Chapter 393: The Lecture Invitation and Expansion
“A lecture?”
Katherine was surprised as she looked at the university’s vice president. Just monts ago, she had been called into his office alone, where he brought up the matter.
The president of Kurland State University gave off an imposing air. His neatly grood gray hair was so precisely styled that even a magnifying glass wouldn’t find a single strand out of place. He frequently appeared in administrative etings and official events, and always seed unapproachable.
This was quite unlike the university’s chancellor, who was a smiling, amiable old man, friendly and easy to talk to.
The two were total opposites. Students generally wished the chancellor would pay more attention to their academic life rather than leaving it all to the vice president.
Unfortunately, the chancellor didn’t involve himself in internal affairs, leaving those duties to the vice president, who held a unique place in the student body as a result.
But at that mont, the vice president had none of his usual sternness. It was the first ti Katherine had seen him smile, and he looked like a kind elderly man. She couldn’t imagine how he managed to keep a straight face every day.
“Yes, Katherine,” he said. “I heard you’re Mr. Lynch’s girlfriend…”
Kurland State University, unlike so high schools, didn’t prohibit or restrict romantic relationships. In fact, many high schools had stopped doing so.
In a country where people could marry at sixteen, weren’t legal adults until twenty, but could have children at eighteen and prided itself on freedom, ddling in personal relationships was considered rude.
Schools advised students not to get involved romantically, to use protection, and to avoid having children while studying—but that was the extent of it. They wouldn’t interfere.
Kurland was the sa. They didn’t support it, nor did they oppose it. Students at this level usually ca from families with ans, so warnings ant for average households had little relevance here.
Lynch had visited a few tis. The last ti, he had been seen with Katherine and so classmates, which sparked rumors about their relationship. At first, Katherine tried to explain, but the more she did, the more questions she got.
Like—if they weren’t together, why would he visit her?
Everyone knew the idea that exes could stay friends was wishful thinking. More often, they ended up as enemies. So, Katherine eventually gave up trying to explain.
Now, faced with the vice president’s question, she reluctantly clarified, “We’re exes. We’ve broken up.”
The vice president nodded. “Yes, I understand. But that doesn’t matter. Could you invite Mr. Lynch to give a public lecture at our university?”
He added, “We can offer him an honorarium—standard professor rates—and even award him an honorary professorship. I’m sure this would be a unique honor for Mr. Lynch.”
The Federation hadn’t completed its educational reforms yet. Even public universities were still far out of reach for ordinary people.
At this ti, the easiest way to asure an academic expert’s credibility was to see if they had their own project at a university or were a teaching professor. The forr indicated a solid foundation—no university would fund soone incapable. The latter ant they were competent enough to at least introduce students to a field.
An honorary title for Lynch, no matter the field, would signify academic recognition. While such honors ant little to major capitalists, they might be attractive to soone still in the process of building influence—like Lynch.
Katherine looked hesitant. “I don’t know if he’d be interested.”
“You could at least ask him. This isn’t just my idea; the chancellor is also very eager to have Lynch visit,” the vice president said, appealing to Katherine with the weight of the more beloved chancellor’s opinion. Then, he brought up another matter.
“You’re still working on the miniaturization of radio equipnt, right?”
Katherine had been admitted to Kurland without needing to take the entrance exam, thanks to a strong recomndation from her high school and Lynch’s generous donation that funded a research project—one that required her inclusion.
This allowed her to join the university without any trouble and be selected as a freshman to join the project team, making her sothing of a legend among students. The administration, however, knew the real reason: the funding.
Although she couldn’t contribute much to the technical side and was often just observing, her involvent still boosted her profile.
When Katherine nodded in confirmation, the vice president smiled even more. “I’ll speak with the project advisor. From now on, you’ll be listed as a co-author on the papers we publish.”
Katherine was taken aback. The team had over ten mbers, but when results were published, only three to five nas would appear as authors. This promise was a major step forward, effectively opening the door to the academic world.
It would beco valuable capital for her future—whether advancing in academia or entering the job market, these credentials carried weight.
But Katherine quickly regained her composure. “Convincing
doesn’t an anything. I can’t influence Lynch’s decisions. But I’ll pass on your request.”
Lynch wasn’t soone easily swayed—by anyone, including himself. Katherine wisely offered no guarantees or predictions. She truly didn’t know if he would accept.
The vice president nodded. “Just passing the ssage is enough.”
Lynch’s recent public comntary had resonated with mainstream Federation opinions. Combined with the recent naval victory, his theories were increasingly seen as feasible.
Even the governnt had set up an office to research Lynch’s proposals. In broader society, his ideas—like trade wars and financial warfare—were hot topics in salons and forums.
If the university could bring him in for a lecture and have the dia cover it, they could raise the school’s profile—or even gain access to larger research projects, more funding, and private donations.
To achieve this, they only needed to ask Katherine.
If they did nothing, they gained nothing.
But if they tried, they might just secure a bright future. The vice president was taking a risk.
That evening, Katherine called Lynch and explained the situation. “…I don’t know what you’ll decide, but please don’t let
be a factor. Whether you co or not should depend on what the university is offering and whether it’s worthwhile for you.”
Lynch didn’t hesitate for long. He agreed.
Even if Katherine hadn’t brought it up, Lynch was planning to return soon anyway—to recruit more veterans through Ferrell’s father-in-law.
Blackstone Security currently had about a hundred personnel. While that might sound like a lot, in reality, it wasn’t nearly enough to carry out even a small-scale military operation. Lynch also intended to contract security responsibilities in parts of the Allia region, which was a crucial component in maintaining peace between the Federation and Gephra.
The Federation would help stabilize the Allia region, but in return, starting from that day, Gephran warships were no longer allowed to cross the Erperil Strait without the Federation’s permission. Otherwise, they risked being treated as pirates and eliminated.
In so ways, this was humiliating for Gephra. Yet at the sa ti, they were pleased. Soone else was solving a problem they couldn’t manage on their own, and they didn’t have to shoulder any of the bla. The contractors were from the Federation.
If the people of Allia had complaints, they would direct their anger at the contractors, not at the Gephrans.
With the Federation playing the villain and the Gephran governor maintaining a kindly image, the Gephran emperor and his ministers believed that as long as the Federation truly put in the effort, the situation would be resolved quickly.
As long as Gephra’s interests in Allia weren’t hard, any current losses or humiliations could be repaid tenfold or a hundredfold in the future.
But all of this hinged on one condition: Allia had to remain stable.
To that end, Lynch planned to increase Blackstone Security’s personnel from around one hundred to at least five hundred. He also reached a certain agreent with the Ministry of Defense.
If he staffed the company exclusively with veterans, the Ministry would ease certain oversight requirents.
The reasoning was simple. The Ministry trusted that these veterans would be more loyal to the nation than to any individual—especially since the governnt would also place a few undercover agents to reinforce that sense of duty and patriotism.
Ordinary employees were required to undergo at least one psychological evaluation and various tests each year. Even setting aside the cost, the ti and effort alone were burdenso. But if all field personnel were veterans, such requirents could be waived.
In truth, Lynch didn’t care who he hired. What mattered was what he could offer them, and what they could offer him in return. That was the key.
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