"Mr. Lynch, we’ve been expecting you for so ti, please co in." Although the president of the chamber of comrce didn’t look pleased, he still extended the invitation.
Lynch took his ti to look around, pulling out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, picking one out and placing it in his mouth.
With a "sizzle" sound, his assistant beside him lit a match, covering it with one hand, and brought it up to Lynch’s face.
Under the soft lights, Lynch’s face was bathed in a red glow from the match’s fla, which ca so swiftly that it overshadowed the bulb’s light in an instant.
He casually took a couple of puffs and exhaled a cloud of smoke, "I’m not from Gafura..."
The president turned his head towards the sign, then imdiately flew into a rage, "Who placed this thing here? Remove it at once!"
Saying this, he walked straight down the steps, standing in front of Lynch. "I’m very sorry, Mr. Lynch, it seems there was so oversight in our work, I apologize for that."
"But please believe , this was absolutely not intentional on our part..."
The president descended the steps, and the others felt it inappropriate to remain standing on them, even though they weren’t very high.
From looking down, to standing evenly, to now being faintly looked up to, the emotional changes of these businessn were particularly interesting.
"I also believe this must be a misunderstanding!" Lynch extended his hand and shook with the president of the chamber of comrce. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lynch finally stepped onto the steps under the president’s guidance.
Under the unspeakable gazes of the people, he entered the house.
At this mont, the businessn exchanged glances, expressionlessly following up. The gathering tonight was held to welco Lynch.
Compared to other businessn from the Federation, Lynch had a unique natural attribute—he was a baron of Gafura, a noble of the Empire.
However, this was rely the Emperor’s verbal grant, not yet official. Various ceremonies had not been conducted.
In Gafura, the enfeoffnt of nobles often took place in autumn, symbolizing a season of harvest, which could an grain, titles, or even more intangible things.
Additionally, in ancient tis, territories were allocated after the enfeoffnt, and if the ceremony happened in spring, there was a risk of missing the spring sowing.
If held in sumr, the original landowner would be dissatisfied since autumn would soon follow sumr, and reallocating land then would waste half a year’s efforts.
Enfeoffnt after the autumn harvest was different, with rich symbolic anings, and the wheat on the land would have been almost harvested, leaving no room for disputes when appointing a new lord.
The new lord could imdiately organize new sowing plans, as during the enfeoffnt period, seeds also ca from the lords.
For these reasons, enfeoffnt usually happens after the autumn harvest, establishing power and boundaries before winter arrives.
With history’s progression, the Gafura Empire no longer has "enfeoffnts" in the traditional sense, and nobles no longer have their lands, but many customs remain.
Now it’s still sumr, so Lynch can only be considered a "prospective baron," and without official enfeoffnt, he can’t truly be regarded as an imperial noble.
This is also why businessn dared to give him a hard ti. Moreover, these businessn were backed by various nobles, with intricate relations within the Empire, not sothing a "Federation noble" could easily topple.
Furthermore, everyone is more or less aware that becoming a noble for Lynch was not that straightforward.
Being a foreigner granted nobility is strange enough, raising more speculation, especially since it was initiated by the Emperor himself, not a diplomatic product, leaving much room for imagination.
This house isn’t particularly luxurious, as it is a local building, not constructed by Gafura arrivals. They tried to choose suitable houses to use, while others not as fit were given to the garrison.
Although the house itself isn’t luxurious, they renovated it later, making it look much better.
Under the guidance of the chamber of comrce president, Lynch walked through a corridor into a hall.
As Lynch’s right foot stepped into the hall, the conductor who had been ready raised the baton swiftly, and the slightly rry music began instantly.
As the music started, it was as if the entire hall "ca alive."
Attendants continuously placed platters of food on the tables, and so ladies in exquisite evening gowns entered to the music’s accompanint, creating a novel experience.
Clearly just a regular banquet, yet at this mont, its distinction from Federation banquets was evident.
Everything here was so orderly, so systematic, from the orchestral performance to the attendants’ entry and then the ladies’. They had a whole set of rules and processes, unlike the casual nature of Federation’s banquets.
This is precisely one of the biggest cultural differences between the two countries, one with a rigid hierarchy, the other with freewheeling charm.
