Chapter 371: 372. Chapter 368: Meaningless Interrogation

372. Chapter 368: Meaningless Interrogation

Initiative is a very special thing. Many people might not feel the difference between initiative and passivity in their daily lives, but it is a social link that indeed exists and is very important.

Mastering the initiative can help a person gain more benefits in social interactions and better protect their own rights and interests.

Just like at this very moment, if Lansi spoke first, what could he say?

"What do you want me to do?"

"What can I do?"

"How do I have to solve this problem?"

"How do you want me to respond?"

No matter how he said it, he would be in a passive situation. He would become Congressman Williams' "subordinate," and what he had to do next would be equivalent to an instruction from Congressman Williams.

If he completed it, that was what he should do; if he didn't complete it, that was his problem. This wasn't an equal relationship.

But if he didn't speak and let Congressman Williams speak, he would say "I hope you do this or that" or "You have to find a way to do this or that." No matter what he said, it would become an equal interaction.

He would propose a request, and then Lansi would decide whether to satisfy him. This was equal, rather than letting him issue orders.

In higher-level occasions, forms and rules are more invisible, and they also need to be followed more strictly. Even who takes the first step, who reaches out first, and who smiles first have very strict requirements.

Congressman Williams looked at Lansi for a while, then looked at James. James opened his mouth and said, "Just now, Father and I discussed that we haven't completely lost control of the situation, and we even have a way to turn the tables."

Lansi nodded slightly, took a box of cigarettes out of his pocket, and lit one.

He signaled for James to continue. James glanced at Congressman Williams again, who pretended not to see and kept his head down, seemingly thinking about something.

James had a very wonderful experience because Lansi showed a... very special temperament. He didn't look entirely like a gangster who hadn't received higher education. Some of his practices were clearly things that people at the bottom couldn't master.

Perhaps he should continue to investigate Lansi's background. Perhaps he wasn't as simple as people saw.

"The striking workers at the docks are our opportunity to counterattack."

Lansi didn't have any other actions. His interruption just now made James feel that Lansi would "control the rhythm" again, but this time he didn't, which made him feel a bit subtly uncomfortable, a very contradictory feeling.

It was like wiping one's ass. According to reason, one had to wipe at least twice to wipe it clean. He wiped once but didn't wipe a second time, which would make people suspect whether he had wiped beforehand or hadn't shit at all.

This suspicion would keep surrounding James, affecting some of his thinking and judgment.

He blinked, came back to his senses, "If we make the workers think that part of the purpose of the militia entering the city is to suppress the strike, and then a few more people die, letting the incident escalate..."

"By then, Congress will notice some changes in Jincheng. Once Congress starts to intervene, all of Xidini's plans will fall through."

Lansi took a deep breath of smoke and then exhaled slowly, "What will be the result of Congressional intervention?"

"What do they usually do?"

James shrugged, "Negotiate."

Lansi immediately said a word, "Tanfite."

James nodded and said, "Yes, now everything is based on stability. They won't interfere too much in local government affairs, but they also won't allow similar things to happen."

"If Xidini doesn't intend to let them hold a grudge!"

Lansi let out a long sigh, "If the conflict is artificially escalated, many people might die."

The militia all had weapons, and they wouldn't care if you were a local or an outsider. As long as the commander gave the order, they would pull the trigger.

James was silent for a while and said in a slightly heavy tone, "Someone has to go first."

Congressman Williams picked up the pipe and tapped it against the wooden trash can. The sound attracted the gazes of Lansi and James.

While adding tobacco to the pipe, he said, "It wasn't the benevolence of slave owners that ended slavery, Lansi."

"You sit at the poker table, and people don't value you very much, unless you push all your chips out." He picked up the lighter and burned the tobacco in the pipe, while continuously inhaling through the pipe.

Soon, thick smoke began to emerge from his mouth. He put the lighter back on the table, held the pipe with one hand, took a breath, and smoke was emerging from both his nose and mouth.

"People will definitely get hurt. We can make some preparations, and even link other industries to strike together."

"The faster the strike, the larger the scale, and the faster Congress will intervene."

"For us, it will be more favorable."

Lansi furrowed his brows, "I don't like gambling money, and I don't like going all-in. Perhaps we can change to another way."

Congressman Williams became interested, "Do you have any better suggestions?"

Lansi shook his head slightly, "It can't be called better, just that if someone has to use blood to speak for us."

"Do you think the lives of capitalists are more capable of attracting people's attention, or those mud-dog legs on the docks?"

Congressman Williams was stunned for a moment, then furrowed his brows. He knew what Lansi meant. It was the same escalation of conflict, but if a few capitalists died, it would indeed attract Congress's attention.

But in this way, it would also cause dissatisfaction among the capitalists!

And the capitalists in the Bay Area were very unusual!

Congressman Williams was still thinking, but Lansi began to talk about his thoughts, or rather, his plan.

"If some workers on the docks die, Congress will at most facilitate the basis for our negotiations."

"But then what?"

