Chapter 193: Dispute! The Sheriff’s Placement
3 days later, the Dark Moon City convened a temporary meeting that everyone was paying attention to.
In the council hall, Princess Royal Shea sat in the middle seat with Old Gauss standing at her back. On the sides of the round table were Joseph, Alan, Chen Rui, Tim, Old Ford from the Saiful Family and the patriarch of the Mellon Family, Lombardo…
At the meeting, Shea first routinely summarized the situation of the Dark Moon in the recent period, including the emergence of the Beelzebub Royal Family and the great victory at Mountain Xilang. Subsequently, the Old Ford was the first to stand up and cause trouble. He questioned Joseph for bribing Tim’s relatives 2 years ago and luring Tim to the lower level of the main pit to kill him.
Joseph had been prepared for this, so he denied immediately. He asked for strong evidence from Old Ford. Otherwise, such inference alone wasn’t convincing. If Old Ford couldn’t give any evidence, then he requested Princess Royal to make a fair judge by punishing Old Ford for defaming the financial officer.
After a round of heated dispute, the matter was left to rest with Shea’s mediation. Then, the topic shifted to the question of the candidate for the financial officer.
According to the practice of a three-year term, the financial officer and sheriff should be re-elected at the beginning of the year. However, as Joseph and Alan were both colluding each other at the time. Their position was so unshakable, so Shea deliberately delayed the election and extended their terms. On the surface, it was a compliment toward both of them. Yet, in reality, it was to wait for a more suitable opportunity. Until today, this foreshadowing finally became useful.
Joseph didn’t say anything. The one who spoke was the patriarch of the Mellon Family, Lombardo. Lombardo exemplified and elaborated the Dark Moon Estate’s economy from all aspects that showed a good trend of “steady growth.” All these were, of course, the contribution of the current financial officer, Joseph. Lombardo deliberately pointed out that it was Joseph’s vigorous efforts that the Red Spirit Estate continued to provide a large amount of food aid to the Dark Moon. Based on that alone, re-electing Joseph as the financial officer should be indisputable. As soon as that was said, the small families that supported Joseph agreed.
Joseph was still smiling. These words that were spoken by Lombardo had much better as compared to boasting himself. Especially because food was Dark Moon’s weak spot, as long as he controlled that, his placement as the financial officer would be as secure as it could be.
Old Ford still refused to back down. He claimed that the west route had now been opened, so it wasn’t necessary to rely on the support of Red Spirit. If the families in the Dark Moon worked together, it would definitely alleviate the Dark Moon’s food crisis.
At that moment, Joseph defeated Old Ford’s last resistance with a sentence. As long as he could be re-elected, Red Spirit’s food aid for the Dark Moon would be increased by 30% from next month.
The food problem had plagued Dark Moon for thousands of years. Although the words of Old Ford seemed reasonable, everyone understood that a trade route couldn’t be established in a day or two. Moreover, the current situation in the west wasn’t stable. No one can guarantee whether it could become an effective solution for food. At present, they must rely on the support from the Red Spirit Estate. If the aid could be increased by 30%, it would greatly alleviate the biggest problem of increasing food tension in the Dark Moon. Yet, in this way, the Dark Moon would even more inseparable from Red Spirit’s “aid”.
Shea finally concluded and agreed to Joseph’s re-election as the financial officer.
In fact, under the miraculous effect of Chen Rui’s energy dust, the secret food base was successfully established and a large amount of food was stored. Dark Moon was already self-sufficient. However, they still had to keep it a secret. It was inappropriate to reveal their trump card. Since Joseph thought he was smart to give 30% more food, why not accept it happily?
Joseph didn’t wait for Old Ford to speak and directly shifted the topic of the opponent’s true intention, the sheriff’s placement. He praised Alan’s contribution to the Dark Moon over the years and proposed for Alan’s re-election.
However, the words of Old Ford immediately changed the happy face of Alan. Old Ford pointed out Alan’s mediocrity and incompetence. His personal strength was low yet he was mean and cowardice. Not to mention he lost to the powerless human during the Sky Match, everyone also knew that he cheated during the battle between Aguile and Reka. Thus, he couldn’t even convince the masses. Not only that, as a sheriff, Alan lacked the most basic leadership. The Dark Moon’s guards lost its morale and neglected their training, thus they had low combat power which could be seen in their repeated losses to eliminate the bandits in the west.
In contrast, Tim from the Saiful Family was completely different. He struggled for two years within the danger of underground demonic beasts, and he even escaped from death. His personal strength had reached Higher Demon. After escaping from the ground, he saved the current mining officer, Chen Rui and provided an excellent plan. He successfully plotted the imperial guards to surprise attack the bandits. He also took the lead by successfully poisoning the bandits’s leader and eventually became a key figure that eliminated the bandits and cleared the west of Dark Moon. His reputation in the Dark Moon was far better than Alan, so he must be the best candidate as the sheriff.
When they were talking about saving the mining officer, Chen Rui, Tim glanced at Chen Rui and he saw his master looked at him appreciatively in cooperation. Tim was immediately speechless.
These words didn’t consider the reputations of Alan nor the Karon Family. It made Alan extremely furious, but he couldn’t refute. Seeing that the situation wasn’t right, Joseph then nominated the patriarch of the Mellon Family, Lombardo which made Alan’s face even gloomier.
Old Ford and Lombardo were rivals for a long time. The grudges between them were countless. They wouldn’t hold back when attacking each other. If it weren’t for Princess Royal’s mediation, they might have already fought.
