Darkstone Code
Chapter 43 - 0043 Collision Among the Dark Clouds

Chapter 43: 0043 Collision Among the Dark Clouds

The situation escalated significantly, and Lynch indeed played a role in it. He threw himself into the matter as an element, but what truly fueled the rapid fermentation of the situation wasn’t him or the media.

They didn’t have the capability to sway the official attitude; what made the authorities cautious was their enemies of equal status.

Not everyone has a friend with a "license," and not everyone can rely on a friend’s "license" to get things done for themselves. Many people are actually overwhelmed by the system, which makes those with social status but no access to power very fearful.

Their fear stems from the fact that their wealth and power have not successfully aligned as initially imagined and are still just two parallel lines. This means if their opponents use the power they lack against them, they will find it difficult to resist.

Among this group, the emerging capitalists are predominant; under the explosion of era dividends, they quickly accumulated wealth that might have taken generations in the past, yet they lack sufficient depth.

They begin to fear the power they’ve fantasized about countless times; it’s like many people saying that capital should be caged. For these new capitalists without depth, it’s not them but the power that should be caged.

Thus, when Lynch’s matter rapidly fermented after his initiative, it wasn’t that Lynch was particularly special; he was just making a knife for these people.

This knife may not be able to tear down the copper wall formed by the Federation over hundreds of years, but it’s enough to cut deeper into the marks left on this wall!

Someday, they’ll make a gap in this invisible wall, one cut at a time, someday.

The pressure from these people quickly forced the Federal Tax Administration Bureau’s compromise because those exerting force happen to be the ones paying the most taxes each year.

Discarding a seemingly inconspicuous lower-level investigator to quell the storm appears to be a loss for the Federal Tax Bureau, but the real loser is only one, and that’s Michael.

As long as the Federal Tax Bureau’s enforcement power remains unharmed, they have a chance to turn the tables!

The situation is so clear, yet Michael’s inner world is filled with endless rain; the director’s words before leaving drove him into a frenzy. That man dared to ask him to bow to his enemies for an apology!

Anyone with a certain understanding of the world knows that Lynch’s apology is a strategic retreat; the weaker he appears, the more intense the societal reaction.

The task now is to convince Lynch to genuinely forgive Michael, and this matter will be easily resolved, as it’s nothing but a small offense.

Michael’s wife is still receiving treatment at the hospital; the injuries to her face and outer thigh are not minor and haven’t fully recovered. She also needs therapy from a psychologist, conveniently done together.

This is a significant expenditure, and meanwhile, Little Michael’s issue requires not only money for legal fees but also Michael’s current status to solve what are not problems for the privileged class.

This means that losing his current job would instantly ruin Michael’s family; they’d soon be burdened by bills, moving to live in Lower City where the cost of living is lower, and the family would be destroyed for life!

After smashing a heap of things, Michael walked out of his house dressed formally, his head buzzing and his eardrums pounding.

When he went out, he clearly saw the concerned expressions of his neighbors and heard their voices, yet he couldn’t hear anything; his head was filled with the lifeless sound of tinnitus.

Forcing a smile, he opened the car door, sat inside, started the car, shifted gears, and the car slowly drove out of the community.

He’s going to see Lynch to resolve these matters; he never realized he would face such an impasse or believed he would encounter it, considering he was a vigorous and energetic leader of the Federal Tax Bureau’s investigation team with prospects for promotion.

He misjudged himself and others; he has to pay for his mistakes.

When Michael arrived at the hospital, the reporters had mostly left; Lynch’s cooperation made the interview process particularly swift. Michael directly found Lynch’s hospital room, and when he pushed the door open, Lynch was sitting on the bed in a hospital gown, watching TV.

Despite appearing haggard, Michael could tell from Lynch’s bright eyes that this sickly appearance was feigned.

Suddenly, a surge of anger rose from his feet, unable to scorch his rationality before he extinguished it with his own hands.

Lynch also noticed Michael entering the room; he picked up the remote control to silence the TV before looking at Michael.

Michael felt uncomfortable being watched by him; he took a deep breath and, summoning his resolve, walked over to a small round chair beside the bed and sat down, apologizing in what he believed was a sincere manner, "I want to apologize for my previous irrational behavior and hope you can forgive me!"

Being able to say these words was already quite difficult; years of smooth sailing had become a part of his bad temper, and such a humiliating scene, if in the past, he would rather break the jar than come to apologize.

But family became the straw that broke his back, leading him to reflect on some issues.

Lynch shook his head, "You speak so perfunctorily, with no sign of sincerity. It’s the first time I’ve heard someone apologize like this..." He scrutinized Michael, speaking in a mocking tone, "It’s like I was requesting your apology. Upon entering uninvited, sitting beside me, saying random things, and waiting for my reply."

"I think you’re not here to apologize but to boast that you can stand while I’m lying here!"

Michael’s eyebrows immediately rose; he’d already apologized, what more did they want? But seeing Lynch’s smug smile and considering the predicament he faced, the surging anger was once again extinguished by his own hand.

He stood up numbly, feeling like he was just a shell, unable to feel his true self.

He quickly left the room, bought some flowers, fruits, and gifts on the side of the hospital’s first-floor lobby, and returned upstairs. This time, he knocked on the door before entering, forced himself to lower his voice, explained his purpose, and repeated the previous words, "...I implore you to forgive my recklessness!"

Lynch remained with the same unpleasant demeanor, "If buying things represents sincerity, there wouldn’t be wars in this world."

Michael’s voice immediately rose, "Then what do you want me to do?" He glared at Lynch, but soon his attitude softened, "Sorry, you know my bad temper. Tell me what you want me to do, give me a straight answer!"

Only then did Lynch nod satisfactorily, "Kneel down, sincerely apologize, and beg for my forgiveness for your previous behavior."

He sat on the bed, watching Michael, the latter looking incredulous.

The two stared at each other for about half a minute, Lynch’s gaze unwavering, and Michael seemed to gradually understand something.

He lowered his head, remained silent for a while, and with a thud knelt on the ground, keeping his head down, sincerely apologizing and pleading for Lynch’s forgiveness.

His voice trembled slightly as he spoke these words, seemingly suppressing something; Lynch knew it was anger, unwillingness, hatred, and a desire for destruction.

Lynch was also acutely aware that all this was merely a temporary choice, a compromise for Michael.

Thinking of this, he chuckled while pressing the nurse’s bell, saying with a laugh, "I refuse!"

Michael sharply raised his head in disbelief, looking at Lynch, as if he hadn’t heard what Lynch said clearly and wanted him to repeat it.

Lynch seemed to hear the voice within him and continued, "I refuse to forgive you."

Michael stood up, approached the bedside, his face showing some viciousness, "You made me buy things, made me kneel, I did what you said, and now you say you refuse?"

Facing Michael’s increasing proximity, Lynch showed no fear, instead asking, "If apologies were effective, why would we need law enforcement and the Ministry of Justice?"

"You committed a crime, Michael. If apologies could erase your offenses, aren’t you being too naive?" Lynch raised his hand quickly, covering his mouth, "Oh, God, I actually cursed, aren’t you being too naive?"

Michael’s eyes were blood-red, and just as his rationality was about to extinguish once again, the room door opened, and two nurses looked at Michael in astonishment and then screamed!

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