Darkstone Code

The Healthy Federal People Foundation is a private venture aimed at enhancing the physique of Federation citizens.

Such foundations are countless in Bupen, with so many Members of Parliament involved. Even if each person is connected to just two foundations, there would be nearly a thousand foundations here.

But how could a Member of Parliament possibly be connected to only two foundations? Some hold shares in a dozen different foundations; two is just mocking their influence.

The problems here are exceedingly complex, but before Mr. Truman took action, he didn't believe he'd be stumped. After all, he had the current President behind him, along with military support and a good rapport with some major capitalists.

Yet he underestimated this Foundation and those connected to it. He was complacent.

This was the best feedback to his gradually growing arrogance and conceit during this period, delivering a hard punch to his face.

From the afternoon onward, people kept calling to inquire about his investigation's purpose and thoughts on the Healthy Federal People Foundation, attempting to probe deeper.

He initially thought it was a reactive measure taken by Legislator Wales upon realizing the crisis, but he was mistaken.

Starting a few years ago, the Federation's medical groups have been trying to push commercial reforms of medical insurance. They tout commercial medical insurance as more effective than social security insurance, even misleading public understanding on the role of drugs—especially synthetic chemical drugs—in treating diseases.

For instance, they always tell the public that cheap things aren't good. If drugs are sold cheaply, they lack value and efficacy. Only those high-priced drugs not covered under the medical insurance system can better help patients recover from diseases.

The Federation Government restricts genuinely effective drugs from entering insurance's prescribed medication list, seeking to avoid excessively high medical expenses for citizens, unwilling to bear heavy medical costs.

They even have a very famous slogan—"No one cares about you more than yourself, not even the Federation Government!"

TV commercials, newspapers, social activists...

Using all means, they push for medical insurance's comprehensive withdrawal from social insurance, steadily progressing towards success.

Although Congress has yet to pass this reform proposal, compared to the firm opposition during the first and second votes, many now have softened their stance, evolving from "never" to "perhaps," with some even leaning towards supporting the medical group.

All this is inseparable from the lobbying groups of the medical group and their interest offerings.

No one knows how much they've spent on this, but it's certain that most of Bupen's lobbying groups and brokers have been quite profitable over the years.

Among the shareholders of the Healthy Federal People Foundation, aside from Wales, several Members of Parliament hold shares, and these individuals are either currently lobbied by the medical group or have already sided with it.

In other words, Mr. Truman's investigation into the Healthy Federal People Foundation has alarmed the medical group, terrifying them.

If these interest transmissions are exposed, years of their efforts would instantly vanish.

Under great public pressure, the Federation Government will certainly be affected, having no choice but to initiate an investigation.

Of course, these don't hold concrete significance for them. Throwing away a few scapegoats can divert the public's attention, but their longstanding efforts would go to waste; they won't allow this to happen.

People kept probing Mr. Truman's motives, even warning him to abandon the investigation into the Healthy Federal People Foundation quickly. This matter differs from those he has previously dealt with, not something a top official in the President's Mansion can fix.

More renowned individuals started calling, thereby increasing the pressure on Mr. Truman. When the Minister of the Science Development Department called him, he finally realized he must explain clearly or face further troubles.

This wasn't a seemingly simple reflex action; it was, in fact, facing a more horrifying and enormous interest group than he had imagined, with billions, tens of billions in profit margins each year, enough to drive these people to take risks.

Until... the President also called him.

"Before making this call, I was pondering whether I should even contact you..." The President's tone hadn't changed much from the past; upon careful discernment, perhaps some subtle fatigue could be detected from his voice.

Whether it's the coalition from Legislator Wales making him passive in Congress and public opinion, or today's unexpected events, his mind was about to burst.

He spoke whilst suppressing laughter, the sound filled with helplessness, "I very much want to tell you like a hero, Truman, go ahead and do it; there's no difficulty that can defeat us..."

"But, I am not a hero."

"I am merely a failed President. Today's occurrences make me slightly discouraged; the facts prove that even after becoming President, we still can't do anything as per our desires."

