After watching the thrilling battle between the two girls,
Leon and Jean also went off to deal with official matters.
The first task was to gather the residents of Mondstadt who were still asleep and give them a small morning shock.
Leon publicly announced that he had accepted Eula as his knight and bestowed upon her the title Knight of the Waves.
From this moment on, she would no longer be known as the descendant of criminals, but as Eula Lawrence, the Knight of the Waves.
"Oh my god! How could this happen?"
"Your Highness, please reconsider!"
"How can you allow a criminal to become your knight?!"
"We disagree! Your Highness, please stop!"
As expected, opposition erupted throughout the entire process.
Leon was not surprised at all.
He then took the magical amplification device, released his Dragon Power, and began a full-scale verbal battle with the citizens of Mondstadt.
"Whether in skill, appearance, character, or capability, Eula is without a doubt an exceptional person."
"No one chooses the family they are born into, yet you discriminate against her solely because of her surname, venting your frustrations on her. That is truly shameful!"
"Eula Lawrence made outstanding contributions during the wave of monsters. She is a hero who protected this city—yet look at how you treat her!"
"When she was injured while defending Mondstadt, not a single pharmacy was willing to treat her. Instead of gratitude, you insulted your own hero."
"Tell me—Is this the etiquette of the people of Mondstadt? Tell me—are any of you even qualified to be saved?"
"Very well then. If any of you can come forward and tell me a single real crime she has committed, I will cancel her appointment as my knight. Of course… her surname means nothing to me."
With his Dragon Power fully unleashed and the amplifying device active,
he stood atop the moral high ground and lectured the people of Mondstadt for nearly an hour.
There wasn't a single insult in his entire speech,
yet everyone lowered their heads.
Almost the entire population of Mondstadt began doubting their own lives, drowning in guilt, feeling as though they truly deserved to die.
This is the first time someone has spoken up for me like this…
Naturally, the one most deeply moved was Eula herself.
Leon voiced the grievances she had buried deep within her heart and criticized the entire city mercilessly—for her sake alone.
Feeling protected for the first time in her life, warmth spread through Eula's chest.
This is amazing! It feels so good! I never imagined being on the moral high ground would be this fun! Gosh He scolded the entire city for me…
After this harsh reprimand, all the pressure Leon had been carrying dissolved.
If not for his throat drying out, he might have stayed there the whole day.
"Well, that's enough for now. Now, let us congratulate Eula Lawrence on becoming the Knight of the Waves! Give her a round of applause!"
Leon cleared his throat and took the initiative to clap.
Pa pa pa! xN
"Put more effort into it!"
PAH PAH PAH PAH PAH! xN
Forced by Leon's power, the dazed citizens of Mondstadt had no choice but to applaud vigorously.
The clapping continued for ten full minutes.
Everyone's hands were swollen red from slapping their palms so hard—
except for Leon himself, who had placed some sponge inside his gloves beforehand.
"Now, it's time for the next announcement."
There's more!? xN
The collective expression of Mondstadt fell flat.
Some people attempted to slip away quietly.
But Leon, having anticipated this, had already ordered Jean's Knights of Favonius to surround the plaza, not letting even a mouse escape.
Still, some people tried…
"Sir Knight, my stomach hurts!"
"Hold it in."
"I can't hold it!"
"Do what you must to hold it."
Some even attempted bribery…
"Sir Knight, my shameful behavior is disrespectful. Please let me leave."
"......" (Offers a gold coin.)
"Ah, ah, ah—then I'll be leaving."
"Why are you leaving?! Come back! How could we knights be bribed by people like you!?"
The man nearly cried.
If you didn't want the bribe, at least give the money back! That was going to be his drink money!
He wanted to complain loudly, but one look at the shining, razor-sharp sword in the knight's hand was enough to silence him.
Almost everyone was crying internally.
"I woke up early expecting excitement and fun…"
But instead, they ended up at a city-wide denunciation assembly.
And Eula's case was only the appetizer.
"Due to the recent chaos in the city, more and more people have been behaving recklessly under the pretext of freedom."
"I have decided to revoke several support policies, increase the tax rate tenfold starting this month, and implement a new law in Mondstadt…"
"At the same time, alcohol consumption will be strictly regulated, and going outside after 10 PM will be prohibited to prevent drunken citizens from doing anything foolish."
Leon announced.
The crowd listened in stunned silence.
Their minds were racing, yet completely numb.
And of course… dissatisfaction immediately followed.
"No! We don't need regulations on alcohol or anything like that!"
"Your Highness, please have mercy!"
"T–ten times the tax?!"
"This is tyranny! Please stop, Your Highness!"
Leon's decrees were like a bomb dropped onto Mondstadt's peaceful life.
For a moment, the citizens wailed and protested, gathering en masse in the plaza.
However…
It was pointless.
"One more bit of meaningless noise, and it will be suppressed."
Leon's gaze sharpened, his Dragon Power surging several levels—silencing the entire crowd instantly.
If public opinion had been invincible in his previous world,
this world was different.
Even if hundreds of hardworking commoners gathered, they still couldn't match a spoiled aristocrat wielding terrifying magic.
Before absolute "quality," no amount of "quantity" mattered.
Why would a lion negotiate with a mouse?
And Leon's reputation had already reached terrifying heights.
To the people of Mondstadt, this was tyranny—
but to outsiders, it would be spoken of differently:
"His Highness must have a profound reason for doing this."
After the announcements ended,
everyone left in despair.
Leon, Eula, and Jean returned to the mansion.
At this moment, both girls felt their scalps tingling.
Leon's tactics and tyrannical decrees made him seem like a completely different person.
He was so domineering, so overwhelming—
and most importantly, he truly managed to keep the entire situation under control.
Anyone else would have been unable to suppress the people's anger and might have triggered a riot on the spot.
"Your Highness, isn't this a bit excessive?" Jean asked hesitantly.
"Hm? You think that was excessive?"
The corners of the three women's eyes twitched.
Was he really unaware?
Somehow… it didn't feel excessive to him at all.
"Couldn't you have taken a slower approach?"
"No. Soft methods don't work on the current people of Mondstadt. You have to use drastic measures. I don't need a city of lazy citizens—no kingdom prospers like that."
Leon replied disdainfully.
Right now, the most effective way to deal with Mondstadt's people was to whip them into shape.
Jean was simply too kind and gentle.
And he had also been venting his anger.
After seeing how poorly Jean had been treated by those ungrateful residents, Leon had felt furious.
This could even be considered his little act of revenge.
(End of Chapter)
A/N: I forgot to mention earlier that I will follow this update format for two weeks as a test: Two chapters every two days.
I want to see if this improves my update rate with all the fics