It began with the weight of heavy gold coins.
Combined with the badge representing the North Wind caravan, the dual effect was highly potent.
Lin Gui's progress in establishing a post office in the refugee district advanced at an astonishing speed.
He first had to deal with the low-level clerks in charge of land deeds and business permits.
The entire process was nothing short of a theatrical display of human hypocrisy.
At first, the clerk took one look at Lin Gui's tattered mage robes and his Mid-tier High Rank strength.
His face was written all over with disdain and neglect.
He crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and pointed at a form for Lin Gui to fill out.
He told Lin Gui to come back exactly one year from today.
He might as well have written ‘I don't want to deal with you’ right across his forehead.
But everything changed when Lin Gui quietly slid a large bag of gold coins across the desk.
That disdain instantly transformed into naked greed.
The clerk even dropped hint after hint, subtly and overtly demanding... a little extra.
Clearly, he took Lin Gui for some wealthy fool seeking refuge in the Royal Capital.
Lin Gui didn't care about the clerk's demands for more money; after all, it wasn't his money anyway.
As the bribes piled up, the greed in the clerk's eyes grew deeper and deeper.
He began thumping his chest, promising to process Lin Gui's application in the shortest time possible.
He even offered to cut him to the front of the line, right alongside the nobles.
However, the moment Lin Gui mentioned that he wanted to open a post office catering to refugees and commoners, the clerk's attitude took a sharp turn.
The greed in the clerk's eyes instantly crystallized into cold, murderous intent.
This touched upon an unspeakable taboo.
But in the next instant, Lin Gui produced the North Wind badge.
He calmly declared his identity as a member of the transport team.
Before the murderous look on the clerk's face could even fade, it was completely swallowed by sheer terror.
His legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees on the spot to beg for mercy.
In the span of just a few minutes, the man's expression had changed no fewer than four times.
The matter was quickly escalated up the chain of command.
Ultimately, Lin Gui was received by a well-dressed, dignified elderly man.
He was the butler of a prominent high noble.
He was also a direct beneficiary and representative of the Royal Capital's existing post office monopoly.
A negotiation regarding the right to establish a post office commenced in a tense, delicate atmosphere.
When Lin Gui made it clear that his target clientele was strictly the refugees of the Seventh Ring and some commoners of the Sixth Ring, and that he would never touch the upper districts, the old butler could not hide his astonishment.
A look of sheer bewilderment crossed the old butler's face.
He asked for confirmation repeatedly.
He seemed utterly unable to comprehend why anyone would go to such lengths for a bunch of “mud-legged peasants.”
He couldn't understand why someone would even leverage their connections with the North Wind caravan for such a cause.
Lin Gui could clearly sense the deep-seated disdain of a superior class lurking in the old butler's eyes.
Yet, wary of the North Wind Transport Team's backing, the old butler ultimately refrained from showing any direct hostility.
He candidly pointed out that Lin Gui's proposed actions were, in themselves, highly “dangerous” to their interests.
It was not a threat of physical violence, but rather the potential to completely shatter the “class barrier” of information transmission.
It threatened to ruin the image of “exclusive service” and the added value they had meticulously crafted for their noble clientele.
The terms on both sides were revised over and over.
After a long, grueling back-and-forth, they finally managed to reach a tentative consensus on a few points.
First, Lin Gui's post office could only operate within the Sixth and Seventh Rings.
He was strictly forbidden from actively expanding his services to any of the upper rings.
Second, Lin Gui's post office had to be registered under their name and accept their “supervision.”
Furthermore, the name could absolutely not be the “7-Copper Post Office.”
A name like that carried clear connotations of fixed pricing and equality.
It could only be called the “Pariah Messenger.”
Third, and most importantly.
Lin Gui had to maintain an attitude of “charity” and “happenstance.”
He needed to ensure that any nobles who happened to pass by or hear of it would perceive it a certain way.
They had to believe that Lin Gui's mail collection and delivery in the Royal Capital was merely a temporary, time-limited act of charity.
It could not look like a continuously operating business.
The nobles had to feel that the refugees and commoners had simply struck dumb luck.
That they had merely chanced upon an eccentric, “charitable” mage.
Rather than enjoying a stable, low-cost essential service.
“There are many ways to go about this.”
The old butler explained, slowly laying out examples.
He showed Lin Gui exactly how to provide sufficient “spiritual value” to the nobility.
To preserve their sense of superiority.
“For instance, you could claim that this is a temporary endeavor to gather the ‘willpower of all living beings’ required for a certain magical experiment.”
“Or, you could pretend to be a naive noble youth, moved by a traveling bard's tales, who suddenly decided to experience the common life on a whim...”
“In short, you must play the part to the fullest.”
“You must make the lords feel that this is not a service, but rather...”
“Well, an act of curiosity and pity toward the lower classes—a fleeting, high-and-mighty favor.”
