Chapter 334: Drag Them Down First

This was a special era, a miraculous time—everything was turning from good to bad, yet rising from destruction like a phoenix.

No one could truly describe this era. People shed their innocence and became as petty as the villains in novels, but society’s progress accelerated beyond those simpler times.

A new day arrived on schedule. The rising red sun heated the earth again after a night of calm.

A delivery man pedaled furiously on a green bike through the neighborhood. The blue basket in front overflowed with newspapers. With one hand on the handlebar and no loss of speed, he skillfully tossed papers onto lawns.

This was a sight only in middle-class neighborhoods where each house had its own yard and green grass.

A casually dressed woman wearing an apron hurried outside, picked up a rolled-up newspaper like a short stick from the ground, and returned inside.

She was preparing breakfast for her husband, who would read the paper while eating. She had to prepare everything so he could enjoy a peaceful morning, repaying his hard work for the family.

About twenty minutes later, a man in pajamas emerged from the bedroom, washed up, and sat at the table, smiling and greeting his wife.

Years ago, he would sometimes cook breakfast with her and enjoy a different kind of happiness, but now his passion was gone.

His energy was drained by stressful daily life and work. These women who didn’t work could never understand the heavy burden on his shoulders or how painful the pressure was. The silence about it was his only release. Perhaps not disturbing his rigid routine was the greatest kindness.

Holding coffee with milk, he opened the paper’s first page. The headline caught his eye: The New Young Leader of the Baylor Federation!

He glanced at the masthead—it was a Progressive Party paper, so such a radical headline made sense.

If it were a Conservative paper, the headline would be The Young Man Leading the Trend, more subtle but lacking impact.

People used to prefer stability, but after so much, they were tired of it and craved something to jolt their numb nerves.

The man saw the young, handsome face that inspired envy.

“He must be someone’s illegitimate son…” he muttered, jealous, trying to comfort himself.

His wife passed by carrying sliced bread, licking egg yolk off her fingers. “Who?”

“Who else but Lynch?” The man resisted turning the page. “Recent reports keep covering his deeds and words. Even my coworkers discuss him. It’s like he suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and now the whole world knows him!”

To him, the Federation was the whole world, which wasn’t entirely wrong. Many Federation citizens thought the same.

The woman glanced at the paper; it was the familiar young man Lynch, who had been appearing frequently on TV lately.

“He looks handsome in this photo!”

“Looks don’t feed you!” The man flipped the page impatiently, annoyed that his wife praised another man, even though there was no chance between them.

The woman paused then laughed, “But he’s rich…”

The man pursed his lips, unable to argue that point, and sulked. Just when he thought his day had been terrible since waking, his wife kissed him.

“But in my heart, you’re the most handsome. No one compares to you!”

Those words flowed gently into his heart, and his irritation vanished. “Thanks. I know you’re just trying to cheer me up, but I’m glad.”

He looked at her face close by and suddenly glanced at the clock. “We still have time…”

This scene happened in many homes. Lynch’s words deeply shook society—We are stronger than we think!

In fact, when dealing with the international community, the Federation and its people felt vague confusion and timidity. They always thought they were weak and lacked a strong stance.

They hadn’t been tested by war. The previous administration had failed to take effective diplomatic actions; even war bonds were worthless, and the government was powerless.

They dared not make strong demands or speak in commanding tones. They bowed silently and kept negotiating, which saddened the citizens.

The nation’s diplomatic weakness bred public insecurity. Even today, with a new president, this lack of confidence remained deep inside.

Until… Lynch appeared, firmly and decisively telling people they were stronger than they imagined.

This voice from the era inspired some to rally and celebrate. Some thought it was self-deception, but young people believed it. This was why the radical paper called him the young leader.

He revived the stagnant Federation and made people raise their heads.

Reportedly, his words even shifted major policies, like pausing promised military cuts and reductions in active troops agreed with Gephra and others.

Some retired soldiers without jobs were asked to join militias, especially former navy personnel called back to service.

This signaled something: people realized the fears that had held them back for years were now shackles blocking their resurgence. Breaking these chains was the Federation’s rebirth.

Walking the streets during these tough times, young people showed unprecedented vitality. They discussed war and how to realize ideals. It was amazing.

“But also dangerous!” said a Conservative congressman in an office.

The room was filled with Conservative politicians, capitalists, and certain representatives. This was a small-scale meeting.

The congressman had received a political donation of fifty thousand from Mr. Preyton. It wasn’t a huge sum, just moderate.

He had also been given an anonymous bank voucher from Preyton with six figures, untouchable by Federation law and free to use. The source was hard to trace.

That was why he invited these friends to his office: to hold Lynch, or rather the radicals, back.

For politicians, their only enemies were opposing politicians. External hostile forces weren’t their concern—that was for the military and higher-ups. Their job was to defeat their own rivals. Simple.

Some sat, others stood, all watching him. The congressman wielded strong influence within the Federation’s system, representing the highest ruling powers.

Though power was distributed, each remained an undeniable force.

He toyed with an exquisite pen worth four figures; he owned dozens like it.

“I’ve learned through some channels that Lynch’s so-called pirate Preyton actually has ties to the Gephra Navy. This pirate Preyton has been providing intelligence for Gephra’s navy and sometimes doing their dirty work.”

“Gentlemen, from one angle, Preyton’s pirate group is a pawn of Gephra’s navy at sea. If we rashly confront Preyton’s pirates, it could trigger a naval standoff or even war with Gephra!”

“This is dangerous. We’ve just pulled the Federation back from the edge of chaos. Now we should focus on development—not provoke Gephra’s sensitive nerves through a war we can’t even be sure of winning.”

“We have done these things, yet gained little, and it will only cause a rift between us and Gephra.”

“If we don’t do them, we can maintain a friendly cooperative relationship with Gephra—and lose nothing in the process.”

“How to choose, I believe everyone is clear.”

The congressman was shocked when he heard this news—Preyton himself had told him—making him realize the situation demanded his intervention.

He wasn’t acting for the money, but out of patriotism. The Baylor Federation, now recovering, couldn’t afford a hopeless war.

If the Federation’s ships were destroyed at sea by pirates, Baylor’s international standing would plummet. It might even be expelled from the allied victors.

No matter what, he had to prevent a military conflict between the Federation Navy and Preyton’s pirate group—for the Federation’s future.