Chapter 1304: Chapter 1303: Question Marks
Lynch glanced at the button in front of him and pressed the first one.
He tapped the microphone; there was actually sound already, but he still made some meaningless noises.
Some of the slightly younger people had already started to smile.
Actually, there was nothing funny about it, but the expression, emotion, and attitude he delivered suggested a kind of "you should laugh right now" message!
"Looks like it’s working, the Lord didn’t back me up this time!" he sighed lightly, and some people had already burst into laughter.
After this simple opening, Lynch introduced himself, "I am Lynch, and many of you know me."
"While I was sitting just now, I wondered if someone would ask me to stand up and say something, like teachers do when they see students they don’t recognize in school."
"If you want to know if it’s your student, you ask a question only they would know."
People started looking at Lynch with curiosity; in fact, most young people called to speak here rarely manage as perfectly as he did.
He could use a self-deprecating humor to warm up and close the distance with others.
Self-deprecation is always the Federation’s favorite humor, because it doesn’t "hurt unrelated people" and provides amusement, which people enjoy.
The next sentence, attitude, emotion, and stance were flawless, so much that some questioned if he had agreed with the chairman in advance, with someone writing a script.
Lynch looked around; his composure made people feel he wouldn’t embarrass himself.
He made a helpless gesture common to struggling students, "I’ve stood up, but I don’t know what to say, hoping my report card doesn’t have poor marks come summer."
Another burst of light laughter ensued, and he laughed too; a smile is the best language.
A smile doesn’t require direct expression; just smiling can close the distance between any two people.
This powerful weapon is possessed by everyone, but few master it.
Fortunately, Lynch was one of them, and he was particularly skilled at smiling.
"Before coming, I imagined seeing people wielding power here."
"But once seated, I realized it wasn’t about power; it was about responsibility!"
"That’s what I want to do. I may not be great enough to save the world, but I do want to shoulder some responsibilities I can manage, which is why I’m sitting here today."
"Thank you all for giving me some time to formally get acquainted; if anyone wants to chat privately, you surely know how to reach me!"
He bowed slightly to the podium and all around to show his respect before sitting down again, and on the podium, the chairman didn’t turn on the microphone. He didn’t look at Mr. Douglas beside him but whispered, "This is the most remarkable young man I’ve seen in fifty years!"
Mr. Douglas nodded almost imperceptibly, affirming the chairman’s words; Lynch’s brilliance encompassed many aspects.
The chairman then turned on the microphone, "If your report card required grading, I’d give you perfect marks."
He chuckled in response, then pivoted the discussion back to the matters of the monthly meeting.
Like some proposals that would be submitted to Congress next month and considerations about other proposals.
Congress is crucial; some believe the Federation’s highest authority is the President, but that’s not entirely true.
At least Congress can impeach the President, but impeaching a Member of Parliament is sometimes not that easy.
So whether it’s the Conservative Party, the Progressive Party, or the often-forgotten Socialist Party, they all focus on Congressional affairs.
Lynch wasn’t completely informed on what happens in Congress, even if some proposals might relate to his business; someone would notify him.
He didn’t speak up on this and just listened quietly, realizing the Members of Parliament didn’t fully align in stance.
Everyone had their interests because Members of Parliament, particularly Senators, participate in various Congressional Committees; even among Progressive Party Members, stances on certain issues oppose each other.
Here, only issue stances are discussed, politically though, everyone is unified.
Just like the problem Landon faces now, he holds a position as a member of the Environmental Committee.
Backed by Lynch, Landon was doing well in Congress, although only a Representative.
Recently, the Federation’s pollution grew serious, requiring industrial progress, thus some proposed slightly loosening restrictions.
Their words were very tactful, suggesting opening certain special industries, allowing them to pollute or lowering their environmental assessment scores.
This suggestion came from the Industrial Development Committee, which included Progressive Party Members, creating opposition among themselves on certain issues.
