Blackstone Code

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"Sir... you claim that all of this was orchestrated by an international merchant named 'Pretton.' Do you have any evidence to support your claims?"

The translator for the Nagalier United Kingdom dutifully relayed the words of the person beside him. "And how can you prove that what you're saying is true, rather than some fabrication on your part?"

Over the years, Pretton Trading House and Nagalier had become deeply intertwined—twisted together in ways that were hard to untangle. They knew the truth behind these accusations but were too ashamed to address them directly. Their rebuttals were merely a face-saving measure.

Glancing briefly at the translator, Mr. Truman quickly dove into what he did best—or rather, what every politician excels at: lying.

"We've been monitoring him for some time now," Truman began smoothly. "As you know, our nation has been actively expanding its foreign trade and engaging more deeply in international affairs. During this process, we uncovered a group of pirates operating in the Eastern Ocean, led by none other than 'Pretton.'"

"They pose a significant threat to passing merchant ships. At the request of federal merchants, we've begun investigating Pretton and his gang."

"As part of our investigation, we discovered that Pretton has business interests scattered across the globe—including here in Nagalier..."

Lynch didn't stop there; he compiled his adventures into a book titled The Adventures of Lynch. Rumor had it that Fox Studios was already working on adapting the stories into a feature film. Audiences loved legends, they adored tales of exploration, and they were equally fascinated by anything involving pirates.

When Mr. Truman uttered the word "pirates," even the ladies who had feigned fainting earlier perked up with interest.

"Attacks on ships, sabotage, coupled with trade monopolies imposed on smaller nations without strong militaries—our investigations revealed that Mr. Pretton not only commands a terrifying pirate syndicate in the Eastern Ocean but also uses their armed forces to monopolize the foreign trade of numerous island nations and small countries, controlling their economic lifelines."

At that moment, several journalists entered under the escort of a few "staff members." Normally, they wouldn't have been allowed inside—who knew if spies lurked among them? But now that trouble had arisen, damage control was necessary. Moreover, Mr. Truman intended to rally the entire federation behind him. He needed the people to understand the "truth."

The venue transformed into his personal stage. "This attack originated from Mr. Pretton and his cabal. In fact, we deployed numerous agents to protect everyone here tonight, ensuring no harm would come to our esteemed guests."

The audience naturally recalled the unassuming waitstaff or individuals they assumed were invited guests but were actually National Security Council (NSC) operatives. Truman's words seemed credible, lending weight to his narrative.

"As for your doubts," Truman continued, turning toward Lynch, "I believe Mr. Lynch can answer them for you." Lynch hesitated for a moment before handing his wine glass to a passing server with a quiet "thank you." Then, he made his way to the stage originally prepared for the band, standing beside Mr. Truman.

"I'll now hand the microphone over to Mr. Lynch, who will clarify matters..." As Truman relinquished the mic, he whispered discreetly into Lynch's ear, "I'm out of lies. You need to smooth things over."

He gave Lynch's wrist a light squeeze. "This is your chance to win over those who oppose us."

Lynch maintained his characteristic warm yet restrained smile—polished and composed. He nodded slightly, offering a polite greeting to Mr. Truman's elderly mother. Truman returned the gesture with a nod and stepped aside.

To an outsider, it might have appeared as though they shared a cordial relationship. Only Truman knew what Lynch had murmured back.

Standing behind Lynch, Truman gazed at the younger man's back. He had never viewed Lynch as just another twenty-one-year-old. Instead, he saw him as an equal—a peer. It wasn't normal for someone so young to sit across the table discussing how to incite civil wars in other countries or manipulate economies. These weren't topics or thoughts typical of youth. No, Lynch was something else entirely—a monster cloaked in youthful skin.

His mind and soul far surpassed his age, which is why Truman trusted that Lynch wouldn't botch this situation.

"You may call me Lynch, or some refer to me as 'Mr. Explorer,'" Lynch began, his opening line immediately easing the tense atmosphere. "Many of you are aware that I spent considerable time in Nagalier prior to this event. During my stay, I received an invitation from Mr. Pretton himself to join Pretton Trading House."

"It's a highly monopolistic enterprise, controlling nearly all of Nagalier's import and export trade."

"Mr. Pretton, the mastermind behind Pretton Trading House, dictates the profit-sharing arrangements for every transaction. Those who refuse his terms face retaliation—pirate attacks on their vessels at sea."

"He exploits the populace, paying workers less than one Thor per day while demanding twelve-hour shifts without any insurance or safety measures."

"I've witnessed countless injured laborers living lives worse than death, and many more enduring various forms of inequality..."

"He corrupts local officials, using bribes to build a network of loyal bureaucrats around him. Those who resist are ostracized."

"Most officials receive dual salaries—one from the government and another from Pretton Trading House..."

"They monopolize markets, suppress merchants, and restrict trade..."

With each revelation, gasps rippled through the crowd. The refined men and women of the federation struggled to imagine that Nagalier was such a chaotic nation. Meanwhile, the faces of the Nagalier delegation darkened further. They wanted to ask no more questions, even though they knew Lynch spoke the truth—it cut too deeply.

Sensing the timing was right, Lynch transitioned to the heart of his speech. "This attack..." He paused deliberately, choosing his words carefully. Not "riot" or "protest," but "attack"—a term laden with aggression, both in meaning and implication.

"This attack was orchestrated by Mr. Pretton himself. His goal? To sabotage Nagalier's efforts to forge a new path forward."

"If the federation establishes diplomatic relations with Nagalier, forming a friendly alliance, we can help liberate them from the grip of these pirate merchants."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Baylor Federation is far stronger than most realize."

"We command thousands of warships and countless soldiers ready to deploy at a moment's notice. We possess the resolve to defend our federation's interests and the confidence to uphold world peace."

"Pretton and his cronies fear us precisely because of our strength. They dread our righteous intervention freeing Nagalier from their shadow."

Turning to the Nagalier diplomatic delegation, Lynch added, "Their clumsy attempts to disrupt our budding friendship reveal their desperation. This isn't an insult to you; rather, it should be seen as cause for celebration. The Pretton cartel has shown its true, feeble form—it's not as formidable as it seems."

"In the face of the Baylor Federation, they are powerless. All they can do is resort to cowardly tactics in a futile attempt to alter the inevitable."

"To be clear, this banquet will not end prematurely, nor will our diplomatic negotiations stall. On the contrary, we must expedite the signing of treaties to assist Nagalier in breaking free from the clutches of these profiteers, allowing them to bask in the same sunlight as us."

"This is no longer a simple diplomatic issue. From the moment these individuals set foot in our federation, their target wasn't just Nagalier's delegation—it was a provocation aimed squarely at us."

"They've carried out acts of terror on our soil, attempting to sow discord between us and Nagalier. This is nothing short of a declaration of war against the Baylor Federation."

"It's a battle between justice and evil."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot remain silent. We can no longer shy away from these challenges as we once did. We've grown stronger, braver. It's time to confront this head-on."

"The brave citizens of Baylor and our valiant soldiers will make them regret their misguided decisions."

"The sword of justice will pierce through the shadows. Justice will prevail, and the federation will triumph."

"Long live the Free Federation!"

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