Chapter Summaries

At the All Forms of Life exhibition, Lin Qi recruited stockbroker Lyme McDonald by recognizing his initiative and offering him a partnership. He planned to buy exchange Trading Seats and left Lyme time to consider the offer while turning their attention to the Radio Reconnaissance Array.

• Lin Qi asked a stockbroker how much he earned, and the young man claimed he made nearly a thousand dollars a month despite earning only eighty-one dollars and ninety cents recently.
• Lin Qi contrasted the broker’s earnings with Richard’s success and asked the young man to work for him.
• Lin Qi asked whether the broker had seen Bu Peien at five in the morning, then praised his experience and initiative after learning his name was Lyme McDonald.
• Lin Qi offered Lyme a partnership to buy Trading Seats on the exchanges and prepare for future futures trading.
• Lin Qi told Lyme to think over the offer before answering and suggested they discuss the Radio Reconnaissance Array.

Lin Qi met inventor Cobert through Lyme and learned that Cobert's radio-positioning device could locate only targets that transmitted signals. Lin Qi funded the invention anyway, advising Cobert to study how bats hunted, and invited Lyme to join him after finishing his work at the brokerage.

• Lyme showed Lin Qi the unsold Little Yellow Sheets and explained that Cobert needed financing for his research.
• Lin Qi asked Lyme to take him to meet Cobert, who was angry after others mocked his invention but soon apologized and explained his work.
• Cobert described how he used multiple receivers to locate radio signals and hoped to adapt the method to find war machines.
• Lin Qi asked how the device could locate a target that maintained radio silence, and Cobert admitted he had no answer and called his invention useless.
• Lin Qi agreed to buy all of Cobert's Little Yellow Sheets, then advised him to study bats for new ideas about locating targets.
• Lin Qi gave Lyme a check and told him to finish his brokerage work, collect his commission, and then come work with him.

Lin Qi attended a gathering where Herbert warned investors that a coming naval clash with Gefra could jeopardize their war bonds. Herbert proposed negotiating a way to redeem or exchange the bonds safely, and the gathering ended with investors asking what they would have to give up.

• On the way back, Lin Qi told Mr. Truman he had invested in an inventor’s Wireless Radio Positioning System project.
• Lin Qi attended a gathering at Herbert Manor, where Herbert discussed Gefra’s offer to buy back war bonds for sixty percent of their face value.
• Herbert revealed that the Preton Pirate Group was backed by the Gefra Royal Navy and that the Federal Navy was preparing to attack it.
• Herbert warned that a Federal defeat could reduce the value of the bonds or leave them unredeemed.
• Herbert said he had contacted Gefra’s Second Financial Minister about offsetting redemption or exchanging the bonds for other benefits.
• A guest asked Herbert what the investors would have to give up.

Lin Qi exposed Mr. Herbert’s plan to acquire the speculators’ bonds and proposed manufacturing turmoil in the Amelia Region to pressure Gefra. He argued that Gefra would need the Federation’s help to resolve the crisis, leaving the group with a way to gain leverage over the empire.

• Mr. Herbert offered to use his channels to exchange the speculators’ bonds for supplies or secure convenience, charging a twenty-five percent fee.
• Lin Qi recognized that Mr. Herbert wanted to buy up the speculators’ bonds and profit from them, while Mr. Herbert watched Lin Qi, who held many bonds.
• Mr. Herbert asked Lin Qi whether he had a better solution, and Lin Qi proposed manufacturing pressure to draw Gefra’s attention away from the upcoming naval battle.
• Lin Qi explained that unrest in the strategically important Amelia Region could disrupt Gefra’s plans and take priority over a naval strength test.
• Lin Qi argued that Gefra would struggle to send more forces into the region without provoking other countries, and would need the Federation to help resolve the crisis.

Lin Qi persuaded Mr. Herbert to back his high-risk plan to turn Gefra’s bonds into much larger profits, though most of the merchants chose Herbert’s safer alternative. As negotiations with Nagaril approached and war between the Federation and Gefra loomed, Lin Qi set out to prepare for his plan and ensure turmoil in the Amelia Region before August.

• Lin Qi presented a bold plan for profiting from the bonds by provoking an international conflict, while Mr. Herbert invited the merchants to offer other proposals.
• Most merchants chose Mr. Herbert’s safer plan, but Mr. Herbert himself decided to pursue Lin Qi’s plan and questioned him about its risks.
• Lin Qi admitted the plan was a gamble but kept its main obstacles secret, including the difficulty of finding someone willing to provoke conflict in the Amelia Region.
• Lin Qi demanded thirty-three percent of Herbert’s profits and asked him to recruit more participants; Herbert agreed if the plan worked as promised.
• Lin Qi left to prepare, knowing negotiations with Nagaril were ten days away and that the Amelia Region had to descend into turmoil before August.

