One year later.
Wallace, a key member of the Progressive Party, sat in his office, feeling rather restless.
On his desk lay a project proposal that had long since been worn thin from constant flipping, while he simply covered his forehead and sighed.
As the district chief of the Saxon District, he bore the expectations of the party leader, arriving here with ambitious plans and promises of “restart and revitalization,” only to encounter the biggest Waterloo of his life.
The local authorities were uncooperative.
As a party that had risen against the tide during the recent wave of “deindustrialization,” the Progressive Party went against the grain by emphasizing the preservation of industry, production, and the protection of workers’ rights.
However, against the backdrop of years of financialized prosperity, they were heavily criticized by all sides as reactionaries trying to turn back the clock of history, and they had once waned.
Yet, as time passed, the problems of the economy shifting from real to virtual and industrial hollowing became increasingly severe.
Reality had proven that they had indeed grasped the crux of the era, and thus they gradually gained influence among the youth.
However, the Progressive Party still severely lacked the support of deep-pocketed old money, and in the face of deep-rooted vested interests, they could only proceed with caution.
Even in this nominal stronghold of theirs, their implementation of policies could be described as walking on thin ice.
Before the election, party leader Chief of Staff Colson promised voters that he would revitalize the industrially declining Saxon District.
Wallace, as his right-hand man, would serve as the vanguard to transform the Saxon District into a model for the future.
The initial review process for the planning was not smooth, but fortunately, thanks to the party leader’s strenuous mediation, the industrial land use and funding were finally approved.
It only remained to negotiate the cooperation, and the project could be fully launched.
Then, a problem arose.
Land transport in the Saxon District was poor, and logistics relied mainly on shipping.
However, due to historical issues, the Saxon Port had been controlled by various gangs large and small for years.
To them, the Progressive Party was undoubtedly an outsider—an outsider with the ambition to bring change.
Consequently, they had long maintained a stance of nominal compliance while ignoring directives, and they were perfunctory toward the representatives sent there.
Logistics is the lifeline of industry; if this position could not be secured, all plans would become empty talk.
In the past, Wallace would have long since held a press conference, accusing these local tyrants with righteous indignation of blocking the voters’ path to a prosperous future, and showing them the power of the masses.
However, not this time.
The waters of the Saxon Port were too deep.
Not only had local groups operated there for a long time, but an absolutely illicit supply chain passed through it, and this chain was connected to big shots even higher up.
If he dared to make a move, their project would be aborted the next day, and he himself might very well end up dead without a burial place.
The Progressive Party’s foundation was too shallow; they were not yet qualified to touch those leviathans.
Generally speaking, voters’ patience with a leader could only last for three months.
If promises were not fulfilled within three months, his approval rating would plummet, and he might not even survive the midterm elections.
Thinking of this, Wallace’s brows furrowed even deeper.
Subconsciously, he opened his drawer and took out a letter.
The content of the letter was an inquiry about his intention to cooperate, and Wallace simply tapped his fingertips on the armrest of his chair, carefully reviewing the handwriting on it.
The writer was Elysia, a victor who had emerged from the dark side of Lannington City, favored by the godfather Falco, and was now expanding her territory outside the county.
He had received this letter yesterday, but he had cast it to the back of his mind immediately.
Wallace had always held the highest vigilance toward those on the dark side.
People in the light would at least maintain surface-level protocols, but when those on the dark side turned against you, there was truly no warning.
Cooperating with them was akin to seeking a tiger’s skin.
Now, it was time to consider the feasibility.
A force coming from Lannington City, a place that could be called the capital, was naturally a dimensional strike against his small, industrially declining place.
He did not doubt the final victor; previous cases he had heard of had already proven that those local dark forces that attempted to resist were completely like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and in the end, they could only suffer the fate of being assimilated and purged.
As for the rumors spreading inside about Elysia being able to break an army alone?
Just a god-making movement; it was clearly a joke meant to coat the leader with a sacred color.
However, Wallace, who had just finished checking the information, raised an eyebrow.
Unexpectedly, the reorganization process was not bloody; on the contrary, it was quite compliant.
Those involved in murder cases were sent to prison, becoming achievements for the police station, and those who turned over a new leaf were given the opportunity to start over.
Moreover, he discovered that the gangs under Elysia’s jurisdiction even had professional skills training and ideological education classes internally, and every once in a while, they could supply a batch of skilled workers to the local area.
Elysia’s style of doing things did not look like what a gang leader should have at all.
To be honest, she seemed more like she was there to reform the gangs.
Therefore, she might be an exception, a good person who remained uncorrupted by the mud, but it was also possible that this was just her disguise, and she was just waiting for those who believed it to jump in one by one, only to carry out a comprehensive harvest in the end.
Every ambitious person would package themselves as justice at the beginning.
If he had a choice, he really didn’t want to gamble.
Unfortunately, he had no choice now.
He sighed, picked up his phone, and sent her a text message.
Let’s try it out first.
The next day at noon, Wallace adjusted his tie and sat upright behind his desk, waiting.
