Darkstone Code

Chapter 1100 - 1098: The Empire’s Invitation

Asir’s father and brother had been extracting gold from temple goldware by using chemical methods to wash out the gold from certain temple goldware and gold lacquer, refining it again into gold ingots.

This might have been the best business for them in the past, as long as they paid the workers a very low wage, allowing them to take leftover food home to their families.

The workers could then expose themselves recklessly, using their bodies to handle all sorts of chemical reagents without any protection, even directly using ulcerated hands to contact them.

The first time Asir returned and saw these scenes, he was both angry and heartbroken, and Lynch thought he would become an "Akumal".

But unfortunately, the corrosive power of wealth on one’s mind surpassed people’s imagination, and before long, Asir silently accepted these realities and began to enjoy the income brought by this business.

Especially a while ago, when numerous temple priests sent various gold products to them for conversion into cash, they lowered the prices significantly and made a large fortune.

However, the current situation is not so optimistic because the Federation’s secularization of local religions is affecting their income.

The Federation has prohibited certain local religious holidays and some distasteful religious customs, such as selecting a Saintess.

This also led to the temples being unable to regularly gather large amounts of goldware from the populace as in previous years.

Without goldware, Asir’s father and brother had no income, prompting them to consider whether they should change industries.

If they don’t switch industries, their current savings won’t sustain their spending for long, and they must quickly find a new economic source, just as Lynch came, bringing some agricultural information.

Asir nodded, "This is a good idea. In the Federation, the most stable entities are farms and pastures. Many major foundations, including banks, have invested a lot in this field."

"If you want to do it, I will support you!"

The return rate from agriculture and animal husbandry might not be as wildly high as certain cutting-edge industries and finance, but it is very stable.

How stable?

When there are obvious economic issues, banks and large hedge funds will start investing massively in agriculture and animal husbandry. These industries can not only help them weather a possible economic winter but also make money during this "winter"!

The least scarce thing in this world is people, and as long as there are people, they need to eat, therefore ensuring that the agricultural and animal husbandry industries do not have to worry about selling their products.

The market is ultimately about supply and demand. Moreover, Asir also found out in the past few days the reason why Lynch suddenly came to Nagariel.

Some Federation meteorologists believe that future temperatures will get colder, causing many places in the Federation North to only be able to plant one crop per year.

Animal husbandry has also suffered, as not all animals can survive outdoors at temperatures below minus ten degrees.

Even if they are driven indoors, there must be enough heating provided for the houses, meaning that the northern animal husbandry will have to move further south.

A large number have already frozen to death this year, and if they don’t move, next year, they might all freeze to death!

The reduction in agriculture and animal husbandry production, potentially ongoing, has caused the Federation’s food gap to increase unprecedentedly, which is why Lynch appeared here to discuss issues concerning agriculture and animal husbandry.

With this information as a foundation, Asir can be sure that operating in agriculture and animal husbandry is definitely not a problem.

Asir’s attitude delighted his brother greatly, "I plan to take out half of my savings to do this. Do you think it’s appropriate?"

As for the investment, he still believes in his brother, after all, Asir serves the Federation and everyone knows his close relationship with Mr. Lynch.

Sometimes, he even feels a bit of intimidation from his brother, though he is reluctant to admit it.

Asir lit a Silver Era cigarette, which could now also be bought in Nagariel.

Actually, a significant part of Silver Era is produced locally, then completely exported to the Federation, and re-imported from there.

It sounds a bit... cumbersome, but in reality, things are not that simple.

The Federation, as the actual controller of the new Federation of Nagariel, holds absolute control over here.

Local exports to the Federation are completely tax-exempt, meaning products from the Federation only require the payment of transportation fees.

In the Federation Government, there is an export subsidy policy where the Federation Government provides certain subsidies or tax rebates for these goods.

And this money, after covering the transportation fees and ensuring a profit, still leaves a slight surplus, meeting capitalists’ pursuit of profits.

Thus, locally produced goods must first be entirely exported and then imported back for sale, which is rather troublesome, but making money is key.

The Federation Government is persistently impacting the global free market using this method, but this policy in Nagariel won’t last much longer.

