Darkstone Code

When old Mr. Glendon went to make a call to verify, everyone was chatting casually about the recent weather.

Mainly because there wasn’t much else to talk about, and the time for verification wouldn’t take long. If they delved into deeper topics, should they interrupt when old Mr. Glendon returned, or continue?

Compared to those harder-to-interrupt questions, weather topics are easier to conclude.

This winter is still very cold. At this time, Bupen is already between minus five to six degrees. If people couldn’t bear the temperatures in the past two years,

then, after enduring several harsh winters, people have found that winter seems to be just like this!

Yes, just like this. Even if the temperature drops a bit more, it won’t cause much trouble.

But even when talking about the weather, the topic eventually shifted to current politics.

"I’ve heard from some sources that there have been more stowaways from the North this winter. The far northern Mariluo has been completely uninhabited, which is a problem for us."

The speaker was a former senator who used to work on immigration-related duties and committees.

The sudden mention of this issue related to climate change quickly sparked interest; they were all senior politicians here, with broader perspectives and higher vantage points of view.

Then someone immediately proposed their viewpoint, "We can actually take advantage of this. Our practices at the border are good; we can appropriately select some individuals to come in."

"War is about to commence. At the very least, Mariluo people have more combat experience than we have, and they should realize this experience on the battlefield."

"If someone manages to pass the test of war, I believe it also proves their loyalty, and we can certainly give them an opportunity."

"We could consider establishing an ’enlistment immigration policy’; this could also effectively alleviate anxiety among the social lower and middle classes."

What is the social lower and middle class anxious about?

It’s about conscription issues!

No one knows what follow-ups to the war will be like. The Navy has already proven itself, with many enrolling, but there are far fewer signing up for the Army.

The Army’s performance is indeed... not so good, but it is definitely better than Gafura’s gentlemen soldiers. At least, Federation soldiers don’t stand on the battlefield at three-thirty in the afternoon with a gun in one hand and a teacup in the other!

The limited excellence makes people worried, and with some imagery from previous years still lingering, some think the Army will suffer heavy casualties.

This is the core of the anxiety.

But if external forces were introduced to serve the Federation war by putting those trying to sneak into the Federation into the military, giving them the opportunity to prove their "patriotism," wouldn’t that solve some problems?

The people in the room all nodded, affirming this idea; Lynch also found this idea very interesting.

The Federation has money, so if money can solve the problem, then it’s not a problem!

Perhaps the Congressmen would also like it, since such a proposal would appeal to the lower and middle classes and garner more public support.

As they spoke, old Mr. Glendon came back from outside, with a smile already on his face.

As soon as he entered the room, he laughed and said, "We’ve taken on the job. May I ask, Mr. Lynch, how much campaign funds do you plan to invest initially?"

This number can’t be too high. Things that can be done with a hundred dollars can also be done with ten thousand. If you give too much at once, they won’t be too tense and won’t use their full force.

"Thirty-five million!"

Young Mr. Glendon frowned, "If it were other candidates, this cost would be enough. We could create a selective strategy, abandoning some states held by the Conservative Party."

"But Mr. Truman’s fame in the Federation is slightly weaker than other candidates, and we have some time constraints..."

Lynch nodded, "If needed later, we will add more."

In fact, running for office began four years ago.

For instance, after the election ended and the winner emerged, some people would soon announce their participation in the next election.

Their announcement to the public about this news is to hope that, over the next four years, the public would have a clear understanding of them!

And some media would intermittently report on the current situation of those politicians stating they’d run in the next election.

Report their work, their life, what they’ve said, and the things they’ve done.

This way, by the beginning of the fourth year when the campaign starts preparing, the public would have some foundational understanding of this person.

Mr. Truman perfectly missed this; if he wants to rapidly leave a deep impression in the public’s mind, he must spend more money.

Then they planned some simple counter-strategies, intending to set up a whole campaign plan around them.

