Chapter 1936: Chapter 1936

Before the speech officially began, quite a few people visited Jenkins in the waiting room. He didn't recognize most of them, but he received them all with warm enthusiasm.

Finally, he saw the flower sellers he had specially invited. They had entered with Fini and the Inherited Sage Church, but at Jenkins's request, they were wearing the same clothes they wore when selling flowers on the street.

The girls looked a little nervous; it was their first time inside City Hall and their first time seeing so many "important people." Jenkins reassured them, explaining that after today's events, their lives would be very different.

His divine domain, [Protector of Flower Girls], was at work, and his words quickly calmed the young girls. Another of his goals today was to announce the formation of a flower sellers' union as a way to handle the tulip incident. It might not be enough to consolidate his divinity, but if it meant they could lead better lives, Jenkins would be more than satisfied.

To represent their identity as flower sellers, each girl carried a small basket filled with flowers delivered that day from the gardens outside the city. Jenkins selected a single tulip and held it in his hand. Just as he was about to say something more, a knock sounded at the door.

A priest from the Church entered and handed Jenkins a note.

Jenkins unfolded it and glanced at the contents. It said that about ten minutes ago, an incident involving a mechanized corpse attacking people had occurred in the eastern part of the city. Because the Mechanized Body Curse was contagious, the Church had already dispatched a demigod leading a fully-formed squad to handle it.

According to the latest intelligence, the situation wasn't yet severe. The note was merely to inform Jenkins of the event; his presence was not yet required to suppress it.

"Sir, if another earthquake happens while you're giving your speech, will it still continue?"

"An earthquake? Oh, right, the earthquakes. Nolan has had so many of them lately."

Each tremor was accompanied by the rise of the metal tower, and that was the real headache.

"But the probability of one today is low. I had a very professional diviner perform a scrying, which is why I chose today for the speech."

That was the result of Miss Audrey's divination. Yesterday, when Alexia went deep underground, she had the machine confirm it as well. The probability of the black tower rising on Sunday was very low, so there was no need to worry.

He pulled a pocket watch from his coat. Seeing it was the one his younger brother, John, had given him, he tucked it away and took out Alexia's ladies' watch instead to check the time.

"It's about time. I need to go on stage."

He tucked the tulip into the breast pocket of his formal suit, then picked up the kerosene lamp from the table—an important prop for later.

"You're going to be brilliant, sir!"

Fini encouraged him, her small fists clenched. The other girls echoed her sentiments, their words simple but heartfelt. Jenkins smiled, lifted his cat onto his shoulder, and adjusted the hem of his suit in the full-length mirror by the door.

"I will definitely succeed."

He said to his reflection.

Standing before the main doors of the auditorium, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, calming his nerves. He nodded to the attendants flanking the entrance, and they immediately pushed the twin doors open. A blinding explosion of flashbulbs greeted him, making Jenkins worry it might startle his cat.

He stepped onto the red carpet and walked into the hall. Inside the tiered auditorium, everyone rose to their feet, applauding his arrival. The sound was like a waterfall, so thunderous it seemed to make the floor vibrate. It was a spectacular sight. All eyes were on the young man. Whether they liked him or not, everyone knew they were looking at a future political star of the kingdom—perhaps even the master of the land beneath their feet for the next several decades.

The standing ovation continued unabated as Jenkins walked from the entrance to the lectern at the end of the red carpet. He raised his hands, palms forward, in a gentle gesture, and only then did the applause subside.

Afterward, the well-dressed gentlemen and ladies took their seats. Only the flashbulbs aimed at the stage continued to flicker relentlessly. The cameras of the era couldn't take consecutive shots due to issues with flash heat dissipation—the magnesium lights would malfunction. To compensate, the newspapers had brought in extra cameras to ensure at least one was operational at any given moment.

City Hall had wanted to arrange a host for Jenkins's speech, or at the very least, have someone give him a formal introduction. But Jenkins had declined. So, once everyone was seated, he delivered the conventional opening remarks himself—the usual "I'm delighted to be here today... it is my honor... regarding financial reform and the national bank..." He then welcomed the guests who had taken the time to attend.

The only ones he welcomed by name were Queen Isabella, Sarlisi II, and the second prince of Tackwen the Proud. Everyone else was categorized under "all the other guests who have joined us today."

The southern prince, the heir to the Alecio family, currently staying in Nolan, sat with the other two monarchs. Next to Sarlisi II and Queen Isabella, he was considerably younger, and his presence paled in comparison to the two rulers beside him.

Turning sideways, he carefully lifted the cat from his shoulder, grasping it around its middle, and placed it on the lectern before him. Chocolate immediately sauntered to the corner closest to Jenkins and curled up, looking as if he had every intention of staying put until noon.

"Once again, thank you all, and my thanks to the mayor for providing this wonderful auditorium."

He nodded to Mr. Saks Luto in the fourth row, who returned the gesture.

"The main topic of this speech is financial reform. I've noticed that since the beginning of this year, various nations have been actively preparing to establish new national banks. The Church and several large industrial consortiums have also attempted to enter the banking sector. However, the current financial regulations are incomplete. The capabilities of financial departments vary from country to country, and they hold different attitudes and perspectives on fiscal policy. This has allowed illegal and criminal activities to run rampant."

Behind him was a massive, specially installed blackboard. Jenkins took a piece of chalk from a box on the lectern, tapped it once on the wooden surface, and then turned to write the word "Finance" on the board. Googlᴇ search novelFirｅ.net

"So, Viscount, do you plan to speak on specific instances of financial crime today? I heard your speech in Bel Diran; your views on exchange rates were quite insightful."

Someone in the audience called out loudly. This was, of course, a plant arranged in advance, as casual interruptions were generally not permitted at such a formal, large-scale event.