Chapter 953: Implicit Expression of Treason and Acting

Between countries, so-called peace is just a temporary state in the absence of strong interest-driven factors.

When there is a strong interest-driven factor, peace will be broken.

In fact, where is there any real peace in this world?

There isn't even between people, let alone between countries.

Lanse's answer made Labuer Minister silent for a while; he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lapa; he should actually know this truth better than Lanse.

But people are always like this; when facing some important decisions, or when facing huge changes, they will have a moment of naivety.

Naively thinking that the world can operate in the way they idealize, and then be shattered by reality with one punch.

Labuer Minister sighed lightly; he also leaned back on the sofa; this was not a defensive posture, because his hands were naturally hanging by his side, "I saw those factories under construction on the way here, and the crowds maintaining security on the road."

"Mr. Lanse, I am very curious, what do you plan to do to these places?"

Lanse pursed his lips, "Just like what you see, maintain security, stabilize society, and then open factories to make money."

"We are all people who hope for a more stable society, which will keep our wealth in a stable and safe state; we don't like accidents, don't like chaos."

"I invested quite a few industries here, including the Imperial Chamber of Commerce side, and also invested in some industries."

Labuer Minister continued, "This is the place where I am most confused; are you really here to invest in Lapa?"

"What is there here that is worth your fancy?"

Lanse took a puff of cigarette; he reached out and flicked the ash on the ashtray on the table, then turned to look at him, his face carrying a smile that Labuer Minister understood, "Cheap labor."

"... Minister Baola, people are the most important, irreplaceable link in the production process, and the cost is relatively high."

"In the Federation, capitalists use illegal immigrants and refugees to work for them to achieve the purpose of reducing costs."

"But these labor costs, compared to Lapa's labor costs, are clearly still quite high."

"Thirty dollars, here can hire at least five people, but in the Federation, it can only hire one refugee or one illegal immigrant."

"The things they produce after training are the same; in other words, if a worker produces one product a day, then in the Federation, the labor cost of one product is at least one dollar."

"But here...", he smiled, "... it only needs twenty cents, and the eighty cents of space that is vacated is relatively clean profit."

"This is enough to make many people go crazy.", he said, pausing, and took another puff of cigarette, "In my opinion, Lapa, Xiang Yalan, these regions don't possess any industrial foundation, and agriculture and animal husbandry aren't considered developed."

"But there are rich mineral resources and cheap labor here, which determines that it will become the 'nutrients' that some country must possess in the process of moving toward a superpower."

"Saying it like this might be slightly cruel, but this is the fact."

"Even if there were no Federal government today, no us, there would be others."

"The Empire, Dantela, Silade, all have possibilities."

Labuer Minister heard this, and the last bit of light in his heart also disappeared; since Lapa was destined to become nutrients in the process of other countries' growth and development, then defecting to the Federation instead became the best choice.

Geographically, this place is very close to the Federation; a faster boat can arrive in Lapa from the Federation in more than ten hours.

With the development of technology in the future, maybe this time will continue to shorten.

Emotionally, the Xiang Yalan region is also within the influence of Federal culture, especially the more Federal cultural propaganda that has entered the Xiang Yalan region recently.

Free movies, donated various books, and literacy classes.

Among a series of "aid projects" negotiated between the Federal government and the Xiang Yalan Alliance, it included arranging some people to help the illiterate in the Xiang Yalan region to become literate.

The Xiang Yalan Alliance only needs to bear the basic accommodation, and other teachers will solve it themselves.

Zhuolan has two large literacy classes, but they have temporarily stopped because of the turmoil in the situation.

He had been to see them before; as a diplomatic project, he certainly had to see how these literacy classes worked.

When he observed two class periods, he discovered that most of the content used in the literacy textbooks they used was content beneficial to the Federation.

For example, the first lesson—

"I Love the Federation"

Inside, some simple vocabulary and dialogues are the identities of two immigrants expressing their love for the Federation to each other; they love and are willing to become Federals.

There are many such texts.

Others might not have any big concept, but Labuer Minister had a feeling; if people were all saying "I love the Federation," then where would Lapa be placed by them?

He didn't understand what "cultural invasion" was, what "non-military aggression" was, but he could feel some of the Federals' intentions in doing this or that.

Everything was already destined; it wasn't something that the power of one person or a few people could change.

It seemed that some decisions were made; Labuer Minister's facial expression underwent some subtle changes, becoming softer, and the slightly raised eyebrows also fell.

