Darkstone Code
Chapter 251 - 0249 factions, 3 sentences, implicated

Chapter 251: 0249 factions, 3 sentences, implicated

For merchants, money is their most important wealth.

For politicians, their political programs and political thoughts are their most precious wealth.

No one can seize another’s private wealth without any cost, not even the President.

When Lynch learned he was invited to attend the President’s inauguration party because the President quoted a small segment of his speech, he felt somewhat curious, but it’s indeed a great opportunity.

He can slightly interact with the upper echelons of the Progressive Party, though he values the prestige more, and it is indeed an important prestige.

For ordinary civilians—a normal person at a certain emotional level, they’re not willing to give merchants much trust.

This emotion comes from the hard struggles over many years between working people and capitalists, and some of it comes from the propaganda of the ruling class. In the eyes of most people in society, capitalists are synonymous with cunning and greed. These people will sell the rope to hang themselves to the executioner for their profit.

So when capitalists want to gain the trust of ordinary people, it’s not an easy thing. Those non-essential products are also not easily accepted, but they have their ways.

They can find some non-capitalist groups to represent themselves and interact with the public. Things like spokespeople are not only political gimmicks but also prevalent in the capitalist environment.

From the moment the product endorsed by the first reputable person, often playing heroic roles in various operas and movies, began to sell well in the market, people knew how to deceive the will of the masses.

Film stars, sports stars, social celebrities..., any person people admire will be heavily invited and tested.

They exchange their influence for wealth-related benefits, while merchants’ products are trusted by the market. This method solves some problems well and ensures the sales of the products.

But if we were to find the most authoritative and influential person throughout the Federation, undoubtedly, this person is the President.

However, the President would never endorse any product, as they are backed by consortiums and don’t lack money, nor would they endorse for money.

But it doesn’t bother merchants; they have ways to gain such authoritative and influential assistance, such as through... a handshake.

This seems like a funny thing, but in fact, in the early presidencies of Bail Federal’s founding, at least two Presidents have sold "photo rights."

Of course, this is just a colloquial way of saying, and the correct way is merchants obtained a meeting with the President through donating to some charitable foundations, thus taking a handshake and photo with the President at the President’s Mansion.

These merchants’ descendants are now the behind-the-scenes controllers of the major consortiums in the Federation. The President and his team get what they need, while capitalists obtain what they desire.

As long as Lynch enlarges the photo of him shaking hands with the President and hangs it in his office, people will believe he is a moral, responsible merchant bearing more responsibilities and obligations.

His business will also do better!

This is just for ordinary people’s perception of the value of his handshake with the President; for the Progressive Party internally, Lynch’s invitation can be seen as him siding with the President’s faction.

This involves another issue, party factions, whether it’s the Progressive Party, Conservative Party, or the always forgotten Socialist Party, there is not only one voice within these parties.

Due to differences in personal political programs and political ideologies, under a common big goal, there will be many different small factions.

For instance, now within the Progressive Party, there exist two main factions, namely, the Radical Internationalist faction and the Relatively Conservative Internationalist faction. They share a common big goal to deepen the Federation’s value and role in international society, but they would choose different methods.

The current President leans slightly towards conservative internationalism, also relatively a moderate. Though in the Conservative Party, they’re a radical faction, they’re just not too extreme, yet still a radical faction.

Faction positions are not as unshakable as party positions; with the change in time and situation, faction methods will change accordingly, so faction issues are not overly strict.

But choosing the mainstream faction always has benefits, many policy openings with thresholds will open a door for Lynch due to his invitation and handshake with the President.

Someone might even actively approach him, bring him into one small circle after another, unite around certain people, and those people unite around the President, forming a faction.

At least in the next six years, mainstream factions won’t have major changes. As Bail Federal starts trying to develop international relations, the President is bound to win the next election.

Within these six years, Lynch doesn’t need to worry about some regrets happening due to siding with the wrong faction; he can fully wield his abilities within the scope the President’s political program allows.

