Chapter 869: Raising a Stone

Gomez has been very busy recently, busy analyzing some of the domestic situations in Rapa, and busy figuring out the situation of his brother-in-law and his men.

When he had heard that Golden Port City had been bombarded, and that Congress had pushed for the passage of the "East Ocean Security Defense Act," he had known that Yalan, and Rapa, had already been thrown into the cookware by the federal people.

It might only be three to six months before they were served on the dinner table.

This was the result that he and Ambassador Cassia had analyzed together. The situation was very not optimistic.

The two could both feel that the current domestic situation in the Federation was very tense, and could also feel their firm attitude towards occupying the Yalan region.

Ambassador Cassia sat in his chair, looking through the window at the two children who were playing on the lawn outside.

After they had come to the Federation, they had gotten two large pet dogs.

In the past, when they were in Rapa, Ambassador Cassia's two children had also had a pet dog, but it was a pity that it had been stolen not long after they had gotten it.

It was unknown if it had ended up in someone's stomach, or what had happened to it.

There was a high probability that it had been eaten, because there were too many poor people, and the opportunities to get safe food, and to get food safely, were not many.

Although a dog is not large, it can at least feed a person for one or two meals, which is already very tempting for the poor.

In Rapa, many rich people would specially build a yard for their pets, and would also have to arrange for bodyguards for their pets. Otherwise, the poor people would find a way to steal these pets and eat them.

Even if you caught them, it would be of no use. At most, you would beat these poor people up, and a little harder, that's all.

Between being beaten after a full meal, and before starving to death, people know how to make a choice that is beneficial to them.

It was not until they had come to the Federation that they had gotten two large dogs again.

To say they were large dogs, they were now just a little over a year old, and they did not actually look that big.

Watching the two children and the two large dogs running and playing happily, and the sound of their happy laughter coming from outside the window, Ambassador Cassia's mood had calmed down.

He looked back at Gomez, this good friend of his.

Of course, "good friend" needed to be in quotation marks. Their relationship was essentially also one of mutual use. It was just that after using each other for a long time, and getting familiar with each other, they had become good friends.

But if they really encountered a multiple-choice question where only one of the two could live, they would both find a way to, before the other party had made a choice, to kill the other party.

However, as long as this two-choice one did not appear, they were still good friends.

"How is the situation in the country?" Ambassador Cassia took off his glasses, took out a small piece of deerskin that was specially used to wipe glasses, and simply wiped it.

Gomez, who had just come from the country, sighed. He also looked at the dogs and the two big children who were running on the lawn. In his heart, he was also thinking of sending his family over as soon as possible.

He knew very well that once his family came to the Federation, there was a high probability that they would not be able to leave, just like Ambassador Cassia at this time.

He could leave, but his family could not. This was a kind of a balance.

However... it didn't matter. At least the Federation was safe.

"Diego is a little flustered."

He lit a cigarette, recalling his brother-in-law, the great president of Rapa, the guy he had called "Diego," what he had been doing recently.

"They are very scared, and also very angry. I hear they are in contact with the rulers of the surrounding countries, wanting to form an alliance to fight against the federal people."

"I hear they are planning to recruit more men, and also to prepare to buy a batch of new-style weapons, to prevent a possible war of invasion."

"Besides this..." he took a breath, and then couldn't help but laugh, "they are also entrusting me to transfer funds to the Federation as much as possible."

"Otherwise, you would have no chance to see me now at all!"

When Ambassador Cassia had heard the first few sentences, he had had a little bit of approval and acceptance for these rulers in his heart, although they were all bastards, all scumbags.

But when they really encountered a problem, they could actually show such a heroic side.

To be honest, Ambassador Cassia felt that he had underestimated them before.

But when he had heard what Gomez had said later, his expression management had immediately lost control.

Of course he knew what it meant to accelerate the transfer of assets to the outside. It meant that these people would, at any time, abandon Rapa.

As long as the situation was not right, they would flee overseas.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say. Diego's family, and the families of the other rulers, they had ruled Rapa for many years, and had been plundering, squeezing the wealth of Rapa and the people of Rapa.

Now that they had run into trouble, the first thing they had thought of was actually to run away!

If they had only considered these matters when the situation had forced them to leave, Ambassador Cassia would have looked up to them a little.

"Have you transferred all their money?"

Gomez nodded, and then shook his head. "I am considering something."

Ambassador Cassia gestured for him to continue.

Gomez sorted out his thoughts and said, "I am just a minor character. I am not a ruler like Diego, nor am I a descendant of some tribal chief. I am just an ordinary person who happens to have a good-looking older sister."

"It is very difficult for me to get into the eyes of the big shots of the Federation. This point is different between you and me!"

Gomez's expression and eyes as he looked at Ambassador Cassia were somewhat complicated.

In the past, he actually... although the two were good friends, the deepest thing hidden in his heart was that he did not quite look up to Ambassador Cassia.

