Blackstone Code

Chapter 176:

In September, the weather was no longer as scorching. Although it was still somewhat hot, there was already a trace of a chill in the wind, hinting at the coming autumn.

With two new branches established and achieving impressive sales figures, Lynch had begun instructing Richard to prepare for a second-hand goods auction in the state capital. As the Interstellar Trading Company became more frequently visible to the public, Lynch reaped significant wealth and prestige.

"Adlai is the principal aide to the governor and also a relative of his..."

Sitting in the mayor's car, the mayor was briefing Lynch about the person they were about to meet, while also giving Lynch some reminders about things to pay attention to.

The better Lynch's business performed, the more it proved the success of the mayor's policies.

The more successful the mayor's policies were, the higher his standing within the Progressive Party in the state. Some even suggested he might have a chance to run for governor.

Such opportunities weren't available to every mayor. Most mayors would likely retire as state legislators or congressmen, and some wouldn't even achieve that, only holding some party positions.

Pushing a politician to run for governor required enormous resources, so unless someone had a strong chance, neither the Progressive Party, the Conservative Party, nor the often-forgotten Socialist Party would consider nominating them.

The mayor had a chance, but the prerequisite was that his policies, ideas, and actions effectively helped Sabin City and the state outperform others in economic crises. His policies also needed to set trends for the entire federation.

Only then could the immense prestige and visibility compensate for his most significant shortcoming: not being a member of the Society of the Sacred Harmony.

Thus, he heavily relied on Lynch. They were heading together to a small exchange meeting organized by Adlai, the governor's principal aide.

The entire state, not just Sabin City, faced similar problems. The governor's staff was working hard, seeking solutions everywhere, trying to find successful methods.

But why hadn't they done this earlier? Because they believed they could devise suitable solutions on their own.

As for why they were doing it now, it was because they realized their brains weren't as capable as they thought.

Adlai's visit to Sabin City was orchestrated by the governor. The policy of second-hand goods auctions implemented in Sabin City had been proven effective by professional survey agencies. Therefore, the governor wanted to know if the mayor of Sabin City or his partner Lynch had any other constructive ideas.

People often saw individuals conducting surveys on the streets, with small gifts as rewards for answering questions. Those people were the operatives from professional survey organizations. Each street questionnaire could be worth at least fifty cents, and sometimes as much as one or two bucks. (depending on the target group).

"Adlai was born into a religious family and has firm beliefs, although he often does things that lack faith." the mayor casually mocked, showing his disdain for Adlai.

After mocking him, the mayor's tone became somewhat somber, "He's a cunning man, with the appearance of a priest, but don't be fooled by his looks; he's a sly fox."

Lynch found this interesting, "No offense, but is there something between you two..." He shrugged, using small gestures to convey his meaning.

The mayor admitted, somewhat embarrassed. This demonstrated the influence of "value" in action. Because Lynch possessed this value, they had developed a close relationship and could discuss personal topics freely.

But if Lynch lost his value one day, they would be like strangers outside the car window, able to see each other but not acknowledging each other.

"He once suggested I skip my current job and go straight to the state senate as a legislator. It wasn't out of any sincere advice; he just wanted his nephew to take my current job."

The mayor spoke with a smile, "But I won that round."

He didn't mention the cost of winning that round, which must have been very high.

He then talked about Adlai's habits and details, repeatedly warning Lynch not to trust that bastard's words; he was a liar.

In fact, everyone was a liar. Some still had some naivety, while others even deceived themselves. As for those in between, they were still struggling bitterly.

The exchange meeting was set to be held at an estate in the suburbs of Sabin City. The estate belonged to Mr. Grimm, a Progressive Party state senator, who took the initiative to host when he heard Adlai was coming to Sabin City.

As the car was nearing the estate, it suddenly began to rain heavily. The unexpected rain cooled the temperature and brought a bit of refreshment to Lynch, who was dressed up for the occasion.

In fact, his back was almost soaked with sweat. However, summer suits were designed to prevent wearers from appearing indecent due to sweat. The small vest underneath would absorb the moisture, leaving the suit unaffected.

The timely rain also cleansed the air. Of course, the driver's experience might not have been as pleasant, as everything in the rain became slightly blurred, and the car's speed slowed down significantly.

They arrived at the estate about ten minutes past the scheduled time. The estate's butler immediately led Lynch and Mayor Langdon to their private guest rooms to freshen up, reminding them that the exchange meeting had been postponed to 9 PM due to the rain, giving them about forty minutes to rest.

The unexpected rain might have left them looking somewhat disheveled, so the time wasn't really for resting or sleeping but for addressing personal needs.

For example, if their clothes got wet, the estate had maids who could dry them.

If their shoes got muddy, the servants could quickly clean them.

Even if their socks were stained with mud or their cuffs weren't clean, these issues could be resolved before the meeting.

Although no one would say anything even if these issues weren't addressed, and certainly no one would publicly ridicule them like in an opera, people always wanted to maintain their dignity, especially in important occasions.

Upon arriving at the guest room with a maid, Lynch was asked if he needed help cleaning his attire. Lynch checked his suit and saw it was free of dust or rainwater, but his trouser cuffs were slightly damp, though not visibly so.

He changed into another pair of shoes and had the maid clean the splattered mud off his dress shoes. Then, he sat in the room, enjoying some snacks, aromatic coffee, and newspapers.

Ten minutes later, his shoes were returned, cleaned of dust, polished with oil, and buffed with lambskin, making them look as good as new.

Lynch spent the remaining time reading newspapers or watching TV. Around 8 PM, TV shows were at their peak viewership, with many people lounging on their couches, indulging in fatty, sugary treats, seeking rare mental enjoyment.

Flipping through several channels, Lynch found little that was related to the current situation. However, several institutional sections of the "Trading Report" simultaneously raised the redemption risks of various war bonds, indicating the rapidly worsening situation.

Many might think that since they hadn't bought war bonds, it had nothing to do with them. If these issues were viewed in isolation, that might be true.

But how many truly isolated events existed in this world? And how many could remain completely isolated?

Very few.

Lynch walked to the window. In the distance, the land and sky blended together in the heavy rain, making it hard to distinguish where the sky ended and the earth began. Everything was pitch black, swallowing all light.

At 8:50, the butler personally knocked on the door, informing Lynch that the exchange meeting would soon be held in the estate's conference room, and arranged for someone to lead Lynch there.

Walking through the long corridor, Lynch noticed some oil paintings on the walls. Although he didn't know much about oil paintings, he could tell they weren't cheap.

Art would evoke resonance because true art was the expression of emotion.

It was clear that Senator Grimm was not just a senator but also quite wealthy.

In the conference room, Lynch greeted the mayor, and they both sat in the front row, as they were the main stars of the event.

At precisely 9:01, when the second hand moved past fifty-nine seconds and the minute hand shifted slightly forward, the conference room doors opened again. Then a silver-haired man wearing relatively plain clothes walked in from outside with a smile.

From an observational standpoint, the man resembled a teacher more than a politician, as there wasn't much commonality between the two.

One role involved educating and guiding people in the pursuit of truth, imparting methods, while the other manipulated words, crafting stories to serve personal interests. Please vote for this novel at /series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link

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