Darkstone Code
Chapter 264 - 0262 Approachable

Chapter 264: 0262 Approachable

In the blink of an eye, two days quickly passed. On the evening of the third day of Lynch’s arrival in Bupen, they were already preparing to head to a certain estate in the suburbs to participate in the celebration event hosted by the President himself.

Lynch and Severa received notifications and some itinerary arrangements after lunch. They would arrive at the estate around 5:15. To be honest, this arrangement was quite early, but there was no other option.

After all, Lynch was not an influential entrepreneur, nor a politician wielding certain powers; in the eyes of many, including the President, he was just a lucky individual.

He proposed a coincidental idea at a coincidental time, coincidentally seen by the President, and coincidentally spoken by the President, which all these coincidences facilitated his trip.

As for whether the time was early or not?

He should be grateful.

Around 4:30, the room’s door was knocked and two service workers who looked undoubtedly like FBI investigators entered, one male and one female. They first checked Lynch and Severa’s belongings without room for refusal, and then confirmed separately in two rooms that they weren’t carrying anything dangerous.

Afterward, they escorted the two downstairs throughout the way and got them into a dedicated vehicle.

As Severa settled into her seat, Lynch could hear her let out a slight sigh of relief. He glanced at the girl, who returned his gaze with a smile, saying, "A bit nervous."

She wasn’t entirely truthful. Though she was over twenty, sometimes she still had childish thoughts, hoping to prove her excellence to her father and family; hence, she came here.

She thought she could handle it smoothly, similar to attending events hosted by Governors and Members of Parliament.

But now, she began to feel anxious because beside her was not her father, who seemed in control of everything, but a young man who needed her help.

This time, no one would proactively fix her mistakes. If she did something embarrassing, people would laugh at her.

And at this moment, she faintly realized she wasn’t as strong as she imagined.

The vehicle steadily traveled on the road, soon leaving the city circle. Around 5:00, the car’s speed significantly slowed down, gradually stopping by the roadside.

The driver briefly explained that the entrance had strict timing, and the President and his staff, along with related personnel, wanted to give invited guests a sense of intimacy, so a few words of conversation were evidently the simplest, cheapest, and most effective method.

This also led to invited guests not rushing in all at once; they had to wait until the previous pair said something before the next pair could enter.

Around 5:13, the car started again, then stopped on the road outside the estate. The greeter opened the door, Lynch got out first, then extended his hand to help Severa out of the car.

It was actually still quite cold, but for the sake of wearing outfits that looked good and suited the occasion, neither wore too thick clothing. Severa even wore a backless gown (with a coat, but not thick enough).

"A bit cold..." the girl subtly whispered in Lynch’s ear, implying to walk faster. She maintained a sweet smile towards the surrounding media and reporters while walking.

Lynch sped up a bit; in such occasions, except for those wanting more exposure, most people didn’t enjoy the feeling of being exposed but had to complete this process.

Actually, the celebration event could also be seen as the President showing an attitude to society and his long-time supporters.

He had strong supporters, whether in politics, business, or other fields; elites among these people would support him, reassuring many. It’s a process of demonstrating one’s strength, making it important for people to know who attended.

Reporters marveled at Lynch and Severa’s looks and temperament; if it weren’t for the guest list, they’d think this pair was definitely celebrities!

The two quickly walked through the red carpet past the large fountain pool outside the estate house and entered the building under staff guidance.

The estate house was much larger than Lynch imagined; perhaps calling it a villa was more appropriate.

The architectural style with obvious historical era features added a sense of weight to the place. After passing through a not-too-long corridor, they entered a spacious hall.

Upon entering the hall, Lynch handed his coat, along with the girl’s coat, to the staff, who noted Lynch and Severa’s names to ensure they could quickly find their belongings after the event.

Not far from them, the President was talking with someone; they stood a bit farther away. After waiting for over a minute, the handshake ended, and the staff led Lynch and Severa over.

"You must be Lynch!" The President was already sixty-one this year, with noticeably white hair. Rumor has it someone proposed he dye his hair dark to conceal the white symbols of aging, which would make him appear more energetic and lively—important qualities for a President.

But he refused, reasoning that he wanted to present his most authentic self to the public; dyeing his hair would essentially be lying to the public, similar to deceiving them to accept an untrue façade.

This statement quickly gave the President a distinct image among the lower classes, earning him the nickname "Honest President."

More interestingly, all this happened recently; before the previous President’s impeachment, who knew the Vice President’s name or appearance? Seventy percent of Federation’s people had no impression of him.

Yet, in such a short time, his image in people’s minds became vivid and three-dimensional—showcasing the immense role and value of social public relations. People accepted him at an unimaginable speed!

Of course, the President also worked hard, at least he didn’t need reminding to instantly recognize Lynch, which somewhat overwhelmed Lynch—after all, this was the President. Though many could still restrain his power, on the surface, he was the pinnacle of the country.

Lynch actively approached, "It’s me, Mr. President. Honestly, this is quite a surprise that you remember my name!"

The President shook his hand, with neither releasing immediately. The President’s hand felt warm to Lynch, likely influenced by just coming indoors from the cold outside.

Apart from that, Lynch could also feel the power in the President’s palm, not resembling an elderly’s, but more like a middle-aged man in his prime.

The President smiled and nodded, "Of course, I remembered when I saw the report; it was unforgettable. You don’t know how much your words helped our work; perhaps we could further discuss these issues sometime."

Feeling more overwhelmed, indeed, but Lynch wouldn’t take this seriously; it was merely a polite remark, as such a time would never arrive.

"Honored that my thoughts could assist you in any way, always ready for your call, Mr. President!" Lynch’s expression was formal, giving the impression of a scripted conversation, amusing yet dull.

The two released their hands, and the President shook hands with Severa next, "I know you too, Wardrick’s daughter. He always boasts about how beautiful his daughter is; I shouldn’t agree, but he’s right!"

Severa was a bit surprised; the fact that women’s status was generally low was undeniable in this era. The President usually wouldn’t talk much with female guests, beyond a courteous greeting, so saying this much was rare.

It also related to Wardrick, Severa’s father. Mr. Wardrick’s consortium was a significant supporter of the Progressive Party; if it was someone else, the situation might differ.

Politely responding to the President’s praise, the girl roughly thanked him, congratulating on his presidency and expressing anticipation for his upcoming two terms.

According to the Federation’s constitution, when a President is incapable of performing his duties for any reason, the Vice President automatically becomes the President.

This doesn’t affect his future term; he can still run for elections as President, and if elected, serve two consecutive terms, which means four plus four.

If the President really gets elected and serves two terms, ten years in office would allow his authority to rapidly expand uncontrollably, especially as his control over the entire Federation system and society deepens. The Progressive Party and consortium backing him would have a hard time challenging his power, not to mention manipulating him as some conspiracy theories suggest.

The girl accurately mentioned this point, bringing more smiles to the President’s face, "I hope you both have an enjoyable evening..."

After bidding farewell to the President, the two, guided by staff, proceeded into the hall behind the President.

"I thought someone else would greet us," entering the event scene, Lynch took two glasses from the tray held by a waiter, handing one to Severa.

The two clinked glasses, taking a sip, the girl also somewhat puzzled, "I’m not sure; he should come out later."