"I'm telling you..."
After repeated explanations, the guests finally learned this shocking information.
"So... we don't have to fear magical beast attacks anymore?"
Stephen said very definitively:
"Rest assured, let's speak frankly—we're seizing power not for some bullshit city-state future, but for ourselves. I would never throw my own safety aside just to satisfy myself a little."
Stephen's unvarnished statement made all the guests present feel their faces burn a bit.
But it also truly made them believe the fact that Yage City would no longer need to face magical beast attacks in the future.
The soldier spoke again:
"Magical beast attacks indeed don't need to be considered anymore, but what about other city-states raiding us?"
Stephen smiled smugly.
"Good question."
This couldn't help but bring up his wine business.
Through selling wine to Elasia, he had befriended a lord from the northern territory of the Elasia Empire.
They had agreed—as long as Yage City could pay a sum of money every year, the northern lord of Elasia would come to the rescue when Yage City was under attack.
The northern territory of the Elasia Empire wasn't far from here, and now that the Northern Forest was no longer dangerous, armies could cross the Northern Forest.
As soon as the lord's army arrived, all other city-state armies that could threaten Yage City would absolutely vanish into thin air immediately.
No matter what, city-state armies absolutely could not contend with a great nation, not even against just a lord.
"Actually, I've long become acquainted with a lord from Elasia's northern territory through the wine business..."
People finally learned of Stephen's plan.
"So—you want to completely stop supplying the army, not spending a single penny on the military?"
Stephen nodded.
"Yes, and not only that, I want to directly disband Yage City's city-state guard and have all of Yage City completely disarmed."
"Then, this way we can save a large sum of money."
"We can use this large sum to strengthen the construction of people's welfare, then we can fulfill our promises when running for consul—finally we can firmly grasp Yage City's power."
Using the power of the Elasia Empire lord's army to protect the nation was something people had never dared to imagine before.
But thinking about it again—for a lord who could mobilize two to three thousand people, weren't wars between city-states just like playing house?
He indeed had no need to break his word, and if Yage City could maintain stability, it would bring him a continuous stream of funds and treasures afterward.
This was indeed a quite money-saving and safe choice.
The guests had no doubts and all felt completely confident.
So what else was there to say?
Let the music play, let the dancing continue!
......
On the other side, Chris, having finally completely finished processing all the materials at hand, carried several kilograms of documents toward the city-state Government Affairs Institute.
She had already completely finished all the city-state affairs at hand today. Now she could hand over the materials to the city-state Government Affairs Institute and go back to rest well...
Ah, no, it seemed she still had to ask about the trial against her earlier...
Chris's brain, having gone nearly four days without sleep, was somewhat unclear after the high-intensity work.
How should she ask when the time came...
Chris thought about it.
Since taking office, it seemed she had never talked to her colleagues about even the slightest bit of her own affairs...
Thinking of this, Chris suddenly stopped walking.
She didn't know who to ask.
She knew everyone in the city-state Government Affairs Institute, but—wasn't familiar with any of them.
Her relationship with everyone seemed to remain at the "colleague" level.
It seemed inappropriate to ask anyone...