Darkstone Code

The short elderly man pondered Lynch’s "recommendation" for a while, and Lynch’s argument was indeed correct.

The Federation is facing a war, and ideally it needs a president who can understand war, at the very least such a president would not make incorrect decisions in some war strategies.

However, it doesn’t mean that if the president isn’t from the Military, he completely doesn’t understand war.

The Federation’s well-developed staff officer system and the Ministry of Defense’s strategic command system can provide the Federation’s president with enough war insight, even without military experience.

They’ll simplify the complexities of war to make it comprehensible for the president, then wait for him to make a decision.

Yet... Mr. Truman as a person, whether in work or other aspects, is fairly commendable.

The short elderly man was actually deceived.

As the chairman of the Progress Party Committee, a man at the pinnacle of Federation power, he did not actually possess the excessive aversion to capital and capitalists seen in Mr. Truman.

He understood clearly that this society cannot exist without capital and capitalists, just like fish cannot live without water.

Capital thoroughly lubricates all facets of society, enabling this "machine" to operate smoothly.

Even though at times it is unfriendly to the bottom layer of society or to minorities, at least the Federation’s citizens, comparing from the aspects of living environment, educational environment, medical environment or working environment to abroad, are obviously superior to other countries!

Indeed, capital leeches off society, but it also maintains the normal operation of society, vigorously employing anesthetic measures on these bottom-tier citizens so they don’t feel pain, or even experience some happiness.

Without capital, society in the Federation wouldn’t be as advanced as it is now; people indeed revolve around wealth, but this also gives them motivation to move forward.

Mr. Truman’s recent demonstration of merging smoothly with capitalists has relaxed many, with the key being his willingness to accept those capitalists’ "gifts."

In ancient times, when bandits recruited newcomers, the simplest way to confirm if the person belonged to them was to bring him along for burning, killing, and looting; once he killed the innocent civilians, he became one of them.

It’s the same now; whether you can harmoniously coexist with capitalists depends on whether you’re willing to accept the capitalists’ gifts.

These gifts are all legal, but accepting them constitutes a statement.

If I take your money, I will advocate for your interests in politics.

The short elderly man contemplated for a while, "If only you support Truman, he might not be a match for others."

Lynch smiled and moved his eyebrow, indicating that the short elderly man had already preliminarily agreed. Next up is reinforcement, "The Military will support him too, but it won’t be expressed so directly."

The short elderly man slightly nodded, indeed, when the Military supports someone, they never make it too evident, as the Federation’s charter stipulates the separation of the Federation Army and the Federation Government.

The Ministry of Defense acts as the bridge between them. If bypassing this critical department, those within the Federation Government cannot directly mobilize persons or things related to the Military.

Similarly, personnel from the Federation Military cannot directly participate in key positions within the Federation Government.

Mr. Truman has already retired, his retirement time and reason can be checked through the Ministry of Defense, so his involvement in government work is legal and compliant.

If the Federation Military were to support Mr. Truman’s ascension, apart from expressing support from the army’s standpoint, they wouldn’t make it known to everyone; they would choose a different method to support him.

For example, the largest group controlled by the Federation Military, the Maritime Group.

How far a nation’s ocean transport group can go, how powerful its transport capability can be, actually doesn’t relate to the company itself.

Even if a company possesses unlimited wealth, uncountable ocean-going transport giants, without a strong national navy, the maritime business goes poorly.

Pirates would cause trouble, countries with strong navies would cause trouble; in this society where communication isn’t yet developed, in the boundless sea, killing people and taking goods leaves no trace whatsoever.

Therefore, maritime power totally depends on the navy’s strength of the company’s home country.

Strong means secure transport; even if some disturbance occurs, it’s merely harassment, not harm!

The Federation Navy serves as the most powerful support for the Maritime Group, and within the Maritime Group, some individuals have either explicit or implicit military backgrounds; they surely will support Mr. Truman.

Next would be the Military Industrial Group; if they wish to keep receiving orders from the Military, they must support Mr. Truman!

Consequently, the downstream and upstream enterprises extended from the Military Industrial Group will also be mobilized.

