Chapter 348 - 168: "It’s Sean Again

’He hasn’t even finished signing his contract, and he’s already trying to speak for the Holkaydo government.’

Pulente gave a weak laugh. "We’re all working for the Church Court. I understand the tight spot they’re in."

But Sean suddenly slung an arm around his shoulders, leaning in. "Be honest with me, Governor. Are you trying to use this opportunity to earn a favor from me that you can use to win votes in your election?"

Pulente’s smile froze. "No!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Mr. Sean, please believe me. Everything I’m saying is for the good of Siracle State. This is also Her Highness the Saintess’s wish. Even the filthiest farm should have a patch of pure land."

"When things are good for everyone, they’re truly good."

Sean asked, "Is that so?"

Pulente said, "Yes!"

Sean smiled. "Fine. I’ll believe you this once."

"Don’t worry about the money. I won’t short them a single cent of what they’re owed."

"But you need to make it clear to them: once that land is mine, how I use it is my business. Aside from routine inspections, I don’t want to see any police or Smell Crows nearby."

"Understand?"

"Understood!"

Pulente wiped the sweat from his brow.

He had a feeling Sean was planning something.

Something big.

’And worst of all, he’d just thrown his lot in with Sean...’

’Is it too late to back out now?’

Sean continued, "Not only will I provide the money for the land, but I’ll also allow you to take a portion of the 20% of profits owed to me and use it for urban development or policy subsidies. In return, I want you to see this done right. Make sure every last cent is spent where it’s supposed to be. No skimming off the top. How about it? Can you do that?"

Hearing this, Pulente was both shocked and overjoyed. "Mr. Sean, are you serious?"

Sean looked him in the eye. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Overjoyed, Pulente dropped his pen, shot to his feet, and said excitedly, "Mr. Sean, on behalf of the governments and people of Siracle State, please allow me to express my sincerest gratitude!"

"Thank you, Mr. Sean!"

"You’re truly magnanimous, Mr. Sean!"

Sean waved his hand impatiently. "Enough with the theatrics. Just remember what you said. If I find you’re lining your pockets behind my back, there will be hell to pay."

Pulente quickly gave his assurance, his old face etched with sincerity. "Rest assured, Mr. Sean. I will not disappoint you. I swear I will make Siracle State great again!"

Elise: "..."

’Great, there he goes again.’

Sean gave him a light kick. "That’s enough. Now sign."

"Yes!"

...

「Half an hour later.」

Sean emerged from the hotel with the two women.

Ilise was already waiting by the curb, the car parked.

Seeing the three of them emerge, she asked with a grin, "So, how did it go, Mr. Writer? Was it a productive meeting?"

Sean pulled open the passenger door and got in. "It went well enough. He’s a smart man; he should know what to do."

The Eleanor Sisters got into the back. Elise said, "By the way, Master, you were really generous back there."

"To just give away that much money... even I feel the sting for you."

Ilise asked curiously, "How much are we talking about?"

"50%," Elise replied.

The contract originally stated that Sean was to receive 20% of the total profits from the Florist Family’s main industries. Now, he was to give away 50% of that, which meant he would only be left with 10%—a mere one-tenth cut.

Ilise looked at Sean in surprise. "Are you running a charity?"

10% of the profits from the Florist Family’s main industries was no small sum. That kind of money was enough to found a whole slew of new companies, to put money to work making more money.

Sean sighed. "If you can’t even figure this out, it’s no wonder one of you is my Maid and the other is my driver."

The three women: "?"

"What do you mean by that?" Ilise said, feigning anger. "Are you calling us stupid?"

The Eleanor Sisters wouldn’t dare make such a joke, but Ilise had no such qualms.

"Not stupid, exactly," Sean said with great precision. "It’s your vision."

"Your vision is too narrow."

"Think about it. The Governor of Siracle State is one of us now. Doesn’t that make the people of this land our people?"

"And since they’re our own people, what’s the harm in spending a little money on them?"

He had said he wanted to turn Siracle State into his own territory and build another Kovri.

This was the first step.

The money wasn’t spent for nothing, and the favors weren’t given away for free. "Small matters" like today’s would accumulate and naturally turn into "big matters." When the time was right, he would attribute it all to the name of the Hall of Truth. Then, how could he fail to win over public opinion and unite the people?

"I see!"

Elise had a sudden realization.

’This is all for the sake of taking complete control of Siracle State in the future.’

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Sean. "Master, you’re so calculating!"

Sean: "?"

"Are you complimenting me or insulting me?"

"A compliment, of course!"

Elise giggled. "Didn’t you tell me to find a new way to compliment you, Master?"

Sean said, annoyed, "I told you to find a new way to praise me, not a new way to insult me."

"When you get back today, I want you to write out the word ’praise’ a thousand times. If a thousand isn’t enough, make it ten thousand. Keep writing it until you finally understand what it means."

"Huh?"

Elise’s giggling came to an abrupt halt.

Eleanor watched her, a look of schadenfreude on her face.

’Serves you right. You’re always messing with the Master. This time you took it too far.’

Ilise, however, returned to the previous topic. "Not to overstep, Mr. Writer, but while you have a perfectly good reason for your ’charity,’ this involves a massive amount of money. I think you should have discussed it with me and Miss Flame Crow first."

"It’s fine," Sean said. "She’ll approve of what I did."

Even if her first reaction was to disagree, he had his ways of making Elvire come around.