Blackstone Code-Chapter 523: On the Brink of Bankruptcy

“I don’t know!” Vera replied to Lynch. She wasn’t sure if she should follow his advice, but her answer hinted at deeper uncertainties.
She felt confused and overwhelmed.
“Don’t think about these unpleasant things for now. If you have time, give it some thought. I won’t be in Sabin City long. How about we find somewhere to eat tonight?”
He glanced at his watch. “Maybe I can wait for you to finish work so we can talk about those numbers.”
For the next while, Vera explained just how wealthy Lynch really was and how much cash he had.
Cash, money, and wealth aren’t interchangeable terms—they each mean something different. That’s why accountants matter, because most people don’t grasp these distinctions.
During the discussion, Vera brought up a current problem the company faced: the flow of funds in the secondhand goods auctions at the Interstellar Trading Company had slowed significantly, and trading volumes were dropping sharply.
She felt it necessary to inform Lynch since this trend had been ongoing since the second half of the year.
Only cities newly holding these auctions were still bringing in decent funds; older markets like Sabin City struggled to attract buyers eager to snap up secondhand goods.
Even the capital, where Richard was based, had seen a steady decline in sales over recent months.
This wasn’t exactly abnormal—more like the market reaching saturation. Lynch had never expected this business to last forever.
The secondhand goods trade has a lifecycle. It’s a “two-edged” business. When the economy first worsens, secondhand goods become popular because people’s incomes drop but their desire to shop doesn’t fade. Auctions satisfy that need.
After a prolonged downturn, shopping desires plunge to near zero, replaced by survival instincts. Even cheap secondhand goods can’t entice buyers, and the industry hits a low.
On the flip side, during early economic recovery, people’s suppressed shopping urges resurface quickly as incomes rise. This causes a brief surge in spending.
People buy whatever feels right, even if they don’t need it, as long as they think it’s worthwhile.
This creates a temporary boom for secondhand sales before settling into a new low once the rebound spending ends.
When people have money again, they tend to avoid secondhand goods except for essentials like houses, cars, or TVs—items families must have but may not afford new.
Meanwhile, rapid technological advances make many secondhand items nearly impossible to give away.
Lynch had foreseen this early and rode the wave to earn his first real profits, using that to rapidly build his capital base.
So far, the business wasn’t hugely profitable, but it was low cost—that was the key to making money.
Hiring many employees would have meant big payroll expenses, risking heavy losses. Luckily, he only had partners, no staff.
He also invested in infrastructure: his own transport fleet and warehouses. Though it was just shifting goods from one hand to another, at least the inventory stayed under his control.
The initially slow secondhand market was starting to heat up again, a trend toward a more flexible free market for used goods.
Vera spoke at length, and in the end, Lynch realized his most profitable investment was actually his 30% stake in Fox Studios.
Several hits this year, plus the upcoming release of Lynch’s Adventures 2—based on his real-life story—would bring him nearly $800,000.
That was impressive, especially during an economic downturn, explaining why capital was shifting toward entertainment and related industries.
“So, how much do I personally have now?” Lynch asked after hearing Vera’s rundown, checking the time as it neared dinner.
Vera, adjusting her glasses and flipping through the ledger she normally kept in the vault, smiled teasingly. “I’m sorry to inform you, Mr. Lynch, you have no money in your personal account—and you owe the bank a large sum.”
This didn’t surprise Lynch. He played along, exclaiming, “Am I bankrupt? Am I really that bad off?”
Vera nodded solemnly. “Unfortunately, yes.”
They both laughed. Vera only had a rough idea of Lynch’s total wealth since he hadn’t handed over all his accounts, especially some overseas ones, to her or anyone else.
They were only talking about cash—funds instantly withdrawable from banks. Lynch was far from bankrupt. Just the bonds he held in banks were an astonishing sum. Her words were more a joke, lighthearted teasing.
“Time’s about right. If we leave early, will people gossip?” Lynch stood and offered his hand, palm down.
This gesture—offering the back of the hand—is the most gentlemanly way for a man to help a woman stand. A palm-up offer is reserved for those closer.
Back then, no women’s rights movement existed, and concepts like personal freedom or gender equality weren’t raised.
“You’re such a gentleman!” Vera didn’t hesitate, placing her hand on his to rise.
Being around Lynch was a strange experience for a woman—he was both close and subtly flirtatious, yet maintained a gentlemanly demeanor. It was a contradiction, but undeniably attractive.
Lynch smiled and withdrew his hand. “I’m not like this with everyone.”
True enough, but it still sparked certain thoughts. Vera exhaled quietly and went to the coat rack to get his jacket, hesitantly saying, “I don’t know how to refuse you.”
She looked at Lynch, who showed no displeasure or change in expression. “You know, I live alone now, and my kid’s grown up. My divorce from Gap hurt him a lot.”
“If I don’t go home at night, he might get anxious. He thinks it’s all his fault and that I might abandon him.”
Since their child was raised by Gap’s mother, a kind elderly woman who liked the child and gave the couple space, the boy sometimes felt abandoned and blamed himself for it.
This is a common issue in single-parent families, with no easy fix—only time and maturity may heal it.
“Then bring him along!” Lynch quickly said. “If he worries about this, bring him with us.”
“Can I?” Vera was unsure. “Sometimes he can be really annoying…”
Under Lynch’s gaze, she finally agreed to bring her child to dinner, which made the evening feel a bit awkward.
This wasn’t a date—obviously. No one would bring their child on a date, even if they had one.
Nor was it a typical company dinner. The upscale restaurant featured a bright red carpet, a skilled live band, and waiters dressed in red vests with black bow ties.
People around them spoke quietly. Though seated in a large hall filled with other tables and guests, the atmosphere remained undisturbed.
Only by paying close attention could one catch whispers beneath the soothing music.
Everything was carefully arranged. The music masked conversations at other tables, allowing normal speech without needing to lower voices—providing privacy.
Led by the restaurant manager, the three arrived at a prime table. Along the way, Vera’s child studied Lynch with curious eyes, seemingly wondering who this handsome man was.