Darkstone Code

Chapter 674 - 0671 Wind Direction Change [This - is brought to you by: He Youzhi, Sponsored Update - 5/9]

The election is above all!

The President glanced at others with a slightly different expression, reflecting more on his own stance and values.

The citizens of the Federation know what kind of President they need, but some things are not so easy to achieve.

The people need jobs, houses, education, healthcare; they need this and they need that. They need everything, like greedy fledglings forever opening their mouths in the hope of getting something for nothing.

Some things can be given to them, like jobs, like simple pleasures that anesthetize and satisfy various mental needs of the lower social strata.

A sofa, some junk food, some crude entertainment shows, these things can be given without consequence.

But some things cannot be given to them, such as what people often call true fairness and justice. It’s not that these things can’t be given at all, but rather they don’t have the ability to grasp and possess them.

Why should a billionaire capitalist who works hard every day talk about fairness and justice with a lazy bum who lies on the couch all day eating chips, scratching his belly, yelling at the TV and constantly complaining?

Things that cannot be given must not be given under any circumstances, but those that can be given should be multiplied, such as the sense of glory as Federation citizens, and a false sense of participation in major societal events.

People need a good President, not a cold one. From some perspectives, the Federation’s election system is more like a giant placebo for society as a whole.

But there are too many people at the bottom, and their choices can sometimes affect the upper echelons of the societal structure.

The President looked at everyone, cleared his throat, "Gentlemen, we have seventy-two hours to deal with this matter. Let the Cabinet or Security Committee form a task force to specifically handle this situation."

"Our stance should be based on non-compromise, while also considering the safety of the sailors held hostage. We must have the determination and courage to defend our rights, as well as respect for life...."

The President said this as he stood up, "I will continue to monitor this matter, and if there is any new development, let me know immediately."

He glanced at Mr. Truman, "I have another meeting shortly; you all discuss amongst yourselves."

With that, the President left the conference room, leaving behind a group of people staring at each other.

If this were a usual task, the Security Committee would have jumped at the chance to take the initiative, but this time the Committee’s representatives remained silent, making it clear that this was a troublesome matter.

Didn’t you see the President pat his back and walk away?

"Ahem...I have a suggestion...", said Mr. Truman. "We can raise funds while trying to locate where these pirates are hiding through certain methods."

"In fact, they have exposed a lot of information. I believe the excellent intelligence personnel of the Federation can find valuable clues in these disorganized leads."

"If we really can’t find anything, we can attempt to lure them out by paying the ransom, then find a way to eliminate them."

"These are some of my humble opinions, hoping to be of help to everyone."

After some time of wrangling, a team was formed by the Ministry of Defense and the Security Committee, specifically to handle the matter.

Due to the political and media implications, the task force decided to make the progress of the investigation public. On the one hand, they didn’t want society to think they’re indifferent, and on the other hand, they hoped to convey information to the pirates through this means.

Investigative experts within the team also believe that some of these pirates are currently in the Federation Mainland, watching the progress of this matter.

If they outright show an unwilling attitude to compromise, it could make things worse. But if they can gather funds to lull the other side and send other messages, it might actually benefit the investigation.

But the issue is...who will gather this fund?

More than an hour later, everyone related to this matter was gathered in a conference room at the Ministry of Defense, discussing who would come up with the sixteen million.

However...for some people, there is an awkward situation.

The generator manufacturing companies and the ship transportation companies are actually subsidiaries of the Megan Consortium; in other words, no matter who pays, the money will ultimately reflect in the group company’s financial report.

It’s not good news, rather than discussing who will pay, it’s more like the task force using this style to ask when they will bring the money out.

"We suspect some scouts among the pirates are hiding in the Federation, gathering information on our progress, we must release an aversion so they believe we are willing to pay the ransom."

An expert from the task force was explaining the reason for coming up with sixteen million, "Once they see that money, they will certainly send information to us. We have a way to pinpoint these individuals to the maximum extent."

