Darkstone Code

The misfortune of the people at the bottom lies in the information gap.

They don’t realize that the same amount of money is not the same at different times.

They do not understand what direct relationship there is between social productivity and their money increasing or decreasing, nor do they understand what it has to do with the quality of their life.

Most people’s feeling is that life will gradually get better, which is also the idea of most hardworking and humble people at the bottom—

One day, life will get better.

But beyond that, they do not understand, do not know, and no one is there to teach them this knowledge.

Harry’s family, after much discussion, finally decided to accept the second option offered by the television station, at least... they can get six hundred thousand, can’t they?

Moreover, the annual payment, even refined to monthly payments, will make their lives very regular, preventing anyone from not knowing how to manage household finances due to sudden wealth causing terrible losses.

This is quite good, at least everyone can accept it.

When the television station’s lawyer returned to the room and exchanged opinions, in the presence of television staff and managers, as well as recordings, they signed this special agreement.

The bonus will be issued monthly, and the television station will pay a portion of taxes for them, ultimately, Harry and his family will gradually receive the total prize of six hundred thousand over thirty years.

Initially, the funds they receive each month will be relatively small; as time goes by, the further the time, the more money they get.

Each month, the money will be deposited into the account designated by Harry—

Before this, they had a brief and friendly family-style discussion about this problem, and eventually, Harry triumphed over his father; this money would not be deposited into the household account or his father’s account but directly into his personal account.

This actually also means the leadership of this ordinary bottom-tier family is about to change.

Next comes some more detailed discussions, like the upcoming follow-up shooting.

Because Harry signed a shooting plan for at least three months and at most six months, the cameraman would follow him throughout, capturing everything happening every day for editing into a program to be aired on the television station.

People are interested in money, and even more people are interested in the changes in the lives of contestants who won the competition grand prizes.

All these help boost ratings; in the Federation, anything that can be linked with interest is money!

Actually, not only Harry, but some other very popular contestants also received such opportunities.

Popularity means ratings; some people willing to pay for ratings enable the television station to earn money, which naturally includes that girl who lives by depending on others for survival.

She also received a "job," even though before signing the contract, the crew informed her that it might cause significant impacts on her life.

After all, this show is so popular, and so many people watch it; someone will always recognize on TV that the girl who obtained life resources by providing joy is the classmate they used to have a crush on, or even... their family!

But the girl still requested to participate in such a program because living is too tiring.

"If I can live easily, I am willing to give everything for it, no matter what, my soul, my dignity, these are all I have left now."

Before the camera, the girl wiped away thick makeup on her face, speaking candidly.

The program director eventually agreed to the girl’s application, including her in the overall plan.

Afterwards, Black Market Television Station and Darkstone Media announced the follow-up special program "This Moment..." of the "Wealth Maker" to society.

Its content is a follow-up shooting of popular contestants in each season after the competition ends, allowing people to see if these programs brought any changes to their lives.

Good or bad.

These things can touch and shock people’s hearts; whether it is degeneration or redemption, it is what people wish to see.

While other capitalists are still thinking about how to gain wealth through the most primitive ways, Lynch has already started to earn by leveraging empathy from the bottom society.

When people say "he/she is so pitiful" in front of the TV and pick up the phone or write someone’s name on the "ballot" attached to a magazine, they contribute wealth to Lynch.

One dollar, or a few dollars, is not much, but when ten thousand people do this, a hundred thousand, one million, or even more...

It becomes a huge fortune.

Moreover, people can feel their "greatness" again through these programs, yes, they saved lost souls with their own hands, this is their great moral integrity!

Harry is the most anticipated, as people always fantasize about what their lives would be like after gaining wealth.

In the past, they could only imagine, but now, they can see it with their own eyes, this is the rating!

At this moment, Harry stood somewhat bewildered on the street with less than six hundred dollars from the first installment, this... seems a bit different from the life that can change fate as he expected.

What about the promised future?

What about the promised dreams?

