553 This Man is a Perver (1/2)

They were all grieved to see the blackened bodies, but after Roland gave each family five gold coins as compensation, they smiled as happily as if the victims had died a natural death because of old age, which called for celebration.

Roland watched them quietly with no change in expression. He didn't say anything or make any remarks.

The catgirl wiped her tears now and then.

She was the only one who really cried.

Roland temporarily put the studies of Lesser Benediction on hold. He didn't give up, but he thought that it was too dangerous and he had to study it more cautiously in a safer environment where nobody else would be affected.

Through Long-Distance Teleportation, Roland returned to Motasos. He went to the city hall and checked the civil affairs of Motasos first.

This city belonged to Stephanie. She probably wouldn't be bothered no matter what Roland turned the city into, but as her friend and for his own interests, Roland would be more reassured in constructing the foundation of his floating city if the city was safe and financially healthy.

At this moment, many people in Motasos knew of Roland, but few had really seen him.

So, Roland went to the city hall with Stephanie's butler.

After the butler introduced him to most people in the city hall, Roland quickly examined the recent reports and found a few noticeable mistakes. He smiled and said, ”Although I'm just the acting mayor and my job may be taken by the First Princess any time, I don't want to see anyone embezzling while I'm still in office.”

A few clerks were shivering.

Several officials and about thirty employees looked at him in the city hall, not daring to speak.

A Mage's warning always carried weight, especially when he was right.

”I know that some of you are definitely angry with me. After all, I'm young and I have never been your leader before. But that's fine. If you think you're capable or have a powerful background, you're free to try and topple me.”

Seeing Roland's vague smile, the officials and employees at the city hall could only smile awkwardly.

”Of course, I'm not an inconsiderate man. I've seen your wages, which are indeed too petty, so you make a living through corruption. If I forbid you from embezzlement, you will barely be able to survive. So, I've decided to give you a little pay raise. You will all have double your old wages.”

Hearing that, all the employees in the city hall widened their eyes.

Motasos had been the First Princess's territory since she was ten.

The employees at the city hall had been working for her since then too.

It had been fifteen years, and they'd never had even one pay raise during these fifteen years.

But of course, their living expenses were as cheap as fifteen years earlier too.

Therefore, the workers were more or less surprised, and generally overjoyed.

Roland was happy to see how elated they were.

He gave them a high salary because he wanted a clean government. But of course, he didn't think that a high salary alone could prevent corruption.

His deeper purpose was that, by giving them a high salary, he would have enough excuses to punish whoever was too corrupt without being criticized by everybody as mean and ungenerous.

After his debut in the city hall, Roland returned to the mayor's office and entered the underground hollow.

The few solar systems had all finished their evolution and turned into white spheres.

Roland squeezed them into bricks and put them in his system Backpack.

The magic bricks made in such a way were of a better quality and fully automated. He didn't have to work on them at all, but could spend time on other things, such as magic experiments.

Creating another few solar systems in the basement for evolution, he teleported himself to the capital of Fareins and spent a few days with Andonara. Then, he returned to the Red Magic Tower.

Hardly had he entered his own manor when two magic apprentices suddenly jumped him.

They stopped in Roland's path, and one of them said, ”Mr. Roland, you must go to the Council of Elders right now.”

Roland asked back in confusion, ”You look rather nervous. What happened?”

The other magic apprentice, who was younger, replied, ”The Great Elder and a few other mentors came back earlier this morning in less-than-perfect shape. We were told that you were related to the matter.”

After a shock, Roland remembered that Alfred said that they would deal with the First Princess's ex-husband and the black-winged creature and asked him to leave it alone. Did anything happen to them during their hunt?

After expressing his gratitude to the two magic apprentices, Roland quickly went before the Council of Elders.

When Roland arrived, a dozen elders and mentors were having a heated argument.

He attracted everybody's attention the moment he appeared at the door.

The conference room instantly fell quiet.