After a few soft knocks, the door slowly opened, and a splash of flowing pink came into view.
A sense of composure shone in her blue-pink pupils.
Elysia approached with light yet steady steps, a breeze-like smile on her face.
Wallace couldn’t help but squint as he watched her.
She was just too young.
The dark side of the European Union was tight-lipped about her, and all sorts of rumors only added to the mystery surrounding her.
In some people’s descriptions, she was a big sister-boss who was eight feet tall, with a pipe in her mouth, sitting in the main seat and coldly watching one gang after another collapse.
However, according to the initial claims, the successor to the dark side of Lannington City was actually just a girl who hadn’t fully grown up yet.
She was gentle and polite, treated everyone equally, and that was all.
The most ridiculous claim was actually correct.
Elysia gently pulled out a chair and sat down, blinking at him.
He just felt a trace of absurdity.
Wallace did not doubt that the person who came was not who she claimed to be; her calm and unhurried temperament could not be faked.
It was just that she was much younger than even his most extreme assumptions.
While he was thinking, Elysia spoke, her voice flowing quietly like a clear spring.
“You are more decisive than I imagined, sir.
I originally thought I would have to wait a few more days.” He snapped back to his senses, folded his hands, and replied steadily: “After all, time waits for no one.
Some reactionaries at the port are unwilling to join our vision and are even trying to hinder us.
According to our investigation, Miss Elysia is indeed a suitable cooperation partner.” Not an investigation, but actually having no choice.
However, one must absolutely not show weakness during negotiations.
“Since your side is interested.” Elysia took out a stack of papers and handed them to him, titled “Saxon Port Renovation Plan.” “Then, this is our sincerity.” After Wallace took it, he browsed through it briefly.
His long experience in reviewing official documents allowed him to grasp the key points quickly.
It was too generous; he was somewhat hesitant.
The remnants of the Saxon Port would be cleared by Elysia’s side.
The condition for the exchange was that during the port renovation, the “Progressive Party” must prioritize hiring workers from Elysia’s side, and hand over 40% of the port group’s equity.
The cost seemed high, but the “Progressive Party” originally couldn’t move the port’s operating group at all, so this was equivalent to them getting 60% of the equity for nothing.
Moreover, the local labor force was not enough to support the port renovation project, so the workers under Elysia were actually more like coming to help build.
Seeing his reaction, Elysia smiled and continued to increase the stakes.
“In terms of funding, we can cover 60%,” she added.
“As for the rest, I only hope that you can help open up the connections within the system and give this project a sufficiently grand opening.
Then, we can each get what we need, and the common people in the constituency can also benefit.
How about it~” Wallace put down the plan.
He mumbled a few times, his few remaining conscience stirring within him.
“Miss Elysia, generally speaking, we call this charity.” He finally reminded her.
“Rest assured, if I can offer this condition, it means that we will definitely make a profit.” Elysia’s smile remained unchanged.
“Eating everything up and winner-takes-all is a common practice for many people, but they seem to have ignored the punishment of over-expansion.
The final outcome is corruption and degeneration, ending up in a vast expanse of whiteness.
I have a better sense of self-awareness, so I chose mutual benefit and win-win, that is all~” She had to grasp the degree well.
Large-scale annexation would inevitably attract the attention of the highest levels of the European Union.
If they launched an investigation, Elysia’s Trailblaze would have to come to an abrupt end.
“Moreover, you can see this as a kind of investment,” Elysia explained.
“In the past decade, countless people have drowned in the frenzy of financialization.
You are among the first to wake up and the first to realize that the real industry, which was discarded like worn-out shoes by predecessors, is the true foundation.
Being able to recognize this is already enough of a bargaining chip.” The essence of finance is selling trust and investing in the future; it is like a castle in the air.
A single pandemic can cause the US stock market to trigger circuit breakers repeatedly, bankrupting countless people, let alone a Honkai event of even greater intensity.
Only real industry can serve as the pillar that holds up the sky.
“Your platform is like rowing against the current amidst the tide of ‘deindustrialization,’ but after crossing the final wave, what awaits you will be an endless sea of abundance,” Elysia gazed at him calmly.
“And I can provide you with some assistance.” As she finished speaking, Elysia pushed a document across the table.
The time for empty promises is over; what follows is the plan for practical implementation.
“First, the issue of money,” she pointed to the summary section on the paper.
“This investment will be drawn from the ‘Lannington City Industrial Aid Fund.’ It is a public account, and whether it is for charity or not, outsiders have no say.” “Secondly, the workers will participate in the construction under the guise of labor dispatch.
You only need to initiate a tender and design the bid conditions to be sufficiently customized.
As for the unsavory things in the port, I will keep the relevant evidence and deliver it at the critical moment of your rise.
This is not to withhold anything from you, but merely to prevent premature leaks.” “Those files can pave the way for your final election, and the power of the media will shatter all obstacles standing in your way.” “Sign this paper, and the alliance will take effect.
How about it~”