I! Cleaner!-Chapter 1177 - 1079: Gotta Pay Extra

Almost the same situation?

After hearing the Eastern Carleighwen Queen's words, the queens sitting at the "Queen" table were momentarily taken aback, then strange expressions appeared on their faces one after another.

If put that way, it really seems like everyone's situation over here is quite similar, basically all related to a certain someone.

Counting in Queen Veronica, there were a total of six kingdoms at the table, among which the Northern Kingdom, Witch Kingdom, Kingdom of Lutung, and Western Carlay Wen Kingdom were pretty much propped up by Leon.

As for this mysterious Eastern Carleighwen Queen, although the exact situation isn't clear yet, since she mentioned it's almost the same, she's probably also faced a crisis, with Leon entreating and the Queen ascending the throne deal.

The remaining new queen from Thousand Sails Maritime Country, though not heard of being forcibly propped up, has a certain someone's younger brother sitting right behind her, scribbling something in a notebook, undoubtedly also linked to Leon.

So our table, rather than being the "reformist faction" supporting Lutung and the Clean-up Bureau, might as well be considered the faction of the Food God and those having ties with him! More importantly...

I don't have any ties with him!

Looking at the other "scandalous subjects" of Leon around her, the queens who believed they were innocent with Leon... at least for now, still innocent, couldn't help but subconsciously move their chairs a bit further away.

And just as the queens tried to distance themselves from others to prove their innocence as young ladies, different from the others who were in cahoots with the married man, the empty side of the triangular main conference table suddenly lit up, blooming into a spectacular array of stardust.

Under the astonished gaze of a multitude of kings and their accompanying personnel, two old men in custom-made suits seemed to squeeze out from another world, waving away the surrounding light points denser than the night sky, slowly materializing from nothing.

Right! This entrance is appropriate!

Watching Leon reluctantly accept his advice, moving across more than fifty meters through the stargate, and transferring directly from the outside of the hall to the side of the main conference table, Leon seated back at his spot with satisfaction, couldn't help but nod his head in contentment.

Excessive vanity is a bad trait, but necessary packaging cannot be omitted.

After all, although The Twelve Kingdoms know the Clean-up Bureau is formidable, they don't have a concrete sense of how formidable it is, like having a million in the bank and seeing a million in cash in front of you, the impact is different, right?

Earlier, you both walked into the hall and sat down, having to present identification papers to the guards at the entrance, proving that you are directors from the Clean-up Bureau here to preside over the meeting, truly diminished the prestige of the Clean-up Bureau.

Even if you two crawled in from the entrance, The Twelve Kingdoms would still respect the Clean-up Bureau, but this mode with full sound and light effects can turn respect directly into awe, making the upcoming assembly proceed much more smoothly.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

Secretly adjusted the attire Leon forced him into, suppressing the feeling of awkwardness, Director Scorpio silently recited the three elements of pretentiousness he just learned, slightly raised his chin, looked down with a condescending gaze, and spoke with an unsmiling face:

"I am Director Scorpio from the Clean-up Bureau, standing next to me is Director Cancer. The Twelve Kingdoms assembly this time will be presided over by the two of us."

Seeing the main conference table stunned by his demeanor, nearly silent enough to hear a pin drop, Director Scorpio couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, then continued to maintain a stance of three parts politeness and seven parts arrogance, skipping all pleasantries and formalities, he calmly went straight to the point:

"The reason for inviting everyone to this assembly is primarily to change the currently overly chaotic situation, promote communication between our Clean-up Bureau and The Twelve Kingdoms, open new channels for timely communication and feedback, and continue to deepen past cooperation, among other things.

Of course, aside from these topics proposed by our Clean-up Bureau, someone also presented us with some new ideas in the realm of international relations, yet these have been temporarily classified as 'related discussions', which should be discussed after the main topics conclude... does anyone have objections to this procedure?"

No... or should it be said it wouldn't matter even if there were?

Upon hearing Director Scorpio's opening remarks, except for Veronica who also came through the stargate, the eleven kings seated at the main conference table subconsciously looked towards Leon seated at the "accompaniment position".

Although Director Scorpio didn't mention names directly, nobody sitting here is purely foolish, everyone can figure out who the "someone" presenting new ideas is, even just with their behinds; it's undoubtedly him.

Or to put it bluntly, the so-called "main topics" of this Twelve Kingdoms assembly are probably just a smokescreen, those new ideas classified as "other related discussions" are the truly lethal stuff!