Amelia Region enforced Gefra currency rules as a local Patrol Team member helped maintain the occupation while secretly protecting his countrymen and serving the Resistance Organization. That night, an unfamiliar visitor arrived at his home and asked to be invited inside.

• A pharmacy clerk threw a young man's old coins into the street, and a local Patrol Team member forced him to collect them and exchange them for Gefra currency.
• An elderly man gave the young man two silver coins and urged him to exchange his money and avoid provoking the authorities.
• The Patrol Team member returned to his spacious home, where the twin girls he had cared for welcomed him.
• After dinner, the young man heard the doorbell, steadied the frightened girls, and opened the door to an unfamiliar visitor who asked to come inside.

A young white-skinned dog man received a phone number and a message promising hope, then called it just before the number expired. The caller offered weapons and supplies in exchange for resistance operations, leaving the young man with a concrete offer to consider.

• A foreign visitor gave the young white-skinned dog man a phone number and a message about hope, then said the number would work for three days.
• The young white-skinned dog man spent the next three days debating whether the offer was a test or a genuine opportunity.
• As the deadline approached, he called the number and spoke with a confident young man who offered money, weapons, supplies, and medicine.
• The young white-skinned dog man asked what the caller wanted in return, and the caller proposed two hundred Gefran-made firearms and other aid in exchange for blowing up two Copper Mines in the xx Region.

Petrel agreed to help Robin sabotage two Copper Mines in exchange for support for the Resistance, then received a shipment of weapons, supplies, and money. Meanwhile, Lin Qi discussed falling copper prices at a financial salon in Bu Peien, unaware that his efforts to buy weapons had drawn the National Security Committee into the matter.

• Petrel questioned Robin about why he wanted the Copper Mines destroyed, then accepted the plan and chose his code name.
• Robin told Petrel where to find a shipment and how to contact him using a bouquet of wildflowers.
• Petrel and his companions retrieved weapons, ammunition, explosives, medicine, and money from a train carriage at the station.
• Lin Qi’s attempt to arrange a large purchase of Gefran weapons drew the National Security Committee’s Investigation Team to him.
• Lin Qi told a financial salon that copper prices were likely to remain stable or decline as mining regions recovered and import dependence eased.

Lin Qi used a report predicting a major increase in copper ore production to prompt short selling, while secretly buying copper ore futures. At a foreign-exchange salon, he argued that the Fula faced a serious trial that could hinder its rise as an international settlement currency.

• Lin Qi showed merchants a report claiming the South Mechanical Research Institute could increase copper ore production by at least twenty-five percent, prompting traders to short copper ore.
• Short positions spread across the Bayer Federation and pressured global copper ore prices, while Lin Qi secretly bought copper ore futures.
• Lin Qi also began short selling the Fula, which had risen in value since Gefra secured the Amelia Region.
• At a foreign-exchange salon, Lin Qi took over from an economist and warned that the Fula faced a tremendous trial that could obstruct Gefra's plan to make it an international settlement currency.

At a salon, Lin Qi explained why he believed Gefra would suffer a severe setback, citing political opposition, its geographic vulnerabilities, and unrest in the Amelia Region. His argument spread beyond the salon as the “three proofs that Gefra was destined to fall,” and the chapter ended with his forecast gaining wider attention.

• Lin Qi argued that Gefra’s rise to superpower status would put it at odds with defeated nations, the Federation, and even its allies.
• Lin Qi said Gefra’s small territory and limited strategic depth left it vulnerable if an enemy navy blockaded its homeland and a comparable military attacked.
• Lin Qi explained that Gefra was developing the Amelia Region to overcome those weaknesses and expand its strategic depth.
• Lin Qi warned that Resistance Organizations and local opposition made the Amelia Region unstable, and that unrest there could shake Gefra’s foundations.
• Salon attendees and economists took Lin Qi’s arguments seriously, and his three points spread through public discussion and television programs.

Lin Qi explained why he used misinformation to profit from copper ore but sought allies to manipulate the Fula, while a research miscalculation drew foreign miners to the South Mechanical Research Institute. In Amelia, Petrel’s resistance group began infiltrating a copper mine, and the chapter ended with the governor receiving a startling phone call.

