Chapter 349 - 168: "It’s Sean Again

It was just a matter of a few "we’re just friends" lines.

But Elise blinked her big, beautiful eyes and said, "What I mean is, our Dawn Council is actually quite poor, and we’re in desperate need of a kind sponsor."

Sean: "?"

"You take me for a sucker, don’t you?"

"Of course not."

Elise said, "I’m serious."

The Dawn Council wasn’t short on petty cash, but they lacked major funding.

"Anyway, that money is just sitting around doing nothing. You might as well lend it to us. We can pay you monthly interest at the bank’s rate."

"If you put it that way... I guess it’s not out of the question."

Sean’s tone changed as he spoke: "But I have one condition."

Elise: "Hm?"

Sean deliberately put on the airs of a big boss and said, "For a deal this big, shouldn’t the Dawn Council assign someone to arrange a proper meeting with me to discuss the details?"

"You have a point."

Elise played along, tucking her hair behind her ear and giving Sean a flirtatious wink. "In that case, Mr. Writer, what do you think of me? How about I come to your room tonight to... talk? Would that be acceptable?"

"I wonder if Mr. Writer prefers black stockings or white ones?"

Sean subconsciously glanced at Elise’s long legs, one of which was on the brake pedal. After a moment’s thought, he said, "How about bare legs?"

’They look great just as they are.’

"Oh, get lost," Elise said with a laugh. "You actually took that seriously?"

Sean put on an innocent expression. "You’re the one who asked."

Elise gave him a provocative, meaningful look. "I could show up with bare legs. And I could come to your room. But would you dare open the door?"

Sean scoffed. "Who are you trying to scare? You dare to knock, and I’ll dare to open."

"Is that so?" Elise said. "Shall we test that?"

Sean: "A test it is."

’Anyway, Elvire isn’t here, so I can talk as tough as I want. Heh.’

The Elise in the back seat watched Elise with envy.

’When will I be able to joke with Master so freely?’

...

「That afternoon.」

Sean and the others returned to Alola Town.

’Having a beautiful neighbor for a chauffeur is so convenient. She drops me right at my door.’

Before going inside, Sean tossed a bank card to Elise. "Here, take it. The PIN is 69696."

This was the profit-sharing account he had arranged with Pulente.

Elise was taken aback. "You’re really giving this to me?"

"Of course."

"Then I’ll really have to find a way to thank you properly, Mr. Writer." Elise’s smile grew suggestive. "I never would have guessed, though. Mr. Writer is a fan of *that* position?"

Sean remained nonchalant. "What position? I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Elise gave him a smoldering look. "Shall I teach you?"

Sean was tempted to say, "Alright, let’s do it tonight." When it came to talking tough, he had never backed down from anyone.

But then he remembered that Elvire and Elise lived together. Elise was his beautiful neighbor now, and by extension, his little sister-in-law. If Elvire overheard them talking like this at the door, all hell would break loose. So, Sean flatly refused. "On second thought, never mind."

"I can teach myself."

Elise: "..."

’Is that something you can teach yourself?’

Elise piped up at the perfect moment, "Don’t worry, Elise. Master has us."

Sean: "?"

’Do you even know what this is about? What do you mean "us"?’

In truth, Elise didn’t know.

She understood very little on the subject; what little she knew came from TV shows and novels.

But her intuition told her that the "position" her Master and Elise were discussing was definitely not a proper one.

And as long as it wasn’t a proper position, she was more than happy to practice it with her Master!

"Go practice your handwriting," Sean said irritably.

Elise pouted, feeling wronged. "Yes, Master."

"I’m heading inside. See you around," Sean then said to Elise.

Elise nodded. "Alright. I’ll give this card to Mr. Adelf in your name."

"Don’t," Sean said. "It belongs to everyone."

’The Dawn Council had put in a lot of effort during the attack on Florist Castle. They’d even dispatched core combatants like the Law Enforcers, which showed how much Mr. Adelf trusted him. By rights, that twenty percent should have been split evenly. He’d already taken it upon himself to give half to Pulente, so the other half should go to the Dawn Council. He’d still make some money off the interest, and that was good enough.’

’After all, Elise was right. He had no use for that much money just sitting around.’

’He hadn’t even finished spending the money he’d retrieved from the Florist Family’s bank.’

"Okay," Elise said with a smile. "I’ll be sure to pass that on to Mr. Adelf, too."

Sean: "..."

’Why does she make it sound like I’m trying to take all the credit?’

’Whatever.’

"Just do as you see fit."

Sean didn’t dwell on the issue.

’It wouldn’t hurt to get on Mr. Adelf’s good side. It would make things more convenient when I need a helping hand.’

’Like for the trip to Sonaros State.’

It had been over a month since their return from World’s End, and they had been resting in Alola Town the entire time. Now that Pulente’s accounts were settled, it was time to prepare. He needed to go to the Gate of Hell to see if the drilling plan was even feasible.

’If it wasn’t, he could start making other plans for the Holkaydo Hospital property.’

As for the results of the gubernatorial election...

Sean wasn’t worried in the slightest.

’A bullet whizzing past his ear was proof enough that Pulente was the chosen one. With the Lord on his side, who could possibly compete against him?’

Coupled with the ten percent "campaign fund" Sean had provided, Pulente’s re-election was a near certainty, even without Diana pulling strings behind the scenes.

And Pulente did not disappoint.

「The following afternoon.」

The postponed second speech was held as scheduled on the pedestrian street of Old Segal City.

The location was, "coincidentally," the same mall where Sean had once held a book signing.

As one of the sites of a recent terrorist attack, the choice of venue was clearly symbolic.

Pulente was a true politician; he never let any exploitable element go to waste.