Chapter Summaries

Lin Qi told Mr. Truman that the Gefra Emperor had made him a baron after agreeing to his terms for stabilizing Amelia Region, and Truman planned to warn Federal officials that the title might be meant to sow distrust. Meanwhile, He Bosi secured a massive Galil loan to recover his losses, but the Federation blocked the shipment from leaving port over paperwork issues.

• Lin Qi told Mr. Truman that the Gefra Emperor seemed decent and revealed that he had been made a baron.
• Lin Qi explained that the emperor had accepted his demands on Blackstone Group's military business, Federal citizens' rights, and the redemption of his bonds.
• Mr. Truman said he would alert the president and other departments that the emperor might be trying to make them wary of Lin Qi.
• He Bosi mortgaged his assets at heavily reduced valuations and obtained ten billion Galil to sell to international speculators.
• He Bosi arranged to ship the money under police, bodyguard, and armed-ship protection, but the Federation barred it from leaving port over paperwork problems.

Mr. He Bosi’s attempt to move his money out of the port failed when customs seized it, and he realized Lin Qi’s scheme had trapped him. In Nagaril, Akumali led the Nagaril Youth Party in a palace assault that ended the monarchy and brought a new party to power.

• Mr. He Bosi presented documents to customs to justify exporting his funds, but customs police arrived after his cargo was seized and he collapsed.
• After waking, Mr. He Bosi learned the government suspected his money had entered the country illegally and angrily recognized Lin Qi’s trap.
• Akumali drove a modified truck through the palace walls, and Nagaril Youth Party members stormed the palace.
• The King killed the Queen and then himself, while most of the royal family were captured.
• The Nagaril People's Congress Party declared control of the Royal Capital and called on the Provincial Governors to begin Peace Talks.

After Nagaril’s upheaval made Galil worthless, Mr. He Bosi realized his debts and losses would ruin him and killed himself. Lin Qi learned of his death and planned to claim the mortgaged assets through the estate, leaving him with a substantial profit.

• The Federation’s plans for Nagaril collapsed after the Old King’s suicide and the failed palace assault, prompting the Federal Government to warn the United Development Company against further interference.
• Mr. He Bosi realized that Galil’s collapse had made his holdings worthless and left him unable to repay his debts or recover his collateral from Lin Qi.
• Mr. He Bosi sent his assistant to buy a roast duck leg, then left the hospital and jumped from the rooftop.
• Mr. Truman told Lin Qi about Mr. He Bosi’s suicide, and Lin Qi asked him to see whether any relatives would assume the debt.
• Lin Qi noted that if Mr. He Bosi had no heirs or will, his estate would be auctioned, allowing Lin Qi to profit from the mortgaged assets.

Lin Qi celebrated the profits from his financial maneuvering while Jenia mentioned Yuan Rong Capital. Richard’s Yuan Rong Capital attracted wealthy investors with high returns supposedly backed by gold mines, and an Imperial Earl hosted a banquet to bring in more participants.

• Lin Qi explained how he would distribute benefits to the banks, the Federal Military, and the United Development Company after profiting from the collapse of Henghui and Listoan.
• Lin Qi told Jenia he had made tens of millions of fralas, and she claimed she had made two hundred million before they began a playful trade war.
• Jenia asked Lin Qi whether he knew Yuan Rong Capital.
• Richard attended a banquet where an Imperial Earl introduced him to potential investors after Yuan Rong Capital had paid out two rounds of returns on its Gold Certificates.
• The Earl raised his glass beside Richard and toasted him and the Gold Certificates.

Richard used a reception to attract investors to Yuan Rong Capital and began plotting to take it public in Gefra to escape Lin Qi’s control. Meanwhile, Lin Qi secured a military contract in Anmeria as Nagaril’s peace talks fueled speculation about the country’s future and Galil’s value.

• Richard promoted Yuan Rong Capital’s gold certificates, using apparent proof of its ties to the United Development Company to secure more than seven hundred thousand francs at a reception and over six million in total investments.
• Richard decided to take Yuan Rong Capital public in Gefra, reasoning that he needed noble backing and planned to use his relationship with the Earl to break free from Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi finalized an agreement with Gefra’s Emperor and ministers granting Blackstone Security legal authority to conduct military operations in Anmeria and promising bounties for capturing or killing prominent insurgents.
• Nagaril’s multiparty peace talks entered negotiations, and speculation grew that the country might adopt either an electoral system or a United Council System.
• Investors bought physical Galil at scrap-paper prices in hopes that Nagaril would recognize its legitimacy, while others believed a United Council System would prevent its restoration.

