Darkstone Code-Chapter 787 - 0785 Before the election [This - is sponsored by leader: DUKE777 extra update-2/2]
"Has Lynch left?"
"Hmm..."
"Alright, I understand..."
The Prime Minister hung up the phone. This morning, around seven, Lynch suddenly came to visit.
For the nobles of Gafura, the concept of "morning" usually refers to around nine o’clock.
What the nobles do is enjoy life and occasionally engage in political struggles and intrigues; that’s their entire life.
Matters like business are handled by specific merchants for them. They don’t need to, like the Federation’s CEOs, start their busy day before daybreak.
Lynch’s visit was a bit early, and the Prime Minister met him in the study while wearing pajamas.
If he were to dress properly, it might take more than half an hour; making a guest wait that long is very rude, and he is not that kind of person.
After the meeting, they didn’t discuss much.
They first talked about Lynch’s plans after arriving at the Amelie Province, including his dual-core plan, which the Prime Minister knew a bit about and had no objections.
But unexpectedly, Lynch said something after these talks, which left him deep in thought.
Even to this moment, those words kept echoing in his mind—"Have you ever heard of Monarchy Constitution?"
For some reason, these words carried a terrifying magic power that made the Prime Minister’s heart race and breathing quicken.
He knew this might be a trap, Lynch’s scheme, but he couldn’t help being drawn to the image Lynch described.
Maintaining the principle of noble governance while weakening the Imperial Family’s power, turning the Imperial Family into the nation’s spiritual symbol and mascot, and returning all power to the nobles.
To truly activate the Secretariat, making it a place to select governing talents for the Empire...
Undeniably, what Lynch spoke about had a deadly attraction to the Prime Minister.
The flaw of an Emperor-led governance is that no one can ensure every Emperor is wise and intelligent; should a fool appear, a madman is somewhat better.
If a ruthless, authoritarian tyrant Emperor arises, that is truly catastrophic.
Every change of imperial position is a difficult choice; no one knows whether the person they choose will lead the nation to prosperity in the future.
But if the Emperor’s power is diluted and nobles replace him to govern, referring to the Federation’s electoral system, it seems like a good method.
Those with ability rise to power, those without descend, which ensures the ruling class is always the best, and that’s the advantage of the Federation system.
However, Gafura is not that kind of country. The monarchy political system doesn’t even allow such thoughts to emerge.
But now, Lynch suddenly brings up these matters, vaguely making the Prime Minister realize something—he has acquired financial power.
With financial power, the Prime Minister can be called a generational Prime Minister; he is already equipped to resist the Emperor, if this time...
Withdrawing his scattered thoughts, the Prime Minister shook his head with a smile. That bastard left him with a troubling problem even after departing.
His current contemplation indicates deep down he doesn’t reject this notion, this system, even feeling a subtle excitement.
He knows this is the wrong emotion, if he continually holds such feelings, he will unconsciously be influenced and distracted by Lynch’s words, ultimately making the wrong choice.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but link to the Federation’s upcoming election. The current Federation President indeed caught a good opportunity.
His predecessor President was removed mid-term, giving him two years to master the Cabinet and various national departments, saving him crucial time.
If he can still win after the new election ends, his control over that country will be stronger than any previous first-term President.
Next comes re-election; if he wins again, the Federation’s departmental powers will be highly concentrated in his hands, coinciding with Gafura’s ministers and Emperor thinking the next war might break out in a decade.
At that time, the Federation may head toward a more terrifying direction, and the President might continue long-term, becoming an Emperor without being an Emperor!
So what about Gafura, where will Gafura head?
When the Prime Minister gathered his scattered thoughts, it was almost ten, and he needed to go to work.
After a simple freshening up and breakfast, he carried his briefcase to the office. He had just sat down for less than a minute when the phone rang.
It was His Majesty the Emperor, the secretary outside the door mouthed to tell him who was calling.
The Prime Minister nodded first, then answered the phone, "This is the Prime Minister’s office."
"Good morning..., has Lynch, that bastard, already left?"
The Emperor’s voice immediately came through; it sounded polite, with no hint of the previous days’ confrontations with the Prime Minister.
Politics is really fucking magical!
