Darkstone Code

"This time I invited..."

Penny reclined against Lynch, talking about how many celebrities she had invited for Lynch’s birthday party, including some from the entertainment industry.

Famous directors, cinematographers, actors and the like, though screenwriters don’t qualify to come, as is customary.

And then there are some from the fashion world, supermodels, and super designers, among others.

Penny was responsible for inviting these people, while entrepreneurs and politicians were on the list provided by Lynch, and Anna was responsible for filling out the invitations and sending them.

Of course, the entire party was still hosted by Penny, and Bupen Street is full of such companies.

They can provide various banquet or party solutions for individuals, from small birthday parties with maybe twenty or thirty people to corporate annual meetings with thousands, there’s nothing they can’t do.

This is part of Bupen’s unique ecosystem, which is teeming with financial companies.

For financial companies, making money often happens in an instant!

In that instant, they can earn a considerable sum of wealth. Since earning money so quickly can make many people feel less respect and awe for wealth, many companies find ways to help them spend the money.

Organizing parties is the most expensive project, from models who add atmosphere to the party and can only be admired, not touched, to stars who can do anything—you can meet all sorts of people’s extravagant needs at different price points!

Even Lynch and Lime’s joint venture uses these companies for events each quarter.

They invite many girls who are open both physically and psychologically to participate in the party, at which the company also distributes a temporary bonus to each employee for pleasure.

And those girls have to figure out how to transfer this bonus from the company employees’ hands into their own!

Sometimes new employees are very shy and will lose all their money right from the start, but older employees will tell them through personal experience how to maximize with the bonus they have!

Lynch rarely participates; he isn’t very fond of such occasions.

Regardless, these companies make sure that enterprises don’t need to kill brain cells thinking about how to host an event—simple, fast, many plans, and most importantly, trouble-free!

This is their most competitive advantage.

They do everything for you; you don’t need to worry about anything. They’ll set everything up, and after the party or meeting ends, they’ll restore everything back to how it was, and you just need to pay.

As Penny was speaking, she suddenly turned around and leaned on Lynch’s arm, "The company said I should invite two academic filmmakers, but I haven’t decided, what do you think?"

Lynch, who was reading, looked up and glanced at the girl, "If you want to win awards, you certainly can. Have the company give you a list and send it out in my name."

"As long as they can come, they won’t refuse!"

The invasion of capital into art continues. Although many artists describe their revered respect for art with "art is priceless," in a commodity society, what’s valuable and priceless is decided by the market.

Some people’s works are simply valuable, even if they spit thick phlegm on a wall—it’s still a piece of art.

Film is also an art. Academic old-timers are hard to handle; on the one hand, because they want to consolidate and defend their authority in this field.

On the other hand, because besides manipulating awards, they really can’t find other ways to earn money.

It’s necessary to have money to live in the Federation, and everyone faces heavy life pressure. How many other ways do these outdated filmmakers have to make money?

Go to universities for lectures?

Or write articles for magazines?

They persistently complain, resist, and talk about how the intrusion of capital into the film industry impacts the industry.

While enjoying the paper-dollar intoxication brought by the corruption of capital, at least the gifts and cash bonuses they receive every year ensure a comfortable high-quality life.

So, to capitalists, especially big capitalists, these so-called "unyielding filmmakers" aren’t really all that unyielding!

If Penny wants to win awards, inviting some key figures to attend Lynch’s birthday party is the simplest way.

It’s easier than giving money because in the Federation, capital can do everything!

As she was listing names, the phone suddenly rang. Lynch casually picked it up, answered a few sentences, then hung up and went into the bathroom.

While the young maid sometimes felt shy facing Lynch’s half-naked body, how to describe it... In short, she didn’t feel she was losing out.

After all, everyone knows that not only is Lynch wealthy, but he’s truly handsome!

Since Lynch rose to prominence, in recent years he has been continually ranking among the top three in the "Federation’s Most Popular Male" selections, even achieving first place last year.

