Yes, Lady Funina!

"The crackdown on gangsters and evil forces that I just mentioned!" Funina answered immediately.

"anything else?"

"Well, resettling Mond refugees and visiting Mond to help the people of Mond solve the dragon disaster." Fininna felt that although Richard was the main force, she also contributed. If she didn't have any credit, she should have contributed. That dragon named Tevarin was quite scary.

"Has anything been accomplished that would benefit the citizens of Fontaine?"

"Sweep...sweep away gangsters and eliminate evil." Funina began to twist her hands together, and her eyes gradually became dull.

"Other than that?"

"..."

I fell into silence.

"Didn't Lady Funina change the Thousand Spirits Festival from begging for purified water door to door to begging for sweet snacks door to door? 'If you don't give me candy, I'll play tricks~☆' Like this." Clorinde gave an expressionless improvisation.

"Wow, Clorinde, are you sure you're here to ask for candy and not to arrest a criminal?" Finina made a sweaty expression.

"Ugh..." Clorinde was hurt.

Fu Nina, who had reacted, immediately flashed to Richard's side and asked, "Help me think about it. Have I done anything that I don't know about but is worthy of praise?"

This question really stumped Richard. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head slowly under Furninna's eager eyes and said, "I can't think of it."

"Could it be that the only thing worth mentioning in my one year in office is the special campaign to eliminate organized crime and evil that was supposed to be led by Villette?"

"Would it count if I solved the serial disappearance of young girls case and brought the criminal Vashie to justice?" Richard suddenly thought.

"Not to mention that the main credit for that case belongs to you, the case of serial disappearances of young girls is not an achievement in the political field!" Funina complained.

"In fact, Lady Fininna, there is no need to care so much about who deserves the main credit, because if you really count it that way, you probably haven't achieved anything..." Clorinde added.

Furninna turned her head and glared at Clorinde. Do you need to say more about this?

Clorinde feels wronged. Isn't it just a reminder to you because you don't know?

"The selection of the most influential person of the year has just begun, and there is still about a month left before the end of the selection. Lady Funina can think about what achievements can be made within this month." Richard said.

Hearing this, Funina immediately looked at Richard with a pitiful look, and Richard curled his lips and said, "It's useless even if you look at me like this..."

"Does presiding over the reconstruction of the Academy of Sciences count?" Clorinde looked at Funina's agenda.

"But how can we finish such a huge workload in just one month?"

"It doesn't have to be finished. Just hold a reconstruction ceremony, similar to the 'tailoring' ceremony that has more symbolic significance than practical significance. As long as the scene is a little bigger and more reporters are invited, it should be considered a political achievement, right?" Clorinde thought for a moment and answered.

Funina's clear eyes gradually turned into doubt. She walked around Clorinde and asked in a puzzled tone, "Claurinde, when did you evolve?"

"Lady Furninda, even I can get angry and sad," Clorinde reminded.

And Funina took out a piece of high-end chocolate from the drawer and handed it to Clorinde to encourage her, then looked at Richard and asked, "Is this feasible?"

"In theory, there is no problem. This is indeed a solution. Besides, Liyue has also contacted us to hold cultural exchange activities between the two countries. If it can be successfully held, it should also be considered a political achievement, right?" Richard replied after pondering for a moment.

"These achievements should be enough. After all, you have only been in office for a year. If you can achieve two or three achievements in a year, you are much better than other ministers..."

After hearing this, Fu Nina felt relieved. The Water God slapped the table and looked at Clorinde and said, "Without further delay, Clorinde will leave the 'Founding Ceremony of the Fontaine Academy of Sciences' to you."

"What about you?"

"I am responsible for attending the groundbreaking ceremony."

Clorinde: ...

PS: I felt dizzy the past two days, but now I have almost recovered and will continue to update.

Volume 101: Chapter : Saying no, but the body is honest

Clorinde quickly arranged the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Academy of Sciences. It was not that she was very efficient, but she went straight to Choiseul, the current affairs officer of the Fontaine Academy of Sciences, and told him that if she wanted to start construction as soon as possible, she should hurry up and prepare for the groundbreaking ceremony.

While Choiseul was preparing for the groundbreaking ceremony, Clorinde found Charlotte again and revealed to her about Funina's recent arrangements, and also treated Charlotte to a big meal.

Even so, Charlotte still wants to thank her!

The specific conversation at that time was as follows...

"Miss Clorinde, the big news you mentioned before refers to..." Charlotte was still dressed in her familiar outfit, the only difference was that the camera in her hand had changed. It looked more refined and very different from the cameras on the market. It should be a custom-made one.

