Chapter 1005: Protest

Make money?

Who doesn't want to make money?

Before coming to the Federation, these ambassadors were basically the privileged class in their own countries. In their home countries, possessing power was more effective than possessing money.

It could even be said that to a certain extent, the role of money was not as great as power.

Just like a small country like Makan, with a population of two or three million, an extreme scarcity of goods, and money, apart from being able to buy some worthless agricultural products, even buying a car had to be from the Federation.

So money, for them in the past, was something that was good to have, but if they didn't have much, it wasn't a big bother. Anyway, they didn't have much desire for consumption.

But after coming to the Federation, after coming to this country that was called "heaven" by some, but was actually "hell," the importance of money was clearly highlighted.

No matter what you do, you need money.

So much so that from the moment you open your eyes every morning, you have already started consuming.

This is a place that is completely linked to money, to wealth. Whether it is goods or something else, even people and the services extended from them, all require payment.

In the past, they were not particularly sensitive to money because there was no demand. Now, they have a demand.

But to make money in the Federation is not an easy matter. The monthly salary of an ordinary person is now only about fifty. In the past two years, because the Federation's goods have had a stable outlet, the social economy has been on the rise, and the labor force has decreased, so wages have naturally risen rapidly.

In two or three years, they had walked a path of salary increases that might have taken five or six years in the past. But even so, fifty dollars, sixty dollars, for them, these ambassadors, was still the same as having nothing.

After they had participated in some of the events held by Ambassador Cassia, they had become regular customers here. In their hearts, the thought of "why hasn't the federal government contacted me yet" had sprung up more than once.

Of course, they knew that Ambassador Cassia was a standard Rapa-skinned, federal-hearted, new federal progressive, and they also understood that everything he now possessed, the villa, the rich and easy life, was because he had sold out his country.

They also wanted to sell out their countries.

Now that Lance had suddenly mentioned making money, it was impossible not to let their thoughts lean in this direction.

None of these ambassadors spoke. On the one hand, they were not clear if the meaning Lance wanted to express was the same as what they had guessed. On the other hand, they also didn't know how much they could sell for.

In the end, all their gazes fell on Ambassador Cassia. The latter glanced at Lance and said with a smile, "Who wouldn't want to earn more money?"

The others chimed in, "Yes, Ambassador Cassia is absolutely right. Everyone longs to earn more money!"

The next to speak was the ambassador of Makan.

The Makan ambassador was not tall, probably a little over 1.6 meters. His skin was relatively dark, but not the black of a dark-skinned person, but a brown-skinned black, like coffee, not black.

There was still a big difference.

He looked very thin and weak, maybe not even 100 pounds. He had a fawning smile on his face. If it weren't for the fact that he was now wearing relatively decent clothes, and had the title of ambassador, Lance would only have thought that this was a refugee.

"I have eaten some food cooked by Makan chefs in the Yalan region this time. It's very distinctive. If you want to make money, you can find a few chefs from your country, and we can open a restaurant together."

A restaurant, of course, has to sell liquor. Otherwise, who would go and eat these things?

This thing called 'distinctive' can only be effective the first time, and then it will gradually lose its effect. So the most crucial thing is still to have a "fist product," liquor.

The Makan ambassador's face immediately showed a look of joy. He could no longer care about the envious and jealous expressions on the faces of the other ambassadors, and quickly said, "It is their (the chefs') honor to be able to serve you, Mr. Lance."

"I will immediately arrange for the best chefs from my country to come over, but... we don't have an independent embassy in New Golden City. The land price here is too expensive for us."

He seemed a little embarrassed. An ambassador of a country actually couldn't afford a single-family house. It could only be said that after being poor to a certain extent, it was indeed like this.

A person who has never been poor will never know how terrible poverty is. Even the things that can be afforded in the eyes of ordinary people, in their eyes, they can only look at.

There is no incurable disease in this world, except for poverty.

Lance raised his hand and waved it twice. "Don't worry. Since I was the one who proposed it, I will find a house for you. I will arrange for the other matters."

The Makan ambassador was so happy that his mouth couldn't close, and he repeatedly said "good."

Then the other ambassadors also couldn't sit still. Who wouldn't want to become rich?

Who wouldn't want to be able to live in a villa, and who wouldn't want to live in a sweet dream every day?

They were constantly talking about some of the more distinctive things about their own countries, and Lance had also made arrangements for them.

Until the very end, an ambassador, who also looked very poor, and whose clothes' collar was a little faded, was still sitting there, not moving. He had a look of difficulty on his face.

Perhaps sensing Lance's gaze, he took the initiative to say, "I can't think of anything special about our country, that can attract people."

The country he was in was also an agricultural country, with a small amount of mineral resources, and it was also some distance from the sea, making transportation very inconvenient.

The whole country was very mediocre. If it weren't for the fact that its population was a little more than Makan's, perhaps they would be the poorest country on this land of Yalan.

Lance shook his head slightly. "Actually, you also have it, it's just that you haven't discovered it."

