Darkstone Code

Chapter 681 - 0678 Severed Tail [This Chapter is sponsored by: single push person_crown naming additional - - 6/9]

The situation in the Great Eastern Ocean is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Governor Sedel deeply feels this. Clearly, nothing has happened, yet the atmosphere in Amelia suddenly feels particularly tense, as if... the dark clouds on the horizon are getting closer, pressing down on people’s hearts, making it hard to breathe.

The room’s bright lights flickered a few times before falling into complete darkness, but soon the independent power equipment at the Governor’s Mansion kicked in, and light returned to the human world.

Standing by the window, looking at the setting sun, Governor Sedel’s expression grew increasingly grave.

"Sir, the power plant was attacked, and we lost power," the butler reported truthfully from the doorway, detailing everything that had just occurred.

The power plant was attacked again, and the newly repaired generator set was scrapped once more, plunging the entire city back into darkness.

This was the second attack this month. Almost every time the generator set is repaired, it gets attacked and damaged again within a few days. Not only in Joulis, but similar incidents are occurring elsewhere as well.

Darkstone Security, which had a contract with the Gafura Empire, used the excuse that "local governments cannot provide a suitable and effective environment to eliminate bandits" to completely cease their operations.

This reason seemed a bit ridiculous, but they stopped all operations due to this absurd excuse, all of them.

The anti-government armed forces began to rise again, taking advantage of the continued destruction of power plants across regions, and unabashedly invaded cities under the cover of darkness.

However, the Gafura military had no good solutions. After all, the power plants are isolated in areas outside the cities, and many relatives of the anti-government armed forces reside in the cities. If they dispatch heavy troops to guard the power plants, then the Empire District would become the main target of the anti-government forces’ attacks.

Protect the head but not the rear, or protect the rear but not the head, a choice had to be made.

Ultimately, the governor decided to focus defenses on the Empire District. After all, this represented the last vestige of dignity for the Gafura people locally. If even one or two Empire Districts were captured, many problems would arise in the future!

An invader that can be defeated!

By then, even the Defeated Country might have some ideas. They might not initiate a war directly, but they could send some soldiers over.

So, the Empire District absolutely cannot have issues. This decision resulted in Amelia spending a month in darkness.

"This is Lynch’s handiwork..." Governor Sedel’s expression was particularly solemn. He contacted some countries within the Allies with strong armies, hoping that they would, for the sake of the alliance, dispatch some troops to help.

Now Governor Sedel no longer concealed the problem that the Gafura Empire’s army and dog feces were no different. He didn’t care anymore, thinking that losing this region to conceal this problem would be the biggest mistake!

But what he didn’t expect was that a sudden announcement of military exercises from the homeland thwarted his plan to bring in reinforcements externally.

All these countries stated they were willing to help Governor Sedel establish a stable rule in the Amelia Region, but there was a prerequisite: all of this had to be done after the military exercises and they hoped to get the Federation’s approval as well.

It’s not that the Federation has suddenly become much stronger, but their military expansion and equipment upgrades alarmed everyone.

A "guy who was obviously strong but always behaved like a coward being taken as a pushover" suddenly began arming themselves – that’s terrifying, okay? So, before sending troops to loiter near the Federation’s doorstep, shouldn’t we first seek the Federation’s permission?

Didn’t you see their new press conference announcing 31 military reforms, also sternly warning a handful of ill-intentioned individuals against influencing the Federation’s foreign trade through force?

Their attitude has hardened; they weren’t like this before. In the past, if someone outside farted, everyone from the President to the homeless would treat it as thunder.

Now they’ve changed, they’re baring their claws – that’s terrifying.

No reinforcements, Soron on the Federation side is still unable to open up the situation, and the Megan Consortium hasn’t done anything to lose millions. They are unlikely to proceed with this contract.

All these changes happened because of one person, Lynch.

"Get me in touch with Lynch..." Governor Sedel ordered with a very unpleasant expression.

This is not the time to show strength. First, stabilize the rule here, and then slowly consider how to repay these insults.

There is still plenty of time, whether for him or the Empire.

The butler went and came back in a short while, standing expressionlessly at the door, "Sir, Lynch refused to talk to you!"

At this moment, two imperial merchants passing by outside the Governor’s Mansion suddenly shrank their necks. One said to his companion, "The Governor is smashing things again."

