A dark and gloomy space.
In other words, inside a hotel room with drawn curtains and dim lights, a report reeking of evil was taking place.
“I’ve traced the logistics line, but the cult erased their tracks and went missing a while ago, so there’s not much progress.”
Chief Inspector Leonard reported on his investigation into the suspiciously advanced technology of the cult train.
In front of him, Pastel was happily enjoying some ice cream that tasted even better in winter.
“Well, it’s no surprise. Originally, I was going to call for the assistance of the United Kingdom to conduct the investigation, so I was being careful. I gave them too much time.”
Logically, it was reasonable for a governor from the Empire to seek permission and assistance from the United Kingdom, who had a long-standing presence in the Demon Realm, rather than recklessly poking around in the Demon Realm.
Otherwise, it could lead to diplomatic issues.
However, it was unexpected that the radical group would brazenly interfere while the moderates acted lukewarm.
“Still, now that the moderately bad demons of the radical group have reformed into moderately good demons, it should be okay!”
Many individuals had literally lost their heads in the process, but since they were dead due to corruption, it was karma.
As a public servant, engaging in corruption is just scandalous!
Good Pastel was right to be outraged!
For some reason, they were terrorizing Craft High Merchant’s Demon Realm Railroad, which hadn’t done anything wrong!
It was undoubtedly a competitor’s bribery scheme!
Leonard shook the report in frustration.
“Hey, about that. If we’re tracking them down anyway, wouldn’t it be better to get the cooperation of the United Kingdom? It seems the assembly has decided to take a stand against the cult due to this incident. If it’s a problem on their territory, they should spend their own money.”
“That makes sense.”
Pastel crossed her arms, her ice cream spoon bouncing slightly.
In the current situation where she had to make contact with the cult and attempt a dialogue with her father, formal cooperative extermination with the United Kingdom felt somewhat…
Leonard furrowed his brow, picking up on her hesitation.
“What’s this? Do you have some reason you’re not telling me? Are you hiding something from me?”
It was no secret that her father was a high-ranking cult member.
Only someone like the Demon Lord who had witnessed it could know that secret.
“Heh?”
Pastel rested her chin on her hand.
“Isn’t it okay to keep secrets? Leonard, my friend?”
Her pink hair cascaded down her shoulders.
“No way!”
Leonard flicked his hair.
She had become his exclusive secret friend, and now he looked irritated as if he found out about another secret friend.
Leonard put his hands in his pockets and leaned back.
“Hey. If you’re running an intelligence organization and find out that the owner is gathering information elsewhere, how would that make the members feel?”
Pastel pondered.
Then she broke into a wide smile and clapped her hands.
“Pastel is super popular!”
Wow.
Leonard was at a loss for words.
“Hahaha!”
Pastel waved her hands wildly.
“There aren’t any other secret organizations! Governor Pastel doesn’t induce unnecessary internal competition!”
After all, everyone here was friends, so there was no reason to worry about betrayal!
“Popular Pastel believes in her friends!”
What she meant was that she wouldn’t engage in tactics that encourage division among her subordinates.
Leonard looked skeptically at her.
“Is that the same person who ordered an investigation into the princess that her friend was talking about?”
Whew.
“That was just a public duty!”
Had nothing to do with popular Pastel!
“In the first place, Elly was managed differently from the start in the friend ranking, so the response was a little different!”
“Is this even logical?”
“Hahaha!”
Pastel enthusiastically swayed her hands. The ice cream spoon flailed around.
“Anyway, I’m not hiding anything from you regarding public matters! It’s just personal reasons that I must contact the cult gently!”
Leonard raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? So that means we have to investigate without involving the United Kingdom?”
“Yep!”
Leonard slapped his face in frustration over the unnecessary waste of manpower.
“Well, it’s your territory, so do as you wish. If it’s gentle contact, you mean to say you would engage in a conversation with the cult, right?”
“Yep yep!”
Pastel took a big scoop of ice cream and exclaimed with delight. The cold mixed with winter air sent chills through her teeth.
Wow, that’s so cold.
“Then it’s not impossible.”
“Wow! Leonard is capable!”
When she gave a thumbs up, Leonard scoffed.
“We can use that guy we captured last time. Given the current turbulent atmosphere in the assembly regarding the cult, it will be difficult for a while, but keep that in mind.”
“Nathaniel?”
“Yeah.”
Nathaniel, who had acted as a messenger for the radical group, had managed to survive the recent purge.
The reason was simple.
His extended stay at Pastel’s residence as a secret agent created a perfect alibi for the duration he was missing.
Regardless of whether the radical group conspired to assassinate Governor Pastel, Nathaniel had stayed in his room and maintained a good relationship with the Sky Island Knight Order.
What a secret agent!
While there were rational suspicions about his involvement in the assassination plan during his disappearance, Pastel was not one to passively watch someone she knew face demise. By indirectly providing alibi testimony, he was neatly freed from the purge.
