Chapter 336

Lynch was arrogant. With Mr. Truman absent, no one could stop Lynch, and others were left anxious.

To them, diplomatic negotiations shouldn’t be like this. Even if there were issues, at least the surface should be kept civil and polite, like gentlemen.

The Nagaryll representative furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing much!” Lynch shrugged. “I don’t know if you’ve heard the saying: If we can’t be friends, then we must be enemies.”

If by now the Nagaryll representative still didn’t get Lynch’s meaning, then he was probably a fool—and so was the entire Nagaryll central government, since only fools would send fools as diplomatic representatives.

But that wasn’t the case. The Nagaryll representative quickly understood and asked angrily, “Are you threatening me and my country?”

Even if it was true, Lynch denied it. “I’m just stating my personal view. How you interpret it is up to you.”

“The Baylor Federation is a nation that values freedom. Its people cherish peace. We will not coerce you into making decisions against your interests. The choice is entirely yours, and we will never interfere.”

Lynch paused, glanced at his own team, then smiled. “I’m not an official. I won’t discuss complicated issues with you. What I say next is purely personal opinion. It does not represent the state’s stance. You may take it as reference.”

Someone tried to interrupt, but Lynch stopped him with a look. In diplomatic talks, the worst isn’t harsh terms or a tough attitude from the other side, but internal disunity.

If the other side learns about internal conflicts, they can exploit them to divide and conquer, causing a collapse.

Decades of experience showed in Lynch’s cold, sharp gaze. The would-be interrupter shut up, apologized, and left to notify Mr. Truman that Lynch was losing control.

Fortunately, he understood basic diplomatic taboos, so nothing exploded in front of the other side. But the Nagaryll delegation—fools—actually let Lynch speak instead of cutting the talks with phrases like We need to consult back home, or We need to study your points, or Mr. Truman should negotiate with us.

Small countries sometimes fail to develop due to poor talent cultivation.

After a brief disruption, Lynch regained composure and faced the Nagaryll representatives. “The Federation has its troubles too. That’s why we urgently need a war—even minor armed clashes at sea will do.”

“We need war. We need victory. We crave victory!”

“We want a huge military win to prove our strength to ourselves, and to show others that avoiding global war is not cowardice, but preventing disaster from escalating.”

“To us, fighting Preyton’s pirate group is like fighting…” He glanced meaningfully at the Nagaryll representatives. “Fighting anyone is fighting.”

He nearly said Kingdom of Nagaryll aloud.

Diplomats nearby almost stood up. Lynch seemed to hear their thoughts and stopped before uttering the name, leaving room to salvage the situation.

“Even, for us, war with the latter seems more in line with our people’s desires.”

“Our people don’t know Preyton or his vile business. They aren’t persecuted by his interest groups. Before your visit, we had no dealings with him.”

“But some differ. They betrayed our friendship—those vile men and their vile nation. They are traitors who deeply hurt us. This war is justified and necessary.”

Lynch looked at them. “Our navy is preparing actively. Where or whom we fight is just generals pointing on a map.”

“Enough!” Mr. Truman entered, having been notified. He had returned earlier but waited for Lynch to push Nagaryll to the edge, for Lynch to say things hard to say.

This was Lynch’s value—he wasn’t a government official, free to speak without restraint, a right guaranteed by the Charter: everyone’s fundamental right to express their thoughts anywhere.

Though many venues forbid commoners, that was another matter.

“You shouldn’t say these things…” Truman smiled wryly. “You leaked secrets. You committed dereliction of duty, Lynch!”

Lynch wasn’t afraid. He retorted, “But I’m not a government employee!”

“Really?” Truman acted surprised, looking around. “Why did no one tell me Lynch isn’t part of the diplomatic team?”

The diplomats looked puzzled. Lynch was on the list at Truman’s request. Didn’t they know if he was an official?

No mature person would challenge a superior’s question. Most feigned ignorance; only the young messenger who had notified Truman wiped sweat nervously. “Sorry, Mr. Truman. That was our oversight.”

Truman stared at him briefly and nodded. Sometimes a leader needs not just capable subordinates but those willing to take responsibility.

“Since Lynch isn’t a government official, dereliction charges don’t apply…” He paused. “Escort him out. Also, tell the guard he must pay a $100 fine to leave.”

Everyone stared in disbelief at the two shameless men treating this place like a stage for a melodramatic show, especially the Nagaryll delegation, nearly suffocating with anger. Truman casually brushed past the issue.

Lynch was gone, but his words wouldn’t leave with him—they stayed in the Nagaryll representatives’ minds.

After sitting, Truman apologized for his earlier absence. “Some matters delayed me. Where were we?”

Not a question, he rubbed his temple. “Ah yes, it seems you have some views on establishing relations between our two countries?”

The cold-faced Nagaryll representative pressed his lips tightly, drained of color.

After a while, he said, “I need to consult with my government. I suggest postponing further talks for a week.”

Truman immediately stood, had files cleared, and extended his hand. “Then we’ll meet again in a week.”

His decisiveness stunned the Nagaryll representatives. Throughout the talks, the Federation had been more proactive than Nagaryll, but now their attitude shifted.

The change was unsettling, even frightening.

The Nagaryll representative opened his mouth but remained silent, then stood, shook Truman’s hand, and left with his team.

Outside the office building, watching the departing convoy, Truman took out a pack of cigarettes, tossed one to Lynch as he stepped out. They lit up and exhaled smoke together.

“I’d give your performance a 90. You could be an actor!” Truman genuinely praised.

Intimidating the Nagaryll delegation was part of their strategy. Don’t think negotiations are always calm talks; the real battles are far more intense than outsiders imagine.

Lynch smiled and said, “This isn’t acting—I mean it.”

Mr. Truman paused with a cigarette in hand, frowning at Lynch. “If they refuse, are you really going to push for war against Nagaryll?”

Lynch nodded with a smile. “We need not only victory but also an enemy, Truman.”

“Victory will give us confidence, and an enemy will unite us. That’s exactly what we—and the Federation—need right now.”

“We first create a simple enemy for ourselves, then defeat it. People gain unprecedented confidence from winning a war and destroying an enemy. Then we find a second, a third…”

He flicked ash carefully, stepping aside so none fell on his shoes. “Until we can’t find any more enemies to fight, that’s when we’ll be the strongest in the world.”

Truman stared at Lynch, his expression grim. “What you say fires me up, but it terrifies me too. If we truly do this, we’ll be enemies of the entire world!”

Lynch flicked the half-smoked cigarette aside and headed toward a car parked by the road, leaving Truman only his back and one last sentence:

“If being enemies with the world makes us great, then so be it.”