The Federation was a society built on integrity—this was how the Upper Class brainwashed the lower classes.
Just as all rulers told their subjects, "You damn well have to be kind!"
But they themselves were not necessarily kind people!
In the Federation, people often turned on one another. Friends, capitalists, and politicians frequently went back on their word and refused to take responsibility for everything they had said before.
But that did not mean going back on one's word came without a price!
Quite the opposite—the price was enormous, so everyone tried to avoid doing things that would damage their reputation.
And this kind of restraint, where the losses outweighed the gains, was regarded by the lower classes as the standard of "integrity."
Everyone kept their word, so I should keep mine too.
They simply did not know that keeping one's word meant nothing to the lower classes!
Gladstone had not agreed to Lin Qi at first precisely because he had no way to give Lin Qi a definite result.
Whether one fulfilled a promise also depended on whom one had made it to.
For example, if a capitalist promised to raise the workers' wages at the end of the year but failed to do so and instead fired them, his only major loss would be some difficulty hiring workers next time.
But if someone tried to renege on a promise made to Lin Qi, the result would not be harmless!
Gladstone was very cautious.
When they spoke again that evening, Gladstone expressed his intentions. He admitted that Catherine was an exceptionally outstanding young woman with extensive experience working among the lower classes.
After waiting another two years, when she was older and more mature in the way she handled things, he would let her shoulder greater responsibilities.
"Governor, if