Speaking of Coluff…
Lynch thought of the pure gold variety—the top-tier pure gold came from the neighboring country, known for its complex processing techniques.
The premium tobacco leaves contained higher concentrations of various components than ordinary leaves, which made the raw product harsh and spicy if smoked without treatment.
To soften this, they briefly soaked the leaves in milk to neutralize the overly strong elements, making the smoking experience smoother.
This process led to three top-tier pure gold Coluff types:
Original—briefly soaked to neutralize, partially dried, rolled into Coluff leaves, wrapped in gold foil, and boxed.
Cream-flavored—soaked longer to absorb the milk’s aroma, then air-dried. The smoke was smoother, with a distinct creamy flavor but lost some of the sharpness typical of premium Coluff.
Flavored—after the first step, spices or fine liquors were added, then the leaves were baked a second time to infuse the scent thoroughly.
Brands like Old Serpent and Deep Crimson stood out as non-original, non-creamy flavored examples.
High-end pure gold Coluff was custom-made, and each named premium variety was unique.
The Federation consumed hundreds of millions, sometimes billions, of Coluff annually, fueling rampant tobacco smuggling.
The huge profits attracted smugglers from home and abroad. Even toxic, highly hallucinogenic mushrooms like the Ghostface Mushroom became popular underground commodities.
The border was never quiet because of these lucrative goods.
Lynch thought this was just a little-known fact until today, when it unexpectedly became relevant.
In the afternoon, a company called EveryMoment called him. At first, Lynch wasn’t sure what they did, vaguely recalling the name but not clearly.
When the caller introduced herself, he remembered Mr. Wadrick mentioning the company.
“We are one of the world’s largest Coluff producers, Mr. Lynch. You now qualify for custom gold pure Coluff. Would you like to use this service?”
The female salesperson said that due to a recommendation and Lynch’s personal influence in the Federation, he met the criteria to order a batch of custom gold pure Coluff.
Late February to early March was the new planting season. Though it seemed like three months away, time was running short.
Starting after the New Year, the best seeds were selected and seedlings nurtured. The strongest plants would be transplanted to fields in early spring for natural growth.
Strictly speaking, if no news came by late January, one shouldn’t expect to get gold pure Coluff next year.
Some special varieties were planted before the first heavy snow, but Lynch had already missed that window.
With Mr. Wadrick’s recommendation and Lynch’s recent deeds boosting his influence, he had earned entry into the Gold Club.
This elite luxury clientele wasn’t based on wealth alone; reputation, social influence, and public perception mattered.
Not needing perfection, but definitely avoiding a negative image, as it could cause trouble for the company and other high-end members.
Lynch agreed without hesitation. “What do I need to do?”
The salesperson’s tone softened. “If you confirm, we will send a specialist to serve you. When are you available?”
“Today.”
“Great, I’ll arrange for someone to visit you immediately. May I have your address?”
“…”
“Someone will be there soon, Mr. Lynch. Have a good day. Goodbye!”
Money’s power proved real—the soon was truly soon.
In less than fifteen minutes, the security booth at the community entrance called, reporting an employee from EveryMoment requesting to visit Lynch. After confirmation, the guard let her in.
Three minutes later, a knock came at the villa door.
Austin opened it—now fully replacing the sergeant’s role. She scrutinized the girl outside, then stated her identity and requested to inspect the visitor’s belongings.
A stranger arriving unannounced couldn’t meet Lynch without security checks—a stark contrast to Lynch’s own random visits, which rarely led to trouble.
But unsolicited visits always carried some risk.
After a thorough search, the EveryMoment visitor entered.
She showed no resentment toward the security check. As long as the money was right, she’d even enter naked to do business with Lynch. A routine check was trivial.
She’d faced similar treatment from other wealthy clients.
The girl was attractive, fair-skinned, tall—about 5’7” (1.73m)—with a good figure.
Most striking were her lake-blue eyes.
“Hello, Mr. Lynch. I’m the specialist from EveryMoment, Nancy.” She handed Lynch her business card and ID.
Lynch glanced at the card. “You’re not from the Federation?”
Nancy shook her head. “No, I’m not local. I’m from nearby…”
“Marilo?”
“Yes, I’m from Marilo.”
Marilo was the Federation’s northwestern neighbor. Its population mainly consisted of Marilo and Malori peoples. The Marilo formed the majority, while the Malori were a smaller, formerly ruling group.
Marilo’s ongoing chaos stemmed largely from tensions between these two ethnic groups. Ethnic and tribal conflicts had long kept Marilo unstable.
These two ethnic groups are easy to distinguish: Marilo people have silver-gray irises, while Malori people have blue irises.
In the past, blue eyes were considered more noble.
Nancy, before him, was a typical Malori.
“Your eyes are beautiful,” Lynch complimented.
He meant it sincerely—blue eyes were rare in the Federation, and hers were not light blue but deep lake blue, captivating.
“Thank you!” Nancy smiled and placed two photo albums on the table.
She casually opened one, revealing landscapes of Marilo: vast hills vibrant under the sun, radiating life and energy even through the photos.
“This is where we grow our tobacco,” she said. “Let me first introduce our work and how Coluff transforms from seed to the finished product in your cigarette box.”
Through Nancy’s detailed and vivid explanation, Lynch learned the entire cultivation and production process. He wasn’t sure how much was exaggerated, but her words were compelling.
“You already qualify for the custom service. Next, you can select a plot of land to grow your personal tobacco…” She flipped through the album, describing each area’s unique traits.
Some had longer sun exposure, producing spicier tobacco; others less, resulting in milder flavor.
Distance from water, soil composition, and altitude were all key factors influencing the tobacco’s final taste.
Expensive meant there was a reason behind it. Nancy hadn’t even mentioned the price yet, but Lynch knew it wouldn’t be cheap.
Still, he needed something to symbolize his status. Having come this far, he wouldn’t let a little money stop him.
With Nancy’s help, Lynch picked the seed variety and the tobacco field. But the process was far from over.
Nancy opened the other album, filled with pictures of beautiful women in swimsuits.
“You need to select two tobacco farmers for your field, Mr. Lynch.”
“To minimize modern contaminants, these farmers must not carry any artificial products on their bodies while tending your field…”
Lynch interrupted, “You mean they work naked?”
Nancy nodded without hesitation. A professional salesperson had to face any situation.
“Clothes and fabrics contain dyes and require detergents for washing. Without washing, they can smell.”
“It’s not that we forbid clothing, but wearing clothes risks lowering the quality of your Coluff. To ensure your Coluff is unique and the best, we minimize any contamination during growth.”
“If you’re interested, you can visit the site to see how they work.”
Lynch rubbed the second joint of his right index finger with his thumb. He hadn’t had much free time lately.
But by late spring to early summer next year, he should be free…
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