Darkstone Code-Chapter 808 - 806: Luck Overflowing

Early the next morning, the doorbell rang.

The mailman was pushing a small cart and standing outside the yard, along with a community worker.

"What’s all this?" Lynch, who had gotten up early to finish his morning exercise, casually picked up the topmost box and glanced at it.

"For the one I love most..."

It had Lynch’s name on it, as well as the sender’s name, which was Penny.

Suddenly, Lynch thought of something. Although the Federation people didn’t have the custom of "visiting during New Year," they also exchanged gifts to express their feelings.

People from far places would send New Year gifts in advance. Those closer, like people in the same city, would send them on the last day of the previous year to ensure that the gifts reached people’s hands on January 1st.

Of course, personally delivering gifts was also a good option, but that would limit the number of visits. Therefore, most people chose to have the post office and mail carriers help them out.

Penny was still in Bupen and hadn’t left. She could have delivered the gift herself, yet she still relied on the mailman.

Besides Penny’s, there were gifts from Catherine, Vera, and many individuals or businesses with whom Lynch had cooperative relationships.

Sometimes being a "big shot" has its perks. Not considering a busy work schedule, merely receiving various holiday gifts can lift a person’s spirits.

After having the mailman bring everything into the room, Lynch randomly opened some gifts from the girls, which were mostly packaged pastries, predominantly cookies.

Though not expensive, they carry a degree of value, especially since the term "handmade" always possesses special significance.

In the process of "unboxing surprises," Lynch discovered an interesting phenomenon: people who weren’t very wealthy often sent sentimental gifts, almost always handmade items.

For example, Vera’s child gave Lynch a painting of a mother and child with Lynch, the three of them standing on a meadow.

You could say the painting is worthless, yet it’s priceless, something money cannot buy.

Those who have achieved financial freedom sent more exquisite gifts, such as tie clips, cufflinks, and leather belts and wallets.

By nine o’clock, the whole family was awake. After enjoying a hearty breakfast together, Serra proposed to say goodbye.

On one hand, she didn’t want to see Nell with the two girls flitting around in front of her eyes; on the other, she indeed had plans with Koman.

"We’re going south for the winter. We’ll return to Sabin City at the end of the month or next month, depending on when the weather warms up a bit..." Serra’s outfit was very carefully matched, and her relationships with her wealthy lady friends were improving.

Of course, this also had a lot to do with Lynch’s growing influence. Lynch even heard about a store opening that invited Serra to attend the ceremony, for which they paid her.

This trip south for the winter wasn’t Serra going alone; she was accompanied by her friends.

Life is indeed interesting. Three years ago, Serra wouldn’t even have considered going to a warm southern place for the winter. Now, when she talks about it, it’s like mentioning something very insignificant.

Lynch nodded as an acknowledgment of this matter, then looked at Nell.

"Do you have any plans today?" Nell was the first to ask the question.

The Federation takes a day off on January 1st every year. He planned to take the two girls out for a while but also wanted to take Lynch’s thoughts into consideration.

As parents, Nell was less indifferent than Serra in his attitude toward Lynch.

Lynch thought for a moment, "In the afternoon, I’m going to the President’s home for a party. You know, a New Year’s party."

Sitting off to the side reading the newspaper, Koman suddenly raised his head to look at Lynch. It’s only by actually coming into contact with such big shots’ lives that one can feel the difference in this lifestyle.

The President inviting Lynch to a party is the kind of scenario that usually appears only in novels or movies, and when it happens around you, the feeling is indeed indescribable.

He wanted to go as well, but Serra gave him a sidelong glance, and he had to bow his head again.

Nell breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I won’t disturb you. I’ll wander around. Who knows when I’ll come back next time."

After the conversation ended, everyone left the dining table. Lynch, holding Serra’s hand, walked her to the community gate. Her ticket was for the afternoon.

"If anything happens, call me anytime," Lynch reminded her.

Serra did not refuse, "Don’t worry, I will."

Lynch gave Serra a hug and then watched as Koman busily attended to Serra getting into the car. He suddenly found it a bit comical.

This humor might seem a bit disrespectful because what Lynch was thinking about was the relationship between Serra and Koman. Who was actually playing whom?

A moment later, Nell also left with the two girls, leaving the house once again with just Lynch, a few maids, and his temporary butler.

Lynch originally thought of going to find Catherine, but after reconsidering, he gave up on the idea.

Catherine attended a very important event last night, and Lynch even saw her on TV.

