"Most of you here returned to Nolan over a month ago, so I'm sure you can recognize the truth in what those young girls just described."
He sidestepped the potential issues the tulip mania might provoke, continuing with his prepared speech. The flower sellers' appearance was ant to lend an air of authenticity to his story, and to pave the way for their return later.
"Many people have noticed this, but perhaps most of you didn't pay it much mind... If you had, there would be no need for to be speaking here. But it's understandable not to be concerned. After all, every year, for various reasons, the prices of certain goods fluctuate abnormally. For instance, I recall that last sumr, the price of rice and flour in Nolan skyrocketed for a ti."
This information ca from the original Jenkins's mories. Though he'd been a wastrel who spent his days loitering on the streets, he hadn't just been tossing rubbish into people's gardens—he'd also taken an interest in the occasional local tidbit.
"But this year's rise in tulip prices is clearly different from previous years. If we were to..."
Another strange sound echoed from outside—an explosion, just like before, and just as distant. But this one was a muffled thud. If the previous series of blasts had co from the surface, this sounded more like a steam bomb detonating inside a mound of earth.
"What on earth is going on?"
He wondered, continuing his speech all the while. To prove that "the frenzy of this sumr's tulip prices was an anomaly," he proceeded to present a mountain of evidence, nearly plastering the entire blackboard behind him with charts.
Finally, he stated the core of his speech:
"So, the frenzied rise in tulip prices is the result of deliberate manipulation. When you combine that with the evidence I've presented of the public's obsessive pursuit, it becos clear: the price of tulips has far surpassed their intrinsic value. They've been transford into an investnt vehicle, a speculative symbol detached from any real asset. Since this is the result of manipulation, the person—or people—behind it clearly have a goal beyond simply inflating the value of tulips and their bulbs. As for that goal... my apologies."
He glanced at the lady's pocket watch on the table:
"We will take a fifteen-minute intermission. Also... City Hall is now open for entry, but no one is permitted to leave."
"Viscount, why is that?"
Soone in the audience shouted the question. This, too, had been arranged by Jenkins to prevent one of Queen Isabella's attendants from being the first to speak.
"I think the intelligent people here have probably already figured out what I'm getting at. Therefore, to prevent my speech from directly crashing the local tulip market, no one will be allowed to leave City Hall until it is over.
On this point, I have already received the agreent of Mayor Saks Luto. The police outside City Hall were mobilized by him."
The mayor was one of the supporters Jenkins had won over. The reason was simple: it wasn't because he disliked the Queen, nor was he a loyal follower of the Middletons, and it certainly wasn't because Jenkins had promised him any benefits. It was simply because Jenkins was a man of Nolan.
"This is quite outrageous."
Duke Rochester, who was seated in the second row behind the queen, remarked.
"It's quite all right."
Queen Isabella looked at Jenkins, shaking her head slightly.
"I am certain Jenkins has his reasons. Just as he exposed the Fabry fraud, buying enough ti to freeze the bank accounts and save the unfortunate victims of that deception, I trust he can save people this ti as well."
"Since you put it that way, I suppose I have no objection."
Salsi II added his assent, and with the young king of Cheslan, Brier Alecio, also agreeing, no one else dared to object.
In fact, the original plan had been for soone in Salsi II's entourage to play the antagonist, debating with Jenkins over the necessity of sealing City Hall. This would have given Jenkins a natural opening to logically explain his reasons for preventing anyone from leaving, culminating in Salsi II declaring himself persuaded and offering his support.
He hadn't expected Queen Isabella to agree so readily. After all, surrounding City Hall with police was a very clear signal. As long as she had heard the recent rumors, it was impossible for her not to connect the dots.
"Could she have another ace up her sleeve? Impossible. Neither Jessica nor the Church found anything in their investigations. Besides, the squad the Church sent to 'protect' her ensures she has absolutely no contact with any illegal organizations... Could it be that she trusts my character, believing I wouldn't force her to abdicate this way? No, it can't be that simple."
Jenkins wondered suspiciously. Scooping up his cat, he stepped away from the lectern for a mont, exiting through a side door into the hallway.
"Jessica was just called away by Queen Isabella's people. They found her."
He had just stepped out when he ran into Briny, who had circled around from the main hall.
"It's fine. They probably just want to question her, not 'imprison' her again."
"How do you know?"
Briny asked.
"Even if they do 'imprison' her and prevent her from helping at the last minute, I have other ways. Don't worry about it. Where's Hathaway?"
"In the washroom."
Briny gestured towards the corner of the corridor, in the direction of the washroom.
"Also... your speech was excellent. Really, very good."
As she spoke, she stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Jenkins, and gave him a rather nice kiss.
"I just knew it. The man I chose is truly one of a kind."
After parting with Briny, he imdiately ran into Captain Bincy. Bincy's squad was normally stationed at the church; their presence here today was solely to protect the visiting Bishop Parrold.
"There's so trouble in the southern part of the city."
The captain said bluntly.
"The matter of the chanized corpses?"
Jenkins stood by the window, gazing out. A thick fog was rolling in, which was highly unusual. When his speech had begun, there had only been a thin mist in the air.
"Yes. The cultists had stockpiled a large number of bodies in the southern slums ahead of ti. Once the chanized Body Curse erupted, they were able to form a terrifying army with shocking speed. The bodies must have been brought in from out of town, intentionally bypassing our detection."
"Is a disciplined force of chanized corpses hard to deal with?"
"The main problem is that they're in a densely populated area. On top of that, so of the corpses possess the extraordinary ability to control tal machinery. But you needn't worry. Just concentrate on your speech. Others will handle the situation."
Jenkins nodded. He watched Captain Bincy return to Bishop Parrold's side, then hesitated. Instead of going straight back to the lectern, he slipped into the crowd returning from the washrooms and took a seat beside Queen Isabella.
The seat had originally belonged to the elderly Duchess Madeline. Being too old to sit for so long, she was now taking a walk in the hallway, accompanied by her attendant.
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