Chapter 354
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 354
Chapter Title: Is There a Problem?
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"Ugh..."
The first time their tribe was conquered.
The Lukuma chieftain cursed his own rotten luck.
He had been just a little away from amassing enough power to become a warlord himself and live the high life, only for some white woman to swoop in and take it all away.
It was enough to make him grind his teeth in frustration.
When he thought of how his precious wealth had gone to waste on welfare programs, he wanted to just drop dead.
But after Rose built one of the largest military regimes in the east, his thinking shifted a bit.
No, honestly, it changed a lot.
Even the saying that a snake's head is better than a dragon's tail depends on the situation.
If the Kilimanjaro Autonomous Government kept growing, he figured he could at least become one of the dragon's claws.
White or woman, it didn't matter.
In this Africa where the law of the jungle reigned supreme, attaching oneself to the strong was the natural order.
"What do we do? What the hell do we do?!"
That's why he'd been working his ass off until now.
To help grow the Kilimanjaro Autonomous Government even a little and earn Rose's trust.
Thanks to that, he could now proudly claim to be the number two man, even ahead of the Maasai tribe.
And with Rimon—who'd been trailing after Rose like a puppy—disappearing after that banquet, it was even more true.
On top of that, Egypt had halted its war efforts.
And the Utopia Guild, having lost all its summons and its summoner lord vanishing, had ceased all external activities.
If Rose now aggressively absorbed the other regimes, they might just leapfrog those two powers and become Africa's true hegemon.
The Lukuma chieftain let himself ride that happy train of thought.
"No, seriously, where the hell did the General go? Why hasn't she come back yet?!"
...That is, until a few days ago, when Rose—who'd been holed up since returning from the banquet—suddenly vanished without a trace.
"Maybe she's so heartbroken she went on a trip or something?"
"Heartbroken? Why?"
"Why? She watched Africa's tyrant kidnap Rimor right in front of her."
"No, fuck that! You saying she ditched the country and went traveling over something that petty, in this day and age?!"
The Lukuma chieftain snapped at Shu's words.
He himself had a harem of concubines, so he couldn't wrap his head around getting that shaken over losing just one mistress.
If you lost a mistress, you just got a new one. End of story.
"Watch your mouth, Lukuma Chieftain. That's an insult to the Representative."
His stiff voice came from Umbavu, seated across from him.
But hearing the warning only made the Lukuma chieftain scowl even fiercer.
"You watch your mouth, Umbavu. Who the hell are you to lecture me, some village chief from a dying hamlet?"
Crunch.
The armrest of his chair crumbled under his grip.
Umbavu stiffened at the sudden murderous aura radiating from the Lukuma chieftain.
He might act like a tame dog in front of Rose, but this man was originally the great chieftain who'd unified the region.
He had the power and temperament to crush a mid-tier player like Umbavu in an instant if he felt like it.
The tension hung thick in the air.
Then Shu casually cut in.
"Can't you both just calm down? What if the Representative comes back and sees us like this and gets pissed?"
"...Tch."
Evidently, Rose's presence weighed on them both.
The Lukuma chieftain released his grip, and Umbavu relaxed his stance.
Shu inwardly sighed as she watched them.
'Sigh, what a mess.'
It was inevitable.
The Kilimanjaro Autonomous Government wasn't some tightly knit regime to begin with.
Just look at the Maasai and Lukuma tribes—they'd been at war with each other originally.
Rose's strength and charisma had held them together until now, but with her absent, the cracks were showing.
"You're right. If the Representative doesn't come back soon, this could get dangerous."
"Dangerous? It's way past that! Don't you get the situation we're in?!"
The Lukuma chieftain bellowed.
He even shot to his feet, pacing back and forth as he muttered.
"She was supposed to be back yesterday, and there's still no word. If this goes south, our regime is done for! Done!"
If Rose had just stepped away, he wouldn't be this anxious.
The problem was the orders she'd left before departing.
He'd been thrilled at the opportunity back then and followed them eagerly.
But if she didn't return, expansion was off the table—the regime might even collapse. It felt like a spark had landed right on his head.
Should he do something now?
And if so, what?
The Lukuma chieftain racked his brain until it hurt.
'Should I just jump ship to another regime? Or take this one over myself...!'
Crackle.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No need to apologize! You big shots take your time—that's only proper, right?"
It happened in an instant.
Rose appeared, crossing through space.
And the Lukuma chieftain bowed to her as if he'd never entertained any other thoughts.
A swift response worthy of a great tribe's chieftain.
But right after.
He froze solid.
"Really? I could've taken it even slower then. No need to rush."
"Th-that's..."
"Don't overthink it, sis. I was just messing around."
At the oddly familiar voice, he looked up.
Beside Rose, whose face was strangely flushed, stood a tanned blond boy smirking.
His eyes went wide.
"Huh? Rimor?"
"Y-yeah, long time no see, everyone."
