The military salute came from another life. Li Wei had taught it to Huozi and the others out of nostalgia for Blue Star. The hand rose to the temple, then the palm turned downward, meaning that the people's interests came above all else. But hadn't he also harbored a faint hope that all of Zelandia might unite its people's will and fight with everything they had?
At the same time, Li Wei hoped that the threat of force from "the adult Red Dragon Tibilus"—his trump-card backer—would inspire his employees. When facing Drow oppression, they would no longer feel lost or afraid, but believe firmly that they, too, had a powerful Red Dragon backing them!
As for the scene of troops lined up for a review before him, it really hadn't been Li Wei's idea. It was probably something a few of his good employees had cooked up to flatter him.
Huozi was a straightforward, practical sort, and was still back in the 13th Mining Area protecting the Dwarf craftsmen as they repaired the "coffin," so he was clearly the first to be ruled out. And Igg, who had been dragged along by the red-robed Bald Guy Fischer to fill out the ranks and was now wearing a helpless, wry smile, wasn't the sort to fawn over a dragon at every opportunity, either.
That left Fischer as the likely instigator. He and Tiger, the Old Dwarf eager to cement his position, had evidently hit it off, and put on this little show.
Still, one had to admit that although the troop review hadn't been rehearsed long enough to look especially orderly, it made up for that with its imposing presence and thunderous clamor. It had a certain flair.
It was also hard to say whether the preparations for the review had