Yes, Lady Funina!

After hearing Richard's words, Charlotte secretly breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, things hadn't gotten to the worst-case scenario.

Wait, I have the right to refuse... So whatever he says, I'll just refuse!

Anyway, the other party won't have any concrete evidence. Without evidence, even if you are a high-ranking secretary-general, you can't just slander a law-abiding citizen without any proof, right?

Moreover, he genuinely had no intention of seeking any classified information, so he can be considered quite innocent.

Hmph, Lord Richard, even a great man like you can make a mistake!

They underestimated my sharp thinking as a journalist!

Seemingly sensing Charlotte's thoughts, Richard pointed to the note in Charlotte's hand and then waved his own notebook.

Then the cunning secretary-general said leisurely, "There was indeed no concrete evidence before, but now..."

"That's hard to say."

Volume 1: Chapter 43 I always feel like someone is setting me up.

Charlotte's affair was just a minor incident for Richard. He returned to the dessert...discussion room, had the staff remove all the desserts from the table, and then filled it with documents, making the whole room look like a discussion room.

After arranging everything, Richard even took the time to eat a brownie, wiped his lips with a napkin, rinsed his mouth with black tea, and then returned to the auditorium.

The first thing Fulina did when she saw Richard was to look at the corner of his lips, but unfortunately she didn't see what she was looking for. She was also thinking that Richard would do the same thing as her, not wiping his lips after eating dessert.

Then, after being reminded by herself, she noticed this and was able to turn the tables.

Clearly, Funina's wish was not fulfilled; Richard had cleaned up the mess thoroughly, leaving no trace of evidence of his crime.

They didn't even spare the gaps between the teeth!

"Lady Funina, is there something on my face?"

"No, it's nothing, I was just looking around. Your collar is a little crooked." Funina nitpicked and finally found a minor oversight.

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Really? Could you please tidy this up for me? There aren't any mirrors around."

Fulina was stunned, as if she thought she had misheard. Was Richard ordering her around?

How dare he!

I am his superior, and Lady Funina, the Water Goddess of Fontaine! To make myself his superior is utterly upside down; it would be more like the roles were reversed!

Not to mention there were so many guests watching, what kind of behavior is this!

Fulina was determined not only not to straighten Richard's collar, but also to take this opportunity to teach him a lesson and show him the true majesty of the water god!

"I just ran into a reporter on the road. Do you remember her, Lady Funina? Right at the door of the discussion room."

"Reporter? At the door of the discussion room..." Funina was startled and unconsciously straightened Richard's collar with both hands.

Well, showing consideration for subordinates is also part of the Water God's job, and it's something he can't ignore.

“Yes, do you remember?” Richard smiled at Funina, but his amused gaze made Funina feel very uncomfortable.

It's like saying, "You think you can't handle me?"

But this was clearly not the time to dwell on that; Funina was trying hard to recall if she had bumped into anyone when she left the dessert shop...

Then a beautiful image appeared in her mind: a woman wearing a white evening gown with pink hair that looked incredibly smooth. She wondered what brand of shampoo she was using.

Hmm, zooming in a bit more, Funina finally got a clear look at the other person's face.

It's that intern reporter! (Screams in alarm)

Frynn never expected that she would run into Charlotte in Mondstadt. She had clearly checked the list of accompanying reporters before she came, and Charlotte was not listed there!

The next second, Furina realized a very serious problem—could Charlotte be after her?

Then, thinking back to the fact that he hadn't wiped his mouth clean earlier, he wondered if Charlotte had seen this scene.

There's even a chance they might take pictures! The more Funina thought about it, the more panicked she became. If photos were taken and published, it would be a huge problem!

As for where the camera came from while wearing an evening gown, Funina thought anything was possible; maybe it was hidden under the skirt?

"Did she see something? Did she leave any evidence? You... can handle this, right?" Funina looked at Richard nervously and asked in a small, hurried tone.

Richard did not answer the question directly, but looked up and around. After noticing this action, Furnessa realized that they were still in the auditorium.

Her behavior just now had obviously attracted some attention, so she coughed lightly, straightened up as if nothing had happened, and her face regained its composure and calmness, as if nothing had happened at all.

Li realized that Funina was simply a born politician; her ability to adjust herself on the spot was something that even officials who had been in politics for many years probably couldn't do.

However, under Funina's constant urging gaze, Richard finally gave the answer Funina most wanted at that moment: "Yes, Lady Funina."

As the familiar lines fell, Funina felt a sudden sense of relief, as if she had been conditioned into some kind of habit.

