Light of Justice

Self-deception.

When Lin Qi saw Simon's attire, the word immediately came to mind. Just yesterday, there had been an incident involving the Nagaril Youth Party, whose slogan seemed to be the expulsion of foreigners.

If you think about it carefully, this slogan is actually very subtle; it's not as simple and superficial as just expelling "foreigners."

The Preton Merchant House, or rather these foreigners who settled in Nagaril, had in fact become a new, foreign ruling group within the Nagaril ruling class.

By controlling trade and the sea, they dominated Nagaril's import and export trade. At the same time, they gained the approval of the ruling class. After deepening the collusion between power and wealth, they became a new member of the Upper Class class.

These people are no longer simply foreigners; they represent a privilege born of wealth, or in other words, power.

Would driving away foreigners allow us to reclaim what they lost? No, because regardless of the existence of these foreigners, and disregarding the relationship between Preton and the pirates, if we simply discuss trade, commerce, and markets, this power would never fall into the hands of ordinary people.

Because the people who distribute power and wealth have not changed, and the people who hold power in the Ruling Class have not changed, what they have taken back from foreigners will be distributed to others in the blink of an eye.

So what they want to take back is not just what the merchants have taken from them, at least not yet.

This is merely an awakening, and in some ways, it is a prelude to an even stronger awakening, a form of resistance against the Ruling Class.

Of course, regardless of the purpose of this slogan or whether it has such a profound meaning, it reflects a problem.

That is, foreigners will always be foreigners. Just because someone like Simon married a local woman, had mixed-race offspring, wore local clothes, and followed local customs, doesn't mean that foreigners will consider him one of their own, not a foreigner.

Once social unrest occurs, these foreigners who have infiltrated the crowd will be immediately identified, and their fate is usually not good.

"This is my wife, and my children..." he introduced his family to Lin Qi, and he seemed to love his family very much.

He held his wife tightly around the shoulder, if only there were no signs of surprise, caution, or confusion in her eyes...

His other hand held his child's hand tightly, if only a flicker of confusion and surprise, or something else, did appear in his child's eyes...

Perhaps Lin Qi actually believed it.

The happiness of happy people is not something they show; it is a joy that comes from within, a happiness that emanates from within.

Neither of these two people are there.

Lin Qi didn't care much about these things; he had no interest in knowing whether other couples had a harmonious relationship. After a simple greeting, Simon let go of his hand.

He looked down at his son beside him, every muscle and expression on his face displaying a state called "smile," but this smile was indifferent. "I want to talk to Mr. Lin Qi about things that only adults know. You can wander around, but the Provincial Governor's house isn't so easy to come by."

The unyielding gaze gradually cooled the boy's joy from a few seconds ago. Without any change, he lowered his head, indicating his submission.

After saying goodbye to Lin Qi and his parents, the young man left the room.

Simon's wife knelt down beside the coffee table and began to do what she could.

This is Nagaril, where women have a very low social status. Even if a woman is born into a noble family, it is difficult for her to change her position in the family.

Her family background may have given her a higher status than most women, but that's all. The family is the husband's domain, and men rule everything! After Simon had been seated for a while, he carefully began the conversation, "Mr. Lin Qi, I didn't expect that so much had happened so long ago, not long after our last meeting."

This was his true feeling. The last time he spoke with Lin Qi, he was presented with an invitation from Preton Merchant House. He didn't even want Lin Qi to become a partner.

The reason is simple: each region has a limited annual output and market. If more people come to share, each person will receive less money. Moreover, Lin Qi is right here, and he will take more wealth from Simon's pocket than he would from anywhere else.

These riches originally belonged to Simon, and he was certainly not happy about having another person trying to take a share of his profits.

Lin Qi declined his invitation with a hint of schadenfreude, and when he discussed the matter with Preton, he conveyed Lin Qi's words with a touch of subjective emotion.

Now, Lin Qi is sitting here, Mr. Preton is gone, and the Preton Merchant House is a thing of the past. Isn't that enough to make people sigh? Such a huge force, with pirate groups on the high seas, just vanished like that.

Lin Qi simply nodded without replying.

