Blackstone Code-Chapter 282:

Lynch sat at the table in a relaxed posture, watching the president of the Workers' Union give a long-winded introduction. The speech was essentially the same old plea about how society would collapse if they didn't take action for the workers. In short, it was dull—no matter how many times people heard this message, it rarely resonated any deeper.

When the president finally got to the point, he said, "We reached out to the city hall, and Mayor Langdon and Mr. Ferrall mentioned that perhaps you could provide us with some assistance. I hope you don't mind me asking, but is the help they mentioned the kind I'm thinking of?"

Lynch nodded and pulled out a cigarette, glancing over for approval. The president gave a confirming nod, and Lynch lit up.

The clear, metallic sound of the lighter's cap closing resonated in the room, lingering as Lynch took a deep drag. He sat back, one leg crossed, with his cigarette hand resting on the table's edge, slightly turned away.

This posture, for such a formal negotiation, could come across as somewhat disrespectful, but he did it anyway.

Did he not have such knowledge?

No, he knew; he was merely testing the waters.

People without experience in negotiations might not understand. Unlike simple haggling over prices on the street, real negotiation is far from straightforward. It's almost like a war, testing not only mental acuity but stamina and even endurance.

In some famous accounts, some negotiation sessions lasted over twenty hours, while entire negotiations stretched over weeks or even months.

In such talks, probing the other party's limits, flexibility, and expectations becomes critical. It's not limited to just verbal exchanges; non-verbal cues play a big role too.

Take Lynch's current posture. If the Workers' Union's stance were rigid, they might respond by hinting, "Mr. Lynch doesn't seem fully prepared for this meeting; perhaps we should reconvene another time," testing him in return.

But there was none of that. The president merely raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Scientists say smoking isn't good for you," he quipped.

One sentence, a subtle tone, and Lynch had already gained valuable information—the Workers' Union's stance was not firm; their demands could be negotiated down.

Lynch nodded slightly. "Thank you for the advice. Now, let's get down to business."

As he looked at his cigarette, someone promptly provided an ashtray. Lynch thanked them, flicked the ash, and continued, "What I'm offering isn't jobs, it's contracts. Do you need me to explain?"

The tone was mildly provocative. The union's leaders exchanged puzzled glances, seemingly unsure of what Lynch meant. The president, naturally smiling, nodded, "If you don't mind elaborating, we'd like to understand this better."

"I don't intend to hire any workers," Lynch explained. "You know that federal laws now protect workers to an almost excessive degree, which has created a lot of issues."

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"As I understand, many factories have union representatives who hardly work at all—they just sit in the office, reading, watching TV, playing cards, or napping."

This was a common occurrence, although the president saw it differently. "Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Lynch, but I think you might have misunderstood our operations.

"In each factory's union branch, we have routine tasks. These representatives work daily to maintain production order, address conflicts between workers, and resolve disputes between workers and employers."

"All businesses with union branches operate more efficiently than they did before," he asserted.

Lynch responded bluntly, "And they also face more problems and higher expenses."

His interjection created a slight tension in the room. It was hard to deny that Lynch had a point. Factories with union branches often had to allocate time every week for worker activities, always during weekdays to avoid infringing on workers' weekends.

These workers naturally enjoyed this half-day break while still receiving wages for it. This wasn't considered absenteeism.

Besides, union branches often pushed workers to confront employers for more benefits, a phenomenon that was more common in the prosperous years when "time is money" was a highly emphasized concept. To keep operations running, business owners would offer additional benefits to maintain worker motivation.

Thus, the Workers' Union didn't have a great reputation among business owners, despite how positively the president tried to portray it. This was especially true from the capitalists' perspective.

Lynch wasn't a capitalist, but as a businessman, he saw things similarly.

The two men held each other's gaze briefly before the president smiled in a way that implied Lynch didn't fully understand. Moving on, he said, "Let's discuss those contracts."

Lynch nodded, flicking his cigarette ash. "I need people to produce clothing, blankets, shoes, and similar items for men, women, and children."

After hearing this, the union president nodded slightly. This was a big order, and the reason was simple: for a garment factory nowadays, producing just thirty or fifty pieces wasn't even enough to warrant starting up production. Lynch wasn't some clueless young person; he surely understood this as well.

Thousands of items, however, would be different. A single item may seem insignificant, but collectively, it amounted to a substantial order.

The president began considering which factory might receive this order, naturally prioritizing ones that would benefit the union. The Workers' Union, while promoting worker rights, often served capitalists by helping to keep worker grievances under control.

In exchange, the capitalists would support the union with contributions—maybe in the form of a check.

Whoever paid the most or had better connections with the union would receive this order.

But the president had overlooked one thing—it wasn't going to be that simple.

True to form, Lynch continued, "But this time, I plan to bypass the factory stage altogether. I want to let the workers generate their own income directly, allowing them to become the primary beneficiaries."

The president blinked in surprise. "Without factories, how can you ensure consistent production? Also, I'm not aware of any existing legal structure for such an employment method…"

Lynch raised a finger, subtly cutting him off. "Not employment. I must remind you, Mr. President, this is a partnership."

"I'm sure Sabin City has many skilled workers in sewing and crafts who are unemployed…" The president nodded, and Lynch continued, "If I give these orders to a factory, they'll hire these workers, adding an extra layer—the factory itself.

"This would require me to set aside additional profit margins just to make the factory start production, which is something I'm unwilling to bear. We all know starting production nowadays is very different; it means a loss."

"So, why not eliminate that layer and let me work directly with the workers?" Lynch extinguished his cigarette and sipped his coffee, letting the smoke and the coffee's aroma blend in a way that many women disliked but men found oddly appealing.

"Workers can set up small family-based workshops. I'll provide them with orders, and the more they produce, the more they'll earn. If they don't wish to work, I incur no additional costs."

"More work, more pay, Mr. President. I'll base payment on the number of items they produce that meet quality standards. Without the factory's cut, the workers can earn more, and I can save on costs. That's my proposal."

He shifted his position, studying the people across from him.

The union representatives whispered to each other, clearly puzzled. Some even seemed unsure of what Lynch was proposing, but they instinctively sensed something was off.

Without factories, the union couldn't intervene. Without their involvement, they couldn't showcase the union's role or its value to workers and capitalists alike, a concept directly opposed to the union's mission.

Knowing they wouldn't reach a conclusion now, the president said, "We've never encountered something like this. We'll need time to discuss it before we can provide you with an answer. But before we conclude, may I ask one question that's been on my mind?"Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link

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