Darkstone Code-Chapter 1015 - 1013: Lost Value

"We’ve located Isabella, she’s in the previous city..."

"She hopes we can arrange for someone to rescue her, and she wants to talk to Mr. Lynch."

In the Ministry of Defense, people were surprised upon seeing this message. They didn’t understand why Isabella suddenly surfaced. Maybe she was under a fatal threat, or perhaps it was because Sanchez is on the rise.

In any case, it’s good news, far more convenient than organizing a search for Isabella. They just couldn’t understand why Isabella insisted on meeting Lynch.

Could there be an ambiguous relationship between them?

What a bastard to be envious of!

The clerical colonel handling the document smirked. Lynch’s private life was as rotten as the mud at the bottom of a cesspool, the worst of the worst!

He had been involved with too many women, and now there was one more.

The news quickly reached Darkstone Security, and soon a special operations team began to advance toward Isabella’s hiding place. The team was led, and almost entirely composed of Level 2 field operatives. In Darkstone Security’s internal terms, these people were elites.

The night after Isabella sent out the message, she saw these elite groups from the Federation—no, they were elite action teams from Darkstone Security.

After confirming Isabella’s identity, they quickly moved her out.

The reason it could be so fast was thanks to the well-developed water network, and the fact that the river had not frozen over yet. If it had, it wouldn’t have been this quick!

Seeing these people, Isabella finally let her anxious heart relax.

Previously, she despised the Federation people for their hypocritical and false freedom, those disgusting values—there was no society more hypocritical than the Federation’s.

But at this moment, she loved this country dearly.

In less than a week, about five or six days later in the morning, Lynch received a call from the Ministry of Defense. Isabella wanted to see him.

Lynch didn’t have a strong impression of this girl since their last meeting was just a brief exchange of words, leaving not much of an impression.

He pondered for a moment before arranging a car and heading to the Bupen Hotel. He met Isabella in the hotel’s suite.

"You seem to be in bad shape right now." Lynch said after shaking her hand and sitting down. He didn’t care about offending people; he’s just not used to lying.

It’s obvious people look awful, yet you have to say "you look good," which is quite awkward.

Isabella forced a smile and nodded, acknowledging Lynch’s observation, "You must know what’s happened, my situation isn’t good."

"I remember you established a cooperative relationship with the Security Committee. You should directly communicate with them. I’m just an ordinary merchant and can’t offer you much help in certain aspects."

The seemingly uncompromising refusal threw Isabella back into silence. Her current position was indeed... a bit tricky.

Previously, the Security Committee’s cooperation with her was to help her inherit the General’s power, resolving her two brothers and other obstacles in the process.

It required a process; it wasn’t something that could happen all at once.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Before their plan even began, a sudden attack rendered the General completely finished.

With his death, everything descended into chaos, warlords occupied different territories. She might not achieve anything now.

The reason was simple: there was no need for them to recognize her authority. The General’s rule had ended, and no one would relinquish their current power to join a girl who had nothing.

Her value significantly depreciated, and the Security Committee seemed to have some other plans.

For instance, Sanchez’s momentum was better now. Funneling resources and efforts his way would simplify subsequent affairs.

Of course, none of this was finalized, so when Isabella had needs, the Ministry of Defense arranged through Darkstone Security to bring her back.

But what to do after her return was still a problem.

There were discussions internally about this. The main thought was to keep her domestically, possibly being useful at some point.

This notion received considerable support, not everyone believed that engaging on multiple fronts was ideal, especially after experiencing a setback.

Focusing all forces on attacking one battlefield became the mainstream strategy now.

Isabella could sense the warm reception from the Federation cooling rapidly—it started with surprise, now with neglect.

Even the Special Agents outside were decreasing, causing a sliver of fear in her heart.

If the Federation treated her coldly, she... suddenly everything seemed lost, so she placed her hope on Lynch.

In silence, Isabella weighed her options. After about ten seconds, she explained her reason for wanting to see Lynch.

"I don’t know what happened; the Security Committee and the Ministry of Defense’s attitudes towards me have changed."

Before Lynch came, the Security Committee had contacted him, informing him of their and the Ministry of Defense’s thoughts.

Now hearing Isabella’s feelings, Lynch found nothing surprising.

Being worthless in this country is the same as being dead.

If this continued longer, eventually, people might start to forget you.

He remained silent, causing Isabella’s heart to sink even more, "Mr. Lynch, I need help, you promised to help me!"

She referred to their previous meeting, to which Lynch slightly shook his head. Leaning back, he lit a cigarette, "You don’t understand the current situation, Ms. Isabella."

"I see no value in you anymore, assisting you in achieving something like acquiring territories or forming a military has no benefit for us."

"You have no money. I believe the cash and treasures the General had is long gone from that raid."

"You probably don’t know his bank account passwords, and considering inheritance laws vary by country, you might not be the heir to those accounts."

"Moreover, you have no political value. You’re not a member of the Imperial Family, not the Mariluo Government’s President or Prime Minister, nor a representative from any prominent family."

"You’re merely a warlord’s daughter, and a dead warlord’s daughter at that."

"Forgive my bluntness; I’m not one for lying. You don’t have much utility anymore. The Federation Government doesn’t plan on wasting more taxpayer money on you, do you understand what I mean?"

Earlier, she was like the child of a large landowner. Once the landowner died, she could inherit the estates and lands.

Controlling her equaled controlling those assets and lands.

Now the landowner went bankrupt; she’s no different from commoners outside. Why care about her?

Isabella sat with her head lowered, thinking of how to change her predicament.

"What Sanchez can do, I can do as well, and my image is better than his," she said as if lighting upon an idea, "I’m a woman; I have an advantage."

In some respects, this is true. A butcher like Sanchez advocating kindness and peace, racial integration—it seems a bit... uncharacteristic.

He should be pitching genocide and racial purges.

But having someone replicate another’s actions won’t yield double returns, only double troubles.

Lynch shook his head, "I’m unsure of the Ministry of Defense’s plans, but I know replacing him hasn’t been considered short-term."

"Sanchez cooperates well, with no resistance to us. Do you understand what I mean?"

"He accepted being a puppet without causing trouble, so we won’t easily replace him unless something unexpected happens."

A fire seemed to burn Isabella’s soul, filled with a destructive desire.

Then an idea struck, "Mr. Lynch, if I can persuade some to follow me, would I have value?"

Everyone has different roles in society.

Sanchez’s role within the General’s warlord faction was as an executioner, a butcher, a killer demon handling combat matters.

Isabella represented wisdom, often providing solutions to problems.

While people might fear or even dislike the General, their attitude toward her was far nicer.

Those under the warlord were uneducated, yet held great respect for intelligent individuals—this might be an opportunity.

Isabella earnestly looked at Lynch, "If I can persuade people to unite again, would I then have value?"

Lynch nodded, "Of course, showing yourself as valuable—we welcome valuable people."

"So how do you plan to do that?" he queried, checking his watch, "You currently have nothing, persuading them is tough."

"Even returning wouldn’t be easy, so how will you persuade them?"

Isabella leaned closer to Lynch, glancing at his hand. He tactfully switched the hand holding the cigarette, avoiding her intent.

She could only sincerely plea, "I need your help, Mr. Lynch, only you can help me."