Lynch, who greatly annoyed the Governor, certainly had no time to chat with him. He was busy enjoying happiness, fine wine, and beauties. The ultimate purpose of making money is enjoyment.

If someone says I’m making money not for enjoyment, or I’ve never thought of making money, and money makes me miserable, then that person is either a great evil or sick.

The people in the room forgot time, place, themselves in the debauchery, merely indulging their twisted souls in social activities.

"We made several million..." Lime was a bit excited. He had drunk quite a bit, and Lynch’s tactic to short the Megan Consortium’s subsidiary was already paying off.

He glanced around and whispered, "If it drops for a few more days, our profit might exceed ten million."

There was no expression of surprise on Lynch’s face; a few million was already hard to affect him. Since confirming with Emperor Gafura that the Gafura people would redeem the bonds he held, his wealth had grown to the extent where a few million no longer stirred feelings.

Holding the wine glass, he took a sip, "Close all positions tomorrow."

Lime, who was excited, froze for a moment, "Sorry, boss, did you say close all positions?", he "struggled" a bit, "Now everyone is selling, and after the sell-off forms, it will last at least two more days. We have a lot of profit space left."

Lynch neither agreed nor disagreed, he just glanced at him, "You can continue to hold, but sell my portion."

Another celebration was underway. In Bupen, a political and financial center, such celebrations often occurred, whether by brokerage firms or some financial figures. Once they made a fortune, envious celebrations would be held.

On one hand, this was to tell others they made money, invoking envy and jealousy, and at the same time, could attract potential clients.

Anyone wanting to continue playing here must abide by the rules of the game, regardless of who they are.

Seeing Lime’s somewhat puzzled eyes, Lynch did not explain further. People need to stumble once to learn how to avoid falling in the same situation next time.

He smiled with the wine glass, then went out to socialize.

Early the next morning, Lime, upon waking, first liquidated all of Lynch’s positions but hesitated when facing his own account.

This was also one to two million in profit. If he waited two more days until the market patterns matched some financial models before exiting, that would be the best timing.

With this hesitation, he decided to wait a bit.

At that moment, the Megan Consortium convened all the board members for a new round of meetings.

"The military rejected us," the chairman of the board bluntly stated this very bad news. He appeared very strong, scanning the faces of each shareholder, until reaching Mr. Wardrick.

The two exchanged a glance for a while, two seconds, maybe three, and then looked away.

"They refused to provide short-term escort for us citing the reason of preparing to participate in the West Ocean military exercise, we..." The chairman inadvertently saw a coin in the middle of the table.

Because it was small and due to the unique environment, perhaps the cleaning staff did not notice the coin, and it made him very unhappy as he recalled Mr. Wardrick’s provocative words toward the chairman panel.

This slight pause was captured by many.

"If we continue to fulfill the contract, we may encounter the same situations as before, but it might also proceed peacefully."

"Now the world’s attention is firmly attracted by the West Ocean joint military exercise, maybe our invisible opponent won’t appear easily."

"But this matter is not something that I, or any individual can decide, because it relates to some consortium work adjustments ahead, we need to vote!"

"Vote for or against, the final decision on whether to continue with the previous contract will be based on the votes."

"Let’s begin..."

The staff handed each person an envelope and a voting card.

To protect shareholders’ rights, the decision on the voting card was made by pressing.

If you want to vote in favor, press hard on the circle next to the favorable option, then blue paint will appear in the layer; otherwise, red paint will appear.

The final result will be reflected on the voting card after a period, giving everyone enough time to put it into the envelope to ensure each vote is private, uninformed to others.

Mr. Wardrick also received a voting card. He squeezed the paint pod, then put it in the envelope and handed it to the staff.

Soon, these votes were counted, and ultimately the board decided to abandon this plan with great danger, having stumbled twice in this project, there would absolutely not be a third time.

Seeing this result, the expressions of the few chairmen of the chairman panel were very calm, as if the outcome was within their expectations.

Capital never has the attribute of "dead stubbornness". As soon as they feel pain, the pain like cutting flesh, or like hemorrhoid pain, they immediately sever ties.

They don’t want to gamble on a future.

Simultaneously, they could afford to lose.

As for the contract with Soron, they could go to court.