"At the negotiating table, no one cares if the chips are chipped. We haven't suffered any substantial loss of interests, and the mayor is actually taking advantage."

"Some bottom-level workers died, who cares?"

He looked at James, "Do you care?"

"James?"

James didn't expect the topic to shift to him suddenly. He was a bit embarrassed, "I... maybe I don't care that much."

"You told the truth!" Lansi praised him, "Telling the truth is a virtue."

He looked at Congressman Williams again, "Actually, none of us care. Would you worry about the factory's revenue decreasing this year because the apple in your neighbor's house was eaten by a worm?"

"No, you wouldn't, because we all know that's just a small matter."

"No matter how many small characters die, it can't attract people's attention. The death of a farmer is just the withering of a life, while the death of a king is the pain of a country!"

"But if one or two high-class people die, people with influence, then we will seriously consider, seriously negotiate, and not let this kind of thing happen again!"

"Because no one knows, if this problem isn't solved, will the next unlucky one be ourselves!"

"A few workers died, who cares?"

"And, we can escalate the problem before the militia enters the city, letting Congress intervene directly, not giving our mayor the chance to use the militia's power to achieve his goal!"

Congressman Williams inhaled the pipe puff by puff. Lansi's words made him fall into deep thought, and James was also thinking about the possibility of these things.

After more than ten minutes, Congressman Williams put down the pipe in his hand. His gaze toward Lansi also had some changes, "I need to make a few phone calls..."

Lansi stood up with a smile, "My brother said your villa is very beautiful, so I can just take a tour."

"James, take Lansi and his friends to tour our villa." Congressman Williams stood up, "I'll excuse myself first."

After coming out of the study, James was clearly very happy to have closer contact with Lansi, "Have you considered a problem?"

"What?"

He tilted his head and looked at Lansi, "The rich people in the Bay Area might target you, target the workers on the docks."

Lansi looked very indifferent, "Have you heard of exquisite crystal bottles going head-to-head with stones?"

Before he could answer, Lansi smiled and said, "We are stones, gangsters, the most unranked social bottom layer in their eyes."

"And they are crystal, upper-class people in society. They have power and wealth. We seem to be at the two ends of social inequality."

"But in fact, we are absolutely equal in some aspects."

Lansi extended a finger, "God only gave each of us one life, no one is an exception!"

James had never seen someone like Lansi before, never seen one before. Those gangsters would all obey the orders of the Bay Area, which always made him feel that gangsters, or social order, should be like this.

It is pyramid-shaped, from top to bottom, with absolute ruling power, until this moment!

Lansi took Aierwen to start touring Congressman Williams' villa. The architecture and decoration of the villa were all done with thought, and it indeed looked extraordinary.

The two of them were thinking about different things. Lansi was considering how to escalate the situation as quickly as possible and solve the problem within forty-eight hours.

And Aierwen was thinking that he also wanted to buy such a big house later and bring his whole family over.

In the manor of the Pasleto family, which wasn't actually very far from here, Paul was also thinking about a problem.

He used Muller's method to test all the high-level cadres who participated in the meeting that day, but didn't find anyone who had leaked the news.

At this time in the room, he, Muller, and Alberto were sitting together.

"They have all been very normal these two days...", Paul was visibly more haggard. Traitors, attacks—the Cassia family could always find their weak points to launch attacks.

This made them a bit unable to unfold their hands and feet. If they couldn't find a way to break the situation, they would soon be trapped in this manor.

So the urgent task was to find that bastard!

He glanced at Alberto. Alberto hadn't given him a good look for several days, and he was indeed very guilty.

"If it wasn't them, who could it be?"

"It seems only they were there that day."

Alberto furrowed his brows. He suddenly remembered something, "That day... I remember it seems Duofu was also there."

Paul looked up at Alberto, and Muller also widened his eyes, seemingly remembering something, "He is right. Duofu was the last to come, but you let them leave first not long after he came."

"He might have only stayed here for two minutes."

Paul's expression became ugly, "What has he been doing these two days?"

"He brought some friends back and has been staying with his friends every day."

Paul scratched his head. Now his scalp was particularly itchy!

"I have to talk to him."

Alberto still didn't understand, "You have been good enough to him, giving him the best territory, giving him the best income, and letting him do whatever he wants. You are better to him than to your own sons!"

"Even now, he is a suspect, and you still want to talk to him?"

Paul's expression had some subtle changes, "His father blocked a bullet for me. My life was saved by him. In a sense, he is actually my son too!"

"But does he treat you as his father?", Alberto's voice became louder, "If it was him who betrayed us, I wouldn't doubt it at all, because he is that kind of person, Paul!"

Paul was still a bit hesitant, "I want to talk to him. No matter whether it is or not, I insist on this point!"

Alberto let out a heavy sigh, "Fine, fine!", he stood up, "Paul, I respect you very much, but this personality of yours also makes me unable to stand it."

"Notify me in time if there is any news. I'm going back."

Paul watched Alberto leave. His expression kept changing. He sat blankly for a long while before letting out a heavy sigh.

