CHAPTER 418: 0416 GUESS!

Mr. Wardrick was chatting with several colleagues about some upcoming projects, and he had taken some of Lynch’s advice, preparing to secure at least one state infrastructure contract in Nagariel.

He was not particularly interested in these businesses initially. Though the returns on these ventures were indeed high, the return cycle was very prolonged, taking at least ten to twenty years to see results.

Moreover, a critical point here is that politics have a much greater influence on these businesses than capital does!

Once the relationship between the Nagariel United Kingdom and the Federation starts to decline, or even conflict erupts, or if there is turmoil within Nagariel, it will severely affect the consortium’s interests there.

This isn’t about trades of hundreds of thousands or millions, or even tens of millions. Once such business begins, the invested effort, manpower, and other resources over the years, not to mention the wealth involved, could be tens of millions or even billions!

This was why the consortium’s board of directors initially did not agree. These people have incomparable influence domestically, but abroad, hardly anyone has heard of them, which also resulted in their lack of voice in international matters.

Rather than risk expanding into international profit markets, why not continue cultivating the domestic market where, even though the benefits are gradually diminishing, it remains safe and profitable.

Fortunately, "having discussed these issues with Mr. Lynch..." convinced the board. Actually, it’s not convincing but rather showing them another ’contract’ hidden behind it all.

If necessary, and their interests aren’t protected, they would decisively overthrow the local government. Even if they don’t replace it, supporting a puppet of their own to take power shouldn’t be difficult.

Even the Federation Government would likely hope to see such things happen. Despite verbally condemning such interference in another nation’s internal affairs, they are secretly delighted.

With this notion, some of the "younger" board members, like Mr. Wardrick, became eager in anticipation as they reached the pinnacle of their lives.

Financial strength, capability, energy, intellect, and influence have all peaked, and their rich life experiences allow them to see further. They’re eager to try exciting things before they age.

For instance, controlling a nation, which is one of the reasons people quickly became convinced. Once a consortium monopolizes a nation’s trade...even if it monopolizes half a nation’s trade, it’s an astounding wealth.

It’s well known that as long as the profit is sufficient, a capitalist can sell the ax to sever his own neck to the executioner for a high price. If the price is high enough, even the noose used to hang himself or his family can be thrown in.

Under a potentially influential circumstance, the board unanimously approved Mr. Wardrick’s proposal in international strategy, actively engaging in negotiations.

As they were discussing these matters, the butler appeared behind Mr. Wardrick, whispering something in his ear like "I saw Lynch and Miss going upstairs together, and they took a bottle of wine," and such.

Mr. Wardrick’s eyes twitched, then he raised a fist to feign a cough, turning his head, and whispered, "Have Mary Joe keep an eye on them..." His gaze was piercing as he stared at the butler’s eyes, "You can hit them if necessary!"

The butler’s mouth also twitched, and he lowered his head, quickly leaving.

Mr. Wardrick’s wife curiously asked him, "What happened?"

Mr. Wardrick, seemingly unfazed, replied, "The servant found a little rat, but I let Mary Joe handle those things."

Perhaps influenced by the topic, their conversation with others shifted from normal topics to issues with the manor, such as having too many bugs, mice, and small animals roaming the rooms, and soon transitioned to related work and eventually environmental problems.

Meanwhile, the butler had located Mary Joe.

Mary Joe is the head maid of the manor, in her thirties, with a great figure, beautiful face, constantly exuding an alluring charm.

But underestimating her because of her appearance is certainly a disregard for one’s life.

Mary Joe has exceptional skills, having undergone intensive militarized training since young, mastering assassination techniques that could incapacitate someone in one move.

Many families with deep-seated legacies cultivate some very special talents. Mary Joe is one such talent, tasked with closely following and protecting Severa or the Wardrick couples when necessary.

People typically don’t have much guard against a maid who, compared to cleaning rooms, looks more like a noble family’s little pet. Her face and figure are her best disguise.

Yet as long as one exposes their back to her, in narrow confined spaces, she can unleash formidable and terrifying combat abilities.

Most times, she’s the head maid in the family and genuinely undertakes maid duties.

Having her keep an eye on those two little ones, the butler could already imagine what nefarious acts Lynch might be planning, even just showing an expression before being punched away by Mary Joe.

He chuckled privately while conveying the master’s orders to Mary Joe, who willingly agreed. Protecting the young lady’s chastity is everyone’s responsibility and duty in this manor!

Speaking of which, it’s somewhat amusing how a lot of things never appear to the public in their true form.

For instance, in most people’s eyes, life in high society should be decadent, rotten, and filled with stench.

After all, newspapers and TV always have similar news, like someone organizing an unrestrained event, with familiar or surname-familiar men and women exhibiting ugly, frightened looks before cameras.

Or occasionally some shocking scandals erupt in the fashion world, entertainment circle, or even the political arena, constantly shattering people’s worldview, reminding them that it’s not a conservative era.

With the various movements by feminist organizations, where they flaunt their bodies, declaring women should have equal dominant status and power in gender relations, many things are spiraling out of control.

Perhaps influenced by these trends, the middle and lower classes of Federation Society view chastity quite casually.

Some girls at sixteen might receive Mr. Angle or a living male as a birthday gift, or even some girls might feel inferior for lacking any intimate experience before college!

Such a frightening... situation, where girls feel inferior for retaining their chaste bodies!

Yet in contrast, those truly prominent families in high society still emphasize the importance of chastity to those Heirs. Though sometimes they are critiqued by young ones as rigid or old-fashioned, at least some listen.

As for those family members who still do as they please... their indulgence is merely a family strategy, a necessity.

Many among them are not qualified heirs, possibly only obtaining less than one percent of family shares from the family, lacking any right to family meetings or the family business board.

Each year their meager shares provide substantial money, enjoying the noble status their surname confers, they neither need nor can exert effort, at least not to make actual family heirs consider them challengers.

So why not indulge?

Their lives are fixed, so indulge!

These people create an illusion that the new generation of the ruling class has rotted, a pleasure-seeking ruling class family won’t provoke social opposition.

Even if people resent some of their actions, they’ll think, just wait, just wait!

Looking at their offspring, who apart from debauchery and troublemaking know nothing else, this family will inevitably decay, just wait, they’ll ruin themselves.

Very interesting!

Mary Joe knocked on Severa’s room door, holding a tray with a silver pot and two silver cups inlaid with gold edges.

After cosmetics began saturating every corner of society, some pure silver vessels required changes, particularly parts touching the human body couldn’t be silver anymore.

Some cosmetics have special ingredients causing silver to blacken quickly, so more stable gold replaced areas directly contacting the body.

"Miss, I brought tea..."

"Come in!"

In the room’s living area, the two young people were sitting together. To the girl, Mary Joe seemed like part of the house.

Saying this may be a bit rude, but that’s her feeling toward Mary Joe. Of course, a more pleasant way of putting it is treating her as part of the family.

Mary Joe saw the two young ones sitting together, subtly relieved, walked nonchalantly to their side, and placed the tray on the coffee table.

She poured them some flower tea, then stood aside.

The girl looked at her, and she looked at her feet. After a while, the girl said, "You can leave, Mary Joe, we’re going to discuss some writing topics."

Mary Joe didn’t respond, as if she hadn’t heard. The girl felt a bit ashamed, possibly because her words hadn’t worked, especially with Lynch sitting beside her, making her words seem ineffective and face-losing.

As she began feeling displeased, Lynch placed a hand on Severa, "Let her stay here, I assume it’s your father who sent her."

The girl furrowed her brows but didn’t insist on Mary Joe leaving, instead looking at Lynch, asking a question, "What is she here for?"