Darkstone Code-Chapter 967 - 965: You Must Understand the Mindset of the Rich
Lynch took out a small box from his pocket, resembling a portable makeup mirror, only as big as his palm.
The exterior looked like dirty silver, which might not be an accurate description, but it wasn’t unattractive.
The outermost layer was a bright white, while in the crevices beneath, there was a layer of something black and matte.
It seemed not very clean, yet gave a contradictory impression of not being that dirty; he didn’t know how to describe it.
Lynch gently twisted it open, revealing something like powder inside, and Mr. Wardrick watched as Lynch picked up a cigarette again, dipping the tobacco end into the box of powder.
Then, he turned the filter downwards, tapping it twice on the table to allow the powder to enter the interior of the cigarette, and promptly lit it.
"There’s some spice or something kind of smell..." Mr. Wardrick immediately distinguished the scent spreading in the air, which was definitely not the smell of burning tobacco; it wasn’t there earlier.
That was the smell of the powder, and it smelled good. He grew increasingly curious, "What’s the purpose of this cigarette companion?"
He also tried to extinguish his cigarette, took another one, and mimicked Lynch’s actions, letting some of the powder enter the inside before taking a puff.
Unexpectedly, there was a distinctly different aroma accompanied by the mellow taste of tobacco, adding some wonderful changes to what was originally not a very complex tobacco flavor.
"What is this?" he couldn’t help but ask again. Lynch always managed to come up with things that would overflow with curiosity, just as before, and now as well.
Mr. Wardrick’s curiosity was piqued, and naturally, Lynch wouldn’t hide it any longer, "This is a recipe we got from a Deputy in Nagariel..."
He glanced at Mr. Wardrick, who pretended to understand but was actually bewildered, and added in an explanation, "A Deputy is what they call the High Priest, who acts in place of the divine in the human world, hence the name Deputy."
"The divine grants them many abilities that make them different from ordinary humans. Through the preparation of herbs, they evolve unique recipes, which is one of the abilities conferred by the divine!"
Once again, Mr. Wardrick looked at the small box, reaching out to hold the lid, feeling its weight in his hand.
At that moment, in his eyes, the lid, with its bright exterior, black gaps, and mysterious pattern, suddenly acquired a mysterious aura.
"So what’s its efficacy?" he asked, "Things like witch doctor’s remedies must have some function, either for healing or for harm."
Lynch nodded, "Its purpose is to minimize the potential harm cigarettes might have on us. Using it in conjunction with cigarettes can prevent our bodies from being affected by plagues."
Mr. Wardrick’s expression became somewhat solemn.
In the Federation’s elite society, theology always occupies a very high position, even to the extent that, to some extent, science is set behind theology.
Even though we live in a technologically advanced world, people believe, especially these wealthy individuals believe, that there is definitely a god existing and capable of influencing humanity.
Such a perception might seem laughable in the eyes of some lower-class individuals, wouldn’t it?
Scientists have already proven through many methods that some phenomena are not mystical and can even be replicated, which is also why theology is on the decline.
When science can explain and replicate it, it’s no longer mysterious; non-mysterious things are not worthy of reverence.
But theology hasn’t completely faded away, in many people’s view, because humanity has yet to unravel the mystery of death.
If one day people unravel the mystery of death, perhaps there will be no foundation left for theology in this world; but until then, there’s still some soil for it.
The lower-class people tend to believe in science more because it allows them to understand the world and clearly explain everything around them; they are like soaking in a sea of science, and also its most resolute advocates.
Conversely, the attitude of the upper class towards theology is unusually weird; they actually believe in gods, isn’t that funny? The wealthy are really foolish!
Many think this way because they have not witnessed the real world!
What they can access are things that can be explained by science; things that science can’t explain, they have no access to.
But the wealthy can.
This is also why the Saint Harmony Association exists, although Lynch is unaware of this now, only Mr. Wardrick knows.
The goal of the core members of the Saint Harmony Association is to find God and prove that God exists.
They have seen many things that can’t be explained by science, like the alloy human bones salvaged from the sea over a hundred years ago.
