CHAPTER 417: 0415 IF THIS IS WRITING

The atmosphere at today’s small party was quite pleasant. Mr. Wardrick even invited a popular female singer to perform live, along with a band, making the atmosphere quite nice.

"I heard you want to join the Saint Harmony Association."

After some time into the party, Mr. Wardrick found Lynch alone and brought up some of Lynch’s previous thoughts.

The Federation is ruled by the Saint Harmony Association!

The Saint Harmony Association rules the entire world!

It takes an amazingly ignorant person to believe such lies are true, yet most people in the Federation believe it’s real; whether it be the Federation Government or the leaders of countries around the world, they are either members of the Saint Harmony Association or controlled by it.

Even more astonishing is that as the behind-the-scenes ruler of the world, the Saint Harmony Association has never denied this rumor; they tacitly approve of it, further boosting the Association’s notoriety.

A distinct secret society, an open secret society, one that everyone wants to join!

Lynch also wants to join. Most members of the upper echelons of Federation society are part of the Saint Harmony Association. Although lacking this identity doesn’t prevent one from entering the top social strata, having such an identity certainly makes it easier.

He considered finding a way to enter the Federation’s institutions of the Saint Harmony Association as a student this year, but evidently, he’s too busy to commit and can only consider being affiliated nominally.

Fortunately, here in the Bail Federal, as long as you have money, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.

Mr. Wardrick must have heard this news from somewhere, and his mentioning it now clearly serves a purpose.

Lynch nodded, "This identity is very important to me."

Mr. Wardrick nodded slightly, "I can give you a recommendation letter, you know...," he pressed his thumb just below his collar, subtly highlighting the third-level badge of the Saint Harmony Association on his collar, "With my recommendation, no one will make things difficult for you."

Even within the Saint Harmony Association, Mr. Wardrick is a significant figure, yet Lynch pondered his motives for doing this.

At his level, every move and word likely holds a deeper meaning beyond the surface actions.

Lynch’s scrutinizing gaze made Mr. Wardrick chuckle silently. He raised his glass slightly, and after clinking glasses with Lynch, he took a sip and continued, "Do you always treat the world this way?"

"Even when it’s just goodwill?"

Lynch took a sip of his drink as well, "Every action has its demands and purposes, especially from the renowned Mr. Wardrick. It’s impossible not to think of anything."

This cannot be considered as flattery, but it does contain an element of it. Mr. Wardrick smiled reservedly, "This is an investment, Lynch. Your future developments are bound to be astonishing, so I’m investing a small but significant amount in your future now, which is our favorite thing to do, right?"

"You’ve said it in a way that makes me much more comfortable. I accept your investment, sir!"

The two clinked glasses again to finalize the "transaction." In fact, Lynch was well aware that with this recommendation letter, when he becomes a member of the Saint Harmony Association, he will be labeled as part of the Wardrick faction.

This also means that even before entering the Saint Harmony Association, he already shares the same enemies as Mr. Wardrick, which seems like a loss.

However, everything is relative. With the bad comes the good as well.

Upon joining the Saint Harmony Association, Lynch will face some rivals, but he will also gain many friends.

Those who can befriend Mr. Wardrick are not obscure nobodies; there are losses and gains.

Moreover, even if Lynch doesn’t accept his offer and continues his struggle from scratch, he will still face various challenges and have to choose sides.

Factions within the academy, political stances, fields of involvement...

It might be better to join a faction that poses less danger but offers greater benefits.

"Before you leave, my butler will give you the recommendation letter, so I’ll first...," he glanced at the other guests, "...excuse myself. I have to attend to them as well!"

As soon as Mr. Wardrick left, others who had been watching came over proactively, "Mr. Lynch..."

This is a magical experience. Lynch is less than two months away from his twenty-second birthday, yet he’s already become "Mr. Lynch" in the mouths of these acknowledged successful people, which might be some enjoyment above material wealth, status, power, and influence.

"Hello...," Lynch’s spring-like smile unconsciously mirrored on the face of the middle-aged man in front of him.

...

In the room, Severa lay bored on the bed, flipping through some fashion magazines. She’s recently considering writing another book, naturally out of boredom.

No one could understand her anguish; from the moment she was born, even if she were a good-for-nothing, she’d be a good-for-nothing that 99% of the world would have to look up to.

