Darkstone Code

Chapter 659 - 0657 Group Hug

The room was silent, and Mr. Truman’s expression was somewhat peculiar.

It was as if he was holding on to some unspeakable secret, suppressing an impulse, his face slightly flushed, not due to alcohol, but purely from emotion.

He clenched his fist and shook his head, "It’s too difficult."

It’s too difficult.

What’s too difficult?

He didn’t say, but both he and Lynch knew what was too difficult - fighting back against those consortiums was too difficult.

They held far too many resources, something neither an average merchant nor an ordinary government official could handle.

These consortiums supported wave after wave of politicians, some top-level consortiums even supporting several generations of Presidents, some even having family members of Presidents at their core!

Like the three generations of Presidents in Federation history, which brought this family twenty-four years of presidential rule, during these long twenty-four years, a vast interest group developed around this family.

Outside this interest group, there is even larger one.

The power of capital had long been uncontrollable, the government’s constraints on capital are but a script written by politicians and capitalists to create an environment suitable for ordinary citizens to survive.

Impeaching the President, dismissing the President, even various accidents, assassinations, capital has never held political reverence!

Even the President finds it hard to resist capital, let alone two ordinary people.

Lynch raised his glass and clinked it with Mr. Truman’s. He sipped, "We aren’t entirely without opportunities. I know, your recent actions are just a facade."

Mr. Truman was somewhat surprised, he put down the glass and raised an eyebrow, "Is it that obvious?"

Lynch nodded, "Everyone knows what kind of person you are. You’ve changed too quickly, it’s too fake, but no one will expose this."

"Everyone knows that even though you’re playing that role, to perform well, you must commit to it."

"A day, a week, a month, maybe you won’t have much change, but what about half a year?"

"A year?"

"Three to five years, or even ten years?"

"Will you have any change?"

Mr. Truman’s expression turned serious, while Lynch nodded slightly, "Yes, you will change. You commit to playing such a role for so long, that soon you will have a sense of disorientation."

"You won’t be able to distinguish which version of you you’re playing, the one unwilling to bow to capital, or the one getting along harmoniously with everyone. You will become confused."

"Then the two versions of you will gradually merge, forming a new you, a you that you least want to become!"

"Truman, my friend, whatever our interests, as a friend, I will tell you to be yourself, and not to do things you’ll regret."

Mr. Truman was getting a bit uneasy, he stood up, holding the glass, and walked to the bar to pour himself some alcohol to cover his earlier emotions.

"You... have a point." He thought that was the only answer now. Indeed, he felt much more relaxed lately, always maneuvering between those capitalists. He didn’t feel this issue before until Lynch pointed it out and suddenly he became wary.

The daily indulgent lifestyle, those capitalists saying things to please him, flattering him, that decadent, rotten lifestyle had begun to change him, and he was completely unaware!

If Lynch hadn’t said anything, he wouldn’t know that he had actually undergone some subtle changes.

Initially, he was very opposed to attending those parties, seeing capitalists squander the hard-earned money they squeezed from the public on pleasures, seeking thrill by trampling others’ dignity, all which greatly disgusted Mr. Truman.

But now, he seemed to have adjusted to it!

He broke out in a cold sweat, sitting at the bar afar, afraid of being too close to Lynch, who might see through him with those slight changes.

This young man didn’t seem like a young man. If not for his appearance, Mr. Truman always felt like he was chatting with someone not in their twenties, but a wise elder of sixty or seventy, or even older, with abundant life experience.

Both of them remained silent for over ten minutes, both contemplating their own matters.

Over ten minutes later, Mr. Truman returned to the sofa with the glass and bottle of wine, having sorted his emotions.

"I know what you said is right, I just thought about brushing past the current situation and then using another means to achieve my goals, but it seems this won’t work."

Mr. Truman’s original thought was to maintain somewhat amicable relations with capitalists, so some of his demands wouldn’t have to be achieved through "attacks", but compromises or exchanges of interests.

