After the shareholders’ eting ended, it was already past lunchti. Lynch was about to head out to grab sothing to fill his stomach when Nell appeared in front of him with Tom.
Nell finally decided to give Tom a helping hand. After all, their relationship spanned three to four decades, and it couldn’t just end over this matter. Otherwise, their feelings and ti would seem far too cheap.
Just as he stepped out of his office, Lynch retreated back, sat behind his desk, slightly tilted his head, and said, "So, what do you have to say?"
Tom seed a bit at a loss, and it was clear that sothing terrible was happening within him.
He knew Lynch—he and Nell had been good friends for decades. They were familiar with each other’s families. From Lynch’s birth until he graduated high school, Tom would visit him once or twice, or two or three tis a month, while visiting Nell.
At first, he didn’t associate the boss of the Interstellar Trade Company with Nell’s son. After all, there wasn’t just one person nad Lynch in this world, just like his na Tom—any given mont, you could find people with the sa na, and even so cats and dogs.
Besides, being part of the lower social tier, he didn’t have the channel or resources to know more deeply about the makeup of the upper echelon of society. It’s like how most people don’t know about the companies ranking in the top ten for tax contributions in their city, or who their owners are.
People don’t care about these things. Compared to these ethereal matters, they care more about how tonight’s TV dramas will play out, or about certain work-related issues.
Until this mont, he still didn’t believe that Nell’s son could accomplish such significant things. But obviously, the facts rendered his brain unable to think, and he found it hard to accept everything that was happening.
Nell, on the other hand, appeared very composed—or perhaps he was too shocked, having beco numb. Of course, there was actually a subtle change in his attitude towards Lynch. At least in the past, at ho, he wouldn’t speak to Lynch so "calmly."
At that ti, he was the head of the family, and his tone always carried a commanding air, brooking no refusal.
"Tom has run into so trouble. They stole raw materials from the factory and produced a batch of goods, most of which ended up in your hands. Our intention is to ask if you could return those items to him and see if he can free himself from this matter," Nell said, very specifically, "Only for his part. We aren’t considering anyone else."
Nell quickly and clearly stated his and Tom’s purpose, but after Lynch listened, he shook his head. "That’s not easy, no, that’s impossible!"
Watching Tom, who was starting to regain his composure, and Nell, who was puzzled, Lynch offered an explanation. "Even if you return those things now, it won’t change the current situation. Just from what you’ve said, I understand."
"No matter how much you sold the items for, it has nothing to do with your boss. Don’t concern yourself with whether he can sell them. None of that concerns you."
"Put differently, if you want to solve these problems, you have to gather that sum of money to resolve the matter. Otherwise..."
Lynch had already envisioned the outco. If these people couldn’t co up with the money, the court would enforce it, and the banks would auction off their assets, including cars, if they had any, and their houses.
This also made Lynch suddenly feel that he could do so business with the banks again. These are very high-quality resources, and more importantly, their prices will be very low.
As a consignnt auction, the bank wouldn’t care how much these things sold for. They only want to quickly end such tasks and collect a portion of the service fees. As long as the bank is satisfied, these items can be bought at scrap prices in a bundled deal.
Then, at the handover eting next week, they could be flipped for several tis the profit.
Thinking about this, Lynch was even less likely to help these people, and he wasn’t familiar with this Uncle Tom at all.
Indeed, he had mories of such a person, but it was only limited to that—there weren’t more interactions between them, except for the tis he flicked his manhood as a child.
No matter the considerations, he had no plans to assist Tom. He stood up, "I’m sorry, Uncle Tom, I can’t help with this...," he paused, "Want to have lunch together? I know a restaurant that makes good filet mignon."
Nell couldn’t help but ask, "Is there really no way?"
Lynch shook his head, "If it were just a matter of three or five thousand, or thirty or fifty thousand, I could help you, but in this case, I cannot offer more assistance to Uncle Tom."
"He can contribute his part, but the total isn’t enough, and they must still face legal judgnt and handling, so this isn’t a matter anyone can help with."
He hesitated for a mont, and this hesitation of only a few seconds was imdiately seized upon by Nell and Tom, who dared not interrupt Lynch’s thoughts, just watching him expectantly from the side.
