Chapter 243

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Golden light shone on the mysterious veil of Golden Port. The city, with its thin layer of water vapor, gradually revealed its exquisite silhouette behind the thin mist.

It awoke from its slumber, and also activated all the people living in this city.

Early in the morning, the Golden Port City Police Department held a press conference.

A large number of reporters flocked to the scene. They had already received some news in advance, saying that there would be blockbuster news disclosed today, related to yesterday’s major operation.

In fact, some reporters already knew some tidbits of news, for example, that the Red High Heels was involved in kidnapping and sex crimes, and that it might involve some respectable people.

They were not very interested in the case itself. They just wanted to know how many big shots had been clients of the Red High Heels, and what they had gotten from the Red High Heels.

Chief Charlie sat in the middle of the conference room with a serious expression. Every police officer’s expression seemed exceptionally grave.

When the time was about right, Chief Charlie first used a sigh as his opening remark.

He suddenly stood up. While the reporters were still wondering why he was standing up just as the press conference had begun, he bowed deeply.

More than ten seconds later, he slowly straightened up, “I apologize to all the citizens of the city for our insufficient crackdown and supervision of the city’s criminal activities.”

“I sincerely ask for the forgiveness of the general public, and I will guarantee that I will dig out every participant.”

He spoke words that some reporters couldn’t understand amidst their confusion. Then he sat back down, “What I am about to say is related to yesterday’s major operation.”

“Yesterday we… busted the Red High Heels club. Many people don’t know, or have already heard, that we were arresting a wanted fugitive.”

“But in fact, this was a pretext so as not to startle them. In reality, we received some outrageous reports, reporting that the Red High Heels club was suspected of kidnapping, imprisoning, injuring, and killing some young girls from all over the country.”

“They used violent means to force these young girls to engage in sexual transactions, providing sexual services for certain people.”

“And in this process, they would be injured, even killed.”

“We successfully rescued all the young girls we could find and arrested the main criminal masterminds and their subordinates.”

“During last night’s surprise interrogation, we have already begun to gradually break down the psychological defenses of some of the criminals, and have gotten some unimaginable things from their mouths.”

“I can’t imagine what kind of darkness and hell they went through to hold on until our rescue, and because of this, I feel extremely ashamed…”

Facing the reporters, Chief Charlie spoke continuously of the emotions he wanted to express, as if he really felt ashamed.

In fact, he had long known what kind of place the Red High Heels was. He had even once assisted the rich of the Bay Area in disposing of a body. He didn’t trust the people of the Red High Heels, so he had Charlie take charge.

He had known the nature of the Red High Heels for about… a dozen years, but he had only known that it provided injury and killing services for the rich in the Bay Area for about seven or eight years.

In such a long period of time, he had never done anything, and even felt that the existence of the Red High Heels was of great help to the stability of Golden Port’s public security.

At least the terrible things those rich people in the Bay Area wanted to do would not cause public panic—

At that time, the girls in the Red High Heels were all illegal immigrants. They were the invisible people of a qualified country. Even if they were killed, no one would seek justice for them, let alone cause any social public opinion.

Until recently, they seemed to have kidnapped a few Federation girls. It could also be because the tastes of those rich people had changed, or Sam’s courage was greater than Liam’s (the previous boss).

In fact, if they were not at the center of the storm, they could still continue to operate, and Chief Charlie would not have shut it down.

What brings all darkness to light is definitely not justice, but struggle.

As this press conference ended, more and more people came to know about this matter.

Some newspapers printed out supplementary issues almost at noon, just to specifically report on this news.

In order to make the supplementary issue not so thin, they also took out some old missing persons news and linked it to this news to make the whole thing look more terrifying.

Lance saw the supplementary issue when he was in the office at noon. Sam and Booker had become “demonic criminals.”

Bolton’s side reported that many people had gone to the Red High Heels club, smashing the glass of the Red High Heels with stones or other things. Some people also pried open the main door of the Red High Heels and looted everything inside.

The people of the Federation are like this. They always have some ways of expressing their emotions that others can’t understand.

It seems that this kind of looting behavior is also a positive catharsis of emotions.

A lot of people also gathered at the police station, demanding severe punishment for Sam and Booker. People from all walks of life seemed to be publicly expressing their hope for the death penalty.

To this, Chief Charlie did not give any response, but many people already knew the outcome of this matter—the two masterminds committed suicide out of guilt, and the notebook had been taken away by Councilman Wade.

A successful performance absolutely cannot have only one or two actors.

If it were before, Elvin and the others might have thought, like most people, that… this was a victory for justice.

But after Lance’s explanation, they finally saw the essence of the matter.

In fact, there has never been any justice and fairness, it’s just that their value made them dangerous, so they were thrown out.