No matter what she does, or doesn’t do, the inheritance she is destined to receive in the future is expanding at a frightening speed.

The impact of the financial crisis and economic tsunami merely slowed down the speed of this expansion a little, so she feels bored.

Yet she can’t relate to her peers, those kids from families with similar backgrounds.

Those who are truly useless think only about how to spend money, coming up with ever-changing ways to spend, decadent and degenerate.

Another group spends their days discussing business and politics, along with various other matters, but they are too serious.

She needs to find something for herself; perhaps becoming a benchmark for women in the new era is a good idea.

She wants to prove to everyone in the world her excellence, demonstrate that even without her family background, she can still become a prominent and outstanding woman of the new era.

Writing books, running her own fashion brand — this has been her main work; she’s consistently received letters from book fans, and lately, these letters have increased.

Actually, around this time every year, these letters increase because some young high school girls are about to enter university. Before university, they need to prepare some things, like the long-bestselling book "How to Quickly Integrate into the University Social Circle."

This book is listed in multiple category guidance read lists in many bookstores, including "Ten Must-Read Books for College Freshmen."

A new round of popularity begins, accompanied by letters from readers, inspiring her to write another book, possibly related to her fashion brand.

This could form a good complementary interaction, using her identity as a bestselling author to divert people’s attention to her fashion brand and establish a unique temperament, perhaps a brand suitable for young intellectual women.

The beginning is always the hardest part. She flipped through fashion magazines while contemplating the book’s introduction — "An ordinary girl with an ordinary dream," she felt this phrase could describe her inner feelings when creating this brand.

Just as she was considering how to use elegant diction to depict the arduous journey of an ordinary girl chasing an ordinary dream, some noises downstairs interrupted her thoughts.

She frowned slightly; she knew there would be a small party at home tonight. A slight, insignificant noise is difficult to bridge thought interruptions; she punched her velvet pillow outlined in gold threads and got out of bed.

She decided to go have a look and get herself a drink as well.

Severa was already an adult, and Mr. Wardrick didn’t prohibit her from drinking, but the drinking must take place at home.

The outside world was dangerous; countless people were planning to impregnate his daughter to infiltrate this family, so he was strict in this regard, which might be why Severa found it difficult to connect with peers and people alike.

She disliked those dull circles, and her father wouldn’t let her like the lively circles; of course, she herself indeed didn’t like chaotic lives either.

After all, she was a refined, independent, resilient young girl.

Walking into the side hall on the first floor, she stealthily poured herself a glass of wine, turned around to prepare to taste it quietly in a corner when her eyes suddenly lit up.

A gentleman talking with Lynch glanced at Severa standing not far away gazing at them, thought seriously for a moment, and then politely suggested that they could wrap up their conversation.

Being stared at doesn’t feel too good, especially when it’s the boss’s daughter.

Once the man left, Severa actively approached, "Why are you here?"

She asked naturally, having found through several encounters with Lynch that he was different from everyone else — he was a maverick!

He had the calmness of Mr. Wardrick, and could, like that man, give girls a sense of security, that fleeting glimpse in the study one afternoon, the tiny particles suspended in the air ignited by the sunlight enveloped him.

Confidently and composedly chatting with Mr. Wardrick, the man she had admired for over twenty years, who had shown unprecedented focus and seriousness.

Lynch wasn’t like those who enjoyed rowdy antics, making unabashed noise all the time making people uncomfortable, nor was he dull; he could joke, tell stories, making interactions neither noisy nor boring, always feeling joyful.

A fascinating person, not much missed when not seeing him, but upon meeting, can’t resist wanting to walk over, chat with him.

Seeing the girl’s somewhat delighted gaze, Lynch was slightly surprised, "I just passed by, happened to be hungry..." he pointed to the plates by the dining table, "So I came in for a bite; you won’t report me, right?"

"I don’t have an invitation!"

The girl smiled with closed lips, "You’re lying!"

She didn’t give Lynch much chance to speak, asking a question, "Can you write books?"

Lynch hesitated slightly, "If by writing books you mean putting down lies to deceive people, then yes, I can."

The girl directly ignored all his preceding words, "Great, I happen to have some things to discuss with you!"