"...Yeah. Long time."
Shu gawked with round eyes, Umbavu wore a strange expression.
Only after they'd exchanged greetings did the Lukuma chieftain finally bellow.
"Y-you! Why the hell are you here?!"
"'You'? Kinda rude, don't you think?"
"No, I mean! Anyway, why are you here? Shouldn't you be in Egypt right now...?"
"I don't follow, Chieftain Lukuma."
He shut his mouth at the question about why Rimon—now infamous as the African tyrant's side consort—was so casually here.
"He's my consort."
As if her earlier blush had been a lie.
With a faint smile.
Rose stepped forward, fixing him with her blue eyes.
"My consort is by my side. Is there a problem with that?"
"W-well..."
Gulp.
"...No. No problem at all."
He swallowed dryly once.
Though he tried to speak up several times, he ultimately bowed his head slyly.
Rose's face still held that smile, her voice as gentle as ever.
But some primal chill down his spine warned that one wrong word here, and he was fucked.
With that, Rose turned.
She addressed Shu and Umbavu, who shrugged as if they had no complaints.
"Is everything ready?"
"Of course."
"We were just waiting on you, Representative."
Rose nodded slowly at their replies.
"Then we can start right away."
"Right now?"
"Dragging this out any longer wouldn't be wise."
"True, but..."
"You look kinda worn out. You sure you're okay to start immediately?"
As Shu gave her a strange look.
Umbavu asked directly.
He'd noticed Rose seemed subtly fatigued.
Her awkward demeanor contrasted with her unusually relaxed aura and fresh smile, so it took a moment to register.
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired from not sleeping for two days."
"No, but in this critical time, what were you doing pulling all-nighters for days...?"
The Lukuma chieftain grumbled thoughtlessly in his worry, but didn't press further.
Umbavu simply nodded in acceptance.
So Shu alone flashed a thumbs-up at Rimon, who was gazing at distant mountains, and Rose, whose cheeks were slightly pink.
Half exasperated at these clueless guys, half pleased.
Which only made Rose blush more...
In any case, the Kilimanjaro Autonomous Government's executives hurried into action.
To notify the guests—who had arrived early and were staying at lodgings—that the meeting was starting ahead of schedule.
"They laid it on thick with the invitations, but treat us like this once we're here? The Kilimanjaro Autonomous Government ain't all that."
"Looks like we came all this way for nothing."
"Tch. Sure, their rep's sky-high these days, but..."
"Guess that talk about the East's outlaw being surprisingly humble was just rumors."
The grand conference hall.
Spacious and clean, but utterly devoid of luxury—that's where the griping flowed freely.
The Lukuma chieftain, who'd pulled out his hair trying to host them lavishly, would feel mighty wronged.
But it couldn't be helped.
Everyone here was a regime head.
Used to living like kings, they wouldn't be satisfied with standard VIP treatment.
Yet they hadn't left for two reasons.
The East's outlaw's reputation was that lofty lately, and the one who should complain most was staying silent.
They'd come here precisely because that person was attending.
So as they vented through backbiting instead of speaking up.
Creeeak.
The conference hall doors opened.
And Rose finally appeared.
No one dared keep badmouthing in front of her—possibly a high-rank player.
The attendees abruptly fell silent.
In that hush, Rose calmly ascended the central podium and spoke politely.
"Thank you all for responding to my sudden invitation despite your busy schedules."
"..."
"Ideally, I'd share more stories and express my gratitude, but time is short, so let's get to the point."
The attendees just snorted, arms crossed.
Not really listening.
In Africa's culture of revering the strong, Rose's excessive politeness made her seem weak.
"One reason I invited you all."
But Rose ignored their attitudes.
She slowly turned her head, meeting the eyes of each familiar face one by one.
Then continued calmly.
"I've learned that Africa's tyrant will soon resume the war."
And the conference hall erupted into chaos.
"What?"
"What the hell does that mean?!"
"No way! What makes you say that bullshit...!"
Even tossing a snake into a frog pond wouldn't cause this much uproar.
Some shot to their feet.
Others shouted with pale faces.
Some pointed accusingly, faces red.
As if they'd never dismissed her words, the attendees reacted with extreme fervor.
For those ruling African regimes, Egypt's movements were that critical.
"Please quiet down."
"Explain yourself!"
"Is that true? Can you prove it?!"
The problem was their overexcitement.
Now beyond shouting, some charged toward the podium. Rose watched them quietly, then.
With a faint smile.
Lightly lifted one foot.
Rumble rumble rumble!
And silence returned to the hall.
Not just the marble podium.
The entire conference floor had cracked like an earthquake hit. Even the most riled couldn't move.
"I'll say it again. Please return to your seats and be quiet."
She addressed them.
Still polite.
With an even deeper smile.
In a gentle voice.
"Or would you prefer I make you quiet myself?"
Exactly three seconds.
That's how long it took for the rampaging beasts to sit like good children.