This is the core of politics.

But now, Lynch told him that going down this path would make him become another Truman, a Truman he himself wouldn’t like.

After adjusting his mindset, he started seeking solutions, "What do you think we should do?"

Lynch maintained his demeanor, raising the wine glass, watching the amber liquid flow among the ice cubes, the ice beneath the liquid already blended with the drink, barely visible, leaving only those above the liquid clearly distinguishable.

"You know, in nature, some group predators have our situation too, collisions, merging, or integration among groups."

"If a small group doesn’t want its clan devoured by larger clans, doesn’t want its offspring killed, its only option is to let other clans understand a simple principle, absorbing their clan comes at a cost."

"A painful cost!" Lynch deepened his tone, "So much so that some clans may suffer heavy losses, only then will they be deterred."

"In fact, humans are the same. If they want to force us to bow, then let’s fight it out!"

"See if our bones are harder or their teeth are tougher."

"When they feel threatened, knowing their rule might waver, they will wag their tails like a dog, seeking compromise."

"Capital is even more direct than animals, for here, interests are the main theme!"

"Anyone can be abandoned, as long as it suits the interests of the majority, sacrificing the few becomes entirely justified."

"We cannot be the minority, Truman, whatever happens later, right now we should stand together..."

Mr. Truman listened intently, nodding continuously, "Do you have any good ideas?"

Lynch put down the glass, his voice firm, "Yes, but I need your cooperation."

"Tsk... I suddenly feel all you said before was to prepare for this sentence!" Hearing this, Mr. Truman couldn’t help but laugh, but he was well aware, even if those were preludes, they were truths.

Moreover, being convinced in the Federation is nothing to be ashamed of. Haven’t you noticed those political lobbyists hold higher positions than some average politicians?

What qualified them to gain the favor of both politicians and capitalists?

Isn’t it just because they have some decent ideas and their rhetoric is more effective?

Spending money to persuade others sounds incredible, but this is a fact that has happened and will continue to do so.

The two talked for a while longer before Mr. Truman got up to leave. He had another cocktail party to attend, clearly on vacation, but busier than when working.

After chatting with Lynch, he also solidified his ideas, all for the future!

After seeing off Mr. Truman, Lynch relaxed heavily. In all his plans, Mr. Truman was a crucial role because backing him was the Federation Military.

The Federation Military is a special and independent existence. Neither the Federation President nor those at the Ministry of Defense could fully intervene in military decisions, only request military cooperation.

Previously the Federation feared war, unwilling to fight, leading to the military’s position reduced to the lowest. Clearly, it was the politicians’ fault, the society’s choice, yet the blame was laid upon the military, resulting in later mass demobilization.

To prove itself harmless, the absurd act of breaking its own arms occurred, a miracle in world history.

However, now the situation has slightly improved. The Navy’s victory has greatly elevated the military’s status, the military becoming increasingly important, and Mr. Truman’s capital growing.

He wasn’t used to utilizing this advantage, which was foolish, and Lynch would show him how to properly use his background.

Not long after sending off Mr. Truman, he made another call to Mr. Wardrick, arranging to meet in the afternoon.

Mr. Wardrick had informed him once before the incident happened, Lynch would appreciate it. Next, to achieve something, just he and Mr. Truman wouldn’t be enough, they needed to bring someone with decisive power into this small circle.

Compared to others who were unreliable, Mr. Wardrick seemed more suitable.

He didn’t have many offspring, not too many complex relationships, his desires weren’t intense, plus in this incident, Mr. Wardrick was in a sense a "victim", he possessed all the necessary conditions.

The board directly rejecting the president’s decision was quite embarrassing - of course, for the president. Even after becoming president, being overruled by the board would negatively affect his position in the company, the group, the consortium.

But he knew well he couldn’t do anything, yet Lynch would give him a chance, a chance to prove his position.