Lin Qi argued against a multi-party electoral system for Nagaril, warning it could let anti-Federation ideas spread, and rejected recognizing the National Congress Party as a legitimate political force. He persuaded Mr. Truman to consider eliminating the party and restoring the Nagaril monarchy through a surviving royal heir.

• Mr. Truman explained that the Federation favored a multi-party system because the United Development Company could control elections and replace disobedient parties.
• Lin Qi warned that allowing multiple parties could spread hostile ideologies and give the National Congress Party a platform for radical ideas.
• Mr. Truman questioned how the Federation could contain the National Congress Party under a United Council System, where it might gain regional power.
• Lin Qi argued that the Federation should not recognize the party that had murdered Nagaril's King and proposed eliminating it and selecting a surviving royal heir.
• Mr. Truman praised Lin Qi's proposal and began considering how restoring the royal family could support the Federation's public image.

Lin Qi persuaded Mr. Truman to pursue a Joint Council System for Nagaril, using the Provincial Governors, the Royal Family’s Eldest Son, and Federal control of public opinion to secure influence. The Federation then condemned the Nagaril National Congress Party and announced plans for military action, leaving the Crown Prince stunned.

• Lin Qi proposed using the Old King’s eldest son and a Joint Council System to preserve Federal influence while protecting the Provincial Governors’ interests.
• Mr. Truman questioned whether the Provincial Governors might unite against the Federation, and Lin Qi argued that the Labor Union could help the Federation control public opinion.
• Mr. Truman agreed to find the Royal Family’s Eldest Son and recruit him as the first council speaker, offering him Federal citizenship and other benefits.
• The Federation declared that it denied the Nagaril National Congress Party’s right to rule the Royal Capital and accused it of murdering the king and Queen.
• The Federation announced that it would launch a military operation against the Nagaril National Congress Party, and the Crown Prince was shocked by the news.

The Crown Prince tried to keep his organization alive and planned to pass himself off as the ruler with Federal support, but the Federals installed his double instead. After arriving in Is, he discovered the imposter had been publicly recognized as the prince, leaving him desperate to reclaim his identity.

• The Crown Prince told his organization’s leaders to lie low and proposed that one of them could pose as the Crown Prince to gain power with Federal backing.
• The Crown Prince secretly left Nagaril for Is while Federal forces and the United Development Company took control of the palace and rescued royal family members.
• In Is, the Crown Prince bought a newspaper and saw his double featured as the prince hidden among the locals.
• The Crown Prince learned that the Federals had found his double a day earlier and placed him under their protection.
• The Crown Prince resolved to stop his double from being accepted as the real prince, fearing he would lose his royal status.

A royal double impersonated the Crown Prince and convinced the Federation to send him back to Nagaril, while the real Crown Prince remained on the run. Lin Qi then visited Jinhui headquarters to inspect the tens of millions in collateral he had won from Mr. He Bosi.

• A National Security Committee Agent reported the Crown Prince's claim about a royal double to Mr. Truman, who authorized the double's capture or execution and ordered the threat assessed.
• The double decided to replace the Crown Prince, but panicked when he saw the real Crown Prince outside and pointed him out to federal agents.
• Federal agents moved the double to safety, and Mr. Truman ordered him sent back to Nagaril; the double signed a declaration at Yisi Customs and departed the next morning while the real Crown Prince remained pursued.
• Lin Qi arrived at Jinhui headquarters, where Carl and bank staff presented the collateral he had gained from Mr. He Bosi.
• Carl offered Lin Qi vault and safe deposit services, and Lin Qi agreed that storing the valuables there sounded suitable.

After securing He Bosi’s assets, Lin Qi strengthened his relationship with Carl over lunch at Jinhui Bank. Carl revealed that officials and financial institutions were discussing a stimulus plan to help businesses that had orders but lacked startup funds, and hinted that society—not the banks—held the money.

