Chapter 917: Just because you are the president, I won't take care of you

Diego's public speech only lasted thirty minutes, and Lanse could still tell that he might have made some deletions to the draft.

There were obvious feelings of fragmentation in some places, especially concentrated on some content of "flattering the people."

Lanse hadn't dealt with Diego many times, and the number of times wasn't many, but he could feel that this was a typical president who still held the "old slave owner mentality," a ruler.

He regarded the people in this country as slaves he had raised, so when he was asked to say some words flattering the people, he would feel uncomfortable.

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This was like those slave owners before the Federal liberation movement; asking them to say "As long as you work hard, I will release you and give you a piece of land, letting you live a peaceful and prosperous life" was not as good as directly pulling out a gun and giving them two shots, letting them die at least comfortably.

They couldn't say such things; to them, slaves were animals, no different from the horses in the stables, the cows in the cow shed, the sheep in the sheep pen, and the dogs in the dog house.

They were all tools for them to make money and obtain wealth.

They were even worse than tools.

They couldn't say these things.

But if you let them say "If you motherfucker don't move your ass off the stone and move your hands to let me know you motherfucker are working, I will hang you," they would certainly be very happy, able to say this long sentence clearly and continuously, and with a bit of dark humor—

Long sentences have always been the natural enemy of people with low education levels.

Diego also had this mentality; how could he possibly flatter his slaves?

He couldn't do it; he was a president who wanted face.

On this issue, he was actually not too qualified, because a qualified president would say the necessary words when necessary, even if it was against his will.

After Diego finished speaking, Lanse patted the side of his pants, supported himself with his hands on his knees, and stood up.

"Help me contact the president; I want to see him as soon as possible."

Gomez immediately went to make the call. At this time, Diego had just returned from that large balcony of the Presidential Palace.

He always gave public speeches on that balcony, including his father, his grandfather, and his ancestors.

They were all like this; of course, it might not have been the Presidential Palace before, but it was in other places, but he needed to stand in a protruding place, a place higher than where others stood.

Diego was wiping his hands and cheeks with a snow-white silk handkerchief. The current temperature made him feel very comfortable. Wiping his face and hands wasn't because he was hot, just because there was too much oil.

It only took a short while, and a thin layer of grease would seem to be secreted on his body surface. If he didn't wipe it, it would soon make his skin start to reflect light, and he didn't like this state.

His skin color was already a bit dark, and if it were still oily and shiny, he would feel very strange.

He threw the used silk handkerchief to the butler. There was already a layer of dirt and grease mixed together on the pure white handkerchief.

If this handkerchief could be restored to pure white after treatment, it could still be used.

If not, it would be disposed of.

Things in the Presidential Palace, even if they were crushed or burned, would not be given to the servants; this was the rule.

"Sir, it's Gomez on the phone."

The president looked at the butler standing not far away holding the receiver, turned around, and walked over shakily. "Find the best shoemaker in the city later; I have to change a pair of shoes."

"This pair of shoes is not very comfortable to wear; I can't even walk straight or steadily."

He blamed his shaky walking on the shoes being bad, not on himself being too fat.

The butler agreed with a smile; he was already used to Diego finding various reasons to excuse himself.

He picked up the phone, his tone slightly impatient.

Gomez had always been very close to the Federal people, and he didn't like it.

Federal people were not good people; on this point, he and the Great President of the Republic of Jiede had the same view.

It was just that the Republic of Jiede had a certain strength and capital to refuse, while he, the president of Lapa, a poor and backward place, did not have this qualification.

Originally, he had planned to deal with Gomez, but he ran to Lanse's side whenever he had nothing to do, which made him feel a bit tricky.

In a few days, he planned to announce the decision to revoke Gomez's position as president of the Chamber of Commerce and appoint a new president.

"What is so important that you have to call me now?" His tone was very unkind, with a dissatisfaction and anger that could be felt, and a little bit of something unsettling.

It was like a bone in the meat; when chewing, one always wanted to find it, chew it to pieces, and then spit it out fiercely.

Gomez knew that he had no way back when he made this call, and this was also a stance.

"Mr. Lanse wants to meet with you."

Hearing this answer, Diego was very angry. He felt that Gomez had betrayed him; he had trusted Gomez so much!

Well, not that much trust.

"Have you started working for the Federal people now?"

"Gomez?!"

Gomez felt a bit bitter in his mouth. He knew how terrible this fat man was. He pretended not to hear this question that was not so easy to answer and adopted another way, even a way that might make people feel a bit targeted, to continue to push the conversation.

"What is your reply?"

"Mr. President!"

Diego felt a bit itchy in his teeth. He glanced at the time. "Just before dinner today."

"I have time before dinner; come to the Great Presidential Palace."

