Darkstone Code-Chapter 942 - 940: Two Kinds of Experience

"Actually... someone has proposed to my mother."

The young count’s face was full of displeasure, "I know exactly what these people are thinking, and I will not let them succeed."

As he spoke, a hint of murderous intent slipped through his words; he genuinely had murderous thoughts.

If someone were to marry his mother now, it wouldn’t affect his title, but it would be sickening enough.

More importantly, if... if anything were to happen to him, the child born to that person and his mother would have the right to inherit the title.

They don’t need to kill him; they only need to kidnap him and keep him in a place where he can’t contact the outside world. After a certain period without him appearing, they could persuade the Secretariat to follow certain rules, revoke his title, and select a suitable person to inherit.

In fact, at that time, even his mother would have to cooperate with those people, because only then could he stay alive.

The situation in Gafura is quite tense right now; the conflicts between nobles and nobles, nobles and the Imperial Family have already surfaced, and there may be several power reshuffles coming up.

In order to gain more support and power, the nobles will start to use unscrupulous means, just as during past significant reforms.

These gentlemen who usually appear lofty and strict with themselves will tear off their disguises at such times and transform into monsters that eat people.

Everything in society will become nourishment for their mutual struggles. Don’t want to participate?

Then you’ll just be swallowed up!

Luckily, there’s another option now, which is to leave.

"I can’t just stand by and watch them do terrible things to exploit me and my mother, so I plan to have her settle here; at least it’s safer here than in Gafura."

As he said this, he looked at Lynch, as if waiting for an important answer.

Lynch nodded and said matter-of-factly, "Yes, it’s much safer here than in Gafura; no one will disturb her, nor will anyone influence you through her."

The young count’s face showed more smiles, "I knew it, only you are worth relying on." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

What Lynch said amounted to a guarantee that nothing would happen to the young count’s mother during her time in the Federation, which allowed the young count to be at ease whether he invested here, returned to Amelia, or went back to Gafura.

The journey had been mentally exhausting, and after bidding farewell to the young count, Lynch went to see his mother.

"Did he say anything to you?", sitting on the sofa, the former Countess poured some floral tea for Lynch, "This is the tea I brought from Gafura, you should try it."

After nodding in greeting, Lynch picked up the cup and sniffed the aroma.

Gafura’s floral tea is truly floral tea, with the main ingredients being some plant petals, fruits, or things that can emit fragrance.

These things are mixed together, dried through special processes, and preserved until needed. When it’s time to use them, you put some in the kettle, bring them to a boil, and the fragrance spreads.

No one knows how bad Gafura used to smell, but people back then adored fragrant things, or maybe they didn’t want to brush their teeth yet needed their mouths to smell less bad, which is why they made this... brewed perfume as a high-end drink.

Lynch took a small sip; it didn’t taste good, the herbal taste hadn’t been completely removed, and it had some natural herbal flavors.

It’s a kind of fishy taste, strictly speaking, though some from Gafura, especially those who study floral tea, believe that preserving some herbal flavors can make the tea’s fragrance closer to nature.

Someone once argued against this notion—if you’re pursuing natural, shouldn’t you add a handful of dirt to the kettle?

But overall, the floral tea craftsmanship in Gafura has developed over the years and has almost settled into a fixed form.

Besides this natural flavor, there’s another school that adds perfume—essentially fragrance, and who knows why they like such things.

"Excellent tea.", Lynch placed the teacup back on the coffee table, not intending to touch it again.

After considering his words, Lynch paused for a moment before saying, "He mentioned the current struggle between the noble group and the Imperial Family in Gafura."

The former Countess nodded, "Yes, maybe you don’t have much news over there yet."

The former Countess’s social circle doesn’t overlap with the young count’s; she interacts with those noblewomen.

The noblewomen never hide their thoughts too much; they say what’s on their minds.

People who haven’t attended these noblewoman gatherings can’t imagine what kind of ’terrifying’ things they talk about despite their glamorous appearances.

Things like collectively supporting lovers or discussing some private topics; when women gather, their conversation topics are far more open than men imagine.

