Blackstone Code

If this conversation had taken place six months ago, when Lynch accused Nail's coworkers of being thieves, the honest man would have likely become enraged. He might have slammed his fist on the table, pointing at Lynch's nose and telling him how absurd his words were.

Those people weren't thieves; they were simply desperate individuals who couldn't see a future for themselves. They were merely trying to survive. If they were thieves, then all they had stolen was hope.

But now, Nail felt no anger toward the word "thief." At most, he felt a slight discomfort, some displeasure, and mild dissatisfaction with Lynch's choice of words.

The change in his status and position had already begun to make him bid farewell to his past life. A new large house, a car of his own, and even a walk-in closet—something he had never dreamed of before—now held his neatly pressed suits and accessories. These changes were like a sharp dagger, severing his present from his past completely.

He nodded. "Yes, I know about that. I'm lucky I didn't get involved with them. Is the case over?"

Nail knew what Lynch had been doing. He would acquire houses through lawsuits that the factory owner might sell off, then return those homes to the workers in another way.

Nail thought Lynch was being somewhat stingy and distant. After all, Lynch could easily give these houses back to the workers without any real loss to himself.

The case itself was complex because it involved a group of workers, a factory, and its owner, entangled in three separate lawsuits. This raised questions about priority: whose rights came first, and whose came last? It required time and process. Fortunately, Lynch had performed well during this period. The judge, citing Lynch's complete evidence and proper documentation, granted him the highest level of priority.

Since Lynch had signed sales contracts and liability agreements with the workers, everything was clear-cut, leaving no room for dispute. Thus, this lawsuit was prioritized for trial and execution.

Finally losing patience, Nail snapped, "Exploitation isn't help! If you think exploitation is helping, I'm sure they'd rather do without your assistance!"

Despite starting to learn indifference, Nail still couldn't treat his old colleagues—the men he'd worked alongside for years—with the same coldness he reserved for ordinary workers. His detachment was not yet fully developed.

Lynch smiled, looking at Nail. "But if I don't help them, the police and banks will throw them onto the streets. By accepting my help, they can still have a home. By rejecting it, they face ruin. Do you understand the term ‘ruin'?"

Lynch patiently explained the meaning of the word to his less-educated father. "They'll be pitiful. The older children may go astray, joining gangs as enforcers or becoming dancers in strip clubs, performing for their uncles—or even relatives. Their wives will divorce them—or perhaps not—but there's no love among vagrants. Their private lives will decay. In winter, seeking warmth, they'll crawl into strangers' sleeping bags. Eventually, they'll lose everything, plagued by illness, unable to afford medical care…" Lynch paused, glancing at the plate of beef ribs Sera had brought in.

His bright smile contrasted sharply with the grim picture he painted. Stopping mid-sentence, he sniffed the air. "It smells delicious. May I taste it before we continue?"

Sera, a typical housewife, had lost much to life, making her easily pleased. Smiling warmly at her son's request, she said, "Of course. I hope you find it to your liking."

Lynch picked up a rib, roughly the length of a palm, and bit into it hungrily. After finishing, he licked the bone and his fingers clean. The thick sauce carried a rich aroma. Ordinary families emphasized saltiness and strong flavors in cooking since they lacked advanced culinary techniques to create layered tastes.

"It's very tasty. I look forward to the other dishes." Lynch's generous praise made Sera beam. She leaned over and pressed her cheek against his forehead, careful not to touch his expensive clothes with her wet hands.

"Of course, of course. All your favorites. Wait just a moment."

After watching Sera leave, Lynch turned back. "Where were we?"

Nail wasn't sure whether to appear indifferent or normal. With a stiff expression, he sneered slightly. "You were explaining the meaning of ‘ruin.'"

"Ah, yes, indeed." Lynch quickly resumed his earlier point, though he already knew where they left off. He asked deliberately to reinforce Nail's impression of the word—and everything else he'd said. When an impression is deepened enough, it becomes ingrained in one's subconscious.

Lynch wiped his sticky fingers with a napkin. "And none of this comes without cost. Legal fees, evidence collection, greasing palms—all you see are the results. You have no idea how much effort and sacrifice went into this. So, I don't think my actions are excessive. Compared to letting them wander homeless, I've been merciful."

Unable to resist, Nail shot back sarcastically, "How kind of you!" His emotional shift stemmed from two sources. First, prosperity often makes people nostalgic for the past, so he naturally sided with the workers. Second, the dynamic between him and Lynch now felt reversed. Being lectured by Lynch gave him the uneasy feeling of being scolded by a child—a hard pill to swallow for someone from a humble background like Nail.

Still, deep down, Lynch had convinced him. He asked, "What do you need me to do?"

Lynch placed the napkin back on the table, his fingers now smooth and free of stickiness. Shrugging casually, he replied, "The court will soon auction their houses. Convince the workers not to cause trouble. We need to keep things under control. Understand?"

Nail understood. He nodded seriously. This concerned the future of his former coworkers. Even though they no longer kept in touch, he didn't want things to end too harshly for them.

Once business was settled, the conversation shifted to Nail's new life. Here, Nail became more animated, speaking enthusiastically, mostly about his hobbies. He had converted a spare room into a workshop filled with tools and two small desktop lathes. Many pieces of furniture and decorative items in his home were crafted by his own hands. Funny how life worked sometimes.

When he worked tirelessly, he grew tired of his job, seeing it as a source of suffering. But now, freed from the necessity of work, he realized he still loved it—including the tools.

As they talked, Sela served the remaining dishes. The family sat together, drinking wine, chatting, and enjoying each other's company. That is, until Lynch left.

The price of growth was steep. What once felt like family suddenly turned into mere "relatives." Close bonds began to fray. Perhaps this was the bittersweet inevitability of growing up.

With Nail's help, the workers accepted the verdict quietly. Two representatives negotiated with Lynch on behalf of the group. With Nail acting as mediator, Lynch didn't push unreasonable demands. Overall, everyone found the outcome acceptable.

After all, they had broken the law. Solving the problem without bearing too heavy a penalty meant they got off lightly. Not everyone was as understanding as Lynch. People should learn to be content.

Though everything seemed resolved satisfactorily, Lynch knew unforeseen complications would arise eventually—not now, but in the future. Someone would surely stir up trouble. However, he wasn't overly concerned. That was a problem for another day.

In the following weeks, Lynch focused on managing his affairs, ensuring everything proceeded smoothly. By mid-March, accompanied by over fifty bodyguards from Blackstone Security, he boarded a cruise ship bound for Nagalier.

Watching the coastline fade into the horizon, Lynch turned to face the sea breeze, walking steadily and confidently. Traveling from the Baylor Federation to Nagalier by sea took about ten days—a swift journey for this era—but Lynch remained unsatisfied. Still, slower transportation had its advantages. Information traveled slowly, which was crucial for certain matters.

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

Link

Please do not delete thisHow to find a list of chaptersPlease find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.