I can't take this story.
　I said this with a quick, almost immediate response.
　But my response seemed to be well within the realm of what the Senate was expecting from me.
Well, now, you'll have to listen to us for a moment.
　He smiled harmoniously.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the Greed family is now corrupt, bribery, black market and.........
　
No it's all true and...
　I frowned at the words of the Senate member and replied with a frown.
　At my words, all of the senate members let out a sigh of relief.

　I could tell from this that they were being very cautious about this matter.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the Greed family is in a state of flux.
　As he said this, one of the old nobles of the Senate stood up.
''If Lord Safate is willing to take over the House of Greed, I promise that our Senate will stand behind him.
　As he said this, the rest of the Senate nodded in unison.

　The backing of the Senate........
　This was a ridiculously unbeatable condition in this world.
　The former nobles in the Senate here were all men who had held important positions in the House of Lords and other offices, and they still had a great deal of influence in the House of Lords.
　They have a close relationship with the Bobblebum Church and have a great deal of influence in the Parma Assembly.
　If you can get the backing of the Senate, it honestly means that there is nothing you can't do in this world.
　At the same time, however, it also means that the Senate will no longer be able to be proud of you.

I'm sure Master Safate understands the meaning of these words, but........
　As he said that, the former nobleman slowly walked up next to me.
I promise you that I will make sure that the frontier city of Liberty Combe, of which you are the lord, is given the utmost consideration. And as for House Greed.
　As he said this, the former noble spread his hands wide.
''If Lord Safate takes over the Greed family, I will immediately return you to the senior nobility. And eventually, you will be returned to the Four Lords...''
　As soon as the nobleman finished his words, the rest of the House of Lords stood up in unison.
''What do you think?　We promise to help you with that and so I beg you to accept this offer.
　As I said this, the former nobleman spoke into my ear.
I'm sure you understand, but if you don't accept the offer, things could get a bit messy.
　As soon as I heard those words, I turned to the former nobleman.
　In front of me, that former nobleman continues to smile with a smile.
''Safate sir, near the frontier city of Liberty Combe, where you are serving as the lord, there is a city called Urinacombe, as I recall?
Yes I have.
That city.........was practically ruled for a long time by black marketers, and isn't it struggling to reconstruct it at the moment?
....
No, no, please don't get me wrong. I have told you that if you take over the House of Greed, I will do everything in my power to support your recovery.
　As he said this, the former nobleman let out a ho-ho-ho-laugh as he touched his white beard.
　This one word.
"If I don't take over the House of Greedo, I will stand in the way of Urinacombe's recovery.
　It's obvious that's what he's saying.

　The current Urinacombe is just beginning to finally improve its urban functions, and no matter how much money it has, it should be insufficient.
　That's why Acting Lord Riknas has been desperately applying to the Central Frontier Bureau of the Royal Capital for reconstruction assistance every day.
　While repeating these tasks, Riknas continues to take the lead in the reconstruction work.
　He's moving rubble, carrying materials, and serving as a night patrolman.

　If I don't take over the Greed family, these ex-aristocrats in the Senate will probably try to pressure the Central Frontier Agency to deny approval to the application for reconstruction assistance from Riknas.
　If that were to happen, it was clear from the fire that the reconstruction work in Urinacombe would be stalled at once.

　I involuntarily tighten my grip on my mouth.
　The former aristocrats of the Senate continued to stare at me with smiles.

　The silence in the room continued.

◇ ◇ ◇.

　At this point, the meeting was adjourned for once.
'Well, Lord Safate will need time to think about it.
　With that said, Erdena and I were led to a room in the House of Lords.

　It was a room in the basement of the House of Lords.
　In advance.
I don't want you out of the House of Lords until we've had this conversation.
　We were let in here after being told so by the former nobles.
　The guards are standing outside the room, and it was forbidden to go out at all.
　Although it is allowed to submit a letter of intent, the contents will probably be thoroughly checked and if there is a problem with the contents, they will probably be destroyed.......
　The room was well made and had a bath and toilet.
　I heard that if you come in, you'll be provided with food and drinks.
''........In other words, I won't let you step out of this building and have any contact with the outside world until you agree to take over the Greed family......So that's what you mean.......''
　I involuntarily clicked my tongue in the room.
　Then, Eldena put her index finger to her mouth and motioned me to be quiet.
　When I looked at the tip of the gaze that Eldena was staring at, I found a surveillance crystal embedded in the ceiling.

　I sat down on the couch, my mouth tightening.
　Erdena sat down next to me.
　Eldena put her mouth to my ear.
'Well you can do whatever you want. I'll follow you wherever you go.
　That's what he said.

　At first glance, it would seem that if we agreed to take over the Greed family, we would be treated well.
　But there is no way the Senate will continue to treat us well.
　Probably, at some point, they will turn their back on us and ask for something in return for their hospitality.
　If that happens, not only me, but also the frontier city of Liberty Combe could end up at the mercy of the Senate.
　
　However, there's nothing we can do about it after being completely confined to the house, even if we want to do something about it.
　I was regretting that I had come to this conference so ineptly.

　We thought about it for a while, but nothing came to mind, so we decided to distract ourselves with a cup of tea.
　We asked the guard outside the door for tea, and shortly afterwards a woman in a maid's outfit came into the room.
　Naturally, the guards are waiting behind her.
　In the midst of all this, the maid put a cup in front of me and placed a sheet of paper next to it.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.
　When I took it in my hand, it read

"Botchama.

　That's what it said.
　Surprised, I turned my gaze to the maid's woman.
　When I looked closer, I saw that the maid was in human form... but I remembered seeing her a few times before... she was definitely Unya, who was transforming into a race.
　
　Unja didn't even look at me, she was pouring tea into her cup nonchalantly.
　I'm going to go along with Unja and pretend to be calm.