บท 19: Chapter 19 Acceleration Of The Plans
"People like to talk about dignity, but dignity is not something others give you, nor is it something you are born with. All dignity, respect, and glory must be earned for oneself." As Julian spoke, Heidler's eyes widened slightly. Everything Julian said resonated deeply with his own experiences. If he hadn't faced ups and downs, how could he have become a legend and earned the respect and hostility of the Ordinians?
"Our first step is to truly become a family. All members should be brothers and sisters, and we must take care of everyone, fighting for their rights and interests."
"Our second step is to make our voices heard in society, so all Ordinians, all other races, and the entire empire know that we are not silent victims, and the day will come when we make our voices heard."
"The third step is to expand our influence. The Fellowship Association should not be confined to a city like Ternell. It should spread across the nation, and even the world! All Guar people are our brothers and sisters, and they should receive our care, benefits, and support."
"As for the rest…," Julian smiled awkwardly, "I haven't thought that far ahead."
Heidler raised his hand. "No, you've said enough! You've spoken better than I could have imagined." He couldn't help but stand, pacing behind the table. "You've said things much better than I expected. But have you thought about one issue—what if the rise of the Guar people is met with insurmountable obstacles?"
"As long as we have the desire and courage to climb, we can conquer any mountain!" Julian clenched his fist, "If we encounter an obstacle we can't overcome…"
"Then we'll break it!"
This conversation confirmed for Heidler that Julian and his Fellowship Association were worth investing in. For Heidler, the investment was a small amount of money but could yield astonishing returns. Moreover, through this conversation, Heidler realized that Julian was ambitious and intelligent—a good thing. Only ambitious people possess the drive to move forward and become valuable tools for him.
As for how to control Julian and the Fellowship Association, Heidler already had a plan in mind.
What do two poor young men running a fellowship association lack the most?
Money!
Heidler would invest funds to help the association grow. As the Fellowship Association expanded, its need for money would only increase. As long as they couldn't sustain themselves financially, they would remain under Heidler's control, serving his interests. If they ever tried to rebel, Heidler wouldn't need to do much—he could simply cut off their funding, and the now-large Fellowship Association would turn on Julian and oust him.
So Heidler wasn't worried that the Fellowship Association's growth would become a problem for him. On the contrary, he feared that it wouldn't develop fast enough to serve his needs.
This conversation created a clear opportunity for cooperation between the two sides.
As Julian left Heidler's estate, his pocket held 300 in cash, with another 700 to be delivered in three installments over the next two months.
Of course, all of this came with a condition: Julian could only receive the first installment of 200 after showing visible progress in the Fellowship Association, such as gaining a significant number of members and forming a united, solid group. As long as he achieved this, the funds would be provided to support the association's development.
During the negotiations, Julian proactively suggested that the Fellowship Association should keep a detailed account of all the money spent—when and where it was used, whether it achieved the expected results, and any further issues to be addressed. Heidler agreed to this without hesitation, knowing that no matter how hard he tried, Julian, as the founder of the Fellowship Association, would always hold more authority than anyone else.
Thus, rather than sending someone to compete with Julian for the leadership, Heidler preferred to use money to capture the Fellowship Association, gradually turning Julian into a puppet and a tool for his purposes. Knowing the power of capital, Heidler was quick to agree when Julian brought up the idea of keeping financial records.
However, what Heidler didn't know was that Julian's true intention for founding the Fellowship Association was to recruit people for his own trading company. He had no interest in becoming the leader of some gang!
But regardless, the unexpected windfall of 300 allowed Julian to accelerate his plans, without the need to continue raising funds.
From the start, he had planned to use his trading company to purchase a batch of low alcohol wine from domestic and foreign distilleries. These low alcohol wines would serve as a cover for distillation and purification. Julian wouldn't neglect the profits from the low alcohol wine, even if they were modest.
Graf had already contacted several suppliers. Julian had originally intended to wait until he had saved at least 100 before negotiating with them. Unexpectedly, Heidler's intervention had resolved the funding issue, covering the gap.
By midday, Julian had Graf arrange a meeting with a businessman from the Free Federation. The almond-flavored low alcohol moonshine they produced was priced in the lower middle range of the market but had an alcohol content of 8%, making it ideal for purification.
The Free Federation lay to the southeast of the Star Empire, a country composed of 22 provinces. It had adopted a republican system, governed by 50 senators in the upper house and five presidents of the senate. Their terms lasted four years, and each could serve up to two terms.
However, if tensions escalated internationally during an election period, leading to imminent war, or if the election coincided with an active war, the Special Emergency Re-election Bill could be proposed by the lower house, allowing senators and presidents of the senate to run for a third term. If more than half of the senators or three presidents agreed to continue, a "Special Power Oversight Committee" would be formed by the lower house to monitor any corruption or abuse of power during the extended term.
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