“It was problematic that I imprisoned him upon our first meeting, but since you helped him find a butler, the grudge was largely settled, and with this favor, of course, he would cooperate. Although it’s kind of funny to call it a favor when I locked him up.”
“But Nathaniel seems busy consolidating his position in the assembly after becoming one of the survivors of the radical group?”
He had a gambling hobby, but since he was technically the head of the Presley Family, he was working hard when opportunities arose. Although the radical group had shrunk this time, it was an extraordinary opportunity for Nathaniel.
“Do I care?”
Leonard scoffed.
Whew.
Such devilry.
Just the kind of thing Leonard does while playing leader.
However, since intervening in a subordinate’s matters is not a virtue of a superior, Pastel remained silent.
Whew.
Surprised, she scooped up some ice cream and popped it in her mouth.
Yum.
“Got it! Then once the hostile assembly atmosphere settles down, you do your thing! In the meantime, I’ll focus on my personal business!”
Wow wow.
Ice cream is delicious.
#
Pastel visited the headquarters of the Demon Realm Stock Company located in the capital of the United Kingdom.
This was a conglomerate created by the Empire’s merchants eager to exploit the Demon Realm, and, true to its nature, it was a gigantic skyscraper that conducted smuggling trade covertly while only focusing on profits.
For Craft High Merchant, who couldn’t even build a decent skyscraper, it was a terrifying place.
However, it was not a frightening location for Governor Pastel, who had been granted the right to command soldiers of the Demon Realm Stock Company by the Emperor.
Ever since ancient times, military power has always been said to be stronger than monetary power!
Hehe.
Entering the chairman’s office, Count McKenna, dressed in a black suit adorned with gold accessories, welcomed her with slow applause.
“Congratulations on becoming governor, Marquis Craft.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to the grace of His Majesty the Emperor that I’ve secured such an undeserved position.”
After a brief greeting, the secretary poured some green tea.
Pastel savored the aroma and took a sip.
“It’s nice.”
“The green tea you drink here is especially exceptional, is it not?”
“Indeed.”
“It was actually your desire to try fresh green tea rather than aged black tea that led you to be interested in the Demon Realm, so this is particularly special.”
“Wow, really?”
“By avoiding unnecessary procedures that would detract from the freshness—such as having to transport fresh green tea through border inspections—it was my first trading excursion to transport fresh tea to the Sky Island.”
Count McKenna smiled gently.
“If you had gone alone without mercenaries and met pirates, you might have ended up dead. You were quite young back then.”
Wow.
The protector of green tea freshness!
Pastel saw Count McKenna in a new light.
Coincidentally, she was also transporting gems in a way that maintained their freshness by avoiding unnecessary procedures like border inspections.
The protector of gem freshness!
How completely relatable.
After reminiscing, Count McKenna met her gaze.
“But what brings you here now? I eagerly awaited the visit of my Marquis ever since I received word that His Majesty had delegated the rights of command to you.”
Oh no.
She had no words.
That was a breach of business etiquette.
Yet, for Governor Pastel, who couldn’t merely focus on profit, there was a reason she couldn’t avoid it.
“It’s because the messenger was being stubborn. Since I have been given the rights of command, it would be inappropriate to give unnecessary signals by getting in touch with you, Count.”
In the end, she didn’t wield her rights, so it was a good decision.
Count McKenna’s fingers tapped on the table.
“That’s true.”
Count McKenna turned to his secretary.
“But you arrived just in time.”
“Yes?”
The secretary brought a letter sealed with an emblem. The stylish design looked more like an invitation than a letter.
The Count handed over the invitation.
“Oh?”
“During our last meeting, I presented you with an invitation to the art gallery. Have you attended when you visited the capital?”
Oh no.
“I couldn’t attend due to a busy schedule.”
To be precise, she had been swept up in the machinations of central politics, so she hadn’t considered attending at all. She had hurriedly escaped to the Sky Island while avoiding the Emperor’s gaze.
“I had heard something along those lines.”
His finger pointed toward the invitation.
“I have heard that Lady Duchess Nastasha Redgrave will hold a solo exhibition during her visit to the Demon Realm. As I will be attending as well, how about going together if you are interested?”
A front-line event where they share know-how on how to evade property taxes using art?
This was totally an exhibition for the tax evasion king.
Whew.
“That sounds wonderful!”
Pastel promptly accepted the invitation.
Oh yay oh yay!
However, suddenly, she felt something dawn in her mind.
Lady Duchess Nastasha Redgrave.
Leader of the Republican Party.
The conversation with Mr. Penguin popped into her head.
― Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Republicans are the traitors of the prophecy! Good Pastel has no connections to the Republicans!
Whew.
Pastel turned pale.
Hoo-ah!
Duchess!
Good Pastel didn’t say anything at all!
It’s true…!
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