Blackstone Code

Chapter 293:

Arthur's experiences in Nagalier lifted the last burden from his heart. Suddenly, he felt that Lynch was better than anyone else. At least Lynch was willing to take on some responsibility. Whether his methods were appropriate or not, whether his motives were pure or perceived as hypocritical by outsiders, at least he was a capitalist who, in a civilized society, was willing to shoulder some responsibility—even if he refused to admit he was a capitalist.

Compared to his brother, his father, or anyone else in Nagalier, Lynch seemed to have more conscience. Saying this aloud would sound absurd and comical, but it carried with it an undeniable irony. If capitalists could be considered people of conscience, then what did that say about the people and events in Nagalier? Were they worse than the so-called "devils" of capitalism?

While Arthur was building momentum for Lynch's arrival, Lynch himself was preparing for his trip to Nagalier. After months of silence, the vast warehouse district finally came alive—but only in one small corner. Forklifts buzzed in and out, loading packed goods onto trucks bound for the port to be shipped off.

These items were leftovers from second-hand auctions—goods that hadn't sold. While the first few auctions in each city usually ensured high sales volumes, subsequent ones inevitably left behind unsold stock. These products still had demand in society; perhaps their prices weren't right, or maybe they simply hadn't been discovered by those who needed them. Now, they sat in warehouses, waiting.

Lynch planned to ship these unsold goods to Nagalier. Their practicality and low cost would quickly open up the market there. Many judged a place's poverty by its per capita income, but they overlooked one crucial fact: humans themselves were commodities! Civilized nations avoided this truth, from the early days of slavery movements to emancipation efforts, trying to downplay the idea that humans, fundamentally, were also goods.

Avoidance didn't erase the concept. It remained true, regardless of how uncomfortable it made people feel. Humans were commodities—and Nagalier, being poor, meant cheap labor. The money required to hire twenty or thirty workers in Nagalier wouldn't even cover the salary of one worker in the Federation. Even if these workers slacked off, the collective output of twenty or thirty individuals would surpass that of a single person.

Moreover, humans weren't just labor—they were exports. This was precisely why Lynch chose Nagalier for his first international venture: he intended to engage in labor export. With cheap labor and support from both local political and religious authorities, Lynch saw a treasure trove waiting to be unlocked.

While others speculated about the unknown mineral resources beneath Nagalier's soil, Lynch had already set his sights on its population. The world war had ended, and nations were now focused on rebuilding and accumulating strength. But the conflict hadn't brought significant benefits to the victors, nor had it crippled the defeated. This peace was temporary—a fleeting calm before another storm.

Until a dominant scientific force emerged, wars would continue. Only when certain groups monopolized advanced weaponry would peace become a norm. For now, countries were frantically preparing for the next war, having lost vast amounts of labor during the previous one. Rumors circulated that in some nations, gender imbalances were so severe that governments assigned multiple wives—sometimes over ten—to every adult male. And all these men had to do was impregnate their wives.

Such stories revealed the gaping holes in labor forces across various nations. If someone could supply a batch of cheap labor, these countries might pay handsomely for it. Look closely, and one would see that humanity—the most expensive, scarce, and perpetually available commodity—existed everywhere. It was just that people avoided equating humans with goods, using euphemisms to blur the line.

From labor exploitation to clinical trials for cutting-edge medicines, from personal experiments conducted by scientists to large-scale social experiments by sociologists, humans—as commodities and consumables—were constantly being used. It was a massive fortune invisible to most, but Lynch saw it clearly.

---

"Mr. Lynch, the court has just issued its final verdict," Adam said, dressed in an expensive new suit. The leather briefcase in his hand once seemed unattainable to him, but now he carried it effortlessly. Any remnants of what he once thought were flashes of humanity had dimmed amidst luxury and profit.

Adam no longer harbored any resentment toward working for Lynch. On the contrary, he enjoyed it. "Our lawsuit received judicial approval. We hold priority rights regarding the workers' properties."

Lynch raised an eyebrow. "Good news, Adam." He walked over and brushed imaginary dust off Adam's shoulder, scrutinizing him with a critical yet approving gaze. "You've got good taste. This suit suits you well."

Adam smiled faintly, glancing down at his attire. "A famous designer recommended to me recently did a great job."

Lynch nodded. "Keep an eye on the rest of the matter…" He pulled out a business card holder, extracted a card, and slipped it into Adam's pocket. "This is a broker. Talk to him. See if we can persuade the court to entrust the property auction to GoldenExchange Bank. Their process is stricter and more transparent."

He paused briefly. "Also, it's time to sue our ‘friend.'"

Initially, this issue had nothing to do with Lynch. A theft case involving raw materials occurred at a factory, where his father, Nail, worked. The culprits turned out to be the factory workers themselves. They processed the stolen materials into finished products, selling them to Lynch at low prices under contracts and liability clauses.

When the scandal broke, the goods were seized, and the factory owner sued the workers, planning to profit immensely by auctioning their homes. Upon hearing this, Lynch grew displeased. Everyone knew him as a conscientious, responsible businessman. So, he preemptively sued the workers and gained the court's backing. The proceeds from the property auctions would compensate Lynch first, followed by the factory owner.

In addition, Lynch acquired some orders and filed a lawsuit against the factory owner for "failure to fulfill contracts." Without raw materials to produce goods or sufficient funds to pay penalties, the factory owner faced ruin. Essentially, the profits squeezed from the workers would end up in Lynch's pockets, leaving the owner bankrupt.

Of course, Mr. Lynch, the young entrepreneur with a strong sense of social responsibility, wouldn't evict the workers from their homes. Not only would he refrain from doing so, but he'd also offer them jobs—after deducting the "rent" they owed him. Though their monthly earnings wouldn't amount to much, it'd be enough to keep them fed.

In twenty or thirty years, when they managed to buy back their homes, everything would resolve itself. By then, they'd still be relatively young—around fifty or slightly older.

Thus, Lynch was a good man, albeit often misunderstood.

Adam's face no longer bore the awkward expression he'd worn initially. Instead, he beamed enthusiastically. "Understood. I'll handle everything promptly!"

Lynch was pleased with Adam's attitude. Put bluntly, once one sells their soul, one shouldn't expect to cling to pride. Certain professions, like law, often hid behind phrases like "I believe my client is innocent" while defending criminals. But everyone knew the truth. If one defends criminals for money, spare the pretense of innocence—it only disgusted people.

Adam's timely transformation earned Lynch's respect.

"I'll soon be involved in numerous international matters, which may lead to lawsuits. Use your connections to find lawyers proficient in the laws of major countries. I'll need your help soon."

"Don't neglect domestic issues either. I'll support you in establishing a legal department, with you as its leader. Do you understand?"

Adam hesitated for a moment, then nodded repeatedly. He understood perfectly. Once the department recruited skilled international litigators and renowned domestic lawyers, Adam's status within the industry would skyrocket. This was a rare opportunity—one he might never encounter again without Lynch.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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