Clorinde swallowed the last piece of steak, wiped her mouth elegantly with a wet towel, looked at Charlotte and said, "This is a private meeting now, we are not discussing business matters."

Charlotte was a little dumbfounded when she heard this. Didn't you come here because you said there was big news? Why aren't you talking about business now?

So this meal...

"I won't tell you that the site of the new Fontaine Academy of Sciences has been determined. It is located on the hillside northwest of the original Fontaine Academy of Sciences. I won't tell you that Lady Funina will personally preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Fontaine Academy of Sciences in the middle of this month."

Charlotte has invited me to this meal, so no one else can do anything!

Charlotte called the waiter to order two more dishes for her godfather, but was stopped by Claude, whose chest was already bloated from eating.

"Thank you, but I'm full."

"But I'm still hungry. Miss Clorinde, do you mind sitting here and chatting with me for a while?" Charlotte was actually full, but that didn't stop her from eating a little more. Maybe while eating, Clorinde wouldn't want to talk about business anymore.

"Of course, please do."

Clorinde didn't plan to leave. She watched Charlotte order two more desserts. After the waiter left, she asked again, "Actually, I also want to ask about the most influential person of the year..."

"I can't decide that. This selection is usually hosted by the editor-in-chief himself." Charlotte had just been made a full-time employee. Although she had basically secured this year's [Lavel Award] because of Mond and his team, she was ultimately just a newcomer at the Steambird Newspaper and had no way of participating in the selection of the 'Most Influential Person of the Year'.

"I'm not trying to take the back door, I just want to ask a question."

"Please go ahead," Charlotte replied.

Clorinde took a deep breath, then looked around again. After making sure there were no spies around and no one noticed them, she whispered:

"I mean, if, remember, it's a hypothetical, if there is a gentleman whose contribution is enough to be included in the selection of 'Most Influential Person of the Year', but you happen to have missed or don't know about this person, then can you add him later?"

Clorinde immediately stopped talking after she finished speaking, pretending nothing had happened and took a sip of the purified water at hand. At the same time, she kept scanning the surroundings to make sure that her words had not been heard by a third person.

After listening to Clorinde's words, Charlotte thought for a moment and gave her answer: "This kind of thing has actually happened before. If the person you are talking about has really made contributions that are 'enough to be included in the selection', then we can temporarily add that person."

"Of course, this has a time limit. It is feasible before the final list is released, but it will not work after the final list is released, because the moment the final list is released, the entire selection process is considered to be over."

Clorinde nodded slightly to show her understanding, she hesitated for a moment and looked around again.

Charlotte, who had noticed this a long time ago, said helplessly: "Miss Clorinde, this restaurant is secretive and safe enough. No one will notice us."

"You don't understand." Clorinde did not feel relieved by Charlotte's words. She obviously didn't know how terrifying the man's intelligence network was.

She remained alert and continued to speak in a low voice: "Do you think the permanent secretary of the city hall is qualified to be on the list?"

"You mean Richard?"

"Shh! You're too loud!" Clorinde's already cold face became even colder because of nervousness. If she wasn't worried about attracting too much attention, she would probably reach out and cover Charlotte's mouth to stop her from saying the man's name.

"Did Mr. Richard ask you to ask this?" Charlotte imitated Clorinde's actions, looked around and asked in a low voice.

"No, no, it doesn't exist. I'm just asking... just asking." Clorinde denied it flatly.

With the previous precedent of 'Claude not talking about business', Charlotte quickly understood and said, "I understand, I understand."

Clorinde looked at Charlotte and said, You'd better understand.

"If it's Secretary Li... Secretary Li, then it's indeed enough to be on the most influential list, but I heard from the editor-in-chief before that officials of the Mo Mang Palace don't seem to be very willing to be on this list. They seem to think that this list is... unlucky?"

Charlotte scratched her head as she spoke. Thinking of the finalists from previous sessions and their current situations, she felt that what the officials from the Momang Palace said made sense.

"Are you sure he wants to be on this list?" Charlotte confirmed.

Clorinde's answer to this was still ambiguous, "I'm just asking, purely out of curiosity, without any subjective intention."

Charlotte was puzzled. You asked the question and said you had no subjective opinion...but your question was not objective either.

"Let me make one thing clear in advance. If you want to be on this list, you must obtain the consent of the person concerned. If the person concerned does not wish to be included, Steambird Newspaper will not register his or her name on the list out of respect for the person's privacy."

Upon hearing this, Clorinde subconsciously asked, "Does Lady Funina agree to be on the list of the most influential politicians of the year?"

