Yes, Lady Funina!

"?" Funina slowly typed out a question mark, feeling that Richard's thinking was problematic.

When did even saving money become a bad thing?

“Of course I’m not against you being frugal, but I’m worried that cutting welfare spending might dampen the enthusiasm of civil servants,” Richard said carefully, choosing his words.

"Pfft." Claurind couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Furina and Richard were drawn by the laughter. Claude coughed lightly and said seriously, "You're joking again. There's no such thing as enthusiasm among civil servants."

“Really? Then Clarinde, tell me, are you proactive at work?” Richard countered.

Clarinde stiffened, clearly caught in a dilemma when faced with Richard's question about death.

"I... I guess I'd call myself proactive?"

"Well then, Ms. Clarin, do you think that making a fuss about afternoon tea might dampen your enthusiasm?"

"I...I don't like drinking tea."

"Do you think this will dampen the enthusiasm of other people?"

"I don't know, but... maybe?" Clorinde hesitated, then noticed that Frynn was also looking at her and quickly changed her words: "Maybe... no?"

Fortunately, Clorinde suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said, "However, compared to cutting costs, Lady Funina, I think increasing revenue might be a better option."

“Open source? I understand. You mean instead of saving money, we should find new ways to generate revenue and thus achieve greater economic benefits,” Fu Ningna said.

“Yes…” Klorind saw that Frynn spoke so fluently, with lines coming out of her mouth one after another, which was quite unfamiliar to her, and this gave her a very bad feeling.

“It seems we’re on the same page, Clarinde,” Furnessa clapped her hands in celebration.

Hearing Furna's words, Clarinde wasn't pleased that her ideas aligned with her superior's. The only thought in her mind was—'Oh no, I'm going to be in big trouble again.'

"I also have some preliminary thoughts on how to open source."

Clarinde put on the mask of pain; at that moment, she desperately wished she could shut Fryna up and stop her from saying anything more.

Let's wait until our ideas are more mature before we talk about them!

"The temporary shelter for Mondstadt refugees last time should have been a commercial street that was completed but not yet open for business, right?"

"If I remember correctly, that street was built with government funding, so it should be considered government property, right?"

Richard nodded. "It's government property, but one thing to note is that the commercial street is now open for bidding."

"I do not know how?"

"Of course, because you are not the target audience."

"But shouldn't these bidding projects be made public? All citizens should have the right to know."

“Similarly, they also have the right to be unaware. Moreover, the vast majority of Fontainebleau citizens do not have the ability to run a commercial street well. Instead of spending a lot of manpower and resources to publicize this matter, it would be more efficient to directly target the chambers of commerce and large companies that are capable of undertaking the operation of the commercial street.” Richard paused and then added.

"In fact, we also made an announcement about this matter."

"where is it?"

"It's on the notice board downstairs, in the bottom left corner, it should still be there," Claurind said, adding that she had seen the notice during her free time at work.

"The notice board at Momang Palace... will anyone actually read it?" Funina was speechless.

Clarin shrugged and said, "Perhaps some idle civil servants will watch it."

Upon hearing this, Claurind felt their gazes again and quickly added, "And those civil servants who are concerned about national affairs and have a positive work attitude."

After saying that, Claude added in her mind, "If there were."

"So how did the bidding go? How much Mora did you earn?" Furina asked.

"Lady Funina, I need to correct you on one point. We are a government agency, not a profit-making organization like a chamber of commerce. For Momang Palace, earning Mora has never been the top priority."

"So what comes first?"

“It is naturally in the interests of the citizens of Fontainebleau,” Richard replied immediately.

In response to Richard's answer, Funina decided to rephrase her question: "Then, my Mr. Richard, could you tell me how much Mora the citizens of Fontaine received in the Commercial Street project?"

"That's a total of 91,500 Mora, Ms. Funina."

"Duo Shao?" Fu Ningna said in disbelief.

She could hardly believe her ears. Such a large commercial street, and she was told she only earned 91,500 moras. Even if you worked illegally, you wouldn't earn that much, right?

"I'm going to find Navelette and have him thoroughly investigate the shady dealings in this project!" Funina stood up, preparing to go to Navelette's office to ask him what exactly was going on.

"Lady Funina, this project is perfectly normal, there's nothing fishy about it."

"You only made this little money if there's nothing fishy going on?" Funina stared into Richard's eyes, her gaze seeming to ask Richard, "Do I look like an idiot to you?"

That's the commercial street near the Opicclays Opera House. Although it's not exactly close, it's not far either. The foot traffic attracted by the Opicclays Opera House can reach that area.

