Darkstone Code

"Speech?"

Catherine looked somewhat surprised at the school's vice principal. Just now, she was called alone into the office where this matter was discussed.

The principal of Curilan State University appeared very serious. He had a head of gray hair, meticulously styled. You wouldn't find a single stray hair on his head even with a magnifying glass.

He often appeared at various management meetings and events, and he gave an impression of being very difficult to approach.

This was unlike the principal; the principal was a smiling old man, very amiable and approachable.

The two were completely opposite. If possible, students would prefer the principal to pay more attention to their academic lives rather than the vice principal.

Unfortunately, the principal himself did not involve himself much with the internal management of the school, which was all handled by the vice principal. This granted the vice principal a unique status among the students.

However, at this moment, the vice principal's face was devoid of any seriousness or sternness, and this was the first time Catherine discovered that the serious principal actually appeared to be a kind old man when he smiled. It was baffling how he managed to keep a straight face every day.

"Yes, Catherine, I heard you're Mr. Lynch's girlfriend…"

Curilan State University wasn't like the average high school that would prohibit or restrict students from dating. In fact, many high schools nowadays don't impose restrictions either. In a country where one can marry at sixteen but considered an adult at twenty, yet can have children at eighteen while proclaiming a free spirit, interfering in someone's feelings is deemed an impolite behavior.

The school would advise students not to date, to take protective measures, and try not to have children during their studies, but that was the extent of it. They would merely talk about it without taking any actions to interfere.

Curilan State University was the same; they didn't support nor oppose it. In this era, families who could afford university education were not ordinary, so such warnings for students from average backgrounds were somewhat moot for these families.

Lynch had visited a few times, and during one visit, he met Catherine and her classmates, leading to rumors spreading in the school about Catherine and Lynch's relationship.

Initially, she would explain it, but soon stopped because the more she explained, the more questions arose.

Like—if you're not in a romantic relationship, why does he come looking for you?

It was widely acknowledged that remaining friends after a breakup was just a romantic notion, with the odds of becoming enemies being higher.

So Catherine simply let it go, as this matter couldn't be clarified.

At this point, the vice principal inquired and she had to reluctantly explain, "He's an ex-boyfriend, we've broken up."

The vice principal nodded and said, "I know, but that's okay. Can you invite Mr. Lynch to give a public speech at our school?"

He added more information while speaking, "We can pay him a fee, according to the standard for professor speeches, and also confer upon him an honorary professor title, which would be a special honor for Mr. Lynch."

At this time the Federation had not completed the genuine educational reform; universities, even public ones, remained largely out of reach for ordinary people.

The simplest way to validate a scholar's or expert's authority was to see if he/she/it had a project or taught at some university.

The former means the professor's proposed project passed the university's review for establishment, which indicates genuine knowledge. At this time, university funds were tight and precious; they wouldn't give free rein to someone without capability.

The latter implies being someone who can at least guide students into a field, even if the scholarship is not extremely high, but at least reaches the industry average level.

If Lynch were awarded the honorary professor, regardless of the field, it would signal academic recognition of him.

Such a thing might not interest major capitalists, but for Lynch, who was still developing, it might hold some allure.

Catherine felt a bit put on the spot, "I'm not sure if he's interested."

"You can help by asking him. This isn't just my idea; the principal also very much hopes Lynch can come!" The vice principal mentioned the principal, who held more weight in the students' minds, and then brought up another matter.

"You've been involved with the miniaturization of the radio project, haven't you?"

Catherine was able to enter Curilan State University without exams thanks to her high school providing a weighty recommendation letter and Lynch donating a considerable amount of money to commission Curilan University to initiate a project, mandating Catherine be a part of it.

This is why Catherine had no trouble entering university and becoming a student, and was selected by the project group in her freshman year, which became a motivational legend among the students.

But the school's upper management was well aware that the project group leader selected Catherine not because of her intelligence nor her contribution to the project, but purely for the sake of money.

Even though there were some things she could only observe and not intervene in, being part of this project nonetheless added many points to her.

