Darkstone Code

An election year is like a significant holiday that occurs every four years. Even though the election is still a year away, the atmosphere has already permeated the air.

People can already sense that special flavor and are actively preparing for it.

A little after eight in the evening, Catherine, who had just returned from a social engagement, was about to take a bath when the phone rang.

She was somewhat surprised but answered the call anyway.

For her, life at the moment is... quite unique, she can’t quite describe it.

In the past, she thought her future might involve becoming a housewife, which is the most desired goal for most middle and lower-class girls in the Federation!

Yes, a housewife, without needing to work - some people might say that such a life imprisons those girls or women.

But those who say such things certainly don’t understand; compared to working in a factory, most girls would prefer to be housewives.

As long as they do tasks much lighter than factory work every day, they can enjoy a comfortable life. Why not choose such a lifestyle?

If they could become housewives in a Middle Class family, even better!

After Catherine and Lynch left high school, real life struck her head-on, not sparing her because she’s a girl, delivering a hook that sent her flying.

When she thought her future looked bleak, everything changed because of Lynch.

Now, she spends her days in relatively neutral attire, sitting in a beautifully decorated office, helping people solve some problems or offering some policy guidance or advice to the market.

Many people benefit from her work, causing many changes in her thinking.

She began to like the feeling of helping others, and at the same time, she felt the sweet allure of power.

Yes, not long ago, she encountered a situation where a just-graduated girl accidentally broke a flowerpot and was harshly reprimanded by the middle management she was visiting.

This is quite usual; in Federation enterprises, most people seem to sense a peculiar atmosphere: attitudes towards female employees are more stringent than those towards male employees!

For the same matter, people reprimand female employees and threaten to fire them, yet seldom say such things to male employees.

Ultimately, it’s an alternative form of oppression, or even a warming-up for future sexual dominance.

It is really not easy for women in this era to get a decent job. Behind this might be a family spending a long time’s savings or vital connections.

They cannot afford to lose their job for whatever other reason.

Some male middle- and upper-level managers in enterprises will step-by-step test their limits, find it, and then cross it.

This is very unfair to women, yet this is the most realistic aspect of society.

In the words of business owners, employing female employees who cannot create more economic benefits is not about needing them to work, but needing them to sit in the office.

They are like flowers in a vase or a reward for the successful!

Someone discovered an interesting pattern through investigation: the higher position a woman has in Bupen’s large enterprises, the more ex-boyfriends she has...

Catherine helped that poor girl, and the company’s management smiled, expressing their recklessness and apologies.

This is the huge difference power brings.

She actually graduated not long ago; the girl was about the same; their ages were not more than three years apart.

But one faced her own life only accepting fate toying with her without being able to do anything else.

While the other, Catherine, could already grasp her own life.

Her staff officer and political mentor told her this is the power everyone desires!

She steadied her mind, said her name, and a natural, genuinely warm smile appeared on her face.

"You never told me you were going to call..."

On the other end of the line, Lynch cheerfully explained, "Things developed very suddenly; I thought this was a very rare opportunity, so I temporarily had some ideas and wanted to consult your thoughts..."

He then spoke about what happened in Mr. Truman’s campaign office, including offices of four Presidents and many Senators.

Interacting with these people, and even working for them, is actually a very rare opportunity.

In the election team, all the young people are either actively working or are ready to run errands, and they all come from their own family.

A single thought, idea, can allow these young people to contact these impressive politicians. They won’t share such rare opportunities with unrelated people!

This is also a kind of political wealth, a political capital!

After hearing what Lynch said, Catherine was both surprised and hesitant.

"Recently, my work has been going smoothly; if I have to leave..." She sounded a bit reluctant, but it’s not about power.

What power could a city legislator hold?

It’s just that she started to like the job where she could do something for others, as most politicians initially are like Catherine.

Their purpose of entering politics is to realize the vision of building an ideal nation according to their thoughts.

They aim to achieve true freedom and equality, to advocate for more ordinary people...

Until they end up standing on the other side!

It’s a damned bad news filled with the smell of money!

Lynch didn’t hurry her but let her think it over, as there was still plenty of time.

After hanging up the phone, Catherine called her staff officer and mentor, who lived in another room.

When she came, Catherine was already lying in the bathtub.

Their relationship is very close; Catherine always considers her as a mentor in politics, life, work, among multiple domains.

She indeed provided Catherine with many important suggestions and life experiences; their relationship goes beyond work and service, they are also great friends.

"Is there something urgent?" the former university professor asked as she entered, dressed in pajamas with her head wrapped in a towel, she had also just finished bathing and was watching TV.

The room was filled with heating, making it not cold at all.

Federation’s heating methods are quite unique; copper piping heating makes the whole room very warm, rather than certain rooms being warm while others are icy cold.

She sat beside the bathtub, stirring flower petals and bubbles on the surface with her hands.

Bubble baths are becoming popular even though no one quite understands why adding an extra layer of foam in the bathtub costs more, but women love it!

As long as there is money to be made, there will be people doing it!

Catherine curled up in the bathtub, "Lynch just called me and said Mr. Truman is running for election and has finalized a campaign team."

"There are four former Presidents and many former Senators in it, and he hopes I could join this team too, even if just running errands or doing text work is good."

The former university professor fell silent, staring at the bubbles on the water surface, then went to pour two cups of liquor.

"I’m so jealous of you, you know?" She sipped the wine and said, looking at Catherine.

She reached out to touch Catherine’s young and elastic face, "You’re beautiful, young, and have firm skin, everyone loves you."

"Most importantly, you have someone who has your interests at heart; he paved every level step for you. Forgive me if my words are not pleasing, but not even your father could do these for you."

"This isn’t about capability, but whether he considers for you or not!"

Catherine was somewhat surprised, "Is this job... very special?"

The former university professor stood up, pacing a few steps, "Dear, don’t you see? If you accept this job, you’ll be working with four former Presidents and some former Senators."

"These people must be very elderly; if there’s anything that needs to be done, it’s certainly not they who will do it but young people like you."

"You’ll be navigating among Members of Parliament and high-ranking Federation politicians, and at a very prestigious level!"

"This is a dream opportunity many can’t even acquire in their dream!"

After saying that, she sighed heavily.

Not to mention seeking her advice.

If someone offered her such an opportunity, she would immediately undress seeking the counterpart’s gesture...

Some complex emotions flickered in her eyes but quickly turned into a bit of gratitude.

If she takes on this job, it means she and Catherine are united; if Catherine goes to work there, she also has the opportunity to meet these people.

As a professor specializing in news and political affairs, she understands clearly the energy these people hold and the benefits of interacting with them.

The next morning, Catherine called Lynch back; she accepted this job.

But this does not mean she needs to give up her position as a city legislator in Sabin City.

In the Federation, legislators are mostly "part-time".

Especially low-level city legislators, City Hall didn’t even prepare offices for them; they have to find an office themselves, hire people themselves, everything is self-funded.

The city government indeed provides some subsidies to legislators, but these subsidies only cover their life needs; hoping these subsidies make life very comfortable...

Seems naive.

This leads some legislators to need another job outside their legislative work.

Therefore, Federation’s rules state each city legislator must work a certain number of hours per month; besides these hours, other times are up to the legislator personally.

As long as the minimum work hours are met, no one will trouble anyone!