Darkstone Code

Mr. Jeruno had considered many possibilities.

For instance, that Lynch would be willing to ally with him, but with some rather harsh conditions.

Or perhaps Lynch would pretend to disagree, while gradually increasing his bargaining chips until he faltered.

In Mr. Jeruno’s view, the materials in his hand were enough to make Lynch realize the current situation!

All uncertainties, in fact, are just leverage to demand more benefits.

But in that moment, Lynch’s response overturned all his imagination and speculation. When Lynch casually dismissed him, as if saying "the weather is nice today," Mr. Jeruno knew Lynch’s stance would not change.

He knew, he could feel Lynch’s resolute attitude, which was also strange because Lynch did not seem to be that kind of person.

He was always in pursuit of interests, at least Mr. Jeruno thought so. He had followed Lynch’s rags-to-riches story and knew how Lynch made his first fortune.

A businessman willing to trample laws for wealth is qualified to be called a capitalist, while those who strictly adhere to the law and dare not cross the line are at most foolish merchants.

How could such a capitalist reject such a considerable benefit and choose the least meaningful decision?

Honestly, he didn’t quite understand.

"Do you think these can’t destroy him?", Mr. Jeruno thought, perhaps this was the answer.

Lynch believed these photos wouldn’t shake the President’s power foundation, so he could give such an answer so casually, not fitting the situation at hand.

Lynch glanced at the photos again, "No, you can destroy him."

The same damn tone, as if he were saying "good evening" again, those flat sentences made Mr. Jeruno feel a bit nauseated.

The Duncan Clan, although currently at a disadvantage, is actually not at a point where they can’t do anything.

They can still launch a formidable public opinion offensive, creating various opportunities to rally the people to express their demands in the form of "public opinion."

The masses are very stupid... This phrase is often said because the masses really are stupid. They always believe what they see and hear, ignoring that those things they can see and hear are what some people want them to see and hear.

Saying that the lower class has no thinking ability is obviously a very absurd and irresponsible view. At least in terms of "paranoia" and "conspiracy theories," the lower class has very reliable divergent thinking ability.

They can associate the dog kept by the First Lady with the assassination of Emperor Gafura, and can even use some imagined evidence to support all their speculations.

But none of this changes the fact that the lower-class masses are very stupid.

As long as Mr. Truman wants to release these photos, the Federation will surely be swept by a tsunami because of them!

They don’t intend to sit at the negotiating table and conduct attacks and defenses according to the rules anymore because they realize that under the Federation Government’s rules, they can never win.

They must step out of these rules to find some outside arena where they can exert force.

As long as they can go all out, the President is bound to face the greatest crisis of his political career.

Lynch also agreed with this point, and it is precisely this point that made Mr. Truman somewhat confused.

He looked at Lynch, his eyes filled with confusion, "I don’t quite understand, you are a core supporter of the President...."

Lynch pressed his lips together, "As a citizen of the Federation, I simply did what I should do, which is to vote for him and make more people vote for him."

"But that doesn’t necessarily mean that just because I voted for him and donated money to him, I must unconditionally support everything he does."

"Mr. Jeruno, you are a smart person, you should know people’s evaluations of him before the last election... "

Mr. Jeruno felt a bit dazed as he recalled the recent past, four years ago, what did they say?

Oh, right, they said the President was not suitable for the position, that the Progressive Party already had a new, more suitable candidate, and planned to let that person get the position of President.

But the President changed the final result, and everyone else ended up as also-rans. He achieved ultimate victory.

In this process, "overly conservative" was the evaluation people had of him. Many of the speeches before his rise, and many of the policy programs after, could not actually satisfy people.

This is at the core of the conflict between the new and old eras, as people needed something more radical to negate everything before, so he didn’t do very well, at least in this regard.

He is a conservative among radicals, often advancing cautiously when bold strides are needed, which made many people worry, including Mr. Truman.

He doesn’t seem like the type of "leader" as a Federation President, always standing atop tidal waves to point the way for the people.

