Darkstone Code

Chapter 445: 0443 Pursuing Profit [This chapter is sponsored by: Smile Returns to the Deep Unknown Place - Additional Content 2/8]


Lynch's words lack some logic; if a teacher were here, they'd comment that his statements are disjointed, lack central ideas, and fail to transition smoothly.

He knows, and the Provincial Governor Drag also knows, yet he does not interrupt Lynch but listens quietly.

Someone like Lynch wouldn't speak nonsense that's out of place; he's waiting, waiting for what Lynch will say next.

After a few seconds, Lynch turns his head to look at him, "Let's set aside aesthetics, art, and tools, and solely discuss building a sandcastle."

"If you want it not to be knocked down by the sea, you must compact the base of the sandcastle solidly. The stronger you compact it, the more stable the sandcastle built upon this base."

"Initially, we discovered that only a small solid base wasn't enough, we needed more."

"With more bases that allow us to freely express ourselves, we cease to think merely of building a small sandcastle; we want to play big."

"People are always greedy, Mr. Drag, including the children and the frolicking."

"Thus, the sandcastle grows bigger, everyone becomes excited, but never notices a crucial point, Mr. Drag."

Lynch slightly adjusts his sitting position, "Can I ask you a question first?"

The Provincial Governor Drag nods, "Of course!"

"We've all seen sand, I mean dry sand, once you loosen your grip of it, it scatters to the ground..." Lynch also makes a loosening motion with his hand, "So how do we make it capable of coming together firmly?"

The Provincial Governor Drag answers almost without thinking, "Give it a bit of water."

Lynch smiles and points, "Right, give it a bit of water, but have you thought, the water that achieves the sandcastle is also the water that destroys it... Mr. Drag."

The saying 'Water can carry a boat and also sink it' is concise, yet its reason is profound. Sadly, in this world, no one can understand it, and Lynch is unwilling to explain why one can't swim after falling into the water and the like.

He uses a simpler way to answer, which is the sandcastle.

Each year, the Federation holds grand sandcastle competitions, and in previous years, those who were well-fed would gather by the sea to watch experts create breathtaking sandcastles.

It's not just the Federation; other countries hold similar competitions. Even in Nagariel, even if there are none, those living by the sea would play with sand.

This is almost an... indescribable instinct, derived from human genetic fragments, most of the human tribe has roughly similar habits, or say hobbies.

When a sandcastle can allow water to gently surround it, it will form a whole.

But when the sandcastle begins to detach from water, or when the water becomes more abundant and fierce, the sandcastle ends.

Lynch's simple words cause the Provincial Governor Drag to fall into deep thought. He had never considered this issue; water turns sand into glorious sandcastles and also into quicksand, ultimately buried under seawater.

The emergence of the Nagariel Youth Party, regardless of whether someone is controlling it, reflects a similar problem. It's time to change some things.

The concentrated power and wealth forced people to face a blood-soaked reality; they can no longer deceive themselves with religion, faith, or culture thinking enduring will make things better.

They certainly won't improve, nor is there a future; the future lies in struggling by soaking in tainted waters.

This is also a significant mark of social progress. Without external intervention, this awakening might shake the foundation upon which all rulers govern the country. Then a torrent of the era shatters the class barriers cast in reinforced concrete, crushes the plush rulers inside, and begins a new cycle.

A social system more suited to the society emerges from destruction, grows rapidly, until the next cycle.

If there's no external force!

After a while, the car slowly comes to a stop, the Provincial Governor Drag solemnly asks, "Then what do we do next, do we need to deal with these people?"

Lynch pushes open the car door, stepping out, "A person's body can't block a rushing river, let alone what you're blocking is the era's torrent, yet we can guide it!"

"Guide it?" The Provincial Governor Drag is a bit puzzled, "Then what should we do?"

He doesn't say "What should I do" or "What do you plan to do", but uses "we", he has realized the danger.

If their target is wealth and power, then he would be the first to be struck.

Lynch shakes his head, "You'll know, but not now."

After a day of turmoil, the recruitment point began work again in the afternoon. This time, to prevent further disturbances, the Police Station Director arranged for more officers to stand guard here.