But for such a prime location and such a large project, it's inappropriate to tell Funina that she only earned 91,500 Mora.

"In fact, Lady Funina, this commercial street wasn't designed to make money. Making money at all is already a pleasant surprise, because according to the original estimates, our city hall might have had to subsidize it..."

"Do we need to pay more?" Looking at Richard's expression that said 'this is perfectly normal,' Funina felt that either Richard or she was the one with the problem.

"Yes, Lady Furina, this project was not intended to earn Mora from the very beginning, but rather to serve as a cornerstone for a stable society."

"cornerstone?"

“Employment, economy, consumption… the intangible benefits that Mora brings are more important to Fontaine than the Mora on paper.” Richard explained the role of the commercial street to Funina simply, using vocabulary as close to everyday life as possible so that Funina might not understand.

They even used Funina's favorite dessert as an example to tell her that Fontaine's economy is a cake, and this commercial street is not a part of the cake, but the plate that holds the cake.

Only a large plate can hold a large enough cake.

After listening, Funina was still a little confused, but Richard's example made her a little hungry. Considering that they had been chatting for so long, it was time to have afternoon tea.

Just as Furina was about to accept the small cake made of high-quality cream from Clarinde, Richard coughed and said, "Lady Furina, didn't you say you wanted to cut the budget for afternoon tea?"

“Ah…yes, indeed, I…I…” Fulina looked at the high-class cake within reach, swallowed hard, and finally overcame her desire with willpower, closed her eyes and waved to Clarind.

"Take it away."

Clarin looked at Funina, who clearly wanted to eat but had to set an example by refusing, and couldn't help but shake her head.

Why bother with all that?

Lady Funina, don't you understand yet? You're no match for Richard at all; you're both terrible at the game and love to play.

“No need to take it down, just give it to me,” Richard said. “And could you please make another trip to the dessert shop on the street and buy a mousse cake for Lady Funina’s afternoon tea today?”

"Oh, just tell Lynette on the way to prepare some black tea for you and me. As for Furnessa..."

"I don't need it! I'll just drink plain water!" Funina said through gritted teeth.

“Alright, let’s do as she says.” Richard nodded, indicating that Clarinde could set off.

After Clarinde left, Furnessa suddenly realized something and angrily said to Richard, "Wait a minute, why is only my afternoon tea of ​​lower quality? What about yours? Shouldn't yours be the same as mine?"

"That's because policies need time to be implemented from the beginning, Lady Funina. Moreover, this proposal is still in its initial stage and there isn't even a detailed report yet, so there's no need to implement it immediately."

"Then I..." Fulina wanted to say, "But aren't I the same? Why won't you let me eat my favorite little cake?!"

"Since Lady Funina wants to promote her own ideas, shouldn't she lead by example?"

"Save money should start with 'me'?" Funina continued.

Richard looked at the clock on the wall behind Funina. "You have to lead by example to convince people, don't you?"

With a reasoned and irrefutable argument, Funina frowned, her beautiful eyebrows furrowing, and a mask of pain appeared on her face. Watching Richard leisurely cut the exquisite little cake that should have been hers with his fork, she couldn't help but swallow hard.

"It seems like this won't save you much money, will it?"

"Of course it won't save much, Lady Funina, but its exemplary role for the entire government will be immeasurable. This is an invisible, implicit influence, just like that commercial street."

"Okay, fine, but could you take it further away before you eat it, at least so I can't see it?" Funina closed her eyes, but the faint milky aroma still lingered in her nose.

"What's wrong, Lady Funina? Didn't we all always sit together to eat desserts? We've never had to sit at separate tables for afternoon tea."

Richard looked at Funina with an innocent expression, then said in a somewhat sarcastic tone, "Or have I annoyed you, Funina? Never mind, I won't get in your way anymore."

Funina couldn't stand hearing this, especially from Richard, so even though she knew he was saying it on purpose, she still relented: "Fine, just sit down."

Once her mousse cake is back, she'll feel much better, Funina thought.

However, to Fulina's surprise, her mousse cake also unexpectedly ran into trouble.

"The mousse is sold out?!" Furina looked at Clarinde in disbelief.

Claudia replied affirmatively, "I've bought them all. It's Thursday, and the cake shop is having a sale. They do have some high-end cakes left, but those obviously don't meet your requirements... However, the cake shop is already making new ones, but you'll probably have to wait more than an hour to buy them."

"Afternoon tea must have ended long ago by then, right?" Funina couldn't help but ask.

