Blackstone Code-Chapter 505: Creating Something from Nothing

Lynch’s solution to Nail’s problem was simple and effective, which sparked further curiosity in Nail.
“Putting aside the current issues and positions, how should the working class solve such a predicament?”
This was no longer just a father-and-son discussion about dealing with workers but a more open and exploratory conversation.
Without hesitation, Lynch gave one answer—
labor unions
.
Over the years, labor unions have not merely been organizations to unite workers; they function more like biased but purchasable referees siding with workers. As a third party favoring the weaker side, labor unions serve as an effective and mutually beneficial solution within labor-capital relations after those relations evolve freely.
The unions balance the labor-capital relationship: when workers are clearly disadvantaged, the unions stand up for them. When capitalists find themselves pressured and trapped by workers, unions offer solutions to the capitalists.
However, labor unions have never claimed to be purely non-profit grassroots organizations; they also seek profit and have their own means of generating it.
After some time, the conversation dwindled. During this brief talk, dust quietly settled inside the closed room—on the table, on their hair, and on their clothes.
Although the doors and windows were shut with no direct contact with the outside, dust kept falling endlessly.
Soon, the discussion turned to Lynch’s purpose for coming here. “How are the current production capacity and output?”
The Federation already has mature asphalt technology, with many non-main roads paved with asphalt. Asphalt roads offer many conveniences but also drawbacks.
For example, water resistance and load-bearing capacity alone make asphalt unsuitable here. Nagaryll is a tropical coastal region surrounded by jungle and savanna inland and the vast Eastern Ocean outside. The dry season inland doesn’t affect the coast, but humidity and salty air are asphalt’s nightmare. Combined with heavy engineering vehicles, asphalt roads would quickly deteriorate and require frequent repairs.
Some side roads can use asphalt, but not the main roads.
Regarding capacity and output, Nail sighed, “It’s too slow. We have workers manually pre-treating raw materials by crushing them into suitable sizes before feeding them into machines, but it’s still too slow—the equipment is too outdated.”
Lynch nodded slightly. “New machines are already being shipped and will arrive soon. The problem is how to get them here.”
The new machines are more advanced and better designed, but also larger, making transportation harder.
This problem exists only in Nagaryll. The Federation has a mature transport system, with cargo transfer between construction vehicles and trains via overhead rails at inland freight stations, and efficient loading/unloading at ports.
Here, none of that exists. Simply unloading from ships is already a major challenge.
Fortunately, as more merchants focus on this emerging development area, overhead rails have begun construction at key ports, allowing faster loading and unloading of Federation shipments.
But even after unloading, transporting the goods inland remains problematic.
On this topic, Nail was clearly more knowledgeable and cautiously asked, “Are these machines expensive?”
“Expensive?” Lynch was curious about Nail’s focus and shook his head. “Not really. Do you have a good idea?”
Nail nodded. “We can use wood!”
He nodded again as if affirming his own idea. “Yes, wood—we often did this before!”
He enthusiastically explained methods for moving heavy equipment. He suddenly realized there were things Lynch didn’t know and felt great being consulted.
Lynch didn’t quite understand Nail’s sudden excitement but kept listening.
Actually, Nail’s idea wasn’t extraordinary. Before heavy cranes or in places where cranes couldn’t easily reach, workers would arrange wood logs together. Wood’s flexibility and ease of rolling made it suitable. Workers only needed to ensure the wood didn’t spread apart as the machinery moved.
With little effort, machinery could roll forward along this wooden “conveyor belt.”
The only drawback was that if the machine slipped off, it was almost impossible to lift it back up. Climbing slopes was also very difficult.
Compared to time loss, this method—though potentially costly—was valued by Lynch for its ability to save time.
“Try it out. You can assign some people to prepare. The ship should dock around the 10th.”
“I wanted to stay longer, but it seems…” Lynch shook his head, brushed dust off his pants, and stood up. “I’ll head back. Contact me if anything comes up. Also…”
He paused, “Don’t underestimate this dust. It can harm health, especially the lungs.”
“Try not to go outside. If you must, wear this.” He held up a filter mask. “It looks silly, but it’ll save you a lot of trouble later in life.”
Lynch walked to the door, put on the mask, waved, and left.
This visit was fruitful. If the new machines could quickly replace the old workshop-style equipment, it would undoubtedly speed up the project.
All the limitations faced in the Federation were no problem here. He could hire tens of thousands to pave roads simultaneously—something only theoretical in the Federation.
As the car passed a wealthy neighborhood, nearby unrest briefly caught Lynch’s attention, but he glanced away after a moment.
Since the wealthy districts fell into chaos, some people pretended to be relatives or even the original homeowners, moving in and causing disputes.
For example, conflicts arise when the real owner or rightful heir shows up and confronts these squatters.
Nagaryll lacks household registration systems or comprehensive social records like the Federation. Proving relationships is difficult, so third-party witness testimony is often used.
This means if one group of squatters testifies that another group are their neighbors, police accept their statements because
neighbors
are seen as impartial.
Consequently, those identified as owners or heirs gain police recognition as the rightful residents, whose testimony is then accepted in future disputes.
Unless authoritative evidence emerges—such as a statement from a real wealthy or ruling-class individual—the police rarely investigate who truly owns a house.
Even the least capable police won’t waste resources on such trivial matters daily, especially with so much else happening and nobility needing protection.
So the wealthy neighborhoods have been lively with disputes lately. Lynch only glanced briefly and turned away.
Nearby, in a courtyard Lynch had already forgotten, Jardon and his butler faced off against foreign
Auntie
and
Brother
. “This belongs to us, you despicable lowlife, and now you want to take it for yourself!”
“This is your last chance. If you don’t leave immediately and return what belongs to us, we will sue the Nagaryll government and seek international aid from the embassy!”
Mr. Simon’s son, Jardon’s brother, looked at Jardon with arrogance and contempt—the thief who had stolen everything that should have belonged to him and their mother.
They had recently uncovered Mr. Simon’s inheritance, roughly 800,000 Gael, if sold at market value.
This was an ideal estimate, but if they wanted to sell quickly, the lawyer believed they could net at least 700,000 Gael.
While investigating, someone had already offered him a deal: selling the assets for 700,000 Gael would cost 280,000 Gael in legal fees.
Including other expenses, 300,000 Gael was a reasonable figure, so he worked hard to push it.
Everyone thought this would be a straightforward process, but it wasn’t. This kid named Jardon rejected their demands and even sent people to drive them out.
Jardon didn’t behave like a timid native—especially his gaze, which was chilling.
Watching the pretentious mother and son, Jardon showed little expression. He glanced sideways at the small dog barking at him and kicked it.
The tiny dog yelped and flew away, silencing the noisy mother and son instantly.
Until… the woman screamed and lunged at the dog, “Moncy!”