398: Chapter 196 Our Business Outlook is Broad 398: Chapter 196 Our Business Outlook is Broad It is said that the reason why the Former Dynasty and the Frank Empire went to war, besides contesting for influence in South Asia, was significantly due to a large migration of Europe’s middle class overseas to the Pacific Rim region.
As one of the most economically developed deepwater port cities of the Former Dynasty, Tianmen City was listed among the top ten most livable cities in the Pacific Rim region.
The reasons for migration were complex, involving various factors including politics and economics.
However, the main reason was to avoid the disasters brought about by timespace tides.
Ordinary people lacked understanding of the concept of timespace tides, and their lives passed in confusion, indifferent to its implications.
But the impact on the middle-class wealthy was quite significant.
Though the Far East was indeed farther away, and money was not so easily earned, it at least offered a peaceful and stable social environment.
With stability in society, the economy could develop.
Looking back at home, the nobles and bureaucrats were inept, the workers were daily drunk and brawling, high on ‘flying leaves,’ and there were minority groups waving rainbow banners clamoring for special treatment…
Of course, this is just a metaphorical expression.
It meant that under the ravages of the timespace tides, conducting honest business had become a luxury.
For instance, the Baroque Alchemy Society, now known as the Longevity Sect, moved its entire organization to the Far East early on, and naturally, the families, friends, and partners of these alchemists followed suit.
In addition, there were alien powers incorporated into the empire’s domain during the Great Expedition Era — I apologize for the mix-up — these were the Foreign Clans from overseas, including the Sea People, Spirit Clan, and naturalized citizens from Fusang, among others, that after the President’s former expeditions overseas were incorporated into the territory of the Government of the Ming Country.
These peoples collectively formed a vast immigrant community in Tianmen City.
To date, the immigrant population of Tianmen City has reached as many as three hundred thousand, though they are mostly concentrated in the Seaside District, with few Foreign Clan members seen in the old city area.
This is largely thanks to a series of stringent policies enacted by the new government.
These included designated residential areas and job positions, a crackdown on illegal immigrants without documents or permits, and a ban on all forms of religious proselytizing activities, among others.
However, faith is a difficult thing to suppress.
Some people grow up immersed in such environments, where belief becomes a fundamental part of their lives; if you forbid them to hold onto some kind of faith, they find life meaningless.
Max once said it was easy to gather faith among the overseas immigrant community, and indeed he proved he was not boastful.
In just half a month in the real world, he single-handedly managed to establish a religious group of considerable size.
This group had grown to a membership of more than a hundred people.
Today, appearing in the church — in reality, the apartment that Max had temporarily rented — these dozens of people, as he claimed, were all staunch believers.
They were indeed staunch, as just dozens of them were able to gather sufficient Power of Faith — or as it is known here, Incense Faith Power — to provide a guiding sign for Xia Yubing and Li Mumu’s arrival.
Before this, they had not even known what exactly they were worshipping.
When Mumu arrived from Dreamland for Children, she saw these people overcome with emotion, prostrating and knocking their heads in gratitude towards Xia Yubing.
Before she could open her mouth to speak, these people also saw Li Mumu, and became even more excited, shouting in the bird language of some country, and turned to continue kowtowing to her.
Li Mumu was very awkward.
According to the rules here, if you kowtow like this, I have to give you New Year’s money.
Then she saw a woman stand up, put the banknotes she was holding into the donation box in front of the altar, and then retreated while carefully smiling at her.
Ah?
You kowtow to me and give me money?
This shouldn’t be happening, auntie?
Max, draped in a Taoist robe from who knows where and holding a peach wood sword, chastised seriously, “The Divine Envoy has arrived, you may all leave after paying your respects!”
After driving away the excited group of believers, Max closed the door, turned around, and smiled, “Ladies, you see I didn’t lie to you, did I?
This is very pure Power of Faith, almost without any impurities.
As long as the news of your arrival spreads tonight, the scale of our believers will rapidly expand, ten times or even a hundred times is not a problem.”
Li Mumu asked curiously, “What exactly did you tell them?”
“I told them you are Divine Envoys under Mount Tai’s ruler.”
“You said that and they believed it?”
“I didn’t lie.
Isn’t the practice you cultivate the Undead System?
In Eastern mythology, Mount Tai’s ruler is the god who rules the Netherworld.
All the undead in the world are under his jurisdiction.
What’s the problem?”
Max spoke with righteous indignation, and Li Mumu listened with nowhere to hide her face.
I’m actually listening to a foreigner mansplain Eastern mythology on my own turf!
“Moreover, Mount Tai’s ruler no longer responds to the calls, and besides the active Divine Envoys of the Overseas Netherworld, in the East, only the local City God’s Offices maintain normal operations.
The City God’s Office only manages local affairs and has no desire to pay extra attention to overseas immigrants.
This is a huge power vacuum, with limitless market potential,” Max said, regarding his familiar field of business with confidence.
“My idea is that we can completely refer to the operation model of Ming Country’s Overseas Netherworld.
We will promote the service of transferring Lost Souls…
Ah, no, these overseas immigrants don’t have the Ming people’s stubborn idea of ‘fallen leaves returning to their roots,’ so we also have to adjust the business details according to the specific situation.
From transferring, we change to soothing, which makes the promotion more attractive.”
“You don’t have to overcomplicate this issue.
I know people from the Ming Country are very demanding when it comes to their gods, but these immigrants are different.
A large part of this group’s understanding of faith remains at a very primitive level— in other words, they don’t have so many demands on deities and only need such faith to provide shelter for their souls.”
Max stopped for a moment as he said this.
“It’s like clothing.
Everyone else is dressed in suits and ties, and you’re stark naked.
That definitely won’t work; at least you need to put on a gunny sack…
that’s the idea.”
“So ladies, this is a win-win situation for both parties.
You don’t have to feel any burden.
Also, I’ve been in touch with another piece of business.
The question is whether you’re interested.”
He pulled out a vial with bright red liquid from his pocket: “This is the down payment from the other party—50 milliliters of God’s Blood.”