A Cordial Friend, Mentor, and Close Confidant
The song Lin Qi was humming was very charming, with a charm that possessed a national cultural flavor. It's hard to describe, but it definitely exists, and you can feel it immediately.
Asier asked curiously, "Mr. Lin Qi, is this a song from the Federal?" He touched his forehead. "I don't think I've ever heard it before!"
Lin Qi glanced at him, smiled and nodded, and stopped humming, explaining briefly.
"It was popular during the Cultural Filling period, but the Education Committee stopped promoting it. It's normal that you haven't heard of it; many people in the Federal haven't either!"
The Federal's history is neither long nor distant; it was a nation established by a group of bandits on someone else's land, so it couldn't possibly have a long or boastful history.
When others talk about the magnificent history of dynastic changes...
While others sing poems that miraculously depict heroic figures...
In other people's...
The Federal people couldn't find anything to be proud of, so they came up with the term "cultural infilling." They filled the history of the Federal with the culture of the natives, describing in an embarrassing way the barbaric acts of invasion, occupation, and massacre as "a new page in the development and progress of civilization," while describing the peaceful lives of the natives for generations as "an old chapter full of feudal barbarity and dross."
Although feudalism was also barbaric, these historical facts effectively filled the gaps in Federal Federal's history, stretching it from a mere few hundred years to over a thousand.
This is absurd and pathetic, and it also reflects the inferiority complex of the Federal people regarding historical issues; they desperately want to appear as if they have a long history, just like other countries.
During this period, the Federal implemented many policies and documents, including a song called "Hunter's Song) ". It was a song that circulated among various tribes when the natives of the Federal were not persecuted. It was mostly a tune sung by hunters when they returned with a full catch.
This kind of positive and uplifting song, with its cheerful melody and folk charm, was incorporated into the Elementary School education system during the "cultural enrichment" period and became a required song to learn.
But it was quickly deleted because some indigenous human rights organizations released data and information to the public, claiming that after the Federal invaders landed on this land, they hummed this simple and easy-to-learn song while Slaughter of Aborigines.
In some video footage, gentlemen dressed in vests, top hats, and riding boots, holding hunting rifles and with blood-covered faces, are seen stepping on countless indigenous corpses and singing loudly.
So it died socially; no one mentions its simple, cheerful tune anymore, and no one mentions its "positive and uplifting" content. It's normal that Asier hasn't heard of it.
That's why Asier couldn't help but exclaim, "What a beautiful piece of music! More people should hear it; they'll love it."
like?
Lin Qi smiled. No, they wouldn't like it. They wish this history never existed, even though the Slaughter of Aborigines was a necessary and unavoidable process at the time.
Around 6:10, the convoy stopped outside a complex of buildings that looked like a palace. After Asier's introduction, Lin Qi learned that this was not some historical Ruins or anything like that, but the Provincial Governor's house.
The overall architecture presents a "vessel" shape, with four symmetrical buildings extending outward from the main building, and then a lawn and an artificial river. Looking at the clear riverbed and the various ornamental fish in the river that are not afraid of humans, wealth and power once again prove their greatness, as well as their terror.
Mishe Haye personally came out to greet Lin Qi. Logically, as the host of tonight's banquet, he should have a very distinguished status. However, the actual host was His Governor-General, which lowered his status by a notch.
If he didn't come to greet Lin Qi in person, would the Governor-General be expected to come himself? So he took the initiative to come, his enthusiastic face adorned with a friendly smile. He even took the initiative to do the work of a waiter, opening the car door for Lin Qi.
"You're too kind, it makes me a little uncomfortable!" Lin Qi appropriately expressed his flattery.
Mishe Haye shook his head repeatedly. "No, you are our most honored guest today. You should enjoy this with a clear conscience!" he said, leading Lin Qi into the Main Hall, a huge hall.
Words like "exquisite" fail to capture the sheer luxury of the building's interior. Gold, jewels, and various animal specimens were everywhere. Lin Qi even saw complete pelts, some of which he couldn't tell were lions or tigers, laid out as carpets at some entrances.
No incense was burned in the room, yet it was still filled with a faint but omnipresent scent of herbs and wood. The main material for building this structure was bright red wood with some golden threads showing through it.
Lin Qi couldn't help but take a few more glances at the materials. The bright red color of the wood, as if it had been soaked in blood, and the mysterious golden threads weaving through the wood, made this type of wood very eye-catching.
The Federal is located in a temperate region with very distinct seasons, and it lacks some special plants and animals. These things could fetch a lot of money if sent to the Federal! There are also gems, jewelry, and various animal specimens.
