Gold Rush

"... At the time, we were very close to the migrating cattle, and the grass on the grassland was very tall. We were unaware that danger was already lurking around us..."

In a spacious and bright room, gentlemen and ladies of Upper Class gathered together. Some sat, some stood, and each of them was well-dressed and elegant, listening attentively to the legendary story that Lin Qi was telling.

Their attention was highly focused because what Lin Qi was talking about was something he had personally experienced, something that no one else had ever experienced. It was precisely because it was something that no one had ever experienced that it was so captivating.

When he described the dangers of hunting Leopard Lion, everyone held their breath, and some women nervously clutched their chests, which was enough to prove how thrilling and exciting the story was!

Lin Qi stood in the center of everyone's attention, holding a wine glass. His slicked-back hair and slightly old-fashioned clothes accentuated a unique composure, a maturity beyond his years.

He nodded slightly and raised the hand holding the wine glass. "Just then, a Leopard Lion suddenly jumped out of the bushes to my left. It mistook me for its prey and intended to hunt me!"

The ladies gasped, while the men took a sip of their drinks to ease the tension the story had created for them.

"A huge mouth that looked like it could swallow my head whole, with yellowed teeth and a foul stench—at that moment, I thought of death!"

The room was completely silent, except for the lingering echo of the last syllable of Lin Qi's words. He looked around and said, "Yes, this is the first time I've thought about death. Before this, I always thought death was something for the old and the unlucky to think about. I'm young, I shouldn't be thinking about these things, but at that moment, I felt it."

"The preciousness of life, and my awe and fear of death."

Everyone's mind was captivated by his words. He paused for a moment, giving everyone a full sense of the weighty time behind his words.

Life has always been a serious topic, and he fits this topic very well, based on his own personal experience.

After a moment, a smile appeared on his serious face. "I want to thank God for not abandoning me. Even though I'm standing on foreign soil, I survived. I bowed down in time..."

He made a dodging motion, which is actually very impolite and unseemly in this kind of setting. Everyone here is a gentleman or socialite from Upper Class, but at this moment, no one would criticize Lin Qi for doing something inappropriate. On the contrary, they would like to get more.

"The Leopard Lion jumps very high, maybe three or four meters?" He shook his head. "I don't know. Anyway, it pounced on me, wanting to make me its food. Unfortunately, I wasn't planning to do that. I dodged the fatal bite, and it pounced over my head. I could even feel its fur rubbing against my skin!"

"I was lucky to survive, which gives me the opportunity to stand here and tell you everything I saw on that land."

"You're so lucky, Mr. Lin Qi. These stories are very exciting and nerve-wracking," a young woman couldn't help but interject. Lin Qi's gaze lingered for a moment, and he could tell that the woman was indeed very nervous.

Language is a fucking amazing thing.

"Madam!" Lin Qi emphasized with a smile, "This is not a story, madam. This is something I experienced firsthand, without the slightest fabrication. God can bear witness to it!"

The young woman's already flushed face turned even redder. She lowered her head slightly and said, "I'm sorry, I used the wrong word. Mr. Lin Qi, you are the real adventurer!"

Lin Qi smiled and pointed at her, "Adventurer, I like that word!"

He looked at the others as he spoke, "Actually, we are all adventurers. My journey in Nagaril was an adventure, but our lives are also an adventure, and our country is also experiencing an adventure."

"I call all exploration of the unknown an adventure. Life, work, and even our development of international relations under the President's leadership are all adventures. We are all adventurers!"

This statement resonated with many people. One gentleman stood up, raised his glass, and exclaimed, "Let's toast to the adventurer, to Mr. Lin Qi!"

With his arms like a forest, the wine fragrant and the smiles radiant, Lin Qi adapted well to everything here. After returning to the Federal, he quickly began giving speeches and participating in the recording of many programs, leveraging his influence from before he left and his adventurous experiences.

People's curiosity about the outside world is fully reflected in this matter. In fact, most people already know the adventure stories that Lin Qi told, but as long as Lin Qi appears, people are still willing to listen to him tell them again, which makes Lin Qi's influence expand rapidly.