After tearing off their noble clothes, the so-called upper class nobles were no different from the hawkers in a wet market when they turned their faces.
Joseph’s gaze fell on Shea’s face. Shea was just staring at Tim without any expression. She looked slightly moved. Based on the analysis of the current situation, Alan was definitely unable to be re-elected. Eliminating the bandits at the west was such a good opportunity, so Shea wouldn’t give up this hard won chance. She would definitely regain control over the sheriff’s placement. Tim was a perfect candidate. Lombardo and Old Ford could be considered as forces that mutually offsetting each other. Moreover, Lombardo wasn’t truly a force under Joseph. Instead of letting Tim, a hidden trouble to have control over the Dark Moon’s military power, Jospeh might as well go along with “Aguile’s” scheme…
The temporarily stable ally must have a further conspiracy. Puppet? Control? Other reasons? In any case, it was beneficial for Joseph.
“Everyone, please listen to me.” Joseph’s words used a slight force to suppress the voices of Old Ford and Lombardo.
When everyone focused their attention on Joseph, he sighed and said, “I recall the most important thing that I almost forgot.”
As he spoke, Joseph’s eyes fell on Chen Rui, who had been silent, “Does everyone remember that during the quarterly meeting, when I recommended Chen Rui as the new mining officer, I once said that if the issue at Mountain Xilang is resolved, then I will further recommend him as the sheriff.”
As soon as that was said, everyone immediately recalled that there was such a thing and all of them looked weird: Such a powerless human actually qualifies to hold military power?
“I remember that I also signed a document with our mining officer while Princess Royal also acted as arbitrator. That document was triplicated, and I still kept mine.” As Joseph spoke, he took out a document from his space ring. Under the control of his strength, it floated to each person’s face one by one. Surely, other than the signatures of Chen Rui and Joseph, there was also the magic signature of Shea.
When Chen Rui heard it, his eyes suddenly lit up. It was Tim’s turn to show a vicious look in cooperation. As soon as Joseph saw that, he sneered even more. He stood up and bowed at Shea before he said, “The issue at Mountain Xilang has been resolved, and it is time for me to fulfill my promise. Princess Shea, I officially recommend the current mining officer, Chen Rui as sheriff.”
Saiful Family’s Old Ford didn’t expect such a change. He immediately oppose it, saying that Chen Rui was weak and incompetent. Also, he had nothing to do with solving the Mountain Xilang’s problem, how could he steal Tim’s fruits of victory?
Tim was embarrassed when he heard that. In reality, whether it was Mountain Xilang or the crisis in the underworld, Chen Rui was the one who resolved them. After considering that, he, the hero was the actual plagiarist.
Everything was under his master’s control, including Joseph’s “support”. Although Tim was proud of his ingenuity and ability, he was completely won over by his master.
Unsurprisingly, under the direction of Joseph, the Mellon Family quickly fell to the side of Chen Rui. The situation became weird. The sheriff election became an internal fight under Shea’s government.
Shea’s eyes looked complicated as she looked at the paperwork she personally signed.
Joseph secretly sneered: Shea always keeps her words, so she has an extremely high reputation. If she breaks her promise, her reputation will definitely drop. As for Chen Rui, it’s just coincidental. He had to rely on me and the Mellon Family to qualify as a contender against the Saiful Family in this meeting. Even if this guy with no strength nor support is delegated as the sheriff, he’ll only do worse than Alan.
In addition, Aguile would vigorously “support” the new force representative, Chen Rui. With the Beelzebub Royal Family’s schemes, he would definitely make Shea’s party, that was united initially, to have unavoidable disputes.
Shea seemed to sigh. She stood up and the quarrel immediately stopped. Every pair of eyes looked at the Dark Moon Lord.
Shea said calmly, “Since there is such a document, then the Dark Moon City’s sheriff will be assigned to the mining officer, Chen Rui. After 2 years of disappearance, Tim made great contributions, so he shall temporarily return to Mountain Xilang as the mining officer. Also, he shall concurrently serve as the captain of West Route Defense Forces, whose responsible for the development of the mine and the defense at the west of Dark Moon. The maximum number of defense forces is limited to one-third of the imperial guards. The other rewards will be given later.”
Old Ford still wanted to say something, but ultimately, he didn’t say it. The most furious was Alan. As soon as Shea announced the end of the meeting, he got up and left immediately. Before leaving, he looked at Joseph, Chen Rui and others with his eyes full of resentment.
The biggest loser this time was undoubtedly the ex-sheriff.
Old Ford brought along Tim and congratulated Chen Rui. His words were full of sarcasm toward the human which contained the meaning of ‘requiting kindness with enmity’.
Everyone knew that being a sheriff wasn’t that easy. Moreover, Chen Rui was only a powerless human. What’s more, he offended an old force like the Saiful Family.
Joseph walked over with a smile, “Congratulations, Mr. Chen Rui. There will be many collaboration for us in the future.”
“Thank you for sir’s recommendation.” The human who was delegated as the sheriff dramatically seemed a little lost. His excitement was beyond his words. Suddenly, he felt a cold breath behind him. He turned back to meet Shea’s cold gazee and he immediately shivered. Then, he didn’t dare talk to Joseph anymore.
Shea’s cold gaze fell on Joseph’s face. Joseph smiled as usual. He bowed slightly, turned around and left.
Everything just went according Chen Rui’s plan as a double spy. Would Joseph ever expect him to be a spy?