CH 249

It would be troublesome to get caught up in the muscle festival, so I forcefully took the two of them to the clothing store.

Muscle festivals are fun to watch from the outside.

In my position, I would definitely get involved.

Before I gave permission, Mil and Kiara looked uncomfortable.

Mil was unusually scratching her head and looking troubled.

“Um…do you want me to make it stop next year?”

Kiara, too, had a drawn look on her face.

“I’ve been so busy with work that I didn’t even notice what was on display at the festival.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“No, it’s not right to force people to stop it when everyone else is having fun. It’s not like they’re bothering anyone, and if it relieves the ladies’ stress, it’s fine. I can’t allow anything that will cause death or injury, though. Never mind that, let’s buy some clothes.”

Mil and Kiara looked relieved and quickly changed their mood or proceeded into the store.

Choosing clothes for the front gate, muscles for the back gate.

I was going to recite the Tale of the Heike in my brain, but I ended up reciting it to the tune of Shanghai Powerslam.

I had done everything before my reincarnation, but it turned out to be a bad thing…

The sound of the bell of the Gion Shouja (Hai! Hai! Hai!)

There are echoes of the impermanence of all things (Hai! Hai!)

In the midst of all this, the Carnival was over.

The next day was the last day of the festival.

I decided to stay in my office.

But when you are the feudal lord, you get visitors.

Onyxim, who was supposed to be holed up in his workshop, came to see me.

Did you and Rebecca have a quarrel?

“What can I do for you, Mr. Arensky?”

“Oh, I have one request.”

A request that you come all the way out here to ask about… is it large-scale?

“What is it, I’d like to accommodate it in any way possible.”

Onyxim grinned as he fiddled with his beard.

“You remember how you blasted me with that soap thing.”

I grin back at him.

“Yes, of course.”

“So, can we realize with our own hands what the apostles have done up to now? That’s what I thought. It’s just right that our magical advisor is a professor of apostolic study. He kept talking to us with just a bottle of wine.”

Magical… Ahhhh, I remember that named him that.

“So, what did you set out to recreate?”

Onyxim puffed out his chest.

“A man’s romance, an explosive.”

Explosives…

“What are the chances of that happening?”

Onyxim looked astounded.

“You won’t know until you try it. You said before. Don’t be afraid of failure.”

You suddenly make a leap there.

But I had no reason to deny it.

“So you want to build a facility outside of town with an emphasis on safety?”

“It’s great that you understand. It is indeed too dangerous for children.”

That’s for sure.

“I understand. I authorize the construction of a hazardous materials laboratory. By the way, how’s Ms. Rebecca?”

Onyxim gave me an astonished look.

“How could I know in a day or so? At least she wasn’t belligerent. I guess we’ll figure it out.”

Ah, I see, I jumped to conclusions.

“You are right. Then, proceed with the plan as is.”

Explosives, is it for construction purposes, or will it end up in military use?

If they walk away on their own, there is no need to force them to stop.

If they go as far as human experimentation, I will indeed stop them, though…

We will just have to wait and see what happens.

We can’t put it to practical use so soon, after all.

After Onyxim left, I decided to ask Kiara for a favor.

“Kiara, you’re Ears will be busy. Please scrutinize the information on all the territories, including the new ones. Also, please dispatch a few Ears to the Governor, Mr. Oracio. He, too, will need information. Tell them they would receive instructions there. They are also his direct link to me.”

Kiara nodded strongly and happily.

“I understand, and with the festival coming to an end, it’s just in time. Also, I have received the knighthood ordination form from the head family. We will decide on the ceremony here, so please just give us your approval.”

I guess she knows of my indifference to the ceremony.

I’m grateful for that.

“I’ll leave that to you. Anyway, after the festival is over, we will start making changes to the governing structure. I’ll explain it to you all about it in advance.”

Mil and Kiara’s faces turned serious.

The aides seemed quite nervous as well.

“First of all, we are going to change the duties and personnel of the current council of representatives. The department that looks after the entire Ravenna region will be under my direct control. This will consist of the ministers of the various ministries and a few observers.”

Mil pondered for a moment.

“Are you going to cut loose what we were doing when Al was away?”

“Yes, that’s the general idea. The day-to-day running of the city is delegated to an appointed mayor. The city will be managed by a representative, as it has been in the past. Personnel from ministries and agencies will also be dispatched to the city. I will explain the details at tomorrow’s representatives’ meeting.”

Kiara tilted her head and looked at me with mischievous eyes.

“When brother talks like that, it is only the foundation, isn’t it?

“Yes, if I make it too clear, everyone will explode. We’ll tweak it as we get used to it.”

(T/N: I guess their mind will explode because they won’t be able to take it all in.)

Kiara nodded and gave Mil a mischievous look.

“That mayor, he’ll be in trouble. I’m sure Sister is the right person for the job, considering her experience.”

The expression on Mil’s face disappeared.

“Yes? Kiara is the right person for the job too, isn’t she? I have other things to do as Al’s wife.”

I’ll have to stop them before they start fighting again.

“No, it’s not you two. We will decide on the first, and he will serve for four years for the time being. I think the term of office needs to be reworked… The second and later generations will be elected from among the city representatives. After the festival, this is my gift to them.”

Mil gave me a look.

“Al, are you actually rooting for the Carnival?”

No, it has nothing to do with that at all.

As long as I don’t get involved, you can do whatever you want with that one…