Darkstone Code-Chapter 871 - 869: The Impulse to Get Rich
At the end of February, Lynch brought Penny to participate in the spring tasting event of the Every Moment Company, located in the Northern Federation.
Traveling from Bupen to Mariluo by land is not an easy journey. The greatest obstacle on this long road is the northern mountains. Taking a train to Mariluo requires at least three to four transfers to reach the border between the Federation and Mariluo.
This is only the problem with the route. The last segment within the Federation and the initial segment within Mariluo are extremely dangerous.
Crazy smugglers, stowaways, and some thugs frequently attack trains.
They place obstacles on the tracks, forcing trains to stop, and then loot or even hijack them. Thus, traveling by land is not only slow but also very foolish.
To provide the Federation’s distinguished customers with the Ultimate Level of enjoyment, Every Moment spent a fortune to buy a very luxurious cruise ship. This cruise will arrive at Mariluo’s open port in fifteen days. During these days, it will head south then west, travel up the West Coast of the Federation, and finally reach their destination.
The luxurious cruise ship has an opera house, cinema, casino, sports arena...
The entire journey is fully covered by Every Moment Company, and everyone on board does not need to pay any extra costs.
Of course, the funds for gambling in the casino are not covered.
This journey is labeled as the "Gold Journey" in the Federation and is the ultimate dream for countless people!
Being invited to board the cruise ship means having earned a place for yourself in this money-worshiping country!
To showcase its influence, Every Moment even organized a boarding ceremony, making the boarding process resemble an award ceremony scene.
People arrive in luxury cars to the side of the cruise ship, then walk up the red carpet onto the cruise, illuminated by flashlights.
Everyone boarding will be featured in Every Moment’s special issue in a week.
Yes, they have their own publication distributed worldwide, and it’s not free.
Published every two months, the primary content is related to Kleve, such as new fragrances crafted by perfumers or the preferences of some prominent Pure Gold Club members in taste.
The power of capitalism is immense. This seemingly meaningless magazine, in the eyes of many in the lower society, is a hit among the middle class.
There is an interesting saying—
Those high-profile figures in the Pure Gold Club don’t understand pure gold as well as the middle class does!
Thus, Kleve has become more than just a necessity to fulfill people’s nicotine needs; it is also a symbol of capital culture.
Being featured in a special issue is a dream for many young people.
The real bigwigs might not attend personally, but they send their descendants instead, and the young people are willing to come.
"Remember to walk a bit faster later..."
It was almost time for Lynch and Penny to board. Seeing Penny dressed elegantly, Lynch suddenly thought she might slow them down.
The girl didn’t resist strongly; she just looked at Lynch with her innocent face and clear eyes, "My butt hurts."
Tsk...
Lynch chuckled a few times. The girl didn’t respond to his laughter, just seriously looked at him. After a while, Lynch sighed, "Alright, but don’t walk too slowly."
"You should understand that the length of your stay there doesn’t help you enter any particular class. Instead, the people around you are the most important."
"Whether we walk through it quickly or not, as long as you stand by my side, you will definitely make headlines tomorrow!"
A strong sense of confidence rushed in, like the feeling of a gust of wind blowing. But in the cramped space of the car, with the windows closed, where could a breeze come from?
The girl was momentarily lost in thought. She understood this logic, but only when Lynch said it did she truly realize what was important.
"Oh..." That was her reply, without saying yes or no, nor making further statements.
Seven or eight minutes later, the car moved slowly forward, then steadily stopped after a short distance.
The car door opened, and Lynch’s personal manager welcomed him outside. Amid endless flashing lights, Lynch signed his name in the registration book, then led Penny by the hand towards the cruise.
Their pace wasn’t slow, nor too fast—just normal.
"Should we walk a bit slower?" Lynch asked as they walked.
The girl didn’t speak, but she also didn’t slow down.
The reporters frantically followed them. People were more interested in Lynch’s personal life, a newly crowned billionaire, than in the established old tycoons.
The youngest billionaire in history paired with the Federation’s new generation pure goddess—this combination is exactly what most people love to see.
People always speculate both beautifully and wickedly about everything they love or hate and then move themselves.
Once aboard the cruise, under the guidance of a steward, the two reached the upper deck.
This cruise ship doesn’t just sit idling. Apart from being used for the annual Spring Tasting event, it’s rented out to various travel companies for cruise projects at other times.