If that's the case, doesn't that mean I can only sit there with a glass of tasteless water, watching Richard and the others eat fancy cakes and drink premium black tea?

What level of torture is this?!

Lynette had no idea what Richard and Furness were up to, but while eating the small cakes, she noticed Furness staring at her expectantly. Kind-hearted Lynette couldn't help but say, "Lady Furness, how about... I share some with you?"

"Really?!" Funina exclaimed in surprise, her eyes sparkling.

"Ahem." Richard coughed lightly.

Noticing the troublesome fellow, Funina immediately changed her mind and said, "Never mind, I don't have an appetite today, you, you can eat by yourself."

Linette felt that Frynn must have been crying inside when she said those words.

But since she had already said that, Lynette ultimately did not share the small cake with Funina.

Volume 1: Chapter 98 Lady Funina, you didn't want this either...

And so, Funina watched as Richard, Lynette, and Claurind quickly finished the small cakes and then leisurely sipped their red tea.

Fu Ningna couldn't resist taking a sip from the teacup with both hands, but it tasted like nothing, because it contained plain water, not black tea.

But as Richard and the others gently blew on the rising steam from their cups, the rich and mellow aroma wafted straight to Funina's nose. Just by relying on her taste buds, she could imagine how delicious this black tea must taste, especially when paired with a silky smooth cream cake...

Fu Ningna couldn't even imagine how delicious it would be!

However, it was precisely because Funina was watching so eagerly that the afternoon tea time was unexpectedly short. Lynette finished her tea first, glanced at Richard, and instead of staying to clean up the teaware as usual, she went straight back to her work station.

After seeing how Lynette handled the situation, Claude followed suit, making up an excuse to go downstairs to check the bulletin board, and packed her bags to leave the battlefield.

Soon only Richard and Funina remained in the room. Richard, however, seemed completely unaffected, continuing to eat at his usual pace, savoring the high-end cakes and black tea on his plate.

When Furness saw that Lynette and Claurind had left, leaving only herself and Richard in the office, her mind immediately started racing.

“Um, Richard.”

"What's wrong, Lady Funina?" Richard asked knowingly.

"How's today's cake?" Funina's eyes fell on the cake that Richard had already eaten more than half of, and she kept giving hints with her eyes.

"It tastes great. The dense cake and rich cream blend perfectly, with a silky and delicate texture, sweet but not cloying. Paired with fragrant black tea, this classic combination is truly irresistible. Luckily, we have an extra one today, so I plan to have some more after I finish this one." Richard used his fork to put the remaining cake from his plate into his mouth, and then took the remaining cake from the afternoon tea cart.

In fact, the afternoon tea at Mo Mang Palace is delivered in fixed quantities every day, so there is no question of anything extra. Therefore, the tea in Richard's hand should have belonged to Funina.

However, since Lady Funina has lofty aspirations and needs to set an example by practicing the ideas she advocates, this afternoon tea was naturally left uneaten.

Adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, Secretary-General Richard had to go through the trouble and suffer a little loss by finishing the remaining afternoon tea.

Funina watched as Richard took out what was originally her small cake from the food cart and then refilled his almost empty cup with black tea.

Richard noticed that Funina had been watching him, and he also saw that the water in her glass was almost gone, so he smiled and said, "Lady Funina, would you like me to refill your water?"

"Is that okay!" Funina exclaimed with delight, her two little hands clasped together in anticipation in front of her chest. Even if she couldn't have the sweet little cake, a sip of black tea would be just as good.

At least my mouth tastes good!

“Of course, it’s nothing.” Richard put the teapot containing black tea back on the table, and at the same time picked up the water pitcher containing purified water to fill Funina’s water glass.

Funina: (ΩДΩ)!

Was it not black tea or plain water that I poured for her?

"Please enjoy, Lady Funina." Richard, like a professional waiter, placed the glass of water back in front of Funina.

"Thank...thank you my ass!" Funina couldn't hold back any longer. Besides, it was just her and Richard in the office, so she didn't have to worry about the Water Goddess persona.

Funina glared at Richard with her almond-shaped eyes, but perhaps because she was too delicate and beautiful, she didn't look fierce at all; instead, she looked rather cute.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Lady Funina? Why are you suddenly angry? Did I do something to displease you?"

"Do you genuinely not understand, or do you understand but pretend not to?"

"Do you understand? What is Lady Funina saying? How can I understand if you don't tell me? Is the 'understanding' you're talking about the same 'understanding' I think you mean?" Richard said "understanding" several times in a row, as if he were rambling on.