The other ambassadors all looked at Lance, their eyes filled with a trace of confusion. They were very familiar with each other and each other's countries, and they really couldn't think of what on earth this country had.

Lance took out a cigarette. The ambassadors, who had been paying close attention to him, had, one after another, taken out their lighters. It was still the Makan ambassador, who was relatively close to him, who had rushed over to light Lance's cigarette, and only then had he, gleefully, returned to his seat.

Lance expressed his thanks. He took a puff of his cigarette, and slowly exhaled. "People, are one of the best resources in this world."

"Young girls, young boys, labor..."

"I will make arrangements for you."

An exotic characteristic is also a characteristic, just like the previous Empire Nightclub, which was full of girls from the Empire.

Some were, after they had smuggled themselves over, and really couldn't find a job, that they had begun to engage in the flesh trade.

There were also some who had been directly trafficked or kidnapped by the Camilla gang, and were forced to engage in the flesh trade in the nightclub.

Here, without considering moral issues, the flesh trade is really a low-cost, high-profit business.

In New Golden City, as long as these young men and women were packaged a little, twenty dollars was just a starting price.

An ordinary worker might have to work for twelve days to earn twenty dollars, but for these people, it was just a short while.

The few buildings behind the Golden Port military district could bring in a profit of millions every month. This was much more profitable than opening a factory.

Even if it's the flesh trade, it's not a bad thing. Poverty is the most shameful. Selling is not.

And he believes that as long as the price is right, there will be plenty of people in the country who will be rushing to come. Those parents will even, in order to send their children here, make more sacrifices.

Lance, in a few words, had solved their problem of not being able to make money. At this time, Ambassador Cassia also coughed twice. "Speaking of which, something else has happened today..."

He recounted what had happened. These ambassadors immediately began to talk about the deserted look of the bar when they had come over.

In the past, when they had come, the bar was always very lively, and there were also many people in the courtyard. But today, the bar was exceptionally deserted. They had thought it was not open today, but they had not expected it to have been smashed.

"These people are too much!"

"This is New Golden City!"

The ambassadors all expressed their dissatisfaction with this matter. Of course, they were also observing the changes in Lance's expression.

As smart as they were, at this time, there was a high probability that they had also realized that the reason why they had come here, and had been led by Lance to make money, was definitely not just because Lance wanted them to make money.

But these words, Lance himself did not need to say. Ambassador Cassia had said it for him, "The person who smashed the bar is said to be very powerful, and a bit not-so-easy to provoke, but I believe that the Federation is a society that abides by the law."

"And we also have some very special identities. We cannot underestimate ourselves, so I hope that you can, with me, to call the Secretary of State and to complain to him about this."

Hearing this, the ambassadors had immediately patted their chests and had guaranteed that they would definitely do so.

Ambassador Cassia did not have them go back, but had, right in front of them, dialed the Secretary of State's number.

The Secretary of State also handled some of the diplomatic work. Even though it was already late, the call was still immediately answered.

At a special time, whether it was the president, the vice president, the secretary of state, or other government officials or congressmen, they were all on standby 24/7.

After a short wait, the Secretary of State himself had answered the phone.

Although Rapa was just a small country, and was in the midst of an internal turmoil, and it was heard that Senator Cleveland and his group were operating some plan, Ambassador Cassia was, in the end, an ambassador.

The Federation now attached great importance to its own image and influence in the international arena. If they wanted to achieve a higher international status, they would definitely need the support of more countries.

Let alone the people of this era, even fifty, a hundred years later, the vast majority of people would not know what other countries there were, outside of the place where they lived, outside of their own motherland.

They also didn't know what the names of those countries represented, whether they had a strong national power, whether they had a vast territory, whether they would have a large population. They didn't know anything. They just knew a name.

To have enough names as supporters, then one's status, in the eyes of the people, would definitely be high.

"Ambassador Cassia, for you to call so late, has something happened?" The Secretary of State was still very patient. If you weren't patient, you couldn't do this job of wrangling.

Ambassador Cassia glanced at Lance, and then said in a very angry and aggrieved voice, "Your Excellency Secretary of State, actually, I didn't want to make this call."

"It's just that a very bad incident has happened today. A group of gang members have rushed into the embassy's territory, have attacked our building, and have also caused damage."

"Although they have already been arrested by the police, I feel that they will not be severely punished, because I have heard from the police who came to arrest them that they are members of some big family."

"I know, perhaps Rapa is not so important in the eyes of a superpower like the Federation. Perhaps my protest will not have any effect, but I..."

The Secretary of State interrupted him at this point. "I'll interrupt. You said someone had stormed the embassy's territory and had attacked your building?"

"That is indeed the case!"

The Secretary of State scratched his itchy scalp. "I see. You said they have already been controlled by the police?"

"Yes, the police of the New Golden City Police Department. I even saw their chief."

With such a clear statement, the Secretary of State believed that Ambassador Cassia would not dare to lie. "Good, I will inquire. If this is true, I will have them give you an explanation."

