Chapter 274

“Ladies and gentlemen, teachers, students, and parents of Naval Bridge Public School, as the fifty-third Prime Minister of the Kingdom, I am truly honored to have been invited by my alma mater to share some thoughts on education here today.”

A middle-aged man standing on the central podium in the auditorium, with a physique resembling that of an average homeroom teacher but slightly portly, greeted the audience of teachers and parents below:

“As someone who spent their entire youth at Naval Bridge and completed further studies at Naval Bridge University, though it might offend some of my former teachers, I must admit Naval Bridge isn’t the top school in the Capital City.

However, the significance of education for a person isn’t just about acquiring knowledge in school. The things that often accompany us throughout our lives are frequently beyond mere knowledge, such as…”

At this point, the kingdom’s prime minister smiled and glanced down at the audience, preparing to mention his wife whom he met at Naval Bridge, showing off his wit and humor. But then he saw his wife sitting next to her daughter Charlotte, chatting enthusiastically with a handsome young man with black hair. His face immediately darkened, and he couldn’t help but skip this part intended to lighten the mood, continuing instead:

“Such as understanding and getting familiar with our society.

The Royal Inner School and Central Public School may have slightly better teaching quality than Naval Bridge, but education is not just about personal success; it’s also about societal progress and the common welfare of the people. In terms of cultivating these qualities in students, Naval Bridge Public School, rooted in the Old District, is undoubtedly the best…”

…

“That was quite an impressive speech.”

Feeling a somewhat malicious gaze, Leon instinctively glanced at the middle-aged man speaking confidently on stage before turning back around and complimented the prime minister’s wife beside him:

“Even though you’re usually busy with state affairs, your insights into education are truly remarkable. You truly live up to being the prime minister.”

“His Grace, you flatter me too much,” said the prime minister’s wife, who looked to be in her late thirties, still charming despite the slight crow’s feet around her eyes, smiling:

“Stephen is naturally very capable in state affairs, but most of his energy is taken up by them, so he doesn’t get too involved in the children’s matters. Therefore, what he talks about are mostly general directions since he isn’t strong with the details.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Leon, holding Melanie, shook his head: “As they say, ‘the prime minister is the rudder, the king is the anchor.’ All the prime minister needs to do is control the big picture and decide where the kingdom should go. The rest, like hoisting sails or checking water levels, can be left to those more skilled in those areas. The prime minister only needs to steer steadily… By the way.”

After completing the obligatory mutual praise, Leon touched his shiny cufflink, pressing the reflection of a horn with his fingertip, seemingly casually asking: “Mrs. Martha, you mentioned earlier that you had something work-related to consult me about?”

“Yes.”

The prime minister’s wife hesitated for a moment and then looked at Melanie in Leon’s arms.

Noticing the prime minister’s wife’s gaze, Leon smiled and handed Melanie over to Anna nearby despite Melanie’s terrified expression.

“Wai-Wait! Big Brother! I haven’t…”

“Melanie!”

With lightning speed, Anna grabbed Melanie’s ear and lifted her by the collar, carrying her struggling with her little legs kicking in vain. Biting her teeth after holding back for a long time, she said:

“Big Brother has work to do. Don’t disturb him!”

“I… ugh!”

Sorry, although Big Brother would prefer you avoid trouble, matters related to the “abnormal” are too dangerous for you to hear about.

Giving Melanie an apologetic look, Leon leaned closer to the prime minister’s wife and whispered softly: “Mrs. Martha, you can say what you need now.”

“Alright, I mainly have two questions. The first one is… about a person in your bureau…”

Biting her lower lip shyly, the prime minister’s wife leaned close to Leon’s ear, blushing as she said:

“His Grace, do you know someone named Pione?”

Pione? Hearing this name, Leon thought for a moment and remembered seeing it on the office doorplate opposite Jerry Senior’s.

“I know him somewhat. Pione Senior is a Level Two Crisis Handler in the bureau, and his office isn’t far from mine…”

After giving a somewhat vague answer and noticing the somewhat embarrassed prime minister’s wife, Leon blinked in surprise and asked softly: “Mrs. Martha, what exactly is your relationship with Pione Senior?”

“We… we could say we’re friends…”

The prime minister’s wife’s face turned even redder as she stammered: “That kind of… um… really good friend, much closer than ordinary friends, the type who shares everything.”

“…”

Got it, the kind of friend the prime minister shouldn’t know about, right?

Seeing a hint of understanding in Leon’s eyes, the prime minister’s wife couldn’t bear the topic any longer, rummaged through her handbag, and handed over a letter that seemed to have been written for a long time.

“His Grace, if possible, could you deliver this letter to Pione for me? And… and could you pass on a message for me?”

While Leon looked somewhat exasperated, the dignified prime minister’s wife turned away, looking rather embarrassed as she whispered: “Just tell him… that I’ll be waiting for him at the usual place every Monday noon…”

“Alright…”

Speechlessly taking the letter and putting it away, Leon’s expression stiffened slightly as he asked:

“What about the second thing?”

“The second thing…”

The prime minister’s wife hesitated for a moment and then whispered: “Could I ask if there’s anything special in this world that allows someone to impersonate another person’s relative without the actual person realizing it?”

Hearing the prime minister’s words, Leon’s pupils involuntarily contracted sharply as he immediately recalled the photo kept in the Mirror World.

Of course, such an abnormal item exists. The highest-ranked known item of this kind is the anomaly [Suppose], created by the blood of the Inspiration God used as seed by Aquarius Director, with Anna’s longing for family as bait. And this item is currently in his possession! “Mrs. Martha, why are you asking this?”

On high alert, Leon rubbed his specially polished metallic cufflink, signaling the puppy inside to prepare while maintaining his composure and asked: “Could it be… you suspect someone in your family has been ‘replaced’?”

“Rather than ‘replaced,’ it feels more like suddenly having an extra relative…”

The prime minister’s wife reached into her bosom, pulled out a silver kite pendant, and explained softly:

“This is something Pione gave me, saying it would protect me from the effects of your ‘job content’ once if I were affected. Recently, when my niece visited, it activated unexpectedly.”

Hearing this, Leon narrowed his eyes.

“So, you suspect that your niece isn’t actually your real niece but was created using some special ‘thing’ that influenced both your memory and possibly your entire family’s memories?”

“Yes.”

The prime minister’s wife nodded and then added worriedly: “I’ve tested her with subtle questioning, but both my husband Stephen and my children have memories of this person named Nicole existing, including annual visits. Only my memory is completely blank…”

“Wait!”

At this point, Leon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“You just said… what’s your niece’s name?”

“Nicole, she says her name is Nicole.”

(End of Chapter)