A person’s happiness cannot be hidden.
The thought of something happy will bring a smile to one’s face. This is human nature.
Boni had been doing well lately. He and his family had already moved out of the shanty they had built themselves in the New Port District and had rented a house on the border of the Port District and the New Port District.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford a better house, but purely because he didn’t want his family to be too far away.
Although in the eyes of many, the New Port District, occupied by refugees, had become a huge stain on this city and also the dirtiest place, there, he had his brothers, who could protect the safety of their families.
A clean house, food to fill their stomachs. Life had gotten back on track, and the future had also become bright.
He had even started to consider finding a place for his younger brother and sister to go to school. This was something he hadn’t even dared to think about in the past.
The person who had made all this possible was right in front of him.
He was a grateful young man. Everyone likes grateful people. Paul was like this, Alberto was like this, and Lance was like this too.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that being grateful and liking grateful people must necessarily mean becoming a dead ghost or being about to become a dead ghost.
“Thanks to your care, Mr. Lance, I’m living very well now.”
Lance studied him. “You look much more energetic than last time.”
“I hear that there have been a lot of cases of refugees sticking together recently. Some of them even make a living by robbing others of their food or wealth, is that right?”
Boni was a little indignant. “Yes, sir.”
“I know of several small gangs like that. The police over there don’t even care…”
How could the police possibly care about the affairs of refugees? They weren’t even citizens of the Federation!
Just like those illegal immigrants, as long as they didn’t actively cause trouble with the legal citizens of the Federation, the police would basically not take the initiative to interfere.
The internal problems of the refugees, as long as no one was killed, they would not casually dispatch the police.
This was not a lack of morality, but a very realistic problem, which was that policing also has a cost.
If police resources were used on these non-citizens, some of the more selfish groups would jump out and accuse the federal police of wasting taxpayers’ money.
Although most people did not have to pay taxes so far, they would still consider themselves taxpayers.
But it wouldn’t be long. With the implementation of the “Security Act,” the tax law reform would also be implemented soon. At that time, it would enter a stage where even an income of one cent would be taxed.
Lance listened to Boni’s description of the situation in the New Port District. He reminded him, “You can play a greater role. You can stop crime, and even punish them.”
“I gave you a chance because I think you are a good kid and should take on more responsibility. I don’t want you to just be a…” Lance shook his head slightly, “…work contractor or something.”
“You should think about this matter carefully. Using violent means in this situation is undoubtedly a good solution.”
“At least it’s much better for you to use violence against others than for others to use violence against you.”
Boni was a little silent after hearing this. In the end, he was just a young man with some backbone. To have him suddenly become the leader of a violent group might still require some changes.
He agreed, “I will seriously consider how to do it.”
Lance just smiled. Everyone needs time to awaken. The fact that he was optimistic about Boni did not mean that Boni had to become the brightest star.
Anyone has a chance. He has it, and others have it too.
Skipping this topic, he asked again, “Do you know that some refugees went to the Port District to participate in some kind of rally?”
Boni nodded. “I know a little. I hear they are going to appeal to people to care about the… people… of the refugees.”
After struggling for a long time to say the word, Lance prompted him, “Human rights?”
Boni immediately showed a look of agreement. “Yes, Mr. Lance, that’s it, human rights.”
“They say they want more people to pay attention to the situation of the refugees. Maybe some big shot will help us.”
“The situation over there is really not easy now.”
As he spoke, Boni became a little silent. He was also a refugee. Now he had pulled his legs out of the mire, but there were still many more people deeply mired in it.
He didn’t know what to do to change all this. When someone wanted to try to do something for them, he felt from the bottom of his heart that this was an idea, and a good person.
At least people shouldn’t die of hunger, or freeze to death in winter.
Lance had actually solved the survival problems of many refugees, found them jobs, and would also distribute some supplies during the winter. But compared to the ever-growing refugee population, this kind of individual relief was of no use.
He also believed that to change the current situation, a more powerful big shot needed to stand up, for example… the mayor, the governor, or even the president of the Federation.
He did not say that he supported the actions of these people, but he also did not show obvious resistance or opposition.
“Do you know who it is?” Lance asked.