The Federation Government and Congress have planned to stop these various subsidy policies for goods exported to Nagariel, as the local market and industry here have long been devastated beyond recognition by the more technologically advanced, large-scale Federation.

Exhaling the smoke from the cigarettes that went back and forth across the Great Eastern Ocean twice, Asir gently blew out the smoke from his mouth, "I think you can invest all your assets into it."

"I have been in contact with Gadon lately, and though the new policy hasn’t been issued yet, it will be announced soon."

"All the undeveloped wastelands not included in the plan can be cultivated into agricultural and pastoral lands, and whoever cultivates them can own them, free of charge."

"However, if you don’t plant within a year, it will be reclaimed, so don’t think about just claiming land. You need to consider how much manpower you have and how much you can accomplish."

"Federal experts in agriculture and animal husbandry will come over after some time. They’ll bring high-quality crop seeds and livestock breeds. This is a good business opportunity, brother."

"Actually, I’m also planning to invest some..."

Hearing this, Asir’s brother felt more reassured. He couldn’t help standing up, pacing a few steps, "Okay, I’ll listen to you!"

Asir nodded, saying nothing. The profits from this were clear, but more importantly, it was a goodwill gesture.

He must show his loyalty to Nell, to Lynch, and reveal his most honest attitude.

Don’t think of this as sycophancy. If it can secure a life of privilege for his descendants and yield real benefits, he doesn’t see it as shameful.

In today’s society, those with wealth are deemed noble, because being penniless brings disgrace!

Conversations like these are swiftly spreading among certain privileged classes, including even Federation citizens, plotting these matters. This is why average people find it hard to access opportunities.

Many opportunities are seized by certain individuals before they’ve even hatched, leaving common people to pick up the pieces long after.

This is why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Society has never been fair.

Overnight, a wave of engaging in agriculture and animal husbandry surged in Nagariel, leading to some locally unsellable farm machinery being sold out overnight!

Numerous agricultural and pastoral companies were established, providing suitable work for locals unwilling to go abroad.

A large number of able-bodied workers followed many companies heading towards the grasslands, turning the places they passed into fertile farmlands through their hard work.

Even areas that seemed unsuitable for farming were fenced as pastures.

Lynch’s activities quickly drew the attention of other United Development Company executives. Through certain channels, they received some information, leading to the entire Nagariel seemingly starting to vigorously develop agriculture and animal husbandry.

Yet, these individuals might not fully align with Lynch’s reasoning.

Food, at specific times, can be more useful than money!

It can even quickly be converted into hard currency, becoming a manifestation of money!

If a glacial period truly comes in the future, whoever can fill people’s stomachs will be the master!

The large-scale development made Nagariel particularly bustling, with transport ships continuously bringing in large quantities of agricultural machinery.

This great development also brought new business opportunities, with more attention focused here.

At this time, Akumal was invited by the Empire Academy of Gafura, leaving the Nagariel mainland to visit the Gafura Capital for an academic exchange.

This news immediately sparked extensive international discussions, with many countries believing that if the Gafura Empire could retain Akumal’s ideas, it would be incredibly beneficial for global peace processes.

They naively hoped Gafura would abandon using violent means to invade and occupy other countries’ territories.

How could they understand that Gafura’s actions aim not to disarm but to better manage rebellious populations in occupied regions?

Some defeated countries also quietly promoted international public opinion, proclaiming that the Gafura Empire’s actions would lay the foundation for world peace.

Such flattery... they themselves hardly believe it.

The world’s attention is drawn to these matters, focusing on Gafura.

In late January, Akumal arrived at Gafura’s Main Island and delivered a speech titled "A Common Dream for the World" at the Empire Academy.

Through this speech, he clearly articulated his ideas in an easy-to-understand way.

He has always believed that the efficiency and value brought by positive and effective communication far surpass the destruction caused by violence, even war.

If all the people of the world could resolve problems through communication, there would never be another war!

Although many find his thoughts a bit naive, people love his ideas, as does mainstream society.

Because, nobody likes war!

Except for politicians and schemers!