#1042 A Renowned Prime Minister’s Dignity

Former Mermaid Kingdom Prime Minister Midrocon!!!

My chance has comeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

While that foolish woman leaves the prime minister’s seat vacant, it’s my turn to shine!

Once that seat’s open, there’s no doubt everyone will agree I’m the perfect fit!

And who better to fill it than me, Midrocon?

After all, I’ve got the experience!!!

All that waiting, all that patience—it’s finally paid off!!!

And today’s the day I meet with King Arowana in person!

I just need to raise my hand, and he’ll be so overjoyed to see me back in my rightful place as Prime Minister!

Without a Prime Minister, he must be in absolute chaos!

But I, the ever-dependable Midrocon, am ready to return.

The whole Mermaid Kingdom will rejoice!

Today marks the beginning of a new era! My era!

Under my brilliant leadership, the Mermaid Kingdom will reach even greater heights!!!!

“A long time it’s been, Midrocon. How’s retirement treating you?”

I’m in the Mermaid Palace, face-to-face with King Arowana.

He’s sitting on the throne now, a far cry from the young prince I once knew.

It seems becoming king really polished his regal aura.

I’d thought he’d be easy to convince, like when he was a naïve prince… but my expectations are already starting to crumble.

“O-Oh, Your Highness Prince Arowana! May I say how radiant you are toda—!”

“It’s King Arowana now. Seems like your clock stopped ticking when my father was still around. If you can’t keep up with the times, I suggest you fade into history where you belong.”

The sarcasm is biting!

This isn’t going well. I’ve got to change the subject, and fast!

“So, what brings you here today? I hope you’re not planning on boring me with old stories. If nostalgia is what you seek, go chat with my father or mother.”

“N-No, no, no! I’m here to talk about now! The present! I believe I can help Your Highness...or rather Your Majesty with a very important issue you’re facing!”

“An issue, you say?”

“Yes! Exactly!!!”

Why isn’t he biting?

In my scenario, as soon as I mentioned the word “issue,” he was supposed to fall all over himself asking for my help!

Surely, he’s been struggling ever since the Prime Minister position became vacant.

A king without a Prime Minister is like a fish without water!

That’s why he must be desperate for my skills, especially after how I supported his father, King Nagus. He must be itching to beg me to come back.

Go on! Don’t be shy to bring it up!

Tell the great Prime Minister Midrocon that you need his help.

“An issue…? Nope, nothing comes to mind.”

“Pardon?!”

“Well, my wife’s about to give birth to our second child, and sure, I’m worried about the baby’s safe delivery. No matter how many times it happens, it’s always nerve-wracking. But that’s hardly something you could help with, is it? No, I can’t think of any problems that you could solve.”

“What are you talking about?! There is! There’s something huge you’re forgetting!”

The Prime Minister spot has been open ever since that criminal took maternity leave!

It’s a crucial position, and someone needs to fill it! That’s why I’m here, ready to step in!

Go on, Prince!

Reappoint me as Prime Minister!

I don’t need to take any silly maternity leave!

I’ll work tirelessly every single day for the good of the merfolk!

“If it’s about Prime Minister Zoth Syra’s leave, that’s already been handled. No need for you to get involved.”

What?!

“Hendra is covering for her during her maternity leave. He’s got a lot on his plate with his own wife about to give birth, but my mother gave him an earful about how a man’s worth is measured by how he supports his family, so we’re all pitching in. Hahaha!”

What kind of nonsense is this...?!

There’s no need for Hendra! All they have to do is put me back in the seat!

I don’t take maternity leave!

There’s no question I’m more qualified than that ex-criminal!

“Silence. The only thing you’ve got over Zoth Syra is your ability to work without a break. And considering the importance of bringing new life into the world, even that’s not much of a point in your favor.”

Wh-What…?!

Preposterous. I...!!!

“And the one who got things back on track was none other than Zoth Syra. She overturned the terrible laws you put in place and fired all the useless cronies you promoted through bribes and favoritism. That was her doing.”

So it was that ex-criminal who destroyed my precious network of connections...!

“Now, the civil and military officers of the palace are all fresh faces chosen by Zoth Syra and Hendra, selected for their skills and integrity. You wouldn’t stand a chance managing them. There’s no place for someone like you in my reign. …Though if you’re keen, I could let you handle the mopping.”

How dare you!

You want me, the former Prime Minister, to mop floors?!

It’s clear this new king has been brainwashed by that ex-criminal.

In a world like this, those with true virtue are always the ones who suffer.

This won’t do!

I must deliver justice and crush the wickedness that’s spreading!!!

If it comes to this, I’ll gather an army myself and set things right by force!

A revolution!!!

I’ll cleanse this kingdom of the scum that’s corrupting it!

Gwaaaaahhhh!!!

“Good grief. It seems the fool’s finally making his move.”

Who’s there?!

Just when I’d gathered my troops and was ready to strike, someone broke into my secret hideout...!

“What’s the matter? Don’t recognize the person who’s taking your place? You really are hopeless.”

My replacement…?!

Wait… you’re… Zoth Syra, the former criminal Prime Minister?!

“Former criminal? How rude. I’m still very much an active one!”

“That’s what you’re choosing to correct?!”

Abababa...!

What are you doing here?!

Did you come personally to stop my rebellion?

“As the acting Prime Minister, I couldn’t just sit back and let you cause trouble. You, with your overinflated ego, dreaming of a comeback—how irritating. I thought it was only a matter of time before I crushed you.”

Curse you, former criminal!

You’ve been targeting me all along!

“I expected you to act sooner, really. I thought you’d pull something within a year or two of your dismissal, but three, four years, and still nothing.”

Th-That’s because…!

I thought if I waited long enough, you’d mess up...!

“You were just hoping I’d make a mistake and hand you an opening, huh? A classic move for someone incompetent—relying on others to do the work for you.”

Wh-What?!

“Honestly, you dragged this out so long it became embarrassing. If you’d acted right after your dismissal, maybe you’d have had some allies left in the palace. But now, all your cronies are gone. And these thugs you scraped together with the last of your funds? Pathetic.”

Stop looking at me with such pity!

“You missed your window of opportunity. But at least you’ve finally made your move. Now, I have the perfect excuse to crush you.”

Grrr… no!

You wouldn’t dare condemn someone as prestigious as me, the former Prime Minister!

“No matter how useless you were, I can’t erase your past position. That’s why Arowana and his sister wanted to leave you alone, hoping you’d just fade away. But I’m not so sentimental.”

Wh-What was that?!

“If there’s a threat, even a potential one, it’s my job to eliminate it. Maybe it’s the motherly instincts kicking in, but I don’t want to leave any danger, not even a scrap, for the next generation. And besides, a Prime Minister’s job is to handle the dirty work the royal family can’t touch.”

H-Huh?

“A king stands at the pinnacle, basking in the unwavering respect of the people. To shine constantly, without a speck of tarnish, is their duty. No stain or shadow can be allowed. And that’s exactly why it’s the job of the Prime Minister—the one closest to the royal family—to take on the dirt. Don’t you agree, former Prime Minister?”

What is she saying?!

I don’t understand a word of it. What about a Prime Minister’s job?

“And that’s why I’m going to crush you. Don’t expect any mercy from me. It’s judgment time!”

“Ughaaaahhh!!!”

Gyaaaaaaaah!

The elite force I spent all my fortune gathering was wiped out in an instant?!

Where are those endless monsters coming from?!

Gyaaaaa! Tentacles are wrapping around my limbs?!

I can’t move!

Is this really how it ends for me, the former Prime Minister?!

Is this… the end of everything…?!

Ngrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...!