He is the kind of "will of the people" Federation President, only making choices after the public’s opinion boils over.

Only in recent years has this situation gradually improved, but...

Mr. Jeruno’s expression is very subtle, he couldn’t have imagined that Lynch, who is considered the core supporter of the President, would actually... show such a lack of support.

However, after thinking about it again, he felt that all of this was... so normal because he is a capitalist.

A qualified capitalist would never do something just because "I like it," their only purpose in doing things is the essence of capitalists and capital — "the need for interests compels me to do so!"

Mr. Jeruno pursed his lips, tilted his head slightly, "Well, it seems I overrated its value when I came to you with it."

He put away the photos, then with some curiosity asked, "Since he’s not that important to you, why can’t we cooperate?"

Lynch’s answer was as simple and direct as ever, "Because you will also lose."

"Mr. Jeruno, you are an outstanding businessman, perhaps even an outstanding politician, but you haven’t taken one aspect to the extreme you could have reached."

"In business aspects, the rigid and dangerous business model of the Duncan Clan hasn’t changed for many years, and you haven’t even focused your energy on changing it."

"You might tell me that you’ve tried transforming and upgrading industries several times...", as Lynch said this, Mr. Jeruno was about to speak against him.

He just slightly parted his lips, looked at Lynch in surprise, then closed his mouth again.

"A true businessperson or capitalist never backs down from challenges posed by the era due to a few failures. Mr. Jeruno, we should face the challenges the era throws at us, and then overcome them."

"Even if it takes countless times we should never shrink back!"

Listening to Lynch, Mr. Jeruno felt somewhat... he didn’t know what it was, perhaps regret.

The biggest issue currently with the Duncan Clan is their failure to transform and upgrade their industries. If they had done this years prior, they wouldn’t be in such a dire situation now.

In essence, they have been left behind by the new era’s business models.

They have occupied relatively lucrative resources in various industries, but they don’t have the corresponding ability. Facing repeated challenges from capitalist society, they lack the capability and are unwilling to let go, ultimately resorting to underhanded tactics.

Mr. Jeruno’s eyebrows twitched slightly, he wanted to refute Lynch, but facts did not allow him to do so!

But Lynch wasn’t finished yet!

"Further, you are an outstanding politician, Mr. Jeruno."

"I heard that Federation Members of Parliament once prided themselves on the phrase ’I am friends with Mr. Jeruno.’ Everyone thought you were a big shot, everyone took pride in knowing you."

"Even some unsuitable proposals could smoothly pass the toughest voting stages in Congress under your maneuvering. In this regard, you have more influence than the President, more than the two-party committee chair... "

Mr. Jeruno’s lips curved slightly, "This is everyone’s kind affection toward me..."

Lynch raised his hand to stop him from speaking, "But you are not a real politician, Mr. Jeruno!"

His expression was somewhat humorous, a bit regretful, and also somewhat... in any case, filled with many things, that smile was somewhat glaring, making Mr. Jeruno uncomfortable as if mocking him.

"Mr. Jeruno, you are not a politician, not a Member of Parliament, not a Governor, not the President, and yet you possess influence comparable to theirs."

"At the same time, you are a... not so successful capitalist, you know?"

"Perhaps what you perceive as your advantage is, in fact, precisely your biggest failure."

"The most unprofessional capitalist and the most unqualified politician combined, under your twisted and distorted influence, the Duncan Clan has completely lost the motivation for development and advancement."

"The more you struggle, the more you desire to save this family, the more you receive what you can’t bear."

"Sometimes you try so hard, but the results aren’t positive or favorable!"

"The President is not the victor, nor are you the winner..."

Lynch said this with a smile and stepped forward to shake hands with Mr. Jeruno, who had somewhat lost control over his facial expressions. "I’m glad you could listen to me speak so much. From my perspective, besides your failures in these two areas, you are still very successful in other aspects, at least you are cultured and a gentleman!"

"If there are no surprises... we shouldn’t meet again, are there any other matters we need to understand about each other?"

"If not... it’s getting late, I should be going back!"