Yes, Lady Funina!

Li Jue realized that the subsequent speaking duties could be handled by Funina, whose most suitable department was not the administrative department of Fontaine, but the diplomatic department of Fontaine.

Especially the kind of announcements read aloud in public, that would suit her perfectly.

Apart from that, Funina was no different from a newcomer to officialdom, her eyes revealing a clear naiveté.

The atmosphere in Funina's office was very somber.

"Did I do something wrong?" Funina asked her secretary-general somewhat nervously.

Richard comforted him, "It's not too bad. At least you didn't really want to go to war with Inazuma. Besides, you may have broken a record."

"What record?"

"The record for the shortest term of office for a minister."

Fu Ningna was struck dumb, and asked incredulously, "No, it's not that serious, is it?"

Richard shook his head, ruthlessly shattering Funina's illusions.

"In fact, it is that serious. Without any reason, a large amount of manpower and resources were used to shut down the newspaper. Strictly speaking, this is a serious waste of public resources," Richard said after a pause.

"It is illegal."

Funina froze, looking like a faded abstract oil painting.

I thought I just lost my job, but it turns out I also have to go to jail?!

"What should I do? I don't want to go to jail! I don't want to go to Mero Petersburg either." Funina's face was pale, her voice was trembling with tears, and her hands involuntarily gripped Richard's hem.

I heard that people in Mello Petersburg don't eat or sleep well, and they have to work every day. There are no desserts or tea available either. If she went there, she would definitely suffer from insomnia!

"Lady Funina, please calm down. There's still room for things to be salvaged," Richard said calmly, patting Funina's hand.

"Really?!" Funina's eyes widened as she asked, as if grasping at a last straw, "Is there really still a chance to salvage this?"

“Of course, that's on the condition that you follow my instructions. Otherwise, it will backfire like this time,” Richard said with a smile.

From the very beginning, Richard's goal was not to remove Funina from power, as that was not in his interest; what he wanted was to tame the water god.

"I'll do whatever you say, I'll be a good girl and listen to you." Funina nodded hurriedly.

It looks just like a kitten afraid of being abandoned, its whole body is soft.

“In that case… let’s try writing a draft of my resignation first, just in case,” Richard said.

“Didn’t you say there was still room for reconciliation? Why do you still have to resign… Okay, okay, I’ll write it, I’ll write it…” Funina’s voice grew softer and softer as she sat back down in her seat with red eyes.

Like a primary school student doing homework, he lay listlessly on the table, poking at the white paper with his pen.

The thought that she would be stepping down before she even had a chance to settle into her position as Minister of State brought tears to Funina's eyes, making her look incredibly pitiful, as if she were about to cry.

"Click."

Hearing the noise, Funina looked up and saw Richard holding a camera, recording her appearance just now.

"What are you doing?"

"When it comes to taking photos, people are visual creatures. They usually have an incomprehensible tolerance for beautiful things. Your photo might reduce public criticism of your dereliction of duty."

Funina quickly realized that if this photo were to be leaked, her image as the wise and mighty Water God in the eyes of the people would be greatly damaged, and she instinctively did not want Richard to release the photo.

But what if I really go to jail if I don't release him? What kind of image would a water god have if he were in jail?

Thinking of this, Funina sniffed and choked up, saying, "Then, then take a few more pictures."

“No need, one is enough for collection,” Richard said with a smile.

"Collect?" Funina noticed the key point.

"Hmm, Lady Funina doesn't think I'm really going to release the photos, does she? That would only make things worse. For example, can the water god, who loves to cry, really shoulder the heavy responsibility of being an administrative minister?" Richard said vividly, mimicking a reporter's tone.

"Who likes to cry!" The Water Goddess was so angry that snot bubbles were coming out of her nose, but before she could finish speaking, Richard wiped them clean with a tissue.

Whether it was because Funina's skin was too delicate or because Richard used too much force, Funina's nose turned red.

"Don't worry, Lady Funina, I also bear some responsibility for this. I'll help you sort things out. As for this photo, consider it my reward," Richard said with a smile.

After calming herself down a bit, Funina said to Richard, "Alright then, but... don't do anything weird with my photo."

