Chapter 249: Factions, Three Sentences, and Entanglements

For businessmen, money is their most valuable asset.

For politicians, their political platform and ideology are their greatest treasures.

No one can take another’s private wealth without paying a price, not even the president.

Lynch found it strange yet intriguing that he was invited to the president’s party celebration because the president quoted a small part of his words. But it was a great opportunity.

He could get some contact with the Progressive Party’s senior leaders. More importantly, it was valuable experience and credentials.

Ordinary people, influenced by long-standing struggles between laborers and capitalists, tend not to trust businessmen easily.

This distrust also stems from ruling class propaganda; to most people, capitalists symbolize cunning and greed—willing to sell the noose that will hang themselves just for profit.

Thus, gaining the trust of ordinary people is not easy for capitalists, and non-essential goods are hard to sell. But they have their methods.

They find non-capitalist groups to represent them and connect with the public. Spokespersons aren’t exclusive to politics; they’re common in capitalism too.

Since the first reputable celebrity endorsement led to booming sales, people quickly learned how to manipulate public opinion.

Film stars, athletes, socialites—all admired figures receive heavy invitations and scrutiny.

They exchange their influence for wealth, boosting trust in products and solving some problems, ensuring sales.

If there’s one person in the federation with ultimate authority and influence, it’s undoubtedly the president.

But the president never endorses any products—almost all have ties to financial groups. They don’t lack money and won’t act as endorsers.

Still, businessmen have ways to gain such authority, often through… handshakes.

It sounds ridiculous, but in the early years of the Baylor Federation, at least two presidents sold photo rights.

More accurately, businessmen donated to charitable foundations, gaining presidential meetings and photo opportunities with the president’s handshake.

These businessmen’s descendants now control major domestic financial groups. The president and his team got what they needed, and the capitalists got what they wanted.

If Lynch enlarges the photo of him shaking hands with the president in his office, people will believe he’s a moral, responsible businessman—an ethical model.

His business will thrive.

This handshake means value to the public. Within the Progressive Party, Lynch’s invitation signals he’s aligned with the president’s faction.

This raises another issue: party factions. Neither the Progressive Party, Conservative Party, nor the often-overlooked Social Party speaks with a single voice.

Within a shared broad goal, various factions differ in political platforms and ideologies.

For example, the Progressive Party has two main factions: the radical internationalists and the more conservative internationalists. Both want to deepen the federation’s international role but differ in methods.

The current president leans slightly conservative and is relatively moderate—though still considered radical in the Conservative Party.

Faction stances aren’t as rigid as party stances; they shift with time and circumstances.

But aligning with a mainstream faction is beneficial. Many open, high-threshold policies will open doors for Lynch because he was invited by the president and shook his hand.

People will approach him, pulling him into circles united around certain figures—and those figures rally around the president, forming a faction.

For at least six years, these mainstream factions won’t change much. As the Baylor Federation tries to develop international relations, the president is certain to win the next election.

During this time, Lynch need not fear regrets from choosing the wrong side; he can freely work within the president’s political platform.

In the future, things may change. The relatively conservative president may become reformist or radical—or not. It doesn’t matter.

If not, Lynch can switch factions. After all, differing methods to achieve shared goals are normal, as long as party platforms remain unchanged.

So, this is good news—very good news.

“Do I need to prepare a speech?” Lynch joked.

The mayor brightened, laughing heartily. “Why would you think that?” Then he explained, “You probably only need three sentences:”

It’s an honor to be invited, Mr. President!

Me too, Mr. President!

Please, go ahead, Mr. President!

The mayor laughed again. These are the only three sentences an ordinary person meeting the president can say. The president and more distinguished guests won’t give Lynch much time to speak—even just two or three minutes.

Lynch wasn’t offended by the mayor’s mockery. He smirked, “I was just debating whether to speak for five or seven minutes. You completely ruined that. But at least I won’t pull out my hair preparing a speech.”

It was a joke. With Lynch’s abilities, speaking appropriately to please people is easy.

After a while, the mayor stopped laughing. “Your accountant might have some trouble. If you have anything to handle, take care of it soon.”

“Vera?” Lynch frowned. “What about her?”

The mayor stirred his coffee casually, a meaningless gesture. “Gap confessed. He told police he entrusted some key evidence related to the Liston Group scandal to his wife—your secretary.”

“The state prosecutor handling the case believes Vera, knowing all this, failed to report the evidence to authorities and tried to conceal it. She’s now a suspect in the case.”

The mayor spoke casually, unconcerned about innocence or guilt. He knew that didn’t depend on actions or law, but on decisions by those in power.

Everyone thought Neo and the Liston Group’s downfall was Mayor Landon’s doing, but the key figure behind Landon was the governor.

Neo’s resentment stems from being unable to get what they wanted from EverBright. Frankly, this statewide case and its outcome aren’t Landon’s decision—they’re the governor’s.

By disrespecting the mayor, Neo was effectively slapping the governor’s face, though few knew the truth. Even the neighboring conservative governor only interfered to watch the spectacle, which led the governor to decide to crush Liston completely.

If Neo hadn’t acted so hastily, he and his group might have survived another two years. Once everyone became more familiar with international affairs, they might have had a chance to turn things around.

But he was too eager, making many things impossible to undo.

The governor privately ordered the prosecutor to be ruthless as a warning: this is the governor’s territory, and everyone must respect his decisions. They can question them, but not challenge them.

Since EverBright is foreign capital and might not draw enough attention, Liston will be made the bad example.

Everyone involved in the case will be prosecuted, including Vera, suspected of hiding evidence, who will face charges.

Women in cases of this level are very unfortunate. With higher powers interfering, methods can be excessive. Many men can’t withstand it, let alone women.

In the end, they’ll say whatever is needed just to be quickly convicted and sentenced.

The mayor’s point is that if Lynch has any questionable matters, he should deal with them promptly to avoid being implicated.

Although Lynch won’t be deeply involved, being investigated is never pleasant.