Chapter 354 - 346. Eleven Years
On the morning of the fourth, people who looked at the news first thing after they woke up, or ate breakfast while staring at the news, would be the first outsiders who knew that Celestia had appointed an acting Guildmaster while Varion Belthera was still in ’closed-door training’.
Curiously enough, the vice guildmaster was...still the vice guildmaster, while the acting guildmaster turned out to be the former Head of Internal Security; a five-star esper that was often seen doing rescue missions in Celestia’s contracted dungeons.
"Heh," Zein chuckled as he read the news through his screen.
Even though he already heard it from Senan last night—because apparently, it took them a lot of debate until they received an agreement close to midnight—it still didn’t feel real before the decision was spread on the national screen.
"I thought we were only going to sponsor a faction, but we go all the way to put someone in the Guildmaster’s chair?"
"Anything is possible if we know how to incite people," Bassena muttered behind the guide, lips moving against the scarred back. "One of the major shareholders is a renowned name in the entertainment industry, and we promised contracts with our espers for his agency’s project in exchange for his vote."
"And I guess the vote goes by percentage?" Zein squirmed a little bit because the moving lips and the soft breath across his back were starting to get ticklish.
Bassena curled his lips and chased the running back, pressing his lips along the fair shoulder and upper arm. "Of course—what’s the point of becoming a major shareholder if everyone has equal votes?"
"Hmm...so the almost empty bank account is worth it," Zein muttered lowly, the sulky-sounding voice got Bassena to laugh against his neck.
It wasn’t that Zein felt upset about the lack of money. He was just upset that his plan to make a foundation and build another orphanage in another red-zone had to be pushed back from the redirecting of funds.
"But as long as the new acting guildmaster and the disciple faction managed to reign in Celestia, and they kept their loyalty to Iron Shield," Bassena raised his upper body and planted a worshipping kiss on the back of Zein’s hand, "Celestia is yours."