This amount of money... can do what damn thing?!

On the other side, the girl was working under the camera’s capture, the client was a fifty-year-old looking male weighing at least two hundred pounds with sparse hair.

He did not mind the shooting while gaining pleasure, even proudly saying he once aspired to be an adult film actor.

If not for the pleasure being too brief the cameraman almost believed it!

In the final moments, the girl proudly displayed her body, never feeling that she was dirty, nor ashamed of it, these were her tools for eating, she did not mind showing them.

There were scars, cigarette burns, teeth marks, and some traces left by beatings.

While cleaning her body, she narrated the origins of these scars to the cameraman.

"Some people always give me a little extra tip for their perverted desires; this cigarette burn was worth two hundred dollars, it was a high school teacher..."

The girl said, what she described strengthened the cameraman’s resolve to broadcast these things because these, far more than a young person becoming "rich," are more shocking to society!

Finally, the girl put her clothes back on, left the small inn, stood on the roadside, displaying her slender body...

"Great!"

Seeing the footage, Lynch clapped a few times to show approval of this piece, "The confusion of humanity is always the most popular subject, if it can be coupled with some adult elements, then it would be even better."

Momo slightly reminded Lynch at this time, "It won’t pass the censorship, they will ask us to cut those scenes."

Lynch tiptoed, shifting to face Momo, "Then blur them and persuade those responsible for censoring."

"We can use some technical means to make people unable to see those scenes, but leave them room for imagination."

"The footage can be processed but cannot be reduced, these scenes are impactful."

"She will make our entire society feel pain, a girl who should have had a bright future yet engaged in the lowest job in Bupen, is there a problem with the social system, or have our morals deviated?"

He made the final decision, "Manage the public relations, I believe it’s not a problem."

Momo was silent for a moment, nodded, "I will arrange the people."

Lynch nodded slightly with satisfaction, work is work, they can do anything privately, but at work, when Lynch has made a decision, he does not hope others question his decision without being able to persuade him.

The shadows of war, anxiety under high tax rates, these will all lead to a new round of "carnival."

Just like the two years when the Great Depression broke out, people were clearly destitute, yet they gave birth to the idea of "amusement to death!"

Within the next week, registration letters snowballed from all over the country to Bupen, and after a week, the new season and follow-up programs were formally announced.

The new season will be completely different from the first season; this time, it’s a challenge season!

But it’s not an ordinary challenge show.

In fact, there are challenge shows in the Federation now, with the previous years’ fitness trends thriving, quite a few programs related to physical fitness appeared on television.

Like the "Strongest Spearhead", "Fire Hero" and the likes, these all emphasize personal qualities under specific circumstances.

Even a simple pull-up can eliminate ninety percent of applicants.

"Wealth Maker" is not a show with "discrimination," so here the challenge reflects the word "competition."

A track over five thousand meters will gradually be introduced in the competition, with various traps on the track, the buttons to control these traps are in the hands of the contestants.

Their only task is to press the button in their hands at the necessary time, activate the mechanism, and send their competitors off the track.

Stupid mechanism?

Strong muscles?

Sorry, here everyone plays with their mind!

Everyone gets ten chances, and whoever accumulates the furthest distance will be the monthly champion!

This "humane" gameplay immediately garnered more attention; it may not be the most professional but is definitely the most interesting!

Meanwhile, the pseudo-documentary-like show "This Moment..." also began broadcasting.

Initially, people might be shocked that Harry gets only a few hundred dollars from the bank every month and surprised, even thinking he might be the funniest "Millionaire" in history.

But some think he made the right choice; given the option between three hundred fifty thousand and six hundred thousand, everyone knows what to choose.

Others raised objections, believing one should receive all the money in one go, even if only three hundred fifty thousand, at least this sum can achieve many things rather than just a few hundred.

Each month, the few hundred dollars can be easily consumed by ordinary life, it’s not a worthwhile deal.

But soon, people were shocked by the plight of that poor girl.

The entire social discourse began to boil!