Chapter 835: Bring Freedom to the People!

After the maid brought coffee and small snacks, Mr. Gomez couldn't help but laugh and say, "You've changed a lot, Cassia."

Their relationship was good.

The Deputy Minister of Commerce and the President of the Lapa Chamber of Commerce already had many collaborations.

The President wasn't very interested in how to invigorate the economy. Anyway, in his eyes, and in the eyes of these true rulers, Lapa was no different from a primitive tribe.

They only needed to be able to exploit wealth from society themselves; as for whether ordinary Lapa people had money, they didn't care.

Any country with absolute rule and absolute corruption must have an absolute privileged class.

Mr. Gomez represented such a group.

They weren't the rulers, but everyone had intricate connections with the rulers. They formed another privileged interest group that surrounded the core of rule and did not belong to the ruling class.

Just like the President didn't care how the citizens of his country lived, in reality, these chambers of commerce used the slogan of helping people improve their lives and promoting trade, while continuing to exploit the potential value of the people.

However, they did one thing quite well, which was that after they were full, they would let those ordinary people drink a little soup, enough to fill their stomachs with dry food.

In that terrible, poor, and chaotic country, this small handful of people, less than one percent, controlled ninety percent of the wealth and everything!

Although Mr. Cassia previously belonged to a part of the privileged class, he was only on the outer layer of the privileged class, a useful tool, so his situation was actually not as good as the core privileged class like Mr. Gomez.

Meeting again this time, Mr. Gomez discovered that this old friend had some changes compared to before.

He appeared more confident, more majestic, and more mature.

Mr. Cassia couldn't help but laugh twice, "Only after walking out of that narrow world do you know how big the outside world is, Gomez."

Mr. Gomez agreed with this point of view, "Then how big is the world?"

This unexpected counter-question made Mr. Cassia daze for a while, his emotions becoming slightly low and dejected, "Very terrible, at least much worse than I imagined before I came out."

"I don't know if you can understand this feeling. When I wear decent clothes, put hair wax on my hair, polish my leather shoes until they shine, and restrain my own behavior, I thought I was going to attend a high-society social event."

"But the moment I pushed open the door, I saw the most primitive desires."

"They were grabbing things to eat with their hands, not high-society at all, uncivilized, and even less polite and elegant."

"But very savage!", he raised his finger and pointed diagonally at the ceiling, "Very savage!"

"Some food looks at least cooked, so using hands is fine, but there is some food that is raw, dripping with blood, and they also use their hands."

"Even alive!"

"They pounce on it and tear at it, not caring at all whether the food is in pain, whether it is screaming, or whether it is their own kind!"

As he said this, he shook his head while picking up the coffee, "Honestly, all my beautiful fantasies about the Federation have been shattered in these few months."

He took a small sip of coffee; it tasted very good, much better than the most expensive coffee he had ever drunk before.

He heard that this kind of coffee bean cost over a hundred dollars a pound; this damn... it was simply extravagant!

After putting down the coffee, he invited Mr. Gomez to try it too, "Try it, unexpectedly good."

Mr. Gomez took a small sip; it was indeed excellent coffee, and the degree of roasting was just right.

The oils were very rich, and at the same time, there was no bitterness beyond the bitterness of the coffee itself due to over-roasting.

He pursed his lips, "Excellent coffee, you can't drink it at all in Lapa."

It wasn't a question of whether there was money; even with money, you couldn't buy it.

It is conceivable that any luxury brand, unless there is a large order, would never go to a poor place to sell.

So even if Mr. Gomez was willing to spend a thousand dollars to buy a pound in Lapa, no one would sell it to him, unless the price he offered was enough for those companies to make a trip just for him.

He then put down the coffee cup, picked up a small square snack, and put it in his mouth.

Its outer shell was the flaky kind, very sweet.

After saliva soaked its outer shell, this plastic-like shell melted in an instant, and then the fruit-flavored sugar heart inside flowed out, filling the mouth with the sweetness and fragrance of fruit.

He noticed that these small squares had different colors, which should represent different fruits.

The bitterness in the aftertaste of the coffee was covered by the candy, a good combination.

"Cassia, what are you worrying about?"

Mr. Gomez asked back. He leaned back in his chair and patted the soft armrest with his hand. The thick and smooth feel let him know that this chair was also worth a lot of money.

He looked at the other furnishings in the room again, "Look, you live in a big villa that even the President's can't compare to, enjoying this coffee that might cost hundreds or thousands of dollars a pound."

"Your family is studying in the best schools in the Federation, your wife is socializing with noble ladies of high society, and you also enter and exit important government departments of the Federation, and regardless of whether you admit it or not, to a certain extent, you represent a country."

"Not only carrying your responsibilities, but also mastering the status and power of this country in the international community."

"You have a better life than ninety-nine percent of people, yet you are complaining."

"Can I consider this your showing off?"

