Chapter 196: President: Can't You Speak for Me?
Chapter 196: President: Can't You Speak for Me?
Due to the spacious venue, each president was assigned a suite.
After settling his luggage, Luo De didn't know what to do next.
Makarov said, "No need to be so formal. Although this is a conference, the atmosphere here is not that serious. Just relax, as if you're staying at a regular hotel."
"Can I go sightseeing?"
"As long as you don't tear the place apart, go ahead."
"Alright, I'll be out for a bit."
"Remember to go to the banquet hall for lunch. The meeting starts in the afternoon."
Luo De waved and left the room: "Reception·Canyon Swift Crab."
Makarov watched Luo De turn into a green blur and gently stroked his beard:
"This form seems to enhance water combat and vision? Is this kid checking for security risks?"
He guessed right. Luo De was using the opportunity to check for any suspicious things while also taking a look around the area to observe the terrain.
Since this time he was traveling with the president, Luo De didn't do much preparation. A quick check of the surroundings would suffice.
Other guild presidents arrived at the venue one after another. Many saw the green blur but mostly ignored it.
Luo De found that these guild presidents weren't very vigilant. No one stopped him to ask questions despite his suspicious appearance.
As noon approached, Luo De completed his 'sightseeing.'
Actually, thinking about it, with so many guild presidents gathered here, there should be plenty of capable fighters. It would be unlikely for anyone to attack here, wouldn't it?
When Luo De found the banquet hall, there were already over forty people gathered, sitting at different tables.
Before coming, the president told him that usually only about thirty people attend the meetings, with occasional absences.
The extra attendees were likely brought by their respective presidents to see the world, just like him.
There are about 500 official Magic Conductor Guilds in the entire Ishgar continent, with nearly a hundred in Fiore alone.
A local guild alliance with over thirty guilds is already a significant organization.
Makarov waved at Luo De, "You're finally back, Luo De. Come over quickly."
"President." Luo De approached the table and greeted a familiar face, "President Gaudman, good afternoon."
"Ah, it's you. Hello." Gaudman had some impression of Luo De.
"Ha ha ha ha..." Makarov boasted, "How about it? This is Luo De, who joined our guild half a year ago and became an excellent Magic Conductor after just six months of training. Isn't that great?"
"So you're Luo De-kun~ How cute~"
The speaker was bald, with blush on his cheeks, heart-shaped lipstick, wearing a pink tank top, a pair of small wings on his back, and high heels.
But Luo De knew his gender was male.
"Y-You are President Pop of Blue Pegasus? Nice to meet you."
Pop rested his cheek on his hand, "Oh~ So polite, you're too cute!"
"Um, I want to thank Mr. Hibiki of your guild for his help earlier."
L Luo De maintained his smile. This table was likely filled with the president's friends, and he couldn't be impolite.
In a way, Blue Pegasus was a scary guild. Not only did it have Mr. One Night, who Elfman couldn't handle, but also President Pop, whom Luo De couldn't handle.
Makarov, pleased, drank a few more cups and boasted about how well Luo De had completed his tasks, even earning a commendation for him.
Hearing this, the presidents at the table understood. To be able to accomplish such a difficult task, this kid had a bright future.
"Oh~ I seem to have heard some rumors about a versatile beast tamer..."
"I have some memory of that too."
A few presidents recalled some rumors about Luo De.
"Ha ha!" Makarov was even happier, "I told you our guild's kids are excellent!"
Beast tamer... and versatile... The more Luo De heard, the more uncomfortable he felt. He now understood the feeling of children whose parents boast about their embarrassing past.
Once I get the little dragon out, I'll ride it around Fiore every day. I'll change my nickname to something like Dragon Knight or Dragon Tamer, something more impressive!
But being so arrogant carries the risk of being killed by a dragon... I should be more cautious.
Being a beast tamer isn't bad; luring people into close combat and then smacking them with a red-buffed slap.
Finally, after enduring the president's boasting, Luo De sat down and quietly started eating.
It has to be said, the food here was quite delicious.
From the conversations of the various presidents, it seemed that the catering was personally handled by the president of a small guild.
The name of their guild was "Chef's Knife," and the requirement for joining was to have some culinary skills.
Luo De couldn't understand why their founder didn't start a chef's guild instead of a Magic Conductor Guild.
Anyway, thanks to them, Luo De felt a bit of the joy of the meeting.
But he soon became worried about the president's state: "President, if you drink so much, will you be able to attend the meeting this afternoon?"
"It's just a bit of alcohol, I'll sober up soon, burp~"
"You're already burping..."
"It's fine, in the worst case, you can speak for me, burp~"
"Don't be so reckless. I don't have the qualifications to speak at such a meeting."
"As I said, it's not that serious here, stop nagging, you sound like Mirajane..."
Luo De: "..."
Alright, noted, January 15th, 12:30 PM, President said Mirajane nags.
President Bob sympathetically said, "Oh, Luo De-kun must be quite hardworking~"
Luo De laughed awkwardly, "Ha ha, it's okay, it's okay."
The first meeting of the conference was scheduled to start at 2:00 PM. Thirty presidents gathered in the meeting hall and took their seats.
Although Makarov always said it wasn't that serious, everyone still changed into different clothes from what they wore for lunch.
Not necessarily formal attire, but they all wore something with their guild's emblem.
Luo De looked around and recognized the emblems of familiar large guilds like Four Headed Hounds, Blue Pegasus, Giant's Nose, Headless Horseman, and Earthland Wheel, as well as some less well-known guilds.
Of course, there were also some emblems he couldn't recognize.
He specifically looked for Robin D. Law, the president of Cat House where Wendy and Charle stayed, but he wasn't present.
Perhaps he was unavailable or belonged to another local guild alliance.
Makarov's attire was even more distinctive than the other presidents.
He wore a shirt with the guild's emblem inside and a coat with the emblem of the Ten Wizard Saints on the outside.
Apart from Luo De, there were ten other Magic Conductors standing behind their respective presidents, indicating that it was indeed not forbidden for others to listen in.
The seating arrangement of the presidents was not particularly strict, mostly with familiar faces sitting together.
However, this time, President Gaudman of Four Headed Hounds wasn't sitting next to Makarov but at the head of the table:
"Everyone is here, so the first routine meeting of X784 now begins."
It seemed that this time, the meeting was chaired by him.
"The first topic of this meeting is about the attitude of the Kingdom of Fiore towards Magic Conductors."
"As you all know, we Magic Conductors once went through a very dark era. Thankfully, the appearance of 'guilds' united us, gradually changing this situation."
"Now, most countries treat Magic Conductors with friendliness, and the royal family of our Kingdom of Fiore is particularly fond of magic."
"However, even so, the kingdom's policies are still worth our attention, as they relate to our future as Magic Conductors."
"I heard that during the New Year's celebration in the capital this year, His Majesty the King mentioned the hope of organizing a grand event for Magic Conductors next year or the year after."
"Although the specific format and rules have not been determined, it is necessary for us to discuss the impact of this event. If necessary, we can even jointly advise the king or help formulate the rules."
President Gaudman's opening remarks were quite serious.
Luo De didn't expect that this Gaudman, who often bickers and acts childish with his own guild's president, could be so reliable when chairing such a meeting.
(End of Chapter)
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