Chapter 231: End of Inauguration

As the crowd roared like waves crashing on stone, a sharp, confident figure stepped onto the platform— impossible to ignore.

Dressed in sleek black formalwear trimmed with subtle silver accents, the man cut a striking figure.

His crisp white cravat, tied neatly at the neck, fluttered slightly in the wind.

Black cat ears twitched atop his head, matching the tousled hair that crowned his sharp features.

Resting over one golden eye was a gleaming silver monocle, catching the sunlight like a glint of moonlight on glass.

His other eye, which was unobscured, gleamed with an almost playful intelligence, the slit of his feline pupil flicked from one part of the crowd to another, observing, calculating, and amused.

White gloves covered his hands as he placed one casually on the podium.

The other adjusted the small, enchanted device embedded into its surface; a magical voice amplifier also known as a magic microphone.

Then, with a grin that bared slightly elongated canines and carried a glint of mischief, he spoke.

"Good morning, citizens of Harmonia!" His voice boomed with charismatic clarity, echoing through the city’s districts.

"I hope you’ve all enjoyed the festival so far— because things are just getting started."

He paused as the crowd responded with cheers and whistles.

"For those of you wondering who I am."

He continued, flashing a roguish smile, "I go by the name Renoir— loyal right hand of the City Lord, who, despite his rather private nature, has entrusted me with the honor of hosting this historic moment."

He raised a gloved hand in a theatrical flourish, "Today, we celebrate more than stone and mortar, ink and signatures. Today, we celebrate unity, vision, and the stubborn dream of peace that refused to die!"

Applause rippled again, louder this time.

"From the snow-swept halls of the dwarves, to the green sanctuaries of the elves, the wild fields of the beastkin, and the rising cities of humanity— we have all gathered here under one sky, in this very city, to build something new. Not merely a home, but a future."

He leaned slightly forward, tone lowering just enough to feel personal.

"Harmonia was not born perfect. It was carved from conflict, stitched by compromise, and refined by shared struggle. And yet, here we are."

He then straightened up, voice rising once more, "So raise your heads high, Harmonia! Because today, we don’t just open the gates of a city; we open the next Chapter of our shared story!"

With a final wink, he gestured to the side of the stage, "Now, I ask for your attention as we prepare to welcome the one who shaped this dream into reality. Please stay in your seats, because the City Lord of Harmonia will be joining us soon."

The crowd erupted once more, this time with a mix of applause and intrigued whispers.

Regis, watching quietly from the front rows, found himself drawn in by Renoir’s flair.

Whoever this man was, he was no ordinary host.

Especially since he announced himself to be the loyal right hand of the City Lord.

He was a showman— and a dangerous one at that.

However, before he could think about the flamboyant beaskin any further, a person soon walked up the platform.

He was a human who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, one who seemed to have no striking features.

His black hair was neatly combed, and his clothes were neatly ironed.

But other than that, there was nothing special about him.

The cheers gradually died down as Renoir respectfully stepped aside, allowing the man to take his place at the podium.

"Ehem..."

The man cleared his throat with a cough, looking a little nervous.

Meanwhile, Killian commented in a whisper with his arms crossed, "Is he really the City Lord?"

Aurelia’s head was also tilted slightly, while Vanessa, Greg, Lea, and the other children did not seem to notice anything was wrong.

Brutt even leaned towards Vanessa, "Is there something wrong, Sis? Why are their faces like that?"

"I don’t really know. Let’s just leave them be..."

However, no one noticed the strange expression on Regis and Pandora’s faces.

...

No matter the angle at which one observed him, he did not seem to have the dignity of a City Lord.

"G-Good day, citizens of Harmonia. I’m Reinhardt, the City Lord appointed by Ligera."

The man named Reinhardt then proceeded with his speech, flipping through the pages of the script with trembling fingers.

He also kept pushing his eyeglasses up from time to time.

"Ehem..."

The man cleared his throat as he stood behind the podium, adjusting his glasses that kept sliding down the bridge of his nose.

His expression remained calm, though the slight tremble in his fingers betrayed a trace of nervousness.