He put down the phone and called his secretary over. He had his secretary go and find out what on earth had happened.

He didn't fully believe Ambassador Cassia's words. A person who could reach the level of a diplomat, in his mouth, there was probably not much truth.

He was just about to continue to deal with the matters at hand when the phone rang again. He had, with his head tilted, answered the phone. "This is the Secretary of State's Office. I am the Secretary of State."

"Your Excellency Secretary of State, hello. I am the Makan Ambassador to the Federation. At this very moment, I am, with a grievous and indignant mood, lodging a protest with the federal government!"

"Yalan is indeed a poor and backward country, but as a sovereign and independent country, we have established diplomatic relations with the Federation, and we should both uphold an attitude of equality and independence."

"Today, something has happened that I had completely not expected..."

It was still the same thing. Yalan, because of the Yalan League, has become more... united?

He didn't know if he could use the word "united." In short, their connection was a little closer than before. The Rapa embassy had been attacked, and for a member state of the Yalan League to protest together was not an exception.

He had appeased the Makan Ambassador. Just as he had put down the phone, the phone had rung again.

He looked at the constantly ringing phone, and vaguely realized that this must be another protest call from the ambassador of another Yalan League country. They had planned this.

After answering two more calls, his secretary had walked in from outside. "I've already found out. This did indeed happen."

"I hear it was the Perez family's men who had gone to attack a bar in the Rapa embassy's territory, and had injured some of the customers, and had also smashed the bar."

"They said this has something to do with Lance having beaten up Paige Perez a few days ago."

The Secretary of State pinched the bridge of his nose. "So you're saying this is an alternative kind of firefight between gangs?"

The secretary nodded in acknowledgment. "I'm afraid that is indeed the case."

This had made the Secretary of State very speechless. His scalp had begun to itch again.

Ever since he had become the Secretary of State, he had begun to lose his hair. He didn't want to become a bald man, but now it looked like there was a trend in this direction.

"I see," he signaled for his secretary to continue to work. Then he had sat there for a while, and then had dialed the number of the Police Chief's office.

The chief had not gone home. He was in the lounge. Because he knew that this would definitely be a big trouble.

Soon he had been startled by the phone, and had, with some reluctance, answered it.

The moment he had picked up the phone, the reluctance on his face had also turned into a reluctant smile. "This is the Police Chief's Office..."

"I am Secretary of State Henry. I hear that today you have arrested some people who have attacked the embassy?"

Fuck!

The chief had cursed in his heart. "The fact is..."

The Secretary of State had not given him a chance to explain. Now four ambassadors were protesting to him, and it was unknown if there would be more tomorrow. And this matter was, in fact, already a scandal.

A gang has attacked an embassy. In the end, it looks like they are not planning to deal with it?

The Secretary of State didn't care what the subsequent changes of this would be. He only cared about whether not dealing with this would bring some trouble and drawbacks to his work.

"I don't want to hear the 'facts' you're talking about. The fact now is that a group of gang members have rushed into the embassy's territory, have smashed it, and have also harmed others. This is a diplomatic incident, Mr. Chief. You need to handle it seriously."

"I hope you can treat it seriously, you understand?"

"Alright, if there is anything, contact Ambassador Cassia. After the results of the handling are out, tell my secretary."

He had directly hung up the phone.

If this matter was not handled, the Federation, not to say in the international arena, but at least among these ambassadors to the Federation, its reputation would be very bad.

Not all countries were as poor and backward as Rapa, and Makan. There were also some whose strength needed the Federation to take them seriously, so this inevitable impact, it was better to clear it up as soon as possible.

As for whether the local police had colluded with this Perez gangster family, and how the Police Chief's side would handle it, he was not concerned about this. This was not their job.

Then he had returned to his work.

On the other side, the Police Chief was looking at the receiver in his hand, which had already ended the call. He had, shaking his head and sighing, placed it on the phone's base.

In fact, this matter had not yet completely gotten out of control. As long as those who had been caught back had admitted that this was their own decision, and that it had nothing to do with the Perez family, it would be fine.

Boni was, at this time, also on his way here with a lawyer. Besides him, there were also two branch members of the Perez family. For them, this should not be a difficult matter.

"After we get in later, I'll talk to them first."

Boni was a direct member of the family, so his words carried more weight.

The others in the car, including the lawyer, had all nodded, and they also knew what he was going to say.

To let these people take the blame themselves was their established strategy. He had just consulted with the lawyer. The severity of the sentence for this case depended entirely on the judge's meaning.

Because the embassy's territory was a relatively sensitive place, it was possible that the sentence would be heavier, but it was also possible that it would be lighter.

But no matter how it was sentenced, these people had to withstand the pressure.

So to, appropriately, coerce and to lure, was necessary.

It's all for the family.

(End of a Chapter)

This chapter was translated by Nightjar Reads. For advance chapters and the newest releases, visit nightjarreads.com