Darkstone Code
Chapter 70 - 0069 Master Lynch, who shines and radiates like the sun

Chapter 70: 0069 Master Lynch, who shines and radiates like the sun

The newspaper boys who stopped Lynch only realized, after getting rid of the boss, that their suffering days would not change just because an oppressor and exploiter disappeared.

Many people always say that the pain in life is like a stone above their heads, and once the stone is moved away, life will get better. They even deliberately use an enchanting tone to tell everyone that those who exploit them are the ones who pay them wages so they can support their families.

Perhaps this is somewhat true, but not entirely.

The boss died, but the children’s circumstances did not improve because the real oppression and exploitation came not from the boss, but from this profit-centered society.

It might even be harder for the kids after the boss’s disappearance. Without the boss’s social connections and intimidation of outsiders, the kids can’t enjoy the resources that the boss used to bring in, resources that seemed to be the root of their pain but in reality provided for them.

They can’t buy newspapers. In an era when print media still firmly occupies the main media channels, the newspaper offices don’t worry about sales; almost all printed issues sell out, which means there is a market gap.

After the boss disappears, other bosses will want to swallow this share. They will use this share to encroach on the boss’s territory and market. The newspapers are sold to other bosses while the children do not yet understand the profit collusion.

Some newspaper boys they had never seen before started appearing around here, waving freshly inked newspapers and taking wages from others’ pockets that originally belonged to them.

Furthermore, due to various reasons, the recycling centers that had good relationships with the boss began ruthlessly lowering recycling prices for their own profits after the boss’s disappearance.

These children can’t struggle against them, so those people can enjoy the money squeezed out without any concern.

The kids always thought the boss was the source of their nightmare, but at this moment, they finally realized how shallow their understanding of society was.

The money left by the boss is enough to sustain them for a while, but if they don’t find new income, it will soon run out.

Some older kids think it can’t continue like this. If they can’t produce money for their parents or the welfare home, they will be taken away, broken up, and sent to some other place to continue being oppressed and exploited.

So they must stand up and acquire income. They have already rebelled against fate and successfully overturned a stone, so they might as well keep fighting. One day, they will break through the thick clouds and see the blue sky.

They found Lynch. Perhaps this was the simplest method they could think of for now.

Lynch looked at the two children and shook his head slightly, "Sorry, I’m not in that business anymore..."

With a large number of finance companies and laundromats being shut down, more and more people realized that someone might be tampering with coins. The coin exchange business, after reaching its peak, suddenly plummeted.

Furthermore, now that there are large cash withdrawal proofs from banks, Mr. Fox no longer needs to use such outdated methods to make his money appear more legitimate.

Despite trying to appear unfazed, the two children couldn’t hide their disappointment on their faces.

The older child couldn’t help but ask again, "Mr. Lynch, you’re a good person. Is there any work we can do?"

He was afraid Lynch would say no, so he quickly added, "We can work for less than ordinary workers; as long as we have food and a little pocket money, we don’t have many demands."

Look, reality is so ironic. Having moved away the stone, they recognized reality; now they’re looking for another stone that seems suitable to press upon themselves.

Lynch’s mouth curved into a slight √, his smile was at his kindest when he laughed. The smile is a language that transcends race, gender, age, education level, and understanding ability. Its friendliness can ease anxious emotions and become a bridge between strangers.

"I do have some work for someone, but..." His smile became more kindly, "...I know your boss, the boss. If you need a job, you can have him talk to me, that would be better."

"I know you are employed by him. If we bypass him to discuss these things, he might not be kind to you. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt over this!"

Listen, listen!

Compassionate and kind Lynch, what a good-hearted person. Everyone’s malicious view of him was just due to a lack of understanding. His serious expression made the older child’s expression a bit stiff.

Everyone knows, including Lynch, that the boss already died that night, stabbed to death by a few older kids on the road out of town. But he still emphasizes this thing he clearly knows, and his purpose is quite simple: to make these kids realize that they need a bridge before they are able to have equal interactions with adults.

That bridge used to be the boss. Now that they lack one, they must find one unless they can undertake such a role themselves or give up something.

The younger child saw that his "big brother" beside him hadn’t reacted yet, even though he seemed mature enough to be called a "young adult" in most people’s eyes, but he was still a child.

A child’s prematurely ripened mind can never compare with an adult’s agile thinking and ability to analyze and summarize, so the child said something he shouldn’t have.

"The boss? He’s gone!"

The older child immediately showed a surprised expression, pulling the younger child and bowing to Lynch while holding his hat, "Mr. Lynch, we have occupied your valuable time, we’re very sorry..."

With that, he was about to leave with the younger child who realized he had misspoken. The boss’s death was a secret only known to the older kids; even the younger kids in the dormitory didn’t know, it was a secret.

A secret belonging only to the older kids!

The Federation indeed has juvenile protection laws, but they protect the innocent, normal, and ordinary minors’ legal rights.

For juvenile offenders, especially minor criminals involved in heinous crimes like murder, the law never advocates protecting them and even has more considerations in sentencing.

Too light a sentence gives kids an incorrect understanding that taking someone’s life has no serious consequences, while too harsh a sentence can lead to hatred and distorted psychology, so serving time for juvenile offenders is often complicated, supplemented by psychologists; saying it’s imprisonment is more like a process...

People often praise those juvenile criminals who answer required standard answers like they’re in a stupor; the great Federation once again wins in the humanitarian war.

Alright, got a bit off track. As the two kids were about to leave, Lynch stopped them.

"Gone?" He raised an eyebrow, "Did he run away? Michael has already been sentenced; he shouldn’t have run."

This sudden excuse made the two kids pause. Lynch even helped them find a cover and an excuse. The two kids who knew the secret but thought Lynch didn’t suddenly had a thought—this man might not be simple

But they took this excuse to climb down, and the younger child who knew he made a mistake kept quiet. The older child nodded and said, "Yes, Mr. Lynch, our boss ran away..."

Running away is street slang, fitting the environment this kid was exposed to. Lynch nodded with satisfaction, "It seems like it’s not easy for you all now?"

The older child kept nodding, "Yes, sir, it’s hard for us!"

Kind and approachable Mr. Lynch seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "I like kids and have a kind heart. I have a job here you might like." He seemed to have forgotten; he’s only twenty himself.

However, his current mature dress makes saying he’s twenty-four or twenty-five not an exaggeration. A person of twenty-four or twenty-five looks at these kids, aren’t they just kids?

"Your kindness shines like the sun upon people!"