Recalling the agenda list, the "new ideas" with merely vague names already made people feel unnerved. Facing Leon across the "anti-Food God" table, the six kings exchanged glances and saw in each other's eyes a determination akin to burning the boats.

The main topics at the start don't matter much, but those so-called new ideas afterward must not be passed at any cost! Otherwise, both themselves and their kingdoms would eventually end up as mere puppets manipulated by the Food God!

"Since no one has objections, I'll start directly."

After waiting for a while without anyone voicing dissent, Director Scorpio, who had rehearsed in advance, nodded slightly before announcing today's first agenda... or rather notification, opening with a stern face:

"From today onwards, the Clean-up Bureau will no longer provide direct protection to The Twelve Kingdoms."

"?!!!!!!!!"*

Hearing Director Scorpio's words, the originally prepared kings, ready to agree to anything just to swiftly skip past the main topics, couldn't help but be thrown into an uproar!

"What did you say?!"

Without even bothering with formalities, the King of the Sea Cliff Country sprang up from his chair, eyes filled with incredulity:

"Has the Clean-up Agency gone mad? Are you serious?"

"This is a decision unanimously passed after discussion by all board members."

Taking over the conversation and confirming this was an irrevocable decision, the corpulent Crab Director rubbed his belly and said with a chuckle:

"From now on, all operations of the Clean-up Agency branches within The Twelve Kingdoms, including handling exceptional events, eradicating various extremist churches, resisting invading foreign gods, and the protection of everyone, will..."

Will...stop?

Seeing that the two directors were clearly not joking and had truly made a decision, not only were the Kings at the "Anti-Food God Table" greatly shocked, but even the Queens at the "Rumor Table" couldn't help showing faces full of astonishment.

The total number of staff at the Clean-up Agency is only a few thousand, scattered across The Twelve Kingdoms and dozens of small and large city-states. Each kingdom's branch has barely a few dozen people, not enough to fill even the smallest apartment building.

But compared to each kingdom which requires tens of thousands of officials, these few dozen people from the Clean-up Agency branches are like droplets in the ocean, even less conspicuous than a hair on a cow's hide.

Yet if this seemingly insignificant cow hair truly decides to quit and insist on separating from the cow hide, then this cow might become a mad cow covered in festering sores within a few years!

"Wait!"

Seeing that the Clean-up Agency seemed serious, the King of the Thunderstorm Country, who initially planned to gloss over the main topic, couldn't sit still and quickly rose to oppose:

"You can't do this!"

"Why not?"

"Because...this will plunge The Twelve Kingdoms, and even the entire world, into chaos!"

Facing the terrifying crisis of the Clean-up Agency wanting to quit, the Thunderstorm King could no longer care about those "new ideas," desperately racking his brain to stop it:

"When ordinary people deal with exceptional events, they are easily contaminated! Then they evolve into new exceptional events! If you completely let go, exceptional events will explode before long! At that time, even you will be affected, and then..."

"But we never said we were letting go."

"???????"

Following Leon's request, the Crab Director playfully delayed, then explained with a smile:

"You stood up too hastily; I hadn't finished my sentence... The Clean-up Agency is not going to stop activities entirely. Instead, from now on, our Clean-up Agency's past work will be changed to paid services."

"Huh?"

Stunned by the sudden twist, the King of the Thunderstorm Country silently contemplated for a moment before asking confusedly:

"So what you mean is...you need more money?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Funding will certainly need an increase, but money isn't the only thing we want."

After stating it wasn't just about funding, Leon shifted his chair from the "Rumor Table" to the "Clean-up Agency" table, indicating his role as a Clean-up Agency board member. Then he stood up and explained:

"What our Clean-up Agency wants as compensation is stronger support, closer cooperation, and a more stable situation."

"???" xN

"To put it bluntly, we can't push everything to the Clean-up Agency like before. The Twelve Kingdoms should and must bear the responsibilities rightfully theirs."

Leon, who had long been dissatisfied with the current mode of the Clean-up Agency, straightforwardly said:

"During handling exceptional events, direct contact with anomalous objects is indeed unsuitable for ordinary people, but intelligence gathering, remote reconnaissance, providing fire support, and post-event cleanup and aftermath these tasks can equally be handled by trained ordinary people.

Moreover, apart from this already overdue support, the chaotic situation under each of your rule is itself the main reason for the massive outbreak of exceptional events. This situation must also be changed!"