In Vias Central Square, Lin Qi leaped onto a carriage and pressed both hands down forcefully toward the surrounding crowds of onlookers and nobles.
"Quiet, respected ladies and gentlemen, quiet!"
Sweeping his gaze over the tens of thousands gathered around him, Lin Qi smiled and nodded. "Old Wan En is delighted that so many beautiful young ladies and madams, so many handsome young masters and gentlemen, have come to welcome the Longshan Family back to Vias, the great commercial capital of Vias!"
Those nobles who had long since formed an understanding with Lin Qi immediately burst into uproarious laughter. They laughed until they bent double, until spittle flew everywhere, until their big front teeth showed. The common folk who did not understand what was going on also laughed and chattered, while some particularly enthusiastic citizens blew whistles that shrieked sharply through the air.
To the people of Vias, who lived amid an atmosphere steeped in commerce, there was none of the reverence for royalty found in the Gallic Empire or the Harlan Empire. Nor did Vias possess a royal family. The citizens of Vias feared only two things—the Church and gold coins!
The Church controlled souls, while gold coins controlled both soul and flesh!
Other than the Church and gold coins, the citizens of Vias did not particularly care about nobles.
Standing atop a carriage in Central Square to deliver a loud speech was hardly unusual in Vias. Especially when nobles wished to run for governor or some other official post, they would always put on a few performances here. Thus, when they saw Lin Qi leap onto the carriage, they merely applauded and cheered out of habit, hoping to hear something different from the usual noble rhetoric.
"The Longshan Family!" Lin Qi declared loudly. "Everyone knows that the Longshan