Monster Country Federation, Government Affairs Hall.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the others couldn't help but smile as they watched the four people reflecting in the corner.
Izayoi Sakuya stood with her arms crossed, looking sternly at the four people tightly wrapped in black robes.
"Esteemed sirs! This is the third time this month!"
"Miss Shizu has already said that she absolutely will not let any of you off this time!"
"You should all be mentally prepared, esteemed sirs!"
Upon hearing this, the people who were squatting and reflecting quickly looked up at Sakuya, and one of the female voices immediately said,
"Sakuya! This has nothing to do with me at all! It's all A Chen and the other two. I... I just... I just..."
Before she could finish, another black-robed person quickly interrupted,
"Milim, don't slander others! You were clearly the mastermind! Sakuya, don't believe her!"
"That's right, it's Milim's fault!"
"Sorry, great niece, since it's come to this, just accept it!"
Watching the three people unhesitatingly push the blame onto her, Milim's cute little face immediately showed an expression of disbelief.
"You guys betrayed me!"
"You're the least qualified to say that!" (x3)
Hearing Milim's shameless statement, Zhong Chen and the other two shouted in unison.
"Alright, esteemed sirs, please stop shifting blame. This time, I'm afraid none of you will escape! Also, please stop wearing these strange things!"
After Sakuya finished speaking, she gently waved her hand, and the black robes covering them were instantly blown away, revealing their true appearances.
That's right, as you all probably guessed, these four people are Zhong Chen, Rimuru, Milim, and Veldora.
Currently, these four have formed a new 'Idle Four' group, an organization famous throughout the Monster Country Federation for not doing proper work and being idle.
"Um... Sakuya! Is there no possibility of leniency?"
Zhong Chen smiled and tried to curry favor with Sakuya, while the three people beside him also nodded frantically in agreement.
"I'll repeat Miss Shizu's exact words: 'Sakuya, tell those four rascals to wait for me. This time, I absolutely will not let them off!'"
"Therefore, I'm afraid there's no door!"
Upon hearing this, Rimuru immediately showed a brilliant smile, gave a thumbs-up with his right hand, and shouted,
"No door? Aren't there still windows!"
Sakuya couldn't help but cover her forehead as she looked at the four unrepentant individuals.
"This time, even I can't favor you anymore, esteemed sirs, because Miss Shizu is already on her way!"
"Good luck, esteemed sirs!"
The four people, upon hearing that Shizu was coming immediately, were struck by lightning. They felt that this time, they were truly doomed.
"W-w-w... We're not going to be killed this time, are we!"
"It's all Veldora's fault! He just had to go to the Academy District to promote manga! Now we're doomed!"
"Exactly! Even if you promote them, why do you always promote yuri manga! See... you've finally angered that woman!"
Veldora looked at the other three people with a shocked expression, as the promotion content that was clearly unanimously agreed upon instantly became his idea.
Who said there were no traitors in the organization? The entire organization is full of traitors! You scoundrels have no loyalty at all!
Bang!
With a violent push of the door, Shizu, with a gentle smile, slowly walked in.
Shizu's eyes swept across the hall, immediately spotting the four people squatting in the corner, then she walked over with a gentle expression.
Zhong Chen and the others watched Shizu slowly approach. Although she had a smile on her face, they seemed to see a black tiger formed of dark energy tightly staring at them behind her.
After Shizu came before them and looked down at them for a long time, she finally spoke with a gentle voice,
"Are you going to explain what all these things are, esteemed sirs?"
As she spoke, Shizu pulled out several manga from her embrace and displayed them before them.
On the covers were written names with unclear meanings, such as "Big Sister Falls in Love with Me" and "Loli Sister Loves to Cuddle."
"Um... this is..."
Looking at the four people who were stammering and unable to say anything, Shizu narrowed her eyes and continued,
"It seems there's nothing to say!"
Upon hearing this, Rimuru, for some unknown reason, suddenly found the courage to stand up and shout,
"I... I am the King... whatever I do will be forgiven!"
Shizu, however, looked at him and softly said,
"Oh my! It seems our great King is preparing to fulfill his royal duties?"
"W-w-w..."
Upon hearing this, Rimuru instantly wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant and squatted back down obediently.
However, Shizu didn't expect there to be more than one brave soul. Zhong Chen suddenly stood up and shouted loudly,
"I am the Regent... I..."
Before he could finish, Shizu directly interrupted,
"Then, Regent, have you handled any important affairs today?"
"Th-this..."
Zhong Chen was instantly defeated. Looking at Zhong Chen squatting down, Milim, who was squatting nearby, suddenly wanted to stand up and say something.
However, she suddenly saw Shizu looking at her with a gentle, narrowed-eyed gaze.
Instantly, she lost the courage to speak and squatted down honestly, looking very well-behaved.
As for Veldora, he had an expression of utter doom the entire time.
"Esteemed sirs, since you've done wrong, you must be punished. I sentence you to help clean the swimming pool in the Academy District for the next two days! If it's not cleaned thoroughly..."
"Ah!!! How could this be!!!"
"The entire Academy District! People will die!!!"
"W-w-w... I don't want to work!"
"Don't look at me... don't look... don't look at me..."
"What, do any of you have any complaints?"
As she said this, Shizu narrowed her eyes and glanced at the four. The four, who were glanced at, all shivered, then stood up in unison, at attention, and shouted,
"No! Sir!" (x4)
"Very good, then depart now!"
"Yes!" (x4)
Shizu watched the four dejected figures walk out, and couldn't help but let out a giggle. At the same time, she said to Sakuya, who was standing beside her,
"A Chen and the others are truly a bunch of clowns. They're so old, yet they act like children!"
Sakuya, upon hearing Shizu's words, rarely showed a smile and said,
"Aren't such esteemed sirs quite endearing!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the others, who had been watching the show from the side for a long time, also smiled and said,
"Indeed, it is because of these few that the entire Monster Country Federation is so joyful every day, and everyone loves them!"
"Although the esteemed sirs are always causing mischief everywhere, it is precisely their actions that make everyone smile every day!"
Shizu also spoke with a gentle expression upon hearing this,
"That's certainly true. The children in the Academy District truly love them very much...