"What do you mean by 'strange thing'?" Richard looked at Funina with a smile that remained unchanged, as if trying to see some embarrassment on her face.

"It's about secretly selling the photos to reporters or something..." Funina whispered.

In that case, the Water God's dignity would be in jeopardy!

"Don't worry, Lady Funina, just watch what I do next."

Volume 1: Chapter 4 Should I Touch It?

The next day, Funina nervously opened today's newspaper. Because of what had happened before, Funina no longer read those third-rate tabloids.

The newspapers she has in her hands are all published by influential newspapers in Fontainebleau.

These newspapers happened to be the ones that were invited to attend the press conference yesterday.

Funina closed her eyes, slowly pinched a corner of the newspaper with her hand, then suddenly unfolded it, her eyes widening at the same time.

Title: "Faucas, the Water God, Holds First Press Conference After Taking Office and Achieves Complete Success"

Funina continued reading in disbelief, only to find that there was no mention whatsoever of her embarrassing response the previous day.

The newspaper even published a picture of her standing confidently on the stage before the press conference, right next to the headline.

He looked extremely proud.

Only Furnessa, being a member of the family, knew her own situation. She cried pitifully in front of Richard yesterday, and felt a little embarrassed afterward.

However, one newspaper wasn't enough to prove anything, so Funina quickly switched to another newspaper.

Title: "A Detailed Analysis of Minister Furness's Administrative Strategy Amazes Newspaper Reporter"

Fu Ningna was immediately drawn to the article's title, and after reading the entire article, she had only one thought.

Oh, so that's what I was thinking back then!

As expected of me!

Funina decided to cut out this article later and treasure it. The author of this article understood her so well. If she had the chance, she would definitely get to know him and consider him a close friend.

Richard sneezed next door. Yesterday, he met with several newspaper editors, had dinner together, and after controlling the public opinion, he even personally wrote a sycophantic article. He is truly a model worker of the city hall.

Hey, if he didn't go into politics, he would be a great journalist. He can set the tone and write compelling articles; he's practically a news genius!

"Did you catch a cold from working overtime?" Richard muttered, rubbing his nose.

“If you can still get sick while drinking tea, reading newspapers, and occasionally reviewing documents every day under such low-intensity work conditions, then, Mr. Richard, I suggest you should start exercising more.” Linette bent down without looking at anyone and placed the prepared black tea on the table.

“Getting sick isn’t determined by the amount of work you do. Even the healthiest person can get sick,” Richard earnestly explained to Lynette.

"Well, so?" Lynette replied dismissively while continuing her work.

"I'm sick, very sick." Richard clutched his chest, a look of pain on his face.

"Oh, are you alright? Do you need me to take you to see a doctor?" Lynette played along with the performance in a calm tone.

"No need. Mental problems require mental solutions. Miss Lynette only needs to come to my house for a simple meal tonight."

"Should we warm the bed first?"

"If you'd like... hiss!"

Richard's hand was slapped hard by Lynette's cat tail.

"I'm sorry, the tail was too naughty. I apologize on its behalf." Lynette gave a cute, innocent smile.

Anyone who sees that smile would choose to forgive, right?

Let alone whipping it with its tail, it wouldn't be a problem even if you stomped on it with your feet!

Richard's gaze involuntarily drifted downwards, revealing a pair of beautiful legs encased in black stockings. The perfect leg curves were flawless, neither too much nor too little.

"Want to touch it?"

The voice suddenly came from beside his ear. After Richard regained his senses, he said with a righteous expression, "What kind of person do you take me for?"

Then, looking left and right, he asked in a low voice, "Is it really okay?"

A perfectly timed smile appeared on Lynette's pretty face: "No, it's working hours now."

"It means after get off work..."

"Neither."

Richard wore a look of utter despair, while Lynette gently twirled a strand of hair with her hand and said, "Of course, if Father agrees..."

"Given Arecino's attitude towards me, do you think this is possible? You saw it when she took you from me; she almost killed me," Richard said irritably.

[Servant] Arecino, his former colleague was quite unfriendly to him.

