Building a Safe Zone with My Harem In The Post-Apocalyptic World

Chapter 206: Charming Advisor

After waiting for almost another twenty minutes for their turn, one of the staff finally opened the door and invited them inside.

The room wasn’t extravagant like what they expected from a governor building. Bookshelves filled one side of the wall while maps, reports, and budget documents were neatly stacked on a long table.

Several cups of coffee had already gone cold, showing that the owner of the room probably spent more time working than resting.

A young man stood up and smiled as soon as they entered.

"Welcome to Edelweiss town and I’m very sorry I wasn’t able to welcome the men from Freebound more appropriately. Just like you see, we are very busy because of winter preparation."

He couldn’t be older than thirty, wearing a simple suit instead of an expensive uniform. His appearance was neat, his smile looked natural, and his voice was calm enough to immediately make people lower their guard. Even the way he shook hands felt practiced, neither too strong nor too weak.

Arthur immediately understood why the entire town trusted this man. He was charming. The kind of person who could persuade others before they even realized they had agreed.

Otis and Jace looked completely relaxed after only a few seconds of conversation, making Arthur quietly sigh inside.

A politician. Not the corrupt and shallow type like Prado, but the dangerous kind who knew exactly what expression, tone, and words people wanted to hear.

"Please have a seat," Teddy said while pouring what looked like tea for them. "I already received Jade’s letter regarding the disappearance of the Eagle Union members. I believe our objectives are the same."

Arthur didn’t touch the tea. "Then perhaps Governor Prado should join us."

Teddy’s smile remained unchanged. "The Governor is currently occupied with another matter."

Arthur nodded as if he understood. "How unfortunate. Our boss personally contacted Governor Prado before our arrival, yet somehow the person we came to meet disappeared instead. I wonder if this is Edelweiss Town’s unique way of welcoming guests."

Otis quietly lowered his head while Jace rubbed his forehead.

There it was. Arthur’s sarcasm.

For the first time since they entered the room, Teddy’s smile paused for barely a second before returning to normal.

"My apologies," he replied calmly. "The Governor’s health has not been particularly good lately."

Arthur leaned back. "That’s even more unfortunate. Running an entire town at seventy years old must indeed be exhausting."

Nobody in the room missed the meaning behind those words.

Even the staff standing near the door unconsciously looked away while Teddy simply folded his hands together and continued smiling, as if he had already expected the conversation to become difficult from the moment Arthur walked through the door.

Teddy picked up the teapot and calmly refilled everyone’s cup as if Arthur’s sarcasm a moment ago had never happened.

"I understand your concern, Mr. Arthur, but Governor Prado has already entrusted everything regarding Eagle Union to me. I have access to every report and every investigation conducted by our men."

"No, I want Prado and I wonder if he is ’tired’ because he keeps sleeping with different women or even men every single day." Arthur’s smile was crooked, "That’s what I heard. But Prado is the one who takes care of this town and should be more informed than you."

Jace elbowed him slightly while Otis held his laugh. But even so, Teddy didn’t even change his expression at all, instead his smile was getting wider.

"I understand, I will try to fetch him." Teddy then stands up and finally leaves the room with his staff, leaving the three of them alone.

"What the hell, don’t be too rude, Arthur," Jace commented.

"It can’t be helped. Did you see how calm that man was? How carefully he chose every single word? He is the type of person who can lie without changing his expression."

Arthur adjusted his glasses before glancing at Teddy once more. "Prado, on the other hand..." He let out a small snicker. "I don’t think he is capable of doing something that complicated."

"God, Arthur, you really hate people with authority that much, huh?" Otis shook his head as his hand reached for the tea prepared on the table.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t touch that."

Otis’ hand immediately stopped halfway. "And become paranoid like you?"

Arthur shrugged. "I prefer being paranoid to becoming poisoned."

Otis chuckled but quietly pulled his hand back anyway.

After another several minutes, the door finally opened.

Governor Prado walked inside while adjusting the expensive fur coat hanging over his shoulders. His stomach almost touched the edge of the table before he even sat down and the first thing he did wasn’t greet the guests but look toward Teddy.

"Did you prepare my tea?"

"It is already on the table, Governor."

Prado nodded with satisfaction, took a slow sip and finally looked at the three visitors.

"So you are the people that fussy woman sent?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes."

"Hmph. She writes too many letters."

He didn’t even glance at the documents Teddy had prepared and instead leaned comfortably against the sofa while humming an unfamiliar sound while enjoying the tea.

Otis and Jace were already frowning, but Arthur remained completely calm.

In fact, he preferred dealing with someone like Prado. People with arrogance thicker than walls usually had expressions louder than their mouths, and their ego often betrayed them before they realized it.

"We came here to ask about Eagle Union. They—"

"Ah, those rigid self-righteous idiots." Prado immediately interrupted him and rolled his eyes.

"They always acted like they were better than everyone else. Every time my guards disciplined someone, Eagle Union suddenly appeared talking about rules and justice as if they owned this town."

He put down the teacup a little harder than necessary. "They filled my people’s heads with nonsense until everyone started questioning every order I gave. Do you know how annoying that is for a governor?"

Arthur quietly nodded. "So you didn’t get along."

"Get along?" Prado laughed loudly. "I was celebrating when they disappeared. Greentouch finally became peaceful without those busybodies walking around pretending to be heroes."

Even Teddy gently rubbed his forehead. "Governor..."

"But don’t misunderstand me." Prado suddenly stood up and pointed at Arthur. "I hated them, yes, but I had nothing to do with their disappearance. If that annoying woman sent you here hoping to blame me, then she wasted everyone’s time."

He turned around and took two steps toward the door. "If there are no more questions, I have far more important matters than listening to children."

Arthur didn’t try to stop him. He simply opened his notebook again and spoke without even raising his voice.

"I see... those boys and girls living in your mansion must be feeling lonely in bed without you around."