He thought for a while, thinking about how to "calmly and unhurriedly" open the situation of the conversation; he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lapa; he couldn't just say "I want to defect to you" because of Lanse's words and his own decision.

Even if he really wanted to fall to the Federation, he also believed that he should contact higher-level officials.

It wasn't that he looked down on Lanse, he just felt that he should get more attention, like a Senator or something.

He now had to express his intention to "defect" to the Federation, but he couldn't let his status drop too low.

Lanse didn't urge him either.

After waiting for two or three minutes, he finally found a suitable entry point, "Mr. Lanse, you are a very excellent young man, and also an amazing young man."

"I don't have any overly exaggerated ingredients; when I was your age, my brain didn't even have these concepts."

He cooperated with some of his physical language, for example, trying to wave his hands to strengthen his context, "Country, international, politics, these, none."

"At that time, my brain only had alcohol, tobacco, and girls."

"You are so excellent that I feel my language is poor; Kaxia also praised you like this!"

Lanse nodded slightly with restraint, "Thank you for your compliment."

Labuer Minister exhaled, "I have a son; he is also a young man, only twenty-four or five years old this year; Jiede's university, very clever."

"He has been by my side since graduating from Jiede's university; I have never thought about how to arrange him."

"Now I have an immature idea; I don't know if I can talk to you about it."

Lanse nodded, "We can discuss it.", this was a more implicit way of saying it; now what he needed wasn't to show his toughness.

"I hope he can learn more excellent knowledge, but you must be very clear about Lapa's situation."

"I am not an excellent person, other ministers, including Diego...", he shook his head without making any evaluation, "But I saw you, saw your excellence, so I hope he can follow you to learn for a period of time."

This was equivalent to a kind of "surrender"; Lanse was a bit surprised by this Minister of Foreign Affairs' awakening, and also understood his purpose in doing so, which was to let Lanse understand his intention.

Lanse thought for a moment, a very short time, maybe only a few seconds, "If you do this, will it cause some misunderstandings from some high-level officials in Lapa?"

"For example, Diego; I heard that his temper isn't good, and he is very difficult to be changed by others about things he has determined."

"If he thinks you betrayed national interests, will it cause you some trouble?"

Labuer Minister had already made a decision, and also had the determination to make these decisions, otherwise he wouldn't have come here and talked about this in front of Lanse.

So he very decisively denied the things Lanse was worried about, and also expressed his weight in Lapa.

He smiled softly, "Mr. Lanse, you don't need to worry too much."

"The Labuer family is also a famous family in Lapa; even if the Lavila family wants to deal with us, they also need to consider a series of consequences that might be produced by doing so."

When he said these words, Lanse could clearly feel that he actually had pride ingredients, which also proved from the side that he wasn't forced. Labuer Minister's voice lowered slightly, "If there is no support from us, whether he is still the Grand President is another matter!"

Lanse's expression had some changes; he thought of many things in this instant.

Lapa itself was a group of tribal chiefs who actively gathered together to announce the establishment of Lapa in order to ensure that their power wouldn't be stripped away in the Xiang Yalan nation-building movement.

These chiefs had their own basic disks; they had their own territory; in their territory, Diego's words weren't that useful.

This made Lanse think that if he could win over more ruling groups to his side, then the possibility of him running for "provisional representative" would become greater.

Of course, these were just considerations now, just a contour, a rough idea.

He soon came back to his senses from these thoughts, and his thinking continued downward from what they said before, "Baola, can I address you like this?"

Labuer Minister nodded, not because a young man about the same age as his son addressed him directly, without even the most basic honorific, and felt angry.

His face was full of friendly smiles, "Of course, friends don't need to be so polite."

"Sometimes politeness itself is a manifestation of alienation!"

This was considered recognizing Lanse's address.

"Baola, you let your son follow me to learn; I don't oppose it, but I just thought for a while, and I can't think of what I can pass on to him."

"And this might make you... not so gregarious in front of those ministers, as well as Diego.", he added some movements in his hands, similar to circling, "..."

"So I can't agree to your request."

Labuer Minister's smile froze for a moment, and then gradually converged; he didn't expect it to be such an ending.

But fortunately, Lanse added very quickly.

"Although I can't let your son learn by my side, I can introduce him to further his studies in the Federation."

"Whether it's continuing to go to university, or interning in some government departments, or interning in some capital groups, it's all fine."

"I very unhumblingly believe that the Federation will be the center of the world in the future, and there will be the most excellent group of people in the world."