To make oneself safe, the best way is to always be valuable, and at the same time not so dangerous.

Just after lunch, Vice President Vaughn came to find Lance. He had something to discuss with him.

They found a small restaurant in the Empire District. Lance reluctantly ate a little more.

The people of the Federation usually eat at a later time. Lunch might be after twelve, close to one o’clock, which is their mealtime.

And in the evening, from around six to seven o’clock, is the mealtime for most people.

The two found a roadside stall and sat down. Vice President Vaughn acted quite like a member of the working class in this regard. He was not picky about food, and even at a roadside stall, he would eat with relish.

“Scott sorted out the things you mentioned before and sent them to the national union headquarters. The headquarters paid great attention to it after seeing it, and the Federation of Labor is very interested in these ideas of yours.”

“But… Lance, I must apologize to you. Scott did not mention your name in this matter,” Vice President Vaughn seemed very embarrassed.

He and President Scott were both very clear that the “great competition” of the working class was definitely a grand event that could increase the influence of the Federation of Labor and the union!

Conceiving an idea independently and borrowing someone else’s idea have completely different political benefits for them.

If in this matter, Scott reported upwards that it was someone else’s proposal and he had adopted it, then the evaluation of him by the national union and the Federation of Labor would not be too high. At most, they would think he had a keen eye and accurate judgment, and that would be it.

There were countless regional union presidents in the entire Federation with keen eyes and accurate judgment. These were not enough for him to be directly promoted to a position in the national union.

Only when he pocketed these credits and said it was his own idea would the national union and the Federation of Labor think “this is a f—king talent,” and only then would they have the idea of transferring him to the national union.

As for whether he could continue to perform exceptionally well in the national union, it was actually not that important anymore.

It’s like having already eaten the fattest meat into your stomach. Is how well you digest it still important?

Vice President Vaughn also gained some political benefits from this. In Scott’s report to his superiors, he claimed that he had conceived the core framework, Vice President Vaughn had filled in some of the details, and the role Lance played was to provide funds and prizes.

The national union attached great importance to this, but considering that they had not done this kind of thing before, and at the same time were not sure if peer competition would cause some unexpected problems, they let the Golden Port side do it first.

First, under the name of the “Likalai State Dockworkers’ Union Skills Competition,” a local skills competition would be held in Golden Port.

If everything indeed went as they wanted, the effect was good, and it brought more influence.

Then they would expand it nationwide.

The Federation of Labor also thought so, and the Federation of Labor had also been thinking about how to further refine the “skilled worker” classification. After all, the skills of some skilled workers were indeed much better than others, but there were also some people who, although they had reached the level of skilled workers, were always a little worse than the best ones.

Now perhaps they could use this method to also classify the levels of skilled workers.

“…So, Lance, I’m very sorry. I didn’t fight for all the benefits for you.” Vice President Vaughn looked as if… he was indeed full of guilt.

But Lance knew that presumptuously guessing an actor’s acting level was not only an insult to the actor but also an insult to his own intelligence.

“Vaughn, we are friends!”

“I remember you said before that if Scott is transferred to the national union, you will become the union president here in Golden Port?”

Vaughn did not deny it, “Scott also wrote my name into the report to pave the way for me. As long as he can get into the national union, I will definitely be able to take over his position.”

This was without a doubt, unless some people wanted to disgust a member of the national union who had just entered the core level.

If someone in the national union did this, then Scott would not be able to get promoted. They would prevent Scott from advancing.

But as long as he could get in, for his sake, there would be no problem with Vaughn’s vice presidency.

Lance seemed very happy, “Then all of this is worth it, Vaughn. We are friends!”

“These ideas wouldn’t bring me any practical benefits if they were on me, but if they have special value for you and Scott, then why should I be stingy with these things that have no value to me?”

“You guys can just say it’s the result of your discussion. I won’t talk nonsense. You can rest assured about me on this point.”

Vaughn was stunned for a moment. He came to talk to Lance about this matter this time, besides the fact that he did feel a little sorry for Lance, Scott had also specifically instructed him.

To appease Lance’s emotions. After all, directly copying someone else’s idea and putting it on oneself, and also getting huge benefits from it, no one would be happy.

What if Lance talked nonsense, it might get very ugly.

But what Vaughn didn’t expect was that Lance would understand his meaning so quickly. He didn’t know if Lance really understood, or if it was a coincidence.

“I didn’t mean that, Lance. I completely trust you!” Vaughn also looked very sincere, not at all like he was acting.

He thought for a moment and said, “Recently, someone also asked about the club, but don’t worry, as long as I am in Golden Port for one day, the club will always be yours!”

Lance’s eyes shifted slightly, “Who would be interested in a workers’ club that is constantly losing money?”

