Mr. Pantalone has no crazy plans today.

This is one of the reasons why Pantalone was able to take Piero's questions in stride.

However, the casual attitude only became casual after the "clown" brought up serious matters.

Although Pantalone still wore that casual smile, the look in his eyes had become more serious.

Looking at the "clown's" tall figure, he greeted the leader of the Fools' Executors.

"So, what is your opinion on my application?"

"...Regarding your application and the recommended candidates, I have seen the feedback on that matter, as well as the two recommendation letters you submitted."

Piero put down the file in his hand and then moved it from the shelf to another corner, pulling out another file.

Although it wasn't very clear, the words on the file were still faintly discernible under the dim, cold light streaming in from the window.

That was the application file submitted by Pantalone, regarding the recommendation and promotion of Datalia and Yura to executive positions.

After flipping through the files and reports, the "clown" turned around and looked at Pantalone's figure, speaking slowly.

"To be honest, the two candidates you recommended in this file, based solely on their abilities and contributions to the Fools, either one of them is qualified to become an Executive Officer."

"From this perspective alone, each of them possesses outstanding qualities. In terms of strength, ability, and conditions, they can be considered impeccable."

"Based solely on the abilities and strengths of the two candidates, and their historical achievements within the Fools' Army, from any perspective, I have no reason to refuse their recommendation to become the new Executive Officer."

Piero's assessment can be described as very moderate and objective, if viewed from the perspective of an outsider.

If the "clown," who is the CEO and chief of staff of the Fools, has given such high praise, then in a sense, this matter can be considered a foregone conclusion.

Pantalone, who had dealt with "clowns" many times over the years, knew that things were not so simple after seeing such a description.

From these words and the fact that the "clown" specifically wanted to talk to him privately, he vaguely understood some of the reasons.

However, he was not surprised by this. In fact, he never thought this matter would be simple from the beginning. Rather, he thought that the current situation was actually reasonable.

As both a businessman and a politician, he clearly understood the hidden meanings behind things that couldn't be passed so easily.

"While they certainly possess the qualifications, conditions, and capabilities to become executives, since Your Excellency has made it so clear, this matter is probably not that simple, is it?"

The smile that hadn't faded yet still lingered on his lips as he gazed into those dark, deep blue, star-like pupils and chuckled softly.

In response to Pantalone's insightful answer, the "clown" did not deny Pantalone's conclusion, but instead continued to elaborate on Pantalone's points.

"Just as you said, the abilities and strengths of the recommended candidates, including their military achievements in the army of the Fools, are sufficient to make them executive officers."

"But this matter is not that simple. It's not that I don't have the authority to make all the people you recommend into executives, but the political implications of promoting two executives at once are extraordinary."

“Pantarone, I think you probably understand better than anyone what this signal means and represents, so I don’t think it needs much explanation.”

The identity of the Fools' Executor holds extraordinary significance compared to other countries.

Therefore, such promotions are not something that can be decided arbitrarily, but they are not impossible.

Rather, it was a compromise made under the influence of various factors. The position of the Executor of the Fools undoubtedly represents the pinnacle of power and strength in the Winter Kingdom.

That was the agent who directly represented the will of the Winter Queen and a being with a transcendent status.

Its nature is comparable to that of Mondstadt, the guardian of the four winds; Liyue, the seven immortals; Inazuma, the magistrate; and Sumeru, the sage, but within its sphere of power, it surpasses the status symbolized by the other nations mentioned above.

Because the position represented by the executor directly represents the will of the Winter Queen, while the above-mentioned positions are ultimately just positions of mortal self-governance and cannot fully represent the will of the gods.

This identity, which directly represents the will of the Winter Queen, is the source of the Executive's transcendent status and near-dictatorial power. Promoting a new person to such a position is already a very significant matter.

Not to mention the possibility of promoting them, whether from a political perspective or simply from the perspective of their achievements.

In promoting a new executive officer, their military achievements alone are insufficient to warrant promoting both of them.

Unless there are even greater achievements and strength that plays an even more significant role in the strategy of the Winter Kingdom, the meaning conveyed by the words of the "clown" is already quite clear.

Of the two men recommended by Pantalone, Pantalone must decide who should be appointed as the eleventh executor of the Fools.

Pantalone was not surprised by this; rather, he said it was the norm.

After all, no one else would sit idly by and watch him increase his influence, let alone promote two executives at once.

The reason he submitted two letters of recommendation at once was partly to see how others would react, and partly to test their reactions and bottom lines.

Pantalone had already decided who to recommend as the eleventh executor of the Fatui.

Upon hearing the reply from the "clown," Pantalone gave his own answer almost without hesitation.

"If I had to choose one, I would recommend that young warrior from the Winter Solstice to become the eleventh Executor of the Fools."

Although he had considered recommending Yura for the position of executive officer and had the wicked idea of ​​seeing how Arecino would react.

However, after much thought, he abandoned the decision. He valued future considerations more than his immediate thoughts, taking into account the things he was going to do next.

Some shady things still need to be done by people like Ajax, who are born to face the cruelty of the battlefield.

In a sense, Ajax is the kind of being born to fight and on the battlefield; his nature is to be a warrior who enjoys fighting and struggling.

Even when faced with the deepest darkness and abyss, and the cruelest reality, such a person will not waver in the slightest.

Such a person is born to exist in the shadows, so Pantalone chose Dadtaglia almost without hesitation.

After receiving Pantalone's answer, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the "clown," as if he hadn't expected Pantalone to choose Tadalia over Yura.

"To be honest, this answer was somewhat unexpected... I thought you would choose the daughter of the Lawrence family that you adopted, after all, the hidden strength of that daughter of the Lawrence family is obviously much stronger than that young warrior."