Darkstone Code

On the day of university admission interviews, over a thousand people paid their tuition, confirming their future identity as college students.

According to Lynch and the principal’s initial plan, since this is the first year the school was founded, much of its influence has yet to spread.

Some professors, suitable university teachers, and educators are still observing this school.

The enrollment target this year is 2,500 students, but now reportedly more than 3,000 have already expressed their intention, severely exceeding the plan.

Luckily, Lynch suggested that they could squeeze a little if possible, and ultimately the school would retain the first 3,200 who paid their tuition.

As for those before them... unfortunately, they can only be told sorry.

Sometimes, certain things don’t possess absolute fairness; even fairness itself is not absolute.

In the early morning, Lynch and Catherine got up, changed into new clothes, and began their morning run.

A disciplined lifestyle is actually a process of self-elevation and transformation. Even if most ugly ducklings remain ugly ducklings after transformation, they at least gain a lot in the process.

Good exercise can make one’s body and mood more cheerful. The two ran under the shade of Central Park in the city with the first rays of sunlight.

Running has become a part of their life; there’s no breathlessness.

"... Sometimes I can’t believe the complexity of political issues in a city!"

Catherine softly talked about some political struggles in Sabin City while running. She is just an ordinary city legislator, needing to leave her office alone and pay out of pocket to hire someone to serve her, with the annual salary from City Hall being just at the minimum wage level.

It sounds like... being a city legislator is not a pleasing job?

If you only look at its job content and employment method, then indeed it is.

Federation legislators mostly deal with matters related to the city, like pollution from factories causing fish deaths in the rivers and lakes around the city.

Or perhaps a factory has a safety incident, and they must ensure during the investigation process that capitalists do not manipulate judicial justice with wealth.

Most of the time, legislators do dirty and tiring work, with not much pay, which might not even match that of an ordinary worker.

But in reality, most legislator incomes do not come from wages but from the situation people least want to see: the transfer of interests by capitalists.

Of course, they wouldn’t know.

In addition to the tiring work, legislators sometimes also experience conflicts between each other.

For example, Legislator A and Legislator B belong to different capital camps, and the business of the two enterprises might overlap or even conflict in certain parts.

To support the capitalists, they must attack each other.

Catherine received a pollution case, and during her investigation, someone suddenly claimed her investigation was illegal, with issues in procedures and processes, forcing her to stop.

She didn’t realize it at first, and only understood two days later when her staff officer reminded her; she was swept into a confrontation between two local enterprises.

Both sides accused each other of violations, tried every means to prevent legislators and investigation teams from circling around their issues, employing all sorts of tactics.

For the first time, Catherine felt that being a legislator was more than just about responsibility.

She talked with Lynch a lot, saying that even her internship at the President’s Mansion wasn’t as complex as now.

After all, interning at the President’s Mansion only involved errands, whereas as a city legislator, she could propose her opinions to the mayor, speak for the people, and even push certain bills to pass to some extent!

She transformed from an outsider to an insider, finally witnessing the complexity of politics.

"Everyone wears a mask, you can’t tell if they’re speaking nonsense, nor whom you can trust!"

Catherine reflected deeply when saying this; she thought she had already imagined this work to be very complex, yet she underestimated political complexity.

Lynch ran alongside, sharing some experiences, "Actually, politics is simpler than you think."

"Every action is purposeful, and this purpose, for lower-level politicians, is to gain more support from capitalists."

"Hence, when they choose to do something, they display their bottom line more bluntly than upper-level politicians."

"When we talk about the sanctity of politics, it means you have achieved a high political status; only with such status can you possess that feature!"

"Just like the President, we face many obstacles when pushing educational reform, but when the President decides, it becomes much easier..."

Catherine appeared thoughtful.

Actually, Lynch was misleading; even at the President’s level, many matters still can’t be done or touched.

Even if changes in these matters could greatly benefit the people!

Because at the President’s level, there are equally or even higher capital forces or political forces like him.

No one can have everything they desire.

After encouraging Catherine to continue pursuing her path, Lynch chatted briefly with her staff officer, whose university journalism course indeed felt dull.

She likes her current job, despite being just a lower-level politician, allowing her to feel the adrenaline of those struggles.

She privately asked Lynch if Catherine might one day rise higher, beyond a specific city or region, if she herself had a chance in politics.

This is like a desire, a craving for benefits. She doesn’t need a wage, but a sense of accomplishment!

Lynch positively replied, if Catherine could indeed grow to such a height, supporting a mayor would be effortless for Lynch!

Catherine’s popularity in Sabin City and York State is high; many families with children thank her for all she’s done for her state’s people. This is exactly what every politician desperately needs—the support of public opinion.

This will provide immeasurable aid if she runs for mayor or governor in the future.

However, this is something politicians can’t achieve solely on their own; without capital’s intervention and help, each time they’re in front of the public, they can only start with "I have a dream..."!

At noon, Lynch had a meal with the mayor of Sabin City, who is also the governor’s nephew.

Thanks to the governor’s ability to serve another term, he also continued his term.

Of course, his continuation is not due to the governor’s connections, but because the people of Sabin City are willing to keep trusting him, giving him more chances to showcase himself.

In the evening, Lynch and Catherine sat together in front of the TV, watching the season finale of "Wealth Maker."

The premiere season came down to its last, after four months of selection and competition. Countless people went crazy for these contestants.

According to Momo’s account to Lynch, at least thousands of letters from across the country arrived at the TV station daily.

Part of them were self-recommendations hoping to join the show; another part were angry letters cursing the station as fools.

This is understandable; they were upset about their favored contestants being eliminated, or their bets eliminated. Their anger is normal.

Yes, gambling is a legal business in the Federation, and all registered gaming companies discovered a new opportunity.

This time, they don’t have to invest to organize competitive and suspenseful matches—someone has done it for them. They only need to offer odds.

Each contestant can be bet on, and championship bets for the finale remain open.

According to some consulting companies in Bupen, the off-site betting now exceeds a billion!

This was discovered and opened by gaming companies after almost a third into the TV’s airing.

If betting started from the season’s beginning, the total stakes could be higher!

At night, the two sat on the sofa, eating snacks, drinking, watching TV.

Now the main hall has been expanded several times; to reflect the tension and authenticity of the competition, the TV station allowed more audiences in, guaranteeing that the entire competition process is without any manipulation.

"Who will win?" Catherine couldn’t help but ask curiously while eating dried fruit.

This season’s competition offers many highlights, the program team having mastered Lynch’s essence in selecting participants.

Each participant has a compelling reason to win, and every person evokes sympathy and even pity.

Like the girl eliminated in the first month, though revived later, was finally eliminated again.

Everyone exudes certain luminous points, they could be said to be the "pain" of certain social bottom tiers.

They aren’t the glamorous middle class; they’re just part of the mass public, exhibiting many issues prevalent in many families but not as extreme.

Because of this, each contestant has numerous supporters, every elimination bringing tons of letters accusing the organizers of a lack of humanity.

But undeniably, it brought unprecedented attention.

No matter how other TV stations copy, not to mention competing—it’s only a gap where even the taillights can’t be seen.

Lynch shook his head, "I don’t know either."

Catherine continued asking, "Didn’t you predetermine the champion?"

Lynch shook his head again, "They considered it, but I refused. It’s not a celebration for some or a few. What I hope for is genuinely changing some people’s destinies after participating in this show!"