Although Alberto respected Paul, he didn't necessarily understand Paul.

Muller was Paul's cousin. He understood his cousin. From these changes in Paul, he discovered that he actually also started to suspect Duofu, just subconsciously protecting him.

"I'll go over with you."

Paul nodded. He pulled open the drawer, took out an exquisite ivory-handled pistol and holster, and wore it.

Although he took good care of Duofu, if it was really Duofu who did it, he would make Duofu pay the price.

Muller had always been by his side, "Maybe it wasn't him."

Paul shook his head, "I don't know. I will believe my eyes and ears."

Muller asked, "If it is him, what do you plan to do?"

Paul showed his weapon, "Give him a decent end. After all, his father sacrificed his life for me. Even if he did wrong, I can't let people judge him."

"This is the last thing I can do for him. Even if he dies, I have to let him leave quietly."

Muller let out a light sigh, "Do you need me to help you?"

Paul shook his head, "I am enough alone. Although he is sometimes a bit out of line, he still listens to me."

"But you are going to kill!", Muller looked at him.

Paul also looked directly at Muller, "He won't know."

Seeing him so insistent, Muller didn't say anything else. In fact, he knew that this was Paul's guilt at work.

As someone who understood him, Muller could only support, not oppose.

Duofu didn't know yet that Paul was coming to find him. He was on the phone with Owen, and Owen told him the truth of the matter.

"The day after tomorrow, the militia will enter the city. The legislature has already voted and passed it, and the mayor will also return to work by then."

"Do you know what this represents?"

"This represents that everyone who doesn't submit will meet their end!"

"Kristoduofu, the Pasleto family has reached the most critical moment. Now the only person who can save the family is you."

Kristoduofu's brain wasn't enough at this moment. He just followed Owen's words and asked, "What should I do?"

Owen appreciated this kind of fool very much. He didn't like smart people. Someone like Lansi was clearly not a good partner for cooperation. Someone like Duofu was.

"You have actually done very well, but you are still a bit short."

"We have to get rid of Paul, and then you become the next head of the Pasleto family. Only in this way, you can represent the Pasleto family, and we will let the whole Pasleto family go."

Hearing this, Duofu was already a bit panicked and his hands were shaking. He held the receiver with both hands and lowered his voice slightly, "Mr. Owen, I am not Paul's son. Although I also have the surname Pasleto, I cannot inherit the business here."

"His cousins, and children, are all more qualified to inherit the family than I am..."

Owen chuckled, "If these people are all gone, will it be your turn?"

Duofu's heart beat violently. Those rumors about "if his father hadn't blocked a bullet for Paul back then, maybe his father could have become the head of the family" appeared in his mind again.

Over the years, although Paul had been very good to him, every time he thought of these, he felt that he was being fooled by people!

Because that position was very likely to have been his father's, and this family, in the future, could also have belonged to him!

Paul stole things that belonged to their father and son, and then rewarded him with things that originally belonged to their father and son, and still hoped he would be grateful?

Until now, he hadn't joined the family core. He had always been excluded from the family's core circle. He had been disguisedly under house arrest. He hadn't just lost his freedom of action, but more freedom!

While hating Paul, he also had deep fear. He was still a bit hesitant, "I'll consider it again."

Owen didn't urge him. Leaving the Pasleto family was just a backup plan for them before they left. From the current stage, whether it existed or not didn't actually have much of a relationship.

So he wasn't anxious. It wasn't urgent for Duofu to make a decision favorable to him, "Whatever you want. You just need to remember that when the time comes, nothing will change anymore."

He hadn't hung up the phone for long before Muller and Paul came over.

The hall was full of those peripheral figures of the family around him. They all stood up when they saw Paul.

Paul squeezed out some smiles, nodded casually, greeted them, and then looked at Duofu, who was walking out of the room.

The two didn't look at each other for long before Duofu shifted his gaze away.

Paul's heart had already gone cold by half at this time. He walked toward a room inside. When passing by Duofu, he said, "Come in with me."

The two entered the room. Muller stood at the door, looking at those people.

He didn't go in, in order to prevent these people from running to the door to eavesdrop. As a butler in a big family, he knew these things too well!

In the room, Paul looked at Duofu and asked very directly, "Was it you who betrayed the family's information to outsiders?"

Duofu was originally still boiling with hot blood, but suddenly his blood went cold by half!

He looked at Paul, unable to speak clearly, "I don't know what you're talking about, Paul."

Paul suddenly said loudly, "Why did you betray us?"

Duofu forced himself to calm down, "Did you hear something from someone?"

"Paul, you know me. Although I am... a bastard sometimes, I have never betrayed the family!"

He shouted loudly, his face red, seemingly wanting to prove something in this way!

But the more he was like this, the more Paul, who understood him, could see his panic and fear.

"It really was you...", Paul suddenly seemed to have deflated, letting out a heavy sigh, "Is there anything we did to let you down?"

"Why did you betray us?" ===== CHAPTER 372 =====