Darkstone Code-Chapter 910 - 908: Buzzing

The story of the shield and spear has been passed down for many years, and for a thousand years, the merchant ridiculed by everyone seems to be forever nailed to the pillar of shame.

Perhaps it will continue to be passed down, accompanying the entire human society’s civilization until the final day comes.

But no one knows that this merchant, who has been mocked for a thousand years and perhaps will continue to be mocked, lived in great abundance.

I sell nails and hammers, and I also sell pliers that can pull out nails. It looks somewhat... silly, but this is the password to wealth.

While everyone else was thinking about how to research flying machines comparable to the Federation’s aircraft and make them fly, Lynch had already asked the researchers to study how to shoot down planes.

I sell planes and also things that can shoot them down!

This is not a hard thing to understand. Once every country starts researching planes, they will inevitably become common on the battlefield, so figuring out how to control the air forces becomes something to study.

As everyone continued documenting, Lynch also shared his views, "We can utilize some surplus space on the aircraft to specially design some onboard weapons."

"This way, we don’t need to carry an additional pilot, and we can save that weight to replace with more bullets and fuel."

"The wings, the front engine cover, these places that don’t affect the plane’s performance can all be used for dumping ammunition. I’m not an expert in this area, so you’ll have to figure it out yourselves."

"Also, we need to hire some weapons experts. We’ve all seen the effects of the real machine; we lack professional weapons."

"Whether it’s onboard weapons or bombs, we need more professional design. You’ll have to take charge of this..." Lynch pointed at the Chief Engineer, who nodded repeatedly, promising to resolve it quickly.

Lynch especially reminded, "You can poach some experienced people. If others can do this to us, we can do it to others too!"

The researchers in the room burst into laughter. Though some felt it wasn’t actually funny, seeing everyone laughing made them inexplicably want to laugh too, and they did.

Lynch looked at everyone, his expression slightly more serious, causing the laughter in the room to stop, "Lastly, due to confidentiality reasons and to prevent any foreign personnel from threatening your lives, avoid leaving the vicinity of the research institute in the short term."

"You should have noticed that this place has now been designated as a military restricted area, and soon a military presence will be established here to ensure everyone’s safety."

"Of course, considering you shouldn’t go home during holidays, I discussed with the Chief Engineer. On holidays, it will count as regular work, and the daily pay will be three times the usual!"

Do these scientists really have holidays?

Regardless of whether there are holidays, they always stay in the institute. First, those with families have nothing to do if they go back, and secondly, traveling to Bupen City is far, not very convenient.

Scientists generally don’t have strong desires, as being engaged in high-intensity work for long periods causes them to ignore the changes of time. Sometimes facing difficult subjects, by the time they look up again, several months have passed.

But going home or not is their freedom, whereas providing or not providing wages is Lynch’s conscience. Lynch is a conscientious entrepreneur with a sense of social morals and responsibility; he wouldn’t exploit his employees.

Initially, everyone had some objections to the restriction on their freedom, but thinking of the extra wages, no one had many objections.

This potential "overtime storm" vanished directly under the influence of triple overtime pay.

...

In the car returning to the city, Lynch suddenly said, "I think the timing of those two employees leaving is very suspicious."

Beside him, Austin raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat confused, or perhaps intentionally asked, "You should discuss this with those two guys behind."

The Special Agents sent by the Security Committee were in the car behind, meaning Austin couldn’t handle this matter.

Lynch, however, ignored her words and continued, "What worries me is that the people who poached them might not be who they think they are. The situation is very complex now."

"To obtain suitable intelligence, they might use any means, including impersonating certain institutions to offer them better treatment and lure them to work."

"They might go in and never come back; when they wake up, they might already be in Gafura."

"The people in the car behind... they are making too much noise!"

This was a sarcastic comment, as the actions of the Security Committee typically wouldn’t be so conspicuous, given that they had to consider that aliens can’t appear everywhere every day, as aliens also need rest and holidays.

Lynch simply didn’t want the Security Committee to intervene in this matter. Although he was a consultant to the Security Committee, his relationship with them wasn’t as close as it was with the military.

