Darkstone Code
Chapter 180 - 0178 Solemn Autumn

Chapter 180: 0178 Solemn Autumn

"International trade..."

Adelaide was deep in thought and then shook his head; he knew more than anyone else in the room.

The Federation didn’t yet have the basic conditions for international trade. The countries were already very dissatisfied with Bail Federal’s neutral stance during the war. There was actually a deeper reason behind this.

During the world war, as a neutral country, Bail Federal naturally became a haven for much capital escaping the war, which would inevitably accelerate Bail Federal’s economic development.

On one hand, various countries were shattered by the war, with declining populations and desolate lands, while Bail Federal’s neutrality made them stronger and more prosperous.

This would make many warring nations feel a hard-to-describe displeasure, even the winning countries might feel that Bail Federal and other neutral countries stole the spoils of victory that should have belonged to them, and naturally wouldn’t show Bail Federal any goodwill.

These victorious countries, relying on their victory over the other half of the world in this world war, didn’t care at all about a neutral country, refusing to honor bonds just to make things difficult for Bail Federal.

And those defeated countries used various means to perfunctorily fulfill obligations, reaching the point where they could fulfill them, but the significance of doing so was negligible.

In this diplomatic dilemma, the idea of expanding international trade could only remain an idea.

Perhaps this was indeed a good way to solve the current problems of Bail Federal, but the time wasn’t right yet, or rather it wasn’t ripe.

Adelaide glanced at Lynch a few more times; this young man really was different from the others. He saw through the current situation with one look, and indeed, within the Progressive Party, there was similar discussion. Their conclusions were not too different from what Lynch said.

Reviving the economy is actually quite simple: just ensure there are stable buyers for what’s produced in those factories.

The domestic market has already been satisfied, so let’s look at the international market. Twenty-four billion people worldwide—what can’t be consumed?

But not now, the international community’s dissatisfaction with Bail Federal’s position makes it difficult for Bail Federal to move forward in the international society. If there aren’t any major changes in the short term, this could continue for a long time.

He casually wrote some symbols that only he understood in his notebook to remind himself of certain things.

When Adelaide was young, he worked as a stenographer in this world where technology, despite advancing daily, was still far behind another world. Meeting minutes were often manually recorded by secretaries.

Human transcription speed could never match speaking speed, so almost everyone who needed to shorthand would have their own set of "codes."

Once he finished these, he didn’t delve further into discussing Lynch’s viewpoints, which made the others look at Lynch with more friendliness.

After another half hour, the meeting concluded. Adelaide shook hands with everyone and thanked them for their efforts during the evening meeting, saying that if the Governor had any decisions, he would notify them first.

Everyone who attended the meeting shook hands and thanked him, graciously, expressing that this was what they should be doing. At this moment, none of their exploitations of workers showed, only grace and elegance.

That night, Lynch rested here, and the next day he left together with Tom in the Mayor’s car, and of course, also exchanged business cards with everyone, including Green Legislator.

Legislator Green, as the State Senate’s legislator, doesn’t usually reside in Sabin City, he only came back to provide some services within his power this time, and after Adelaide leaves, he would also depart.

On the way back, the Mayor suddenly broke the silence in the car compartment, "Do you have confidence in what you told me last time?"

Lynch thought slightly and immediately understood which things he referred to, "Mr. Adelaide’s attitude has already told us, hasn’t it?"

Last night when others proposed some ideas, Adelaide would discuss them with the others in the room for a while, even if those ideas seemed incredibly stupid, he would seriously consider and discuss them.

Only Lynch’s proposal was not discussed with others, nor did he present new ideas on Lynch’s views, nor initiate discussions.

To put it bluntly, from the beginning, Adelaide was already very familiar with this idea, very thoroughly aware, no need to speak more.

People may discuss some stupid things, but when they find these things have no value, they would stop promptly, they would only delve into things they find valuable, and the exploration of these issues is the same.

If this idea was worthless, the Governor’s chief of staff wouldn’t bother to research it thoroughly.

