Blackstone Code

Mr. Herbert invited everyone and shared some confidential information, revealing he had spent great effort to establish a connection with Gephra’s Deputy Minister of Finance—not out of goodwill.

In truth, Herbert was shifting his own losses onto the others in the room. He masked his true intent with a more palatable explanation to soften its edge.

When asked what those who used his channel to offset bonds or exchange them for equivalent assets would have to give, he smiled and said, “Twenty-five percent.” Early investors were still making good profits, but those who followed later earned far less. Now, Herbert was offering them a chance.

Lynch sat silently, clearly understanding Herbert’s plan. No matter how Herbert framed the situation, it was all a setup for him to buy out the speculators’ bonds at a favorable price and profit from them.

He wasn’t helping anyone; instead, he was covertly acquiring their bonds to make up for his own losses. This is what a true capitalist does—when profits fall short, they prey on their peers like beasts feeding on each other.

Herbert kept glancing at Lynch, knowing he held one of the largest amounts of bonds in the room. Lynch was bolder than anyone, buying heavily and driving bond prices from under twenty percent of face value to nearly forty percent on the open market.

Lynch had at least tens of millions in face value bonds, backed by an enormous investment. If Herbert could take twenty-five percent from Lynch’s holdings, he would be well fed.

Yet Lynch showed no emotional reaction, leaving Herbert puzzled. While others debated whether Herbert’s plan was a viable risk-avoidance strategy, Herbert addressed Lynch directly.

“Mr. Lynch, as one of the largest bondholders here, do you have any ideas to help us through this crisis?” His tone was sincere. “I gathered everyone here to find an effective solution. You seem calm—do you already have a better plan? If so, would you share it?”

For these purely profit-driven speculators, loyalties didn’t matter. If Lynch had a better strategy, Herbert would drop his own plan and back Lynch, as long as Lynch’s returns were higher.

All eyes turned to Lynch, filled with admiration. They marveled at his youth—few young men without privileged backgrounds had reached his level. They marveled at his wealth—rough estimates valued his assets in the tens of millions (short to mid-term market value, not net worth). They even marveled at his looks—young, rich, and strikingly handsome, an unfair combination in their eyes. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Now, they awaited his intellect.

Lynch took a casual sip of his drink, but even this simple gesture carried an unspoken power.

When someone is clearly placed above others, every move they make seems full of meaning.

“A better way…” he mused, “is not impossible.”

“I believe there is more than one way to solve any problem.”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

“For example… applying pressure.”

Lynch stood, handing his glass to a stranger nearby, who accepted it like a servant—an oddly comical sight.

No one paid attention to the stranger; all eyes were on Lynch as he moved to the center of the room. He gave a polite nod to Herbert, acknowledging the host’s status. Despite his dominance of the space, he showed proper respect—a true gentleman.

Herbert stepped aside, standing at the sofa’s edge with his drink, without sitting.

“Apply pressure to divert the Emperor of Gephra’s attention away from the upcoming naval battle.”

“When consequences elsewhere outweigh the impact of that sea battle, our chances of victory increase.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are now part of the international community. We’re no longer alone. We must mobilize more international forces to our side—that’s the new way in this new era.” 𝘳ᴀΝỐʙËŜ

He paused to let those still processing his words catch up.

After about twenty seconds, he continued, “Have you noticed that since the war’s end, Gephra shifted its development focus from domestic affairs to building up the Amellia region? This caused protests at home, later crushed.”

The room’s polite laughter lightened the mood as Lynch chuckled.

“They care too much about Amellia. If unrest—or even rebellion—breaks out there, how will Gephra respond?”

His tone sharpened, each word like a blade.

“Amellia was originally ceded territory. They call it leased, but if after 120 years the original sovereign can’t resist Gephra, that lease might be extended indefinitely, making it permanently outside the original country’s control.”

“Resistance still simmers among the locals, unhappy under Gephra’s rule despite the governor’s relatively lenient approach.”

“Gephra has invested heavily in Amellia. Any trouble there would immediately shake their national policy.”

Gephra values Amellia not only to expand imperial influence abroad but also as the likely frontline for the next war, from which they could directly ignite conflict in enemy heartlands.

Conversely, the defeated nation that ceded Amellia would launch full-scale efforts to reclaim it first if they start a war.

Thus, Amellia holds vital political, economic, cultural, and military importance beyond Gephra’s domestic cities. That’s why the emperor prioritized its development despite opposition.

Lynch’s words made everyone think: if Amellia erupts in unrest, will Gephra care about a naval battle that’s relatively unimportant to them?

Clearly not. Their involvement in the battle is merely to test the Federation Navy’s strength, likely without even flying the Gephra Royal Navy’s flag.

Compared to this trial, Amellia’s stability matters far more.

Mr. Herbert, sipping his drink, was the first to react and asked, “Mr. Lynch, but this won’t bring us any real benefit. Even if the naval battle is avoided, Gephra still won’t honor the bonds at face value or pay the promised interest…”

“Then force them to do it!” Lynch responded quickly and decisively. “Once unrest breaks out in Amellia, beyond the governor’s limited use of force, Gephra won’t be able to send more troops there.”

“Doing so would trigger heightened alert or even armed confrontation from other countries. If, by accident, a soldier fires a shot, it would spark another war.”

“Gephra can’t sustain such a conflict, and neither can the defeated nations. They’ll need someone to solve these problems for them.”

“And that someone is us.”