North Blue, Ivante Kingdom.
The bustling port was packed with people, presenting a scene of prosperity and thriving commerce.
Yet at that moment, the widest area of the port had been sealed off, with a large number of Marine soldiers stationed there under tight security.
A luxurious, dazzling red carpet stretched all the way from the port to the city gates, while quite a few beautiful women in revealing, fiery outfits stood lined up nearby in waiting.
The sight naturally left passersby puzzled. Which big shot from what kingdom was coming to visit?
"Colonel Kadi, do we really need to go this far? I heard that most people sent down from Marine Headquarters can't stay in small places like ours for long. At most, they'll leave after three to five months. He won't be in charge of us afterward anyway, so shouldn't we just put on a show for him?" The speaker was a Marine major, though there was a distinctly sour note in his words.
"Major Barlow, it seems you still don't understand the importance of etiquette. Most newcomers sent down from Marine Headquarters are powerful, but when it comes to dealing with people, they judge everything entirely according to their own preferences. Put nicely, such people are straightforward. Put bluntly, they're hotheaded fools. So, you need to let him feel our attitude, our sincerity, and our respect."
Colonel Kadi stroked his beard and spoke with a self-satisfied sway of his head. "In this situation, as long as we make the outward display look good, then even if we do some things poorly afterward, he'll turn a blind eye. After all, you don't slap a smiling face!"
"But what if... what if the person sent down is the rigid sort? Seeing a scene like this might have the opposite