Blackstone Code-Chapter 580: The Joy of Labor

Sometimes a person suddenly awakens—like suddenly understanding many things previously unclear. They begin changing their life and work habits, breaking through their old image in ways others can’t grasp, step by step reaching the peak.
We call this process a
personal awakening
.
Not only individuals awaken; social consciousness can also experience a collective awakening, which we call a
social awakening
.
During a rapid shift in awareness, what starts with a few awakened individuals spreads like a
virus
throughout society, eventually causing a qualitative change. This is what is happening now in Nagaryll.
Though the Nagaryll Youth Party is deemed illegal and its members are being arrested, the ideas, slogans, and changes they brought have already infected society.
This awakening is irreversible. If forcibly suppressed, Nagaryll would become a battlefield like the Amellia region, a conflict with no profit where locals and outsiders clash, destroying everything.
Nagaryll’s harsh wilderness gives locals an advantage in such conflicts, making it hard to fully remove them. The losers would inevitably be the Federation.
Lynch understands clearly: the Federation cannot win—unless they are willing to commit another genocide to wipe out a people.
But that contradicts the Federation’s international image and values. The Joint Development Company would never approve such measures. The only likely outcome is the Federation’s complete retreat.
While ethnic awakening cannot be stopped, it can be guided. This requires
leaders
to emerge and serve as role models during social awakening.
Just like the Federation’s past social awakening—from barbarism to civilization, from division to unity—key people and events played crucial roles.
Jardon is a good candidate. Among local youths, he might be the best—not perfect, but compared to the timid, clueless mixed-race kids, he is the clear choice.
Previous s about him, from both locals and foreigners, gave people a better understanding of him than others. People tend to accept what is familiar, and Jardon has a special emotional acceptance.
As for controlling him…
There’s no need. Just let him walk the only path ahead.
Then, as a spiritual guide and role model for Nagaryll’s youth, the awakening society can follow Lynch’s design, evolving into a form more aligned with Federation interests—more mature and profitable.
This is how capitalists change perceptions of merchants and capital. Now the same applies to Nagaryll.
At home, sitting on the open balcony and watching the crowded beach, Lynch relaxed with a sigh.
Nagaryll’s atmosphere was heating up. The temperature was at least 26 or 27 degrees; he’d even switched to short sleeves.
Strong sunlight brought many tourists this year. People now had an extra destination: Nagaryll’s long coastline and golden beaches.
They could bask in the winter sun, enjoying joys usually reserved for summer.
The beach was mostly foreigners, with only a few locals, mostly scantily dressed women.
Their presence did not cause social unrest; on the contrary, these skilled women contributed greatly to social stability.
However, some problems still needed managing—like the current
marriage boom
. Some local young women passionately pursued foreigners, forming long-term relationships. Some were now pregnant and insisted on marrying these foreigners. Similar incidents had happened at Lynch’s construction site.
Lynch did not side with the foreigners. If they couldn’t control themselves, they must choose between wealth or people. This stance earned Lynch positive local reputation.
Unlike previous foreigners who blindly supported their own, Lynch handled foreign-related matters fairly. Some people appreciated that.
For example, a short, broad-faced young man driving Lynch’s transport team—his appearance reminded people of heroic characters from films.
After the Nagaryll Youth Party was declared illegal, it was disbanded and members reintegrated into society.
They contacted each other occasionally, avoiding constant gatherings to reduce perceived threats.
Once the heat died down, the Youth Party could rebrand and reemerge.
Currently, the youth leader of the Mongu province Youth Party was driving Lynch’s transport team. He quickly learned to drive at Lynch’s technical school.
Driving wasn’t as hard as imagined. With calm and determination, it was easy to master.
His nearly forgotten name was Akumari.
He had no grand ambitions now, just diligently working as a technician, driving trucks to transport materials daily.
He didn’t need to load or unload, just waited in the cab, earning 1.8 Federation Sols per day.
Whenever loaders looked at him enviously, and he ed his number to the accountant at night to receive his pay, a joy he refused to admit welled inside.
This was foreign capitalist exploitation of locals, but he didn’t resent it. Instead, he felt a newfound joy in earning through labor.
In the past, Nagaryll had few such jobs. Most seeking work went daily to the labor market, waiting for employers.
If you thought that meant getting paid work, you’d be wrong.
The casual labor market was small. Demand was low and supply high, making competition fierce.
Disorderly job scrambling often meant no pay—only a meal or two, not real wages.
Though this was unprofitable, some accepted it. Employers simply waited, saying nothing, and workers lowered pay expectations to a meal.
What was happening now—and what Akumari was experiencing—felt fresh: work meant pay. He liked it.
He even dreamed of working for these foreigners longer. If he held on another month, he’d reach level two and earn 13.5 Federation Sols weekly; then level three, four…
He was confused. The Youth Party HQ told them these foreigners came to oppress and exploit, yet they paid daily without cutting wages. Meanwhile, local bosses never paid. Akumari didn’t understand.
After the transport ended, the trucks were parked for maintenance.
From the team leader, Akumari learned these trucks were old Federation models, phased out elsewhere. The Federation had bigger, stronger trucks, but they hadn’t been shipped here.
These trucks had worked long in the Federation, so maintenance after each run was necessary to avoid breakdowns.The hot-tempered young man was not allowed to drive because his movements were stiff and nervous, so he never became a driver.
However, he excelled in auto repair training and showed a talent for it. Now, he partnered with the short-statured Akumari, specifically responsible for inspecting the vehicle.
While lying on the ground examining a faulty driveshaft, several police suddenly appeared nearby and started approaching.
Akumari noticed too late. He wasn’t as alert as before and hadn’t done anything recently, so he didn’t immediately sense danger when he saw the police.
Only when the officers quickly approached did he realize how risky his assumption was.
He kicked a tire, and the police saw the movement and rushed over.
The hot-tempered young man was caught right as he climbed out of the car.
Struggling, he shouted, “Why are you arresting me?”