Darkstone Code

Chapter 1238 - 1236: Making a Date to Bowl

"My husband... you know, some people have certain opinions about him continuing to serve as Chief Justice," Chris said euphemistically, though this was no longer just about "certain opinions."

If it were only "certain opinions," it wouldn’t directly shake his job and the power in his hands.

Mrs. Tracy nodded sympathetically, "Yes, I know..."

A sudden fire was blazing in Chris’s heart; she had to bow to Tracy!

Yes, if she didn’t bow, how would the hierarchy between them manifest at this moment?

She was inferior!

Before this, she never thought that one day she would ask Tracy for help as an inferior, bowing her head. She never imagined such a day would come!

The two had a good relationship; they knew each other since they were girls, when their family backgrounds were quite similar, perhaps even slightly better for Chris.

She was born into a merchant family, her parents were quite wealthy, and Tracy only had a father who was a city legislator and an uncle who rarely interacted with the family and was a priest.

In comparison, Chris’s family was quite wealthy. In the Federation, money equaled status, and she always regarded Tracy as her good friend — a friend to highlight her own status.

Perhaps Chris never consciously thought this way, but subconsciously, that’s what she did.

It’s like how many sophisticated girls would always have one or two best friends to accentuate them: not tall, round-faced, long-haired, poorly dressed, a bit ugly, with families not as good as those "main character" girls.

These accompaniments would often feel touched because those sweet and beautiful girls, with high family backgrounds and seemingly well-educated, always pursued by excellent boys, were so close to them, those "ordinary girls!"

They were good friends, and those princesses never cared about everything, always playing together, being together everywhere, but these girls never seemed to think about whether they were just a backdrop?

Was this so-called "friendship" just a cheap "accessory"?

Just like how, influenced by Gafura’s early culture, women of high society liked to walk a dog of small stature, perhaps in the eyes of those renowned girls, their ordinary best friends were another kind of "pet dog," firmly tethered by a leash called "friendship!"

When Chris was young, she liked to play with Mrs. Tracy because she felt that when they were together, her status was higher, emphasizing her position more.

Until... later, her husband became Chief Justice with her help, standing equally against Tracy’s father, although not against her Shepherd uncle.

Until that moment, she never felt inferior, but now, she does.

Inside her, a flame fueled by jealousy burned louder, igniting sparks that shatter the confidence built over decades.

"You have to... help me!" She bowed her head, "I don’t know whom to turn to. It’s like the world has abandoned me; there’s no one to help me, only you..."

Mrs. Tracy did not know whether her friend’s face was twisted and distorted at this moment.

But even if she did, she would probably pretend not to know.

She revealed a troubled expression, "Chris, I really, really want to help you..." As she spoke, she reached out to hold Chris’s hand, seemingly trying to offer some comfort.

"But I can’t do anything!"

Chris lifted her head, her face full of sorrow, "He said your victory has been decided. If you could say a few words, the Ministry of Justice would certainly consider your opinions seriously!"

This idea was suggested by Chris’s husband, and he was quite right.

If judicial work doesn’t want to paralyze, it’s best for the state government to cooperate.

However, Mrs. Tracy had her own thoughts for not reaching out, "Chris, even if I do win in the end, just taking office, it would be inconvenient to meddle in these affairs."

"It’s a matter for the Ministry of Justice. Only after a period would it be convenient for me to speak for him."

"It’s not that I’m not helping you; it’s genuinely a hands-off situation!"

Chris was silent for a moment, forcing a smile, "No, it’s okay, I wouldn’t think that way..."

In truth, Mrs. Tracy knew what Chris’s husband had done. Being friends for decades, if she could intervene, she wouldn’t sit idly by.

Chris’s husband’s method of rising was fundamentally... vulnerable to criticism, with rumors that Chris had some scandalous connections with the former Chief Justice, which prompted him to recommend Chris’s husband upon retirement.

This matter had been clarified and dismissed, as Chris was a law student, and the former Chief Justice also served as an honorary professor at the university, occasionally lecturing.

Is it not excessive to seek advice from a teacher on some questions?

After taking office, Chris’s husband wanted to work well for a period, but alas, with the outbreak of the world war, the Federation didn’t participate but had a significant impact and changes.

Chris’s parents’ business failed, and with conservatism prevailing, people preferred "steady" judges, which Chris’s husband clearly didn’t fit.

The Ministry of Justice intended to replace him under such circumstances, leaving them with no choice but to secure his position.

Each state’s laws were slightly different, for example, theft might result in imprisonment in one state, but just a fine in another.

Not just theft, many crimes were like this, even murder could have stark differences.

The harshest state imposes direct execution, but in the most lenient, one might be released in fifty or sixty years.

For many ordinary criminals, they do not have the ability to have their cases cross state lines, but criminality does not belong exclusively to one class.

Street gang members commit crimes, and upper-class elites might also do so.

Crime and the amount of knowledge, upbringing, or morality bear no significant relation; it’s merely a radical means ignoring consequences.

To gain support, someone in the Ministry of Justice introduced Chris’s husband to several jobs, where wealthy or politically influential criminals needed legal methods to lighten their sentences.

During these sentencing processes, Chris’s husband offered significant "discounts," in return for grudgingly stabilizing his position.

But now it’s the era of the Progressive Party; reform is the President’s mantra. The core personnel changes in the Federation Government have been completed; the next step is further down.

Yet it’s not chaotic; the power of someone in an important position cannot be removed at random and replaced with their own.

There must be a reason.

Chris’s husband is, quite coincidentally, in the category where there’s a reason to be removed.

Removing him provides another state supreme court justice position, inserting a Progressive Party member into legal positions in a swing state.

Do not underestimate these roles; individually they may not wield significant power, but tied together, they can unleash formidable strength!

Mrs. Tracy herself is a Progressive Party member; although in swing states, political stances aren’t emphasized heavily, however, a Progressive Party Governor protecting a Conservative Party Chief Justice...

Guess what the party committee would think?

Perhaps when she came, she foresaw such outcomes, and Chris wasn’t deeply disappointed.

What distressed her wasn’t entirely Mrs. Tracy’s refusal, but the realization of the visible gap between her and her "best friend," the most horrifying class gap!

She couldn’t stand it!

Suppressing discomfort, she chatted for a while before standing to leave.

Watching Chris bid farewell like fleeing the room, Mrs. Tracy’s face showed little emotional fluctuation.

She knew that decades of friendship with this woman had ended!

Stepping out, Chris seemed chased by something, quickening her pace, twisting her ankle on the stairs, nearly falling.

With pain, she returned to the car, looking very displeased.

This was her last meeting with Mrs. Tracy; she swore never to endure her expressions again or bow to plea anything!

Her only hope was placed on the President.

Happy moments are always fleeting; Chris returned to Bupen two days later.

She first checked on her bowling alley, seeing it bustling with business.

The President liked bowling, and Lynch remarked about hosting a yearly or biannual tournament, donating all winnings to charity and inviting the President as judge or contestant.

This greatly fueled speculators’ enthusiasm for bowling, with people needing ways to pass time and relieve stress.

Compared to the expensive, inaccessible golfing for many Middle-Class, spending a few bucks bowling was increasingly popular.

No specialized equipment required, maybe just buying a ball, most would use the alley’s balls.

Affordable enough for any class, sustainable for constant consumption, making this burgeoning industry naturally bustling.

After reviewing the accounts from this period, Chris phoned the President.

Perhaps lacking exercise for a while, the President was very keen on the bowling invitation, readily agreeing to join the meetup.