Catherine affirmed with a nod, and the vice principal's smile grew threefold, "I'll talk to the project mentor to give you a co-author position on future journal papers."

Catherine was taken aback; there were over a dozen people in the project group, but when it came to the fruition of research results, only three to five individuals would have their names on the academic papers.

The vice principal promised her a co-author spot, effectively opening a door to the academic world for her.

If she wanted to move further and climb higher in the future, these would serve as her assets, including when she steps into society for work; such credentials would be highly important.

However, the girl quickly came to her senses, "Persuading me won't help; I can't influence Lynch's own thoughts, but I will convey your request to him…"

Lynch was not someone easily swayed or someone who easily changed his mind, even if that person was himself.

Catherine sensibly gave no guarantees nor foreseeable futures to the vice principal, because she really couldn't be sure if Lynch would agree to come.

The vice principal nodded, "It's fine as long as you pass on the message..."

Lynch's recent views resonated well with the mainstream group in the Federation, and coupled with the recent naval victory, it further proved the high feasibility of some of Lynch's theories.

Even the official government had set up an office to study some things Lynch proposed; the society, naturally, was even more intrigued.

Topics of discussion in some salons had recently shifted to things Lynch talked about, such as trade wars and financial wars.

If the university could invite Lynch to give a speech and then invite some reporters over for coverage, it would either expand the university's reputation and influence on a smaller scale or possibly allow it to participate in some major projects or obtain more project funding and private donations on a larger scale.

Accomplishing such things required Catherine's assistance.

Doing nothing would yield nothing.

Acting on it might lead to a bright future, so the vice principal went all out.

That evening, Catherine called Lynch and talked about it, "…I'm not sure how you're considering it, but don't factor in my personal reasons. Whether or not to come here depends on whether the school offers things that help you."

Lynch didn't hesitate too long before agreeing.

Even if Catherine hadn't mentioned it, he was planning to return soon to recruit more retired soldiers from Ferrara's wife's father.

The manpower at Darkstone Security currently numbered about a hundred, which sounded like a lot for about a hundred lawful private armed personnel, but in reality, these people couldn't even execute a small-scale military operation. Moreover, Lynch intended to undertake some local security tasks in the Amelia Region, which was a necessary condition for maintaining peace between the Federation and Gafura.

The Federation would help stabilize the situation in the Amelia Region but in return, beginning today, Gafura's warships couldn't cross the Eperlier Strait without Federation's permission; otherwise, they might be cleared as pirates.

In a way, Gafura felt constrained, but simultaneously delighted, knowing that issues they couldn't resolve by themselves would be handled by someone else, without them having to bear any reproach—the contractors were from the Federation, and even if people in the Amelia Region were dissatisfied, they would vent at the contractors instead of the Gafura people.

Tighten on one side, loosen on the other; make the Federation appear "fierce," complemented by the governor's kindness. The emperor and ministers of Gafura believed that as long as the Federation truly exerted its power, they would soon resolve these issues.

As long as Gafura's interests in the Amelia Region remain unharmed, the losses they suffer now, the humiliation they endure can be regained tenfold or hundredfold in the future!

But all of this had a prerequisite: Amelia must not be chaotic!

For this reason, Lynch planned to increase the number of Darkstone Security employees from over a hundred to at least five hundred, and he had also reached some agreement with the Ministry of Defense.

If he solely employed retired soldiers, then on some oversight issues, the Ministry of Defense would make certain concessions.

The reasoning was simple; the Ministry of Defense trusted that these retired soldiers' loyalty to the country surpassed loyalty to any individual, especially since they would arrange some moles to further reinforce this "patriotic loyalty" notion.

Ordinary employees faced at least an annual psychological evaluation and various tests. Without considering the costs, merely the time and energy involved were daunting, but if it were only retired soldiers serving as field personnel, such requirements were unnecessary.

Actually, who to employ was insignificant to Lynch; what mattered was what he could offer these people and what they could gain from Lynch; that was the crux of the matter!