Chapter 756 - 474: Mentor (Part 2)

Chapter 756: Chapter 474: Mentor (Part 2)

As the patriarch responsible for an entire state, a governor must have a thorough understanding of its demographics and diverse beliefs.

This was especially true for the Indians, who made up a significant portion of the Indigenous People, and were a required subject of study for every governor.

A hundred years ago, white people had slaughtered Indians as if they were butchering chickens and dogs.

But now, they had to be afforded a great deal of respect.

This was a lesson from history, as well as a necessity of modern politics.

In modern-day Alaska, the power of the Indigenous People could not be underestimated. Their cultures and beliefs had become a vital part of the land’s diversity.

The Indians generally believed in animism.

This belief profoundly influenced their lives and culture.

In their view, everything in the world possessed a soul. Mountains and rivers, flowers and birds, fish and insects—all contained a unique Spirituality.

This belief permeated their daily actions, artistic creations, and traditional customs.

Throughout the entire American Continent, most Indians who believed in animism also had faith in Witchcraft.

They firmly believed that Witchcraft was a mystical means of controlling Elves.

For this reason, within the tribes, there were Shamans who specialized in performing Witchcraft.

These Shamans held a unique status in the hearts of the Indian people.

They were seen as intermediaries connecting Elves and humans, shouldering the heavy responsibility of communicating between the two worlds.

A Shaman’s every move and every word was believed to be intimately connected to supernatural forces.

’To be called an emissary of animism?’

That would naturally come with immense influence.

Not to mention, Chief Welta had used the incredibly weighty term "Spiritual Guide."

Surprise and contemplation flashed through Governor Walker’s eyes.

The meaning contained within this title was anything but ordinary.

The Shaman was an extremely sacred role in an Indian Tribe, with a status so high it sometimes surpassed that of the tribal leader.

They were seen as bridges connecting the human world to deities and ancestors, possessing extraordinary abilities and wisdom.

And a "Spiritual Guide" was a Shaman among Shamans, a core figure in the entire belief system.

They were not only believed to be able to communicate directly with deities and ancestors and to hear guidance from supernatural forces, but they also shouldered the great responsibility of presiding over all major tribal ceremonies.

Just one phrase from Chief Welta—"Spiritual Guide of the Alaska Indians"—instantly caused Feng Shan’s status to skyrocket in Governor Walker’s mind.

One had to understand that this meant that any single word from Feng Shan could very well be seen as the collective voice of all Indian Indigenous Tribes in Alaska.

To put it more pragmatically, if this Spiritual Guide right here were to state that Chief Welta was unfit to be a tribal Chief, then the Athabasca people would most likely follow his instruction without hesitation and overthrow Chief Welta’s leadership.

This was because in the belief and traditional systems of the Indian Indigenous People, a Spiritual Guide was seen as possessing a divinely inspired guiding power.

Their words carried an almost sacred authority.

By the same token, looking at it from another angle, if the Spiritual Guide thought he was the right man to continue as governor of Alaska, then that endorsement would very likely motivate all the Indian tribes across Alaska to cast their precious votes for him during the election.

At this very moment, the look in Governor Walker’s eyes as he gazed at Feng Shan had transformed from complex to increasingly fervent.

That gaze was like seeing his first love, his eyes filled with fiery emotion, as if Feng Shan were the most precious thing in his life, full of love.

An eager smile immediately appeared on his face. He adopted an extremely humble posture, quickly clasped his hands before his chest, and said,

"Respected Master Khilla, I am Bill Walker. Welcome."

It wasn’t just Governor Walker.

The state government staff present who were in charge of the reception also turned their fervent gazes toward Feng Shan after hearing of his incredibly significant identity.

Among them, Lady Erica, who had been seeking a seat in the state legislature, was the most obvious.

Her eyes glittered with excitement and calculation, as if she could already see the enormous boost Feng Shan could provide for her political career.

Moreover, a few staff members couldn’t contain their excitement.

They furtively pulled out their phones and hurried to the side.

Lowering their voices, they began to tip people off, quickly spreading the astonishing news.

The rise of an Indian Spiritual Guide meant the political landscape was about to be reshuffled.

