Blackstone Code-Chapter 566: Satisfying Passengers Is Our Core Principle

Mr. Patric, who had been preoccupied with other thoughts, quickly steered their conversation from work to more personal matters.
“Have you been in touch with Anna lately?”
It was a sudden question, but Lynch responded swiftly, not answering directly but deflecting with a more general reply. “You know, people like us are always on the move—here today, somewhere else tomorrow. We rarely get the chance to stop.”
This subtly explained his lack of contact with Anna, while also leaving room for any further unexpected questions Mr. Patric might ask.
Mr. Patric nodded. “That’s true…” He paused. “Anna keeps a close eye on any news involving you. I asked her if… well, you know, young women have unpredictable thoughts. Maybe you two would find some common ground.”
Mr. Patric saw potential in Lynch. For major capitalists, offering a son or daughter in exchange for the right successor wasn’t unheard of.
He and his family, even the entire Aginel clan, held deep convictions about the importance of family and surname. Perhaps it was their lingering aristocratic blood, or maybe a desire to be seen as true aristocrats, but their beliefs often clashed with modern thinking.
He didn’t care who inherited his estate. What mattered was that the Aginel name remained significant—a lasting banner in the Federation.
Bringing more exceptional people into the family aligned with his and the family’s vision. The family’s interests were paramount.
If Lynch were willing to marry Anna, and if even one of their children bore the Aginel surname, Mr. Patric would support Lynch in achieving most of his ambitions.
Lynch’s growing business could become a key asset and ally of the Aginel family, and with at least one child potentially inheriting a portion of his estate, it aligned perfectly with family interests.
In this regard, Mr. Patric differed entirely from Mr. Wadrick, who sought complete control. Mr. Patric pursued real, tangible interests—especially those of the family.
Now, Mr. Patric was subtly suggesting that perhaps his relationship with Lynch could deepen through Anna.
Lynch smiled. “That’s what troubles me most—excellent people tend to attract a lot of attention.”
Mr. Patric paused, slightly surprised. Lynch hadn’t given a clear answer—no yes, no no, not even a
maybe
” Just a statement that was hard to interpret, yet still relevant.
It was true—great people are often admired. Whether admiration leads to something more is another matter.
“You’re thicker-skinned than I expected. That’s good. Many young people fail because they care too much about pride. Looks like you won’t fall into that trap.”
In Eminence, it was well known which family’s child got into trouble over pride, and what the consequences were. The city—and even the Federation itself—wasn’t that big. Seventeen states, large territory, but sparse population.
When one young man challenged another with
you’re not as good as me
, the other was likely to respond competitively, unlike the older generation who would deflect with a laugh.
Many young people had lost face—and more—because of these emotional rivalries. Youthful pride was an eternal theme; even though people knew it was unwise, they still couldn’t avoid it.
Lynch scoffed, “Kid stuff.”
“You sound like someone my age. No wonder Anna says you don’t have many friends.”
Their conversation shifted slightly—less about money and power, more casual, even fun.
“But I’ve got money!” Lynch raised his glass to Mr. Patric, signaling the end of their increasingly ordinary conversation.
“Talking with you is a pleasure, Lynch. I look forward to next time!” Mr. Patric said as he left with his drink.
Lynch and Mr. Patric weren’t particularly close—they’d only spoken a few times—but the old man was interesting. Stern, serious, rarely smiling, yet surprisingly genuine.
That dry and dull but socially necessary gathering finally came to an end. It was a prelude to the shareholders’ meeting, a chance for everyone to become familiar with each other.
It would be awkward if someone stood up to speak and no one knew who they were, who they represented, or where they stood.
Notably, Mr. Wadrick didn’t attend, instead sending a trusted aide to explain that he was negotiating an important deal and would arrive by tomorrow or the day after.
As a result, the shareholders’ meeting was delayed by a day. No one objected. When asked if they agreed to wait, the top figures like Mr. Patric simply said they didn’t mind, and the others cheerfully agreed.
Back in his cabin, Lynch changed into something more casual and strolled around the cruise ship with Helen.
The ship was enormous, with multiple cinemas, two opera houses, and various entertainment facilities. It was Helen’s first time aboard, and she couldn’t help but gasp in awe at every new sight.
She couldn’t imagine that the lives of the rich could be this enjoyable. Just look at the luxurious food laid out—expensive ingredients piled high, while many people in the Federation couldn’t even afford meat.
Here, it was all free. The captain even promised that any unused ingredients would be dumped into the sea daily—guests would never be served leftovers.
So this was how the rich lived?
Life for the wealthy was truly full of joy!
“Are those the employees’ families?” Helen asked as they passed the fourth-deck open-air pool, where young, glamorous women lounged and swam.
They all had one thing in common: young, beautiful, and stunningly fit.
They didn’t seem to mind showing off their bodies, sometimes playing with young men or nestling close to older men, gentle like lambs.
Lynch glanced briefly, then looked away. “Anyone who can afford to cruise on this ship isn’t exactly poor. They’re here to enjoy themselves, so the cruise provides all kinds of entertainment.”
“There are cinemas, opera houses, sports arenas, even a live combat arena and two casinos—all to keep people happy. And… those girls are part of that too.”
Helen looked at them in surprise, skeptical. “You mean… they’re escorts?”
“High-class escorts,” Lynch corrected her as they walked past the pool. “These women all have real jobs. Some are senior employees, some teachers, or… you get the idea. They all have respectable careers.”
“If their jobs weren’t good, they couldn’t get such long vacations. They come here not just for a free luxury trip, but also to earn thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—on the side…”
High-end escort services on luxury cruises were an open secret. Whether people talked about it or not didn’t matter—everyone knew.
People often spoke of these girls with disdain, yet deep down, they were envious. That included the women who weren’t qualified to board the ship.
Since the guests were all wealthy, the escorts had to match in social standing and class. Some belonged to top agencies; others were directly connected to the cruise company.
Whenever the cruise prepared for a voyage, they contacted these women or their agencies to get them on board.
After all, the journey was long, and there were always single men hoping to create some unforgettable memories—some even boarded the ship specifically for such romantic encounters.
Naturally occurring flings were rare. The world didn’t offer that many surprises or coincidences—only monotony.
So, to meet these passengers’ expectations, the cruise company had to carefully orchestrate each encounter, including those for female passengers. Ensuring every guest’s satisfaction was part of the cruise’s service philosophy.
The cruise provided satisfying experiences, the passengers enjoyed their romantic escapades, and the girls earned unimaginable wealth without harming their reputations—everyone was happy.
After passing the open-air pool and entering the next area, staff dressed in white shirts and red vests bent down and loudly shouted, “Welcome!”
The roaring noise jolted Helen out of her thoughts. Just like that—simple and direct—the casino appeared before her.
Lynch tugged on the still-dazed Helen. “Come on, I’ll show you something fun.”