• Lin Qi told Lyme that he used information asymmetry to exploit traders in copper futures, but needed united capital to influence the Fula and make short-selling it safer.
• A decimal-point error inflated the South Mechanical Research Institute’s reported research results, attracting foreign mining organizations while the director panicked.
• Petrel’s resistance group infiltrated Amelia’s largest copper mining area and planned to collapse the mine tunnels, knowing workers were still underground.
• Petrel decided to recruit the miners rather than warn the Gefrans, and the resistance fighters began killing guards and contacting workers.
• After five Gefran mine patrol members found the sentry-booth soldiers dead, a gunshot rang out and woke the governor, who answered a sudden telephone call in alarm.

After the Resistance Organization attacked No. 7 Mine, the governor imposed harsh military control and ordered public executions across Amelia Province. The unrest sent copper prices climbing, and Lin Qi turned the news into a profitable trading opportunity while urging Lyme to prepare to manage the business himself.

• The governor ordered the No. 7 Mine captain to destroy weapons and explosives that could not be carried away, then retreat with his soldiers.
• The governor reinstated military control and a curfew across Amelia Province, while Gefran soldiers publicly executed people found outside during the night searches.
• International reporters publicized the killings, and Gefra praised the governor, sent ground forces to the region, and abandoned plans to deploy its Royal Navy after other nations objected.
• Lin Qi learned that the destruction of the region's largest copper mine had driven copper prices up, while the Fula remained comparatively stable.
• Lin Qi instructed Lyme to focus on copper futures, monitor trading volume, and use hedged positions when needed.
• Lin Qi told Lyme to learn from the independent traders and said he hoped Lyme could stand on his own by the following year.

Lin Qi encouraged Lyme by appealing to his ambitions and future, then learned from Fox that the movie based on his adventure story had passed its test screening and was ready for its premiere. He planned to attend the premiere and continue promoting Nagaril.

• Lin Qi contrasted Richard's desire for easy money with Lyme's hard work and explained that Lyme needed to be motivated by ideals and future success.
• Lin Qi assured Lyme that he saw potential in him, and Lyme became emotional as he recalled his struggles and accepted Lin Qi's encouragement.
• Lin Qi hugged Lyme and sent him back to work, then admitted to himself that he had nearly been moved by his own speech.
• Fox called Lin Qi to report that the movie had passed its test screening and that its premiere was scheduled for Friday evening.
• Lin Qi agreed to attend the premiere and discussed continuing Nagaril's publicity with a semidocumentary about two gold-panners who became wealthy.

Lin Qi escorted a young actress down the red carpet at Western Cinema, frustrating her agency’s plans to keep them there longer. After they entered, he criticized her handwriting and dismissed the idea that lingering for publicity would make people like her.

• Lin Qi arrived at Western Cinema with the young actress, drawing loud cheers and flashes from fans and reporters.
• The actress slowed down to savor the attention, but Lin Qi urged her to walk faster because the flashes bothered him.
• The actress’s manager posed as a fan to get her to stop and sign an autograph, then encouraged her to sign more for the crowd.
• Lin Qi apologized to the waiting fans and led the actress quickly to the cinema entrance, leaving her manager disappointed.
• After they signed in, Lin Qi told the actress to improve her handwriting and said red-carpet publicity was not what earned people’s affection.
• The actress regretted agreeing to accompany Lin Qi and hoped the premiere would end soon.

Lin Qi attended the premiere of the film based on his Nagaril adventures, praised its fast-paced, entertaining approach, and predicted its success. After the audience applauded, he joked about the film’s lead actor and delivered a speech celebrating the cast and crew.

• Lin Qi reunited with Mr. Fox, who said he had found a documentary director and screenwriters for Lin Qi’s planned project, “Federal People in Nagaril.”
• The audience watched a fast-paced film depicting Lin Qi’s struggle through the jungle, escape from ancient ruins, and discovery of a ring tied to Shuberia Yin Wang.
• The viewers applauded enthusiastically, and Lin Qi joined Mr. Fox, Little Fox, and the principal cast and crew onstage.
• Lin Qi joked that he was more handsome than the film’s lead actor, then praised the movie and its team while teasing the emcee about taking over his job.

After the premiere of The Truck Driver, Lin Qi met with James and several documentary filmmakers to discuss a film about Federal people struggling and making money in Nagaril. He rejected the director’s proposed approach of portraying Nagaril as a place to get rich quickly and chose the other director instead.

