Darkstone Code-Chapter 782 - 0780 Lynch’s Perspective

We often use the term "isolated event" to affirm the "purity" of something.

This doesn’t mean the content of the event is refined and pure; rather, that it has no connection with other events that have happened or are yet to happen.

This kind of statement is mostly used in political contexts.

People often say an event is an "isolated event," unrelated to anything else. But how many political events can truly be as pure as an "isolated event"?

Not a single one!

Politics is driven by interests, without which no series of political actions could occur—this is precisely why politics lacks isolated events.

What does it mean when the Prime Minister publicly shakes hands with Lynch?

If the Prime Minister or Lynch were to speak, they might tell others it was just a simple handshake, devoid of complex or deeper motives, thus something pure and uncomplicated, free of over-interpretation.

But is that the truth?

Not long ago, the Prime Minister wanted to take action against Lynch, and now suddenly shakes his hand and chats warmly—it’s hard for anyone to believe there’s nothing more behind it.

The so-called clever nobles began to interpret these actions, wondering how Lynch resolved this trouble.

He decided to lead his people to develop in the Amelie Province, and so the Prime Minister ceased targeting him, even shaking his hand and talking with him.

What does this imply?

It implies there must be many other backstage deals out of sight!

Anything linked to power draws people in closely, and another group of peripheral individuals began interacting closely.

These nobles, unable to expand their families on the Main Island, began seriously considering whether venturing out could solve the predicaments they faced.

This is also the purpose behind the Prime Minister shaking hands with Lynch, to persuade more people to go with Lynch and develop in a new place, breeding new ideas among the Emperor of the Empire and ministers.

They’re planning to relocate some new nobles, minor nobles to Amelie Province, leaving the Main Island to the great nobles and splitting the noble class into two camps...

Lynch hosted these nobles and excitedly discussed how they could make fortunes together. It was clear these nobles were very interested in Lynch’s proposal, with some expressing willingness to go to Amelie Province with Lynch for on-site inspections, attempting to invest locally.

The event, incited by Yuanrong Capital, gradually settled down by this stage.

On November 29th, also the last Sunday, the elders’ selections in the Secretariat "unintentionally" began circulating among the noble circles.

No one knows who first leaked this news; it suddenly appeared in people’s minds, sparking heated discussions instantly.

The Noble Group reacted just as Lynch had anticipated, angrily. They invested much enthusiasm into a world they were unaware of, which was decided prematurely, causing dissatisfaction. Some believed that the longstanding nobles in the Secretariat betrayed the interests of the noble group.

The accused longstanding nobles showed no reaction to such accusations until one great noble expressed his and their stance at an informal gathering that evening.

His method was simple: he merely restated the Secretariat’s regulations.

In this Secretariat, with "Elder" as the core and "Elder" as the branch, ordinary nobles do not have voting rights!

No matter what they did before the final decision, whether building relationships or bartering, it was meaningless and valueless; they were not the masters of the Secretariat and couldn’t dictate the final Secretariat’s recommendations.

Once this stance was communicated, the entire Secretariat blew up, even affecting all the Empire’s nobles.

The young Count was also paying attention to this matter.

In a luxuriously decorated room, Lynch watched a TV program with his legs crossed. Since the Federation’s programs were introduced to Gafura, some Gafura TV programs have quickly reformed.

For example, some political talk shows, which previously never excessively praised nobles and officials, maintaining a neutral stance, would also not criticize nobles much.

Gafura’s culture is such that you can talk in private, but not openly.

Nobles won’t be aggrieved if two people casually comment "Nobles are damn sick" on the street, but if said on TV with a host or guest stating "Nobles are damn sick" in front of TV audiences, then it becomes a big deal.

They won’t praise nor belittle, so former political chat shows in Gafura appear uninteresting, watched occasionally by nobles or politicians.

This is unlike the Federation, where its citizens seem inherently inclined towards conspiracy theories, born into darkness, with criticizing the government, officials, and even the President regarded as correct political values.

If you say officials and the government are competent and excellent, people become suspicious of your motives.

But just by cursing the President or the Federation Government, you quickly find a group of friends in worker bars or working-class clubs.

Yet this time, they changed; they’ve found a target to fervently criticize!

The program is still somewhat immature, trying to expand into this genre, but overall it counts as an effort.

Not great viewing, yet praiseworthy.

Sitting aside, the young Count wanted to speak several times but never did until after the program ended when Lynch turned and looked at him, "What do you want to say?"

He had seen the young Count’s amusing demeanor; he merely wanted to see how long he could hold out, unexpectedly lasting.

For a nineteen-year-old, it’s the stage of proving oneself to the outside world and asserting one’s opinions, rarely caring about others’ views, only what they wish to do.

It’s considered a rebellious stage, and the peak of it; enduring until now is rare.

Moreover, Lynch roughly guessed the question he wanted to ask, understanding that matters relating to vested interests aren’t easily tolerable.

"Mr. Lynch, what the elders in the Secretariat did..." he said, hesitated as he chose his words carefully, "Is it... as people say, selling out the collective interests of the nobles?"

Everyone is following this now, including the young Count.

As one of the Empire’s nobles, and being so young, even if the matter hasn’t genuinely impacted him, he feels equally betrayed.

To young people at this stage, they are sometimes selfish and sometimes broad, considering the touching of collective interests as personal infringement.

Lynch shook his head and turned off the television; not far away, the former Countess stood up to prepare some tea and pastries for them.

Lynch first furrowed his brow, pondered for a while, then asked, "What’s your view?"

The young Count took a deep breath, "The nobles in the Secretariat should unite, but now these elders ignore the vast majority of our interests and give away this rare opportunity."

"Some say perhaps the Prime Minister exchanged interests with the elders, providing no list, and others speculate other exchanges—anyway, they sold everyone’s interests for their own!"

He was somewhat agitated and angry while saying this, vividly imagining his indignation upon first hearing the news.

"And what else?" Lynch leisurely asked another question.

"What else?" The young Count was taken aback, momentarily vacant, then shook his head after a while, "I don’t know, Mr. Lynch; it just seems there must be something here, and they’ve made decisions harmful to the nobles!"

Lynch noncommittally nodded, "Does everyone think this way?"

The young Count affirmed, "Yes, at least everyone I know thinks this way."

Upon hearing this, Lynch’s face showed a smile, contemplating before laughing aloud; the young Count watching him felt unclear, not finding it amusing.

"A carefree life has made you forget political struggles should never be viewed superficially..." Lynch spoke and paused while the former Countess brought fresh tea, pastries, and some fruits over.

Eating fruit in winter isn’t easy, as Gafura’s winter is extremely cold, making natural growth of fruit trees impossible.

But this is not an issue for nobles; on some noble farms, a conservatory keeps temperatures steady during winter, growing fruits and vegetables used over the season.

After thanking her, Lynch brought the tea to himself and took an apple from the former Countess’s hands.

"Can I also listen?" she asked.

"Of course, that’s your right." Lynch didn’t disagree, biting into the apple, sweet and crunchy.

While chewing the fruit inaccessible to ordinary people in winter, he slightly organized his thoughts, "On the surface, the elders in the Secretariat sold the nobles’ interests. They made some transactions with the Prime Minister, granting him the power he wanted."

"But in reality, these elders are saving you!"