Darkstone Code
Chapter 279 - 0277 Voting, maybe worth a try

Chapter 279: 0277 Voting, maybe worth a try

Lynch figured out Herbs’ bidding purpose during their conversation—it was merely to not miss out on this reasonable profit. He even confessed that he had the means to quickly offload these items.

Compared to the technologically advanced Federation, many areas are clearly very backward. Although these machines aren’t new and aren’t the latest in technology, they are already considered formidable to some underdeveloped countries.

After chatting for a while, Herbs stood up to leave. He still had to look around other places to finally choose a suitable location to establish the Bail Federal branch of his bank.

He told Lynch that York State isn’t a good place, lacking a suitable atmosphere. Even Bupen isn’t quite suitable in his view, because the political atmosphere there is too strong.

Next, he would head south to take a look, and if the environment there was better, Lynch might see him in the south in the future.

After skipping over this small matter, Lynch didn’t know whether to say he had gained or lost. Emotionally speaking, he spent more than a million extra, which was hard to accept, but he hadn’t left Bail Federal yet, and he had befriended an international banker, which also seemed worthwhile.

These international bankers play an extraordinary role in international trade and even in Financial Warfare. These people are the true "capitalists." They have no national concept, no camp concept, and everything they do is for greater profit.

They can lend any country’s currency to anyone without any concerns to dismember a force or even a country. They won’t ask for the purpose or the outcome—they only focus on the exceptionally high lending rates. Even if someone wanted to overthrow a country, as long as they could afford the interest, these international bankers would be willing to lend them money.

These people would be of no use to Lynch if he never left the Federation.

If Lynch planned to leave the Federation in the future, these people would be very useful to him.

On the third day, Lynch and Mark arrived at a conference room inside City Hall; the date had been set long ago to improve the government’s execution efficiency in the eyes of the public.

To avoid those citizens from endlessly complaining that City Hall was using taxpayers’ money to support a group of idle people, always mocking government staff without ever considering how much they’ve really paid...

Okay, they’ve paid a lot, much more than those wealthy individuals, but that’s no reason to casually belittle the competency of government work.

Three days after the bank’s auction ended, the government would publicly call for bids.

The bank raised approximately four million from the auction, which would be used as compensation funds for workers who lost their ability to work and live due to chemical injuries from the Ristone Group.

However, the compensation would not be paid out in one lump sum. According to some regulations, these people have already lost their capability to work and live, and most of them have been abandoned by their families.

Such individuals receiving a large cash sum could potentially lead to harmful outcomes rather than aid in improving their lives.

Therefore, a third-party institution is needed to manage these funds, to avoid possible corruption within City Hall and other government agencies. There’s no more fair method than third-party fund management with government oversight.

Thus, a social bid would be made, providing data such as the total amount raised from the auction and the number of people it would evenly be allocated to. Bidders only need to present their plans for how to use the funds.

The bid that meets City Hall’s requirements will become the manager of these funds, which, of course, will be supervised by City Hall and not used arbitrarily.

At 9:40 AM, Lynch and Mark sat in the conference room, wearing very proper attire, with a young female secretary beside them—Mark’s secretary.

The young girl appeared to be only twenty-three or twenty-four, looked sweet, but it was evident Mark wasn’t nice to her, as her clothes clearly didn’t fit her growing figure; she couldn’t afford new clothes in her size, and Mark was indeed stingy!

Lynch’s gaze pulled back from the secretary’s slightly open button gaps. She couldn’t even afford underwear, such a poor girl!

"Will we win the bid?" Mark queried uncertainly. Before today, he was very sure of winning, but now he was uncertain.

There were just too many people today. He casually counted at least two or thirty agencies bidding, contrary to what he had imagined.

He thought it was just a formality, and maybe there wouldn’t be many present; he’d just show up and be announced as the winner before leaving—not now, with so much competition!

Such a scenario wasn’t surprising; a money shortage existed throughout society, and no one had money in their pockets. Upon hearing about the millions planned for bidding management, anyone with connections—and even those who hadn’t done this before—came to bid.

What if they really won? It’s just nurturing a few deadbeats, right? Aren’t there enough of those in family-run businesses?