He felt that although Ambassador Cassia was a government official, he was just a government official. His unreliable brother-in-law was still the great president!

But looking back now, Ambassador Cassia could already get in touch with the Federal Congress. His status was clearly much higher than his own.

Ambassador Cassia could get a good treatment and life here. What about him?

The wealth he held in his hands was very likely to be the reason why the final bullet was shot at him.

He had to find a way out for himself, had to find a way out for his family.

Ambassador Cassia, listening to what he had said, curled his lips slightly. He was in a good mood. He said modestly, "Actually, there is not much difference between us."

Gomez did not argue with him about this, but instead talked about, "I plan to use these funds as a contribution, in exchange for some opportunities, a little power."

Ambassador Cassia was stunned for a moment. He looked at Gomez in disbelief and couldn't help but ask, "How much of their money is in the Federation under your name?"

Gomez did not tell the truth, but he had said a very astonishing number. "There are seventy or eighty million."

The actual number was much more than this. He had not said it all, and he also had his own thoughts, and he was also on his guard against Ambassador Cassia.

Although these funds were in his hands, he did not know the bank's withdrawal vouchers, but he believed that it was enough just to provide the account.

With precise positioning, the federal people would not let it go.

Ambassador Cassia sucked in a breath of cold air. "So much?"

"Who are you planning to contact?"

Gomez looked at him and lowered his voice a little. "How is your relationship with Senator Cleveland?"

Ambassador Cassia frowned slightly. "Actually, you can contact Lance and have him handle this for you."

Gomez shook his head slightly. "He's just a gangster boss. you have to help me with this!"

His idea was very simple. It wasn't that he didn't think Lance could do it, but that he wanted to add more "bargaining chips" for himself.

A person introduced by a gangster boss, and a person introduced by a diplomatic ambassador to the Federation, and also a diplomatic ambassador who was inclined to the Federation's side, their status among those politicians would definitely be different.

He himself was also a member of the privileged class. He had this kind of cognition and judgment.

If a Rapa gangster were to say that he wanted to introduce someone to him, he would certainly not take it seriously.

What remarkable person could a gangster introduce?

But if a government official were to say that he wanted to introduce an interesting person to him, even if he didn't say he would take it very seriously, he would certainly not be so perfunctory and casual.

He had had contact with Lance. Last time, Lance had said that the big shots wanted some local specialties, golden local specialties.

He had, overnight, found a way to get some golden local specialties that could represent Rapa, that had the characteristics of Rapa, and had wanted to give them to that what's-his-name Senator Cleveland.

But Lance had not done him this favor, but had had him give the things to Lance himself, and then Lance had passed them on.

Then Lance had told him that those big shots had already received his things, and there was no follow-up.

Whether they had really received them, whether the things might still be in Lance's hands, he was not clear.

So he still wanted to bypass Lance and directly contact those big shots.

If before, Ambassador Cassia was still a little... not qualified, now he was definitely qualified.

Ambassador Cassia was a little hesitant. "Actually, to find Lance is the best choice."

Gomez shook his head. "I'm not familiar with him, and I don't trust him very much. But we are good friends, and I believe you."

"Of course, I know that it's not so easy for you on the Federation's side either, so..."

As he spoke, he took out a brown paper file folder from the handbag he was carrying, placed it on the table, and pushed it over.

Ambassador Cassia looked at him, and he also met the other party's gaze. After the two had looked at each other for a moment, Ambassador Cassia opened the file folder and glanced inside.

A federal bank's cashier's check, which could be directly exchanged for cash at a bank that had business with this bank.

He took it out and glanced at it. 300,000 federal sols.

He had originally not planned to agree so easily, but this sum of money had made him waver a little.

What's the use of money in the Federation? He knew it all too well!

He might be a little useful to Lance now, to these big shots, but he couldn't be useful forever.

Once Lance's side cut off his income, what would he do?

Now their family's expenses, their standard of living, without this extra income, how could they maintain it?

This 300,000 was not a small sum, and now the situation was really very tense. No one knew what the future would be like.

So much so that he himself did not know how long his value would last. Maybe a month, maybe a year?

Once he had lost his use value, would Lance still send him benefits?

He believed he wouldn't. The longer he stayed here, the more he could feel the cold and cruel reality behind this seemingly beautiful society!

Ambassador Cassia's gaze was fixed on the very troublesome and very exquisite bank's cashier's check, and also on that number.

He stared at the cashier's check for a long while, and then he re-sealed the file folder and put it in the drawer by his side. "I'll try."

He also had to consider the future. He couldn't let his family live a life in the Federation that was worse than in Rapa, could he?!

A smile appeared on Gomez's face. "No matter what, I will be grateful for everything you do for me!"

Ambassador Cassia nodded slightly. "But I still have to add a sentence. You'd better not offend Lance. He is very familiar with those big shots, but for them, you are just a stranger."

Gomez nodded repeatedly. "I will also bring him some gifts."