Among these topics, naturally, there is no lack of recent changes in Gafura’s situation.

"Some issues are quite sharp right now, I’m a woman, I don’t understand much about politics, but I know if someone starts sharpening their knives, it’s definitely not for self-protection!"

Lynch raised his eyebrows and nodded, "A very insightful view."

The former Countess smiled, "What do you plan to arrange for me next?"

She looked at Lynch’s unresponsive expression, subtly moved her hips, and sat next to Lynch, casually resting her hand on his leg.

Considering her age, it was indeed difficult to endure, and when the young count said he hoped she could settle in the Federation, she agreed right away.

At least here she could have a bite of meat, but in Gafura?

So many watching eyes, the situation is so complicated now, who knows if the food you eat might be poisoned.

On the contrary, the environment here in the Federation is simpler.

The young count had thought he would need some persuasion, but he didn’t expect that once he suggested the idea, the former Countess agreed immediately.

The thing following this wasn’t about who benefitted from whom.

The next day, Lynch took them on a tour of the port city, mainly visiting the shopping district.

The main difference between the Federation’s commercial centers and those in Gafura lies in the shopping population—people from all sorts of social classes.

In Gafura, some commercial districts catering exclusively to the Imperial Family and nobles prohibit entry to ’plain’ dressed commoners; they’re very upfront in stating they don’t serve commoners, money doesn’t matter.

But in the Federation, as long as you pull money from your pocket, whether you’re a man, a woman, an old person, a child, or even a dog, he/she/it is guaranteed to be a VIP of the establishment.

This enthusiastic service viscerally results in everyone not only coming to learn but buying lots of things.

Many of these are unnecessary items, things they won’t wear or use after purchasing—it’s just impulsive spending.

Most people regret impulsive purchases afterward, but they don’t; they have money.

"The Federation’s commercial atmosphere is great, and their sales techniques are very advanced, much better than in Gafura."

In the evening, as everyone sat together discussing today’s experiences, the young count talked about his thoughts while gnawing on beef ribs.

"As soon as you enter, many people crowd around to offer professional service; we must do the same in Gafura’s stores."

"Out of ten people who come in, as long as one person spends money, we make a profit!"

Other nobles nodded in agreement; their deepest impression today was entering and hearing a series of different terminology, followed by designers who looked very impressive explaining some products to them personally.

Without any direct understanding of the brand or products, they acknowledged the products’ value, which was quite amazing.

In Gafura, upon entering a stranger’s luxury store, if you can’t show your noble status, they’ll ’politely and without harming your dignity’ ask you to leave.

Comparing the differences, the gap becomes clear.

The new generation of nobles doesn’t care about the honor and status of nobility as much as the old nobility did; they were awarded titles due to some accidental happenings.

To talk to them about noble tradition, about nobility’s honor?

That’s like asking Lynch to understand such things; he can understand them, but he can’t put himself into them—he didn’t create that era, nor did he experience it, so he can’t empathize deeply.

The new aristocracy here is more or less the same; after the old nobility kicked them off the Main Island, after Special Zones repealed noble privileges, now all they care about is money!

If noble titles could be exchanged for money, they wouldn’t mind selling themselves at a nice price.

A monster mingling power with capitalism is growing; everything young is cute, like children—currently, no one can detect the distortion and madness of this union.

In the evening, Lynch took the noble lords to a large nightclub, where some girls in shabby clothing danced on stage.

Their clothes were torn here or there, easily falling off their bodies.

Feeling the nightlife that differs from Gafura’s, everyone had a great time.

In Gafura, prostitution is a legitimate business, but it’s illegal in the Federation, although they have more means and methods, opening the ’country bumpkin’ noble lords’ eyes wide.

On the way back, the young count was also excited, "The Federation is truly wonderful, everything has surpassed my imagination, why does our government always use silly lies to deceive us when propagating the Federation?"

He said this with a little alcohol, which makes him say foolish things; if he hadn’t drunk, or hadn’t drunk too much, he wouldn’t think this way.

Public opinion has never been about voicing truth; it’s merely a tool in the hands of the rulers.

That’s all there is to it!