Like the finger bones that appeared like crystal, found when dealing with hardened lava after a volcanic eruption, without any signs of melting, of unknown material composition.
For instance, archaeology once found a stone tablet inscribed with what may be words, dated over ten thousand years old...
Science can explain too few things, while too many remain unexplained, which is why the Federation’s wealthy, including most of the world’s top dignitaries, firmly believe that some miraculous force exists.
Thus, when Lynch mentioned that this item was passed down by the divine to humans, Mr. Wardrick’s expression turned serious.
Even if it’s not good, it’s still in the name of God.
"You took it seriously." Lynch suddenly laughed, but as he laughed, he fell silent.
He had traversed worlds, his soul still attached to this free, young body. If he were still a firm atheist at this point, he should first slap himself, and then explain what traversing is.
Lynch’s abrupt silence seemed to provoke some subtle thoughts in Mr. Wardrick’s mind. He gazed at the small box in his hand, as if his gaze penetrated the spatial barriers, seeing what should not be seen by humans.
Their silence lasted roughly ten seconds before Lynch allowed his smile to return, "The matter is urgent; I cannot confirm if it’s effective — it might just be a deception."
Mr. Wardrick appeared to agree, nodding, "You’re right. So, how much do you plan to sell it for?"
"A thousand dollars!"
"Well, it’s not expensive." Mr. Wardrick nodded. He estimated that this small box could add some flavor to about a hundred cigarettes.
Converted, it’s just a few dollars, maybe ten dollars per cigarette. For someone like Mr. Wardrick, who could smoke continuously until death, his wealth would not decrease but instead continue to grow.
This price was very reasonable, and it also sparked some other thoughts in him.
"I heard you also have some extra shares this time." He placed the box back.
After this capital expansion, some small shareholders couldn’t keep up, so they had to endure the result of their shares shrinking by half.
The portion of shares left vacant, Lynch took in as the major shareholder, which also instilled greater confidence among more medium and small shareholders.
If even the major shareholder is greedy, what is there for the medium and small shareholders to fear?
Lynch’s personal shareholding exceeded ten percent, just under twelve percent, with a bit over.
The intent behind this question was to express a desire to acquire more stocks.
Once the two initiators of the acquisition were done, and the frequent changes in stock ownership concluded, it could be relisted.
Now, with Every Moment, under Lynch’s leadership, shifting its developmental focus back from the top-level Kleve market, which had been drained of potential, to the general consumer group, with extremely meticulous consumer stratification plans, the stock of Every Moment is bound to ascend rapidly.
Buying now equals earning a proportional amount, or even several times that.
It’s clear to someone like Mr. Wardrick that cigarettes will become the next consumption boom. Even just acquiring some shares without discussing strategic placement offers significant personal benefits.
It could be a long-term holding investment or a short-term high-return financial investment; it functions as either.
"Rongsheng is anxious to sell their stocks everywhere; you could talk to them."
Mr. Wardrick smiled slightly, "I don’t particularly like dealing with bankers, but it seems I have no choice."
Banks are private institutions, a company with distinct business undertakings; one shouldn’t attribute attributes they don’t have solely due to their unique business nature, like claiming they must and surely are fair and just.
There are numerous cases where banks have attempted to usurp clients’ assets, although they do it more elegantly.
If Mr. Wardrick goes to deal with them, it won’t be with the lower-ranked staff but with the bank’s board. Acquiring stocks becomes a complex affair.
You have your wants, but you must exchange for what I want — transactions are always mutual.
Mr. Wardrick asked another question, "I heard it’s about to go to court; what are your plans, considering so many people are involved?"
Lynch smoked, gazing at the distant view, responding casually, "I feel sorry for their plight, but that’s not a reason for me to forgive them."
"Mr. Wardrick, I’ve heard a saying—"
"When you forgive seemingly pitiful criminals the wrong way, you’re actually harming the next victim!"
"I sympathize with them, but the law is just!"
Mr. Wardrick repeatedly "chewed" on Lynch’s words, and the content revealed within those words inevitably moved him somewhat!
At times, knowledge, wisdom, and truth are so simple; it might be a painting, a flickering inspiration, or even just a sentence!