Seeing him say so, Ambassador Cassia did not continue to say anything. They put the topic back on the latest issue.

"If the Federation really invades Yalan, invades Rapa, what are you planning to do?" Ambassador Cassia asked.

Gomez shrugged. "I will have my family immigrate to the Federation as soon as possible, and then... my idea is that they will always need a person from Rapa to rule Rapa for them, right?"

"They can't possibly find a federal person, or some other person, to rule Rapa. In that case, the people of Rapa will not be able to accept it."

"I can be this puppet!"

Hearing his good friend say such words, Ambassador Cassia once again stated that this was the most surprising thing he had heard recently.

There are people who are willing to be puppets?

He opened his mouth and didn't even know what to say.

Gomez laughed twice, as if he were explaining, "That way, at least I am the ruler, no matter how many years I do it, four or five years, or according to their federal rules, eight years."

"Eight years is enough to change many things."

Gomez was a person with ideals, drive, and also enthusiasm. He already had a whole set of plans. If he became this puppet, he would definitely make himself the puppet that the federal people could not leave the most, and not a puppet that could be replaced at any time.

It's just listening to others, and doing things for others. Isn't that what he has been doing for so many years, listening to Diego, and working for Diego?

Who are you working for if not for someone?

As for the possibility of him harming the people of Rapa?

People will always die. In that broken place of Rapa, to die early is on the contrary a kind of a relief!

Mr. Cassia did not, in front of Gomez, call Senator Cleveland, but instead, after he had left, he had carefully sorted out what he wanted to say, and only then had he dialed Senator Cleveland's number.

The one who answered the phone was Tom.

Because of Lance, Tom had had more opportunities to play a role. He had successfully become the number three aide by Senator Cleveland's side.

The chief aide had many things to do. He was like the senator's shadow, and would be in charge of some of the things that the senator had instructed him to do.

The second aide also had his own work to do, and would basically not follow the senator closely.

The ones who could follow the senator were only the people who were ranked lower, for example, Tom.

"Mr. Tom?"

"I would like to find Senator Cleveland. I am Cassia, the diplomatic ambassador of Rapa to the Federation."

Tom knew who this was and agreed with a smile. Then he informed Senator Cleveland.

Now there were many meetings to be held every day, big and small, discussions, research, all kinds of things from morning to night, without a single stop.

A somewhat haggard Senator Cleveland came to the lounge. He leaned back on the sofa and let out a sigh. It was mainly that his body was not very comfortable. He had not been active for a long time.

To sit there for a whole day.

"Cassia, it's me. I'm listening."

This diplomatic ambassador of Cassia, to say he was useless, was still a little useful.

He could help Congress to understand some of the information among the high-level officials in their country, and at the same time, he could also pass on some of the opinions of the Federation's side to their great president.

But to say he really of much use, actually not necessarily. He was just a role of a mouthpiece. Even if he wanted to lean towards the Federation's side, there was not much value.

Especially now that the plan against Rapa had already been decided, his role was actually not so great.

However, considering that he still had a little value, Senator Cleveland had still taken his call.

"Mr. Senator, I have a friend named Gomez. Like me, he has always admired everything about the Federation, and he is Diego's brother-in-law, and has some special resources."

Senator Cleveland became a little interested. "What resources?"

"He knows the bank accounts of Diego and the other Rapa dignitaries in the Federation, and also how much money is in them."

"How much?"

Ambassador Cassia had not expected Senator Cleveland to ask so directly. "About seventy or eighty million."

It was indeed not a small amount. The senator had to admit this, but it was not that much.

Ever since he had established a relationship with Lance, the various funds he had obtained from this line of Lance's, added up, were also over ten million a year.

Does it not sound like a lot?

You know, Lance did not just send benefits to him alone, but to a large group of people, and at the same time, it was not just once, but continuously, and without interruption!

This seventy or eighty million could not possibly all fall into his hands. He still had to share it with a large group of people. If he could get a few million, it would definitely be enough, so he was not as excited, or as concerned, as Ambassador Cassia had imagined.

Even if this sum of money were two or three times more, it would actually be the same.

In the short term, it might be a huge income, but in the long run, it was definitely not as good as the benefits on Lance's side.

And for a federal politician to accept money, there is a whole set of procedures. It's not that just anyone can run over and give money to a politician, and the politician can just take it!

The federal government had formulated all kinds of bills against the illegal taking of money by politicians, just to prevent the occurrence of rent-seeking, at least on the surface.

To directly send money is the stupidest thing to do!

This is also why the transfer of interests in the Federation is also an industry. If you want to send money into the hands of the gentlemen, you also have to have a way. There are many people, including some brokers, who rely on the fact that some people don't know how to send money, and help them to send money to the gentlemen to make a living.

"Have him go and contact Lance. Lance knows what to do. I'll have someone give Lance a call."

"If there's nothing else, I still have a meeting."