"Letting your child integrate into the Federal environment when the competition isn't so intense, for him, for you, for the Labuer family, maybe it's a better choice?"

"And doing so won't overly stimulate Diego and other ministers; Diego is sometimes very bad-tempered; his emotions will dominate his reason, making him make some inappropriate decisions."

"My proposal will minimize the occurrence of this situation; no one will know between us..."

"Will you consider it?"

Although he hadn't finished speaking, he had already let Labuer Minister understand his meaning.

Labuer Minister thought seriously for a while after listening; he had considered this idea before, but it wasn't chosen by him.

Because he could let his son go to the Federation at any time; going to the Federation didn't represent his "surrender," instead, letting his son follow Lanse's radical approach could better reflect his sincerity.

But Lanse now gave him more choices, and it seemed not bad.

Whether it was interning in government departments or interning in financial groups, these were very good choices, and he also recognized Lanse's point of view on the future; the Federation would be the center of the world!

Perhaps he should also be like Kaxia, pick up his family to the Federation, and thoroughly become a Federal.

He was considering, thinking, but the keynote had already been decided by him.

After a long while, he nodded slowly, "Then this matter will trouble you; I have to thank you; you gave me a better choice and opportunity."

Lanse smiled and waved his hand, "We are friends; friends helping each other don't need to say thank you; we just need to keep in touch."

Labuer Minister understood Lanse's words; he took out a business card and handed it over, "There is my private phone on this; you can find me through it at any time."

"Even if I can't respond immediately, I will respond to you in the shortest time!"

Lanse nodded and put the business card away, "See when you have time; I can arrange for you and your family to go to the Federation; there will be someone specially to receive you."

"At that time, I can introduce you to some new friends, like Senator Cleveland and the like."

Labuer Minister nodded heavily after listening, "That's great; I have long heard of Senator Cleveland's reputation; if I can talk to him face to face, this is my honor!"

"You will have this opportunity!"

Soon Labuer Minister left Lanse's manor by car; his purpose for coming here this time had been achieved, so there was no need to stay longer.

Just like what Lanse said, at this time, although the situation already had some signs, it was best not to overly stimulate those firm "conservatives" before it was thoroughly clear, so he left early.

After returning, he hadn't sat down to sort out this matter again when Diego's phone call came.

"I heard you went to the Federal manor?"

Labuer Minister immediately answered, "Yes, I went over there."

"I wanted to see what they were doing; now people are spreading some 'Federal Control Zone,' this kind of excessive statement completely damages our interests and emotions; I think it is something we cannot accept!"

Listening to the indignation that couldn't be hidden in Labuer Minister's tone, Diego's tone softened immediately, "What did he say?"

"Lanse White told me that that 'Federal Control Zone' is just people's own statement; he doesn't have such considerations."

"He is just spontaneously helping us maintain the security situation in the city, because they have invested in quite a few factories in the industrial park side; a stable society can help them better produce."

"These damn capitalists are really ugly to the point of making people feel shocked; at this time, they are still thinking about factory production."

Diego couldn't help but laugh loudly after listening, "These Federal capitalists are like this; no matter how chaotic the situation is, it's not as important to them as making money."

He said, pausing for a while, "Since it's like this, don't worry about him, but we still have to protest what should be protested; follow up on this matter more, and complain to their Secretary of State or something."

Labuer Minister agreed, "I will call their Secretary of State later; besides, I heard a matter."

"What?", Diego asked.

His mood had already eased a lot, not as suspicious as just now.

Clearly, Labuer Minister was still a good Lapa person, didn't betray him and this country!

"The Jiede Republic is organizing a new round of negotiations, with the Federation."

"My idea is that we should go deeper into the negotiations."

"The previous negotiations were all done by Jiede people; we just walked through a process."

"Now Lapa's situation clearly has an inseparable connection with the Federals; I think we should go to the Federation and go deep into the negotiations in person!"

"We, in person, face to face, ask them what exactly they have done in our country!"

Feeling Labuer Minister's strong angry emotions, Diego's mood became even better.

"You want to go over in person?"

When he said this sentence, Labuer Minister still felt a bit numb on his scalp; this son of a bitch was still testing.

He immediately added, "It's us going together; I will be your most solid backing, Diego!"

President Diego finally completely set his heart at ease, "You have some truth in what you say, but now is not a good time for me to leave Lapa..."

"Like this, I will communicate with the Jiede Republic side, and you will go over with them when the time comes."

"Remember, if there is a chance, help me scold their President a few times!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 954 =====