"They escaped."
His deputy summed up the situation in his report.
But Leon had already seen everything from the Dragon Political Hall:
"I'm not blind."
"So... well, how should we deal with the chaos in the city?"
"Wait until the citizens have picked up all the money, then arrange for the Cleaners Guild to sweep the streets again. Repairs to the gates can wait. The parade has to pass through Dragon Tail Pass anyway.
In short, don't let it affect tonight's [Double Moon Feast]."
"But..."
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
The deputy studied the copy of the Guide Excerpt in his hands, which detailed the Public Lord's various scandals. For a moment, he was unsure whether the man still had the authority to make decisions—
But even removing him from office would require a vote in the council.
He was still the Public Lord for now, so the deputy naturally had to obey:
"Understood."
Once the deputy left the hall, Leon was alone in the vast meeting room.
He slumped into a stone chair, wearily pinching the bridge of his nose.
He had barely sighed when a woman's projection suddenly flickered into view before him.
Recognizing her face, Leon couldn't help saying:
"What are you doing here? Is this the victor coming to gloat?"
"I'm also here to watch you, so you won't leave the city and attack them."
Stella looked Leon over. Seeing that he merely seemed tired, rather than despondent, she said calmly,
"I didn't expect things to reach this point either."
She meant Leon's career as the Public Lord.
Leon snorted:
"At this point, is there any meaning in these 'halfling lies'? Don't Dreamwalkers claim they can foresee the future through dreams? I imagine you saw all this coming long ago."
"It isn't foreseeing the future."