No matter how critical the situation, just hearing Richard say these words brings immense peace to one's heart.

The conditioned reflex belongs to yes.

"However, I need your authorization, Lady Funina... after all, you are the one in charge of this visit."

Because it was an overseas visit, the delegation included not only city hall officials but also officials from other departments.

Although Richard was the permanent secretary-general of the city hall and second only to Funina in this visit, it did not mean that he could arbitrarily mobilize members of the delegation.

If he wants to utilize the resources of the Fontaine Mission, he cannot bypass Funina, which can be considered a means for Funina to check and balance Richard.

Richard is now trying to use this opportunity to bypass this mechanism and become the true leader of the Fontainebleau delegation.

Clearly, he had planned this all along; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Funina to make such an outrageous decision as to use a room to sneak desserts.

Even without Charlotte, a Malotti, Donotti, Melotti... anyone can be Charlotte, as long as it makes Frynn feel threatened and hand over the power of speech to me.

However, Furna's next words left Richard somewhat speechless, both amused and exasperated.

"So I'm the one in charge?"

Clearly, Frynn had no sense of being in charge. In her view, this trip to Mondstadt was no different from the social events she had attended before, except that she was going abroad. She was just there to act as a mascot.

However, after hearing Richard say this, she suddenly realized something: was Richard planning this all along, all for the sake of her control over the narrative?

“Richard, do you think Charlotte’s appearance is such a coincidence? Could it be that someone is deliberately framing me to force me to make concessions in certain areas?” Furnessa suddenly asked.

"No way?"

"Really, I feel like I've been completely fooled!" Funina stared straight into Richard's eyes with her almond-shaped eyes.

Despite the height difference, Funina's aura at this moment clearly surpassed Richard's.

"How could you think such nonsense?" Richard replied without flinching or changing his expression.

"Nonsense? Richard, won't he frame me?" Funina looked at her secretary with unwavering certainty.

"Who?" This was the first time Richard's trick had been seen through by Funina, and even he felt somewhat troubled.

“Mr. Macaron and Ms. Brownie!” Furnessa replied. 7

“Oh, yes, Mr. Macaron and Ms. Brownie…”4

"A smile that hides a dagger, a honeyed tongue that conceals a dagger, a hypocrite in disguise—he's a first-rate treacherous villain! Absolutely untrustworthy," Funina said, making a veiled attack. 8

"Yes, what a despicable person."

"One?" Two

"What two despicable people! Should we put them in the dock?"

"That won't be necessary, but Richard, I think it's still necessary to delegate some authority. After all, I can't handle everything by myself, and it would be great if you could help me." (The last line appears to be a fragment and doesn't translate directly.)

"Therefore, I agree to your authorization request. Don't disappoint me, Secretary Richard." Funina gave Richard a polite, half-hearted nod. Ling

"Yes, Lady Funina."

Book 1: Chapter 44 Jean Gunnhildr

Although the conversation between Funina and Richard was quite heated, to outsiders the two appeared to be in perfect harmony, like a ruler and his subject.

The guests present were completely unaware that in just a short period of time, a power transfer had been completed, along with a successful veiled attack.

"You two seem to be having a good chat, so it looks like the matter has been resolved."

At this moment, Jyn Gunnhildr, the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, joined their conversation.

“Yes, Commander Qin. It was resolved perfectly.” As she replied, Funina glanced at Richard, recalling the information Richard had given her about Commander Qin before they came.

Six months ago, Falgar led the elite Knights of Favonius away from Mondstadt once again on an expedition.

As Falgar's second-in-command, Jean naturally became the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, filling the power vacuum left by Falgar's expedition.

In fact, Jean also did an excellent job, and many people in Mondstadt have forgotten that there is still a 'Grand Master' above her.

However, she never cared about such things. Her status and title within the Knights did not affect her principles in the slightest. She was not the kind of person like Richard who liked to hold power in his hands.

Jean doesn't care whether she gets promoted or not. If she had to choose between a promotion and Mondstadt's prosperity, she would definitely choose the latter without hesitation.

Moreover, the acting head of the delegation was just as good at governing as he was at it.

Her long, golden hair was naturally curly, and her simple ponytail hairstyle highlighted her capable and efficient temperament.

Qin has a beautiful face, deep and captivating gray-purple eyes, a straight nose, and slightly upturned lips, exuding a confident and approachable charm.

In the auditorium, she did not wear a luxurious evening gown made of fine fabric like ordinary noblewomen. Instead, she wore a white dress with gold embellishments, which was more neutral in color. A black leather swallowtail cape was attached to the back and sides of her waist, hanging down to the back of her knees.