Lin Qi remained silent and made no comment, which made Simon increasingly uneasy. "The Federal's ability to develop Nagaril on a larger scale this time is a great thing for the locals and for us. Mr. Lin Qi, I have always advocated that more people should integrate into our group of foreign businessmen."

"But you know, Preton ... he controls a large pirate force, and he's a very tough guy..."

He began to make excuses to distance himself from his past self. Seeing his forced explanation and uneasy face, Lin Qi slightly raised his hand to stop him from continuing.

"Those are all things of the past, Simon. One cannot live in the glory of the past forever; that will only prevent people from making any further progress."

"People should look forward. Tell me why you've come here. I believe you didn't come here to reminisce about the past."

Simon was silent for a moment before laughing self-deprecatingly and saying, "Well, you saw through me, Mr. Lin Qi."

His smile at this moment was neither awkward nor hypocritical. "We can all see that the Federal has already established some kind of control over Nagaril. The scale of the United Development Company is also unprecedented. You know, people like me, most of our businesses are in Nagaril."

"Look, I'm old now, I'm fifty. I'm not as courageous as I used to be, able to pack my bags and go out to sea alone to look for opportunities. I don't dare to do that, and I can't do it."

"I hope to save my business, Mr. Lin Qi. If I lose my business in Nagaril, I... I really don't know what to say. I might lose everything, have nothing!"

He spoke very sincerely, and this was the most genuine feeling of him, and of most foreign businessmen in Nagaril, at that moment.

They couldn't resist a major trend, felt lost and helpless, yet couldn't bear to give up their business and profits.

Lin Qi nodded slightly as he listened. Just as he took out his cigarette case, the lady kneeling on the other side of the coffee table, Simon's wife, crawled over like some kind of animal, using both hands and knees, picked up a match from the coffee table, straightened up, and lit a cigarette for Lin Qi.

Seeing the woman's slightly ingratiating expression, and the pain hidden behind it, Lin Qi quickly looked away. Another pitiful woman, but there are too many pitiful people in this world.

"I understand your concerns, but please rest assured, Simon, you can also tell the other gentlemen that I and we are not like Preton, nor is the United Development Company a company like Preton Merchant House."

"We respect the efforts and achievements of every businessman. We do not get rich by plunder. The Federal has always encouraged the spirit of freedom and justice."

"As long as the business complies with local laws and international conventions and does not involve illegal activities, we will not interfere."

"Whatever business you did here before, you will continue to do in the future."

When Simon heard this, he didn't show a happy smile. He knew that things couldn't be so smooth or so wonderful.

Lin Qi's next words confirmed his point.

"But...", Lin Qi raised his hand to flick the ash, but the woman had already placed the Ashtray next to Lin Qi. He didn't even need to lift a finger; he just needed to flick the Cigarette Holder.

Lin Qi's gaze lingered on her eyes for a second longer before turning back to Simon. "But I also hope you understand that a free market means there will be bidding and competition. We won't interfere with your business, but there will be other businessmen competing with you."

"The Federal abhors monopolies, whether domestically or internationally; our attitude is the same."

"If you can fight your way through the competition and prove that you are the most suitable person here, then we will congratulate you."

"But if you can't do it and fail in the competition with other businessmen, I hope you can understand."

"You didn't lose to me, to the Federal or the United Development Company; you just lost to yourself."

Lin Qi seemed to have gotten used to the woman holding the Ashtray. He flicked the ash again, this time without looking, but he was sure the ash wouldn't spill.

"The practices of Preton and Preton Merchant House do not meet the needs of social development. The lack of competitiveness has left the local market unchanged, or even shrinking, compared to ten or twenty years ago."

"This is a distorted market. What we need to change is the unreasonable rules here, not anyone in particular."

"Including myself, I will not restrict others or allow them to run the same business as me, and I will also actively face competition."

"If you feel the urge to leave your local area because of changes in certain environmental factors, there's absolutely no need for that!"

Lin Qi's face softened with a warm smile. "Of course, if you insist on leaving, that's your choice, and I won't object. In fact, I'll be happy about it."

"Because I am also a businessman, I don't like competition either, but I know I have to face it Every Moment!"