Blackstone Code-Chapter 269:

The hall was utterly silent, drawing the attention of those farther away. But before anyone could approach, some had already reacted.

"An interesting perspective…" Waldric raised his glass. "Although the war is now behind us, its scars remain, reminding everyone that peace is hard-won! To peace!"

Many, including the President and Truman, raised their glasses in agreement with Waldric. After everyone lowered their glasses, Waldric excused himself and left the crowd with Lynch.

People knew Lynch had arrived with Waldric's daughter, so no one thought much of it.

However, both Truman and the President, along with his advisory team, had already noticed that Lynch had spoken a bit too much.

Even in the current state of the Federation—suffering unprecedented economic recession, enduring waves of bankruptcy, with countless people losing their jobs and wandering the streets—there was still more to consider.

Despite these hardships...

The Federation remained one of the most economically powerful nations on the planet. No matter how dire things appeared, the federal government and banks could still easily produce money if needed.

It was just that the wealth of the government and banks did not mean the public was wealthy too, which was why people's lives were hard. The government and banks hadn't been entirely inactive—they provided low-interest, unsecured loans based on people's social standing and credit.

As for other countries?

Many were still in the early stages of post-war reconstruction. Their workers received no pay at all, only enough meal to prevent their families from starving.

Compared to these nations, the Baylor Federation was still immensely wealthy—wealthy enough to wage an "economic war."

Lynch hadn't fully explained his point, but those who dealt with these matters daily and studied international policy understood what Lynch was suggesting about economic warfare.

Thus, they felt that Lynch had said too much. After all, they were the moderate faction within the Progressive Party; such talk was more appropriate for the radicals.

This was why Waldric had stepped in. He wasn't sure if anyone else would help Lynch, nor did he know if Lynch himself realized how radical his words had been, so Waldric felt he had to act.

It wasn't that Waldric thought Lynch was a particularly good young man; he simply didn't want people to think he was a radical because of this.

After all, party faction issues sometimes lead to other complications, and in the current domestic and international climate, the moderates' attitude and approach were more fitting.

People had just emerged from the trauma of destruction; they didn't want to be shaken again. Radical actions would only lead those just beginning to find peace back to destruction. A more moderate approach was the way forward.

The two walked to the edge of the crowd. Holding his wine glass, Waldric shook his head. "You shouldn't have been so blunt…" Lynch smiled but neither confirmed nor denied the statement, giving Waldric an odd feeling.

A moment ago, Lynch had acted just like someone his age—showing sharpness when necessary, whether it was appropriate or not, as long as it made him stand out.

But at times, Lynch didn't behave like a young person. At least, in certain situations, he didn't lose his cool like one. Now, he simply smiled, leaving Waldric unsure if Lynch understood him or not.

"Did you come up with what you said earlier yourself?" After a moment, Waldric couldn't resist asking. That "businessman's perspective," which some might find foolish, was actually quite sharp.

Up until now, the Federation's Ministry of Defense had been analyzing each significant battle, with both the radicals and the Ministry of Defense believing that the key to winning wars lay in "military power."

Indeed, much of the world shared this belief, defining a powerful nation by the number of armored divisions it had, how many cannons it possessed, and how many army and navy forces it could field.

They were constantly fixated on these questions, but Lynch had uncovered another layer—the value and role of economics in war.

Though Lynch's explanation might have been shallow, it was enough to open a new door for others, revealing previously unseen possibilities and allowing them to harness the power of thought.

It didn't seem like something a 21-year-old could come up with. Yes, Waldric had already found out Lynch's age in a short time. He even knew which hospital Lynch had been born in and which nurse had assisted in his birth.

This only made Waldric more skeptical that Lynch had come up with these ideas on his own. He lacked the foundation for such thinking.

It wasn't that Waldric looked down on people from the lower classes, but those at the bottom spent their days worrying about how to fill their stomachs and make a little more money. They didn't have the time or energy to engage with or think about higher-level issues.

People on the street might not even know the name of the Progressive Party leader. Expecting them to offer sharp insights into the current state of federal politics or policies was simply unrealistic.

Lynch looked at Waldric, neither angry nor pleased, just said. "Fine, I heard it from someone else…"

"You're lying." Waldric immediately saw through Lynch's evasion. He repeated his judgment, "You're lying."

Lynch remained calm. "You don't believe I came up with it myself. But when I say it's someone else's, you still don't believe it? Mr. Waldric, you're not an omniscient god who determines what's true and what's a lie."

Waldric looked at Lynch, and the latter met his gaze, unafraid.

One was filled with confusion, while the other was utterly composed. After about ten seconds, Waldric's gaze softened. He slightly raised his arm, gently lifting his wine glass. "I'm sorry, I was too subjective."

Lynch clinked his glass with Waldric's and took a sip. "It's fine. Judging others by appearances has always been part of our world. Just like how we talk about inner beauty with the beautiful girls who'd throw themselves at us the moment we flash our cash, but we never spare a glance for the unattractive yet kind-hearted women.

"Superficiality is the hardest part of human nature to rid ourselves of. I forgive you."

Waldric couldn't help but laugh. Even though Lynch's words mocked his superficiality and suspicion, he found them amusing.

It had been years since anyone had spoken to him like that. Ever since people began calling him "Mr. Waldric", people had grown accustomed to being overly deferential around him.

It seemed as if that's how things should be, so Lynch's attitude surprised him, leaving him with a strange sense of humor.

He chuckled for a moment before nodding. "You're interesting, Lynch. You're a clever young man, but don't think that means you can date my daughter."

After a pause, he added, "If given the chance, what do you plan to do next?"

Lynch's face lit up with a bright smile. "I want to do what the Baylor Federation did in its early days—cross vast oceans to this continent and help its natives build a civilized world, spreading the light of civilization to the entire world!"

Waldric gave Lynch a peculiar look, unsure if what Lynch meant was the same as what he thought.

Elsewhere, a woman strikingly similar to Severella was speaking with her. It was her mother. Their gazes also landed on Lynch and Waldric as they conversed.

"Sometimes their expressions are alike, don't you think?" Severella's mother said with a smile. She wasn't making this up—at times, there was indeed a faint resemblance.

The girl remained silent, but she agreed. Both men seemed to possess a unique aura that suggested they were destined for success.

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Looking at her daughter, Waldric's wife's expression remained unchanged, though she sighed inwardly. She, too, knew about Lynch's background. A young man like him would never be accepted as a son-in-law in this family.

He wasn't qualified. He wasn't even close. He didn't meet the minimum standard. He wasn't even a member of the Society of the Sacred Harmony!

In this family, both Waldric and his wife, as well as Severella, were members of the Society of the Sacred Harmony.

Waldric's wife understood the signs behind her daughter's behavior. When a girl began to show interest in a man, it meant danger was approaching.

Fortunately, there was still time. They could change everything. The simplest way was to ensure they didn't see each other for a while.

Time and distance were enough to break any romance. People liked to romanticize love as an unbreakable bond, but in truth, it could be severed easily.

"How long have you known him?" she asked again.Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link

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