The Mayor didn’t speak again, starting to consider the feasibility of those things Lynch mentioned earlier; he thought seriously, but still found it very tricky, especially Lynch wanting to change the current employment system, which is a minefield, a forbidden zone, if mishandled big things might happen.

He didn’t bring it up again; the car compartment returned to silence, but both were thinking, contemplating how long this situation in front of them would last.

With September’s arrival and the large-scale shutdown of the Ristone Group, the originally still bustling Sabin City rapidly became desolate.

The streets were full of unpleasant-looking people, they walked aimlessly at the street corners with arms crossed, sometimes gathering together to whisper, giving those passing by a chilly feel.

A luxury car slowly pulled up outside the bank, and some children and young people immediately stretched out their hands towards Lynch who emerged from the car; Lynch casually threw some loose change onto the ground.

About seven or eight bucks or a dozen, all coins; he wasn’t very concerned about them.

Compared to letting these people’s hands dirty his clothes worth thousands, this money might not even cover cleaning fees.

The crowd immediately shifted along with the scattered coins to the sidewalk and roadside border, bending or squatting to pick up and lock those coins in their hands. Lynch heard curses and cheers from outside when entering the bank, and someone had a physical conflict over that money.

Risking the bank, everything resumed peace and harmony, especially at the moment the main door closed, the chaos on the sidewalk became a silent drama behind glass walls, difficult to attract Lynch’s attention.

Declining the teller’s help, Lynch directly entered Jogriman’s office; he was here today for that piece of land.

Real estate in Sabin City has always been lukewarm, and the prices for land have been continuously falling. Hart initially thought that after some time Lynch would reconsider, but didn’t expect that after half a month Lynch didn’t make any movement.

Instead, he himself couldn’t sit still; he decided to agree to Lynch’s request and settle the matter with him.

Hart recently is under great pressure, pressure from various aspects; the former project encountered huge failure, leaving some investors and creditors pressing him.

His only way now is to secure stable earnings quickly to assuage these people’s anxious moods.

Sometimes he feels partnering with others in business really isn’t easy; when making money these people demand more, when losing money they clamor for compensation, sometimes they don’t seem like investors, more like wild dogs, always insatiable.

Just entering the door, Jogriman was already packing; the bank wasn’t the place for discussions. They would go to a private venue later; Lynch only came here in passing, and Jogriman also had his own matters he wanted to discuss with Lynch.

"Take a seat for a moment..." he greeted briefly, continuing his work, and Lynch casually sat on the sofa.

He watched Jogriman sort several things like books, couldn’t help but go over and look, and they were full of people’s names.

"What are these?" Lynch couldn’t help but ask curiously; it didn’t resemble books but wasn’t likely transaction records either.

Jogriman’s hands didn’t pause, signing quickly and flipping through, then stacking them together, answering meanwhile, "The first batch of personal credit loan amounts and approval list!"

He casually flipped open one, pointing at a line and explaining, "Look, this guy called Tom could get a thirteen hundred credit loan from the bank without any collateral, and as long as he applies, the money would be directly credited into his account, he only pays approximately zero point two percent interest weekly for it."

Lynch pursed his lips, not focusing on these things anymore; it’s a monster.

Credit loans themselves can’t be considered as a bad policy, but now promoting this policy isn’t particularly good.

It’s simple reasoning; people needing to use credit loans due to poverty but still have to pay relatively expensive interest, yet they have no jobs. Once their liquidity dries up, they might face the harsh reality of having their assets auctioned.

Banks won’t consider if doing so is humane; those lawyers in the bank’s legal department are always demons wearing human skin; they have even pulled two gold teeth out of an old granny’s mouth to recover loans.

By that time, already struggling families might face worse situations; everyone knows auctions never reach original prices, not to mention second-hand goods; what they lose will surely be much more than what they gain.

Soon Jogriman finished those and left the bank hall together with Lynch; those outside on the streets had already been dispersed; two police officers remained on this side.

Apart from a few stains of blood already drying and forming a crust proving there was a conflict here, no one knew what had happened here not long ago.

Jogriman cast a glance at the shocking red on the ground and retracted his gaze, speaking and laughing with Lynch as they got into the car, slowly leaving the place.