Maintaining a cruise ship costs a lot of money, and if it’s only used once a year, it might as well be rented.
The cruise ship has two levels, with the upper level consisting of separate rooms. Each room is large enough, over three hundred square meters, with private bedrooms, guest rooms, studies, living rooms, side halls, and multiple bathrooms.
This is specially prepared for distinguished guests, while the lower level consists of small rooms of fifteen square meters, meant for ordinary people.
They might spend a thousand bucks squeezing into a cramped room, telling themselves under the night sky that they’re enjoying the same treatment as the guests above... 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
This trip won’t open the lower deck; everyone’s a distinguished guest, all on the upper level.
Before long, the two arrived at the room designated for them, and the attendant handed them two sets of keys.
On them were not only the room keys but also keys to the safes inside, which of course also had combinations.
"Whatever requests you may have, just pick up any phone you see, and our operators will arrange it for you as soon as possible!"
"Lastly, we wish you both a pleasant journey!"
After entering the room, the girl quietly walked into the bedroom, lay down on the bed, her eyes a bit red.
Before their arrival, Every Moment’s staff had already sent their luggage over and hung everything up.
She tilted her head, watching Lynch who was changing clothes, and said pitifully, "My butt hurts!"
While Lynch rolled his tie nicely and placed it into the tie box, he picked out two bow ties, turned around to look at the girl, and held the bow ties against his chest, "Which one do you think looks better?"
Most of the time Lynch was flawless, he knew so much, but he had areas where he was powerless, like choosing small accessories such as bow ties.
To him, two seemingly similar colors were completely different in other people’s eyes, so he needed an assistant.
He didn’t need to understand all this himself; he didn’t understand fashion design and color coordination, he just needed someone who did.
The young, stylish girl was evidently one of those people.
"The one in your right hand, it makes you look more mature..." Penny instinctively replied, then quickly realized, patting the bed, "My butt hurts!!"
Lynch changed into his evening suit in front of the mirror; the clothes worn outside, on the ship, and at the party were different.
You might not be sensitive to color coordination, but you definitely couldn’t wear the wrong thing.
"You can choose not to go; we will have a banquet tonight. There will be many people there, and our own reporters will also be present!"
At the mention of this, the girl’s butt suddenly didn’t hurt anymore. She rushed to the wardrobe, rolling and crawling, to pick out her clothes.
Using such a phrase to describe her actions is certainly an exaggeration, but it’s quite apt.
Every Moment’s publications are not just aimed at the Federation, but the whole world, making this a great opportunity to appear in front of the global high society, one she can’t miss.
With a swoosh, the girl’s dress instantly fell to the floor. The six-thousand-dollar dress, which many could only rent, lay on the carpet.
She started choosing evening wear from the wardrobe, dressed only in her underwear. Lynch leaned back slightly, glancing down at the girl’s butt, still having some marks.
He slightly curled his lips and continued to dress himself up.
Naughty girls who don’t listen naturally have to be punished; it is said that in Gafura noble families there are nuns specifically for this task.
They would make the misbehaving children take off their pants, and in front of everyone, whip them on their buttocks with soft whips made of layered cowhide pressed together.
Each strike leaves a swollen mark, not only painful but also humiliating.
However, the process of the girl getting hurt couldn’t be called humbling or humiliating, as the only audience was one she chose herself – it was all her own fault!
Lynch calmly adjusted his bow tie’s position, setting the sapphire cufflinks and brooch in platinum to perfection, looking stunning!
Meanwhile, in a stinking room, a fierce-looking character was watching television.
On TV, pairs of rich people boarded the ship one after another. With each introduction of a newly boarding guest by the live outdoor host, the man watching grew more sinister.
Every Moment has no shortage of enemies in Mariluo; countless people envy their enterprise in the Federation.
But Every Moment is too powerful; they use the money earned in the Federation to solidify their dominance in Mariluo.
Small groups are no match for them, not even in the same league.
Those able to engage with them aren’t willing to start a war hastily.
This has resulted in the current interesting situation in Mariluo—
Major powers rarely initiate expansion wars; instead, small warlords constantly battle each other endlessly.
But everything has its exceptions, some fear Every Moment, while others don’t fear as much.
They don’t plan to confront the warlords behind Every Moment head-on; they just intend to hijack this cruise ship and make a big score!
