Darkstone Code-Chapter 735 - 0733 Blow-drying [This - is sponsored for additional content by: Dome of the Sea of Clouds - 4/15]
After coming up from the pit, these people left with a large number of photographs.
This scene happened in many places related to Yuanrong Capital, especially the gold mines. Almost every gold mine they mentioned was being explored by someone.
No one knew what these people were doing, and they quickly forgot about it, not mentioning it again, just like how they wouldn’t discuss the mysterious actions of those who bought the mines earlier.
At noon the next day, Lynch received a phone call.
"Mr. Lynch, we have sent people to inspect all the gold mines you mentioned to us. Except for one that is still being mined, the other six gold mines have all stopped operations, showing no signs of further mining."
"Furthermore, we’ve obtained some information locally, including briefs about the transactions and halts concerning these gold mines."
"Everything will be delivered to Gafura by next week at the latest."
Lynch smiled widely upon hearing this, "Thank you, Major. If you have any further updates, notify me, and enjoy your holiday."
Major is a nickname, a code name. He was the first army officer Lynch recruited, possessing extensive combat experience.
Lynch had some speculations about Major’s identity. Besides his apparent identity, his retirement was probably purposely arranged by the military.
In Sabin City and across York State, Lynch’s extensive recruitment of retired military personnel could not possibly go unnoticed by the Federation’s top leaders and numerous security departments.
Since the financial crisis erupted, many retired soldiers have joined gangs for various reasons.
If these retired soldiers, equipped with professional military skills, aren’t properly managed, it would absolutely be a major problem, especially since Lynch rapidly recruited so many. It was inevitable that someone would be planted among them.
Yet, despite his suspicions, Lynch wasn’t wary of Major. Instead, he relied on him more, partly to reassure the security departments and the Federation’s top leaders about Darkstone Security, and partly to leverage the power of the military and security departments for his own purposes.
Major wanted a significant position in Darkstone Security, so he surely had to contribute. Those behind him needed to exert their power to help him accomplish Lynch’s tasks.
It was a good thing.
Anyway, Lynch didn’t plan to do anything bad, so he welcomed these infiltrators.
After hanging up the phone, he glanced at the Senior Soldier, "Arrange someone to keep an eye on Richard..."
In the following days, Yuanrong Capital’s stock price continued to rise, and Richard’s high-profile celebrations had a positive impact, fully igniting the enthusiasm of investors.
Yuanrong Capital’s market performance was very healthy, with a slightly low turnover rate, but the price climbed quickly. Those who tried to sell were rapidly bought out. Some analysis institutions believe that after Yuanrong Capital’s fourth-quarter financial report is released at year-end, their stock might experience an even larger price increase.
Some stock experts have even declared a staggering price of "Fifteen dollars," conveying to the public through various examples that this stock should rise to at least fifteen dollars, not a penny less.
On such days, Lynch was granted a noble title.
The ceremony of ennoblement was held at the Royal Hunting Garden, marking Lynch’s first attendance at such a ceremony. It felt incredibly novel.
Guards of the Imperial Palace stood along the sides of the path, where red carpets were laid down. Wheat ears and pumpkin vines were scattered along the edges of the carpet, with harvested crops neatly arranged around to symbolize the beauty of a bountiful harvest.
As the imperial band began to play, a series of elaborate rituals commenced. The Prime Minister read aloud the accomplishments of some individuals and requested the Emperor for their ennoblement.
Then the Emperor purportedly "consulted" with ministers, appearing almost amusing, as if enacting a stage play.
Ultimately, the Emperor agreed to the Prime Minister’s request to ennoble those on the list as nobles of the Empire.
This year, only three people were ennobled: Lynch—a Baron with a non-hereditary title whose son wouldn’t inherit a title after Lynch passes.
Among the other two, one was a Baron and the other a Count.
These two were a reduction in the inheritance of family titles, and the other was hereditary—all "old nobility."
The three of them, dressed appropriately, stood at one end of the red carpet awaiting the summons. As the ceremony proceeded, the music played by the imperial band grew more stirring, and with guidance from palace staff, the three stepped onto the red carpet.
Honestly, this experience felt quite strange. Lynch noticed that not only were television stations in Gafura covering the event, but also cameras from the Federation’s TV stations were recording.
For a Federal citizen to be ennobled by the Gafura Empire was indeed something novel.
The red carpet was not very long. When they reached the end, the three stopped about thirty meters shy of the Emperor of the Empire.
The first hereditary Count approached first, inheriting his family’s hereditary title. He was visibly excited, given the scarcity of hereditary nobility since the reforms of the noble system.