Vaughn didn’t realize the importance of this matter. He shrugged, “It seems to be someone from some consulting firm…” He fumbled in his pocket, “They gave me a business card. I didn’t bring it. I can get it for you when I go back.”

Lance nodded slightly. In the Federation, as long as it was related to a consulting firm, it must be related to politics.

He felt a bit of a headache, but didn’t show it.

Then Vaughn was a bit… embarrassed again, “The national union didn’t approve that much money for us this time. Scott and I’s idea is that since we are doing it, let’s make the scale grand.”

“After all, dockworkers from the entire state will come here. As the host, we definitely have to show… you know, we don’t want to lose face.”

“And it’s not just people from our own state’s union; people from other state unions and the Federation of Labor will also come.”

The union had money in its account now, but not much. If it was just a simple event, there would certainly be no big problem.

It would be nothing more than providing food and lodging for these people, and then getting some prizes.

But Scott planned to use this opportunity as his path to rush into the national union, so he certainly couldn’t make it too shabby.

As long as he wanted to stand out, he would definitely have to spend more money.

But he didn’t have money, so what to do?

“What’s your approximate budget?” Lance picked up a beef rib and started sucking the meat off it.

Vaughn scratched his head, “About $35,000 to $50,000.”

“There’s still some money in the union’s account. We can scrape together $100,000.”

$100,000 to buy a path to promotion, and it’s not even his own money. This business can be done!

“You mean I should sponsor it all by myself?”

Vaughn nodded embarrassedly, “I hope you can support us with some. If you don’t have enough on hand, we will find other companies for some assistance.”

Scott and Vaughn had analyzed that Lance had many bars under him, so he must have a lot of money.

And he would definitely be willing to sponsor it all by himself, so there was no need to worry that Lance wouldn’t pay.

This made Vaughn feel that Scott was scheming against Lance, and he had always felt that Lance was a good young man, which made him feel a tiny bit of guilt.

But only a tiny bit.

Lance, as Scott had predicted, since he had decided to pay, it would certainly be most appropriate for him to pay for it all by himself.

He exhaled. He actually didn’t care too much about whether he was being schemed against by Scott or Vaughn because this matter was beneficial to him.

He could at least get his face known in the field of dockworkers and the Federation of Labor. When those people at the Federation of Labor knew he could sponsor so much money at once, maybe they would come to find him in the future.

You know, in this era, the Federation of Labor and the unions were definitely capital killers in the Federation—not capitalists.

Their destructive power against capital was astonishing, so in fact, Congress was already considering how to dismantle the influence of the unions and the Federation of Labor in the working class.

Even the current concessions of politicians and capitalists to the unions and the Federation of Labor were a means for them to dismantle the Federation of Labor.

By actively avoiding them, they let the two become arrogant and conceited!

Arrogance and conceit are the first step towards the madness of destruction. Although they don’t seem so arrogant now, one day, they will lose themselves in their great achievements.

Just like this moment.

“No problem, I’ll pay for it, but I also have a condition.”

Vaughn certainly would not refuse, “Tell me, I will do my best to persuade Scott.”

“First, I need to have the sign of the Wanli Firm hung in the most conspicuous position, and directly state that I exclusively sponsored the event’s funds.”

Vice President Vaughn heard a word he had never heard before: exclusive.

But this word was not so difficult to “chew.” Soon he understood Lance’s meaning, “No problem.”

“Second, I need at least one seat on the main stage, and as close to the middle as possible.”

This was even less of a problem. Vaughn directly agreed, “Okay.”

“Third, if we need to present awards to the winners, then I need to have the opportunity to appear on stage alone to present the awards and prize money to the winners, and not just once.”

Vaughn nodded repeatedly. It was just giving money, not something else, “No problem.”

“Finally, the name of the Wanli Firm will be printed on the award certificates, and I will also give them some small souvenirs and picture albums.”

After Vaughn seriously reconsidered it again, he confirmed that these were all reasonable requests, “I don’t think there’s a problem. I can agree to it. Even if Scott is dissatisfied, I will persuade him.”

Lance picked up a towel to wipe his hands, extended his hand, and shook hands with Vice President Vaughn, “Happy to cooperate!”

“Thank you for your support, Lance. This saves me a lot of trouble!”

“I guarantee that your investment will be absolutely worth it. As long as I am still in Golden Port, no one will be able to take the club away from you!”

Lance laughed heartily as if he really believed it, “I believe that!”

Actually, for Lance, it was a good thing that President Scott could be promoted to the national union. He owed him a big favor.

If he needed his cooperation in the future, there would be a reason and an excuse.

Of course, it was also possible that President Scott would refuse, but that didn’t matter either.

If he really refused Lance’s request, Lance would let him understand what the consequences would be for only wanting to take benefits but being unwilling to pay the price!