"I think...she agreed, right? Lady Funina should have received the letter. I remember that it was personally delivered by a newspaper employee more than a month ago. It didn't go through the Fontaine post office system, so it shouldn't have been lost."

"And if they don't get a definite response, the newspaper won't put your name on it."

Clorinde thought that Funina was used to signing, so she just saw the title of "Influential Person of the Year" and signed without reading the content.

And before Clorinde mentioned this to Richard, Furninna didn't know that the list of the most influential people in the political field was a cursed "death list".

"Thank you, I understand." Clorinde thanked Charlotte.

"You're welcome. You helped me a lot."

Clorinde's pretty face tensed as she said, "Today is a private party..."

"No business," Charlotte replied. "Don't worry, Miss Clorinde. I understand."

"Also, please keep the things I asked you just now confidential and don't tell anyone. I won't acknowledge you after we leave this table."

"Did Miss Clorinde ask anything just now?" Charlotte winked at Clorinde.

"...very professional." Clorinde acknowledged Charlotte's professionalism.

Before leaving, Clorinde specifically asked, "Is there any way to circumvent the restriction of 'personal consent'?"

Clorinde soon felt that this question might be too targeted, and quickly added: "I mean, if someone disagrees verbally, but if you force it a little harder, they will acquiesce, that kind of... that kind of..."

Clorinde couldn't think of the words to express it for a moment, but Charlotte already understood what Clorinde meant.

"You're not saying no, but you're still willing to give in, right? You're saying no with your mouth, but your body is honest."

"Yes, yes, that's what I mean." Clorinde nodded hurriedly. You really understand it.

"If that's the case, we need a middleman who is trusted by both parties and has the authorization of the parties involved." Charlotte replied, but this is too troublesome. If you want to put it in the newspaper, just say it directly. There is no need to beat around the bush.

Mr. Richard is really not frank! Is this what the book calls... tsundere?

Haha, it's pretty cute.

Clorinde didn't know what Charlotte was thinking. She felt that she had been helping Richard, so asking for a verbal authorization shouldn't be a problem. At worst, she could just record it...

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Clorinde's cold face. Now she finally had a weapon that could threaten Richard.

Although it is time-sensitive, it is enough.

Clorinde didn't really want to deal with Richard, but she understood a truth in the process of getting along with Richard.

There are some things you can do without, but you can't live without.

And Clorinde didn't plan to use it herself, but to let someone more suitable use it...

——————

"Come to think of it, the backup plan we left behind hasn't been used yet." Richard said.

"The backhand?" Linnet paused while stirring the tea with the spoon, then continued stirring clockwise. "You mean the letter sent to Lady Funina, the one about the selection of the most influential person."

"That's right. I originally wanted to urge Funina to agree to rebuild the Fontaine Academy of Sciences, but I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. We reached an agreement before we had time to use it." Richard said with emotion.

"But didn't you use it in the end? Otherwise, why would you deliberately bring up that contest?" Linnet took a sip of the tea, but it seemed that the tea was too hot, so she couldn't help but stick out her tongue.

"You figured it out." Richard admitted it very frankly.

"It's too obvious." Linnette blew on the tea carefully again, took a sip tentatively, and only started drinking after making sure the temperature was right.

"You are scheming against Lady Funina like this. Aren't you afraid that she will come after you if she finds out?"

"Don't worry, they won't find me, because Clorinde agreed. Even if they want to find me, they will go to Clorinde to cause trouble."

As Fernina's personal secretary, Clorinde does have the power to agree to Fernina's participation in activities on her behalf, which is also the duty of a personal secretary.

"How did you do that?" Linnett asked in surprise.

"It's very simple. I handed the document to Clorinde near the end of the get off work day and told her that she needed to finish it before the end of the get off work day. If she couldn't do it, she would have to stay and work overtime. Clorinde happened to have an appointment with Navia that day, so it was inconvenient for her to break the appointment. At the same time, I told her that this was not a particularly important document and she just needed to sign it..."

This trick is also often used by civil servants to deal with difficult bosses. If they want their bosses to sign without asking why, they have to choose the time when they are panic-stricken. At this time, their attention is often the weakest, and it is easiest to succeed.

By the same token, Richard simply made a slight modification and used the trick that was supposed to be used on Fernina on Clorinde.

"Great..." Linnet applauded, "But will this trick be used on you?"

"I won't be panicking because I have a capable assistant, don't you think, Linnet?" Richard winked at Linnet.

Linnet's tail stood up all of a sudden. Although there was no expression on her face, her tail betrayed her.

- There's nothing I can do. Who made me like the feeling of being depended on by him?

"Knock knock knock." There was a knock on Richard's office door.

"Please come in."