400 Building the Base (2/2)
Stepping on the frost and snow on the lawn, Roland pushed the gate open.
Though two guards were on watch, neither of them dared to stop him.
The gate opened, and hot air surged out of the room, in major contrast to the coldness outside.
The fireplace where red flames were burning could be easily seen, and a maid was adding firewood to it.
Next to the dinner table, the mayor's wife and his daughter were having afternoon tea. They weren't wearing any thick clothes. After all, the room was cozy due to the fireplace.
Roland found that the mother and daughter seemed to be having afternoon tea—on the terrace, in the courtyard, or before the fireplace—every time he visited.
How carefree their lives were.
They weren't as frightened as before when they saw Roland. They stood up and warmly invited Roland and Andonara to share the food and wine.
Andonara accepted the invitation, partly because she liked afternoon tea with other women, and partly because she didn't want to follow Roland when he was here for a formal meeting.
Roland knocked at the door of the study on the third floor and walked in. He sat down in front of the unfriendly host and asked, ”What measures do you usually take to prevent the poor from dying from coldness and starvation?”
”Nothing,” John Junior said coldly. ”The untouchables who don't work hard enough to survive a winter can go to hell. We're merciful enough to bury their bodies for them.”
”How can the population increase if you don't protect the ordinary people?” Roland sighed.
”Really?” John Junior smiled disdainfully. ”When the Johns just became the mayors two hundred years ago, the population was only four hundred thousand, but now, it has surpassed a million, counting the towns and villages nearby.”
”They are tensile souls, aren't they?” said Roland in admiration.
”The untouchables are just weeds. They will always proliferate as long as you don't intentionally uproot them.”
Staring at John Junior, Roland said, ”It seems that our ideas differ greatly. Right, I need to borrow your census officer for a while. Ask him to work with me.”
”Do you really need my permission?” said John Junior sarcastically.
Roland was not offended. ”I'm just letting you and your supporters know that the Magic Tower will do something huge, and that you'd better not make trouble, or I won't be very nice.”
John Junior said with a faint smile, ”Would I dare? I'm just a coward.”
”Live your life well, and don't think too much.”
After saying that, Roland left the study.
Then he went downstairs and took Andonara away.
John Junior furiously smashed the items upstairs. After this winter, the Magic Tower would be more respectable, and chances would be even slimmer for him to make a comeback.
The mayor's wife and daughter, on the other hand, were thinking that they should invite the queen for their next tea party. They had a pleasant conversation just now.