Chapter 834

The most important moment has arrived!

Tension gripped not only the Finance Minister and Joshua; upon hearing Leon mention the "personnel adjustment proposal from the Military Department," everyone in the grand hall who knew that three days ago the Princess had been surrounded by numerous officers at the Prime Minister's residence held their breath.

Regarding Princess Veronica's reforms in recent years, though they had cost the old nobility dearly, most were merely "indirect strikes" and "minor disturbances," not touching the core.

But this officer turnover order is different; though the proposal does not directly dismantle noble status or deny its legitimacy, if passed, it would be like kicking the old nobility in the leg—leaving them to hop on one foot, stripped of most of their voice before the royal family.

According to the Kingdom's bicameral parliamentary procedure, the Upper House holds immense weight in "legislation"; once this proposal passes the Upper House, the Lower House can only make minor revisions, and no matter how much they delay, it will inevitably be implemented, leaving no room for reversal.

Thus, what the Acting Speaker will say next will nearly determine the future of the old noble class—and indeed the entire Kingdom—making it the most important proposal in nearly a century, perhaps the most important of all time!

"Heh, it seems everyone knows what I'm about to say."

Under the watchful eyes of nearly a thousand members—some tense, some eager, some worried, some excited—Leon first scanned the grand hall, then slightly curled his lips and raised his voice sharply!

"The first proposal requiring a vote today is the Military Department's dismissal of its gatekeepers! Those who oppose may speak!"

"I oppose!"

As Leon had barely finished speaking, the middle-aged man who had just stood second to denounce the Princess's reforms as a betrayal of the Kingdom's legal code leapt to his feet, face flushed crimson as he roared:

"This is an absolute absurd order! The Military Department's gatekeepers absolutely cannot… gatekeepers?"

"Yes, gatekeepers."

On the main stage, Leon nodded, smiling as he replied:

"The first proposal for your vote is the abolition of the Military Department's Gatekeeper Office.

The Defense Minister believes the Military Department has sufficient officers and patrol units; there is no need for a separate Gatekeeper Office. He proposes its abolition to cut costs… Does anyone else, like Minister Molli, oppose the dismissal of the gatekeepers?"

"…"

Wait? The vote isn't on the officer turnover order?

Upon hearing the Acting Speaker's words, the members in the grand hall froze, then frantically flipped through the proposal sheets on their desks.

Sure enough, among the thick stack of proposals marked with the Military Department's seal, there was indeed one… a sixth of a sheet of paper mentioning this gatekeeper dismissal order.

But since the matter was so trivial, so insignificant it didn't even merit its own page, it was buried in the "miscellaneous items" with just two lines of text, causing everyone to barely remember it.

Yet upon reflection, this trivial gatekeeper dismissal order was indeed submitted by the Military Department as part of its personnel adjustment proposals—the Acting Speaker hadn't lied.

But…

…

"Pfft…"

Watching the furious Marquis Morley leap from his seat, ready to charge against the officer turnover order, only to have his rage fizzle out like a firework, the seats flanking the main stage erupted in low, muffled laughter.

Those with grudges against Marquis Morley, and the non-voting observers with only listening rights, burst out laughing outright; soon, the entire grand hall was filled with mirth.

"No other voices? It seems only Minister Molli believes the Military Department's gatekeepers are vital and must not be dismissed."

After the members had laughed their fill, Leon lifted the small silver hammer and tapped the golden bell with a crisp *ding! as he smiled:

"One hundred sixty-seven to one, the proposal to abolish the Military Department's Gatekeeper Office is passed. This proposal will be forwarded to the Lower House for detail revisions and implementation… Minister Molli, please be seated."

"…"

He was tricked!

Amid laughter—some carefully concealed, others unrestrained—the middle-aged member's face, already flushed from tension, darkened two shades further, turning nearly purple.

As Marquis Morley, his face now the color of liver, sank back into his seat, Leon nodded to him, then smiled as he met the man's murderous gaze:

"My apologies, I just played a small joke on you all. Now, let's get to the real matter."

Here, Leon's expression grew solemn. He lifted the hammer and tapped the golden bell, his face earnest:

"The next proposal requiring your vote is the most important one submitted by the Military Department this time.

Whether this turnover succeeds will determine the future of the Military Department—and indeed the entire Kingdom—determining whether many officers can still wear their old uniforms."

So this is truly the officer turnover order.

Seeing Leon's grave expression, the members grew serious, sitting upright and awaiting the vote.

"I declare."

After a mocking glance at Marquis Morley seated to his right, who looked ready to leap up at any moment, Leon spoke loudly before the eyes of countless members:

"The second proposal for deliberation today is the Military Department's officer uniform turnover order! Please vote!"

Upon hearing the three key words—"Military Department," "officer," "turnover order"—Marquis Morley, who had just charged headfirst into a ditch, leapt to his feet again…

Then thudded back down into his seat.

"Pfft!"

"Ahahaha!"

Though the marquis's reaction was much faster this time—he sat down even before opening his mouth—though he said nothing, he might as well have shouted everything.

Seeing Marquis Morley spring up like a spring-loaded toy twice in a row, even those in his own faction couldn't hold back their laughter.

"Acting Speaker!"

Clenching his jaw hard, using the pain to suppress his grin, the Finance Minister rose to his feet, his face stern:

"One joke is enough. Today's agenda is extremely tight. Please set aside these trivial matters and address the more critical proposals first!"

"Mm-hmm."

Leon gave a dismissive reply, then tapped the bell with his hammer, smiling at the members below:

"Next, the third vote: again, a proposal submitted by the Military Department.

This one still concerns many officers, deciding whether they can still eat their old rations—and like the previous two proposals, it profoundly impacts the Kingdom's future…"

Got it. Again, fooling us.

Hearing this eerily familiar vague description, the members below wouldn't fall for it a third time—they immediately flipped through their documents.

Sure enough, three lines below the "Gatekeeper Dismissal Proposal" was the "Canteen Budget Expansion Proposal." The description matched perfectly—100% nonsense again.

As the saying goes: once and twice, but not thrice or four times.

Faced with this obvious trick, even the most impatient Marquis Morley stopped pretending. He crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, scowled at Leon on the main stage, and waited for him to keep bluffing—

"Officer turnover order, please vote… eight seven six five four three two one."

In just 0. 5 seconds, Leon rattled off the countdown, then swung the silver hammer with full force, slamming it down on the golden bell with a deafening *clang! —drowning every attempt to protest in its ringing.

"No opposition. The officer turnover order is passed."