pleasure.
Especially when you have money!
Throughout the day, police cars in Golden Port City kept wailing and rushing about. Many people weren’t sure what was happening, but according to unofficial sources, the evidence collection work around the Camille Gang crime syndicate, arranged by the mayor and organized by Chief Charlie of the city bureau, was coming to an end.
They were arresting key members of the Camille Gang and would send them all to prison.
The police bureau disclosed some information that the public wasn’t largely aware of, for instance, reports claiming they were involved in at least forty-seven murder cases.
Moreover, most of the victims were new immigrant groups and women. Chief Charlie stated that the Federation would do its utmost to protect the various rights of anyone who came to the Federation through legal channels.
This was a fundamental respect for the human rights of Federation citizens and immigrants.
To clean up the public order issues in Golden Port City, and also to ensure that the perpetrators received a just outcome, the mayor specifically instructed Chief Charlie of the city police department to control, arrest, and prosecute the Camille Gang.
For several days, large numbers of police cars crisscrossed the city. It was reported that the police even engaged in fierce gun battles with some members of the Camille Gang, successfully killing some of their leaders.
Most of the remaining individuals had been apprehended, but some were still at large. The police had issued wanted posters, and it was believed that results would be seen soon.
It was also during this period that Mr. Jobav proactively contacted Lance and arranged to meet him.
Perhaps considering the events of the past few days, Mr. Jobav let Lance choose the meeting place, and Lance naturally chose the law firm.
Mr. Jobav entered the door, taking off his coat and hat. As he stood facing Lance, who was behind the desk, an indescribable emotion surged within him.
He had spent over twenty years going nowhere, and only after listening to Lance’s advice and deciding to start by being a “bitch” did he finally see some progress.
Yet, Lance had only taken half a year to walk the path that took him twenty years.
The two exchanged brief pleasantries, then sat down. He asked with some curiosity, “How did you do it?”
Lance opened a cigarette case, offering Mr. Jobav a smoke, but Mr. Jobav declined.
He lit one himself, “Do what?”
“To become a…” He searched his mind for a while before finding a word that he was somewhat jealous of, didn’t quite want to admit, but perfectly fit the context and current situation: “nouveau riche.”
“Nouveau riche?” Lance laughed heartily. “Hardly nouveau riche. I haven’t truly joined the Pasoretto Family; I’m providing them with some services.”
“Everyone wants to serve important people, Lance, and so do I.” This statement wasn’t false; it was his true feeling.
Ever since he poured large sums of money into the mayor’s hands, becoming known as “the mayor’s henchman,”
He immediately felt that the city became just as the Federation publicly boasted: it was full of inclusivity!
All malicious intent towards him disappeared, at least on the surface. Everyone around him became good people.
When they saw him, they no longer gave him a sidelong glance, pretending not to see him, but instead politely removed their hats and greeted him, “Mr. Jobav.”
Every day was a joyous one, except when he saw that black hole of an account book.
“I once thought I was so familiar with everything here, but now I realize how utterly foreign it is to me,” he said with great emotion.
Lance flicked his ash. “Every significant step forward comes at a cost, Mr. Jobav.”
“Your cost was merely some financial loss, but mine was the lives of several good brothers.”
“I would rather use money to bring them back.”
“Money lost can be earned again, but once a life is lost, it’s gone forever.”
Mr. Jobav knew that Lance had detected some “jealousy” in his tone. He lowered his voice, “I’m sorry…”
He paused, then continued, “I came to see you for two things this time.” After his emotions had slightly warmed, he began to discuss the main purpose of his visit to Lance.
“First, the Imperial District cannot fall into chaos. It’s right next to the Port District, and if it falls into chaos, it will be very bad.”
“After the Camille Gang disappeared from the streets, there’s been a lack of control on the streets, and some problems should arise.”
“The whole world is watching us. Don’t let it get worse, and don’t make the mayor look bad.”
“The crime rate is an important indicator of whether a region is suitable for living. Don’t mess it up.”
Lance listened and nodded. “I’ll take care of this as soon as possible.” This actually represented official recognition of Lance’s “value.”
He was stronger than the Camille Gang, capable of cooperation and obedience, and could deliver at least twenty thousand votes. This was already extremely valuable to the “big figures” in City Hall.
Therefore, Mr. Jobav, as one of Lance’s friends, was asked by the mayor to communicate with Lance.
“The second thing…” Mr. Jobav himself felt a bit absurd. Earlier, he didn’t quite understand why, but seeing Lance and discussing it now, he suddenly understood.
“The Camille Gang’s businesses will be handed over to you, but this is only nominally. Some people find it inconvenient to directly manage them, so you’ll have to help manage them.”
“Each month, you’ll get thirty percent of the profits.”
“Don’t let anything happen to them!”
Lance wasn’t surprised to hear this; after all, Heller had left behind quite a lot.
Not to mention the manors, houses, and cars riddled with bullet holes, just the Imperial Night nightclub, and other clubs, bars, and underground bars—these operating venues would bring in huge profits every month.
Previously, they found it inconvenient to interfere, still needing to save face to some extent. But now, they had an opportunity.
These properties would be auctioned off at extremely low prices, and then a management agreement would be signed with Lance, shifting all operational and legal responsibilities to him.
It wasn’t a question of whether he would accept it or not, but that he had to accept it!
Lance did not immediately agree to these two points. After a moment, he extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray. “I won’t do the Red Heels business.”
(End of this chapter)