As for what happens later, maybe there will be changes, perhaps the relatively conservative President will become more reformative and radical, maybe not, but who cares!

When the time comes, if it doesn’t work, change another faction, after all, everyone only differs in the method of achieving goals. Changing factions without altering party positions isn’t a normal thing?

So, this is a good thing, a very good thing.

"Should I prepare a speech draft?" Lynch seemingly jokingly asked.

This instantly uplifted the Mayor’s mood, he laughed heartily and asked, "Why would you think that?" Then he explained why he laughed, "You probably need to prepare three sentences, they are..."

"It’s an honor to receive your invitation, Mr. President!"

"Me too, Mr. President!"

"Please go ahead, Mr. President!"

After speaking, the Mayor couldn’t help but laugh again. These are probably the three sentences a normal person would say when greeted by the President, and they’re the only ones they can use. The President and those more distinguished guests won’t give Lynch much time to say things people might not be interested in, even if it’s just two or three minutes.

Lynch wasn’t upset or annoyed by the Mayor’s "mockery"; he just pursed his lips, "I was just thinking whether I should allocate my speaking time between five minutes or seven minutes, you’ve completely disappointed me, but it’s also a good news, at least I don’t have to tear my hair out preparing these things."

Actually, this was just a casual joke, indeed just a joke. With Lynch’s abilities, saying things people want to hear on appropriate occasions is really too easy.

After the Mayor laughed for a while, he gradually collected his laughter, "Your accountant might have some trouble, if you have things to handle, do it quickly."

"Vera?" Lynch slightly furrowed his eyebrows, "What’s wrong with her?"

The Mayor casually stirred his coffee with a stir stick, which was a meaningless action, "Gap turned himself in, he confessed to the police, he entrusted some evidence directly related to the Ristone Group’s scandal to his wife, which is your secretary, to keep."

"The state’s attorney in charge of this case thinks that woman...", he paused, recalling the name Lynch mentioned, "Vera, he thinks Vera, knowing these things obviously, did not actively report them to the prosecutorial authority, attempting to conceal key evidence, thus also being a suspect in this case."

The Mayor spoke indifferently, not caring whether some people are innocent, because he knows clearly that innocence or guilt doesn’t depend on what these people did or what the law says, but on what the higher-ups decide.

People believe Neo and the Ristone Group’s downfall today is under the hands of Sabin City’s Mayor Landon, but actually, the core figures of this matter know that behind Mayor Landon, there is someone else, that is the Governor.

Neo’s discontent comes from their inability to get what they want from Everbright, honestly, such statewide cases and their outcomes aren’t something Mayor Landon can decide, it can only be decided by the state.

Neo not giving the Mayor face is equal to slapping the Governor’s face, only very few insiders know this, including the Governor of the neighboring Conservative territory. His intervention was actually to see a joke, but this also promoted the Governor’s decision to completely press down Ristone.

If Neo didn’t do that, perhaps he and his group company could survive for another two years. When everyone becomes familiar with international affairs, maybe there could be a chance to revive.

But he was too eager, leading to many situations being difficult to recover.

The Governor privately requested the prosecutor to be a bit ruthless, this is to warn certain people, this is the Governor’s domain, they must respect the Governor’s decisions, they can question, but cannot challenge.

As Everbright, being foreign capital may not attract some people’s attention enough, then let Ristone be the bad example!

Everyone related to this case will be prosecuted, naturally including Vera suspected of "concealing evidence," and she will also be sued for some charges.

Women in such level cases are actually... very unfortunate, due to interference from upper management’s will, the means might be excessive, many men cannot withstand it, let alone women.

By then, regardless of what it is, they will say everything, just wishing quickly for a conviction and sentencing.

So the Mayor’s point is, if there are some unclean ends on Lynch’s side, handle them quickly, don’t get implicated.

Although he wouldn’t be severely implicated, being investigated is not a pleasant thing!