"Let introduce to everyone..." The chamber of comrce president stood amidst the crowd, introducing Lynch to those gentlen and ladies who didn’t go out to greet him, "The gentleman beside is the Empire’s newly ennobled, from the Federation, The Honorable Baron Lynch..."
What the hell is all this?!
Lynch doesn’t believe that a grown man can’t even speak properly. Clearly, this is intentional. He didn’t imdiately retaliate, but politely greeted everyone with his eyes and a nod.
"Mr. Lynch, say sothing for us!" The Chamber of Comrce President smiled at him, clearly another way to put Lynch in a difficult position.
They don’t believe Lynch is as familiar with Alia as he is with Nagariel; he doesn’t even have friends here.
In this kind of setting, surrounded by Gafura people, and being the only Federation person, what would one say?
Probably say sothing to pander to the situation, to please the majority. If Lynch were to say that, then he would’ve lost.
Seeing the glint in the Chamber of Comrce President’s eye, Lynch already understood the intention. This isn’t a conspiracy; it’s an open sche.
Even if you know there’s sothing wrong, you can’t avoid it; you can’t refuse it.
Lynch looked at these people, half-smiling, asking, "What should I say?"
Without waiting for the Chamber of Comrce President to answer, he continued on his own, "I’m not sure what I should say. I’m not a hypocritical person; I won’t change my initial intention and stance to please others for so purpose."
"I know you don’t like , and it’s not just . You also don’t like the Federation and Federals because we just did sothing ’unforgivable.’"
"And now, I’m here to do yet another ’unforgivable’ thing in your eyes, which you have no ans to counter!"
The air shattered with his words, boldly tearing off the mask of hypocrisy while looking at those startled, amazed, displeased, angry, and dumbfounded faces. Lynch felt no regret for what he said; the corners of his mouth even slightly curled.
Even if he says pleasant things to please these people, would they accept him?
No, absolutely not. They would only more unitedly reject him. Since belittling himself to please others doesn’t satisfy them enough to change their stance, then why compromise?
No matter if he says pleasant or unpleasant things, these people would target him, so why bother hiding?
In his statent, he used the word "unforgivable," which ca from the mouth of Emperor Gafura when he learned his fleet was almost annihilated. This was his roar in the Ruler’s Hall, unforgivable!
Lynch unequivocally used this word to tell them why he could appear here, also using it to inform them what he was going to do.
He’s here to snatch profits from their pockets, which to these rchants is indeed an "unforgivable" thing!
No sugary platitudes or concessions, only direct confrontation.
Even the music in the hall had an unnoticeable discord because of Lynch’s words.
He stood in the middle of the crowd; aside from himself, all he saw were "enemies," yet he was so confident and calm. With a smile, he looked at others, but few could hold his gaze for long. Most only glanced for a mont or half a second before moving away from that aggressive stare.
"Mr. Lynch..." The Chamber of Comrce President was a bit at a loss. He thought Lynch would say sothing to please everyone, such as hoping everyone could prosper together.
After all, he was unfamiliar with the place, so saying sothing that blurred boundaries seed reasonable, and then it would spread, controlled and revised by those with intentions, becoming Lynch’s performance of pandering to local rchants, and the Empire.
Federals sucking up to the Empire, isn’t that exactly what the dostic lords want to see?
But he never expected Lynch to directly fire at everyone here, even the Gafura Empire.
This...
Has this bastard had too much to drink?
But from his fair and handso face, you couldn’t tell!
The Chamber of Comrce President didn’t know what else he could say, but at this mont, it was best to interrupt him, "I..."
His words hadn’t co out, instead, Lynch interrupted him. Lynch raised his hand and placed it on his arm, stopping him from continuing, "I know what you want to say, I’m very clear."
"I didn’t co here just to et everyone, have so drinks, say so appropriate pleasantries, and then leave."
"Ladies and gentlen, I ca here for business, to compete with you in the market. Whether nationality or stance, we’re not standing on the sa ground, so we’re both friends and foes."
"I hope we can respect each other, showcase our talents, et on the battlefield belonging to us, as adversaries, fighting tenaciously with all we can."
"No matter win or lose!"
He glanced at the Chamber of Comrce President, "Rather than using so aningless tricks that make us disdainful!"
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