He hung up the phone directly after saying this. After scolding Lanse, the Federation, and Gomez a few times, he walked toward his room shakily.

He needed to drink a glass of iced fruit juice now and then lie on the bed for a while to relieve the exhaustion of his body.

If the temperature hadn't dropped a bit now, he would actually prefer to lie in the open-air pool.

The feeling of water washing over his body could make his mood much better.

More than an hour later, Lanse arrived at the Presidential Palace, and the Great President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs received Lanse in the conference room of the Presidential Palace.

The side hall, not the main hall.

It wasn't that Diego couldn't bear to use the main hall, but mainly because Lanse didn't have any official background. Using the main hall would make Diego feel that he was a head shorter than the Federation, having to use the main hall to receive a non-official person.

Although he was indeed a head shorter than the Federation.

In the side hall, there were no such concerns.

After Lanse shook hands with the two of them, he was led by the staff to his sofa and sat down.

"Just now I listened to your public speech, President Diego. It can play an important warning and helping role for the people of Lapa. I believe the problem will be solved soon."

Diego and the Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded one after another; there was no problem with this statement.

However, Lanse quickly changed the subject. "I noticed that you said the Republic of Jiede aided a batch of food to Lapa."

Diego confirmed this news again. "Yes, 350,000 tons of wheat."

"We plan to grind it into wheat flour, so that compared to purely eating wheat kernels, we can get more satiety."

He meant to make the wheat flour into bread or cakes, and then add other things inside; anyway, as long as people don't starve to death, it's fine.

Lanse nodded slightly. "What agreements have you reached with the Republic of Jiede?"

"What is it that makes them willing to bring out so much food?"

Diego froze for a moment, and then an expression of displeasure appeared on his face. "I'm afraid this has nothing to do with you, right?"

"This is a transaction between us and Jiede; you don't need to know, and there is no need to know."

It could be seen that he was very unhappy now and felt offended.

If someone else had said it, for example, a Federal ambassador or some diplomatic personnel, he would have felt slightly more comfortable.

Who was Lanse?

A gang leader, actually walking in so swaggeringly and asking what kind of transaction he had reached with the Republic of Jiede?!

He could feel the arrogance of Lanse not putting him in his eyes behind his seemingly calm appearance!

So he was also very impolite when he spoke, and his voice was a bit loud.

Lanse didn't rush to refute or do anything when listening to his clamor. He smiled and picked up the coffee cup just sent by the butler, stirred it a few times with a stirrer, and took a small sip. "This relates to the interests of Federal investors in Lapa."

He raised his head and glanced at Diego. "I, we, those investors from the Federation." "What they value is not how high the cultural level of the people here is, nor is it that you can help them achieve class crossing, and even less is it because there is a complete supporting industry here."

"People come here to invest because they value the low-cost labor and cheap resources here."

"If you have reached any agreement with Jiede, for example, by exchanging resources, letting the Republic of Jiede give you a batch of food aid."

"Thereby causing the interests of Federal investors to be damaged..."

He put down the coffee cup in his hand, although he had been very careful and light when putting it down.

At the moment when the bottom of the coffee cup touched the saucer, there was still a slight sound.

He raised his head and looked at Diego. "We will hold you accountable."

The two looked at each other. Diego stared at Lanse with his fierce gaze that he could already express, but for Lanse, he was still far behind.

His eyes, including his expression, were indeed fierce and scary, but also very empty.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs intervened between them in time. "This is our country's internal affair!"

Diego took a deep breath and moved his gaze away. Lanse then looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs. "I said, we need to ensure the interests of investors."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was a bit annoyed. "How do you want to ensure it?"

Lanse answered quickly. "I want to know what transaction you have reached!"

For a time, a country's president and his Minister of Foreign Affairs were forced by Lanse to the point where they couldn't even speak clearly.

Watching the two still not speaking, Lanse began to say, "Mineral resources, big trees in the wild, rubber plantations, orchards, light and heavy industries, including labor, these are all what we need."

"If you have allocated some mines, or resources in a certain area, to them."

"Or if something else has happened, in short, causing the interests of Federal investors to be damaged."

"Then, it is time for us to act!"

He didn't show weakness, completely facing him and hard-topping without letting go. "A small character selling the country might just be selling some meaningless news."

"But a person in power selling the country, that is really selling the country!"

Diego couldn't help but scold, "What the hell do you mean?"

He pointed at his own nose and stood up. "Are you saying I'm selling the country?"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also hurriedly stood up to persuade him to sit down. The butler in the distance, as well as several soldiers, also looked over here.

"Do you believe I'll kill you?" He was already a bit incoherent. As a country's president, even if he was an unqualified politician, he shouldn't be so out of control as to be flustered.

But then again, he was already an unqualified politician; who could expect him to make the right choice like a qualified politician?

