Chapter 255: Preparation, New Direction, Grand Plan

After temporarily settling the small matter with Vera, Lynch called Asel over, this time meeting at a high-end café.

The café used to be crowded, but now there were few customers; everyone was trying to save money and no longer willing to spend on expensive, unnecessary things.

Asel arrived quickly. Lynch gestured for him to sit opposite. “Don’t be nervous. There’s no specific task. I just want to talk about your hometown.”

“My… hometown?”

Asel paused briefly, his eyes losing focus as he recalled memories. The moment passed quickly, and he returned to reality, feeling sorry for zoning out and puzzled by Lynch’s question.

“Mr. Lynch, my hometown isn’t wealthy. It lacks a developed technological system like the Federation’s and has no industrial base. It’s a poor place—that’s why we left.”

Asel spoke with feeling; it was indeed a poor, backward, and ignorant place.

People there still believed they would enter the embrace of their gods after death. Their faith was in a deity who created the world, whose every breath meant creation and destruction. A truly powerful god.

Countries where religious authority exceeds secular power inevitably lag in technology, as time, effort, and funds are spent trying to please gods who don’t exist and offer no return.

Ignoring scientific and social progress, Asel saw nothing remarkable about his hometown.

If religious influence and a beautiful natural environment from lack of industrialization counted as merits, those were the few it had.

Still, since Lynch brought it up, Asel spoke a little about his hometown. He and his family kept in touch by letters, though rarely.

“Tell me about your government structure, social classes, economy—anything.”

Lynch’s probing confused Asel further. “Mr. Lynch, may I ask why you’re interested? Or what exactly you want to know? That way I can give you details.”

Lynch smiled. “You know, a new president is coming. We’re entering a new era. Before, we closed our doors, and no one knew whose side we were on.”

“Now we’ve opened those doors, showing our position. That brings opportunities never before seen!”

“I often talk about social responsibility—not just domestically within the Federation, but internationally. We must take it on.”

Asel understood every word’s meaning but was confused. When put together, he couldn’t grasp their sense.

Still, not understanding was no shame. Admiring Lynch, he confidently spoke about his hometown’s society, economy, culture, and its greatest conflict—the struggle between government and religious power.

They sat for nearly an hour, refilling their drinks many times. Asel’s throat was dry but he maintained composure before Lynch.

Lynch listened thoughtfully, then after a few minutes asked, “Asel, if given the chance, would you go home?”

Relaxed before, Asel suddenly tensed. His expression turned uneasy. “Go home? No, Mr. Lynch, did I do something wrong?”

To him, returning home felt like the worst punishment. Settling in the Baylor Federation brought his family great benefits.

That backward country was relatively weak internationally, and its people feared powerful nations. This only strengthened their worship of religious authority.

It seemed strange—they should unite to develop technology, right?

No. When a place is too backward, advanced science seems like myth. Religious supporters, to maintain power, indoctrinate people with false beliefs—that faith can overcome material things.

The common folk are deceived, but the ruling class remains somewhat clear-headed.

After Asel got his Baylor Federation residency and social security number, becoming a proper foreigner, his family gained confidence and better social treatment.

If he returned now, all the favors and respect his family earned would be lost—and not easily regained.

Seeing Asel’s anxiety, Lynch calmly sipped his coffee. “Asel, my friend, you’re too nervous. Haven’t you considered another possibility?”

He set the cup down gently, no sound. “Not just you go back—I will too, to do business.”

“Business?” Asel’s eyes widened. “Sorry, Mr. Lynch, I don’t understand. What could that poor, backward place offer you?”

Lynch smiled slightly. “You’re wrong. Your hometown is full of amazing wealth—but you and your people don’t see it.”

“Gold, gems, spices, precious minerals, certain plants, even animals and their pelts—these are all money if exported.”

This is the basic form of exploitation by advanced societies over backward ones. Some resources can only be exported raw due to lack of technology, earning minimal profit.

Sometimes transport costs even prevent profits altogether.

Now is a perfect time. The world is busy rebuilding and developing, eyes not on poor regions—this gives me a big advantage.

Asel considered it and agreed. His memories of home were vague but some things stood out.

Like village priests adorned in gold, dense forests where you could get lost, and underground mineral deposits no one could mine.

These were money, but…

“What about transportation, Mr. Lynch? Moving those goods might cost more than buying finished products locally,” Asel pointed out. Transport costs can be a big headache without good infrastructure.

Lynch dismissed it lightly. “Then process locally. A ton of raw ore is not worth the same as a ton of refined gold. Even if transport costs are high, the profit from a ton of gold bars would cover it.”

Of course. Turning stone into gold bars—what could be more profitable?

Before Asel could ask more, Lynch added, “This is part of our international responsibilities. As an advanced country, we should help backward countries develop technology. I believe if I bring equipment and capital to your hometown, they’ll cooperate. What do you think?”

Asel had no answer. His hometown was poor, backward, and ignorant, but the ruling class wasn’t stupid.

They would greedily allow Lynch to operate cheaply, lower his guard, then slowly take over his assets.

Asel wanted to warn Lynch, but Lynch just smiled and said the plan was basically finalized. It was the main direction for this year’s development.

Once he secured the president and that damned new department, he would lead people to Asel’s hometown.

Why Asel’s hometown? Simple: it’s poor, backward, ignorant, but rich in natural minerals and resources—and Asel was a reliable local guide.

With these advantages, the rest was just simple work.

If the natives wanted to try, he didn’t mind letting them and their gods learn the pronunciation of the word “bullet,” its meaning, and inspire fear.

Plunder is never about justice or mercy. Every large-scale looting between civilizations is bloody. Those who can’t adapt are eliminated, while those who do become part of the interest groups surrounding Lynch.