NOVPUBThe weather in Nagalier warmed earlier than in other places. By early April, the temperature had already climbed to around twenty-seven or twenty-eight degrees Celsius.
On the docks, a group of local officials dressed in expensive attire sweated profusely as they paced back and forth. They kept glancing at their luxurious watches, then looked up at the distant horizon.
Finally, as a cruise ship slowly approached, their faces relaxed into smiles.
Arthur stood among the crowd. These people had all gathered specifically to welcome Lynch. In recent days, Arthur had spread word about Lynch's intention to invest in Nagalier and emphasized his immense wealth. Even one of Lynch's companies was valued at tens of millions of Baylor Federation Thor—equivalent to over two billion galiars according to the official exchange rate. This was an astonishing fortune by any measure.
Whether it was the Provincial Governor or the High Priest, everyone urged Arthur to do his best to persuade Lynch to invest locally. They promised to offer Lynch the highest level of treatment and policies that went beyond normal limits.
Privately, through intermediaries, the Provincial Governor even hinted to Arthur that if he could successfully convince Lynch to invest, the governor would consider awarding Arthur the Medal of Honor of Nagalier.
In Nagalier's history, such honors were reserved only for nobles. The Medal of Honor symbolized the transition from commoner to noble—a necessary step in achieving elevated status.
"Is that Mr. Lynch?" one local official asked, watching Lynch approach from afar. Unable to hide his delight, he praised, "He's so young and incredibly talented! I've never seen such an outstanding young man in Nagalier!"
Flattery arrived before the person did. The officials of Nagalier weren't entirely incompetent; at least, they excelled at flattery. Due to the influence of religion, people often sang hymns during religious festivals to praise the gods. This cultural practice gave most individuals an innate ability to flatter—natural, smooth, enthusiastic, and unrestrained!
Did it matter that Lynch might be too far away to hear?
No, because these words were meant for Arthur's ears. They wanted to convey their attitude toward Lynch to this crucial intermediary, hoping Arthur would favor them when persuading Lynch to invest—and to invest more.
At the signal of this official, nearby police officers adjusted their wide-brimmed caps, their badges gleaming under the sunlight.
The crowd on the dock paused, their faces tightening with nervousness. Children laughed and darted around, treating the scene like a game.
The police began clearing the area, swinging their batons to drive away slower-moving locals, creating a wide path for Lynch.
Watching the ordinary people endure beatings without daring to curse, being driven off and chased away, Lynch's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
Many nations cared deeply about appearances. Even if they were truly dictatorships, corrupt regimes, or ugly states, they still tried to project an image to the international community: "We respect life and equality."
These countries were overly concerned with global public opinion and their international image, especially their leaders, who obsessed over personal reputation. To deceive the world, they fabricated impossible illusions and unattainable dreams to mislead their citizens.
What they presented could never become reality; their dreams remained mere fantasies.
But Nagalier was different. It was brutally direct, openly displaying its savagery and abuse of power. And this very environment provided fertile ground for Lynch's ambitions.
When Lynch and his group approached, they stopped about ten meters away from the local officials. He halted, removing his sunglasses.
His handsome face, slightly raised, basked in the sunlight, a golden glow making him resemble a divine figure from myth. Some people willingly endured a few blows from the batons just to catch a closer glimpse of this man, lamenting the unfairness of fate. (This paragraph costs five bucks; Mr. Lynch has paid. Delete after final draft.)
After a brief moment of distraction, Arthur stepped forward. As he neared Lynch, Lynch extended his hand.
To others, Arthur appeared eager and slightly bent over as he approached. Only when Lynch offered his hand did Arthur humbly extend both hands to shake Lynch's.
"You've finally arrived!" Arthur's single sentence conveyed layers of meaning: urgency stemming from dissatisfaction with current events, eagerness for Lynch's arrival, and confusion while seeking truth amidst uncertainty…
Lynch smiled faintly. "Some matters delayed me, but fortunately, nothing troublesome…" His gaze shifted to the officials behind Arthur.
These officials also moved closer, maintaining humble postures—all except one man at the end.
Arthur began introducing them to Lynch. Nagalier's government structure was simple and crude—not because they were backward. Even the most primitive political systems tended to develop frameworks over time. Nagalier's issue lay in the overlap between theocracy and secular authority. As both sides vied for power, certain functions naturally shifted to the realm of theocracy.
After meeting the heads of key departments in the city, Arthur introduced the mayor, Mishahaya.
In the native language of Nagalier, this name meant "diligent." However, the slightly plump male mayor showed no signs of diligence. With dark skin and a portly figure, he wore a distinctive hat adorned with colorful gemstones along its brim.
He belonged to Nagalier's true ruling class—one of many descendants in a powerful family. Yet, even this position earned him the opportunity to become mayor of a city.
His short, stubby fingers and pudgy palm made the handshake less than comfortable. Still, his demeanor was enthusiastic. "Mr. Lynch, ever since Arthur told me you'd come to invest here, I've prayed day and night for time to pass faster. We are not a developed nation, so we hope you can help us achieve mutual development and prosperity…"
It was an official response, filled with platitudes. But Lynch listened attentively, seemingly taking it seriously.
Once Mishahaya finished his speech, he suggested that Lynch rest first. A banquet would be held in the evening to celebrate his safe arrival in Nagalier.
Lynch didn't object. He needed the locals to get acquainted with him first.
On the bus heading to the hotel, a local official—who had earlier introduced himself as the police chief—spoke up, abruptly turning the previously relaxed atmosphere tense.
"Mr. Lynch, I must apologize to you," the police chief said, standing up and walking to Lynch. He removed his hat and bowed deeply. "To welcome you, I ordered the police to disperse the crowd. This may have caused some misunderstanding about our country and society. I beg your forgiveness and hope you understand—it was merely an accident."
Arthur suddenly shot an angry glance at Mishahaya, who stared intently at Lynch.
This wasn't part of the reception plan Arthur had seen. Neither the earlier dispersal of the crowd nor this apology had been included.
Initially, they planned a complete clearance of the area, but both Mishahaya and Arthur opposed it, deeming it overly grandiose. Instead, they settled for maintaining order.
Yet, the police still acted. Though surprised, Arthur had grown accustomed to such deviations. Over just half a month, he had transitioned from outrage to resigned acceptance—a testament to how habits could dull one's senses.
But what happened now wasn't merely an accident. They were testing something.
Behind this test lay the local rulers' assessment of Lynch's attitude. If he were morally fastidious, they might adjust their approach to retain his investments and technology.
If he showed understanding—an appreciation for local customs—they wouldn't need to change anything.
Everyone watched Lynch. Removing his glasses, he gazed at the bowing police chief, his expression contemplative yet amused.
Soon, he reached out to steady the chief's arm, helping him straighten up. "You don't need to apologize. Perhaps your actions would constitute a serious crime in my country…" At this, Mishahaya's brow furrowed slightly, while other officials maintained blank expressions, though their eyes betrayed mockery and derision.
But Lynch quickly eased their tension. "…but this is Nagalier. I respect everything about this country, including its culture and customs."
"Power and wealth are meant to be enjoyed. Our methods may differ, but I won't oppose others enjoying them simply because of those differences. In fact, it's quite fascinating. Can I enjoy similar privileges during my travels here in the future?" His smile made it hard to dislike him.
His response surprised everyone, deviating entirely from their prearranged script.
Before the police chief could formulate a reply, Mishahaya interjected smoothly. "Of course, Mr. Lynch. You are our most honored guest. Naturally, you deserve the highest level of treatment, including traffic control."Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link
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