"He’s already gone, my driver told me he personally saw Lynch board the ship and then leave the port, he won’t be back for a while."
In the receiver, the Prime Minister heard the sound of relief, showing that the Emperor was very concerned about whether Lynch had left or not.
"He’d better not come back for the rest of his life. Next time you have to stand up and refuse his entry request, we can’t let him roam around!"
The Prime Minister chuckled; His Majesty the Emperor always becomes a bit emotional when it comes to Lynch.
On one hand, it’s because of Jenia. Some say the Emperor plans to have a brother-in-law, which makes the Emperor feel insulted by such claims.
Secondly, it’s because nothing good ever happens when Lynch visits. This cunning, treacherous, despicable Federation merchant is not a good person.
The Prime Minister could understand the Emperor’s thoughts, but at that moment, he felt a bit dazed.
An emotional Emperor, compared to a noble ruling party, who has the upper hand?
While the Prime Minister was deep in Lynch’s beautiful future of a monarchy constitution, Lynch, after a few days of sailing, had already returned to the Federation.
Stepping off the ship, the sea breeze cut across his face like a knife, licking his chapped lips, it was salty.
"I didn’t feel any sweet smell of freedom, just a very stern atmosphere. Can someone tell me, did I step with the wrong leg getting off the gangway?"
Standing on the dock, Lynch made a little joke. The people around softly went along with him. Whether it was funny or not, they would all laugh, such is the magic power of money.
The motorcade was ready, and under the protection of senior soldiers and others, Lynch got into the car.
It was much warmer inside the car. The heat generated by the engine heated the air, which was then captured and sent into the car.
Except for easily causing casualties, everything else was quite alright.
Lynch opened a crack of the window; he didn’t want to make the front page headlines of all newspapers because of his manner of death.
This was still just a coastal city, about five hundred kilometers away from Bupen. But once the convoy entered the city, the intense election atmosphere could be felt.
On the walls on both sides of the road, the President’s big white teeth were everywhere, various election slogans and banners were everywhere, and occasionally some voters holding small flags and signboards were parading spontaneously in the streets.
The election in the Federation has become a cultural symbol, a social phenomenon in which everyone participates, far more lively than mayoral, or gubernatorial elections.
While waiting for the traffic light in the city, some passing voters would even run over to plant a few small flags with the President’s smiling face on the car’s hood.
This is a nationwide carnival. No wonder some say the Federation’s general election is not only a political show but also a commercial show.
Think about it, the Federation has nearly 120 million eligible voters. Each of these people needs a coat representing their camp, a hat, a pair of gloves, some flags, some badges...
No wonder they hold the election in the winter, if it were summer, people might just need a short-sleeved T-shirt.
These things cost at least twenty or thirty dollars. That’s a market of two or three billion.
Plus all kinds of promotional posters, various event expenses, various media expenses...
Breaking down all costs, even after breaking the legs, there’d still be a profit of several billion to tens of billions!
This money is enough to make people go crazy.
When Lynch returned to Bupen, the fervent political atmosphere became even more intense. The financial center of Bupen had rarely taken down various commercials and replaced them with the President and his big white teeth and thumbs up.
The President was everywhere, along with his fervent supporters, everyone was going crazy!
After returning home, Lynch did not immediately plunge into intense work but chose to give himself a few days off.
He had been so busy over in Gafura, it was time to rest.
Just turning on the TV, all kinds of election shows popped up, along with many of the President’s campaign speeches.
These things at this time had higher ratings than TV dramas, which is the biggest difference between the Federation and other countries.
The Federation’s election allows every citizen to have a very deep sense of participation, and this sense of participation accompanies them and the President, and candidates through these months.
They will have a sense of honor from personally participating in national affairs. Especially when the President they chose wins, it gives them the illusion of "It’s because I joined that he won."
In terms of fooling, numbing, and manipulating the public, the Federation is definitely at the forefront of the world. Gafura can’t even measure up to shine the Federation’s shoes!
Lynch’s vacation was reluctantly interrupted after two days when Ms. Tricia unexpectedly called him, hoping to come over to talk.
The last time he returned to York State, he donated some money to the Women’s Rights Protection Association, but Ms. Tricia wasn’t there at the time.
Lynch was curious about her visit, what did this woman want?