No campaign can be perfect, because in choosing some people, you must abandon others; that’s unavoidable.

Pleasing the conservatives means offending the radicals, and neutrality pleases neither side.

Mr. Truman’s personal tag is, in fact, very celebratory, which is a good thing for the campaign team.

Before Lynch came, he had already done some simple work, just to let these people get into work faster.

"First, we must emphasize that Mr. Truman is from a military background; this relates to the upcoming war issues."

"The public would want a President who is very knowledgeable about war, not an outsider!"

Lynch took hold of the conversation, everyone in the room nodded, and a few young people began to take notes.

"Personally, I think we can leverage recruitment ads to externally promote this trait of his."

"Secondly, his organizational skills and judgment in international affairs; the World Development Committee is the most perfect masterpiece..."

Lynch found many of Mr. Truman’s strengths, some of which were his, some of which were Lynch’s own.

Yes, some were ideas of Lynch himself, carried out by Mr. Truman, but now they are all characteristics of Mr. Truman.

These successful traits are exactly what the public needs!

After a simple discussion lasting more than an hour, everyone passed around the materials, finally agreeing that Mr. Truman actually has a significant chance of winning.

Because of war!

Just as Lynch said, only military personnel understand war, politicians completely do not!

People have anxiety about war, so they need a President who understands war; only then will there be no unnecessary sacrifices, and the "enlistment immigration policy" they proposed could increase Mr. Truman’s support by at least five points.

"By next week at the latest, we will have the campaign strategy developed. Leave the keys to the campaign office and wait for our call."

After shaking hands with everyone, Lynch left. Watching Lynch’s car drive away, young Mr. Glendon turned to look at his father, "Is the military’s attitude firm?"

Old Mr. Glendon nodded, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the white foam from the corner of his mouth.

As people age, certain functions degrade or disappear, like the corners of his mouth.

If he talks extensively, saliva tends to spill from the corners of his mouth.

Though he doesn’t want this, he can’t prevent it.

He is frustrated but has no solution; this is the drawback of aging.

Fortunately, he’s still alive, and that’s what matters most.

"I asked Perseus’ grandfather; Truman’s father, grandfather, ancestors were all military. He’s indelibly marked by the military."

"Besides, his actual connection with the military hasn’t been severed; the military needs this war to expand its strength."

Young Mr. Glendon frowned again, "If the military’s strength continues to expand, could it affect us?"

When he says "us," he doesn’t mean himself, his father, or others in the room, but the Federation Government.

The Federation Government is different from the Federation Military; if the military’s power continues to grow, it could affect the Federation Government’s authority. Young Mr. Glendon fears a "military government" which they wouldn’t want to see.

Old Mr. Glendon, however, optimistically smiled, "They won’t let it happen, neither will others, but it’s actually a good thing."

"Capital is becoming increasingly rampant, and military expansion would bring more leverage to the Federation Government; we just need to be careful to avoid most risks."

He, being older, has a deeper understanding.

The strengthening of the military indirectly empowers the Federation Government, granting it more clout.

Adding to the expansion of military security agencies’ power, these non-capital-influenced agencies instill a deterrent to capitalists, making them follow the rules compliantly.

The military’s strong stance this time has given old Mr. Glendon an opportunity to "burn himself," maximizing benefits.

Things were progressing smoothly, and when Mr. Truman heard that the job had been taken, he breathed a sigh of relief.

A smile now also appeared on his face, "So, next, should I start to run madly down this path?"

Lynch gave him a nod of affirmation, causing him to involuntarily laugh out loud, "I used to come up with strategies and write scripts for the President; now, I have to do these for myself."

"Does this mean I might save some money now?"

Already set to run, Mr. Truman’s emotions were strange, and his thoughts were scattered.

He thought about many things, about being kicked into the military right after high school, about being envied at a young age — because he was a colonel.

He thought about a lot, about leaping out of the military, seeking more development opportunities for the military, up to now!

He began running on the path towards supreme power!