Youngest on Top - Chapter 157

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 157

* * *

“Kaiser, Dad? What’s wrong?”

At my question, Kaiser shook his head.

“Nothing much. My ears just started itching out of nowhere.”
“Someone’s talking about you, aren’t they? Saying you have a terrible personality… or rather, that you’re handsome!”

Admiral Ekellan quickly corrected himself at the look in Kaiser’s eyes.

“Haha! Of course they must be saying you’re handsome. There are so many ladies talking about you. Though not as much as they talk about me, of course.”

Admiral Ekellan, who had been speaking with a grin, faltered.
Then he looked directly at me and spoke.

“Take back what I just said. Serge, Dad is not a philanderer.”
“Who said anything about ‘Dad’?”
“Kaiser is the one who’s hot among the ladies. The philanderer is that guy. Serge, Dad is pure-hearted.”

Admiral Ekellan blinked his eyes.
Of course, he didn’t look pure-hearted at all.

“Stop spouting nonsense and hand over my daughter.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Serge Echelan.”
“Today is a rare day when the apple is being lenient with me. I can’t miss this opportunity.”

Admiral Ekellan hugged me tightly as he spoke.
I sighed with a resigned expression on my face.

‘What is this the moment we step out of the carriage.’

Enrik: When you think about it, they’re not even the youngest’s family…
Kailros: My younger brother and I were born from one source and connected by soul—a most noble and sublime love—

I ignored the characters appearing before my eyes.
Kaiser was glaring at Admiral Ekellan as if he might kill him.

At this rate, he would explode.
I quickly approached Kaiser and tugged at his sleeve.

“Look here, Dad. Your ear is itchy.”

Kaiser obediently calmed down right away.
And he bent his body according to my gestures.

‘I feel like a wild beast trainer somehow.’

A beast that doesn’t speak of its pain must be cared for well.
I examined Kaiser’s ear.

‘There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly wrong. What got in there?’

As I went “hmm,” I suddenly felt a piercing gaze.

“My ear is itchy too, my little treasure.”
“Ahem, water got in my ear. It’s been feeling stuffy since earlier….”
“No, why would water suddenly get in your ear? If you’re going to make an excuse, at least make it a plausible one.”

Derrick said that and suddenly splashed water on his own face.

“I really do think water got in my ear, Tiger. Hahahaha!!!”
“….”

It seems like water got into his brain, not his ear….
Is our temple really okay?

Enrik: You need to know when to stop.
Enrik: As a priest of Artemisia, I must maintain dignity!

Enrik shares the same thoughts as me—

Enrik: Youngest, I really did get water in my ear.

‘….’

Enrik: What if the water doesn’t drain like this?
Enrik: I think the youngest should take a look.
Kailros: It brings back memories of a tender time with my younger brother.
Kailros: When my younger brother would lie on my lap, I used to clean his ears.

‘Get yourself together, Kailros. That never happened.’

If I had kicked Kailros away with my knee as he chased after me and fled.

Kailros: It was just a fun game of tag between the two of us.

‘….’

At this point, it seemed less like trauma and more like a head injury.

That was when it happened.
A brilliantly ornate carriage rolled in.
The White Pearl Company’s crest was emblazoned on the carriage for all to see.

“Our genius baby Sacred Maiden!”

Gerald descended from the carriage and approached me with his arms spread wide.

“Welcome, Gerald. You certainly made an entrance.”
“Of course! It’s good for people to know that White Pearl stands with Artemisia. By the way, do you know how much I’ve missed you? Business has been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to see our baby Sacred Maiden often. Just recently I thought I might find time to visit, but then our Sacred Maiden left for that distant foreign land, and I was so heartbroken!! This Gerald gets a disease where thorns sprout all over my body if I don’t see my baby Sacred Maiden regularly—.”

I felt like blood might pour from my ears.
I needed to worry about my own ears before anyone else’s.

“But I knew you would summon this genius Gerald! A genius must be surrounded by geniuses! At such an important moment, geniuses must join hands—.”
“Stay away from my daughter.”
“Yes, sir.”

At Kaiser’s glare, Gerald vanished as if teleported, putting distance between us.
Now I could finally breathe.
I tilted my head toward the building.

“Why don’t we go inside and talk?”

* * *

Reception room.
Gerald spoke with a face full of emotion.

