Darkstone Code-Chapter 979 - 977: You Must Always Think of the Children
I thought Nell should be in Nagariel right now, but Lynch asked a question, and it turned out Nell had already returned to the Federation and was in Bupen.
Less than half an hour after he ended contact with Gadon, Nell appeared in Lynch’s house.
"You should get me some cigarettes, especially Black Gold Era, it’s too hard to buy!" As soon as he entered the house, Nell couldn’t help but complain.
In the past, tobacco merchants in the Federation didn’t limit how many of a certain brand of cigarettes a shop could sell each month; they wished their cigarettes could sell ten thousand packs a month!
But Every Moment’s new cigarettes are different, especially Black Gold Era; the lowest level shops can only get ten packs from the channel each month, Golden Era is thirty packs, Silver Era is unlimited.
Only after buying a certain amount will a shop’s level rise, and the number of cigarettes they can receive each month will increase.
There are twenty-one levels in total, with an increase of two packs per level. Even at the highest level, a shop can only get fifty packs of Black Gold Era per month.
Many people thought these high-end cigarettes would be hard to sell, but the fact was quite the opposite. Those curious to try something new and those who genuinely wanted to buy were very fond of Black Gold Era.
People cursed Lynch and Every Moment’s lack of conscience while taking out money to pocket a pack of twelve cigarettes, then taking them to public social gatherings to show off.
They tear open the individual packaging, casually place a cigarette in their mouth, tilt their head to light it, insert one hand into their pants pocket, then turn their head to the side and exhale a puff of smoke...
Bupen is a wealthy city, and people here have more money than elsewhere, and this system is prepared for shops that have a consumer audience.
After all, Silver Era is unlimited, and shops without high spending power won’t worry about lacking a place to buy their cigarettes, but when they can’t meet demand, they can only try all means to increase their supply.
The cost is their monthly surplus inventory, buying more Silver Era to quickly improve their level.
Many people think Lynch is stupid. If these cigarettes sell so well, why not open up the sales?
Actually, who could know the real reason is that he can’t keep up with the cigarette leaves supply.
Silver Era doesn’t require perfect tobacco leaves. Using some local Federation tobacco with Nagariel’s wild tobacco can create a suitable flavor. The local Federation tobacco production is vast, allowing unlimited supply for lower-grade cigarettes.
However, high-grade cigarettes aren’t ready yet; Nagariel has started cultivating tobacco fields, hoping for unlimited supply, which won’t be possible until the end of the year at the earliest.
Even Nell, Lynch’s father, can’t buy much of Black Gold Era.
"I don’t have much either," Lynch casually replied. "I didn’t know you’d come back."
Nell walked over to the couch and sat down casually. Ever since he divorced Serra, he became quite carefree. "I came back when the trouble over there started. I don’t want to go through that lousy experience again."
His business over there, which is Lynch’s business, was not only once affected by local movements and politics. The feeling of potentially losing your life anytime, anywhere was horrid.
When he learned people were gathering to cause trouble, he bought a ticket back to the Federation and came straight back.
He has a large house in another middle-class community housing his three wives, which Lynch only just learned.
After the servant brought drinks, Lynch asked him, "How’s life and work over there? I haven’t been very attentive, haven’t checked in on you for a long time."
Nell leaned back on the couch, one hand pressed against the couch’s back, "It’s okay. Now the relationship between locals and us..." He shrugged and turned his wrist, struggling to find the right description for that relationship.
After a while, he found a possibly suitable word, "...the contradictions aren’t as deep as before. They have started trusting us and are willing to actively serve us."
"Including this time when you want to open up tobacco fields, many farmers are willing to serve us. They’ve also asked me if we accept wild tobacco leaves."
Lynch listened while nodding, then gestured with his hand at this point, "No, we don’t want the wild ones, and you should protect those wild tobacco fields. It’s best to buy the land."
Nell looked at Lynch, puzzled, as if asking what had gotten into him.
Perhaps seeing Nell’s confusion, Lynch explained, "Our next phase will focus on promoting the differences between wild tobacco leaves and cultivated ones. You know, rich people are willing to spend a hundred times more on foolish things."
"People will believe wild things are inherently good. We have to cater to some of their fantasies."
