Darkstone Code-Chapter 1003: A Thousand and One Nights

Just as Mr. Pato was about to approach Lynch, he saw Mr. Wardrick go over first, so he paused and stopped in place.

It would not be polite to go over at this time. It requires an invitation from a "core" figure. For example, if Lynch or Mr. Wardrick looked at him and gave him a very clear indication, then he could go over.

Otherwise, it would be best to wait until the two of them had separated before approaching.

This is the most basic etiquette in social situations. If something on this magical land is as valuable as "freedom," it must be privacy!

Restrict others’ freedom, and someone will fight you to the end.

Infringe on others’ privacy, and someone will be equally willing to fight you to the end.

"That old fellow...", Mr. Wardrick glanced at Mr. Pato.

In the camp of capitalists, he and Mr. Pato did not belong to the same interest group, but in private, they got along quite well. One couldn’t assume Mr. Pato was a conservative just because he always claimed to be a "noble". 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Sometimes, his thoughts were more progressive than those of some young people.

Mr. Wardrick, retracting his gaze, walked to the edge of the crowd with Lynch, "I noticed some guests left early."

Lynch nodded, "I talked to them about some cooperation, and they need to go back and think it over."

Mr. Wardrick pursed his lips, "Can I know what kind of cooperation it is?"

This question was quite presumptuous; this belonged to Lynch’s privacy. If he didn’t want to bring it up, it was best not to ask at all.

But Lynch didn’t seem very opposed, "Sure, we discussed some military cooperation..."

He shared his thoughts with Mr. Wardrick, who immediately understood Lynch’s trick. He was expanding his advantages once again, allowing no other military organizations to catch up with him.

In fact, eventually, most of these military institutions might disappear altogether because they would forever be at a disadvantage in competition with Darkstone Security.

Lynch could earn money, while they might suffer losses. Since they would lose money, why not directly hire people from Darkstone Security to do the work?

This logic didn’t seem problematic at all. After all, the purpose of capital is to profit, whether it’s a short-term objective or a long-term goal; profit is always the core demand and a stringent indicator.

However, Mr. Wardrick was considering other things, "You know, I have some heavy factories in my hand, and I have been considering what I should do lately."

"Without a doubt, the world will inevitably face a new world war in the future. Perhaps I can do something for this country, for our people."

His tone was sincere, as if all this was genuinely heartfelt and a voice from his soul.

But Lynch knew that wasn’t true; he merely wished to gain more wealth and influence.

People sometimes encounter a question - "You are so rich already, why can’t you just take a break? You already have enough money!"

Most of the time, the person asking these questions, he/she/it must be poor or at least an ordinary person, not noble, nowhere near wealthy.

Only these kinds of people would have such naive thoughts, thinking that if you have enough money, you can just stop.

The world of capital is always more terrifying and cruel than people realize; the only theme in this world is "survival", big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp; this is the world of capitalism.

Clearly, many people understand this principle. Why are they so afraid of the bloody and cruel food chain world, imagining it as a world filled with warmth in ideal?

The middle-generation capitalists are facing many issues, similar to what the early-generation capitalists encountered.

When the Industrial Revolution began, those early-generation capitalists with vast natural resources and land watched in disbelief as the middle-generation capitalists quickly amassed wealth through factories.

In their bewildered eyes, they might not see the future at all; they didn’t even understand why building a factory on a small and poor plot could rapidly accumulate wealth to rival or even surpass theirs?

They couldn’t figure it out.

This is similar to what the current middle-generation tycoons, consortiums, and major capitalists are facing. They can’t understand why the technological advances that seem trivial bring about era dividends far exceeding their factories?

And the processing industry, relying on these technological advancements as the core, doesn’t even need much heavy machinery; the generated profits are many times that of heavy industry companies?

They have become like the early-generation consortium tycoons of "yesterday," equally filled with confusion.

Mr. Wardrick is also like this; now, centered on scientific progress and the rise of light manufacturing, a group of billionaires already possesses the foundation to challenge the old capital groups.

Just like Lynch’s Future Light Investment Company, it already has the prototype of a consortium. As long as they can maintain and strengthen core members and their quality, this is the next consortium!