This was true in the winter, and it was even more so now that he had arrived in Fontaine, perhaps even more so, since his arrival was unlike that of other Fools' Enforcers who came to Fontaine for a 'vacation'.

Richard's permanent presence inevitably affected the Fools' Executor [Servant], who was in charge of Fontaine's affairs.

Although Richard had resigned from Winter, Queen Winter still reserved his position and a considerable amount of power for him, which is one of the reasons why he was able to rise to the second-in-command of the city hall in a short period of time.

Lynette's eyes flickered. She didn't think that her father had any prejudice against Richard, even though his evaluation of Richard was very unfriendly, and could even be described as hostile.

She and her brother Linni acted as a buffer between them, trying to avoid direct conflict between the two as much as possible.

But Lynette's womanly intuition told her that something was definitely not going on, because if her father really hated someone, he would do everything he could to make that person disappear.

Just like his predecessor, the "servant," but Richard did not.

If Richard knew what Lynette was thinking, he would definitely give a serious rebuttal to this somewhat love-struck girl.

Is it possible that he was stronger than Arecino, and Arecino couldn't do anything to him, which is why she didn't take action?

Richard could never tell Lynette these things, since after he rescued the girl, he had simply handed her over to the "servant" training program.

What is there to say?

The kindness of raising someone is greater than the kindness of giving birth to them.

Although neither he nor the servant were the type to take their anger out on others, it was certainly not easy for Lynette and her siblings to be caught in the middle.

“That’s because Father thought you were going to do something to me. After all… who asks someone to be their secretary right off the bat?” Lynette flicked her tail, as if she had thought of something, and looked at Richard with a leisurely gaze.

"What's wrong with the secretary?" Richard asked.

Richard is very picky about his secretary; it's not a position that just anyone can fill!

In his mind, the secretary has always been a very sacred position, and only a serious, responsible, meticulous, and beautiful woman who is suitable for wearing black stockings can be competent!

"Nothing much. When I agreed to your request, I was actually prepared," Linnie said pointedly.

Richard's heart skipped a beat, and he asked intently, "What preparations?"

“Who knows?” Lynette lowered her head to tidy up the empty tea set.

Richard clenched his left fist and slammed it into his right palm. He suddenly realized, "So you've had your eye on me all along! I can understand. After all, as a half-elf, my appearance is indeed hard to resist."

Lynette didn't want to pay any attention to this narcissistic guy. After tidying up the documents and placing them in front of Richard, she said indifferently, "Whatever makes you happy. Afternoon tea time is over. It's time to report to Lady Funina, Lord Richard."

Volume 1: Chapter 5 Self-Punishment with Three Cups

"Richard, come and look at these newspapers. My God, how did you do that?" Funina's almond-shaped eyes were full of surprise. She thought she was going to suffer a terrible fate, but now she was told that things had been brought under control.

"It's very simple, Lady Funina. Everything has a weakness. You just need to find a fulcrum to lift up a force much stronger than yourself."

Funina asked curiously, "The fulcrum you found is..."

“Newspapers operate to make a profit. As long as the benefits offered are greater than what can be gained from ‘publishing the Water God scandal,’ I believe the newspaper editors will be very willing to consider your interests and those of Fontaine,” Richard said.

Funina's pretty face changed, and she asked, "You didn't go and bribe those newspaper editors, did you?"

Richard, of course, wouldn't make such a basic mistake, but instead of immediately explaining, he asked with a hint of probing, "Besides this, Lady Funina, do you have any better ideas?"

"No, no, but isn't bribery illegal? Whether it's giving or receiving..."

“As long as it’s not discovered, it’s not illegal.” Richard returned the words that Funina had used to shut him up a few days earlier.

"Or is it that Lady Funina is of noble character, preferring to resign from her position as Minister of Administration and visit Mero Petersburg rather than break the law?"

Funina's face tightened, her brain racing as she considered the loopholes in Richard's words, hoping to find a way to refute him.

Richard did not give Funina that chance. He said, "In fact, Miss Funina, you have already broken the law. Isn't it a little too late to consider whether it is illegal or not?"

Fu Ningna's face fell. Indeed, she had already broken the law, and there was no point in arguing about it now.