“Only then will the lords laugh it off, perhaps even finding it amusing, rather than feeling offended.”
Lin Gui listened expressionlessly, sneering in his heart.
He didn't care if the name was the “7-Copper Post Office” or the “Pariah Messenger.”
Nor did he care about being registered under their supervision.
He minded even less playing along with these noble lords in their theatrical display of “charity.”
As long as he could ultimately deliver the letters and complete the system's mission.
And make things easier for those who truly needed it.
He could compromise on these superficial titles and formalities.
“Fine.”
Lin Gui nodded, accepting these humiliating conditions.
The old butler finally smiled with satisfaction.
It was as if he had resolved a potential nuisance while maintaining proper decorum.
Once he obtained the stamped permit.
Lin Gui left the hypocritical office without looking back.
He looked up at the chaotic, dilapidated, yet vibrant streets of the Seventh Ring's refugee district.
The post office could finally open for business.
He needed to deliver the over five thousand letters brought from Caran City in the shortest time possible.
Lin Gui began pouring money into the project without regard for the cost.
He directly chose a relatively central location in the refugee district.
He bought a dilapidated but spacious two-story wooden building.
After paying gold coins far exceeding the market price, a large number of carpenters and laborers were quickly assembled.
They worked day and night to expand and reinforce the wooden building.
There was only one requirement: it had to be fast, and it had to be spacious.
The clanging of construction and the rising dust filled the air.
This quickly drew the attention of the entire refugee district.
At the same time, the news began to spread rapidly.
The dissemination of information was also paved with gold.
Lin Gui's original plan was to have people shout the news directly and simply throughout the refugee and commoner districts.
“We have letters from Caran City! If you know any of these names, tell each other to come to the ‘Pariah Messenger’ to claim them! There is a reward!”
However, as soon as this notice was drafted.
It was taken over by the “assistance” team sent by the old butler.
With a sweep of their pens, they completely rewrote the content.
【Notice to the Pariahs of the Seventh Ring.】
【By the grace and mercy of the noble lords, you are hereby granted the opportunity to correspond with your lowly relatives afar.】
【A number of letters have arrived from the wretched city of Caran, bestowed as charity upon you crawling wretches.】
【Those who recognize their own lowly names may crawl to the ‘Pariah Messenger’ to receive them on bended knee.】
【Should you wish to send a reply, you must kowtow to express your gratitude for this divine favor, and present seven copper coins.】
【To prove that you are not entirely ungrateful!】
The promotional language was filled with blatant condescension and extreme contempt.
Treating the commoners and refugees like stray dogs by the roadside.
Lin Gui watched the heavily altered notice, but he did nothing to stop it.
Yet, ironically, this contemptuous method of promotion proved extraordinarily effective.
It spread even faster and wider than Lin Gui's egalitarian method of notification back in Caran City.
Perhaps after enduring long-term oppression.
The refugees and commoners had long since grown accustomed to receiving things as charity.
To them, this actually felt more “realistic” and easier to comprehend.
Before long, long queues began to form outside the post office.
Most of those waiting in line were dressed in rags, their faces deeply etched with the marks of hardship and labor.
The eyes of the refugees were filled with bewilderment and dread, while the faces of the commoners bore numbness and exhaustion.
They shuffled forward with tentative, cautious steps.
As if merely stepping into this seemingly “magnificent” post office was a transgression.
With trepidation, they received the envelopes from the hands of the “staff.”
The envelopes might carry the very last words of their distant loved ones.
Hardly anyone dared to speak aloud during the entire process.
There was only heavy breathing and suppressed sobbing.
For these people struggling on the brink of survival, these letters from afar weighed a thousand tons.
Only after finding a quiet corner would they eagerly and with trembling hands tear them open.
What followed was often a long silence.
And then, uncontrollable weeping—a mixture of longing, grief, and a tiny sliver of solace.
That thin sheet of paper carried the sole remaining connection between them and their distant families.
A bond that had been nearly crushed to dust by their miserable lives.
The team sent by the old butler handled almost all the daily operations.
Distributing mail, registering replies, and collecting fees.
Dressed in fine clothing, they stood out starkly against their drab surroundings.
They made no effort to hide their utter disgust for this crowd of “filthy pariahs.”
They held handkerchiefs over their noses.
When giving change, they looked as if they wished they could use tweezers to handle the copper coins.
Yet, their efficiency was remarkably high.
On one hand, it was due to their professionalism.
On the other hand, it was because Lin Gui paid each of them a generous salary far exceeding the market rate.
Thus, these people found themselves in a unique state of mind.
They balanced the “agony of enduring a filthy environment and low-class rabble” with the “sheer joy of earning a handsome reward.”
They kept the daily operations of the “Pariah Messenger” running with utmost efficiency.
So efficient, in fact, that in just half a day, nearly half of the five thousand letters Lin Gui had brought from Caran had already been claimed.
