"Stop! Hold it!"
Raising his hand in a STOP gesture, Leon, who was preparing to write a purchase order on his notepad, couldn't help but frown and say:
"Besides food, don't you have any other specialties in your area?"
Besides food?
Upon hearing Leon's words, the female cleaner was momentarily stunned, then looked back with an incredulous expression.
Why "besides" food? Coming to the Northern Kingdom and not enjoying the food, wouldn't that be a waste of the trip?
"You can try the food, but I mainly want to bring something back for Veronica..."
After explaining his plan, Leon asked expectantly:
"Melly, can you recommend some specialties that aren't food? Preferably something exquisite and luxurious!"
"..."
Specialties besides food... Is there really any need to care about that?
"..."
Alright, it's my fault for asking you these things instead.
Seeing the female cleaner's hesitant expression, Leon couldn't help but shake his head helplessly. Just as he was ready to put away his notepad, a voice full of resentment sounded from the seat behind them.
"Besides food, our Kingdom of Ashito also has large bone carvings, white beast furs, Grom colored carpets, ice crystal amber, and snow stone ornaments, etc. These are all exclusive to our Northern Kingdom.
Additionally, near the Warm Magma Sea on the eastern side of our Kingdom of Ashito, there is a small, ever-temperate valley oasis where tiger-headed basswood bees produce snow basswood honey. It has a rejuvenating and skin-nourishing effect. Even though snow basswood honey is technically food, Her Majesty Veronica should like it."
"Oh oh!"
Upon hearing these much more reliable gift options, Leon couldn't help but be overjoyed, jotting down a list in his notepad while repeatedly expressing his thanks.
Meanwhile, the female cleaner, startled by the commotion, turned around and looked at the diplomatic minister, asking in astonishment:
"Lord Stamo? How come you too came along?!"
How come I came along... Damn it, I'm just the deputy envoy!
Upon hearing the female cleaner's question, the Northern Kingdom's diplomatic minister was immediately flustered, and even visibly trembled at the lips.
My dear lady! With you, the only one qualified to sign the treaty, having been dragged away by their prince, and with me having no authority to sign national agreements, why would I foolishly stay there? Was I supposed to wait for the wedding cake?
Moreover, I haven't even asked you to go through thick and thin with me, but could you at least give me a heads-up before you leave?
I finally managed to reassure our allies, making solemn vows ensuring them that there's absolutely no collusion between our Northern Kingdom and the other side. But looking back, there's our princess chasing after their married prince, scampering away!
Ran away!!!
With countless words stuck in his throat but unable to come out, the Northern Kingdom's diplomatic minister helplessly caressed the finger marks on his neck, almost breaking into tears from the indignation.
Dear lady! Do you even know that upon seeing you leaving with him, the pirate commander of the Saio Kingdom, known for his wild demeanor, was fuming mad, with bulging green eyes! If not for Her Majesty Veronica summoning the guards in time, he might have strangled me on the spot!
With this situation you've created, how could I dare to stay with only a few lives?
"Uh..."
Seeing the diplomat filled with unspoken words yet speaking volumes through his eyes, the female cleaner, upon gathering her wits, chuckled awkwardly and apologized:
"Lord Stamo... Sorry, an emergency situation arose on my end, requiring immediate departure, so I didn't have time to inform you..."
Emergency situation?
Glancing at the massive triple-folded pizza on the female cleaner's table, and then at Leon, who was leisurely writing a shopping list as if he was on vacation rather than on a business trip, the Northern Kingdom's diplomatic minister couldn't help but curse them silently.
Damn it! Emergency, my foot!
"Truly, what we're doing is extremely important!"
Seeing the diplomat's unbelieving expression, the female cleaner had to explain:
"You know, aside from being a princess, I'm also a cleaner at the Clean-up Bureau, hence I have some rather special abilities, and I... um... In short, though Leon and I seem quite laid-back, internally we're actually quite tense!"
"..."
Bah! I don't believe a word you say!
...
Just as the female cleaner was fervently explaining, attempting to prove that there indeed was an emergency and that she wasn't deliberately ignoring the diplomat, Leon, having finished writing the shopping list, glanced at her, then extended his right hand, gently touching the side of her fork with his index finger.
"Sizzle..."
[Name: Calming Saliva (Calming, Soul, Thought)]
[Appearance: A colorless, slightly viscous transparent liquid, with a subtle, elegant fragrance akin to bluebell flowers. Even the slightest whiff of its evaporated aroma can calm one's heart.]
[Ability: Strong Sedation, Soul Soothing, Thought Acceleration]
[Cost: After consuming large amounts within a short time, one's appetite will uncontrollably increase until the abnormal object is wholly metabolized.]
[File: The current Princess of the Northern Kingdom, Melsande Aixi, simultaneously possesses two special bloodlines: Gluttony and Calming. These two bloodlines are similarly potent and balance each other, normally causing no abnormalities.
However, after her appetite is greatly satisfied, diminishing the influence of the Gluttony bloodline, she will unconsciously secrete small amounts of a special bodily fluid with calming effects due to the influence of her Calming bloodline.]
[Evaluation: An exceptionally effective abnormal object that only requires drinking over 1.04 milliliters in a single instance to instantly double basic thinking speed, with negligible cost.
But given your moral standards, you likely wouldn't want to collect and use it, would you?
Would you?]
[Contamination Value: 0.1]
"..."
Of course, I wouldn't use this stuff! Why emphasize it twice? Do I look like a pervert?
After closing the prompt in exasperation, Leon touched the horns of the Black Goat, feeling the state of his soul, and unsurprisingly discovered that his soul was indeed in a peculiar state.
Traces of pale blue "mist" had somehow seeped into his soul, calming his initially quite anxious soul silently.
Hmm... feels similar to when I fed her cake earlier.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't actively feed her food, but after chatting with the female cleaner for a bit and unknowingly inhaling traces of the Calming Saliva, it soon felt like no big deal anymore, so I casually handed over a piece of cake.
Moreover, when the task advance notice arrived, I was initially quite tense inside, but with Melly following, batting her eyes and chatting briefly with me, I soon calmed down once more. Even amidst looming danger, I unconsciously started contemplating about local specialties...
Tsk, this abnormal object is exceptionally formidable; just facing each other at the dining table and chatting can lead to a hit. For those unaware, the likelihood of being ambushed successfully is virtually one hundred percent!
Giving the female cleaner a complex look, Leon, partially exempt from the Calming Saliva's effects with the activation of Materialism, took out a light-blocking eye mask provided on the Sky Clipper and peacefully lay back to sleep.
Although the state was abnormal, I studied etiquette for most of last night and barely got any rest. Also, there's nothing much I can do until the Sky Clipper arrives tomorrow afternoon, so I might as well catch up on some sleep!
Besides, although the situation in the Northern Kingdom is urgent, isn't Melly's great-uncle, Director Baltro of the Aquarius Branch, still there? Being one of the oldest Twelve Zodiac Directors and a stalwart of the Clean-up Bureau, could he truly not hold out for even one day?
