Julis was the capital of the Amelia region. It was also the center of Guevara People's rule in this area.
Before the Guevara People occupied and leased this area, although it was not very prosperous, it had everything that most cities should have.
There was a trace of serenity hidden in the noisy atmosphere of the city. The mottled walls left behind the passage of time, and the cracks of the bumpy brick road hid traces of history.
But now … the situation here was not good.
There were not many people on the road in the city center. Most of the shops on both sides of the road were closed. It was the end of spring and the beginning of summer, the time when life began to bloom, but this place was as bleak as late autumn.
Occasionally, a few pedestrians would appear on the road, but they were all in a hurry with their heads down and their faces frightened.
These people … were like people who were walking barefoot on a metal plate. Every step they took made them feel panicked.
Perhaps this had something to do with the dark red blood clots in the cracks between the bricks and the faintly smelly blood clots.
At this time, a convoy came from afar. There were armored vehicles in front and behind. In the middle of the convoy was a dark silver-gray House bulletproof car.
The windows were dark brown, so he could not see what was inside. He could vaguely see someone sitting in the car seat with their legs crossed. There was also someone facing him and saying something.
The person in the car was Lynch. The local who spoke was introducing the ruling structure here to Lynch. The cars they took were all shipped directly from the Federation.
To put it bluntly, Lynch did not trust the Guevara People. Putting his life in their car was the biggest irresponsibility. Coincidentally, House Industries launched a new generation of bulletproof cars. Lynch bought a few of them in one go. Together with other armored vehicles, they were all shipped here.
Not only was the top of the car bulletproof, but the chassis was also explosion-proof. Ordinary bombs could only lift the car up and cause vibration and sound wave damage to the passengers in the car. They could not directly kill the passengers in the car.
In order to promote the safety of these luxury bulletproof cars to the wealthy customers who could use them, the vice chairman of the board of directors of House Industries stuffed his son's family into the car and detonated two bombs in a row to prove its reliability.
By the way, there were rumors that his son wasn't his, but this was definitely nonsense, and definitely not the main reason for this "show". Everyone believed that the vice chairman of House Industries was a kind old man, and his family was also a loving family.
The higher safety standards allowed House Industries to receive a lot of orders in the field of bulletproof luxury cars. It was an unexpected feat of growth during the economic downturn.
"Seder's wife is a member of the royal family, and he himself is also a member of the royal family …"
Lynch raised his eyebrows. "… (The following content has been blocked)?"
Although there were all kinds of … rumors in the royal family of some countries, including some special families in the upper class of the Federation, such as the Duncan family, these things were actually very well-hidden.
If it weren't for the fact that someone had specifically dug up this information, most people wouldn't even think of it, let alone reveal it so openly. For example, it was impossible for a local to know that Governor Seder of Amelia and his wife might be … in a relationship.
The person sitting next to Lynch was also taken aback. He quickly waved his hand. "It's my fault, Mr. Lynch. I'm sorry, I didn't express it clearly enough."
"Seder's ancestors were once royalty. Although they are royalty, his bloodline is no longer that pure, so they are not … in a relationship."
Then, the local, Lin Qi, briefly explained how the people of this world determined the relationship between bloodlines.
For example, if a person was half-patrilineal and half-matrilineal, if his wife or husband was not directly related to him, their children could be regarded as having one-fourth of the grandfather's lineage, and one-eighth of the great-grandfather's lineage, and then one-sixteenth of the great-grandfather's lineage …
In some countries, as long as the bloodline was more than one-eighth, two people with the same bloodline origin were not considered … Well, in some countries, it was one-sixteenth.
Lynch understood after the explanation.
"… The Emperor trusts Governor Seder a lot and gave him the right to make decisions. If you want to get some local contracts, you must at least get Mr. Seder's permission. Otherwise, it will be difficult."
Lynch listened carefully and did not immediately express his opinion. He wasn't familiar with Governor Seder, but it didn't matter. He liked to make friends, and he believed that Governor Seder liked to make friends too.
"His hobbies, who are the people around him …" Lynch asked for the main point.
"Governor Seder is a very restrained person. He doesn't clearly show that he has any special hobbies. He doesn't like money, women or men, nor does he like jewels or anything of value. He's like an ascetic."
