It was only after Lord Yuto had interviewed two or three job applicants that Lumine and Paimon arrived in a hurry.
"Lord, Lord Yuto, we're sorry! We're late!"
Looking at the two panting figures, Lord Yuto nodded with a wry smile, then pointed to the spot by the wall, signaling for them to sit down.
He didn't mind their tardiness; after all, they had served their purpose.
For the current Lord Yuto, the presence of Lumine and Paimon was merely to make the interview atmosphere more formal… like mascots.
After all, these job applicants had already gone through two rounds of screening by Lord Yuto and Furina, and their personal experiences and qualifications were impeccable.
—If such people couldn't get into Jingshui Court… then Lord Yuto would truly be a Palais Mermonia earthbound spirit for life.
As for this interview… Lord Yuto's original intention was to observe these people more closely, to ensure that Jingshui Court would not encounter major problems in its future operations.
Of course, there was also the reason for the "assassination incident" that Lord Yuto had long arranged.
The former was to ensure Fontaine could operate stably when he and Neuvillette were absent, while the latter… was to quiet down those restless Woodworms.
Fontaine was established under Lord Yuto's watchful eye; it contained not only his efforts but also Furina's dedication and time.
And, of course, everything contributed by those who could truly be called "nobles."
As the Deputy Administrator of Fontaine, these were all things he should do.
…
Perhaps because there was no
assassination
interlude, the three quickly finished their interview work for the day.
Paimon rubbed her slightly dizzy little head, then strangely asked Lord Yuto beside her:
"Lord Yuto… why haven't you announced anyone being hired on the spot for two days now? Is there some deeper meaning to this?"
Hearing this, Lord Yuto, who was tidying his desk and preparing to leave work on time, paused slightly, then nodded with a light chuckle.
"Of course there is. If you announce someone's hiring on the spot… it means one less job opening, isn't that putting pressure on the people who come after?"
"If that person performs poorly in the interview due to the pressure, wouldn't we lose a talent?"
Paimon nodded understandingly at this, her face immediately showing a look of realization.
Just as Paimon was about to ask about the Noclan Family's enormous sum of mora… the Palais Mermonia auditor rushed into Lord Yuto's office.
"Lord Yuto, Northland Bank just sent over a check for ninety million mora! They said it was… charity?"
"But Palais Mermonia didn't raise funds externally because of The Prophecy disaster, did it? Could this be a Fatui conspiracy?!"
Isa Do was a little flustered for a moment; she felt as if that thin check was a hot potato that would explode in her hand at any moment.
—She didn't want to lose such an easy, high-paying job just like that.
Looking at Isa Do, who practically had the word
flustered
written on her face, Lord Yuto gave Lumine and Paimon beside him a meaningful glance, then spoke:
"That is the Noclan Family's heartfelt gesture to Fontaine, not some Fatui scheme. These two beside me… my assistant interviewers can testify."
Hearing this, Lumine and Paimon nodded repeatedly. After all, they had personally witnessed last night how Lord Yuto extorted—
Ah, no, it was the entire process of "persuading nobles to voluntarily contribute to Fontaine."
"That's right, that's right~ Last night, we went to the Noclan Family with Lord Yuto, and Mr. Sal very generously donated this sum of mora~"
Paimon said, shaking her head.
Isa Do looked at the smiling Lord Yuto, then at Lumine and Paimon, who stood by with serious expressions, and was momentarily stunned.
As an auditor, she knew very well what ninety million mora meant in this era where the Assistant Administrator strictly controlled salary disbursements and tax audits.
Although for Fontaine's increasingly full treasury… ninety million was nothing, and for nobles who honestly managed their industries, it wasn't particularly painful.
But for a noble family like the Noclan Family, who returned to Fontaine and started from scratch over two hundred years ago, that was a huge Bleeding!
Not to mention that this was all their family assets; the factories and shops under the Noclan Family's name could go bankrupt because of this!
What on earth did they do to incur such wrath from the usually mild-mannered Assistant Administrator?
Thinking of this, Isa Do slightly raised her head, and when she saw Lord Yuto's peaceful smile again… she felt a chill.
She understood that the secret behind this matter was not something she should know.
After realizing this, Isa Do said somewhat unnaturally:
"Oh, so that's how it is… I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Lord Yuto. If there's nothing else… I'll be leaving work now…"
"Also, the salary accounts for the 'Jingshui Court' you plan to establish are all ready. They can be distributed to the corresponding employees when they start their jobs."
Lord Yuto looked at the unusually expressive Isa Do, his mouth twitching slightly, then he sighed softly and said:
"Isa Do, there's nothing that can't be known about this matter. The Judgment of all members of the Noclan Family has been put on the agenda, and the results will be seen in a few days."
"These ninety million… are their ransom."
As Lord Yuto said this, he had already put away his signature smile, and his expression became quite serious.
He knew Isa Do wouldn't spread the story too wildly, but he still had to explain to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings later.
—If he truly wanted mora… there was a large share of profits from Meropide, and he also had a share of income from Chiori Tailor Shop, so there was no need to take such a risk.
Hearing this, Isa Do's expression froze slightly, then she nodded gently and scurried out of Lord Yuto's office.
She knew that Chief Justice never joked about such serious matters.
—The Noclan Family must have done something very egregious to be targeted by Chief Justice.
As for how egregious… that could only be known after the Judgment in a few days.
After Isa Do left, Lord Yuto turned his gaze to Lumine and Paimon, who were beside him, and asked with a smile:
"What did Paimon want to ask just now? Was it also about the Judgment?"
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