Darkstone Code-Chapter 859 - 857: Spear and Shield [19/?]

The company registered just yesterday, and it seems many people already know about it today; Lynch wasn’t surprised.

This is the core area of wealth and power; as long as there’s enough money, people don’t mind selling some trivial news in exchange for the friendship of the rich.

Lynch did not deny it, "Many people are watching me, I won’t reject their ideas, but they also have to come up with something concrete."

"If they want to devour me, they should first prepare to lose a few teeth."

Mr. Wardrick laughed heartily after hearing this, "You are the most interesting person I’ve ever met; is what you’re thinking and what I’m thinking the same thing?"

Lynch nodded without hesitation, "Of course, that’s exactly what I’m thinking."

If someone were to eavesdrop on their conversation at this moment, they probably wouldn’t understand what they were talking about.

This is how smart people communicate with each other; they can fully... not fully, but at least understand most of it, sixty-six percent.

If these people want to interfere with his control over the company regardless of all factors, there’s no issue; just use money to strike me!

Four or five companies, all valued over a billion, do not accept stock exchange.

No one typically buys research institutes because what is truly valuable are the people inside, not the dead objects.

Remove the research institute, organize the remaining nested companies, four companies, patent authorization management, production, sales, after-sales, each company valued at one billion.

Four companies total four billion; to prevent Lynch from controlling critical votes, they must compress his shares to below thirty-two percent; in other words, they need to shell out nearly three billion to buy into these companies’ stock.

Then issue several rounds; to keep up, you must continually invest money; next, Lynch cashes out, and these people will need to pour in billions or more!

Using such a vast sum to constrain Lynch and the plane’s development... the cost seems a bit high; they’re merely trying not to let a potential competitor sneak away, not dragging themselves down.

Lynch’s methods don’t seem like those of a young man at all; he could even continue splitting further, for example, dividing the authorized production company into assembly companies, each with multiple component suppliers.

Moreover, these companies sign breach clauses with each other involving billions in penalties; if someone wants to seize control, they must take down all the companies.

Spending billions just to make Lynch go back on his word, really seems a bit... foolish.

Of course, all this has a not-so-easy-to-duplicate premise, which is the Ministry of Defense’s orders.

Not every company that develops new products can secure a thirty million Federation Sol military sales contract; this contract happens to be an essential support for all of Lynch’s maneuvers.

With this contract, enhance the contents a bit, it’s easy to create a perception of a three to five billion military sales order, so people are willing to believe it’s worth the money.

If another company tried this, forget about splitting, valuing each company at one billion, even ten million would be difficult.

Without generating profit, without prospects, why would people invest so much money?

Because they’re foolish?

"I’m unsure which company’s shares I should buy; you’re making it a bit troublesome for me," Mr. Wardrick easily said, without embarrassment or reluctance.

Everyone’s societal task is to earn money, to live better themselves, and then to take care of more people.

So making money should never be a derogatory term; Mr. Wardrick has discovered a business opportunity, and he wants to make money, which is perfectly normal.

Lynch thought for a moment, "If you can accept shares without voting rights, I suggest you choose the authorization management company."

"All patents from the research institute will be commercialized by this management company; then it authorizes production, sales, and after-sales companies, this is the upstream company."

Mr. Wardrick suddenly nodded in realization, "So that’s it, I understand. Before I make a decision, I have one more question."

"Please go ahead..."

Just as Mr. Wardrick was about to speak, a whistle suddenly sounded from up ahead, the two riders immediately focused their attention, also picking up the hunting rifles inserted in the saddles.

This is a warning that prey has entered the hunting range, a signal sent by the knights driving the prey from the exterior.

Meanwhile, the knights surrounding the two also began their work, continuing to drive the prey into positions more suitable for shooting.

If the prey is relatively large, they’ll even use lassos to control its ability to act, making it effortless for the two esteemed gentlemen to shoot them.

Whether it’s bears, Federation lions, or leopards, none can escape these seasoned hunters’ tactics.

At that moment, Mr. Wardrick and Lynch will be able to step on the prey for a photo; these photos will be printed out along with the prey’s specimen head, placed in a specially designated room for exhibition, proving the enemies they’ve overcome in their lives.