To the general Federation public, December 31st’s night might not hold much significance, but for the Church, the last day of the year is undoubtedly meaningful.

One of the key reasons Mrs. Tricia stayed in Bupen was to participate in the New Year’s ceremony at the Bupen Holy Cathedral.

They gather around the Shepherd to pray, perform religious ceremonies, sing together, and enter the New Year under the Lord’s watch.

There are three Holy Cathedrals in the Federation; this "Holy" isn’t a name, but a title akin to a rank, indicating it is one of the highest standard churches.

The Shepherd from the Central Pasture Area of the Empire and important religious figures gather at the Holy Cathedral on this day, starting at eight o’clock in the evening with religious ceremonies, continuing until the arrival of the New Year.

There are many believers in the Federation, and it’s impossible for everyone to attend in person, so many participated via live broadcast — even the concept of live-streaming religious events has been embraced, allowing believers to participate in religious activities from their living rooms.

After all, the Lord is sacred and omnipotent; participating in ceremonies at the church or in the living room makes no difference to the sacred and omnipotent Lord.

This means that at least some 20 million people watched the Bupen Holy Cathedral’s religious New Year’s event last night.

Mrs. Tricia’s uncle is one of the Central Shepherds, a position of high status, and naturally one of the main hosts.

Being the Shepherd’s niece, Mrs. Tricia is naturally qualified to stand at the forefront, and Catherine, as the link between Mrs. Tricia and Lynch, is also qualified to stand beside Mrs. Tricia.

This gave Catherine exposure to more than 20 million people for four or five hours continuously, an unprecedented influence and a rare opportunity.

The ceremony continued until midnight before ending; Catherine should still be resting, and visiting now would disturb her with rest as she needs to work tomorrow.

This exposure will greatly aid her future political career, as politics and religion are always intertwined.

After some consideration, Lynch decided to go out for a stroll and casually shop for a suitable gift for the evening party.

On January 1st, Bupen is as busy as any other place on January 1st.

Perhaps holidays might momentarily pause work, but not money.

As long as money doesn’t stop, there will naturally be those who chase after money and those chased by money.

Lynch wandered around, ate a pie for lunch to get by, and in the afternoon, he arrived at the President’s home at the agreed time.

It’s a home, not his residence.

The President has a relatively secluded large house in the suburbs of Bupen, which he visited every day before becoming President. Once he became President, he had to live in the President’s Mansion.

This gathering naturally couldn’t be held at the President’s Mansion, as it might spur the media into creating a major headline like "Live Broadcast of the President’s Party", so the venue was set at his own home.

After verifying his identity, Lynch’s car was allowed in. Austin was left inside the house while Lynch was led by the butler to the garden behind the house.

Though called a garden, it’s not solely a garden. Along with a massive garden and grassland, there’s a small golf course and a large artificial lake.

The President reportedly paid a down payment to purchase this house, but soon after, the developer responsible for developing this residential area ran into some issues.

After they completed the community’s facilities, including several small golf courses and an artificial lake, they had to stop selling.

This was because their specific building plan did not match their project application, and there were some financial issues involved.

Ultimately, this project was indefinitely shelved, and for the houses that had already been sold, Federation law prevents the Federation Government from reclaiming them, leading to a deadlock.

Later, the developer became embroiled in endless lawsuits, with no resolution to date, causing this project to remain unopened.

The President repeatedly tried to fulfill his obligations to purchase the house, wanting to pay the remaining house funds to the developer, but his effort didn’t succeed due to the developer’s bank accounts being frozen.

Only after all legal cases are concluded can he continue to pay.

The President moved in with little financial expenditure, enjoying complete facilities — which the developer is obliged to provide as part of their service duty for already sold houses.

Few are as fortunate as the President, just a handful; the houses they each purchased are spread far apart, and if not for intentionally disturbing each other, they might never meet in a lifetime.

Except occasionally when they boat on the lake to fish where they greet each other from a distance, they mostly do not meet.

Some say this is an interest transfer, with some capitalists secretly occupying vast lands and creating a heaven-like place for just a few.

However, none of these speculations are backed by evidence, and ultimately it all comes to nothing, and one can only say the President’s luck is incredible!

By the way, let it be known, before running for President, he was a Senator in Congress...

Of course, his position at the time had no relation to his ability to purchase such a house, purely a stroke of good fortune.

And nothing else.

After all, the Federation is a fair and just nation, where everyone abides by the law and reveres it!