Chapter 1737

"Does Anna really not want anything?"

Watching Anna, who had rushed angrily to the armament deck to drag back William, who was attempting to touch the 210mm rapid-fire gun, Veronica, who couldn't help but be amused, chuckled softly and then asked with a hint of curiosity:

"Leon, no matter how gentle and sensible she is, a girl of Anna's age must want something, right? Does she really not want any gifts at all?"

"Really."

Upon hearing Queen Veronica's inquiry, Leon couldn't help but nod with a hint of helplessness.

"I've asked her several times over the past few days. It's not that she's being formal with you or doesn't want a gift, nor is she too shy to speak up; she truly doesn't have anything she wants... Or perhaps you could grant a bit more funding to the poorhouse? Anna seems to value those things the most..."

"I see..."

After nodding to show she understood, Queen Veronica looked at the slender girl who had dragged her younger brother William away from the rapid-fire gun and was now standing with her hands on her hips, lecturing him, and couldn't help but sigh:

"That's true. After all, she is your sister, and she went through those... very difficult days in the past with you. It's normal for her to have such thoughts."

"Thoughts? What thoughts?"

"The thought of loving others."

Standing at the edge of the bow and holding onto the railing, Queen Veronica closed her eyes to feel the sea breeze blowing against her face. Her hair was blown into disarray, and she couldn't help but grasp the warm hand of the person beside her, saying in a soft voice:

"Leon, your sister is just like you—a very gentle person. After experiencing pain herself, she just wants to..."

"Just wants to kill everyone who caused me pain!"

Unable to resist interjecting, Leon recalled the life of the previous years. He couldn't help but clench Veronica's slightly cold hand and pout with a bit of annoyance:

"Honestly, given the shitty state of the kingdom in the past, if I hadn't joined the Cleanup Bureau, I would most likely have ended up with the rebels. By then, I might have been among those assassinating you and your father, and I'm sure I would have been the most reckless one."

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing Leon's words, Queen Veronica couldn't help but blink. She then leaned into his arms and whispered into his ear with a smile:

"Assassinating once every two months on average, and assassinating all night long each time?"

"..."

No... I was just about to add some value to this conversation, where did you steer the topic to... and there are children nearby.

After coughing awkwardly, Leon turned his head to look at Melanie, who was secretly pricking up her ears, and blurted out nonsense:

"Uh... didn't your sister Anna just call you?"

"..."

Forgetting his sister for the sake of a woman!

Watching his scumbag big brother, who had started to find his own sister a nuisance after getting all lovey-dovey with his sister-in-law, the Great Sin of Gluttony, Melanie, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

I have eyes of my own, okay? Whether sister Anna called me or not, don't you think I'd know? You just think I'm in your way, delaying you and sister-in-law... Long live sister-in-law!

Seeing his sister-in-law lift her head from his big brother's arms and tell him with her lips that "taxes can be reduced," the reluctant look on the Great Sin of Gluttony's face immediately changed back to her usual smiling, approachable little self.

"Did sister Anna call me? Then I'll go take a look... Ellie, let's go!"

Under the influence of the tax reduction secret technique, Melanie's subjective initiative was brought into play like never before. Not only did she eliminate her own obstructive presence, but she even dragged little Ellie, who hadn't said a word, away with her.

You really are... a scumbag sister who recognizes money but not her brother...

Watching Melanie, who was like a husky out of its cage, dragging little Ellie—who was hurriedly holding onto her hat—and running onto the deck with joy, Leon couldn't help but click his tongue in silence. He then lowered his head to look at Veronica in his arms.

"Don't worry, I already added an extra layer of profit when I approved the goods for Melanie."

Knowing what Leon wanted to say, Queen Veronica nudged her head against him gently. While dodging the sea breeze, she said with a smile:

"The layer of profit I specifically added for her before was meant to be reduced at a time like this. It doesn't count as taking the kingdom's money to take care of her. After all, after deducting the tax reduction just now, Melanie's purchase price and the taxes she needs to pay are just on par with the other merchants on the ship this time."

"..."

Good heavens, so it was all a setup...

"Although I also want to stay with you alone for a while, it's best not to be too long~"

Lifting her head from Leon's arms and watching Melanie running towards Anna on the deck, Veronica reminded him softly:

"Although she and William are very unusual, they are children after all. It's best not to leave them unattended...

Leon, a sea ship is not like land. It will suddenly pitch when it encounters waves. Even if I arranged for a lady-in-waiting to follow them, there won't be any major danger, but it's not good if they get bumped or bruised."

"Don't worry, it's fine."

Leon, who dared to send the Great Sin of Gluttony away, naturally hadn't failed to consider the safety issue. After reaching out to touch the ship's railing and confirming that 【Speedster Johnson】 was still in effect, Leon explained:

"Since many people came this time, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to look after them all, so I specifically asked a new colleague for help."

"A new colleague?"

"A newcomer who just joined our branch the day before yesterday. The one with the big bald head. His ability is that when he is driving, his passengers will not be in danger..."

After briefly explaining the effect of 【Speedster Johnson】, Leon said with a smile:

"Before I set off, I asked the director for an anomalous object and connected the entire ship to Johnson's carriage. Now he is effectively driving this ship, and everyone on the ship is effectively his passenger. As long as the ship doesn't stop, it is absolutely safe."

"I see..."

After hearing Leon's explanation, Queen Veronica blinked, then suddenly realized and said:

"No wonder you insisted that I rename this Prince Leon to Carriage before we set off, and why you had to hang the carriage's license plate on the side of the ship. So that was the reason."

"..."

Uh... that wasn't entirely it. Aside from trying to piggyback on the effect of 【Speedster Johnson】, renaming it was also because having my own name used as the name of a newly launched ship felt a bit strange...

"That's right!"

After skipping over the somewhat awkward renaming issue, Leon felt the sea breeze blowing against his face. Looking at the railing in front of them, which was at the perfect height, Leon had a sudden whim. Under Veronica's puzzled gaze, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up a little.

"Come, step onto the railing, and then spread your arms... Yes, just like that."

After directing the curious Veronica to step onto the railing in front of them, Leon supported her body from behind and helped her arms open slowly to the sides, completing a fairly faithful... but not very auspicious cosplay. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a familiar noise in his ears.

【On the bow of a giant ship with a displacement of over 40,000 tons that is on its first long-distance voyage away from port, you have struck a classic pose with a member of the opposite sex. You have successfully activated the Silver-tier hidden badge 'Ship Lovers'】

What the hell?!

(End of chapter)