After hearing this, Mr. Cassia couldn't help but laugh twice, "I really haven't thought about it that way, it's just that many things have happened recently."

"Lapa is very powerful in our eyes, but in the eyes of the Federation people, in the eyes of these people, it is like an infant in swaddling clothes. No one cares about it, cares about the people in this country and their thoughts."

Mr. Gomez realized where the problem was, and he asked curiously, "What happened?"

Mr. Cassia was finally able to pour his heart out, "Have you seen *Surprise Attack on Jincheng*?"

Mr. Gomez shook his head, "You know, there are no movie theaters there."

"Even if there were, there wouldn't be these new movies."

There were only two movie theaters in all of Lapa. The first movie theater was the "National Movie Theater," mainly used for high officials to relax.

They would watch some movies from abroad, especially from the Federation; this was also a way for them to understand the Federation.

There was also a movie theater in the Presidential Palace, which was the President's private movie theater, but he didn't watch it much; it was just a decoration. He wasn't interested in movies.

He could do whatever could be expressed in a movie anytime, anywhere, so it had no attraction for him.

Mr. Cassia briefly told the plot, and Mr. Gomez immediately captured a core of this movie.

What others saw was the confrontation of maritime power between the Dantela Republic and the Federation, while what Mr. Gomez saw was the value of a strategic location in war.

"You mean, they have ideas about Xiang Yalan?"

Mr. Cassia couldn't help but smile bitterly, "More than just ideas?"

"I think they are evaluating the risks and benefits of invading the Xiang Yalan countries. They intend to invade!"

Mr. Gomez's mouth couldn't even close. After a long while, he came back to his senses, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!", Mr. Cassia nodded forcefully, "They have been talking about these things recently, and they even called me over, talked to me, asked if the Lapa people yearn for the Federation, if they are willing to be friends with the Federation people, and so on."

Mr. Cassia certainly wouldn't really think that this was what the Federation people wanted to ask. He knew the things behind this, and Mr. Gomez naturally knew too.

He couldn't help but take out a cigarette and light one.

As a "big tycoon" of Lapa, his cigarettes were all produced by himself.

He had tobacco fields, specifically producing high-quality cigarettes for him.

Because Lapa was poor, it wasn't like the Federation where there were cigarettes for sale.

In Lapa, tobacco farmers sold fresh or sun-dried processed tobacco leaves on the roadside. After people bought them home, they still had to process them themselves, at least cut them into shreds, and then use them for smoking.

You couldn't buy any good tobacco leaves on the market. Where could a group of mud-legged people get any good varieties?

Everyone in the upper class grew their own, or obtained them from other members of the same class who grew tobacco leaves.

Mr. Gomez's tobacco fields were large, supplying many high officials, which was also one of his important businesses.

The cigarette in his hand was obviously different from the one in the Federation; it was bigger, longer, and still raw tobacco leaves.

Tobacco leaves that hadn't been aged were very choking after being lit. Whether it was tar or nicotine, they were very powerful. However, some people just liked this. There were also many people in the Federation who liked raw tobacco and believed that this was the cigarette men should smoke.

Cigarettes like those aged tobacco leaves were called "cigarettes favored by ladies" by them.

"If they really want to invade Xiang Yalan, it might not be a bad thing."

Mr. Cassia originally thought that Mr. Gomez, this old friend, could say some things standing on his side, but he didn't expect that as soon as he opened his mouth, he came up with completely different content.

He stared at this close friend with wide eyes, as if he were seeing his true face for the first time!

"Don't look at me like that!", Mr. Gomez smiled and handed a cigarette to Mr. Cassia, "I'm serious."

"How do you feel about the life of the federal people?"

Mr. Cassia took the cigarette, lit it, and took a puff, but immediately coughed twice. The cigarette was too choking!

Its power was too great, and the amount in one puff was much larger than the amount in one puff in the Federation. For a while, he hadn't adapted to it.

This made Mr. Gomez couldn't help but laugh out loud!

"Look, Cassia, it's only been a few days, and you can't even stand the cigarettes we've been smoking all along."

"You've really changed a lot!"

Mr. Cassia was slightly embarrassed. He knew that this slightly sarcastic statement had no malice. He could only roll his eyes and take another puff.

This time it was much better.

He said hoarsely with a throat swollen by nicotine, "I just wasn't mentally prepared just now!"

Then, without waiting for Mr. Gomez to continue mocking him, he answered the question he mentioned earlier, "The life of the Federation people is a hundred times, a thousand times better than the life of our people!"

"Although my beautiful longing for the federal upper class is shattered, I still have full recognition for this country."

His attitude was very serious, not just saying it casually, "They elect the managers of the city through elections. These people, as well as some grassroots politicians."

"These grassroots politicians then elect the upper-level rulers, and then the President of this country, the members of Congress!"

"It can be said that the opinions of ordinary people determine the direction of the country's future rulers. This is something we can never do!"