Thus, with the Maritime Group, Military Industrial Group, and Lynch’s Darkstone Group as support, Mr. Truman qualifies for a ticket to the election.

The short elderly man hesitated several times before slowly nodding, "I agree... "

The current President’s scandal will inevitably ferment; the Progressive Party desperately needs a president who could make people forget these scandals to step forward, at least as a target to divert attention first.

With the short elderly man’s agreement, in the early December Progress Party Committee meeting, the short elderly man announced Mr. Truman as the Progressive Party’s second candidate, joining the election.

Despite many being deeply shocked and puzzled, no one dared to oppose the short elderly man’s resolution.

In that afternoon, continuously seeking compromise, Mr. Jeruno finally found that the difficulty of handling this matter far exceeded his imagination; he gave up pursuing any compromise and released all the materials.

All media under the Duncan Clan’s banner began massive reporting of these issues!

In the morning, after Lynch’s exercise and putting on new clothes, when he walked to the dining table and sat down in the restaurant, he noticed the newspaper placed on the table.

These newspapers almost exclusively reported on the President’s "affair", and he flipped through them to see that those placing enlarged images of the President and Mrs. Chris on the entire front page were all media with direct interests related to the Duncan Clan.

Meanwhile, those merely using headlines were media without much relation to the Duncan Clan.

Regardless of whether these media were on the President’s side or not, releasing this news demanded reporting to show some form of fairness.

Only by taking an impartial stance, not favoring one camp over another, can one gain more support and trust.

Lynch turned to the Bupen Times, they publicized the photos of the two without any modification, which was indeed a violation against the Federation’s legal regulations.

The Federation’s Publication Regulations require that public prints intended for all ages must not feature individuals with bare lower bodies.

Yes, it’s permissible to bare the upper body, but not the lower body, nor can any closer intimate behaviors appear, otherwise facing a fine.

From fifty dollars to fifty thousand.

Evidently, the Duncan Clan isn’t short on money, so these newspapers undauntedly went into print breaching the rules, and they managed to achieve the impact they wanted!

The newspapers introduced the male and female leads in the photos, exposing their identities entirely, including that Mrs. Chris and her family recently moved from another state to Bupen.

Her husband just happened to become a Ministry of Justice staff member; the newspapers didn’t explicitly mention involvement in trading of privileges for sexual favors, but they knew how to guide people in that direction using subtle rhetoric.

Seeing these articles, one instinctively thinks that the man earned the job because of Mrs. Chris.

Once published, the entire world was in uproar.

As one of the core members involved in the upcoming war between two global factions, the Federation President’s appointment holds significant impact worldwide.

This included Ambassador Peng Jieao, who, upon receiving the Emperor’s direct phone call, inquired the Ministry of International Affairs about the authenticity of the newspaper report.

Among these newspapers available in Bupen, many planned to make the story a series—indicating immense public interest!

The Federation Government was also in chaos - like a pot of wheat oatmeal - that morning.

Though the President was prepared, the explosion’s impact nearly made him faint.

Seated at the dining table in the President’s Mansion, his hands anxiously and helplessly performed small gestures, while his wife sat across him, calmly sipping coffee.

After a long while, he sighed, "I’m sorry, I didn’t expect this."

The First Lady of the Federation put down the saucer and coffee, picked up a sandwich, and before eating, asked, "Didn’t you expect to be found out or didn’t you expect that having done these things would lead to such consequences?"

The question was somewhat uncomfortable, the President remained silent for a while, then said again, "I’m sorry."

The First Lady elegantly put down the bitten sandwich, picked up the napkin to wipe away the food residue from the corner of her mouth, "I bear some responsibility for this matter as well."

Looking at the President, "I’ve aged, needs faded away years ago but I didn’t realize you still had such..."

She glanced sideways at the newspapers on the table, casually flipping them, "...such strong needs."

"But you also erred; you could have been more spirited rather than randomly picking a tramp!"

Thus saying, she got up from her seat, "I accept your apology, now you should seriously consider how to handle the media and the Federation’s citizens."

"I have two charity events to attend over this period, won’t be back anytime soon..."