Blackstone Code-Chapter 496: Withdrawal Symptoms

It turns out that in some areas, women have an innate and irresistible advantage over men.

Except for a few rare exceptions, most men simply can’t compete with women in this regard.

After spending some intimate time with Lynch, Penny had to start working. The unrest was gradually calming down across the country. Under strong armed intervention, people finally remembered the terror imposed by the ruling class.

Those who forgot were shot on sight anywhere they were found. Only returning home was truly safe for locals, which meant the streets now had very few residents.

They feared the hunting squads suddenly appearing in vehicles, laughing harshly and pulling triggers, killing people on the spot just because they had left their homes.

After the turmoil settled, recovery accelerated. Workers wearing red vests appeared more frequently on the city’s main roads, using obviously secondhand, old machines to clear the hardened ground.

The dirt roads had become exceptionally hard after enduring harsh conditions. One strike with a hammer would leave only a faint white mark on the shiny surface.

These workers were preparing the ground for upcoming paving.

After heavy rains, a brand-new world was revealed before everyone’s eyes. People were curious, hopeful, and a bit anxious, some already ready to welcome a whole new Nagaryll.

Naturally, the film crew at the hotel had to start working. Every extra day of delay was a huge loss for the crew. They all signed contracts stipulating extra payments if deadlines were exceeded.

Not only the actors, but everyone in the crew had signed these agreements. So Fox Jr., eager to show respect to Lynch and for other reasons, personally went to discuss the matter with him.

Lynch understood the message clearly: “Have your fun, but get that girl back to work—the clock’s ticking!” To avoid sounding too blunt, Fox Jr. also invited Lynch to visit the set if he wanted.

Lynch agreed. He believed in relaxing when it’s time to relax and working when it’s time to work, never mixing personal emotions with the job. After a night of intense talks, the stubborn girl finally agreed.

The girl’s skill had improved rapidly—this was a woman’s natural talent. She seemed reluctant to leave, like a girl deeply in love.

“I really don’t want to work. Maybe after this project, I can ask the company for a really long break…” she casually said while waiting for the crew’s car at the hotel café.

Young girls’ desires were clear to Lynch. He naturally responded, “Everyone loves pleasure, but we should have goals beyond just enjoyment.”

“Decades from now, when you lie in the yard under the sun, and your grandson or granddaughter asks you what memories you have from when you were their age, you can’t just say you spent your days fooling around with a man.”

“You need to have precious memories that shine like gold. Life isn’t easy; leave something for yourself and something for the world. That’s what we should do.”

The girl’s eyes grew distant. “What you say is so deep, yet it makes so much sense. Is that what you’re doing now?”

Lynch wanted to tell her that what she craved was just withdrawal symptoms caused by the brain’s dependence on hormones and dopamine—that it would pass in time—but he knew that wouldn’t help. It was better to say something mysterious.

He nodded and said, “I’m changing the world.”

The girl laughed out loud, then waved her hands quickly. “Sorry, I’m not mocking you. I know you really are. I just can’t help but laugh.”

She sighed, “Have you thought about acting? I think you’d be an amazing actor!”

“Honestly!”

To Lynch, being a top actor was simple. His acting was already refined and deeply integrated. He didn’t care much for that.

He pointed to the glass window. “The crew’s car is here!”

The girl looked outside and saw several vehicles: two heavily reinforced trucks and two all-terrain armored SUVs with armed guards on board.

These were Blackstone Security employees, their costs counted as part of the film’s investment. When the box office came in, Lynch might get a share—though he joked no one really cared about that small amount.

“The car’s here…” Penny sighed softly, as if speaking to Lynch and herself, without trying to hold him back. She had known this moment was coming.

“I should go too. When can we meet again?”

Lynch stood up and helped carry her luggage. “I’ll return home at the end of the year to handle some matters. If your schedule is fast, maybe we’ll meet then.”

At the hotel entrance, the girl hugged Lynch briefly, then got into the car with her agent and quickly left.

Lynch stood at the hotel door, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and watched the convoy disappear.

He disliked farewells, especially with acquaintances. The feeling of parting was unpleasant, unlike the joy of making money.

Every time those precious numbers increased, that feeling was much better than saying goodbye.

Soon, his own car arrived.

Drag was inside. Lynch was surprised, “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

They were heading to a meeting at City Hall. The unrest was over, but many wealthy people were impacted—their properties and even their lives threatened.

Many had already died, some were injured or traumatized.

After such turmoil, if City Hall didn’t step up to offer explanations and comfort these people, that would be unbelievable.

Lynch was also invited as an outside investor. The core of the mayor’s upcoming speech was even written by him. He didn’t expect the mayor to handle this well—it was up to Lynch.

So, strictly speaking, the afternoon meeting was just a formality for Lynch.

He was there to set an example, to demonstrate.

Drag smiled. “Word from the royal capital says they want us to sit down and talk…”

The car started moving slowly. He fell silent until the engine was running smoothly, then continued, “The Federation has pressured Gephra heavily. They seem unable to withstand anymore and are ready to accept the Federation’s demand to raise Nagaryll’s value in the foreign exchange market.”

Hearing this, Lynch had a rough idea. Truman and his team had made breakthrough progress. He knew it well but kept a neutral face.

After observing Lynch for a moment without results, Drag asked, “What do you think I should do?”

Raising Valier’s value wasn’t simple, but not impossible. The easiest way was to find an exploration team to produce a geological report recognized by a world-class authority, confirming a rich mineral deposit. That would push Valier’s value up.

However, this rise would be slow, as resource value depends on extraction speed and annual output, so no quick changes.

The real game-changer was another method—the one previously discussed between the Federation and the Nagaryll delegation, involving the absorption of the Federation’s Sol currency.

As long as the central government holds a fixed amount of the Federation’s Sol currency as foreign exchange reserves, the conditions for Valier’s appreciation will be met. If the Federation also announces purchasing a certain amount of Valier, its appreciation will be imminent.

This was the issue Governor Drag wanted advice on—what exactly should he do?

Previously, the diplomatic delegation and the Federation couldn’t reach an agreement because the Federation required that this foreign exchange be held in designated banks with a certain national status, under Federation supervision and management, with no arbitrary withdrawals allowed. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Nagaryll’s political power is built around each province. Making these governors put their money into the royal treasury would keep them awake at night in fear, while only the royal family could sleep peacefully, constantly waking up laughing.

Now, this matter seemed to have a workable foundation, but the governor didn’t know how to proceed without harming his own interests while still gaining some benefits.

He constantly reminded himself that he was now part of the Federation and should think for both himself and the Federation.

Lynch paused thoughtfully. “I haven’t discussed this with anyone back home yet, and the joint company hasn’t told me much either. But I have an idea—are you aware that all six major Federation banks have established branches here?”

Governor Drag nodded; he had entertained them before.

Lynch continued, “You could work with these six banks to form a Nagaryll International Joint Bank, deposit this foreign exchange reserve there, and manage it jointly. Wouldn’t that make it more acceptable?”

After saying this, Lynch looked at Drag with a subtle expression. He didn’t naïvely believe that Drag’s new Federation citizenship meant he truly thought for the Federation’s good.

Even among Federation citizens, many only think of themselves, sometimes profiting by betraying their country.

In the face of profit, nationality is unreliable. Only when nationality and country bring tangible benefits will merchants acknowledge them.

Someone once said that merchants and capitalists are the greatest anarchists in the world.