Boni was stunned for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t know, sir.”
At this moment, a faint suspicion had already arisen in his heart. The suspicion quickly became a reality. “Help me find this person.”
Boni appeared a little nervous. “Can I ask why?”
Lance pursed his lips and reached out to straighten the not-so-neat small things on the table. The words he spoke were as insignificant as the things he did. “He used the wrong method.”
No ruler would like this method of achieving one’s goals by coercing more people. Although it is indeed very useful sometimes, it is also indeed very annoying.
Boni nodded. “I see.”
Lance nodded slightly. “Relax a little. Complete the task I give you. The good days are still ahead!”
After Boni came out of Lance’s company, the seven or eight teenagers who were squatting across the street all stood up.
They were wearing the cheapest kind of suits from the Port District, fifty cents for a top and bottom set. They were all second-hand, or even third- or fourth-hand clothes that others had worn, and they weren’t necessarily a matching set, but the key was that they were cheap.
Then a cheap pair of suspenders. Just one look at these teenagers, and you would know that they were not rich.
They crossed the road and came to Boni’s side, surrounding him.
They all knew that Boni had met a big boss. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the money to solve some problems, nor would it be possible to get some job opportunities.
Everyone followed him also in the hope that they could change their own lives through his changes.
“Is there anything you need us to do?” Boni’s good friend took the initiative to ask.
This good friend was his neighbor. After the war broke out, the situation quickly reversed.
A few days ago, people were still discussing how long it would take to retreat to the capital of the Dantra Republic. A few days later, they began to discuss the fact that the front-line troops had been annihilated.
Then the war spread from within the Dantra Republic to within Slad.
They, who lived on the border, had to pack up and flee.
The war of this era was a competition of population, numbers, and the determination to not be afraid of death.
The first batch of retreating residents were quickly conscripted into the army and went to the front lines again, and then in a short time, they became a pile of corpses.
The two sides engaged in a fierce see-saw battle around the easternmost province of Slad. Every day, many people died on the battlefield, and at the same time, many more were sent to the front lines.
Boni’s father had been sent to the front lines. His mother and relatives had come to the Federation with them.
His neighbor had also fled here with them.
If, besides his family, he could trust someone unconditionally, who could he trust?
Then this neighbor and good brother was one of them.
He definitely had to answer his good brother’s question, but he was a little hesitant. After all, he knew what Lance’s purpose was in looking for this person.
Under the watchful eyes of the other little companions, in the end, he had to say it. “Mr. Lance wants to know who organized today’s rally.”
They were all too young, all half-grown children. And now it seemed that they were well-dressed and not starving, so they were not in the selection of those people.
But they all knew about this.
Someone immediately asked with a question, “Does Mr. Lance want to help him?”
His good brother sneered, “You’re thinking too simply. It must be that this person’s methods are annoying. He has offended someone, and then someone wants to know who has offended him, that’s all.”
Their gazes all finally fell on Boni. Boni could only nod. “Yes, he’s right. This kind of method is too unfriendly.”
For many refugees, the person who organized the rally was the hero of the refugees!
He was really planning to change the current situation of the refugees through some means, and he really did it. This is a hero!
They didn’t care whether his approach was appropriate or friendly, only that he could do it.
To have them betray a hero, for an adult, it might be a little simpler, but for these half-grown teenagers, it was a little… not so easy.
Immediately, someone said with some resistance, “Mr. Lance is asking us to betray this person who is working for us!”
“Shh!” someone covered his mouth. “Are you crazy? This is not a refugee camp. Be careful.”
The speaker looked at those who were obviously not to be trifled with with some hindsight. Fortunately, they had no intention of finding trouble with him, mainly because they hadn’t heard.
There was a lot of noise on the side of the road: the noise of car tires, the sound of horns, the sound of people talking, all kinds of sounds.
Boni said with a grim face, “Let’s go back first and talk.”
No one in the group objected. This was indeed not a place to talk. They quickly ran towards the New Port District.
They were themselves refugees. It was normal for them to identify with and empathize with the identity of a refugee. There was nothing to say.
It was just that this task had become a little tricky.
(End of a Chapter)