Darkstone Code-Chapter 1024 - 1022: Miscellaneous Discussions

The Ministry of Defense’s series of maneuvers quickly caught the attention of domestic consortiums, as Lynch’s Flight Research Institute also made the list, prompting someone to reach out to him swiftly.

Mr. Wardrick, accompanied by two engineers, found Lynch.

"I heard you discussed some remarkable things at the Ministry of Defense?" Sitting across from Lynch, Mr. Wardrick had a peculiar feeling.

Three years ago, when he met this young man, he took a second look merely because he was indeed handsome, but he hadn’t truly captured Mr. Wardrick’s "attention."

An ordinary person without the value of being noticed, perhaps useful in the future—there’s always someone fond of handsome young men, and Mr. Wardrick’s evaluation of Lynch was limited to this.

Yet, today, three years later, Lynch had earned the qualification to sit behind the table facing him, a feeling quite intriguing.

He pulled out a cigarette along with a cigarette companion, lighting it for himself.

Such items are very popular in the upper echelons of Federation Society today, possibly related to Lynch’s promotion, as people know using a cigarette companion with Black Gold Venerable offers a better experience.

"Don’t forget, I’m also a shareholder of the Flight Research Institute."

Lynch seemed to only recall this fact under Mr. Wardrick’s reminder, "Yes, there’s such a matter. We’re just discussing some aircraft technology issues."

Mr. Wardrick nodded slightly, indicating he was still listening.

Subsequently, Lynch spoke of the Ministry of Defense’s new round of military equipment research initiative, without mentioning the information originating from Gafura, triggering the Ministry’s strategic response mechanism, he skimmed over this part.

This point of sensitivity still existed.

Having seriously listened to Lynch’s words, Mr. Wardrick furrowed his brow pondering for a moment, "Do you think such...warships could possibly be born?"

Lynch retorted, "Why not?"

"Decades ago or even longer, people might not have considered mounting cannons on ships, and installing a bunch, but we did it."

"Now, it’s merely removing those cannons and paving out a runway. It’s not a problem and technically feasible."

Listening, Mr. Wardrick shook his head, "I’m not very acquainted with these matters, it sounds rather special."

He paused for a moment, "The tanks we talked about earlier...the company has completed restructuring, just waiting for the design drawings, we mentioned this before."

He had discussed this matter with Lynch, who offered some ideas, convincing the board to restructure three companies in preparation for entering the Military Industrial Group sector.

With Lynch’s Flight Research Institute in existence, leveraging this springboard, Mr. Wardrick and the consortium backing him could communicate military sales with the Ministry of Defense more effectively.

It sounds somewhat...inexplicable why a springboard is necessary to discuss sales with the Ministry, yet this is essentially an exclusionary measure.

Countless arms dealers are arrested in the Federation yearly, not genuinely because they sold weapons or such.

Various weapons are hanging for sale on the walls in major Federation supermarkets, yet no one goes after the bosses behind these supermarkets.

What truly brings misfortune to these arms dealers is meddling with the Military Industrial Group’s interests without sharing the profits, causing their downfall.

The profit in this business is substantial, so those in the industry fiercely guard it, trying to keep outsiders from entering.

They deliberately create numerous barriers, like qualifications, permits, etc., only by circumventing issues that may pose problems can a sales relationship with the Ministry of Defense be established.

Lynch, due to the birth of airplanes, obtained a sales permit of sorts, as the Ministry listed their name in the "cooperation list."

Overall, many people’s interests are involved here, even someone like Mr. Wardrick and the consortium backing him couldn’t rashly enter this sector.

Otherwise, it could provoke the industry’s overall opposition, which is most terrifying.

You develop a pistol, and your competitor leverages their advantages in the industry to develop a better performing, cheaper pistol.

Besides these disadvantages, the Ministry of Defense doesn’t favor you, nor do several Congressional committees support buying your products, a devastating blow to military industrial enterprises.

Hundreds of thousands, even millions in research funding down the drain, not a ripple seen.

Worker wages, venue costs, various losses, this quickly could cripple a large heavy industry enterprise.

Only by holding onto the "indispensable" status can one avoid exclusion. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Overall, the waters here run deep.

"How much can you give me?" Lynch asked directly, not beating around the bush, straightforwardly putting forth the question.

