As the saying goes: the peace and tranquility you enjoy now is because someone else is bearing the burden for you.
This saying perfectly describes Yuto's current state.
While Lumine and Paimon were busy in Meropide trying to solve the rule-based anomalies and search for Tartaglia's whereabouts, Yuto was on the surface having afternoon tea with Furina.
Perhaps because that human-shaped mobile disaster went underwater, in the following week... Fontaine on the surface was quite peaceful.
This tranquility was not only reflected in the general atmosphere of life in Fontaine but also in the work content of the Palais Mermonia civil servants.
The most obvious ones to feel this... were, of course, the two famous civil servants—Yuto and Neuvillette.
Before Lumine entered Meropide, Neuvillette presided over Judgments five or six times a day, or three or four times on slow days.
After she went in, this frequency immediately dropped to two or three times, and sometimes there wasn't even a Judgment scheduled.
This gave Neuvillette ample time to observe how people of Fontaine expressed their emotions.
And Yuto's feeling was even more pronounced.
The stack of documents he used to approve in a day was about half as tall as Sedna, but now... the number of documents had been cut in half.
Because of this, Yuto had a lot of free time to screen resumes and accompany Furina for afternoon tea.
Of course, most of that free time was spent on the latter.
After all, only Yuto and Furina could probably have afternoon tea from the afternoon until dusk.
...
Although such days were comfortable, Yuto still did not relax his demands on himself.
He still arrived at the office fifteen minutes early, as before, to prepare for today's governmental affairs.
Sedna, as usual, unhurriedly placed a small stack of documents on Yuto's desk and said, as always:
"Lord Yuto, all the documents to be approved today are here~ Please take a look!"
"Okay, thank you, Sedna~"
Yuto smiled and gently ruffled Sedna's little head, then said:
"If someone claiming to be from Spina di Rosula or Meropide comes to see me, don't ask questions, just bring them in directly."
"Mmm! Please rest assured, Lord Yuto, I guarantee the task will be completed!"
With that, a serious expression appeared on Sedna's face, and then she... skipped out of Yuto's office.
Looking at her gait, which completely contradicted her expression, Yuto was momentarily torn between laughter and tears.
"This child..."
But it was understandable; being entrusted with an important responsibility by an elder she admired also showed that she was valued, so it was normal to be happy.
"Never mind, I'd better hurry up and prepare the relocation plan and rhetoric for the residents of Beryl Region... it might be too late if I delay any further."
Yuto gently shook his head, then took out four sheets of paper with detailed implementation plans from the drawer and continued to transcribe them.
The geographical location of Beryl Region was quite abstract; even though there were still many flat areas in the Beryl Region where it was located, for some reason, they hadn't expanded outwards.
"But having said that, isn't it enough to just explain the pros and cons?"
Yuto stroked his chin, then closed his eyes, recalling the appearance of Beryl Region while writing something on the blank paper in front of him.
"The current location of Beryl Region is a natural underground cavern, and it is at risk of collapse at any time as time passes."
"Coupled with the overly complex terrain and significant safety hazards, it's not a suitable place to live."
"Cares's case has been overturned. With the reverence and a bit of guilt the people of Beryl Region have for Cares... let Navia take the lead on this matter."
"This way, not only can my goal be achieved, but Navia's abilities can also be honed—a win-win solution."
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Yuto's face, and he then planned to organize a final version of the document to take to Beryl Region.
"There are at least three days left until the Meropide outbreak time shown in the 'script'... the residents of Beryl Region are relatively few, so it should be enough time to evacuate them..."
However, before Yuto could even begin to organize the documents in his hand, Sedna's voice came from outside the office door.
"Mr. Yuto! A Miss guard from Meropide wants to see you!"
Hearing this, Yuto instinctively raised an eyebrow, his expression instantly turning serious, and he then spoke:
"Sedna, bring the Miss guard in."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to Yuto's office was pushed open, and a woman in a black uniform quickly walked to his desk, bowed slightly, and said:
"Lord Yuto, the Duke has invited you to Meropide for a discussion, saying... someone wants to see you."
"I understand, thank you for making the trip."
"It's my duty, Lord Yuto."
Looking at the guard in front of him, Yuto gently nodded, then picked up the cane placed beside his desk and followed the guard to Seawater.
...
Yuto and Wriothesley's private meetings usually did not take place in the office but, like last time, near the pipes at the entrance.
Looking at Wriothesley, who seemed to have been waiting by the passage for a long time, Yuto nodded slightly, his expression gradually becoming serious.
He knew that Wriothesley sought him for only two reasons.
Either Lumine's investigation into the Vanguard's whereabouts had yielded results, or there was new unusual movement in the 'gate' in the restricted area.
But both of these pointed to the same outcome—the first Seawater outbreak was coming.
"When I get back... I'll quickly arrange for the people of Beryl Region to start evacuating."
"Minimize the negative impact of the Seawater outbreak, and also pave the way for future developments..."
Wriothesley, who had been waiting for a long time, handed a piece of paper to Yuto and said:
"The two people you and Neuvillette sent down chose to cooperate with three House of the Hearth children in their investigation and ultimately found that Tartaglia disappeared at the end of a pipe, his whereabouts unknown."
Hearing this, Yuto nodded without surprise, then spoke:
"So... is there some unusual movement from the gate?"
Wriothesley nodded gravely, symbolically pointing in the direction behind him.
"The pointer on the gate is trembling back and forth; the concentration of Meropide may have exceeded the maximum threshold, and it will probably erupt in a few days."
"Clorinde has also arrived at Meropide; we are constantly preparing to face this disaster."
"On the surface... I'll leave it to you."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"