The main task of the Progress Party Committee is coordination, selecting the best options.
By the time they discussed Congressional matters sufficiently, it was already past noon.
Next were some internal party personnel arrangements, such as someone transferring from one office to another, almost all were people Lynch hadn’t heard of.
He simply sat quietly, listening.
Until nearly one o’clock, the chairman suddenly mentioned the leadership issue.
"Yesterday, I visited the leader’s side; he’s now much better physically, and at least his spirits are good."
"But in the short term, he can’t return to work."
"The Doctor advised his best choice is staying in bed and going nowhere, and once recovered, he’ll only be able to take short walks..."
The leader of the Progressive Party recently had a fall at home; the weather was too cold, a thin layer of ice formed on the steps at the entrance, unnoticed, he fell.
As people age, they fear falls the most, perhaps because their bodies approach a breaking point.
They maintain balance through some force, and breaking this balance leads to big problems.
Each winter, the Federation sees thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of elderly leave this world due to falls.
The Progressive Party leader was subsequently hospitalized; fortunately, received timely treatment with an accurate treatment plan, stabilizing his condition.
But returning to work is basically impossible; his leg had fractured.
Teenagers with fractures often seem unaffected, healing after a few days.
Elderly are different, as even with nutrient-rich diets, calcium quickly depletes, leaving them relying on canes.
And canes do not fit the image of a party leader, so after discussion among senior party ranks and the leader’s consent, they decided to replace the party leader.
This situation... not frequent, but everyone encounters such things at least once in a lifetime.
The chairman faced the people present, "He expressed regret at not continuing work, yet our work must go on."
"Leading isn’t burdensome, though its nature is special, so we must quickly select suitable candidates to fill this position."
"If you have good candidates, feel free to mention them, we can consider them..."
The chairman added, "Don’t nominate me; I can’t transfer my work in the short term!"
Mr. Douglas maintained a serious expression; he felt some dissatisfaction but couldn’t show it, his face only seemed worse!
Soon, someone nominated an office head, followed by growing nominations, and Mr. Douglas was nominated too, quite coincidentally.
The chairman didn’t state his position, just listened and observed, having staff list those nominated.
If someone claimed people could yield in face of power, it certainly happened now!
Everyone held their thoughts, along with a common one—not nominating "their own people."
Everyone understands, once you become a leader, you become a mascot.
Saying leaders lack power isn’t entirely true; they hold some power.
But stating leaders have power...
Feels slightly unfair.
The Progress Party operations and arrangements are chaired by the Progress Party Committee, the Party Whip manages discipline, other tasks have specific offices, while the leader lacks specific duties.
When important meetings or occasions arise requiring his presence, he appears; other times... it’s retirement!
After hearing many nominations, the chairman asked Lynch, "Mr. Lynch, what do you think?"
Douglas discreetly glanced at Lynch, puzzled why the chairman suddenly questioned Lynch; it was his first time here, likely unfamiliar with the Progress Party’s office composition, questioning him seemed pointless.
Lynch didn’t appear reserved, "Thank you, Chairman, for seeking my opinion, though I’m not familiar with everyone’s situation."
"I shouldn’t speak more, but I do have some thoughts."
The chairman nodded slightly, "Mr. Lynch, you may speak freely here!"
After nodding respectfully, Lynch stated, "I’ll express what I imagine a leader should embody..."
"He should be well-known, but not for being stern or highly responsible..."
Mr. Douglas breathed a sigh of relief, while the chairman showed no change in emotion.
"He should resemble a lighthouse, offering direction in times of mental confusion, and guiding us clearly when life feels lost."
"He should be compassionate, kind, approachable, always maintaining a smile."
"He won’t loudly chastise but rather gently discuss life and work."
"He should also be considerate of your emotions..."
Except for one person Lynch didn’t recognize wearing a questioning look, others envisioned someone somewhat familiar...