Lapa superficially says it is an election system, but in reality, it is a hereditary system.

The President's son is always the next President, and the official's son is also the next official. There will be no changes.

"They live freely and with dignity."

Mr. Gomez nodded, "Yes, compared to the situation in the country, I believe the homeless here live much more decently than them!"

Mr. Cassia admitted this with an ugly face, "What do you want to say?"

Mr. Gomez shrugged, he appeared very relaxed, "Since we all know that the Federation's rule is superior to our domestic rule, why not let the Federation people rule Lapa?"

"Anyway, the situation won't be worse than it is now. Maybe it will even allow Lapa to gain opportunities and changes because of their arrival!"

Mr. Cassia opened his mouth wide and looked at his good friend, looking at him in disbelief, "Are you crazy?"

"Are you trying to betray the country?"

"And...", he hesitated, "Isn't the President your relative?"

The President's third wife is Gomez's cousin, and the President and this wife had two children.

It sounds like a lot, but the President has more than twenty children, so this is very inconspicuous.

Gomez took another puff of the cigarette, and then exhaled the thick smoke, "I am also a Lapa person. I also carry freedom and ideals in my heart."

Hearing this, Mr. Cassia couldn't help but laugh out loud, his laughter full of sarcasm, "You are just an opportunist. Are you trying to defect to the Federation people?"

"Darkness shrouds Lapa. If I can bring the sun to the people, do you think I am a hero, or a bastard?"

Light kept flowing in Mr. Gomez's eyes, and his other hand was slightly trembling. This was an opportunity!

An opportunity that might not happen once in a thousand years, an opportunity to completely rebuild the Lapa class!

The President can be a ruler, why can't he?

If he brought the Federation people into Lapa and killed the President, would he also have a chance to reach for that position?

Although the President is his brother-in-law, he is also the brother-in-law of many people.

Being able to become the President of the Chamber of Commerce is not because of the relationship with Mr. Gomez's cousin, but because his brain is flexible and he stands out among that group of idiots!

He also has his own thoughts, his own ambitions, and he feels this is an opportunity.

"History will prove that we are not sinners!"

Now what he needs to do is to convince his good friend, Mr. Cassia.

Only by convincing him can this matter continue to be carried out, because he himself doesn't know any federal officials, and he needs someone to lead the way for him.

Mr. Cassia was smoking and thinking about these words he said. He had to admit that what he said made some sense.

As a qualified tool man, his days in Lapa were actually not very good, but only because he was capable and could be considered a privileged class, so the ruling class would use him.

He also had many dissatisfactions with the ruling class, but the entire Lapa army was controlled by the ruling class, which was also the core of their continued rule.

Relying on personal strength, he couldn't stir up any waves at all, but what if he used the power of the Federation people?

He picked up the coffee and took a sip. The mellow coffee taste and the smoke in his mouth, mixed with the remaining nicotine, formed a unique flavor.

Mr. Gomez didn't urge him, just waited for him to think for himself.

When he saw that Mr. Cassia's eyes fluctuated and began to become hesitant, he continued, "Also, Cassia, my friend."

"Do you think that if we don't do this and pass the news back, the Federation people won't invade Xiang Yalan?"

"Will they let go of invading Xiang Yalan and let go of invading Lapa because of your loyalty?"

This question caught Mr. Cassia off guard. Once the power of the Federation invades the Xiang Yalan region, it will definitely completely unify the entire land.

Otherwise, their invasion would be meaningless, and Xiang Yalan is not a particularly large land. For the size of the Federation, it can be completely swallowed.

Mr. Cassia answered with a worried look, "They will still invade."

"Yes, they will still invade. By then, if the President decides to resist, a large number of people will be sent to the front line to die."

"When he thinks he is not a match for the Federation people, he will take the initiative to surrender. His people will not have any trouble, and only ordinary civilians will die."

"If he surrenders as soon as he comes up and doesn't resist at all, he will continue to strengthen his rule."

"I have a question. Do you think that under the control of the Federation people, will he have no changes like now, or will he frantically scrape wealth and then find ways to transfer funds to the Federation?"

Saying this, Mr. Gomez leaned forward a little, "I'll tell you a secret. I helped many people open accounts in the Federation and deposited a large amount of funds."

After he finished speaking, he leaned back again. Some things you say and impose on others will not be valued by people.

Only what they think of through their own efforts and intelligence will be valued by them.

Mr. Cassia's brain was a bit messy, and he supported his forehead with both hands, "I don't know!"

Mr. Gomez didn't urge him either, "You should think about it carefully!"

"I think this is an opportunity. You have always admired the Federation's rule over the years. Now there is an opportunity to let the Lapa people also enjoy freedom. We shouldn't give it up."

"The people should enjoy a better and freer life, instead of being ruled and enslaved by certain people from birth!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 836 =====