This simple yet dignified attire not only showcases her elegance and nobility but also highlights her strength and determination.

Clearly, this acting leader is not a weak and powerless puppet pushed to the forefront, but a true power holder.

It is precisely because of this dashing and heroic demeanor that Jean is the object of admiration for many young women in Mondstadt, and she also has no shortage of suitors among the nobles.

However, Qin is clearly not interested in romantic love between men and women. She has never responded to anyone's affections, and her interactions with the opposite sex are always subtle and to the point, so that no one has any unwarranted speculations and others can feel a clear and distinct sense of boundaries.

Jean has always been focused on her duties, not to mention that the Knights of Favonius and even the entire Mondstadt are now facing a huge threat—the Dragon Plague.

In addition, there is diplomatic pressure from the Fatui, who have been putting pressure on Mondstadt recently, acting more like adversaries than allies.

The arrival of the Fontaine delegation surprised Qin, but also brought her a slight sense of relief. She couldn't help but wonder why Fontaine had chosen to get involved at this time.

After all, given Fontaine's past diplomatic policy, it wouldn't easily intervene; it would rather remain on the sidelines...

However, when she saw the name 'Richard' on the list of visitors, Qin seemed to understand something.

Was the other party doing this for her? Obviously not. Although she knew Richard and they were friends, Qin wasn't foolish enough to think she was that important to Richard.

Moreover, Richard wouldn't be the kind of guy who coveted her beauty. In Qin's memory, Richard was clearly a well-mannered gentleman. His gaze towards her was clear and without any other intentions. His speech was also quite proper, making those who talked with him feel pleasant.

The result is obvious: the reason Richard pushed Fontaine into the fray and even invited Fontaine's Water God was entirely because of his sister, Klee, who is now the Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonius.

Because of his work, Richard, like Claire's mother, lives abroad year-round, so at Ms. Alice's request, the role of guardian fell to Jenny.

However, this does not mean that Richard does not care about his sister. On the contrary, Jean feels that no one cares about Klee more than Richard. Whenever Richard has free time, he will come back to spend time with Klee, even if it is just a brief visit.

According to some of the older, more ancient people in Mondstadt, Klee's mischievousness is practically a carbon copy of Richard's.

The only difference is that one likes electrofishing, and the other likes frying fish...

Klee clearly also likes her brother Richard very much; based on Jean's understanding of Klee, her affection for Richard even surpasses that for herself.

This is understandable, as children in general families are more likely to prefer a kind father than a strict mother.

Jean played the role of a strict mother quite a bit in order to ensure Keli's healthy growth.

"Lord Water Goddess Funina, please allow me to once again formally express my heartfelt gratitude for your assistance this time." Qin Xiuli's face was full of sincerity.

Whether it's taking in Mondstadt refugees who have drifted to Fontainebleau, or the current diplomatic support for the Knights of Favonius, these actions are truly a timely help for Mondstadt.

In particular, the visit of the water goddess Frynn to Mondstadt was a great boost to the morale of the people of Mondstadt who were worried about the dragons invading again.

This greatly boosted morale in the city. As news of the arrival of the water god Fukaros in Mondstadt spread throughout the city, the residents of Mondstadt were somewhat relieved of their worries, and occasionally a smile would appear on their faces.

"It's nothing, it's just that my permanent secretary went to great lengths to bring me to Mondstadt. If you really want to thank someone, then thank him." Furnessa didn't take the credit, but instead shifted the blame to Richard.

Although Fulyna and Richard may scheme against each other in the workplace, that's about it. When they're out in public, the kind-hearted Lady Fulyna usually gives her subordinates face.

After all, Richard had indeed helped her a lot, so it was only natural for her to return the favor.

Fulina is not an ungrateful person. Perhaps because she has suffered too much, she remembers those who are good to her better than anyone else.

“We will always remember Mr. Richard’s kindness. I assure you that no matter what, you two, and even Fontaine, will always be Mondstadt’s most reliable and closest allies. Mondstadt will do its utmost to help you if needed in the future.”

In response to Fontaine's assistance, Jean reciprocated accordingly. It is foreseeable that once the Dragon Crisis is resolved, Fontaine will have gained a close ally.

These allies are not like the "fake brothers" of other countries, but the kind of "close brothers" who will truly help each other when needed!

Besides the alliance that has not yet been implemented, Mondstadt will also offer other practical benefits in return, such as concessions on tariffs, exports, and imports in trade between the two regions.

These are precisely the things that Qin will discuss with Funina next...