How many years has it been?

Mr. Wardrick also felt a sense of urgency, especially when he discovered Lynch’s collusion with people from the Military Industrial Group. He certainly must accelerate again.

So Mr. Wardrick took the initiative to come over; he also wanted to participate, not to change anything, at least not to be eliminated by this era.

"I don’t quite understand what you mean," Lynch responded, genuinely puzzled.

Mr. Wardrick had all kinds of factories; who knows what he actually meant? Saying he had some heavy industry enterprises covered too broad a range, hard to ascertain.

Faced with an indeterminate range, it’s best not to blindly offer your opinion.

It’s like everyone knows an "Old Jack," but the "Old Jack" in someone else’s mouth may not be the one you know, yet from your initiative introduction, the other party could take some advantage.

Mr. Wardrick glanced around, took out a cigarette, and a small box, like a compact powder case.

Inside was a cigarette companion, various natural herb powders, he dabbed his cigarette end then tapped it twice on the box before lighting it.

"You know, I know a lot of people...," Lynch nodded, Mr. Wardrick continued, "so sometimes my information is very well-informed. I heard someone is developing a tank."

"They hollowed the top of an armored vehicle and put a mortar in it..."

Previously, artillery was mainly pulled by roan horses and a few motorized forces; it sounded absurd, considering modern times still using horse pull, but that was the reality on battlefields.

Perhaps because roan horses were cheaper, or only roan horses suited these tasks, in summary, once an artillery position was laid out, moving it quickly would become burdensome.

People found it more effective and valuable to use large-caliber artillery positions in defense than in attack, as the front line constantly changes in the offensive process, possibly leaving the effective range, delaying battle opportunities.

All in all, society needed to develop a kind of self-propelled artillery that could adapt to more terrain.

At this moment, the whole society’s research institutions aimed their technological iterations at serving a war that could break out at any time.

Therefore, many heavy industries began designing their tanks; the heavy industry enterprises in Mr. Wardrick’s hands also designed some.

"I understand...", Lynch nodded, acknowledging this as the inevitable trajectory of historical development.

Mr. Wardrick then expressed some of his thoughts, "We have designs, prototypes, but lack real-world testing."

Lynch interjected, "You mean to say those things of yours also want to go to the ’frontline’?"

He used the word "frontline," but neither of them minded much, Mr. Wardrick nodded, "Yes, we plan to place them in a real war environment to see the actual effects."

He even joked, "If you could offer some constructive suggestions, that would be even better."

Lynch always had some strange ideas, like his obsession with airplanes; for instance, the Ministry of Defense had a top-secret project, where someone claimed to have seen Lynch’s name in the archives.

In the end, asking wouldn’t lose anything, in case Lynch had ideas, Mr. Wardrick thought it would be a gain for sure.

Lynch pondered for a moment, "For me to make suggestions, I would need to hold some shares; you know, sometimes some ideas are priceless."

Mr. Wardrick was only momentarily stunned, quickly asked, "How much do you want?"

"Olusman Heavy Industries is currently valued at over sixty million, I plan to merge it with two other companies, with a total market value likely to reach two hundred million."

Lynch was slightly surprised, "You’re very generous, maybe I was just saying it casually?"

"I took it seriously," Mr. Wardrick looked directly at Lynch, "Don’t force me to have Severa talk to you."

Thinking of that girl, Lynch hesitated for a moment, then named a price, "Ten percent."

Mr. Wardrick didn’t hesitate much, "I can agree to your quote; when can I see your ideas?"

Agreeing so readily didn’t mean much to Mr. Wardrick; ten percent of a two-hundred-million-dollar valuation after merging three companies amounted to twenty million.

But if one were to think this twenty million equals twenty million in cash, that might not be the case; stocks with multiple shareholders and property rights in enterprises are not easy to liquidate, even if it were deceived away.

The person deceiving away this ten percent shares would instead create a big trouble for themselves.

Money for the wealthy, especially for those genuinely at the top, is not so easy to take.

If you don’t offer something equivalent in return, it isn’t money. It is poison, a disaster!