His competitors are slightly less attractive in terms of handsomeness, but these men possess the charm of mature men.

Although Lynch is very handsome, overall he can’t attract women of all ages; there are always some who don’t favor the young.

As he grows older, another segment of women has started paying attention to him.

So seeing the body of such a successful man, the young maid felt a bit of joy.

Lynch changed into clean clothes and left the villa by car. Just now, Mr. Truman invited him to sit down and chat.

During this period, if there’s anything drawing in the entire Federation’s upper society, without a doubt, it involves the Duncan Clan.

This time is no exception.

The two met by the lake behind the President’s estate, then took a boat with fishing rods to the center of the lake.

Seeing that Lynch even brought a swimming ring, Mr. Truman seemed puzzled, "You can’t swim?"

Lynch naturally nodded, "I can swim and quite well too."

Mr. Truman’s gaze instinctively fell on the swimming ring at Lynch’s hand; Lynch looked down at it as well, "Swimming well has no direct relation to possibly drowning."

In fact, there were others on the shore at this moment, Austin and other security guards, while Mr. Truman had aides there too.

Surely among them were those who could swim, yet Lynch still brought the swimming ring.

Mr. Truman tried to probe further on this topic, "Is it because you’re afraid of dying?"

Lynch didn’t see his fear of death as affecting his image at all; he retorted, "Aren’t you afraid of dying?"

This question plunged Mr. Truman into silence, which led to today’s meeting topic.

"If it’s for some ideal, I wouldn’t be afraid even if there’s danger; death will only witness my glory..."

Lynch raised his hand to stop him, then pulled out a cigarette, both leaned in to light it, "Don’t say those scripted lines; you have to understand one thing, glory always belongs to the living, the dead never have glory!"

He looked at Mr. Truman, "The greatest success in one’s life is living longer than anyone you know, that’s victory, regardless of poverty or wealth."

In the face of death, everyone is equal; poverty and wealth are, as well.

Mr. Truman slightly nodded after listening, "Quite a poetic way to put it. Now, let’s talk about something more practical—what’s your view on the Duncan Clan?"

"Would you like to hear the truth or the lie?"

"The truth."

Lynch took a puff, and exhaled it slowly. On the calm lake, a breeze would occasionally blow, creating sparkling ripples, reflected on people, on faces.

He looked at the lake and said, "The existence of the Duncan Clan is a threat to everyone; a country that is successful and mature in all aspects shouldn’t have such an entity."

"They have a huge economic achievement on one side, and such a significant political influence on the other—it’s breaking the rules!"

Politics requires exchange and compromise, as does capital, but at this moment, the Duncan Clan doesn’t need to exchange or compromise with the outside world anymore—they can switch hands within themselves. This made them exceed, and being excessive means it’s unreasonable and shouldn’t exist.

During the alien hype, a certain ideology emerged.

If aliens really exist in this world, how will humans communicate with aliens after discovering them?

Many have shared various fantasies; some think the planet would be invaded by aliens, others believe aliens should be a peaceful race because technology has enabled them to avoid waging war for resources.

People’s ideas are numerous, and almost all of them are based on aliens holding the initiative, deciding how to choose.

However, one person was different. In his published idea, he believed that humans would find ways to narrow the technological gap between both parties, then declare war on the aliens!

The day after this article was published, fervent alien fans shattered the glass at his home and deflated his car tires.

But gradually, people started accepting his ideology, especially among the upper-middle classes.

In his article, he described a viewpoint: when a species that vastly exceeds current human cognition appears, even if the other side is a peaceful race, humans would declare war.

Because humans won’t allow something excessively powerful, beyond society as a whole, to exist above humanity!

If they don’t exceed by much, then they are doomed to be destroyed!

In fact, the situation he described is very similar to now.

Previously, the Duncan Clan exceeded far too much in every aspect, so no one thought to pull them down.

But as their power gradually gets caught up inch by inch, and what they exceed society with no longer makes people despair...

"War" is bound to arrive!

At this very moment!