Chapter 267: Unedited – Subscribe Later

The President’s speech, when listened to closely, actually hinted at several undisclosed policy shifts. Everyone in this room would receive concrete information about these changes before they were made public.

Oftentimes, people fail not because they lack effort, but because they inherently lack the elements necessary for success.

And those who truly understand the keys to success—the ones who possess these elements—will still tell others that hard work is the key.

Because Lynch had been specifically mentioned by the President, he gained a bit of the spotlight. Some people, who couldn’t get close to the President, chose instead to talk with Lynch—perhaps hoping for an unexpected gain.

Even if nothing came of it, simply becoming a familiar face could pay off in the future.

In fact, the way the President brought up Lynch already gave the public a certain impression. Especially when he criticized the six-year-long isolationist policy of the Baylor Federation by calling it escapism, many people instinctively associated those words with Lynch.

This led some to believe Lynch might be someone of great importance—possibly even a future politician. After all, the transition from businessman to politician was not uncommon. Businesspeople were often closer to power than the average citizen, and the two professions shared many similarities.

For example… neither speaks plainly, neither acts decently, yet both present themselves as respectable, polished individuals.

“Mr. Lynch…”

A well-dressed man stepped up and addressed him. He was the first to do so.

Before Lynch could respond, Sevirola suddenly commented on the handbag carried by the man’s female companion. The two women quickly grew close and naturally walked away from Lynch to join a group of other ladies.

This was men’s time. A good companion knew when to discreetly withdraw, giving the men enough space to discuss potentially sensitive matters.

Though the men here all appeared dignified and courteous—each seemingly the perfect gentleman—there were definitely some scoundrels among them.

To avoid topics that might upset the ladies, it was best for them to separate. In fact, the women’s conversations could sometimes be more terrifying than the men’s.

“I’m…” The man, who for now doesn’t warrant a name in this story, introduced himself. Perhaps one day, after learning some truths, he might pay to become a named character rather than remain an anonymous extra.

After his introduction, he shared his views. “Mr. Lynch, do you think the mistake of escapism might repeat itself as international cooperation deepens? How long do you think it will take for us to get out of our current predicament?”

No matter how people criticized escapism, they couldn’t ignore an awkward fact: the peak of the Federation’s economy and finance happened during the height of that so-called escapism.

A few years ago, people would cite the outcome of a certain war as a warning to others. They used statistics printed in newspapers to lecture neighbors and even strangers on the dangers of international involvement—how such affairs threatened their children, their economy.

They sang praises of isolation—higher employment rates, broader welfare, general wealth…

Many of today’s Progressive Party supporters were once staunch backers of the Conservative President.

Back then, they presented themselves differently, playing both sides as businessmen often do—especially small and mid-sized enterprises that were not yet prominent.

No one cared whether these people held firm political beliefs. What politicians cared about was whether those small business owners delivered their political donations on time.

The smiles on people’s faces in the past only made today’s bitterness more stark by contrast.

Writers and artists often portray the shift between love and hate as unpredictable and mysterious, stirring young hearts to tears with stories of romance.

But in truth, love and hate are simple: what brings benefit is love, what takes it away is hate.

Lynch didn’t rush to answer. He took a sip of wine and thought before speaking—always making sure his stance aligned with the right political direction.

“Escapism was wrong from the beginning, but it did leave us with valuable lessons.”

This was essentially an empty statement. It meant nothing, but calling it empty would be inaccurate, because it conformed with mainstream opinion—it was a kind of political fig leaf.

Having opened with this safe, neutral remark, Lynch could speak more freely.

“Our previous policies were like building a fortress. They blocked all external and internal exchanges. You all understand: a city cut off from the world is like an island in the ocean.”

“It may enjoy brief moments of prosperity, but isolation will inevitably lead to decline.”

“We feared engagement with the world. We avoided our rightful international responsibilities. We thought this protected us—but we were wrong.”

“Broader international interaction and involvement in global affairs will indeed expose us to new challenges. The increased competition might put us at a disadvantage initially.”

“But viewed another way, harsh competition can awaken our untapped potential.”

“Gentlemen, my analogy may be a bit crude…” He paused, took a small sip of wine, and noticed a few more people had gathered around him, drawn in by his unrestrained voice.

Now, he needed to give them a moment to digest his ideas—then feed them something new.

After a moment, Lynch continued, “The alpha wolf is never appointed by his predecessor. Only through brutal competition and battle can a wolf prove himself worthy of leading the pack.”

“This gentleman asked how long it will take to escape our current crisis. Honestly, I don’t have a definitive answer—not even a rough estimate.”

“Because it doesn’t depend on naïve hopes. It depends on when we are ready to face global competition head-on and push forward.”

“Only when we succeed in establishing ourselves in this more complex international environment can we begin the true revival of our great Federation!”

These words shattered some people’s illusions. Even now, this society had its share of naïve optimists—some of them were in this very room.

Hard to believe, perhaps, but that was the ironic truth.

Outside, people lined up for food stamps and welfare aid, crowding around relief centers. Yet here, and in other such places, some people’s lives remained completely unchanged.

They hadn’t even noticed anything was wrong. They were eating meat before; they’re still eating meat now. They were drinking fine wine before; they’re still indulging themselves today.

Some foolishly believed that everything would improve immediately once the new President took office. But that’s not how it works—things won’t turn around overnight.

It will take three to five years to move from decline to revival—not three to five days, or even months.

Lynch’s words left those around him in a moment of silence. Just then, a slightly familiar voice came from behind.

“Mr. Lynch, how do you think we should face this new era and this new world?”

The voice rang a bell. Lynch turned and saw a middle-aged man—well-dressed, perfectly groomed, adorned with fine accessories—looking much like everyone else in the room.

Lynch gave a slight nod and answered, “War.”

The single word snapped everyone’s drifting thoughts back into focus. A flicker of fear appeared on more than a few faces.