Blackstone Code

Chapter 142:

The exquisite glass goblet held a crimson wine, vibrant like blood yet enticingly sweet in aroma. Without bubbles, it resembled high-grade crystal, transparent and luxurious, belonging to the realm of opulence only accessible to the upper echelons of society.

Actually, for many people, whether a glass had bubbles or was pure and transparent wouldn't affect their perception of whether it was used for wine or other beverages. However, this was the biggest distinction between the upper and lower classes of society.

"I will be establishing a logistics company in the near future, which will provide approximately seventy to a hundred job positions..."

The mayor interrupted Lynch directly, "I think a hundred is more suitable."

Lynch didn't argue, merely looked at him. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "Alright, a hundred job positions. Besides that, there will be numerous opportunities available within the club, spanning various roles for athletes and personnel across affiliated organizations, totaling around two to three hundred positions. Additionally, with the warehouse district I plan to build, by the end of the year, I can provide you with at least eight hundred job positions, with more to come next year."

The mayor shook his head. Even with what Lynch mentioned, it was far from enough. He understood one thing clearly: Lynch couldn't bear the employment demands of a conglomerate alone; it was impossible, nor was it within his capabilities.

In fact, he already had a more comprehensive solution. Firstly, those businessmen who had devoured EverBright's assets could not simply take advantage without giving back. After obtaining a large number of high-quality assets at prices far below market value, essentially for free, they now needed to prove their worth to the mayor, the governor, and the entire society.

Secondly, once Listoan Group truly left, it would leave behind a substantial amount of assets and commercial vacancies; a political turncoat would not be able to retain their interests in his city. Those benefits would be divided among others, and those who acquired these benefits would naturally assume the responsibility of supporting society.

His current stance was just a way to extract the maximum potential from Lynch. Just like how capitalists exploited and squeezed businessmen, politicians sometimes did the same.

Without a bit of pressure, who knew if these businessmen were telling the truth? Moreover, wouldn't it be even better if some pleasant surprises emerged?

However, eight hundred job positions did exceed the mayor's expectations. When Lynch mentioned he could provide five hundred positions by the end of the year, he thought it might just be a figure of speech.

For five hundred job positions, the salaries alone would cost him hundreds of thousands each month, and for eight hundred job positions, the salaries would start at nearly two hundred thousand at the minimum.

According to the gross profit margin mentioned in the Trading Report, to cover these workers' wages, Lynch would have to sell goods worth over a million per month. The mayor found this somewhat implausible.

Yet, this answer also satisfied the mayor. Regardless of whether Lynch gritted his teeth to provide this answer, it could at least prove one thing: he held an important position in Lynch's mind.

As they conversed, a knock sounded on the door. Soon, led by the restaurant manager, a waiter wheeled in a dining cart, followed by a chef.

This wasn't a formal banquet where dishes were served in succession. Such a setup didn't align with the dining preferences of politicians and businessmen, who preferred discussing confidential matters in private rooms without interruptions. Continuous interruptions by servants during dining ceremonies weren't favored by these groups; they were more for those seeking to flaunt their wealth.

Most of the time, if there were no specific requests, dishes wouldn't be served one by one.

While the waiter introduced the food on the cart, they were placed on the table for the mayor and Lynch. When it was time for the main course, the chef brought the cart to a safe position about three meters away from the table to avoid splashing oil on the guests.

He lifted the silver plate cover, and instantly, a burst of flames shot up with a sizzling sound. Beneath the plate cover, there were two juicy steaks, their surface colors already undergoing some changes, but now the rate and intensity of the changes were faster and more pronounced.

These were two steaks that had already been slightly processed; now the chef was simply making them look more upscale.

With flames, sprays of spices, and the rich aroma of wine, the chef used spirits as fuel, so there wasn't a greasy smell in the room; instead, there was a hint of wine fragrance.

Finally, he placed the plate cover back on, extinguishing the flames. The entire process lasted about three minutes. Once finished, the chef stepped aside, bowing respectfully to both the mayor and Lynch at the dining table to show his respect for them.

When he lifted the cover again, there were no flames, only a mist-like substance rising, filling the room with a rich fragrance.