• Lin Qi completed the inventory and storage of He Bosi’s assets, which would officially become his after registration in the relevant countries.
• Carl invited Lin Qi to lunch at Jinhui Bank’s restaurant and explained that its chef had once served a royal family and qualified for Skilled Worker Immigration.
• Lin Qi gave Carl a pair of blue gemstone cufflinks, and Carl accepted them warmly.
• Carl told Lin Qi that the Financial Supervisory Authority was considering an economic stimulus package because businesses lacked the money to fulfill new commercial orders.
• Carl explained that the banks could not provide the needed funds because Credit Loans had left them with unrecoverable bad debt, but society still had money.

Lin Qi learned that the Federation planned to let approved companies issue corporate bonds and considered how the policy might benefit him and burden workers. At home, he met a radio-wave scientist whose research funds had run out and asked how far the work had progressed.

• Carl told Lin Qi that the Financial Supervisory Authority planned to let companies raise money by issuing bonds to the public, and advised him to prepare materials for early approval.
• Lin Qi considered how the stimulus plan could help the president win re-election, weaken major capitalists' hold on small projects, and lead workers to fund factories through bond purchases.
• A disheveled middle-aged man approached Lin Qi's car outside his villa district, and Lin Qi's bodyguard restrained him before Lin Qi recognized him as the inventor whose Radio Reconnaissance Array he had funded.
• Lin Qi invited the radio-wave scientist to his villa, where the scientist explained that the investment money was gone and showed him a notebook recording the expenses.
• Lin Qi asked the scientist how far his research had advanced and whether the investment had begun to produce results.

Lin Qi secured the Folk Electromagnetic Wave Scientist a chance to present his research to military specialists, then joined Mr. Truman for a drink after Truman called in a foul mood. They arrived at a strip club, where Truman reflected on how long it had been since he visited such a place.

• Lin Qi listened to the Folk Electromagnetic Wave Scientist explain his research and used his technical knowledge to keep the conversation moving.
• Mr. Truman called Lin Qi and invited him for a drink, and Lin Qi asked whether he knew anyone familiar with military equipment technology.
• Lin Qi told the Folk Electromagnetic Wave Scientist that military personnel were interested in his research and that he would need to convince them himself.
• Two soldiers arrived, took the scientist and his materials to a research base, and planned to discuss his invention.
• Mr. Truman and Lin Qi drove to a strip club, exchanged cash for bills, and entered while the club's warm-up activities were underway.

Lin Qi drank with Mr. Truman, who had been suspended and investigated after angering major conglomerates. After Lin Qi shared his ideal world, the two left their serious conversation behind and enjoyed the club’s performance.

• Mr. Truman told Lin Qi that he had been temporarily suspended while the National Security Committee reassessed him and the Internal Affairs Department investigated a real-name report against him.
• Mr. Truman blamed the major conglomerates for retaliating after he blocked their interference in small and medium-sized contracts, and he resented the president’s caution ahead of the election.
• Lin Qi said the conglomerates’ response was relatively mild and discussed how people pursued the world they believed was right.
• Mr. Truman asked Lin Qi what his ideal world looked like, and Lin Qi described a prosperous, orderly society while admitting he also wanted more money and status.
• Lin Qi and Mr. Truman moved near the stage, where a dancer invited the drunken Mr. Truman to join her, and he tossed bills into the air during her performance.

After waking from a drunken night, Truman reconsidered his political ideals and apologized to the president for his past confrontational behavior. He agreed to make peace with the conglomerates, while the president promised to arrange the meeting.

• Truman woke alone with a hangover and recalled his conversation with Lin Qi about the kind of world he wanted.
• Truman arrived at the president's office, where the president teased him about being seen at Red High Heels.
• Truman clarified that he had come to apologize for yelling at the president and for his past actions.
• The president explained that holding power was necessary to achieve their goals, and Truman accepted that winning the election and maintaining stability came first.
• Truman offered to apologize to the conglomerate leaders whose interests he had affected, and the president agreed to arrange it.

Lin Qi advised Little Fox on Fox Film’s next projects and a new cultural-exchange opportunity with Gefra. Little Fox left with plans to pursue inspirational films, while Lin Qi stayed at the hotel with Penny.

• Lin Qi relaxed at a Lardimore hotel before attending the premiere of Fox Film’s second movie, which the company had moved up to avoid summer competition.
• Little Fox told Lin Qi that Fox Film planned to pause adventure movies and consider an inspirational film proposed by James.
• Lin Qi endorsed inspirational movies as suited to the Federal Republic’s coming economic revival and advised Fox Film to develop scripts about the Federal Spirit and the Federal Dream.
• Lin Qi told Little Fox that the Federal Republic and Gefra would exchange films under a four-year cultural-exchange plan, and that he had secured an opportunity for them to co-produce a movie.
• Little Fox wrote down Lin Qi’s advice and left, and Penny emerged from the pool beside Lin Qi.

