Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 763

After our discussion concluded, the clan leaders and Tink, Capella, and the others were quickly summoned back into the room.

Once everyone was seated and the meeting resumed, Azteca grandly announced from the very start that it had been decided to form a tripartite agreement between the Horse Tribe, Baldia, and the Cristy Company.

Naturally, a stir arose in the room, but he skillfully explained that he had negotiated an exemption from the 'joint investment funds' with us, delighting the clan leaders and winning their approval.

Meanwhile, feeling the sharp, prickly gazes from Tink and Capella, who couldn't grasp the situation, I exaggeratedly cleared my throat to draw attention.

"Everyone, I apologize for interrupting your celebration. Regarding the exemption from the joint investment funds, it will depend on future discussions. Please note that while we will consider it positively, it is not a decided matter."

As I announced this loudly, Azteca clicked his tongue and shrugged his shoulders.

He was probably hoping to take advantage of the momentum to smooth things over, but things don't always go as planned.

The subsequent meeting content, starting with the number of text input devices like in other tribal territories, and moving on to orders for road maintenance straddling the border between the Fox Tribe and Horse Tribe territories, contained nothing new and ended anticlimactically.

Perhaps satisfied with having extracted the 'exemption from joint investment funds' from me regarding the children culled from various regions, Azteca remained eerily silent.

Since there was time until the evening reception, we were guided from the meeting room to the guest room.

There, as part of 'cultural exchange,' the traditional costumes of the Horse Tribe were ostentatiously displayed.

However, what was different this time was that outfits had been prepared not only for me, Amon, and Chris but also for Tink, Capella, and Emma.

Though Tink and the others initially showed reluctance, when I smiled and said, "This is also for the sake of both houses and both nations," they resignedly agreed to change clothes.

I mentally pumped my fist, but that's a secret.

Then, taught how to wear them by Horse Tribe maids, we proceeded to change into the traditional costumes.

Tink, Chris, and the others were changing in separate rooms and were expected to return shortly.

The Horse Tribe attire consisted of a loose, wide-cut top with long sleeves, long in length with slits at the hem, adorned with fine embroidery, predominantly red in color.

The bottoms were similarly loose, wide-legged long pants, also predominantly red with embroidery.

Interestingly, one wears a long scarf around the neck and lets an obi (sash) hang down near the waist.

It's a peculiar custom to wrap and let an obi hang at the waist, but according to the Horse Tribe maid: "The Horse Tribe prides itself on its speed, and places importance on the splendor of our running form. The faster one runs, the more these two sashes flutter in the wind, captivating the onlooker."

Amon and Capella wore the same outfit as me, but their color schemes were white and blue, exuding a calmer atmosphere.

Why was I the only one in red?

After changing, the Horse Tribe maid said, "When it's time for the reception, I will come to inform you," and left the room.

I moved to the mirror provided in the room and stared intently at my own figure.

Hmm, this outfit looks like something I've seen somewhere, or maybe not.

At that moment, I suddenly had an idea, hid my right eye with my bangs, and tried making a gloomy, vacant expression.

Yeah, that's not the line I would say.

"...Accel-era."

"Ridd, what have you been doing just now?"

"Whoa!?"

Startled by Amon's call, I spun around.

"You don't have to be that surprised."

"S-sorry, I was just thinking about something, so I got carried away..."

I scratched my cheek and gave a wry smile to cover it up, looking at him with wide eyes.

"I see, my apologies. By the way, were you trying to say something just now?"

"Ah, that was..."

Just as I was about to answer, there was a polite knock on the door.

"Lord Ridd, it's Tink. May I come in?"

"Yeah, please."

As I replied, Capella opened the door and ushered Tink and the others into the room.

Their outfits were almost the same design as ours: Chris in red tones, Tink in light blue, and Emma in pink tones.

"Ahaha, I never imagined I'd be changing clothes too."

As Tink smiled shyly, Amon stepped forward with slightly flushed cheeks.

"It suits you very well, Lady Tink."

"R-really? Lord Amon, thank you. It makes me happy even if it's just flattery."

"No, it's not flattery at all."

Watching their exchange from the corner of my eye, I looked at Chris and Emma.

The pink-toned traditional costume looked cute on the petite Emma, suiting her very well.

Chris, while wearing the red-toned traditional costume well, had let down her blonde hair, which she usually kept tied back.

Both of them looked good in them, but was it just my imagination that Chris seemed a little too suited for hers?

Perhaps noticing my gaze, Chris tilted her head and looked at me.

"Lord Ridd, what's with that strange hairstyle?"

"Ah, um, it's nothing."

I quickly fixed my hair back to normal and said, "By the way, Chris..." starting a new topic.

"After changing into that costume, have you gained particularly acute hearing, or awakened to incredible telescopic or x-ray vision?"

"What are you talking about, out of the blue? As if something like that could happen."

Chris narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious of me.

"Ah, ahaha. Yeah, right. There's no way something like that could happen."

As I laughed, trying to cover up by putting my hand behind my head, Chris and Emma looked at each other, puzzled.

From their perspective, my words and actions probably made no sense, so it couldn't be helped.

But I just had to ask.

"Forgive me, Lord Ridd. May I have a moment?"

Suddenly, I was addressed in a formal tone.

Turning around, Tink was approaching with a serious face.

Capella was also standing behind her.

"U-um, you two, what's wrong all of a sudden?"

"It's not 'what's wrong.' It's about the 'exemption from the joint investment funds' that Lord Azteca mentioned. We haven't been told anything about it yet."

"Exactly as Ms. Tink says. We request a thorough explanation before the reception begins."

"I see, sorry. I haven't explained that yet, have I?"

I bowed my head slightly, then glanced at Chris and Amon. They seemed to understand and nodded.

Then, everyone sat on the sofas provided in the center of the room, and I began to explain the proposal Azteca had put forward.