Blackstone Code-Chapter 371: Gephra Will Fail!

“Mr. Lynch, can you explain why?”

When Lynch suggested that Gael might suffer a major setback in the foreign exchange market, questions quickly arose.

These questions weren’t necessarily to support Lynch but more likely to challenge and disprove his view.

This was normal—everyone had the right to express their opinions, a basic right guaranteed by the Federal Charter that even the president could not revoke.

For every optimist, there was a pessimist; debate was the point of these salons.

Lynch looked at the man who spoke—a well-dressed man in his forties, unlike the starving masses outside. Most in the room were similarly well-dressed.

Lynch nodded—a polite acknowledgment that neither forced friendship nor hostility.

“Why do I hold this view? Simply put, three reasons.”

Standing in the center, Lynch raised one finger. The room fell silent. “First, political confrontation!”

“Gephra’s dominance is reshaping the world. We only see its growing power but ignore that not everyone supports it—its enemies, yes, but also…” Lynch smiled faintly, “…some of its allies!”

“Gentlemen, there can be only one superpower. To become one, a nation needs key elements: politics, military, economy, culture, and uniqueness.”

“If every country were the same, there’d be no strong or weak. But no two countries are equal, especially not on a global scale.”

“With every gain Gephra makes, others weaken. Its strength is built on political, military, economic, and cultural pressure or deterrence against others.”

“Neither the defeated, nor we, nor even its allies want a superpower so dominant that it rules the world.”

“We don’t want a ruler. Gephra has put itself against everyone.”

He spoke quickly but clearly, avoiding obscure jargon used by some scholars to sound smarter.

Every word was simple and understandable. The room, including scholars and capitalists, grasped his meaning and the real significance.

The term superpower sparked interest.

As Lynch said, no one wants a superpower overwhelmingly stronger than all others. It threatens global freedom and order. Opposing Gephra’s rise seemed reasonable.

Some scholars whispered among themselves. A Gephra roughly equal to the Federation was best; too strong, and it harms the Federation.

If Lynch’s points reflected reality, the Federation would certainly oppose Gephra.

After a brief buzz of discussion, someone raised a question, but Lynch cut him off: “Let me finish the three points first!”

The chatter died down. “May I continue to the second point?”

“Of course, Mr. Lynch!”

“We’re eager to hear your insights!”

He slowly raised two fingers. “Second, geographic dilemma (Attachment: A).”

“Gephra’s powerful Royal Navy showed during the world war that they have long-range ocean strike capability. But gentlemen, we must not only see Gephra’s shining strengths—we must also see its weaknesses.” ℟аΝôВΕS̈

“Compared to its navy, Gephra’s Royal Army…” Lynch’s expression turned strange, half regretful, half amused, shaking his head teasingly, “…is a joke!”

“Most of their achievements were with naval support. Throughout the decade-long war, they never fully conquered any country, never waged a war of total destruction and won.”

“Moreover, Gephra’s territory is small, limiting its potential. If war breaks out again, with similar military tech levels, the depth of land battles and the number of troops will decide the war’s length and outcome.”

“Why does Gephra care so much about the Amellia region?” The room grew quieter, some barely breathing. Some understood; others didn’t. But experience told them Lynch’s point had merit.

No interruptions came. Many eager eyes fixed on Lynch. He scanned the room. “Because Gephra is already aware of the crisis it faces. If a comparable naval force blockades Gephra’s homeland, it could collapse within six months.”

“They have no strategic depth, no room for prolonged resistance. If a military power capable of opposing them attacks their homeland directly, Gephra has no escape or future.”

“Gephra’s current land area cannot support superpower ambitions.”

“Thank you!” A waiter brought Lynch a drink during his pause. Lynch smiled and thanked him warmly. The waiter returned the smile.

After a few sips, Lynch returned the cup to the tray and raised three fingers. “Third point: Amellia!”

“Given the political and geographic dilemmas, if Gephra wants to become a superpower, it must overcome these two massive obstacles. That’s why they focus all efforts on developing Amellia.”

“I’ve heard that the Emperor of Gephra nearly clashed with his ministers in the royal hall, all fighting to pour resources into Amellia. Their purpose is clear.”

“They want to fix their weaknesses. Once Amellia is firmly under control and proves to be a viable territory far from their homeland, they break free from geographic constraints.”

“They only need to conquer one territory after another, even disconnected lands, to expand Gephra’s strategic depth.”

“They can strike any enemy from anywhere, and war will never reach their core lands.”

“Even if enemies attack their territory, Gephra can evacuate in advance.”

“So Amellia is vital to Gephra, shaping future world order.”

“But!” Lynch’s confident smile brought everyone back to attention. “Amellia will not be stable.”

“For a year now, countless resistance groups have appeared there.”

“This proves Gephra hasn’t truly ‘ruled’ Amellia, and the people don’t accept the current government.”

“As long as large-scale unrest breaks out in this region, Gephra’s foundation will be shaken immediately, and Gael will inevitably suffer a massive decline!”

“My judgment about Gael’s future trend is based on these three points. Of course, these are just my personal views. If anyone disagrees, we can discuss.”

After this bold statement, Lynch became humble. He stepped aside, yielding the central position. “Does anyone else want to say something?”

No one did. All eyes remained on Lynch. Some even stood and followed him, quietly seeking his guidance.

Lynch’s words shifted the stance of many in the room, including economists. It seemed… Lynch made a lot of sense.

As the salon ended, Lynch’s three points spread rapidly. People circulated what he said, turning his analysis of Gael’s future in the forex market into the Three Arguments for Gephra’s Defeat, even referenced on some TV programs.

This may not have been Lynch’s original intention, but the outcome aligned well with his goals, maybe even better.

As he said, no one wants a powerful Gephra. If this world must have a superpower, why shouldn’t it be us?