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The Palace of Roses.
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This was the deepest part of the imperial palace, where the Empress resided.
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Yet this secluded space was now crowded with numerous nobles.
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Every one of them belonged to the Emperor’s faction—figures sworn to loyalty toward the imperial family.
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“What brings you all here?”
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Empress Cecilia Sierre asked in a gentle voice.
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She held a porcelain teacup with elegant grace.
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Lately, her mood had been exceptionally good.
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Luxurious products from the Carius duchy always reached her first.
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Even this tea set was a one-of-a-kind piece.
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In truth, she had arranged this gathering partly to show off.
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To let the noble ladies, who coveted her teacups, see what they were missing.
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Soon, a stern-faced middle-aged noble bowed and replied.
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“May I speak first?”
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“Yes, go ahead. Viscount Hubert.”
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“I apologize for the presumption, but barbaric acts are occurring in Delriat.”
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“Isn’t it doing remarkably well these days? I’ve heard nothing but praise for the governor at state councils.”
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“The native nobles are cheering, but we of the Emperor’s faction are receiving cold treatment.”
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“Oh?”
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The Empress scanned the room with interest.
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Their claims were completely at odds with what she had heard.
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A faint frown creased her brow.
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She had thought they gathered out of curiosity about what the noble ladies were coveting, only for tedious political talk to emerge.
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And it was nothing more than whining for favors.
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Cecilia Sierre felt irritation rise, but she maintained a benevolent smile.
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Showing an ugly side would only provide gossip fodder.
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“So you’re saying the governor is disadvantaging the Emperor’s faction nobles.”
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“Yes.”
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“How so?”
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“He created something called the Labor Standards Act and is tormenting us with it. He even drove away all the private soldiers guarding our farms.”
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“Ah, that?”
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The Labor Standards Act initiated by Duke Abel Carius had caused enormous ripples.
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Even at the Empire’s state council, debates raged over whether it was right or wrong.
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But in the end, it had rapidly normalized Delriat.
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Moreover, most citizens there were reportedly screaming in happiness these days.
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Saying the governor was turning the land into paradise.
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With the corners of her mouth curling up, the Empress spoke in a chilling tone.
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She no longer needed to hear these people out.
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“Do you all perhaps know this?”
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“Know what?”
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“The Labor Standards Act.”
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“It truly is a wicked law of the ages.”
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“It was made by His Majesty the Emperor.”
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“…”
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“…Pardon?”
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“Didn’t you hear what the governor said when promulgating the law? That it was dedicated with His Majesty’s compassionate heart for Delriat’s sake.”
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Viscount Mason Hubert and the other Emperor’s faction nobles in Delriat gaped in shock.
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They had deliberately ignored events at the governor’s office.
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Their bodies trembled violently.
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Terror filled their minds.
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To think everything they had tried to obstruct was the Emperor’s achievement.
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“We were gravely mistaken. We’ll take our leave now.”
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Viscount Hubert quickly bowed and tried to hurry away.
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But a pure white smile graced the Empress’s lips.
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She had no intention of letting these rude fools off easily.
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“You know there are no secrets in the imperial palace, right? There are many listening ears and watching eyes here.”
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Her eerie voice felt like a dagger piercing the air.
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The Emperor’s faction nobles from Delriat exited the Palace of Roses with faces pale as ghosts.
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***
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Delriat’s Labor Standards Act took root quite smoothly.
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There were still clashes here and there, but resistance wasn’t fierce.
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The moment they heard it was made by the Emperor, everyone tucked their tails.
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‘I really, truly didn’t want to use our cousin’s name like that.’
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But how could I resist when there was no better move?
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The opponents were Emperor’s faction nobles.
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Then bringing in the highest authority would resolve things most easily, wouldn’t it?
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Knock knock.
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“Your Excellency, may I come in for a moment?”
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I was lounging in the office when a sudden knock and voice sounded.
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I quickly opened the legal code and put on a stern expression.
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I knew all too well who it was.
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“It’s Administrator Allegan. Please come in.”
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“Still working on the legal code? Your efforts are truly immense.”
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“Not at all. It’s all for Delriat’s sake.”
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“As a citizen of this land, I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude I scarcely know where to put myself.”
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For Kuro Allegan to act this refined—it was nothing short of astonishing.
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His former antics and erratic behavior had vanished completely.
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Positions really do shape people.
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“But what brings you here?”
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“An envoy has arrived from the mother country.”
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“From… the Empire?”
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“Yes.”
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I sat with my mouth slightly agape, frozen for a while.
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Normally, envoys make a grand, noisy entrance, don’t they?
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They’re supposed to boast from the border that they come from the mother country.
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Why appear so suddenly like this?
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Staring in bewilderment, Kuro Allegan scratched the back of his head.
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“This is my first time seeing something like this too, so I was quite flustered. It must be due to Your Excellency’s influence.”
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“Is that so? Who came?”
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“He says he’s Count Kadisin.”
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“Ah, him.”
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We weren’t complete strangers.
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Of course, it was someone from Abel Carius’s memories, not mine.
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Anyway, he wasn’t a difficult person to deal with.
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A representative Emperor’s faction noble, with the feel of a family elder.
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He was also a very distant relative of mine.