The communications company president in the room looked grim. He crossed his legs and played with the lighter in his hand, "The Federation is so vast, they could send the message from anywhere, what makes you think you can pinpoint them?"

"Instead of coming up with this money, I think directly launching a large-scale search operation aligns more with our interests. We ought to be tough with the pirates, let them know we won’t compromise. Maybe they’ll voluntarily release our ship and crew."

The government officials in the room looked at this president with expressions akin to watching a fool. Undoubtedly, if negotiations are refused and ransom payment is cut off, the pirates are bound to start killing.

The pressure at that time will shift from these enterprises to the government - people dead, pirates fled, the government is truly incompetent!

Don’t assume the citizens won’t think this way; for the Federation citizens, criticizing the Federation Government is the so-called "political correctness."

On the contrary, if they fail to rescue the hostages, they have the last insurance layer, which is paying ransom.

At least the citizens would get some psychological comfort from it, at least it confirms the value of people’s lives as precious. Didn’t you see these ordinary sailors, when added up casually, are worth sixteen million?

The task force expert lightly explained, "We are judging based on the postal stamps of Federation Mail and its received time. The opposition is likely in Bupen, so we just need to watch the communications and ports in Bupen and surrounding areas, and we might find some evidence."

With such an explanation, the ship company president pursed his lips, glanced at the nearby thermal power generator manufacturer, and said to the task force expert, "We need to discuss this."

The task force experts expressed agreement, as they also need to discuss some details.

After the task force members left, the ship company’s president picked up the phone and dialed the board of directors’ conference call, "The government seems unwilling to adopt our proposal, this sixteen million won’t be avoided."

This result was anticipated within the Consortium board of directors. They sent someone to express their unwillingness to pay, solely as an attempt.

In fact, they could indeed choose not to pay. But doing so would inevitably damage the group’s image. At that point, some shameless fellows might pop up and smear their image in public opinion, potentially causing varying degrees of stock decline in the group’s major companies.

This is exactly what public companies wish to avoid; even every percentage point means hundreds of thousands to millions in wealth changes.

After a moment of silence, some voices transmitted through the receiver, "If we have to fork out money, it cannot be entirely by us."

"Since the government is the main governing body of the state, they also have obligations since our ship is hijacked. They need to produce part of the money. Additionally, go negotiate with Soron, let him produce money too, because this matter relates to him as well."

The board didn’t continue discussing ways to avoid paying money. The company is about to issue bonds, and if they offend the Federation Government at this moment, just a slight obstacle could make the Consortium miss the best opportunity, so when the government expressed their non-paying stance was impossible, they immediately compromised.

"We can pay, but the scale of payment must not exceed 50%, which is eight million."

"Another bottom line is if Soron refuses to pay, tell him this part of the money can be deducted from each period’s payment for goods in installments, just think that we’re giving him a discount...."

With the board’s final resolution, a new round of negotiations quickly began.

Despite Soron feeling he’s being pulled into something inexplicable, he pretty much understood the Megan Consortium’s intention. The money would still be from the Megan Consortium; it wasn’t used to pay the ransom but was an advanced payment for future goods.

Thinking about it this way, he felt again

Sixteen million sounds like a lot, but it’s actually just sixteen hundred bundles of cash. A large secure briefcase banks use for transporting currency can fit two million at once, and it takes eight large briefcases to hold all the money.

Despite the unremarkable appearance, it still makes one’s heart race and blood boil.

The entire fundraising process was broadcast live by the television station, and many citizens held their breath watching so much money placed together.

This is entirely different from Lynch’s "hundred billion"; Lynch’s hundred billion is only Gaillard; now Gaillard is like waste paper, anyone who wishes to pay a little can whip up a hundred billion Gaillard.

This, however, is Federation Sol, and sixteen million!

At the same time, this gave many people some inspiration and realization — kidnapping is damn profitable.

Also at this time, the public opinion trend included a new wave that attacked not the pirates nor the capitalists, but the military.

"Why is it that our military can defeat the Gafura Navy, yet they are clueless against pirates?"