Aside from Mr. Truman serving as a crucial link between the two, a number of family members of military generals were shareholders in one of his companies, and he also had good personal relationships with military generals.

Moreover, if the people from the Security Committee did something, things could become very complicated. Although security agencies do wield considerable power, they also face enormous trouble if issues arise.

The military district is different; strictly speaking, the Federation Government and Congress can’t control them!

After hearing this, Austin remained silent for a moment, then became somewhat annoyed, "You knew all along?"

Lynch feigned surprise, "I thought you knew that I knew."

"Damn it!" Austin’s face turned a little red; she felt like a clown, "I will inform them!"

She always thought she had effectively concealed her true identity—a critical member embedded by the military district into Lynch’s side.

Not only to ensure Lynch’s safety but also to restrict his freedom if necessary.

After all, Darkstone Security was expanding too quickly, and even if the military thought they still held significant control over the employees of Darkstone Security, they had to handle these matters cautiously.

Inserting someone by Lynch’s side was the best way, ensuring he wouldn’t encounter danger, although they, in fact, failed to achieve this.

At the same time, if Darkstone Security took the wrong turn, they could correct it in time.

Lynch was aware of this from the start. Senior Soldiers, too, were sent by the military, and later a few majors were dispatched, but Lynch sent these majors off to fight anti-government forces in Amelia.

Now, the Senior Soldier retired to a clerical role, and Austin was the new candidate selected by the military.

In the matter of the Senior Soldier’s "retirement," Lynch vaguely sensed that the military started to worry that the Senior Soldier was getting too close to him, potentially withholding critical information or failing to carry out certain actions, so Lynch had proactively suggested the Senior Soldier take a clerical job.

Lynch is a qualified "partner," making his partners feel assured to the greatest extent, which is one of the reasons the military’s cooperation with him deepened, as he was sufficiently open with the military.

In the evening, two resigned researchers sat chatting in a private room of a strip club, about six meters away, a girl was performing a dance energetically.

However, neither of them paid attention to the girl, they were engaged in low-voiced conversation.

"The other side promised that if we can replicate the current project, they would offer at least three million as a bonus."

Freelance Scientist A sipped his drink contentedly, "Three million; you might never see that much money in your lifetime, but now we have a chance to get it."

"Moreover, they promised that in the subsequent model’s development work, we would also have a share in the sales, much more than now!"

These two were not invited by different or the same people. Freelance Scientist A, moved by the invitation, thought that jumping ship alone might not earn much attention, so he pulled along Freelance Scientist B, with whom he had a good relationship.

The other side promised them three million; he offered a million to his friend, along with shares from the model sales, which even at the worst would be more than what they earned with Lynch.

They harbored some disdain... for the Chief Engineer and other researchers.

Especially the Chief Engineer, who hardly did anything but took the biggest share of the profit, while they, the main researchers, worked tirelessly every day and got only a modest share.

People tend to compare, and the more they compared, the more unbalanced they felt within.

The academic researchers were a little better; they got used to being pressured and exploited by top students back in school, having participated in some projects without earning a penny but still finishing them fully.

Being able to continue with projects and study what they like without needing to bribe their tutors and still earning money was quite an improvement.

Freelance scientists were different, having more exposure to society, their minds more complex, and desires more intense.

Thinking about the money they were about to get, both felt their individual joy.

After all, this is the Federation; they were typical folks with a strong craving for money.

Freelance Scientist A casually grabbed a handful of cash and flung it toward the girl performing, instantly making her dance even harder.

Just then, a group of people suddenly barged into the strip club.

In the Federation, every operating venue has a specified maximum capacity to prevent accidents from happening.

If a bar is full, outsiders can’t enter; they must wait for people to leave before going in.

This is why there is always a long line outside of entertainment venues, not because they queue up to buy tickets but because the place is full, and there’s no room for them.

Of course, there are still places, those reserved for special clients, allowing them to enter at any time.

When these people entered, the bar would tell those who had been staying for too long without spending that it’s time to get out.

The bar’s guards saw these strange faces barging in and immediately surrounded them...

"Sorry, I don’t..."