Lin Qi's laughter was so abrupt that Bicus, arrogant enough to look down on the heavens and deem no one worthy of his notice, finally lowered his eyelids and gave Lin Qi a proper look.
His gaze swiftly swept over Lin Qi's understated yet sufficiently luxurious attire, especially the antique silver ring on the index finger of his left hand, worn purely for appearances. That ring had been passed down from the true Dragon Mountain Count, a symbol reserved for core members of the Longshan Family.
Although the ring was made of utterly ordinary material, nothing more than a common silver band, its design, its mottled antique patina, and the emblem of a giant dragon standing atop a mountain and roaring at the sky engraved upon its face gradually made Bicus's expression turn grave.
"My apologies. I was discourteous!" Bicus narrowed his eyes at Lin Qi. Since Holy Light I had named him Crown Prince, Bicus had come to learn of many secretive existences in this world—or rather, on the Western Continent. Many were beyond his comprehension and not things he could touch lightly. Even those lofty emperors and kings had no right to come into contact with the things hidden behind that dense curtain of darkness.
Thus, when faced with Lin Qi, whose background he could not fathom, Bicus chose an exceedingly mild tone. "I am Bicus, Crown Prince of the Gallic Empire, invested as Duke of Bordeaux. May I ask who you are?"
Lin Qi clasped his hands behind his back and nodded to Bicus with great reserve. "Wan En Longshan pays his respects to Your Exalted Highness the Crown Prince. On behalf of the Longshan Family, and on behalf of the esteemed Count Turing Anderm Dragon Mountain, I offer you my respects!"
Bicus's expression suddenly froze. He