Chapter 365 - 365 - Land, I Need Land!

Whether or not Leon was still in a daze, Royman had, while drafting this speech, already piled on every meritorious justification he could think of in one heap. As for the reasoning? Naturally because every achievement the Demeter Familia had earned ought to be connected to him, the Guild Master who led Orario's governing body.

You Demeter people made all these contributions, so as the one in charge... I, Royman, naturally deserve a share of the credit too. That's not unreasonable, is it?

Over on the other side, Leon hadn't quite caught up yet, and Jeanne too was a little stunned by this sudden string of "accomplishments." Only Rose, ever calm, spotted what was really going on.

She kept a graceful, proper smile on her face and rose to applaud along with everyone else, but inwardly she was already quietly on guard.

This dead fat pig, what's he up to?

Sure enough, Royman's tone shifted:

"As a 'newcomer,' the Demeter Familia's contributions over this past year have been truly beyond reproach."

"However..."

Here it comes! Rose thought.

Leon's spirit jolted as well, an unpleasant premonition creeping over him.

Royman looked toward Leon, whose smile was slowly freezing on his face, while a sincere grin surfaced on that round face of his:

"And yet..."

"While affirming these contributions, we must also confront and lawfully address the problems that arose in the course of these operations. This is to uphold the seriousness of the rules, and for the sake of Orario's long-term order and safety."

As he spoke, he glanced down at the parchment in his hand, his expression turning solemn:

"Two days ago."

"In the midst of fierce combat with the enemy, Mr. Hart employed a 'Super Wide-Area Annihilation Magic' that the Guild has expressly forbidden from being cast in the city's core districts. This act caused severe structural damage to the Adventurers' Plaza and the surrounding area."

"Not only were the expensive bluestone slabs paving the ground cracked open by frost on a massive scale, but the cluster of buildings in the southwest quarter of the plaza remains sealed in ice to this day. Upon inspection, they have now entirely lost their functional use."

"Therefore, pursuant to Chapter Seventy-Seven, Article Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine of the Regulations of the Orario Governing Body, the act of casting 'Super Wide-Area Annihilation Magic' in the city's core districts, inflicting extraordinarily widespread damage upon streets and buildings and causing an enormous loss of public property, constitutes a serious violation of Articles Twenty-Seven, Thirty-Three, Ninety-Six, and One Hundred Fifteen of the Orario Order Management Law."

"In light of this, the following penalty is hereby decided against the Demeter Familia."

"The Demeter Familia is ordered to carry out a mandatory 『Dungeon Expedition』 within seven natural days."

"This Expedition must break past the floors the Familia has currently explored, reach territory it has not yet set foot in, and collect a prescribed quantity of materials and Drop Items as proof of an actual completed clear."

"That is all."

...

"Pfft...!"

No one could tell who failed to hold it together and suddenly burst out laughing, but in that solemn atmosphere it rang out especially grating.

As that abrupt laugh broke the silence, the very next moment... the faces of the vast majority lit up with smug, gloating grins.

Tsubaki patted Leon's shoulder with a touch of sympathy:

"Relax. This is basic stuff for the likes of Loki and Freya. Otherwise why do you think Ottar, Hedin, and Allen run eleven large-scale Expeditions a year? You think they've got nothing better to do?"

Asfi said nothing, only shook her head slightly.

This one... doesn't look like the type to sit still either.

Leon, Jeanne, and Rose were briefly at a loss for words.

Leon didn't truly take in the others' consolations. Right now only one thought was circling in his head...

Hold on, where's my reward?

How did the promised prize turn into a punishment?

Just as Leon's face darkened and he could barely restrain himself, ready to teach this tactless fat pig in front of him a proper lesson, Jeanne and Rose hurriedly pinned him down from either side, terrified he'd act on impulse and actually roast Royman into a charred lump.

"Ahem..."

Royman felt an inexplicable chill and quickly steered the conversation back:

"Of course, the Guild has always upheld the principle of clear rewards and clear penalties."

"Based on the Demeter Familia's contributions this year, you may choose to enjoy the management fee reduction granted to a B-rank Familia, or you may use your accumulated contribution points to exchange for corresponding physical resources."

The instant the words left his mouth, the gloom on Leon's face vanished in a flash, as if it had never been there at all. He swiftly slipped back into the exact same sincere smile as before, his tone even warmer than earlier:

"Then again..."

"Truly worthy of the esteemed Guild Master, who has presided over the big picture for years and always held fast to the standards of fairness, justice, and measured reward and punishment. No wonder even the great Ouranos places such trust in you."

Finn and Riveria exchanged a glance: "..."

Asfi and Lyra quietly looked away: "..."

Tsubaki and Shakti raised their eyebrows in unison: "..."

Only Alise sat there blankly, eyes glazed over.

Hold on, that look just now that could practically kill someone, who in the world was that?

...

"Ahem..."

Royman cleared his throat and asked Leon:

"So then, might I know what Mr. Hart has ultimately decided?"

Leon sat up straight again, fingers of both hands interlaced on the table, his expression grave:

"Land. I need land!"

Royman looked mildly taken aback:

"Land? Forgive me... could I trouble you to say that again?"

Leon spoke clearly, one word at a time:

"Land. Land in the First District."

Royman fell silent for a moment.

"Allow this old man to confirm something. When it comes to land holdings, among all the Familias present here, isn't it precisely the Demeter Familia that holds the most by far?"

"Setting aside the farmsteads on the city's outskirts, even within the city limits you possess numerous bases and shops. So... are you certain you still need land?"

Leon nodded earnestly:

"Yes. Land in the First District, the kind we can use to build a base."

Seeing that Leon wasn't joking, Royman nodded:

"Very well. The First District does have vacant plots, but ones suited to building a large base... aren't many."

Before Royman could even instruct a clerk to fetch a map, Leon spoke up again:

"I want the plot on the east side of the Stardust Garden, two streets over, the one close to the city wall."

"Hm?"

The words were barely out when Alise's head shot up, her eyes full of curiosity:

"Eh? Leon! Are you moving in right next to my place?"

Leon spread his hands, his tone candid:

"That's right. I picked over the map of Orario again and again, and in the end I still figured only the environment of the First District suits us best."

"You know how it is. Our Familia's always been used to keeping a low profile. The First District has good privacy, which is exactly to our liking."

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