"Have you packed everything?"

In the hall, Drag looked at the family that was about to leave here, feeling somewhat reluctant, but this was the current situation, with no way around it.

The Federation had defeated the Gafura, making him realize that for a powerless small country, Mr. Pretton and Mr. Lynch were essentially no different from each other, and at this moment, he had a laughable thought that even he found absurd.

Pretton Trading Company and Mr. Pretton were far better than the Bail Federal and Mr. Lynch, plus a large group of "Mr. Lynch."

Although, to some extent, Pretton Trading Company manipulated the entire import and export trade of the Nagariel United Kingdom, with customs being virtually non-existent and everything needing to be processed according to Pretton Trading Company's regulations, at least what they coveted was merely profits from trade.

Now, under Lynch's push, tempted by some interests, they fell for the Federation's trap completely. The Federation helped them "expel" a dog but brought in a pack of hungry wolves, even a pride of lions starving to the extreme.

At least Mr. Pretton would not, at the end-of-year profit-sharing meetings, point fingers telling the rulers of Nagariel that if they did not open the door to let him in, he would let the flames of war consume everything here.

The Federation did exactly that, with Lynch clamoring about coming to Nagariel, combined with their rout of the Gafura fleet, Drag regretted terribly.

Not only did he regret, but others also had their regrets one way or another, wondering why they did not restrain their greedy desires back then, leading to the facilitation of this diplomatic initiative on his suggestion.

Of course, saying these things now were meaningless, considering the environment at that time, perhaps Drag Provincial Governor's choice was not entirely wrong. He and other rulers hoped to use Lynch and the Federation to counter Pretton Trading Company and gain more autonomy in trade, which was a legitimate call.

Lynch did not show naked aggression either; he merely wanted to invest in a factory in Nagariel, yet ironically, his investment could not be transported here as Nagariel was not within the Allied Countries.

To achieve industrial independence and gain more industrial processing capability, everyone's decisions at each event node were actually correct.

The mistake was in connecting them, unaware of how a slight deviation at some point led to an ever-further drift, to the point of boundlessness.

The children in the family also looked reluctantly at this house that represented status, only the third son of Drag Provincial Governor beamed with joy. No one had expected this "succession struggle" to end so swiftly.

Drag Provincial Governor did not grant them more time to test their abilities but directly chose the third son as his future heir, while the other children were sent to the Federation, along with other family members.

This was also one of the agreements he privately reached with Lynch, where the Federation Government would provide reliable "security" to this family, granting each of them Federation citizenship!

No one realized that Drag Provincial Governor had already become a thorough Federation citizen, with the Social Security Bureau even allowing him to pay off all the top-tier social insurance in one go for himself and his family. In a few years, Governor Drag could start drawing a pension!

In essence, his actions were about self-preservation.

When he privately discussed these matters with Lynch, Lynch brought them up.

The Federation developers and local rulers would have a honeymoon period because the influx of work would make the entire society exhibit a flourishing dynamic, giving people a sense of a better tomorrow, be it in the Federation or Nagariel.

But as development deepened, contradictions would gradually emerge, splitting society as power and capital began to confront each other on this backward land.

Undoubtedly, the power of capital is terrifying. It can drive Gafura across the world, and the Federation to become the new maritime hegemony. It can have valiant women take off their pants, and have wanton harlots put on religious garb.

Money, aside from being termed money, has another even scarier name: desire.

The unequal power struggle brings nothing good to Nagariel's ruling class but only the bad, where eventually, the capitalists would topple disobedient rulers to greedily extract more nutrients from this land.

Lynch bluntly told Drag Provincial Governor that the fire had been ignited, and the rest was just a wait – a wait for when they would stand in the way of the Federation's interests.

Therefore, he signed a very special contract with Lynch, ignoring some loopholes within it in exchange for a chance.

For his peace of mind or Lynch's peace of mind, these family members had to be sent to the Federation.

Standing on the steps, Drag Provincial Governor looked at the faces of these young people and sighed softly, "Go ahead, depart as soon as possible, write me when you arrive there, and when the cables are laid later, we can even make calls directly."