Federation people are quite direct about many matters, especially in business, not fond of circling around; if the price is right, a decision can be made instantly.

If unsuitable, regardless of circling, ultimately little would change.

Mr. Wardrick offered two plans.

"Five percent company shares and five percent sales commission."

"Ten percent shares and two percent commission."

Lynch hardly hesitated, "I’ll choose the first one."

"No need to consider further?" Mr. Wardrick was very surprised at the speed of his decision, thinking matters involving millions in financial yield should be carefully deliberated, but Lynch shook his head.

"No need, did you bring the contract?" He glanced at the two gentlemen beside him who, from their appearance, clearly possessed a high technical background, realizing Mr. Wardrick had already prepared.

Thereupon, they signed a contract stipulating if the tank designs by Lynch were endorsed by the Ministry and procured, then Lynch would obtain a five percent share of the new "Titan Industries" company, alongside five percent of the sales derived from the designed product.

If the designs he provided didn’t gain Ministry approval, then the contract’s efficacy would terminate.

Lynch brought in Every Moment’s legal department chief, discussing briefly some recent developments regarding the United Development Company with Mr. Wardrick, leaving the technical matters to the professionals.

"The influence of Akumal is growing, Mr. Jeruno already has some opinions, he thinks such an influential person expanding his presence should not be allowed to remain in Nagariel."

"Perhaps he’ll raise this matter at the end of the year!"

Upon hearing, Lynch furrowed his brow, "Akumal’s presence isn’t a trouble to us, rather helps us better govern Nagariel’s natives."

"Without him, we can’t ascertain whether those people, upon encountering certain problems, would resolve issues by attacking others."

"Currently, it’s well with Akumal’s presence, everyone abiding by rules. I think he’s not a problem, won’t be one either."

With a playful smile while smoking, Mr. Wardrick looked at Lynch without speaking.

Lynch suddenly realized what he was hinting at, "Mr. Jeruno’s people aren’t adhering to ’rules’?"

Looking back at the lawyers and people in the room briefly, Mr. Wardrick remarked, "They are engaged in human trafficking in Nanan, supposedly also sparking conflicts with locals."

Lynch widened his eyes, "Are you joking?"

He genuinely felt Mr. Wardrick was joking, considering Nagariel’s already low-cost human resources, conducting illegal human trafficking business was clearly unprofitable.

Moreover, the Duncan Clan isn’t some petty money-grubbing family; it’s the Federation’s largest clan, with no necessity for such ventures.

Yet swiftly, he pondered further.

Perhaps precisely because of his initial belief, he deemed this improbable.

If someone possesses some "non-existent" individuals, some girls, even killing them wouldn’t trigger any consequences, how much would humanity’s inherent evil be unleashed?

Lynch didn’t know, as such experiments haven’t been conducted, but he believed humanity’s evil would surpass imaginable limits.

Like an art performance master nearly perishing on the street, as long as conditions allow, humans can morph into evil.

The Federation’s wealthy, the world’s magnates, some always have such needs, hiding their true selves beneath ordinary facades, needing an outlet for their inner malevolence.

Nothing surpasses buying some "non-existent" people, venting inner malevolence, spending extensively for this reason.

Ensuring those individuals don’t cause "issues," they will pay endlessly!

Underneath the world and Federation Society’s horizon always lies various illicit ventures, human trafficking, organ smuggling, rare animal live contraband, such deeds aren’t unheard.

Just the Duncan Clan holds such status, initially hearing this, Lynch intuitively felt impossibility.

Now, he doesn’t think so.

Those with demands, capable of spending expansively, are often each country’s ruling class, at worst, large magnates; they compose the entire world’s governing class.

The Duncan Clan needs to maintain relations with them, thus must possess abilities, have assessable "chips."

Human trafficking business is those chips.

The world’s "truth" has never been akin to a Utopia or a floral field, truth embodies only the latter—the "moral abyss!"

Now reconsidering, the Duncan Clan’s dissatisfaction with Akumal becomes comprehensible.

Someone with tremendous influence and appeal, globally scrutinized, mentioning anything startling would receive worldwide attention.

Should he unveil the Duncan Clan’s scandal, it would spell disaster for them.