Chapter 171: Struggling to Find a Name

“Things have been rough lately. Try not to go out after dark.”

Not long after returning to Sabin City, Ferrell came by and casually mentioned some current public security issues, warning Lynch to avoid leaving home after dark.

Sometimes it seemed laughable. Baylor Federation was the most technologically advanced—and economically developed—nation on the planet, yet crime rates were ridiculously high.

Every year, thousands of unsolved cases piled up, filling several industrial warehouses—tens of meters high and thousands of square meters in area.

Shelves were stacked with files and evidence, but the cases stalled. Until breakthroughs appeared, these cases were never mentioned again and gradually forgotten. The records of crimes were eventually burned under the watchful eyes of involved parties.

The flames from those fires lit up the city—or maybe just a few light bulbs, since that’s about the power generated by burning.

So, unless a case had a major social impact, unsolved cases were left to fade away.

With worsening social conditions, crime rates soared. Desperate and broke people began taking risks. According to Sabin City police, theft cases have exploded over the last three years, with no sign of slowing.

Daily, dozens of theft reports entered police records; many more likely went unreported.

People had nothing left to steal, so they didn’t bother provoking thieves.

Like Lynch’s recent home burglary report—the police just took a statement. No special effort was made. Instead, they quietly warned certain fences to watch for highly recognizable stolen goods.

That courtesy came because the officer had some sympathy for Lynch. For anyone else, the case would have been ignored without a phone call, ending in nothing.

Violent crimes and robberies also surged, making the city unsafe.

“Why not organize forces to clear out these gangs?” Lynch asked, curious. To him, reducing crime seemed straightforward.

Ferrell smiled and shook his head, seeing it as youthful naïvety.

“You might not know, but earlier this year, each solved case cost the local police between 300 to 1,000 Sol in manpower and resources—this includes cases shut down quickly or still unsolved.”

“You know how federal justice works: sometimes even when people know the answers, they’re powerless. Procedures and laws must be followed.”

“This raises the cost of solving crimes. A solved theft or robbery might cost the police around 2,000 Sol; a murder investigation could cost tens of thousands. If we tried to tackle all city crimes, city hall would go bankrupt immediately.”

“So we only selectively solve cases—not for lack of will, but lack of ability.”

Ferrell understood these constraints well—he was striving to be the next mayor and paid close attention to these details.

In fact, gangs helped maintain social order to some extent. Gangs, police, and rulers shared one goal: stability. Only with stability could they keep receiving money.

Changing the subject, Ferrell praised Lynch’s recent success in Kurlan City.

The huge trade volume had validated the policy pushed by Sabin’s Mayor Landon, whose popularity surged and drew attention from the state and the Progressive Party.

Any policy that improved people’s lives and proved effective was now under close watch, like the upcoming credit loans starting in October.

Some things leaders could control; others they could not. They preferred what they could hold.

The governor’s office immediately asked Sabin’s mayor to report on how promoting secondhand goods and trading idle items positively affected society.

If all went well, other states would soon launch similar auctions.

They might lack innovation or insight but were good at imitation.

The mayor gained valuable political capital, more than he expected. What started as using Lynch’s crowd to promote his speech turned into a big win.

The mayor didn’t forget Lynch’s role and merits, hoping to build a closer relationship.

Ferrell’s visit mainly served this purpose. He needed Lynch’s broader perspective to explain how activating secondhand goods benefited society.

There was also another matter: the tall gang wanted the mayor to pressure Lynch into lowering his cash investment share.

They believed their 25% cash stake showed enough sincerity. Maybe a mediator could help both sides save face and close the deal.

“This is just me relaying their opinion; it doesn’t reflect mine or the mayor’s!” Ferrell was careful, basically telling Lynch he could refuse without offending anyone.

Lynch’s value clearly surpassed the others. The mayor knew whom to choose. Having Ferrell deliver the message was just protocol, since the tall gang contributed votes and donations yearly. The mayor stayed neutral.

Whether Lynch agreed was his own choice. Baylor Federation was a free nation, and freedom was enshrined in its charter—no one could interfere with anyone’s will, not even the mayor.

Lynch nodded and smiled slightly. Ferrell read refusal in that smile.

Though reluctant to discuss matters unrelated to him, Ferrell blurted out, “Just curious… I heard their offer wasn’t low. Why refuse?”

Lynch met Ferrell’s gaze calmly. Ferrell felt a chill from his tailbone to scalp, ready to drop the topic, when Lynch spoke:

“If someone thinks you’re too young and tries to teach you a lesson—like saying you’re unqualified to run for mayor and urging you to give up—would you compromise?”

“Even if they promise to support you next time, but you must bow this time, would you?”

“This is war, Ferrell. In business, there is no peace. If I yield today, I lose everything tomorrow.”

“Even as Progressive Party members in the same camp, if I get the chance to swallow them, I won’t hesitate. I believe they feel the same.”

Ferrell dropped the subject and soon excused himself.

Half an hour later, Ferrell returned to the mayor’s study and reported on the trip and Lynch’s stance.

The mayor frowned, tapping his fingers rhythmically and unconsciously.

He didn’t want disputes among the city’s businessmen—he was already tired enough.

He cared little about their lives, but each businessman supported many ordinary people who depended on their businesses for income. If conflicts between Lynch and these businessmen escalated, trouble would surely arise.

Recently, Neo applied to the state for permission to relocate Liston Group to a neighboring conservative state. The conservative party and a cabinet minister had called, urging the governor to facilitate the move smoothly.

Once completed, Neo and his people would leave quietly but leave chaos behind.

Ignoring the looming unemployment surge, the angered laid-off workers alone could tear the mayor apart.

The governor had privately discussed this with the mayor. The conflict was no longer just between Sabin City and Liston—it was between the governor’s camp and Liston as well.

Neo used some unfriendly means to pressure the governor for a swift relocation, which the governor took as an insult.

Privately, the governor told the mayor that even if Liston couldn’t be kept, they couldn’t be allowed to leave easily—they had to pay a price for their actions.

Compared to that, the mayor suddenly felt that the cash dispute between Lynch and other businessmen had lowered his own standards.

His finger movements stopped abruptly. Ferrell, momentarily distracted, refocused. The mayor glanced at him and said, “Tell them we’ve relayed their message. This is the last time. I don’t want to hear any more about this.”

Ferrell bowed his head slightly. “I know what to do.”