Blackstone Code
Chapter 301:

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The crimson bloodwood was harvested from a tree species unique to Nagalier. Its entire body was as red as fresh blood, and within its wood lay golden threads that gave the tree a sacred quality. In many religious beliefs, "gold" seemed to have become an exclusive characteristic of the divine. For instance, in myths and legends, people often described the blood of gods as "golden light flowing" or simply "golden blood."

The attributes of the crimson bloodwood had also spawned numerous myths. According to some tales, when the blood of a god dripped into the mortal world, only where their blood pooled would these trees grow. The golden threads within the wood symbolized remnants of divinity that had not yet faded.

The more golden threads a piece of the crimson bloodwood contained, the higher its value. Some rare specimens were worth several times—or even dozens of times—the price of gold per unit weight. Nagalier was a nation steeped in faith, and its people believed that furniture or tools made from the crimson bloodwood could imbue them with a trace of divine essence. When the Great Collapse came, they hoped this connection would grant them the protection of the gods, allowing them to ascend into the divine realm.

Thus, there was fierce competition for the crimson bloodwood. However, due to its unique properties and sacred status in religion, the tree had been designated as one of the forbidden species to cut down. Anyone wishing to harvest it needed permission from local temples.

Perhaps at first, people merely sought items with special significance to elevate their social standing, but over time, what may have started as lies gradually became accepted truths. After briefly touching on this topic, Lynch moved on to other subjects that piqued interest, such as Mishahaya.

"Let me share some of my upcoming plans," Lynch began. The crowd held their breaths, watching him intently. The hall was silent except for the distant strains of soothing, folk-inspired music played by musicians—and Lynch's voice alone carried throughout the room. This architectural design of the hall was meticulously crafted; though Lynch wasn't positioned at the very center of the space, his area served as the core. Through clever structural engineering, any sound he made while speaking could be clearly heard by everyone present.

Every civilization has its merits, even if it may no longer keep pace with modern times. Throughout history, each has had moments when it led the way. Of course, the Baylor Federation doesn't count—it hasn't been around long enough.

"The issue of building factories will be addressed promptly. I'm not sure what resources are available here, nor can I transport raw materials from elsewhere, process them here, and then ship them out again—that would skyrocket my costs. So, I prefer goods whose raw materials can be sourced locally."

"These things require further observation and exploration before I can draw conclusions. But overall, I remain optimistic about Nagalier's future. There is fertile ground here for capital forces to thrive, and I foresee more investment flowing in."

"Though we cannot immediately begin constructing factories and producing goods, we can start by engaging in trade."

"Aged wood, spices, animal pelts, claws, teeth, beautiful gemstones, gold, silver—even copper works. I'll take all of them. Payment will be settled once every week, and you can pay in Galiar, Federal Thor, or any other widely accepted currency." He paused, as if remembering something. "Oh yes, we also accept war bonds with guaranteed appreciation rates."

Lynch held an incalculable number of bonds. Mentioning them didn't mean they were worthless in his hands—in fact, quite the opposite. As the Baylor Federation gained prominence on the international stage and diplomatic activity increased, the redemption conditions for these bonds began to loosen. Gevra was willing to repurchase them at half their face value, which meant Lynch had already profited immensely. Yet he remained greedy, believing there might still be opportunities ahead. Others shared this belief, so most of the bonds remained in circulation, with only a few cautious individuals having cashed out.

If the locals were willing to buy these bonds, Lynch thought it wouldn't be a bad idea. After all, one side wanted to sell, and the other wanted to buy. If Gevra later refused to honor the bonds, that was none of Lynch's concern—it was just another example of Gevra's hegemonic arrogance. Lynch considered himself a victim too. Thinking about it, using the bonds here seemed like a brilliant move. Perhaps these people preferred bonds with short- to medium-term liquidity and higher appreciation potential over cash?

As soon as Lynch finished speaking, someone raised a question. "Mr. Lynch, do you want the pelts of any animals?"

The speaker was a portly man. Lynch glanced around and noticed that nearly half of the guests were overweight, with a few being morbidly obese. This starkly contrasted with the upper echelons of the Baylor Federation, where leaders maintained strict diets and exercise routines. It was rare to see a CEO or head of a conglomerate who was overweight. Even those who indulged did so sparingly, living lives of monk-like discipline. Some scheduled their daily routines down to the second, and recently, fragmented deep-rest periods had become fashionable among elites. They believed brief, intense rest sessions benefited the body more than a full night's sleep. Clearly, the attitudes toward self-care differed greatly between the two societies—one restrained, the other indulgent.

Without hesitation, Lynch nodded affirmatively. "Any animal pelt, but let me clarify: the pelts of predators won't fetch the same price as those of rodents. Size, ferocity, and condition determine the value. Live captures work too—if the beast is healthy and unharmed, it can also be exchanged for money."

The audience listened attentively. Much of Nagalier consisted of grasslands and jungles teeming with wildlife. Previously, people avoided hunting wild animals—not only because it was dangerous (from tiny insects to massive pythons, everything posed lethal threats) but also because agriculture thrived in this temperate-to-tropical climate. Simply planting seeds yielded sufficient food without needing to venture into the jungle. But now, things were changing. Whether voluntarily or under pressure, people would start entering the forests.

Satisfied, the fur trader stepped back, signaling he was done. Another person quickly stepped forward. "Mr. Lynch, what requirements do you have for purchasing spices?"

Lynch continued answering questions as if he were truly there to distribute wealth. Meanwhile, in a study slightly behind the main hall, the Provincial Governor sat at his desk reviewing information about the Baylor Federation and Lynch's activities within it. He had thoroughly investigated Lynch, along with gaining a cursory understanding of the federation itself. Learning that the Baylor Federation had practiced isolationism until recently sparked a faint sense of kinship in him—Nagalier also adhered to a policy of isolation. They neither sought contact with the outside world nor welcomed interference from other nations. Though this shared sentiment resonated with the provincial governor, its significance ended there.

In addition to the provincial governor, five of his sons occupied the room—not all of them, though. He had nine boys and seven girls. In Nagalier, men capable of supporting multiple women demonstrated their prowess, and no one criticized them for it. In another province, a seventy-one-year-old provincial governor spent his life expanding his lineage, boasting over two hundred children and three hundred grandchildren. Feeding such a large family required an army of servants. By comparison, this particular provincial governor, Delage, led a simpler existence.

"What do you think Mr. Lynch from the Baylor Federation intends to achieve by coming here at this time?" Delage set aside his papers, removed his glasses, and leaned back in his chair, feeling momentarily relaxed. His gaze swept across his five most accomplished children seated opposite him. Daughters didn't count in this patriarchal society—they held no real status, regardless of their noble birth.

At this moment, Nagalier faced internal shifts. World wars had awakened this isolated, backward country to certain dangers. They realized they stood no chance against advanced weaponry. Some citizens harbored thoughts of reform, but alas, these ideas were like faint sparks unable to ignite even a single leaf, let alone engulf the entire world. The decaying ruling class feared change; breaking down class barriers risked reducing some of them to mere fertilizer for a rising elite. Hence, everyone avoided confronting the issue.Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 20 Advance chapters Link

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