"Fried beef fillet..." After the chef plated the main course, the restaurant manager personally served the mayor and Lynch, and after another bow of respect from everyone, they quickly left.

The beef fillet was sourced from the far west of the world, from a special breed called Kurluk, cultivated specifically for high-end consumption. It boasted a higher proportion of finely marbled fat than regular beef, making it the ultimate choice in beef cuts. Just a small 300-gram piece of veal loin, without any cooking, could fetch a price of around 120 bucks.

With cooking, plus the cost of ambiance and service, the price now was almost 199.99 bucks per hundred gram.

At first glance, this meal seemed very expensive, but in reality, Lynch only had to pay for two main courses – the fried beef fillet and their red wine.

The other dishes were essentially side dishes to the beef fillet, with some ingredients coming from the trimmings of the two fillets. In this regard, it wasn't as expensive. Dining with the mayor in such an upscale environment, Lynch only needed to pay less than a thousand bucks. In the eyes of many, he had already gotten a great deal.

Even if the price were increased ten times, many would still vie to foot the bill for this meal if they could sit at the table too.

Once the unrelated individuals left and the door was closed, the room regained its calm.

"The beef fillet here is delicious; you'll love it."

Lynch nodded slightly. He picked up his knife and fork and cut a small piece of steak. Juices and a small amount of blood accompanied the liquefied butter, providing a remarkably tender sensation upon tasting. It wasn't as chewy as regular beef, but it didn't feel overly soft either; it was just tender enough that a gentle bite would effortlessly cut through the meat.

From the sauce on the outermost layer, to the marinade, to the flavor of the meat itself, followed by the juices, blood, beef, and minced meat all mingling together, emanating the most primal essence of beef, Lynch couldn't help raising an eyebrow. "Very delicious indeed."

The mayor smiled, feeling a simple joy at Lynch's approval. Sharing something good with a friend, and having the friend enjoy it too, was enough to make many people content.

After eating a bit, their eating pace slowed down. Lynch manipulated his knife and fork precisely, cutting the food quickly. Then he said something that caught the mayor off guard.

"In fact, I can offer more job positions. I plan to acquire some factories, but there are still two important problems to solve..." Lynch wiped a piece of beef he had cut through the sauce before putting it into his mouth, savoring the evolving flavors.

He scooped up a spoonful of country-style thick soup. Its rich flavor provided him with a more complex and layered taste experience.

The country-style soup was also delicious. Calling it country-style soup wasn't meant to belittle people from the countryside; instead, it reflected the charm and content of the dish.

Simple ingredients like white mushrooms, celery, potatoes, corn kernels, beef, and chicken, after being lightly fried, were stewed together with milk, flour, cream, and butter. Once thickened, it was baked in the oven for a while.

When served, the soup had a noticeable layer of crispy skin on the surface. Once pierced, the aroma would waft out, enough to make anyone swoon. It was said that the method of making this country-style soup originated from the rural tradition of stewing various ingredients together.

Whether this was true was hard to say, but coupled with the promotion on the menu and the story described by the waiter, most people believed it.

Running a restaurant nowadays was difficult. It required not only chefs who could prepare beautiful dishes but also storytellers who could embellish those dishes.

As Lynch enjoyed his sumptuous dinner, sitting across from him, the mayor suddenly paused with his knife and fork, frowning as he looked at Lynch, who seemed carefree and content. Suddenly, he felt a bit puzzled by this young man.

Before this, although Lynch had performed remarkably, he felt he could still somewhat guess Lynch's thoughts. But now, he felt he might have underestimated Lynch.

Everyone knew that engaging in tangible industries now meant swift death. Even major capitals were avoiding continuous investment in physical industries, focusing more on financial investments.

In such a situation, Lynch suddenly mentioned he wanted to acquire factories... It sounded a bit absurd, didn't it?

But he was a young man capable of miracles. The mayor also realized that Lynch was waiting for him regarding those two problems.

This made the delicious food in front of him suddenly less appealing. Frowning for a while, he resumed cutting the beef and casually asked, "If you have troubles, why not speak about them? Perhaps I can provide some solutions."Please vote for this novel at /series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link

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