The newly ennobled nobles of the Empire were either reduced inheritance or non-hereditary, foreshadowing a dire competition over hereditary noble titles, where descendants within families could even clash violently for such titles.
After the Royal Grand Steward read a letter written by the young Count’s grandfather (nearly forty years old) and the glory of his family, the Emperor proceeded with the ennoblement procedure.
Essentially, it was akin to what Lynch knew before—a young man knelt with one knee before the Emperor, receiving the King’s Sword ritual, and then the Emperor bestowed upon him a bag of seeds, a bag of gold coins, and a sword.
These three items symbolized "harvest," "wealth," and "military power." Then the Emperor returned to his position, and the young Count rose, wore the sword, held the seeds and gold coins in both hands, completing the final ritual with the assistance of the Grand Steward.
These are some odds and ends and ribbons that represent noble identity, and he already qualified to use these things, which seemed quite festive.
Next in line was the Viscount before Lynch. The whole process was nearly the same, except his ribbon was just a ribbon, with nothing on it.
He had no odds and ends to commend himself and his family’s achievements.
Finally, it was Lynch’s turn.
He knelt on one knee like the two before him, and the Emperor drew his sword and touched Lynch’s shoulders on both sides, muttering words, probably praising and hoping for Lynch’s loyalty and courage, as well as some rules to follow.
Finally, he took out a bag of seeds, "I grant you the joy of harvest, so you and your people can be well-fed..."
Then he took out a bag of gold coins, "I grant you shining gold coins, hoping you and your people stay away from poverty..."
Finally, he took out Lynch’s sword, "I grant you a sharp sword, to defend the glory of the Empire by slaying the enemy..."
When His Majesty the Emperor uttered these last words, his expression was slightly peculiar because, from his standpoint, Lynch was actually one of the enemies, or at least a ’little enemy.’
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
Lynch stood up and stepped aside.
In fact, according to the ancient enfeoffment process, there was still the missing ceremony of map drawing, where Lynch had to draw a piece of territory. But since the Empire’s reform, there hasn’t been any real enfeoffment.
Even the previously real fiefs have been fully reclaimed, so this procedure was directly omitted.
The Grand Steward adorned Lynch with a nice ribbon, the only flaw being its barren surface.
The three Empire nobles were enfeoffed, the ceremony concluded successfully, and while the whole process wasn’t long, it still left a peculiar feeling.
You could feel that such ceremonies seem rather primitive in the developed present but somehow also grand, which was a very contradictory situation.
After the ceremony, there was then the noble ball, held to celebrate the birth of new nobles in the Empire.
Those veteran nobles could recruit newcomers through marriage, of course, newbies could also actively present themselves to old nobles seeking protection.
The Noble Group is the most crucial part of Gafura noble culture, whether in past warlord periods or now, the Noble Group has always existed and will continue to exist.
"You look handsome!" As soon as Lynch entered the ballroom after changing clothes, Jenia proactively approached him.
She hooked Lynch’s arm, joking softly in his ear, "I heard several girls want to make you their target, which gives me a lot of pressure."
Lynch laughed and said, "Those gentlemen’s gazes could almost burn me alive, my pressure is even greater."
He paused, released his hand, stood before Jenia, and extended his hand, "Am I lucky enough to invite you to dance the first dance today?"
Jenia raised her neck like a proud White Swan, "Of course!"
The two danced to the melodious music, and Lynch asked softly, "Did you buy Yuanrong’s stock?"
Jenia nodded, "My financial advisor suggested I buy some. I bought around more than three million worth. What’s up?"
Lynch was a little surprised but also found it reasonable.
The Empire’s financial advisors have it easier than those in the Federation. These people have their contacts, many within their network are financial advisors of other nobles, which gives them an advantage.
Whenever good news appears, it quickly gets shared with every noble, and this time Richard seems to have taken the noble path.
"Nothing, it’s just that this stock is a bit strange."
They swayed in the dance floor, Lynch’s hand wrapped around Jenia’s waist, feeling through the thin silk fabric, could sense her smooth and tender skin beneath.
It’s hard to imagine someone in their thirties maintaining so well, that’s the perk of having wealth and power.
"You’re not wearing underwear?"
Jenia giggled a couple of times, "A surprise for you!"
Initially, approaching Lynch was indeed a task given by the Emperor, but facing such an outstanding person, even if this was a task, it was a sweet task, getting involved was natural.
She sighed a little, lamenting Lynch’s youth, lamenting her own age.
Lamenting that Lynch is a Federation citizen, while not only is she a Gafura citizen, but the Emperor’s sister.
They are destined not to be a couple, which made her somewhat unhappy.
Now what she does, is being wantonly happy when the opportunity arises.