The crowd that had been dispersed in the morning returned again, once more forming long lines.

The awakening of consciousness is merely the spiritual and soul's sublimation for a few, but for many more, filling their stomachs is the most important thing.

A little later, Asir came to report back.

"We've recruited nearly two hundred people. Should we continue recruiting?" Asir stood respectfully beside the table. Having not seen Lynch for a few months, the unfamiliarity between them made him feel a reverent awe for the young man in the room.

Lynch nodded slightly. He was looking at a plan and answered casually, "Of course, nearly two hundred people, which means less than two hundred. What can we do with so few people?"

He spoke and then looked up, noticing Asir, who had just knocked and entered, still standing there. He smiled and pointed to the chair opposite the table, "You can sit while talking."

Lynch did not return his attention to the plan in his hands but continued to look at Asir, "I just noticed, you've gained some weight since I left."

Asir scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. He hadn't expected to gain weight in this desolate area, perhaps because it was too comfortable here?

Lynch placed the plan on the table and pushed it over, "You can take a look at our Phase One plan. It involves four factories, and two hundred people can't even fill one. So you should aim higher, say... ten thousand people."

"Ten thousand?!" Asir looked up just after bowing his head. He looked at Lynch, his facial features seemed to have their own thoughts, not cooperating with each other at all.

But he quickly realized his faux pas, "Sorry, boss, are you sure about ten thousand? Even if we give each of them a dollar a day, that's ten thousand dollars!"

Lynch looked at him without speaking. Asir thought maybe he hadn't explained enough or wasn't clear, so he continued, "I mean we can't start all ten thousand of them working at once. We could hire fewer initially, then gradually increase. Wouldn't that be more appropriate?"

Lynch still said nothing, just kept looking at him, which made Asir's scalp tingle, feeling there might be something else he should add, "If we don't have them do anything but pay them, it'll foster bad habits."

"You might only see the superficial aspects. Actually, people here aren't as industrious as we think. They'll definitely avoid tiring themselves out when they can slack off..."

"And..."

"By the way..."

Asir added many things intermittently but eventually found himself at a loss for words, somewhat awkwardly looking at Lynch.

Lynch finally spoke, "You know, I'm not interested in those things you mentioned. What I want is a certain direction. You might not fully understand, but that's okay, you don't need to."

"What's interesting to me is your attitude, Asir."

"A few months ago, you were clenching your fist saying you wanted to change everything here. Yet now, you're considering cost-saving measures and even bringing up the locals' laziness and cunning."

"I find it fascinating and also reflective. The power and dynamics of wealth are so profound; they can change a person so simply and quickly!"

"From the inside out!"

Asir was a bit dazed, seemingly not expecting Lynch to say these words. After a moment of silence, he pursed his lips, with a somewhat strange expression, "I'm sorry, boss, I've let you down."

"Disappointment?" Lynch chuckled; he opened a drawer to look, finding nothing inside.

This was Drag's house, where he was temporarily staying, but he would soon move out.

He pulled out his cigarette case, took one, and tossed it over; he intended to toss Kleve's brand to Asir, but there weren't any here, so he tossed a regular cigarette instead.

"There is nothing to be disappointed about, Asir..." Asir lit a match, leaned over the table to light Lynch's cigarette, and Lynch took a puff, holding it between his fingers. He turned to look at Asir, who had his head lowered beside him, and said with a smile, "If pursuing power and wealth and enjoying the changes they bring to life is a mistake..."

"Then almost everyone in this world is guilty, and their guilt will deepen."

"Wanting a better life isn't a mistake; it's a motivation that allows you to maximize your value, which is a good thing..."

He then steered the conversation back, "Start recruiting people. I don't require you to recruit all ten thousand workers at once. You can recruit some daily, not from the same region or city, but spread it around, mainly to spread a message."

"I don't care what methods you use or how you achieve it. I have only one requirement: I want all the locals in the Province to know that I am indeed here to make money, but I am different from previous foreigners."

"Those people fed off them, but this time, I will bring them along to make money together!"

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