Lin Qi warned Penny away from a politically risky joint film, then attended a premiere before waiting for events in Nagaril. As the Crown Prince restored control and Federal influence reshaped the country, Akumali was tracked down—but the soldiers asked whether he wanted to go abroad.

• Lin Qi explained the Federation-Gefra joint production to Penny and warned her that she was not ready to join it.
• Lin Qi and Penny attended a premiere, after which Lin Qi stayed in Lardimore to follow developments in Nagaril.
• The Crown Prince returned to the Royal Capital, while Federal Sol replaced Galil as Nagaril’s currency and political talks began.
• Akumali fled to Mengwu Province after the armed uprising failed and feared arrest as the authorities hunted Anti-Government Armed Forces members.
• Federation soldiers found Akumali and, after learning he could operate construction machinery and had no family at home, asked whether he wanted to go abroad.

Lin Qi arrived in Zhu Lisi to negotiate local contracts with Governor Sedel, whose absolute authority could block Federal business. Sedel suspected the Federals of secretly backing the Anti-Government Armed Forces and decided to make Lin Qi wait rather than compromise easily.

• Lin Qi learned that Governor Sedel controlled local contracts, disliked the Federation, and had no obvious interests that could be used to win his favor.
• Lin Qi asked whether Sedel had children while considering how to approach the governor after arriving in Zhu Lisi two days earlier.
• Sedel heard that Lin Qi had arrived and ordered his staff to leave the Federals waiting for a few more days.
• Sedel reviewed Blackstone Security's latest victory over an Anti-Government Armed Forces group and suspected the Federals had secretly supported the militants before turning against them.
• Sedel blamed the Federals for the Imperial soldiers killed in the conflict and resolved not to compromise easily.

Lin Qi arrived in Zhu Lisi and faced Gefran merchants who tried to humiliate him with a discriminatory sign. He turned their insult back on them by greeting a dog instead of the Chamber of Commerce President, leaving the merchants furious and wary of him.

• Gefran merchants gathered to plan how to embarrass Lin Qi after the Emperor granted the Federation mission equal treatment in Amelia Province.
• Lin Qi arrived at the Chamber of Commerce President Lu Fu’s house and saw the merchants’ discriminatory sign displayed beside the steps.
• Lin Qi called over a passing Patrol Team and asked a soldier with a dog to stand beside the sign.
• Lin Qi entered the gate and greeted the dog instead of Lu Fu, making the merchants realize their plan had backfired.
• Lin Qi gave the soldier a cigarette and traded barbed remarks with Lu Fu, who recognized that Lin Qi would not be easy to manipulate.

Lin Qi attended a Gefran merchants’ reception as a prospective baron and faced attempts to embarrass and isolate him. He openly declared that he had come to compete for their market, leaving the Chamber of Commerce President and the guests stunned.

• The Chamber of Commerce President apologized after Lin Qi pointed out a sign that treated him as a Gefran, then escorted him into the reception.
• The Chamber of Commerce President introduced Lin Qi as a baron from the Federation and asked him to address the guests.
• Lin Qi rejected polite flattery, saying the merchants resented the Federation and regarded his arrival as unforgivable.
• Lin Qi declared that he had come to compete with the merchants for the market and urged them to fight openly rather than use petty tricks.

Lin Qi won over Gefran guests with his speech at the reception, then met Governor Sedel, who praised his work but warned him to follow imperial rules in Amelia Province. The chapter left Lin Qi facing a wary governor’s demand that he restrain his methods.

• Lin Qi’s speech prompted the Chamber of Commerce President to apologize, and the two declared they would openly compete for their respective interests.
• News of the reception spread through Gefra, and merchants resolved to use imperial policies and subsidies to block Lin Qi’s projects.
• Governor Sedel summoned Lin Qi early and remarked on his youth, prompting Lin Qi to answer with a saying about ambition and age.
• Governor Sedel thanked Lin Qi for helping uncover anti-government forces and asked how he trained his employees.
• Lin Qi described Blackstone Security’s targeted training, and Governor Sedel warned him that he had to follow imperial rules in Amelia Province.