It’s a young deer, appearing at most around two years old, still a "child."

Under the hunters’ chase and blockade, it was already somewhat out of breath and began to hide, somewhat confused, in a low bush, not realizing the bush wouldn’t fundamentally conceal its figure.

It felt a bit perplexed, not understanding why just coming out to find something to eat, it encountered such strange entities.

They drove it, not letting it rest, yet it couldn’t escape, could only hide here.

Every so often, a warm breath would emit from the young deer’s nose; the weather had begun to warm up, but there was still some time before it became warm.

"Come on..." Mr. Wardrick lowered his hunting rifle.

Lynch didn’t hesitate, raised the gun, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

A gunshot rang out, shaking the entire forest. Unfortunately, it was early spring, so there were no birds startled into flight.

The fawn looked as if propelled by a great force, its head jerked, moving several meters sideways before falling to the ground.

It struggled hard. Lynch’s marksmanship wasn’t excellent, so he hadn’t aimed at the fawn’s head or neck, but at its body.

The adjusted hunting rifle and special bullets were not hard to use. Lynch put down the gun and returned it to the saddle.

A Knight approached actively, "Mr. Lynch, would you like a photo?"

No matter what is hunted, a photo can be taken, even if it’s just a rabbit barely covered in fur.

Hunting isn’t much related to what is caught, nor is there some strange hierarchy of disdain among hunters.

Since the day firearms were invented, in people’s eyes, the strongest lion and the house cat were no different, especially when holding a gun.

"No need..." After some thought, Lynch rejected the idea.

The Knight asked again, "Then do you want its leather? Fawn leather is great for gloves, very soft, and the meat is delicious. Maybe Mr. Lynch would try it?"

This piqued Lynch’s interest. He nodded, "Sure, skin it for me and save the best meat, I’d like to try it."

The Knight quickly left, went to the prey, looked at the not-yet-dead fawn, and drew a Dagger from his waist, its tip aimed at the back of its head, then slapped the dagger’s hilt with his other hand!

Most of the dagger sank into the poor fawn’s head, and it immediately stopped moving.

The Knight expertly and swiftly skinned it, then took out the best two cuts of meat.

The shocking red dotted with some pale areas, making the forest scene somewhat eerie and dazzling.

The rest of the deer was left in place, nature would reclaim it, nourishing others.

The two gentlemen continued riding forward. Mr. Wardrick asked, "Where was I earlier?"

"You had a question for me..."

Mr. Wardrick frowned in thought for a moment, "Ah, yes, I recall."

"Is the aircraft all you planned?"

"I mean, is there only aircraft in your plan, or are there other things?"

Lynch nodded, "There are, and quite a few."

He not only planned to sell aircraft but also anti-aircraft weapons capable of shooting them down.

This sounds like sabotaging oneself, but that’s the essence of making money.

Many have heard the story of someone selling spears and shields, claiming the spear was the sharpest, able to pierce any shield.

Then they raised a shield, claiming it was the sturdiest, able to withstand any attack.

A wise person asked what would happen if the sharpest spear attacked the sturdiest shield?

People often use this story to mock merchants’ folly, yet they don’t know how many shields and spears were sold using this method.

Someone always believes half, thus purchasing a spear or a shield, or they might believe the whole and buy both.

Some believe none of it, and to prove the merchant wrong, or to demonstrate their "cleverness," they buy both to collide them.

Regardless of the outcome, the merchant earns enough money.

Merchants are foolish; they make big money.

Some think they are smart, but they can’t even qualify to serve merchants.

Besides anti-aircraft weaponry, there are other gear for use on aircraft, like anti-submarine bombs or air-dropped torpedoes.

Strictly speaking, Lynch doesn’t understand any of these; he can’t even describe their basic structures, much less comprehend every technical challenge.

But he has creativity and ideas.

When technology accumulates to a certain level, breakthroughs need more than advancing technology; they need sparks of genius.

It’s thin. Once people pass through and look back, they find themselves foolish for being stalled by such simplicity.

Before crossing it, people find it thick, thick enough to despair.

Lynch is the key to crossing this boundary; he can easily pierce this wall, this membrane.