Nell seriously contemplated for a while and thought Lynch made a good point. That’s why he always works for Lynch; he lacks that one percent of inspiration.
The father and son chatted casually about work for a while, then Lynch suddenly asked, "How are you getting along with the locals?"
Nell shrugged with a smirk, "Pretty good, I never give them a hard time, and they are willing to communicate."
"If one day we need you to be a Legislator, do you think you could handle it?"
As soon as Lynch finished speaking, Nell’s mouth hung open.
"Oh my God, me as a Legislator?" He laughed loudly first, "This joke isn’t very funny, Lynch. You could make me a manager or a boss, but a Legislator?"
"I don’t have the experience and don’t want to try."
Lynch didn’t say anything immediately, just continued the topic.
"Now that little legislator has made a mistake, soon he will almost disappear from Mongwu’s political system, and might be transferred to the Federation side for detention."
"The reason is to prevent the local ruling class from illegally releasing or rescuing him."
"So we chose a new one, someone easier to control, more inclined towards us. Gadon, you know."
Nell nodded, "I know this young man, he inherited his father’s business, and it’s maintained quite well."
Mr. Simon still has quite a lot of business in Nagariel, making a couple of hundred thousand Federation Sol annually is definitely no small business.
He used to make money through the Preton exclusive system; now he leans towards the Federation, doing Federation business. It might not be as lucrative as before, but it’s not too far off.
He is one of the few well-off young tycoons locally doing pretty well, many people know him, and he also counts as a local success emblem.
The main reason Gadon could achieve success is his local identity, which is too crucial.
Local people will support him, much more than supporting foreigners, as long as he is not too messed up, success becomes quite easy.
Nell thought for a while and said, "If he is suitable, then there is no need to change the legislator anymore. I’m really not suitable for that position."
Lynch just smiled.
"Even if he is more inclined to our stance than anyone else, he is not a Federation person, do you understand?"
"And you just happen to be perfect for this position."
"You’ve married three local women as wives, and one is said to be due soon?"
Nell felt a bit shy when discussing this matter with his child; he was almost fifty and had a new life, which also...
But facts are facts, he could only awkwardly dodge Lynch’s gaze.
"Yes, the due date is in August."
Lynch spread his hands, "Look, you will have a mixed-blood descendant, to the locals this is the best choice."
"They will grant you an approval equivalent to that of a local, because your child is mixed-blood. I suggest you let your wife who is due to give birth, have the baby in Nagariel."
"That child, from birth will inherit certain things, precious things."
"Besides these, you are also engaged in local business and development, many people rely on you for their livelihood, you have prestige, wealth, upper connections, and have integrated with the locals and have a son from Nagariel, who could be more suitable?"
Listening to Lynch’s words, Nell wasn’t as resolutely dismissing it as he was at the beginning, "I don’t know..."
"I don’t mean to force you, just offering a suggestion you need to seriously consider."
"Gadon will have to step down in at most four years; staying in that position will cause him to gather hearts, and he will have more influence. The key is he is a native, this does not match my requirements for that side."
"We can only change people, and I hope that when it happens, you, Nell, will be on top."
"You are my father, I trust you immensely, so don’t disappoint me, okay?"
Nell was a bit at a loss for words, he was silent for a while, "You shouldn’t be so anxious, right?"
Lynch nodded, "Yes, you still have four years to think; even if you aren’t considering for yourself, you ought to consider for your child."
He picked up a Black Gold Venerable, handed it to Nell, and lit one for himself as well, "You know, he can’t possibly live on the Federation side, some rules don’t allow that."
"We all have to die, when you... Sorry, I shouldn’t put it this way, but I must say it."
Nell understood and nodded.
"Twenty years from now, thirty years, how old will he be, and how old will your remaining children be?"
"You gave birth to them, and you’ve got to leave them something to lean on, don’t you think?"
Lynch couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke, "Oh God, not everyone can be like me; if every child of yours was like me, the world would belong to you!"
This isn’t a joke, Nell really took it in.
His children could never surpass Lynch, controlling a region at twenty-three, if his "brothers" had conflicts with him.
Lynch would certainly have a thousand ways to make them disappear completely.
Even if such a thing doesn’t happen, relying on Lynch to help those brothers seems to not be a likely situation either; he needs to leave something for his children.