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“I understand. I’ll meet him.”
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“Please do, Your Excellency.”
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“You must be busy—go attend to your work.”
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“Yes.”
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I immediately headed to the governor’s office reception room.
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There, a middle-aged man with thick white hair and green eyes rose from his seat.
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“It’s been a long time, Duke Carius.”
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“Have you been well, Count Kadisin?”
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“I’m just counting days in the castle now.”
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“Why say such things? You must live long and healthy.”
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“Haha! You’ve truly changed a lot. I’m relieved.”
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“One can’t stay drowned in sorrow forever. Thank you for your concern.”
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I rummaged through memories and responded appropriately.
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The former Abel had apparently been a complete wreck.
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Count Realph Kadisin.
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He seemed surprisingly decent.
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‘I thought only idiots remained among the Emperor’s faction.’
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Just look at the ones who came to Delriat.
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They’d swarmed to the Empire to block the Labor Standards Act.
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Only to get thoroughly scolded by the Empress.
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‘Was my preemptive gift offensive effective?’
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Given her position and personality, she wouldn’t normally help me.
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She was originally from the Sierre ducal house, after all.
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Still, gratitude is gratitude.
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When good items came in, I’d quickly send them as thanks.
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“But what brings you here? It doesn’t seem serious enough to require an envoy.”
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“It’s about this.”
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Count Kadisin pulled a sealed letter from his pocket.
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Shockingly, it was paper bearing immense authority.
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“It’s an imperial order from His Majesty.”
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“Why so suddenly?”
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“He says it’s time for you to return. Read it first.”
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I accepted the paper with a dazed expression.
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Then a thought suddenly struck me.
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“I don’t have to kneel, right? As far as I know, there’s no such rule in imperial etiquette.”
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“Just read it normally.”
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“I know. I received one in the north too.”
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“Pfft! You’re even good at jokes now.”
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“So it’s telling me to return to the Empire?”
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“Yes.”
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“But it says ‘you may return now’?”
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“Pardon?”
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At my question, Count Kadisin tilted his head.
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He seemed unable to comprehend what I meant.
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Then I needed to make it clear.
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“Doesn’t this mean it’s optional?”
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“If taken at face value, that’s not incorrect, but…”
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Count Kadisin trailed off.
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Guessing what came next wasn’t hard.
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You’re the only one who’d interpret the Emperor’s order freely.
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Something like that.
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But I was serious.
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‘Delriat’s systems haven’t fully settled yet.’
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I’d only just created the Labor Standards Act.
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Checks and balances were absent, and power reduction hadn’t happened.
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If a new governor came in this state?
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It would almost certainly revert to the old ways.
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‘Now that there’s plenty to exploit, they’d eagerly suck it dry.’
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After I’d built all this—am I supposed to watch it crumble from the Empire?
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Not even if dirt got in my eyes.
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“Do you perhaps know why he’s calling me?”
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“At the council, the Emperor’s faction nobles were loud. Why keep an outstanding person like Your Grace in such a remote outpost?”
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“Not His Majesty’s own intent?”
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“He seemed to agree, but didn’t voice it directly.”
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Hearing Count Kadisin’s reply, I smiled faintly.
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Then this order carried no special meaning.
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The Emperor probably didn’t care whether I returned or not.
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“Please wait a moment.”
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I quickly returned to the office and wrote a letter.
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I plastered it with flowery formalities, but the core was simple.
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‘I’m not going.’
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Hearing the gist, Count Kadisin’s face turned pale.
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No matter how close a cousin, refusing the Emperor’s order.
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He seemed to think this was insane.
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“What on earth are you planning?”
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“To finish the work more perfectly. I’ll provide lodging—rest well for a few days. I’m busy with official duties, so if you’ll excuse me.”
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I swiftly moved on to the next plan.
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“Is everyone here?”
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“Yes!”
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As I scanned the room and spoke, a vigorous reply rang out.
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This was the governor’s office grand conference hall.
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Nearly two hundred people had gathered.
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Men and women, young and old—all their eyes sparkled brightly.
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That meant expectations were sky-high.
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I smiled faintly.
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“I gathered you all to pursue advancement in various fields.”
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“Is it true that if we produce solid results, Your Excellency will become our patron?”
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An impatient person shot up their hand and asked.
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Our eyes met briefly, and I felt like I knew who it was.
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‘Pierce Russo. A promising sculptor, wasn’t he?’
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Bushy beard, massive build.
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He looked exactly like a bandit, but his fingers were remarkably long and slender.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Renowned for delicate carving, but with one issue.
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All his works were grotesque.
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Depicting vicious monsters or gruesomely dead corpses—too realistic for comfort.
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‘They say genius and madness are separated by a single sheet of paper.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I nodded firmly and answered.
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“The state will provide support too.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Ooh!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“But you must produce faithful results. I think you know better than anyone what I mean.”
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“…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Krrgh.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Pierce lowered his hand weakly with a low groan.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He seemed deeply disheartened, but it couldn’t be helped.
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I couldn’t allow such abominations in the city.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Soon, I smiled and said.
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“Now then, starting from this moment—go all out and kill each other.”
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“…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
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Don’t say that. People will take it literally 🤣