"In the past, some people tried to build a good relationship with him in this way, but as you know, he's a member of the royal family and a noble. He directly threw those people and the things they sent to him, and completely cut off their way of getting jobs here."
"Also, Mr. Lynch, I must remind you that Governor Seder doesn't have a good impression of the Federation and the people of the Federation …"
No Guevra noble would have a good impression of the people of the Federation. This was without a doubt. The people of the Federation had pulled them down from their position as the strongest in the world. Under such circumstances, it would be strange if they could still get along with the people of the Federation.
It was normal to dislike the people of the Federation. Their Emperor also said so, but it depended on the person.
When facing those who had the ability to do something, they had to maintain their attitude. Even if they didn't like the people of the Federation, they had to at least show that they didn't hate or get close to them.
"One last question …" Lynch tilted his head and looked at the local, "Does Governor Seder have any children?"
… …
It had been two days since Lynch arrived in Zhuris. He was supposed to visit the local governor on the first day. According to Guevra's system of governance, the governor was in charge of military and political affairs, and he had absolute authority. He was the one who made all the decisions here.
Even the nobles of the Guevra Empire and the Emperor couldn't directly interfere with the decisions here. This made Lynch understand why it was so easy for him to negotiate with the Guevra Emperor and his ministers.
A governor with a royal background and arbitrary power could resist the orders of the country as long as he didn't leave.
Lynch even thought that he didn't need to resist completely. He only needed to not give the people of the Federation a chance in the projects that were profitable. The rest of the rotten fish and shrimps might not be able to make money and might even lose money. If the Guevara People did it themselves, they would receive subsidies. However, the Federation government wouldn't give the people of the Federation any subsidies to support the Guevra Empire.
Complain to the Guevra Empire?
Ask the country to send a formal diplomatic note?
It was possible, but at that time, it wouldn't be as simple as losing face.
As for Lynch asking the people of the Blackstone Security to temporarily delay the elimination of the anti-government organizations to increase the bargaining chips for further negotiations?
This was unlikely. The reason was very simple. He had signed a contract with the Guevra Defense Minister. If he couldn't do what he promised within a limited time, the Guevara People could ask for compensation. They would also put pressure on him diplomatically.
However, Lynch didn't care about these little tricks. There was no perfect person in the world. Even if there was, "perfection" would be the person's fatal weakness.
The fleet of cars that sped past seemed to add something different to the city. Some residents stood behind the curtains and behind the doors, observing everything outside through the small gaps.
…
"The people of the Federation are here?"
Governor Seder asked casually as he sat in his study. He took off his glasses and rubbed his temples after finishing his work for the day.
The butler who had been serving him nodded. "They've been here for two days …"
Governor Seder nodded noncommittally. He opened his eyes and thought for a while. "Let's wait for a few more days. Is that … Lynch here too?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Lynch …" Governor Seder murmured. He lowered his head and looked at an official document on his desk. The content of the document was that the Blackstone Security had engaged in a fierce firefight with a group of anti-government armed forces in a remote mountain area.
After killing more than a hundred of the opponents, they seized a large amount of supplies and intelligence. Some of the remaining people fled in all directions.
This was the third anti-government armed group that the Blackstone Security had taken down. They seemed to know what kind of firepower these people had, where they were hiding, and which side was the most suitable to attack from.
The Guevara People hadn't learned these things for more than two years. How did the people of the Federation do it?
Others might not dare to guess, but as the powerful governor, Governor Seder had long guessed that these anti-government armed groups were supported by the Federation.
Now that these people were no longer of any use, they would eliminate a portion of them. If necessary, they could continue to support another batch.
Some people in the country still thought that the people of the Federation were very powerful, but those idiots didn't understand at all. From the beginning, this was the Federation's dirty trick.
How could Governor Seder, who had seen through all of this, like the people of the Federation?
He hated the people of the Federation more than anything. In the past year, the resistance of the anti-government forces had become more and more intense. The real culprits behind the deaths of so many Empire soldiers were these people from the Federation.
Even if there were some things that he couldn't refuse, he would not compromise so easily.