Darkstone Code
Chapter 225 - 0223 Bar, equivalent exchange, transaction

Chapter 225: 0223 Bar, equivalent exchange, transaction

The job of a senior investigator at the FBI is not one everyone envies because it is truly too dangerous.

Bail Federal is not a country with strict control over firearms. This newly established country founded by a group of pirates and down-and-out nobles had initially imbued its constitution with the right to legally possess firearms and use weapons to protect oneself and one’s property.

Since the establishment of the Federation, there have been several societal debates about weapon issues, but ultimately, the pro-gun faction always prevailed, and many people actually know that the anti-gun faction can never succeed.

Behind these discussions were dozens of chemical companies and military enterprises supporting the pro-gun faction.

The rampant spread of weapons in society makes every mission terrifying, a choice of fate.

Because no one knows if today they will face a coward who doesn’t dare to make eye contact while speaking or a thug who suddenly pulls a gun from his coat and pulls the trigger without hesitation.

No one can accurately distinguish these from the causes of the cases or the appearance of these people!

Thus, every investigator faces considerable pressure; if they don’t want to go insane, they must find ways to vent these pent-up negative emotions.

But whether it is drinking, indulgence, or psychological counseling from doctors, all requires a lot of money.

Even if their salaries are high, they find ways to spend it all, and they don’t find it a big deal, as all this is in pursuit of better living.

The hedonism of living for the moment spreads first among this high-pressure crowd, enjoying special privileges through their work and salary.

Lower interest loans, longer-term bills, this lifestyle makes them addicted and unable to extricate themselves.

To extract more profit from these people, many financial companies, including banks, bind their current and future income through various means, and they are happy with it.

But dreams must eventually wake; when the economy is booming, everything is fine, and companies won’t press a senior investigator for payment; they only let these investigators not feel the tremendous economic pressure, living in a dream society crafted for them.

Until the financial crisis hits, many companies suffer huge losses, which can’t be resolved by a board only concerned with living lavishly.

The only effective method is to transfer the losses to others.

The senior investigator sitting before Lynch is currently being urged for payment by at least three financial institutions and one bank, his monthly salary divided before he even sees it.

Moreover, some suppliers haven’t received installment payments and have issued notices; if he can’t pay a tranche before January 1st, these suppliers will reclaim some goods or even petition the court to auction off his possessions.

Everything turned exceedingly awful overnight; more disheartening was that all his money in the brokerage account vanished, the savings accumulated over ten years, though not much.

The two stared at each other for a moment, the investigator subtly nodded, "I can’t guarantee what I’ll provide...," meaning if he offered any information to Lynch, he’d hold the initiative.

He would decide what to say, instead of Lynch, not wanting to be led by this young man, perhaps his last pitiful pride.

Lynch smiled slightly; his smile always made people lower their guard, "Of course, as I said, there’s no restraint between us, no contract; actually, our relationship resembles a cooperation, trading things of interest."

Investigator nodded, exactly what he intended to convey.

Both were silent for a few seconds before Lynch posed the first question, "What’s the true purpose behind your accusation against Mr. Gap?"

The investigator was silent for a moment, then gave a rather official reply, "He’s involved in an assault and abuse case, nothing else."

Perhaps cooperating with a merchant for the first time, Investigator’s approach was not direct enough.

Actually, it’s obvious that a typical assault case won’t alarm the FBI unless it causes extreme social impact or someone’s been killed.

Otherwise, it’s just the Police Station’s job, but this time the Police Station came, and the Investigators came too; it’s not a minor case, Investigator didn’t reveal the truth.

Lynch didn’t show displeasure or any sense of dominance because of his untruthfulness; he merely took out a fifty-cent coin from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it across.

The noise of the coin against the hardened table material firmly captured the Investigator’s attention; even in dim light, his gaze fixated on the coin.

But he didn’t move; after observing for a while, confirming no hidden meaning, he curiously looked at Lynch, eyes filled with confusion, as if asking, "What does this mean?"

Lynch explained his confusion, "Your response is worth only fifty cents; the newspapers will give a more detailed account than you."

This statement infuriated the investigator, who scowled fiercely at Lynch; yet Lynch showed no fear or any other expression, maintaining his smile.

"This is a transaction, giving and receiving."

"You give me what I want, then I’ll give you what you want; if you can only provide me these answers, then you’re worth fifty cents, got it?"

Different people need different approaches, like Ferrari, simple needs that let him set his pride aside; Lynch just needs to become an important character, and Ferrari will revolve around, contributing his power.

This investigator hasn’t grasped his own value, still caught up in his actual non-valued, powerless but mistakenly proud self.

Lynch exposed his façade, revealing he wasn’t much of importance!

After passing through the anger, the investigator gradually calmed down; sometimes you must yield to certain things.

He lowered his eyelids, rage gone, "We don’t want Ristone leaving easily; we’ve been seeking their weak points; Mr. Gap has always worked for Ristone; we believe he holds crucial information."

"If he doesn’t want to spend life in prison, the only option is cooperating with us!"

Lynch was quite satisfied with the investigator’s answer, quickly writing out a two-hundred-dollar cash check, signing his name, and pushing it across, "It’s worth this."

In the past, the investigator might not care for such money, but now, let alone two hundred bucks, fifty bucks would be welcome.

He remained silent for a while, took the check, pocketed it, then asked sarcastically and challengingly, "Should I say, ’Thank you very much for your generosity’?"

Lynch laughed, "If you want to say it, I won’t oppose, but don’t expect I’ll pay more just because I’m in a good mood."

He paused, then asked, "If Mr. Gap cooperates with your work, will he go to jail?"

The investigator nodded decisively, "That’s obvious, he can’t be pardoned just because he cooperates, this case’s authority isn’t enough to stir top figures to use ’Special Clause’ to absolve his crime."

"But if he can actively cooperate with our work, positive behavior may make the Judge side with him, possibly facing less than ten years of imprisonment."

In the Federation, the sentence distinguishes at ten years; over ten years are severe offenders, sent to severe offender prisons, which are not fun places.

Under ten years stay in normal regional prisons, though required to work daily, being squeezed dry, but not too terrible.

Based on current intelligence, if Gap doesn’t cooperate, they can easily send Gap to severe offender prison.

In such places, under an assault, abuse, enslavement charge, he might not survive to leave prison.

Every year, Federation Government permits a mortality indicator within prisons, mostly dying from various diseases, appearing tortured, though merely external disease manifestations.

This society sometimes especially seems ludicrous, where criminals losing liberty abide by some universal values strictly within a sinful place, which is funny, yet not funny!

Lynch wrote another two-hundred-dollar check, and while he wrote, the investigator kept watching Lynch’s cash checkbook.

Suddenly realizing how robbers felt during robbery, such emotional fluctuations are temptations, greed, uncontrollable impulse.

Just holding this cash check book, forging Lynch’s handwriting could easily yield thousands or more in cash.

He gulped beer, dousing the impulse, then eyed Lynch pushing over two hundred bucks.

Suddenly, he didn’t find it an unbearable process anymore.

He thought of many things at that moment, rumors about colleagues taking dirty money.

Thought of the Director just buying a villa, impossible with the Director’s salary, claiming it was installment and loan, but the investigator knew things weren’t that simple.

He found many excuses for himself at that instant.

Guilt wasn’t strong, even made his money-taking motion feel somewhat justified.