After about half a minute, Lynch’s expression beca a bit more serious, "It’s not entirely impossible, but we can discuss it over lunch. I’ve been in etings all morning..."
Neither dared refuse Lynch, and led by Lynch, they walked to a recently reopened restaurant nearby.
During the wave of large strikes, restaurants were a severely affected area as well, although the nature of their losses was different from other stores. Restaurants suffered losses primarily due to their ingredients being mostly stolen, but it was limited to that.
These losses were not considered significant to restaurant owners, as restocking ingredients would allow them to reopen.
Seated, the three looked around the empty restaurant, where they were the only table. With the expectant eyes of the other two, Lynch revealed the only course of action.
"If you can seek your boss’s forgiveness and the judge’s sympathy, the problem will beco much simpler," Lynch casually said while unfolding his napkin, "You have to explain the cause, process, and outco, who initiated it, who organized it, who carried out what criminal acts, how you fenced the loot, who oversaw the distribution, and, Uncle Tom, your repentance."
"Our laws don’t have much tolerance for criminals, but are willing to help those who repent. If you can do this, perhaps you will only face community service as punishnt."
Lynch emphasized the core, "As long as it’s not a criminal penalty, it won’t leave a stain on your personal record and won’t be a hindrance to future job searches."
Tom’s expression was full of pain and struggle. He licked his dry lips, his voice hoarse, "Are you telling ... to betray them?"
"Betray?", Lynch raised an eyebrow, "Why would you consider it betrayal? You’re actually helping them recognize the mistakes they made, and serving as a role model to guide them to confess their cris."
"But I must tell you, the judge only sympathizes with the first person to do so!"
After saying that, he paused for a mont, "From these matters you ntioned, I can easily see everything stemd from that guy called Hick. What’s his situation now?"
Tom’s face worsened, "He was released on bail..."
Lynch made a ’just as expected’ expression, "Thinking as I do, I even suspect this might be a play orchestrated by Hick and your boss together, aid at those penalty sums."
"Over three million, enough to clear so debts and weather this financial crisis!"
Lynch’s words were like arrows piercing Tom’s heart, because there was indeed such a possibility, or Lynch was simply too persuasive.
Soon after, the dishes they’d ordered started arriving, and the topic ended there.
Tom continued considering the advice Lynch had given him, while Lynch and Nell began discussing Nell’s work.
For this al, soone enjoyed it heartily, while another, faced with their most coveted foods, didn’t even have the thought of picking up their knife and fork, simply sitting in a daze.
After lunch, Lynch returned to the company to continue dealing with matters accumulated over ti, while Nell and Tom went together to the Police Station to turn themselves in.
This was Tom’s decision made after lunch, choosing between himself and others. This choice wasn’t shaful, as ninety-nine percent of people would make such a decision.
However, this incident wouldn’t simply end so easily. In the afternoon, due to Tom turning himself in, the case had crucial breakthroughs, with the specific list and more critical information grasped by the police station.
Seeing his old friend now beco a "prisoner," Nell was full of emotion.
That day, if he hadn’t held firm to his boundaries, perhaps he would be the one behind bars now!
After comforting Tom briefly, Nell left the police station, realizing and feeling that his decades-long relationship with Tom had ended that day.
The two had walked down completely different paths, leaving the culturally unrefined Nell deeply moved.
Actually, the aftermath of the matter was more troubleso than Nell imagined. Not long after, the court bailiff found Lynch.
The bailiff told Lynch that the items he purchased were all stolen goods and needed to be temporarily seized. In response, Lynch said he needed to consult a Lawyer before responding to the court.
This was a very official and common response. Most wealthy people could afford lawyers, who would use their expertise to help these rich individuals avoid various problems.
This is the value of wealth and the way to demonstrate it.
Soon after the bailiff left, a Lawyer arrived at Lynch’s office.
"Mr. Lynch, I must inform you before we begin our discussion that even if we don’t reach any agreent, you must pay for any fees incurred during our dialogue, as well as travel and communication expenses associated with my visit. Is that clear?"
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