Lord Mel believed in solving problems as they arose. At this stage, even officials promoted from the lower ranks could not be expected to be flawless. Many of them had previously been scholars who taught for a living and had never handled administrative affairs at all. Resorting to overly drastic measures would also make it difficult to achieve good results.
He slowly walked through the streets. After witnessing what had happened earlier, some people finally gathered the courage to speak to him.
"Your... Your Majesty, I... I..." Though still nervous, he no longer immediately dropped to his knees.
"Just call me Mel. I am merely holding power in trust for the people. One day, I will return that power to the people at the bottom. I do not want this country to have emperors and nobles riding on the people's heads ever again." Mel extended a hand.
The man who had wanted to speak was dazed. His eyes seemed unable to see anything; all he could see was Mel's outstretched hand and the sunlight-like radiance surrounding it.
This man at the very pinnacle of state power was speaking with a baker like him.
"That won't do. How could I address someone like you by your name? But you ended the rule of the nobles and the church. You should be emperor."
"Just call me Lord. I do not want to be emperor." Mel gently shook his head, a smile on his face. Yet to the man before him, that smile was like the sun, impossible to look at directly.
"My lord, I have some freshly baked bread here. Would you like to try it?" The man hurriedly picked up a loaf from his stall and respectfully offered it to Mel.
Mel accepted it with a smile. After using his inventory