• Lin Qi learned James had left the fleet to join Fox Film, reassured him that pursuing his ambitions was no betrayal, and offered to support him as a future director.
• Mr. Fox introduced two documentary directors and several screenwriters to Lin Qi after the premiere.
• Lin Qi proposed a documentary about Federal people in Nagaril and explained that it would show their hardships, progress, and eventual gains.
• One director suggested making the film about the rapid profits people could earn in Nagaril, using a progression from “illegal” to “legal” to “above the law.”
• Lin Qi chose the other director for the documentary.

Lin Qi returned to the Nagaril negotiations as pressure mounted from Gefra’s naval buildup, and he offered to accept Nagaril’s currency demands in exchange for an additional condition. The chapter ended before he revealed what that condition was.

• After the screenwriters promised to send Lin Qi their script, he returned to Bu Peien and resumed work on the negotiations.
• Nagaril’s representatives rejected Federal Sol as legal tender and proposed a freely fluctuating exchange rate, prolonging the dispute.
• Mr. Truman told Lin Qi that Gefra’s First Battle Fleet had deployed most of its warships, raising the risk of a naval war before negotiations concluded.
• Lin Qi asked Mr. Truman to let him take over the afternoon negotiations, and Mr. Truman agreed.
• At the negotiating table, Lin Qi said Nagaril’s demands might be acceptable, but only if Nagaril agreed to an additional condition.

Lin Qi demanded that Nagaril secure the Federal Sol’s circulation by absorbing fifty billion Sol in foreign-exchange reserves, then ended negotiations when its delegation hesitated. He explained to Mr. Truman why Nagaril’s rulers were unlikely to accept and how accepting could leave them vulnerable to economic collapse or military action, before leaving for a private meeting.

• Lin Qi demanded that Nagaril’s official banks absorb at least fifty billion Federal Sol and maintain reserves of at least forty billion, while allowing exchange rates to fluctuate freely.
• When Nagaril’s representatives asked to discuss commercial cooperation first, Lin Qi proposed ending the negotiations until they agreed on the fundamental condition, and Mr. Truman agreed.
• During the handshake, Lin Qi warned Nagaril’s representative that the Federation’s anger could burn Nagaril’s forests and grasslands if the delegation kept exhausting their patience.
• Mr. Truman asked Lin Qi where he had learned his saying about refusing someone three times, and Lin Qi admitted that he had made it up.
• Lin Qi told Mr. Truman that Nagaril’s ruling class would not sacrifice its wealth to buy fifty billion Sol, and that accepting the demand could freeze most of Nagaril’s wealth and devastate its economy.
• Lin Qi argued that if Nagaril printed new currency after accepting, the Federation could use the resulting grievance to justify sending troops, then left for a private meeting with Mr. Wo Delike.

Lin Qi told Mr. Wo Delike why the Federation was prepared to win its coming naval battle with Gefra, while they probed each other over Gefra’s turmoil in Amelia. Their exchange left both suspecting the other had helped foment the unrest and suggested Lin Qi was positioning himself for future cooperation.

• Mr. Wo Delike welcomed Lin Qi to his study and asked whether he believed the Federation would win against Gefra’s Royal Navy.
• Lin Qi argued that the Federation had prepared carefully and that the battle mattered far more to it than to Gefra, while Mr. Truman had assured him that the navy had addressed its soldiers’ psychological readiness.
• Mr. Wo Delike remarked that the chaos in Amelia had conveniently distracted Gefra, and Lin Qi questioned him about possible business ties there.
• Mr. Wo Delike denied operating businesses in Amelia, but the two men’s questions and answers led each to suspect the other had a hand in the unrest.
• Mr. Wo Delike recognized Lin Qi’s involvement in upcoming events and considered him a potential partner in future ventures in Nagaril and Amelia.

Mr. Wo Delike weighed how the Federation could counter foreign dumping and used Lin Qi’s name to strengthen his case for expanding abroad. Meanwhile, Lin Qi resumed negotiations with Nagaril, whose delegation sought to reduce the currency buyback and secure favorable terms.

• Mr. Wo Delike reviewed how subsidized foreign goods were forcing Federation factories out of business and considered expanding the conglomerate’s international operations.
• Mr. Wo Delike called for Federation merchants in the Amelia Region to secretly contact the Resistance Organization with weapons, medicine, money, and escape opportunities, while requesting major news in return.
• Lin Qi resumed negotiations with Nagaril and believed its delegation lacked the strength to resist the Federation’s demands.
• The Nagaril representative asked Lin Qi to lower the proposed fifty billion Sol purchase, let contributing banks keep the foreign currencies as reserves, and permanently peg Galil to the Federal exchange rate.
• Lin Qi nearly laughed at Nagaril’s requests.