"G-Good day, citizens of Harmonia. I’m Reinhardt, the City Lord appointed by Ligera."

He paused for a moment, flipping a page on his speech notes with more care this time.

"I’ll be honest—when I first learned I was being assigned here, I felt overwhelmed. Not because of fear, but because I understood what this place represents. Harmonia isn’t just a city. It’s a hope given form; a shared vision between races, cultures, and ideals."

He glanced out at the crowd, composed of elves, dwarves, humans, beastkin, and many others.

"This city was not built by one people, nor will it thrive under one banner. It was forged by collaboration, and it will grow through unity. That is what makes Harmonia special. Not just its walls or its architecture, but the trust we place in one another."

He rested a hand over the podium, voice growing more confident.

"I’m not a perfect man. I won’t pretend to have all the answers. But I give you my word—I will walk alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, to make Harmonia everything it was meant to be. A beacon of peace. A place where our children won’t inherit the grudges of the past."

Another beat passed in silence— then the applause came.

Warm. Genuine.

From the side, Renoir grinned and clapped with flair.

"Well said, Lord Reinhardt! And with that, let us welcome the dawn of Harmonia!"

Cheers rose once more.

The inauguration had truly begun.

The banners of Harmonia, Ligera, and Acheron stood tall at the plaza’s edge, while the banners of the major races flew slightly lower, each signifying their vital presence within the city.

Surrounding them were the insignias of key institutions: the Adventurer’s Guild, the Midas Merchant Organization, and the temples of various gods, all fluttering in the breeze like proud emblems of unity.

Speeches from city officials were spaced between cultural dances from the four races, each one brief yet rich with tradition.

When it was finally Aurum’s turn to speak, he approached the podium with calm composure, his black and gold coat catching glints of sunlight.

Aurelia, standing with the crowd just nearby, raised her magicam with eager precision.

The shutter clicked several times.

Then—

"That’s my Dad!" She called out, her voice ringing clear above the quieting murmurs.

Aurum, already mid-sentence, faltered.

He cleared his throat, adjusting the lapel of his coat before continuing with a faint but visible twitch in his brow.

Despite the brief stumble, he smoothly resumed, "—and so, as the leader of the Midas Merchant Organization..."

"...I promise to provide not just our resources, but the full support of our network, knowledge, and manpower towards the growth and prosperity of Harmonia..."

"...As one of its honorary founders, we take pride in helping shape this city into a beacon of unity and progress with trust, cooperation, and resolve."

"Harmonia shall not only thrive but stand as a symbol of what unity can achieve."

His words earned a wave of applause, the brief interruption all but forgotten.

The ceremony itself moved along with graceful simplicity.

It went on until the sun slowly set in the horizon, as the night sky slowly appeared along with the shimmering stars.

To close the event, a city-wide banquet unfolded across the plaza.

Floating lanterns and multicolored lights under the shimmering stars and cold moonlight made the atmosphere a blend of warmth and chill.

The festive mood burned even brighter.

Long tables filled with dishes from every culture stretched under rows of lanterns and garlands.

Laughter and chatter echoed through the air as people from every race broke bread together and clinked cups in celebration.

At this moment, Regis and the others were seated in a designated area where their tables were set close to each other.

Aurum was giving a noogie to the giggling Aurelia as he lightly scolded her, smiling.

"What am I going to do with you, huh?" He said, ruffling her hair.

"Hey! That speech needed a little spice, and you looked too serious up there!" Aurelia replied, laughing.

Regis’s blood red eyes wandered around the plaza, quietly taking in the joyful faces of the crowd, committing them to memory.

Yet despite the cheerful atmosphere, something lingered in his mind.

He remembered Pandora’s expression earlier and subtly leaned toward her, asking in a whisper, "What did you see earlier?"

"A woman." She replied simply, not looking up from the elven spring rolls she was eating.

She did not elaborate, but Regis understood all the same.

He had noticed it too, just for a fleeting moment during the speech.

’The City Lord... she’s using magic to hide her true form.’