The long silence made the atmosphere tense. The flamboyantly dressed ladies had also stopped chattering and stood quietly.
In Gephra, there was no feminist movent—won held a slightly lower status than n.
In a male-dominated world, when their n fell silent and appeared unenthusiastic, it was best for the won to do the sa.
The attendants in the room had also stopped moving about, and even the orchestra played more softly, seemingly affected by the heavy mood.
Everyone was digesting Lynch’s words. What filled the air between the lines?
A sharp, imposing presence.
The president of the chamber was the first to react. He began to reflect on his own behavior and realized that their attempt to embarrass Lynch had only ended in them disgracing themselves.
Lynch’s words echoed like thunder in a silent valley, lingering in their ears and making them feel ashad.
Applause broke out from one corner and gradually spread. Even if people didn’t like Lynch or the Federation, they still acknowledged his words.
If you want to compete, then do it openly. Don’t resort to disgraceful tricks that earn your opponent’s contempt.
In response to the applause, Lynch smiled modestly, nodded slightly, and bowed in gratitude.
At that mont, he was the brightest figure in the room. So of the won looked at his handso face with dazed expressions, pressing their legs together tightly.
“Mr. Lynch, you’re a very special man. Your words are truly inspiring,” the chamber president finally conceded. He now realized that continuing with petty sches would only bring further sha. He abandoned those plans on the spot.
He was also moved by Lynch’s boldness. After a long sigh, he adjusted his mindset.
“I sincerely apologize for everything you’ve encountered thus far.”
Lynch smiled in return. “I accept your apology.”
“Mr. Lynch, your words have changed the way I see you, and given a new perspective on many things. I’ll respect your stance, but I also hope you’re ntally prepared…”
The chamber president pressed his lips together, his expression turning serious. “As your opponents, we will do everything in our power to stop you. That is our way of honoring a warrior.”
Lynch nodded. “I understand. Whether in Gephra or the Federation, our goals are the sa. I will also do my utmost to pursue the interests I seek.”
It was a fitting declaration for the occasion. On the surface, it seed civil, but in truth it was a formal declaration of war.
The chamber president laughed and raised his voice slightly. “Let’s have sothing more cheerful—what about the girls?”
With his cue, the atmosphere of the banquet returned to what it should have been.
As girls danced on stage in traditional Gephra style and guests enjoyed food and wine, people chatted lightly—like a scene out of a golden age.
By early the next morning, news of the banquet had spread among the Gephra community—not just among those in Allia, but also back on the empire’s mainland.
So people just enjoy spreading gossip.
In the Federation, people say there are no secrets in Congress. In Gephra, there’s a similar saying. Within groups like the chamber of comrce, not everyone shares the sa stance, so it was inevitable that soone would leak the events from a bystander’s perspective.
Fortunately, things weren’t too bad. Although the chamber president had lost face, he managed to salvage his image sowhat. If he didn’t want to beco a cautionary tale, he would have to crush Lynch’s plans in Allia.
Whatever Lynch tried to compete for, they would follow. Using the empire’s policies and subsidies, they would destroy these ddling Federation players.
There was no avoiding this fight.
While so Gephrans mocked the rchants, they also beca curious about Lynch.
Gephra had its own tradition of heroism—legends of knights and champions passed down for generations. Lynch’s performance was dazzling. Like the hero in a knight’s tale, he launched a counterattack from a disadvantage and turned the tide.
It stirred sothing in people. The proud Gephrans began to take interest in Lynch, wanting to learn more about the first foreign noble in the empire’s history.
Since the incident happened in the Allia region, Governor Sedel naturally knew everything that had occurred at the banquet. In fact, within ten minutes of the event, he already knew what Lynch had said.
His impression of Lynch had shifted slightly. Now he saw him as a bold and troubleso man.
After all, to bring up that painful naval defeat in front of so many Gephrans took real nerve. Not only did Lynch do it—he did it openly. Whether it was courage or arrogance was hard to say.
After so brief thought, Governor Sedel moved his original schedule forward and summoned Lynch two days early. That afternoon, they t in his study.
“Governor.”
Lynch stepped into the study, gave a slight bow to show respect, then raised his head to look at the middle-aged man before him.
Or was he elderly? Perhaps around fifty. Everyone knew that with high-ranking elites, appearances could be deceiving—their looks were often much younger than their real age.
Lynch was sizing up the powerful governor. At the sa ti, Sedel was studying Lynch with unconcealed amazent in his eyes.
“You look even younger than in the papers,” Sedel finally said, more than a minute after Lynch greeted him.
Due to printing limitations, newspapers often lose color or are printed in black and white. Photos rarely capture a person’s true essence.
Given what happened the night before, Sedel had expected soone sharp and assertive.
But eting him in person, he realized Lynch was even younger than he thought.
Youth often implied inexperience. Even though Lynch dressed and carried himself maturely, his youthful face betrayed his age at a glance.
“There’s a saying in the Federation, Governor, and I’d like to share it with you.”
Sedel nodded slightly. “What is it?”
“A person’s ambition has nothing to do with age. So children can speak with incredible conviction, while so elders go their whole lives without ever saying a single bold word.”
Sedel chewed on those words for a mont. “Very wise. The person who said that must have been an extraordinary sage.”
In Gephra’s culture, such thinkers are called sages.What Lynch said was indeed a rebuttal to the governor’s comnt on his appearance, but it also carried a certain philosophy and depth.
After a mont, Governor Sedel gestured to the chair across from him. “Please have a seat, Mr. Lynch. Since you haven’t been officially ennobled, I can’t address you by a noble title. I hope you’ll forgive .”
He paused. In Gephra, failing to address a noble by their proper title was considered extrely rude.
“I didn’t et with you sooner because I’ve had a great deal of work. As you know, this region is full of anti-governnt and anti-imperial elents. I’ve been overwheld with these matters.”
“I must also thank you for your assistance. Your people move fast and strike with precision. They’ve already uncovered new leads. I’m curious—how do you train them?”
Lynch, seated and looking into the governor’s calm eyes, imdiately understood that the question wasn’t literal. It wasn’t just Sedel; the ministers back ho, even the emperor—they all knew why Lynch moved so quickly.
No, they suspected the truth: that Lynch was secretly backing the rebel groups. Otherwise, how could he locate them so quickly and strike so accurately?
But Sedel asked the question anyway. Lynch wasn’t entirely sure what he was really after.
Compared to this feigned ignorance, the rchants at last night’s banquet pretending to be clever were far more likable.
After a brief pause, Lynch replied, “Targeted training, Governor.”
“Forgive the possibly crude taphor,” he continued, “but we know that so dogs are suited for hunting—they run faster and have sharper senses.”
“Others are intelligent, capable of assisting with many tasks, like herding.”
“So are fiercely loyal, trustworthy guardians of any ho.”
“And, of course, so dogs are useless for anything except decoration.”
“Before Blackstone Security employees are placed in any position, they undergo training more rigorous and specialized than military standards. Anyone who passes that process is the best of the best—capable of handling missions few could even imagine.”
The governor nodded noncommittally, his expression unchanged. “You’ve done excellent work. When I report back to the capital, I always praise your personnel.”
“I appreciate what you’ve done here, but I must remind you, Mr. Lynch—this is the Allian Province, imperial territory.”
“I understand that you Federation people have your own way of doing things, but that’s over there, in your land.”
“What I’m about to say may sound unpleasant, but I hope you’ll take it seriously. Here, you follow our rules. Your thods…” He shook his head. “They don’t quite work here. Do you understand ?”
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