"But I'll pull myself together; I hope you do too. Today's failure makes us understand more clearly that we're still weak now; we aren't those people's match."

"We will continue to grow, we still have opportunities, someday we'll face them and tackle difficulties like real heroes, then defeat them."

"..."

"Sorry for disappointing you; I couldn't sustain the pressure."

Mr. Truman remained silent for a long time, four or five minutes, possibly longer, keeping the receiver pressed to his ear as neither party spoke; through the receiver, they could hear the other person's breathing.

After the silence, Mr. Truman opened up, his voice somewhat hoarse, "I too need to apologize, Mr. President; my arrogance made me overlook some issues."

"Due to my fault, we've fallen into a passive situation when we could've handled it better."

"However, today's events also made me realize a new problem; we have enemies not only outside but internally, hidden ones unimaginable before."

"But they were also careless; they let us start paying attention to them. What we face now is only temporary retreat, but we have plenty of time, and we will definitely win!"

Early next morning, Truman, the highest-ranking official in the President's Cabinet International Policy/Matters Research Office, submitted his resignation to the President, citing his current inability to handle such an important role, yet the President refused his resignation.

Then, a mid-level officer from the Federation National Security Committee was arrested for "misconduct," and the investigation into the Healthy Federal People Foundation concluded entirely, presenting everyone with a satisfactory report.

The financial transactions of the Healthy Federal People Foundation fully met the requirements of the Federation Charter and Federation laws; all operational processes were legal, all beneficiaries were legitimate, all funding was legal, and the investigation into the Healthy Federal People Foundation concluded.

The matter didn't even make it to the news; no media dared report it, whether it's the Progressive Party, Conservative Party, or Socialist Party—none dare touch this minefield.

This was, of course, another great victory for the capitalists, as even the President had to bow before them.

Mr. Truman was granted a three-day leave by the President to take some time to regain composure before facing new matters and work. Upon returning home, he saw a truck parked outside his house.

The sensitivity of his work made Mr. Truman instinctively put his hand in his pocket, bypassing the truck to see his wife and child engaged with two Blue Vest individuals, marking something on a clipboard.

The ongoing great recession Federation is facing isn't entirely negative; at least people began considering consumer's feelings.

In the past, these freight companies wouldn't have been this humane; they would demand customers fill out forms, randomly place stuff anywhere, even leave without notifying the owner. Now, such phenomena no longer exist.

They are more gentle, more considerate, and more careful than ever before because a simple negative review from a customer would reduce their earnings; too many negative reviews might cost them their job.

This might be among the few advancements amidst the economic downturn.

"What are these?" Mr. Truman approached.

His wife immediately began explaining, "Some new items, didn't you have them sent?," her face brimming with smiles, "This indeed is a huge surprise; were you planning to keep it from me?"

She mistakenly took these as Mr. Truman's surprise for her, unaware that at this moment, the man before her shares a similar yet singular emotion—surprise, but not joy.

Just as Mr. Truman planned to say more, the telephone inside rang.

He glanced at the doorway, patted his wife's hand, and walked into the room.

Picking up the phone, the first-time conveyed a somewhat familiar voice; this voice should have spoken to him yesterday, but with too many exchanges, he had forgotten who this person was.

"I apologize, Mr. Truman; I've learned some more nuanced details. Regarding yesterday's excessive reaction, I need to apologize; the things you see are my thoughts, and I hope you accept them."

Mr. Truman frowningly replied, "What if I don't accept?"

The guy on the other end laughed heartily, "You better accept!"

It was not a direct threat, nor did his words quite sound like one; yet Mr. Truman sensed an aura of confident threat from his statement.

He glanced back at his wife and child, standing by the door bidding farewell to the truck workers, "Your name?"

The person on the call didn't seem like a hero, which is quite normal since those who defeat heroes are often villains, "When there's need, we'll meet, then you'll know who I am."

"But not now..."

Looking at the hanging receiver in his hand, a force transformed from anger quietly burgeoned within Truman, spreading; he knew he had gained another opponent!