Lanse didn't take his threat to heart at all. He didn't even raise his eyelids, picked up a fruit he hadn't seen before, and took a bite.

Sour and sweet; the tropics are full of such strange fruits.

He shook his head, not knowing whether he was dissatisfied with Diego's approach or not very satisfied with the fruit in his hand.

He threw the fruit into the trash can and then raised his head to look at Diego. "I believe it!"

"I believe you can kill me."

His gaze shifted to the Minister of Foreign Affairs' face for a moment, and then moved back. "But before you kill me, you have to consider how you will explain your approach to the Asian Alliance, and you also have to consider how to explain to the Federation why you want to do this."

"Then you have to consider whether your explanation can convince everyone, whether the Asian Alliance controlled by the Republic of Jiede will kick you out of the Asian Alliance."

"And, how you will deal with the pursuit from the Federation."

"You, your family, this Minister gentleman beside you, and all your friends, everyone's family, will die."

He said these words in a very calm tone, yet it was full of convincing things.

He leaned back on the sofa and even took out a cigarette to light for himself. "It only takes one day for the Federal Navy to appear here and wipe Zhuolan off the map."

"Want to try?"

Diego was still glaring at Lanse fiercely, but now, he didn't continue to say anything to stimulate each other.

Because he knew that what Lanse said was very likely true.

A thought-provoking smile appeared on Lanse's face. "So, Mr. President, we can be enemies, or we can be friends."

"Sharing information is the most basic etiquette between friends."

"Tell me something I'm interested in."

"For example, what kind of transaction you have reached, making them willing to support you with so much food."

Calculated by lowering the price Lanse bought, 35 yuan a ton, this is 17.5 million Federal Sol.

If they sent food worth a million, Lanse would admit that there is such a possibility; stabilizing the situation in Lapa is good for the entire Asian Alliance.

But this is 17.5 million; with so much money, no one will give it to others casually; they must have a transaction, and the things traded are very valuable.

At least, worthy of this food!

Lanse's attitude was undoubtedly very tough, so tough that it made people a bit unable to understand.

Diego's small eyes had been staring at Lanse; he didn't see any surprise, fear, hesitation, or anxiety in Lanse's eyes that he wanted to see.

He only saw calmness, and the surging waves hidden under the calm appearance.

Diego pushed, pushed away the Minister of Foreign Affairs beside him, and sat back on that sofa.

"We will transport some excellent talents to the Republic of Jiede, and then rubber blocks and copper ingots."

The Republic of Jiede has been promoting the development of industry; rubber blocks and copper ingots can be said to be one of the most core materials of industry.

Lanse smiled. "Look, saying it out is not that complicated."

"You made a very smart choice at the crossroads of life, Mr. President."

Lanse nodded with satisfaction; regardless of whether Diego hid anything, in short, he got the answer he wanted.

Afterward, he supported his legs and stood up. "I will truthfully convey everything that happened today to the Senator."

"As for how they plan to deal with this problem, I will contact you as soon as there is new news."

"Now, I should go back."

He reached out his hand and looked at Diego; Diego could only shake it with him very reluctantly, and then the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

There was no more communication between the three; after Lanse nodded slightly, he strode toward the outside.

Watching Lanse's back as he left, Diego picked up the coffee and took a sip, but immediately threw it on the ground, staining a beige camel-hair carpet coffee-colored.

After finishing, he glanced at the broken teacup on the ground and a large damp area on the carpet, turned around, and left shakily.

After Diego left, the Minister of Foreign Affairs sat back and lit a cigarette for himself.

He had a premonition that the Federal people were definitely not as simple as coming to invest; they wanted to get more things.

Wanting the cheap labor here, wanting the cheap resources here, and even wanting the people here.

Power, land, anything!

He knew very well that Lapa couldn't be the Federation's opponent; the two sides were simply not on the same level.

It was as if it was yesterday that the Federation wanted to force troops to be stationed here!

If it wasn't for the Asian Alliance of Lapa countries urgently created by the president of the Republic of Jiede, perhaps the Federal people would have already started entering their lives.

Thinking of this, he sighed heavily; almost no light could be seen in the future!

Even if he could barely see some context of future development, he was powerless to change it; this feeling was terrible.

On the other side, after Lanse returned to the hotel, he called Senator Cleveland directly. He talked about what he had discovered, and then mentioned some of his subsequent ideas.

This matter, more or less, might have a little hidden danger, so Lanse's idea was whether there was any way to let the Navy's warships turn around near Lapa, or go to the Republic of Jiede to turn around.

Let them recognize the gap in strength between the two sides more clearly!

On this point, the Senator agreed, and at the same time, he also urged Lanse to pay attention to safety. ===== CHAPTER 918 =====