Blackstone Code-Chapter 263:

In most events, if the host held a high status, they would usually appear only when the event was about to begin. Initially, it would be their important aides who welcomed the guests on their behalf.

Only when the host's status was relatively lower would they personally greet higher-status guests at the very start, showcasing proper etiquette.

But the President, by any measure, represented the pinnacle of power in the Federation. There was no reason for him to be standing at the entrance early on, greeting guests who weren't of great importance. This was puzzling, but neither Lynch nor Severella dwelled on it.

Their lives were too far removed from the President. Perhaps Severella's father was closer to the President, but only slightly.

As they stood in the hall, the girl began fulfilling her duties. She knew far more of these social celebrities than Lynch did, and she would introduce them to him, even opening up some conversations for him when necessary.

This was a deal—she had her responsibilities to fulfill.

As more and more invited guests arrived in pairs, the hall gradually filled up, and Lynch also noticed an intriguing detail: some individuals were wearing matching accessories, a subtle but uncommon choice that caught his attention.

Based on his understanding of high-society etiquette, people would usually steer clear of wearing generic accessories, as it could make them seem a bit... unsophisticated.

The Baylor Federation was not a society that valued humility or subtlety. Everyone strived for uniqueness, for transcendence. Take Lynch, for example: his cufflinks and tie clips were rented by Severella from a jewelry store.

Yes, rented. But these accessories were not mass-produced pieces displayed on store counters, where, after one was sold, another identical one would replace it.

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The pieces they rented were designed by renowned jewelry designers from the Baylor Federation. Each one was unique in the world and priceless. Some of these jewels weren't even for sale—only available for rent. And the rental fees were staggering, far exceeding what selling the jewelry would bring.

People often chose to rent jewelry to avoid unnecessary expenses. No one from high society wanted to be seen wearing the same piece at every public event, as that could invite unwanted remarks or even rumors. Renting allowed them to wear different accessories each time, all while keeping costs down.

Even if someone mentioned that the jewelry had been worn by others before, it would only prove its popularity and wouldn't reflect poorly on the wearer.

This practice meant that identical accessories were rarely seen in high society. But Lynch noticed that some people were wearing almost identical pieces, which confused him.

"Are you talking about those tie clips and badges?" Severella, being a clever girl, immediately understood what Lynch was referring to and smiled, asking, "You really don't know what those are?"

Lynch's face showed curiosity. "Should I know them?"

The girl refrained from teasing him further. She found it hard to believe that the man beside her, who spoke so elegantly and confidently, had come from or was still climbing up from the lower social strata.

At least during her time with Lynch, she never saw the anxiety or fear that often accompanied people from the lower classes.

During her school years, when others learned of her background, even boys from well-educated middle-class families would feel uneasy when alone with her. They wouldn't even dare look her in the eye, let alone engage in calm conversation.

There was a vast, insurmountable gap between individuals from different family backgrounds and social classes. It was not something that confidence alone could bridge.

When a person and their family's lifetime efforts couldn't match another's occasional indulgence—like a lavish purchase—this difference in class would inevitably lead to feelings of unease and inferiority in the lower-status party.

But Lynch never displayed such emotions. It often made people forget his true background and treat him as one of their own.

The girl began explaining, "Those are symbols of the Society of the Sacred Harmony. Do you know of it?" Lynch nodded. He was familiar with the name of this society, and the girl continued, "If you pay attention to the President's tie clip and badge, you'll notice he's also its member, and he holds a high rank…"

The Society of the Sacred Harmony, like many secret societies, had unique accessories to signify membership. These accessories had special anti-counterfeiting measures, but no one would dare to imitate them because every secret society would hold regular events, and members knew exactly who was part of the group and who wasn't.

These accessories also served as a form of subtle bragging or perhaps for other reasons.

The symbols of the Society of the Sacred Harmony were tie clips, badges, and cufflinks.

Ordinary members would receive a tie clip featuring a triangle formed by three stalks of wheat, with a sun in the center.

Members of slightly higher rank would receive a badge, with the same triangle of wheat but featuring a moon in the center.

In Baylor Federation's traditional mythology, the sun represented strength, courage, and resilience, while the moon symbolized wisdom and calmness.

The Vice President wore a collar pin, again with the triangle of wheat, but this time with an eye in the center.

In Baylor Federation's mythological and religious systems, the eye had many symbolic meanings. In this context, it represented omniscience and was known as the "Eye of True Sight," capable of seeing through everything.

The collar pin signified that the Vice President was a senior member, and only senior members could wear such collar pins.

Rumors suggested there was a level even higher, but these were just whispers. Even members of the society weren't sure if a fourth tier existed. The Vice President's rank was considered the highest.

"They wear the same accessories to signify their shared backgrounds. The Society of the Sacred Harmony wields great influence within the Federation. If you pay attention, you'll notice that the Vice President spends more time talking with other members of the society."

This was where the girl's value shone. Her understanding of high society far surpassed Lynch's. Had it been up to him, he would have had to ask Ferrall or the mayor later. But with the girl by his side, he knew immediately.

After explaining, the girl curiously asked, "Didn't you attend a university that belonged to them?" To her, attending such a university seemed only natural. She couldn't imagine herself attending a regular university.

Lynch glanced at her. "I never went to university, but I plan to."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know…" The girl genuinely didn't know. In the short time they'd spent together, most of the information the butler had gathered about Lynch was what the public already knew. Finding deeper details would require more effort, and that would inevitably alert Mr. Waldric.

So, their investigation into Lynch's background only began after he became famous. "Graduation" in the report didn't necessarily mean university; it could have meant high school.

Lynch shook his head. "You don't need to apologize. Not going to university isn't your fault, and I don't see it as my fault either."

It wasn't the girl's fault, nor Lynch's, which meant it was society's fault. Incidentally, the time when he couldn't afford university was during the previous President's term, a reflection of just how disappointing that administration had been.

There were even kids who couldn't afford to go to university. How could a president who failed to tackle this issue still stay in office?

The girl sensed the underlying meaning behind his words but wasn't entirely sure. She could only nod slightly while growing more curious about Lynch. This young man didn't seem like someone from an ordinary family—his style and attitude were completely different.

Around 6:30 PM, some heavyweight guests started to arrive.

In the Baylor Federation, dinner typically fell between 7:30 and 8:00 PM. People usually worked in factories until 7:00 PM, and by the time they got home, it was already 7:30 or later.

Of course, this wasn't just the routine of ordinary people—everyone followed it. It was like the exploiters waiting to see the exploited drained of their last bit of energy before releasing them; the exploited clocked out at 7:00, and so did the exploiters!

When important figures began arriving, people in the hall gathered closer to the entrance. This was a privilege for latecomers—they received more respect and admiration.

First, some well-known capitalists arrived. These individuals had significant influence in society, overseeing the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers and affecting countless families. They often appeared in newspapers, so people were familiar with them.

Next came senior members of the Progressive Party, congressmen, and prominent politicians.

As more high-profile guests arrived, the atmosphere in the hall became livelier. Everyone was trying to get closer to these important figures. Even if they couldn't exchange many words, just being recognized was a great opportunity.

As the event was about to begin, Lynch suddenly felt the girl tighten her grip on his arm slightly. He looked towards the entrance and saw a senior member of the Society of the Sacred Harmony engaging in a friendly conversation with the President.

Lynch glanced at the girl, then at the man and the woman by his side. In a low voice, he asked, "Are they your relatives?"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: 7 Advance chapters Link

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