Blackstone Code-Chapter 499: Recognizing Yourself and Your Enemy

The newly appointed mayor had shown enough goodwill toward the overseas investors, sparking their enthusiasm and confidence in gaining economic returns here.

This was beneficial for both sides, and it wasn’t exaggerated—large investments brought regional prosperity, much like what happened in the Federation, where a flood of capital propelled economic growth at an unprecedented pace.

As for the social problems caused by investment or issues after the investment period ended, Lynch considered them less important.

When people are starving, who cares if the food is dirty? The priority is to eat and survive first, then worry about cleanliness and how to get others to provide clean food.

Soon, locals noticed positive changes. People hired to clear ruins were now paid, unlike before when the privileged class told them that serving the elites was a favor and asking for pay was shameful. Previously, harsh overseers enforced their labor with whips or clubs.

Now, foreigners employed them and willingly paid wages.

For many Nagaryllians, it was the first time they held cash, and some even shed tears upon receiving their pay.

This created new problems—what the Nagaryll Youth Party preached no longer matched reality.

The Youth Party had been declared illegal but wasn’t aggressively suppressed. Foreigners like Lynch didn’t focus all efforts on hunting these “anti-government” groups. They labeled them in advance and would act against them only if necessary, otherwise letting them grow freely.

The Youth Party wasn’t entirely negative; it acted like a magnet, gathering hidden extremists biased against foreigners around itself.

The enemy was clear.

Instead of playing cat and mouse with them, it made more sense to focus on public propaganda to prevent the Youth Party from growing.

The Youth Party claimed foreigners came to oppress Nagaryllians, to exploit and plunder their wealth. Yet the reality was these foreigners paid wages instead of taking anything.

This contradiction confused people, who sometimes even saw the Youth Party as the government portrayed: a group of troublemakers.

Posters around the streets echoed this sentiment: Anger won’t feed your family, but work will.

Simple slogans caused big trouble for the Youth Party.

Recently, the Youth Party had gained some support by violently targeting the wealthy, as they were the only group daring to truly resist—actions, not just words—even if some were opportunistic.

But now those supporters had gone to work, many employed by foreigners, making the Youth Party look foolish.

The short leader stared at the crude posters on the table, unsure what these foreigners truly wanted.

They were different from the stingy foreigners of old who avoided spending money. Lynch and the Federation businessmen spent generously, sometimes unnecessarily, but they paid. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

For example, buying land—which in the past didn’t require payment. Wealthy landowners could evict poor neighbors at will to expand their property.

Like Asel’s father, who easily forced neighbors to relocate, taking land occupied for decades.

This was partly because Nagaryll had abundant land, and poor people had little property; they could rebuild elsewhere without conflict.

But Federation businessmen actually paid market prices, or slightly less, a huge and unprecedented change.

They weren’t like past foreigners, and as the Youth Party gained notoriety, their slogans became irrelevant.

After a few minutes, the leader shook his head. “I don’t understand these people.”

He looked at the other determined Youth Party members. “I can’t grasp their purpose.”

“They pay for everything, don’t steal our belongings, don’t harass women, and obey our laws.”

“Except for their unpleasant looks, they are better than any elites I’ve known.”

“I don’t get why they do this, why they’re here. They’re not like the foreigners we’ve seen before.”

His tone was serious, capturing everyone’s attention.

He sighed. “We know nothing about the group that might become our greatest enemy. Without understanding their real goals, we cannot defeat them.”

“Given the current situation, we are no match for them!”

Admitting defeat was hard and risked his authority, but he spoke honestly, and people didn’t see it as weakness.

“I have an idea…” he said, looking around. “We don’t know their plans, and the situation is against us. So I suggest after dispersing, we join them!”

This shocked everyone, as if they heard the biggest joke.

But it wasn’t a joke—it was a decision the short leader made after long thought.“As you said, there will always be people who betray us to gain favor with the foreigners, as long as we stay gathered together.” ŖΑɴօ𝐛Ε𝓢

“So we should disperse. Two people alone won’t have much influence with the foreigners, and it will expose those individuals. Also, not many people know us, and the foreigners aren’t very perceptive about our appearances.”

“We should apply to become their employees, see with our own eyes, feel with our own bodies, and figure out what they really want!”

“This is more effective than sitting here discussing how to fight an unknown enemy. This is not surrender or shame—it’s a necessary step on the path to victory.”

“If anyone refuses, I won’t force them. I’ll recommend they work or live with other Youth Party groups elsewhere. Maybe their circumstances differ and they have other approaches.”

“But for me, my plan is to first blend in, identify the problems and their true intentions, and then figure out how to defeat them!”

Everyone fell silent, contemplating the leader’s words. Some then raised their hands, and more followed.

They were confused too—they wanted to understand how to save their country.