It was enough to shake the entire political circle of Alaska.

Consider this: Alaska’s population is only just over 700,000. Indigenous People make up about 16% of that, and Indians account for 10% of the Indigenous population. These Indians, combined with their friends and relatives, represented a voting bloc of at least 20%.

With a stable 20% voting bloc, one could practically control Alaskan politics.

For a moment, the atmosphere in front of the conference hall became both delicate and intense with the revelation of Feng Shan’s special identity.

Whoever could win this master’s friendship...

...might not be able to say for the entire United States...

...but at least here in Alaska, their political career would be secure.

However, at this moment, Feng Shan’s mind was a complete blank.

He was even at a loss for what to do.

’Back in China, even a neighborhood sanitation inspector would walk around with their head held high.’

’They’d inspect a small restaurant and leave with two bottles of good liquor.’

But here was the dignified governor of an entire state acting so incredibly humble.

The stark contrast was hard for Feng Shan to adjust to.

Jeff gave him a gentle push from behind, and only then did Feng Shan snap out of his trance, pulled back to reality. He hurriedly responded to Governor Walker’s friendly gesture with a hint of nervousness.

"H-hello. I’m Feng, from the Crown Territory."

Before Governor Walker could say another word, the Inuit Chiefs standing in the crowd could no longer contain their dissatisfaction.

Chief Welta’s words from just now... they had heard them loud and clear.

They could accept him saying Khilla was an emissary of animism.

But to say that Khilla had somehow become the Spiritual Guide of the Alaska Indians... that they could not accept.

Old Pete, the Point Laya Chief, his face contorted with rage, strode out from the crowd and accused him bluntly.

"Welta, you’ve gone senile! How is Khilla your Indians’ Spiritual Guide? Khilla is one of our people from the Far North Tundra!"

"That’s right! Who says so? We Inuit don’t recognize that!"

The Kivalina Chief, Louise, also shouted her opposition excitedly, her hands on her hips and her face full of indignation. "Khilla has always stood side-by-side with us Inuit, working tirelessly on matters of the Far North Tundra! How did he suddenly become the Spiritual Guide of the Indians? It’s absurd!"

"Exactly! The Indians are as unreasonable as ever! Savages!"

The Wevok Chief, Kitto, also stepped forward. His words grew even more heated, escalating the conflict to a racial level, his speech filled with contempt and anger toward the Indians.

In an instant, the previously harmonious atmosphere became tense and hostile.

The accusations from the Inuit Chiefs rose and fell one after another.

Everyone’s gaze focused once again on Chief Welta and Feng Shan.

When the Elder Chief Welta heard this, he began to tremble with rage.

Unwilling to show any weakness, he abruptly raised a skinny, vein-covered arm and shouted back.

"Bullshit! Khilla has always been the Spiritual Guide of the Indians! What do you Eskimos, who only know how to eat raw meat, know about anything!"

The other Chieftain Leaders who had entered the conference hall heard the argument and all came back out.

Seeing the confrontation between the Indian Tribe and the Inuit Tribe, they immediately grew furious.

Feeling that their own people were being bullied, they didn’t care who was right or wrong—all that mattered was backing their own side.

They immediately joined their respective groups and all began to argue.

In a flash, the entrance to the once-spacious conference hall was filled with a deafening clamor as both sides stuck to their guns, refusing to back down.

A cacophony of accusations and curses intertwined, echoing down the corridor.

"You Inuit are going too far!"

"That’s right! Our ancestors should have driven you into the Chukchi Sea to drown!"

"Eskimos have no manners!"

"You Indian savages have the nerve to talk about us? Are you going to complain that the white men didn’t shoot fast enough?"

"A reindeer hide is worth more than an Indian’s skull."

"One hundred pounds, one hundred pounds."

"Do you even have your land anymore?"

The Chieftain Leaders from both sides traded barbs, one after another.

Their voices grew louder and louder, each trying to overpower the other with sheer force.

They waved their arms, their faces flushed red.

It was as if they’d forgotten they were in the Parliament Building, and that they had a meeting to attend.

The entire scene spiraled completely out of control.

A heated argument devolved into a chaotic brawl.

...