To prove their strength, humans hunt other apex predators and preserve them as specimens to highlight their dominance in nature.
Some wealthy people reportedly even have their own "zoo," filled with complete specimens of various animals they hunt, which they use to show off to their guests.
However, this behavior is now illegal at the Federal. Since the establishment of the Federal Environmental Agency, many behaviors have been prohibited. They prohibit people from destroying vegetation, discharging harmful industrial waste, hunting wild animals, and have created one protected area after another for these things.
Of course, it is worth mentioning that the Federal Native Americans also have three protected areas. The Federal claims that this is to protect the human rights of Native Americans. Although the outside world does not quite understand what the relationship is between treating these Native Americans as animals and human rights, the protection is indeed in place.
As the heavy main doors of the hall were pushed open, an even larger and more awe-inspiring room appeared before Lin Qi.
It is huge and magnificent, with a ceiling height of at least ten meters, which makes people feel insignificant. There are not many words to describe the luxury here; it can only be described as breathtaking.
The hall was already buzzing with anticipation. After half a month of publicity from Asier, the Upper Class class of the entire city and even the entire province knew the news: a wealthy man from the Federal was going to invest in Nagaril.
Privately, the Provincial Governor had already used his connections to inquire about Lin Qi's assets in the Federal, in order to avoid being taken advantage of.
They've been burned before; some people claimed they were going to invest in Nagaril, and they got scammed, more than once. Now they're smarter and know to investigate before making any arrangements.
According to the investigation by the Federal authorities, Lin Qi had a fortune of over 10 billion Galil, which led the Provincial Governor to confirm that the dinner would be held at the Provincial Governor's Residence.
"This is the Police Chief, you met him yesterday..." Mishe Haye introduced the guests to Lin Qi, with the Police Chief being the first one in line.
The Police Chief took off his police hat and tucked it into his waistband, then shook hands with Lin Qi. "In this city, you can contact me anytime if you have any security issues. I'm always here to serve you, Mr. Lin Qi!"
He adopted a humble attitude because the Police Chief was not a member of the "nobles." In Nagaril, the Police Chief was essentially the henchman and lackey of the rulers. It was not a position with much power or prestige, and members of the Upper Class families were unwilling to take on this job.
Almost all Police Chief in cities come from the common people. They are the true tools of the rulers, and they treat the common people more ruthlessly, viciously, and decisively than those in the Upper Class.
Once they have no value, it's not a pity to just throw them away; it can also be used to quell public resentment. Therefore, in Nagaril, the Police Chief does not hold a high position.
Next came various local officials, wealthy businessmen, celebrities, and social elites, culminating in the appearance of the Provincial Governor.
This was Lin Qi's first meeting with the Provincial Governor Provincial Governor, who was dressed in a very proper, locally styled outfit, which was also a very distinctive feature or characteristic of him.
Looking around at the people, whether they were social celebrities, politicians or tycoons, most of them were dressed in international mainstream styles. They seemed to have a blind affinity for developed countries, but the Provincial Governor was different.
He was dressed in a distinctly Nagaril style from head to toe: a brownish-red wide-legged trousers, and a... well, I don't know how to describe it—an ordinary garment, but with many strips of fabric extending outwards, which wrapped and coiled around his body, creating an inexplicably strange effect.
The Provincial Governor looked very kind and approachable, not stern, and his voice wasn't shrill; he seemed like someone who wouldn't be difficult to get along with.
"I need to give a proper introduction to this gentleman..." Mishe Haye bowed slightly. "He is the Provincial Governor of Magulana Province, a dear friend of the people, and our teacher and close friend on the road of life, Mr. Drag Billere."
Mishe Haye used completely different words when introducing the Provincial Governor than when introducing others, which highlights the Provincial Governor's unique status.
In Nagaril, the position of Provincial Governor is practically a semi-hereditary one. After the Upper Class class closed its upward mobility channels, the entire Upper Class class began to slowly decay.
In societies where power is centralized and classes are rigid, people view power as private property, which leads to its abuse and makes the transfer of power complicated.
Furthermore, Nagaril has no concept of term limits, and his decades-long reign is enough for him to suppress all opposition and smoothly hand over power to his next generation.
The central government of Nagaril has considered resolving these issues, but historical problems are extremely difficult to solve. The fact that this ruling system, which clearly has many drawbacks, has not been overthrown to this day is undoubtedly due to the crucial role played by the regime's adversary—theocracy.