After asking the question, Mark looked at Lynch, and Lynch’s smile slowly calmed him, "We’ll win, won’t we?"

Lynch shook his head, which made Mark nervous again, "No, you’re wrong. It’s not ’we,’ it’s ’you.’ I’m just here to accompany you!"

Indeed, Lynch wasn’t among the shareholders of this private equity fund, nor was any company directly related to him part of it. The major shareholders of the fund were an asset management company, which didn’t include Lynch either.

Lynch indirectly controlled this company through interlinked holdings in multiple shell companies. Even if someone thought it was odd for him to spend heavily at the auction while taking over these funds, they couldn’t find any illegal evidence.

The noise in the room ceased as Ferrari and the mayor’s secretary entered.

The mayor’s secretary announced the purpose, method, and evaluation criteria for the bid, shared some boring information that made Mark yawn, answered some questions, and then began collecting proposals.

Some agencies might modify parts of their proposals on-site to better fit detailed specifics provided by City Hall—a common practice in many bidding processes, as long as they submit the proposal before leaving.

The formalities finished quickly, and as Lynch and Mark left the conference room, Ferrari followed.

Lynch wondered if it was his imagination, but Mark seemed not to like Ferrari yet didn’t dare to show it, quickly leaving with a random excuse.

Watching Mark’s back, Ferrari shook his head, "I’ve always told the mayor that some things should be handled by professionals, but he only trusts Mark."

Ferrari repeatedly told the mayor that Mark wasn’t an outstanding asset manager, and he might cause unforeseen trouble for the mayor.

But the mayor had different ideas; on one hand, Mark was his nephew, and within the family or clan led by him, he had terrifying control over them. He is like a little King in the family code, and his nephew doesn’t dare to defy his words, unlike professional managers.

These managers sometimes have different ideas and might even actively interfere in the mayor’s work, like using the mayor to influence policies and regulations to speed up asset appreciation.

Emotionally, everyone hopes their money increases, but professional managers are dangerous. They may make things better or worse, with a greater likelihood of the latter.

Moreover, the mayor didn’t plan to reveal to society that these are his assets. They’d be held under Mark’s name in a relatively clandestine fashion, even though many industries’ holders would be Mark. Still, the mayor’s money remains his; it won’t lose his control due to legal ownership under someone else’s name.

Professional managers can’t achieve this; if the mayor dared to place things under their names, they’d flee and leave the mayor in the lurch.

Considering these points, Ferrari discussed Mark’s shortcomings with the mayor, who just shrugged it off.

Sometimes he reprimands Mark mildly, occasionally acts like it’s nothing, and Ferrari thinks it’s not good, but can’t persuade the mayor. That’s why Mark doesn’t like Ferrari.

So why doesn’t Mark retaliate?

Because the mayor doesn’t like interference in his decisions, much less Mark meddling in his work.

Musing for a short while, Ferrari and Lynch headed towards the exit of City Hall, talking along the way, "The things you said in Bupen have spread widely; some say you’re inherently radical, but others speak highly of you. How did you win them over?"

Lynch’s remarks in Bupen were indeed radical regarding domestic circumstances, but some defended him, even found reasons for him—he’s too young, and if young people aren’t a bit radical and vigorous, are they still young?

People seem to readily accept this concept, turning radical into youthful bravery, enhancing Lynch’s public image.

Lynch smiled, shook his head, and didn’t explain the reason; actually, it stemmed from a comment by Mr. Wardrick, setting the public’s opinion on Lynch’s remarks as definitive.

Mr. Wardrick wasn’t aiming to protect Lynch. He wanted to protect himself, at least in the short term, preventing any impact on himself. After all, Lynch appeared with his daughter at the event. If he let the comments spread unchecked, his opponents and potential enemies might exploit them, twist Lynch’s words and attitudes as Wardrick’s thoughts and attitudes, and it would become dangerous!

Faced with Ferrari’s curiosity, Lynch gave a slight smile, "Maybe I’m just likable, you know, being handsome helps!"

Ferrari showed a face of helplessness, "You know sometimes your words can provoke a smack!"

"I know, you’re jealous of me!"

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