At least everyone knows everything about the adventurer Lin Qi and Nagaril; it's all part of Lin Qi Plan.

After more than two hours of conversation, the people left satisfied with what they had learned. Lin Qi also received some notes; some ladies hoped to discuss a big business deal with him and, incidentally, some private adventure stories, such as cave exploration.

Of course, Lin Qi refused them all; he was a virtuous and upright young man.

After almost all the guests had left, there was still one guest in the room. Lin Qi looked at him, and he looked at Lin Qi in return.

After a few seconds of eye contact, the guest nodded and praised, "Great story, did you make it up yourself?"

Faced with the doubts, Lin Qi remained calm and shook his head. "No, these are all things I have truly experienced."

The customer smiled and shook his head, saying, "I don't believe it..." He glanced at the staff outside the door and suggested, "Shall we find a place to have a drink?"

This place is a hall in the Bu Peien Grand Hotel used for various meetings or events, which Lin Qi rented specifically to promote his adventure stories.

He was well aware that everything needs packaging and promotion.

The story is now over. The hotel staff are waiting to clean up the place. They won't rush Lin Qi, but Lin Qi has to be conscientious.

Lin Qi glanced at his watch and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Truman!"

Indeed, the last guest was Truman, the Chief of the International Affairs/Policy Research Office. It is said that he may officially join the cabinet, rather than serving as the Chief of an office in the Presidential Palace.

His views on recent changes in foreign affairs and international policy have been both forward-thinking and, as always, accurate.

He also recently put forward a view that made some people uncomfortable— the Supremacy of Interests Theory.

In fact, this kind of argument has existed for a long time, and capitalists have long followed this set of rules. However, he modified this set of rules and applied it to international policy, using very sharp language and methods to make people understand that in the International Community, warmth and morality are completely useless.

The president seems to appreciate these things, but some people feel that it's a bit... indescribable.

Since Lin Qi returned these past few days, he has been frantically promoting his experiences, which seem to be mostly personal legends. However, Truman has already sensed something different.

The two changed their clothes and found an ordinary bar, sitting down in a secluded spot where they wouldn't be disturbed.

After ordering two drinks and some snacks to go with them, Truman asked a question, "What are you planning to do?"

He believed that Lin Qi's frequent participation in these salons and television appearances was definitely not without purpose. He had studied this young man, and he knew that this young man was very purposeful in everything he did. He already knew what he wanted to do, which was why he had done all these things.

Lin Qi's gaze was fixed on the wine glass in his hand. He swirled the glass, and the amber-colored wine inside took on a slightly bluish hue under the changing light, swaying back and forth with the movement of the glass.

The aroma wafting from the glass made one want to taste it, but Lin Qi didn't. He just looked at it, deep in thought.

After about ten or twenty seconds, he finally shifted his gaze from his wine glass to Mr. Truman, meeting his eyes. "Do you know the gold prospectors?"

This somewhat abrupt question startled Truman for a moment, but he reacted quickly, immediately realizing what Lin Qi meant. "You want to turn Nagaril into the West?"

Both of them were speaking in interrogative sentences, but their tone was so certain that both sentences sounded like affirmative statements.

Lin Qi picked up his glass, took a sip, put it down, and slowly swallowed the alcohol. He looked directly at Mr. Truman and said, "Gold is everywhere!"

"Whether it's material or immaterial, there's gold everywhere. We can pick up money as long as we bend down. This reminds me of what people call the best of times, the era that wasn't long ago."

Truman didn't respond, but just kept looking at him, not believing that the young man's purpose was so simple.

A smile appeared on Lin Qi's face. "But we have many opponents. I am not afraid of these people. I am even confident that I can defeat them, but it will take a lot of time."

"Mr. Truman, the pace of progress in this era is too fast. I don't have enough time to accomplish these things bit by bit. I need help, I need reliable people to help me!"

Mr. Truman frowned and uttered a single word—"gold prospector."

He roughly understood Lin Qi's idea, but he found it somewhat absurd and comical. "Are you really that confident?"

"When you hesitate, you've already bowed down to fate!" Lin Qi said something that Truman never expected.