“Even during the time we couldn’t see each other, our dear Sacred Maiden painstakingly wrote me a letter with her tiny hands, one character at a time—.”
“Get to the point.”
“I’ve handled everything she mentioned in the letter well. It was truly a brilliant idea, as expected.”

Gerald handed me the documents.
I examined them and nodded in approval.

“You handled it well indeed. Thank you.”
“Rather, I should be thanking you. You’ve given the White Pearl Company the opportunity to expand all the way to the Kingdom of Bennayser.”

Gerald gestured to a company employee.

“This is the advance payment.”

The employee opened a box.
A golden shimmer flashed brilliantly, dazzling to the eye.
The box was filled with gold ingots.

“Since we have such a good relationship, the accounting must be precise.”
“You’re sure about the calculation? It seems a bit excessive. You said it was just an advance payment.”
“Would this genius Gerald make a mistake in calculation? It’s a sign of asking for good relations going forward. Future transactions are included, so it’s absolutely not excessive.”

Gerald smiled.

“Building structures requires considerable funds, doesn’t it? Of course, the Artemisia Temple’s financial resources no longer need worry—.”
“The more the better, though.”

I plan to establish branches not only in the capital but also in the Kingdom of Bennayser.
It means I’ll be constructing two buildings simultaneously.
No, not just two.
How many auxiliary buildings are attached to a temple?

The more money I could use, the better.
The same applied when considering future missionary activities.

“The problem is the land.”

The location of a sect’s branch was incredibly important.
Why would anyone seek out a temple in the outskirts when there were so many prestigious temples in the center?

“The sect branches of other temples are all located near the center.”
“And they’re all on prime real estate. In terms of commercial zones, they’ve secured the golden districts.”
“Even if we establish a branch, it won’t compete unless it’s on that level.”
“Yes, the problem is—.”
“Such prime lands aren’t easily sold.”
“That’s correct. I’ve mobilized my connections and discussed it with brokers, but….”

Gerald shook his head.

“It seems someone’s influence has touched this.”
“That was fast.”

We had just decided to open the branch vote.
Not even a day had passed, and already the land transactions were locked down.

“It must be someone with considerable power. Given how swift and thorough their control is.”

There was one place that immediately came to mind with that level of influence.

‘Parmanasus.’

It would be certain since Agnes left during the Akastel gathering.

* * *

It was exactly as Saelika had predicted.

A few hours earlier, at Parmanasus Temple.
A messenger asked the Temple Priest Houston, who had just finished communicating with Agnes.

“Should I report this to Beatrix, Houston?”
“No.”

Houston shook his head.

“I’ve already disappointed Beatrix enough with the failure in the Kingdom of Bennayser.”
“….”
“If I keep reporting every little thing and asking like a child, how can I regain her trust?”
“Then—.”
“I need to handle this matter well on my own. And show her the results. That’s the only way I can make up for the previous failure.”

Houston gazed at his messenger.

“To do that, we need to move quickly.”
“Should we arrange meetings with the high-ranking nobles who hold voting rights?”
“No.”

At that firm refusal, the messenger looked at Houston with questioning eyes.

“Isn’t the goal to prevent them from establishing a branch in the system?”
“That’s something anyone could think of. Other temples besides us will contact the nobles on their own.”
“I see your point.”

No temple within the system wanted competitors to emerge.

“Artemisia will also struggle to secure votes however they can.”
“Then—.”
“We need to strike at their weakness.”

Houston smiled coldly.

“Even if they want to establish a branch, they can’t build it without land, can they?”
“…!”

The messenger stared at Houston in astonishment.

“That’s truly a brilliant strategy to exploit their weakness! In the current situation, no one would have thought that far ahead! Everyone’s betting everything on the vote.”
“This is my chance to show Beatrix that I’m someone who always stays ahead of the game.”

The Messenger who had been smiling along with Houston faltered.

“But what if Artemisia proposes trading us that old land?”
“Hmm?”
“The former branch site of Artemisia Temple on Jedo, sir.”

In the old days, Artemisia Temple also had a branch on Jedo.
But as their influence waned, they had no choice but to withdraw.
And that land—.

“Ah, the land that was taken from us, you mean.”

Parmanasus Temple had seized it.

“Yes, Artemisia has the moral high ground. We can hardly refuse the trade outright….”
“Then all the better.”

The Messenger looked at Houston with a puzzled “Yes…?”