Lin Gui even began to wonder if he should hire these professionals to work for him permanently in the future.
The task of delivering letters, which was supposed to tie him down.
Had now freed up Lin Gui's time, thanks to the butler's unintended assistance.
Now, he only needed to hand the envelopes over to the professional team downstairs.
He didn't have to worry about them playing tricks or tearing up envelopes in front of the commoners.
Though watching the despair in the eyes of commoners had always been a favorite pastime of the upper class.
They wouldn't dare do it here.
Because for every letter successfully delivered to its rightful recipient, Lin Gui paid them a commission of twenty gold coins.
In just half a day, to open this post office and appease the great noble behind the butler.
He had spent nearly a million gold coins.
Fortunately, none of it was his own money.
He wondered if that noble lady had discovered that her private vault had been completely cleaned out by him.
Lin Gui actually felt a slight urge to see her despairing, twisted, and furious face.
He also looked forward to the spectacle of her tearing into her own nephew.
Unfortunately, Lin Gui had to go search for information regarding the Queen's Tomb.
“Are you leaving?”
Theia, her face completely concealed, watched Lin Gui as he prepared to head out.
There was a trace of barely perceptible loneliness in her voice.
She desperately wanted to go with him, but she was terrified of exposing her identity.
It was true that Lin Gui's 【Shroud of the Gloomy Night】 could deceive Legendary Rank experts.
But no one could guarantee.
Whether there existed special items or magic in the vast Royal Capital—like Gorn's steel needle—that could directly detect soul fluctuations.
For safety's sake.
She had spent the last two days cooped up in this stronghold in the refugee district, quietly cultivating.
Lin Gui naturally noticed Theia's loneliness and melancholy.
After a moment's thought, he said, “Well, get ready tonight.”
“Hmm?” Theia looked up, her long, pointed ears twitching instinctively.
“I'll take you out for a walk in the Fifth Ring's commercial district tonight.”
In an instant, Theia's eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of her hood, lit up.
Her long ears, which had been drooping slightly, suddenly perked up with excitement.
They twitched gently, betraying the sheer joy in her heart.
“Really?!”
“Yes.” Lin Gui nodded with a smile.
Although Lin Gui also worried about Theia being discovered.
Even if she were, he had the ability to get her out safely.
Soon, some nobles returning from excursions outside the city caught wind of the “Pariah Messenger.”
When they saw the blatantly insulting promotional slogans.
And the description of noble servants “bestowing” letters upon the refugees as charity.
They couldn't help but burst into laughter.
They treated the matter as an amusing piece of gossip to share over tea.
And so, it spread rapidly through noble circles.
“Have you heard? A ‘Pariah Messenger’ opened up in the Seventh Ring. It's incredibly blunt!”
“Hahaha, I wonder which family came up with that idea. It's quite novel.”
“Bestowing a few opportunities to correspond just to watch those pariahs weep with gratitude—now that is a form of entertainment.”
While this bizarre “post office” was running smoothly.
Within the First Ring's Royal District.
Inside an ultra-luxurious hotel where even the doorknobs were inlaid with magical gems.
Elvia was listening to a report from her subordinate.
When she heard that Lin Gui had not only successfully opened a post office in the Royal Capital,
but had also seemingly established connections with the upper-level post office interest group and even a great noble,
and that they had even sent people to “assist” him, she was completely dumbfounded.
“How on earth did that guy... get in touch with those blood-sucking great nobles?”
“Why would they allow him to open a post office? And why the hell did they send people to help him?”
Elvia massaged her temples, her mind filled with questions.
“Given Lin Gui's moral obsession... how could he tolerate nobles riding all over him?”
“And using slogans that are clearly insulting to commoners?”
“And even allowing others to ‘bestow’ letters in front of him with such an attitude?”
This completely shattered her perception of Lin Gui.
This was absolutely not the Lin Gui she knew in Caran City—the one who, upon seeing a noble insult a commoner,
would with a cold face drag them off to feed the demons!
Despite her head being full of questions,
Elvia did not have much energy left at the moment
to pry into exactly what Lin Gui had done.
She was currently facing a far more severe, potentially life-or-death problem.
John's Holy Knights, who had escorted her to Caran City, had been completely wiped out.
Shortly after she, Lin Gui, and Theia had departed from that bizarre underground tomb,
inside the Royal Capital's Knight Hall,
the soul lamps representing the life status of all members of John's Holy Knights
had all extinguished at the exact same time.
The most critical issue was that
John's Holy Knights had originally been dispatched by royal decree specifically to escort her, the Seventh Princess, to assume her post in Caran City.
Now, she had returned alive.
Yet, the entire knight order responsible for protecting her had met a mysterious end, leaving no corpses behind.
It was highly difficult to prevent others from drawing connections.
Whether the demise of John's Holy Knights had something to do with her.
After all, her relationship with the Third Prince was notoriously terrible.
Rate on N.U.
