Chapter 205: Screw Your Tea
The accusation slipped out, sharper than she'd intended, and the crowd around them all furrowed their brows at her.
Arthur, like always, knew how to navigate situations like this—redirect the conversation to keep it from escalating. He smoothly replied, "There's no reason to doubt me, as all my actions have purpose behind them."
But Mei was not satisfied by his evasion. Her resolve hardened.
"You can act or hide whatever you want," she asserted, "but now that you're aware that you're about to be officially investigated, as Mizukage, it's in my jurisdiction to say this: you will not be allowed to operate freely or be inaugurated as the feudal lord until we're finished with our duties!"
She then pointed at him decisively and declared, "I will have several Anbu watching over you 24/7—this is for the welfare of everyone."
"Is she even allowed to do that?" many voices piped up.
They all began questioning her reasoning and her authority one by one.
"Yes, she is," Chōjūrō responded over the crowd. "As it falls under the protective order of any high-ranking official who is under investigation or has faced an assassination attempt in the past year. I'm sure you can tell which category lord Belfort falls into."
"That's insane and downright stupid!" a voice yelled.
"He's not even being investigated officially!" another added. "That wretched Mizukage said so plainly!"
"Say something, my lord!"