Chapter 263: Saint Harmony Society and the Girl’s Parents

In most events, if the organizer holds a high status, they usually only appear shortly before it begins. At first, important assistants representing them greet the guests.

Only when the organizer’s status is relatively low do they appear early to welcome higher-status guests as a matter of proper etiquette.

But Mr. President ranks at the very top of the Federation in every respect. There’s no reason for him to stand at the door early to receive unimportant guests. This was puzzling, but neither Lynch nor Severella felt inclined to probe further.

Their lives were too far removed from the President’s. Perhaps Severella’s father was a bit closer, but only slightly.

Standing in the hall, the girl began to fulfill some duties. She knew many social elites far better than Lynch did and introduced them to him, opening topics when necessary.

This was a transaction, and she was expected to fulfill her part.

As invited guests arrived one after another, the hall gradually filled. Lynch noticed a detail: some people wore identical accessories.

Based on his understanding of high society, they rarely wore common accessories, as it would make them seem somewhat vulgar.

The Baylor Federation was not a society that valued humility or modesty. Everyone pursued uniqueness and transcendence. For example, Lynch’s cufflinks and tie clip were rented by Severella from a jeweler.

Yes, rented—but these were not ordinary mass-produced items replaced in the display case after being sold.

These were unique designs by famous Baylor jewelers, priceless and sometimes only rented out, never sold. Rental fees were extraordinarily high, bringing more profit than outright sales.

People preferred renting to reduce unnecessary expenses. They rarely wore the same jewelry repeatedly in public to avoid gossip. Renting allowed them to wear different pieces each time.

Even if someone had worn the jewelry before, it only proved the item’s popularity and didn’t diminish the wearer’s status.

This custom kept high-society accessories unique and rarely repeated. Yet Lynch found some people wearing nearly identical accessories, which confused him.

“Are you talking about the tie clips and badges?” Severella was smart and immediately understood. She smiled and asked, “You really don’t know what those are?”

Curious, Lynch replied, “Should I?”

She stopped teasing. It was hard for her to see this witty, well-spoken man as someone climbing up from the bottom.

In their interactions, Lynch showed none of the anxiety or fear typical of people from lower social classes.

During her school days, some middle-class boys felt uneasy and avoided eye contact when they learned her background.

The gulf between family background and social class was enormous and couldn’t be bridged by mere confidence.

When one person’s family efforts couldn’t match another’s occasional lucky break, like consumption, social gaps emerged, bringing negative emotions to the lower side.

But Lynch never showed such signs, allowing people to treat him as an equal.

The girl began explaining, “These are symbols of Saint Harmony Society. You know about Saint Harmony Society, right?” Lynch nodded.

She continued, “If you pay attention to the President’s tie clip and badge, you’ll see he’s also a high-ranking member.”

Saint Harmony Society and other secret societies use unique accessories with anti-counterfeit technology to represent membership. No one tries to imitate them because regular meetings reveal who belongs.

These accessories serve partly to flaunt status.

Saint Harmony Society’s symbols are tie clips, badges, and collar pins.

Ordinary members get a tie clip shaped like a triangle made of three wheat stalks with a sun in the center.

Higher-ranking members receive a badge, also a triangle of three wheat stalks but with a moon.

In Baylor mythology, the sun represents perseverance, courage, and strength; the moon symbolizes wisdom and calmness.

The Vice President wears a collar pin shaped like a triangle of three wheat stalks with an eye inside.

The eye symbolizes omniscience—the True Sight—that sees all.

Only high-ranking members can wear this collar pin.

Rumors speak of an even higher level, but even insiders don’t confirm a fourth tier. The Vice President’s rank is the top.

“They wear the same accessories to show their shared background. Saint Harmony Society wields great influence in the Federation. If you notice, the Vice President spends more time talking to Saint Harmony members.”

This was the girl’s value—her knowledge of high society far surpassed Lynch’s. Without her, he’d have to ask Ferrell or the mayor to learn these details, but now he knew immediately.

She then asked curiously, “Didn’t you attend a Saint Harmony affiliated university?” To her, that was almost a given; she hadn’t even considered attending a regular university.

Lynch glanced at her. “I didn’t go to college, but I plan to.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know…” She truly didn’t know. The butler’s information came from public sources, and deeper secrets required connections.

Such investigations were beyond a butler’s reach, even with a family heiress behind them. It would alert Mr. Wadrick, so most inquiries happened after Lynch became known.

Graduation didn’t necessarily mean college; it could mean high school.

Lynch shook his head. “No need to apologize. It’s not your fault I didn’t go to college, nor do I think it’s my fault.”

If it wasn’t the girl’s fault or Lynch’s, then it was society’s fault. Lynch missed college during the previous president’s term, reflecting how disappointing that leader was.

How could a president remain in office when a child couldn’t even afford college?

The girl sensed the meaning behind his words but wasn’t sure. She nodded slightly, growing more curious about Lynch. This young man didn’t seem like someone from an ordinary background—his style and attitude didn’t match.

Around 6:30, some heavyweight guests began arriving.

In Baylor Federation, dinner is defined as between 7:30 and 8:00. People often work until 7 and, with commuting, don’t eat until after 7:30.

This timing wasn’t just for commoners; everyone followed it. It was as if exploiters watched their exploited workers drain their last energy before letting them leave—both parties finished work at 7.

Ignoring this little fact, as important figures appeared, people gradually gathered near the entrance. This was a privilege for latecomers—to receive more respect and attention.

First came famous capitalists, influential in society. They controlled the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers and their families and often appeared in newspapers. People were very familiar with them.Next came some senior members of the Progressive Party, including congressmen and prominent politicians.

As more high-profile guests arrived, the atmosphere grew livelier. Everyone tried to get closer to these important figures—even a brief conversation or just being recognized was valuable.

Just before the event began, Lynch suddenly felt the girl tighten her grip on his arm. He looked toward the entrance and saw a high-ranking Saint Harmony member speaking warmly with the President.

Lynch glanced at the girl, then at the man and the woman beside him, and quietly asked, “Are they your relatives?”

He thought the girl resembled the two closely, especially the woman.

Severella nodded. “My father, and my mother.”