Darkstone Code
Chapter 275 - 0273 Being deceived by anyone is still being deceived, so why not let me take advantage of it?

Chapter 275: 0273 Being deceived by anyone is still being deceived, so why not let me take advantage of it?

Mr. Wardrick seriously explained to Severa the meanings behind Lynch’s answer. Initially, Severa found it somewhat amusing and thought it was just a matter of time before she understood, needing only a bit more time.

But as Mr. Wardrick delved further into the explanation, touching on increasingly complex issues—geopolitics and international politics—Severa realized just how terrifying Lynch’s answer was!

Mr. Wardrick’s purpose wasn’t to make his daughter like such a guy, but rather to prevent Severa from becoming curious. Without curiosity, there’s no need to continue dating, and if they don’t continue, they won’t become lovers.

"Lynch is a very special young man. He’s outstanding, but his excellence doesn’t fit our common definition of outstanding!"

"It’s like when we praise a powerful opponent, we’re generous with our compliments, but no matter how many compliments he gets, he is ultimately the enemy. Do you understand what I mean?"

Wardrick looked at the girl, directly into her eyes. She bit her lip and nodded, "I think I understand..."

Wardrick smiled and stroked the girl’s smooth hair. "Lynch is good, but he’s not suitable for you. If it’s not him falling for you, but you for him, it would surely become a tragedy..."

He withdrew his hand, "Alright, go rest, it’s getting late."

After bidding farewell to his departing daughter, Mrs. Wardrick came over, grabbing Mr. Wardrick’s hand, her expression complex. "Isn’t that too cruel?"

"I’m just doing what’s best for her!"

A phrase overused, yet a truth.

Elsewhere, Lynch didn’t leave immediately after the celebration but stayed in Bupen for four days before returning to Sabin City.

During those four days, he met numerous people, attended three informal parties and five salons, discussing extensively.

His radical remarks at the President’s celebration started spreading. Some in the radical faction began contacting him, talking about undertaking some astounding ventures in the upcoming open international society.

From the moment he interacted with these radicals, Lynch sensed insecurity. It’s precisely this insecurity that made them eager to prove themselves in the international community, including the Empire Army and Navy.

Military personnel were also insecure, perhaps unsure themselves whether they could bear the heavy responsibility of deciding the country’s fate militarily and lead the Federation further.

This urgent need to prove that they can achieve everything required stems from insecurity, turning them into what people call radicals.

In short, Lynch continuously mingled among these people during this time. He gained some fame among the radicals; many knew of this young man in his twenties, who openly spoke about the absurdity of plundering strong nations.

After returning from Bupen to Sabin City, two matters came his way immediately.

The first was Adelaide’s willingness to meet him. Considering the deep impression Lynch left on the President and the notable figures he connected with in Bupen, Adelaide believed there were matters worth discussing directly, without intermediaries.

This is the benefit of reputation—if Lynch wanted to talk with Adelaide, intermediaries wouldn’t be necessary. If people viewed Adelaide unfavorably, even the Governor would become an unpopular character—making a fool his subordinate, implying one of them is indeed foolish!

Lynch can meet the President without intermediaries, yet needs one to see the Governor’s staff officer; does this mean his rank surpasses the President’s?

Aside from this matter, Vera had temporarily taken leave, handling her divorce proceedings with Gap. Dividing assets and other responsibilities takes time to process or achieve legal effect.

Divorcing Gap is a way to avoid implication, a suggestion that Gap himself proposed. He requested to see Vera once while detained, and then made this request.

If they divorce, and completely separate assets and responsibilities, any penalties Gap might face won’t affect Vera and their children, which is crucial.

In this society, what’s most important is money and power. They lack power, and without money, life becomes tough for Vera and the children.

Although the couple’s feelings have faded immensely, Vera felt a pang of softness hearing this request from Gap.

She is handling this affair these days, as she must personally make detailed and reasonable allocations and divisions of net assets and debts. This has temporarily kept Vera from working for Lynch.

Apart from this news, there’s another piece that Lynch finds intriguing.

Mr. Hart, who acquired club land from Lynch, has started the first round of promotions with an eye-catching concept—rental return equal to housing costs.

If Lynch hadn’t experienced certain things in another world, perhaps he’d be drawn to this concept. But having seen so much, he immediately realized Mr. Hart seems intent on making money and then disappearing.

He advertises grandly; overall, a sixty-square-meter apartment costs about fifty thousand dollars—already clearly exceeding property prices in that area, let alone a poverty-targeted apartment. This price is evidently unreasonable, too high.

But he came up with an interesting hook regarding property lease. Investors don’t need to worry about occupancy; from the day it’s built, as soon as there’s occupancy, Hart’s company starts paying rent to these investors.

His project outlines data provided by Sabin City government, illustrating that the government might provide seventy-five dollars monthly rent for housing-strapped citizens to occupy such government-registered apartments.

Adding tenant payments, each apartment might receive ninety-five to one hundred twenty-five dollars monthly rent. Settling at an average, calculating an apartment rent of one hundred ten dollars monthly.

A yearly twelve hundred ten dollars, over ten years twelve thousand one hundred bucks, plus a five percent annual increase, apartment rental total income is about seventeen to eighteen thousand dollars.

Now spend fifty thousand to buy this property; Mr. Hart immediately refunds the future ten years of rental costs, and investors retain full rights over the apartment.

If spending fifty thousand to invest in a sixty-plus-square-meter apartment wasn’t worth it, considering these apartments roughly valued around thirty thousand dollars.

Now nearly nineteen thousand dollars saved upfront, obtaining full ownership makes investors interested.

Then Mr. Hart unveils another killer feature: six years post-project completion, investors can resell the apartment to him for the original price of fifty thousand dollars, otherwise retaining ownership.

Simply put, the project is a guaranteed profit, just invest and secure returns.

The rationale is straightforward—buy an apartment for thirty thousand dollars, and resell for fifty thousand dollars to Mr. Hart six years later, approximately earning nineteen thousand dollars in return, roughly translating to three thousand dollars annual income—equivalent to many ordinary families’ salary, making this project enticing.

Of course, some wonder how Mr. Hart profits, curious about his apparent loss, but Mr. Hart uses methods the public struggles to comprehend, assuring them he wouldn’t lose, rather would gain.

First, abundant cash flow allows yielding some profits. Secondly, property prices relative to now will surely rise, as Hart asserts confidently. In six years, selling these homes for at least seventy to eighty thousand; buying them back for fifty thousand won’t result in a loss.

As properties appreciate, his profits will grow, plus management fees from the community service company adds further significant income.

Moreover, he candidly explained the project’s reality: using investors’ money to make more money.

Earnings split—he takes the larger share, investors the smaller.

This straightforward attitude genuinely attracted attention, many queued, hoping to acquire one or two properties from him, uncertain of the Federation’s future trajectory.

Even if the new President’s words are promising, people still struggle to evaluate; investing in secure profit ventures aligns perfectly with the middle class’s financial strategies.

A slew of middle-class individuals, having nowhere to safely place their funds amidst rapid depreciations, invested into this project; some a few, others tens, even selling homes, and opting for loans to invest in Mr. Hart’s venture.

Mark mentioned this matter, appearing slightly boastful and proud, "I met Hart a few times; he knows me and respects me, so when I mentioned friends interested, he sold me ten apartments..."

Upon hearing this, Lynch couldn’t help but say, "I also have a plan that might interest you even more!"