“Forgotten already? That land is a park now. A park the people of Jedo enjoy.”
“Ah! If Artemisia Temple takes that land—.”
“Which of the Jedo residents would be happy? They’ll think Artemisia Temple stole their park.”

The Messenger marveled.

“They’ll be cursing Artemisia Temple the moment they establish a branch!”
“Meanwhile, our reputation rises for having maintained it as a park.”
“And we can even collect a handsome price for the land.”
“Come to think of it, winning the vote against Artemisia might be the better outcome.”

Houston laughed with contemptible cunning.
This was a trap they couldn’t help but fall into.

‘Artemisia won’t be able to secure any land!’

* * *

Gerald, who had been pondering, finally spoke.

“There is one method. You would need to reclaim the land that was used as a branch temple in the past.”

I shook my head immediately.

“That won’t work. You know why it can’t, Gerald.”
“…Yes, of course.”
“Sigh, I wish someone would just gift us prime land out of nowhere.”

I tilted my head back and sank deeper into the sofa.
What I saw above wasn’t the sky, but the ceiling.

“Artemia, are you listening?”

Gerald chuckled softly.

“If she would answer our prayers, perhaps she could send us a statue as well.”
“A statue would be nice.”
“Indeed, every branch temple of other deities has statues donated by renowned individuals, do they not?”

Statues sent by emperors of generations past.
Statues donated with gratitude by empresses of generations past, and so on.
Such things had surprisingly effective advertising value.

‘Especially if the current Emperor or Empress had sent one.’

People seeking connections through the Emperor or Empress would make a point to visit and see it.

“What about the sacred painting by Botiape?”
“Excellent indeed. Isn’t Parmanasus the only temple that possesses a sacred painting by Botiape?”
“I heard thousands of people visit the Parmanasus branch temple every year just to see that painting.”
“But Botiape isn’t accepting commissions at the moment.”
“That’s exactly why we’re asking Artemia.”

Gerald laughed at my words.

“You don’t seem worried about the vote at all, Saelika.”
“Mm.”
“Everything you’re discussing now is what comes after winning the vote, isn’t it?”
“As long as there’s no interference, victory is guaranteed.”
“Do you have a way to eliminate that interference?”

I grinned wickedly and raised my fist with a flourish.

“It’s simple. I just need to… coerce them. No, no. Have a conversation with them.”
“A conversation?”

Ilay beside me shook his head slowly.

“A meeting between fists and faces isn’t usually called a conversation.”
“Well, anyway, it’s about getting along.”
“Our Protagonist has called fists and faces getting closer ‘getting along’ before, hasn’t he?”
“My fist wants to get friendly with Dmitri today.”
“That was supposed to mean he was clever.”

Gerald chuckled.

“It’s a good method, but using force will create complications.”
“Don’t worry about that. He won’t be able to say anything.”
“…?”
“I obtained something very useful in Bennayser.”

Evidence of Parmanase’s dirty deeds.
Would I really go punch someone like a madman?
I’m not a thug.

Enrik: It sounds so strange hearing you say that.
Enrik: Honestly, have you ever not punched someone when you suddenly showed up?
Kailros: My younger brother is so lovable that he gets along with everyone.
Kailros: There’s not a single angel in the Celestial Realm who hasn’t been hit by my brother’s fist.

Are my eyes getting tired?
I’m seeing nonsense.

‘This time, it’s really just a conversation.’

Enrik: That’s not blackmail?

‘I’m just suggesting we have an honest conversation while holding the evidence.’

Enrik: That’s blackmail.
Enrik: Of course, I approve.

I let out a short laugh.

‘So, Artemia, could you please give me the land, the divine statue, and the holy painting?’

When you desire something with all your heart, the entire universe helps you!

* * *

At that moment, in Empress Maxina’s palace.

“Your Majesty the Empress….”

The Attendant Maid bowed her head apologetically.
But Empress Maxina did not respond to the call.
She simply kept her eyes closed, lost in thought.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. It is my shortcoming—.”
“Be silent.”
“….”

The Attendant Maid closed her mouth and bowed her head once more.
Soon, Maxina opened her eyes.

“I should donate a divine statue.”
“Pardon?”
“I should make a donation of a divine statue to the local branch of the Artemisia Temple.”

Maxina declared firmly.

“And it must be the largest, the most magnificent, and the most beautiful one!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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