The third son's mouth was wide open beside him. What should have been a sorrowful moment of separation for the family, filled him from the inside with a strong sense of joy, wanting to laugh loudly, to sing freely. Watching his two older brothers, who never accepted each other, sitting in the car with faces full of gloom and bewilderment disappearing into the distance, he finally sighed in relief.

"Lynch will be here in a few days; did you remember what I told you?" Watching the family's distant backs, Drag Provincial Governor seemed to age several years in an instant. After a cough, he didn't immediately return to the room but walked towards the gate, "Accompany me for a stroll."

The Provincial Governor's outing immediately alarmed the butler on duty, who was about to mobilize police to clear the way for the Provincial Governor, but Drag Provincial Governor refused.

Not only did he refuse, but he also had them change into civilian clothes for himself, his son, and some protectors. He wanted to truly see this place.

He was puzzled and curious, wondering why this place, which seemed valueless to him, attracted Lynch and those Federation capitalists, driving them to engage in a life-and-death naval battle with Gafura just to come here.

He wanted to figure it out; he did not want to lose without understanding.

"I'll respect Mr. Lynch like I respect you..." The third son answered humbly, although he didn't take it to heart.

A group changed their clothes, and as instructed by the butler, the bodyguards stepped back a little distance, allowing the Provincial Governor and his children to leave the gate; at that moment, the Provincial Governor felt a bit disoriented.

This seemed to be his first time not appearing on the land outside the house without riding in a vehicle. Although it was merely a step away, it somehow offered a very unique feeling.

He paused, glanced back at the house resembling a small Imperial Palace behind him, feeling emotions he had never experienced before surging within.

Turning around, he continued walking, "You are smarter than your two brothers, who know to avoid their weaknesses and learn from their strengths, so I chose you."

"But this position is not easy to sit on, especially from now, facing a more terrifying future than you can imagine."

Speaking, they turned out from the small path and stood on the main road.

Behind them was the meticulously maintained garden, but the moment they stepped on the main road, a scent of earth accompanied by flying dust hit them.

The Provincial Governor coughed several times before stopping the intense coughing, although his breathing was still a bit rushed.

"Now, there's a dilemma. Do you know the Federation will soon arrive here? They have their eye on certain things here, but do you know what they have their eye on?"

Drag Provincial Governor gestured around, "Those things are hidden here, can you find them?"

This was a question, with the governor himself not knowing the answer; he wanted to see if his third son could enlighten him.

The young heir did not speak immediately but began to observe seriously, both father and son without any intention of talking at the moment, both observing everything here.

One had to say, this observation was fundamentally different from when they used to pass by. Every time before their vehicle arrived, policemen would wave batons to drive people away, essentially leaving them unseen.

But this time, without police driving away the civilians, the more real side of society was exposed to their eyes.

Beside the road in the odorous ditch lay several emaciated old men, flies buzzing around them, with a pack of stray dogs watching them, occasionally a dog or two approaching to lick an old man's face.

If the old man waved his arms, these dogs would quickly dodge away, only to return later to lick the old man's face again.

Perhaps noticing the Provincial Governor's gaze, the butler quietly explained beside him.

The weather was too hot, and the physical condition of these old men wasn't good. Every year in summer, many elderly folks die from the heat.

To avoid death from heat, especially those without families, they would find places where water gathers to lie down, using the sewage to cool off.

Drag Provincial Governor knew the poor lived in dire straits, and sometimes they even showed some concern for those at the bottom, but he had never seen this side, a side that made him feel shocked and horrified.

"These people, don't they know to cool off using well water, or go to the river?"

The butler paused for a moment, "Sir, you may not know, these people can't afford wells, and there are few public wells in the city now; even if there are, the water inside might not be much cleaner than here."

"All the rivers nearby are your private property, and without your permission, they can't approach within a kilometer of the riverbank."

Drag paused in silence, "Then why don't they buy water? I remember last year we discussed water prices."

The butler sighed lightly, "Sir, they have no money..."

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