Inquisitor Hastings didn't really care what kind of jewelry Rika Fujimaru would wear at the ball. Compared with the material of the jewelry, in his opinion, it is more important how many force field generators are hidden on the other party's earrings necklace rose rosaries.

But he had to write them down, because even if he were a judge, it would be embarrassing to not even know what jewelry his girlfriend was wearing at a ball—especially, very rarely, because his girlfriend was of a higher status than himself. Nothing like this has happened in the last hundred years.

In Hastings' view, the opening part of the affair was infuriatingly ridiculous.

Although it was mentioned that Rika Fujimaru needed to attend the ball, it was thought that she should have a male partner who could dance with her in the opening dance. And under the premise that Asclepius was obviously at odds with such an occasion, and Arjuna had a different mission, the only man who seemed to be a more suitable man on the Storm Frontier was Hastings himself—and so far, it was a matter of course.

But Ranmarok objected - and this was normal given Hastings' past - the Firewing Grand Mentor thought that Rika Fujimaru could choose a dance partner from among the mortal crew of the Lionmane, and that there were many noble children from Terra in the mortal auxiliaries during the Great Expedition, and etiquette and dance steps were not a problem for them at all.

The angry part lies in Rika Fujimaru's refutation of this. She believes that if her male partner is also a new face in the local social scene at a debut ball featuring herself, there is a high probability that he will be quickly snubbed to the corner of the ballroom after the opening dance. But if it was Hastings, it would be fine: because he was the Inquisitor, it was natural for the Inquisitor to be left out in the corner of the ballroom, and he should have been used to it.

At the time, Hastings roared angrily at Ranmarlock's approval and Sevita's laughter: "I won't be left out in the cold in the corner of the ballroom!" ”

Even a few minutes later, Rika Fujimaru confessed to Astarte in his absence that she had just said that she had just said that to convince Ranmarok. Hastings's indignation at some useless pride still lingered.

The actual reason for Rika Fujimaru's request was that she needed Hastings to attend the ball with her male companion because she couldn't remember all the important names at once, and she desperately needed someone to help her "hand the cheat sheet" on the side, and an inquisitor who was skilled in intelligence investigation was obviously very competent for the job.

This statement sounded more acceptable to Hastings, so he eventually agreed. But while he answered this request, he still squeezed a sentence out of his teeth: "I will never be left out in the corner of the ballroom!" ”

At that time, Rika Fujimaru seemed to be deeply convinced of this, as if Hastings had solemnly declared that "I am loyal to the empire to death". She even spoke out to express her agreement, because in addition to the authority and duties of the judge, from an objective point of view, Hastings is indeed a charming man with good facial features and a handsome face, which conforms to the mainstream aesthetics of the empire. She expressed her belief that, under such external conditions, Mr. Inquisitor would never be alone in a corner for two hours.

Hastings couldn't tell whether Rika Fujimaru's words were from the heart or yin and yang. But that didn't stop him from being alone in the corner of the ballroom twenty minutes after the opening dance, gritting his teeth into the tiny communicator on his collar: "Listen, I'm alone in the corner because I need to give you a teleprompter almost all the time, and I can't turn my attention anywhere else!" ”

Rika Fujimaru did not respond. She was holding a feather fan in one hand and a wine glass in the other, as the "moon" of "Stars Holding the Moon", talking to Archbishop Desimmelus in the center of the crowd in the distance. The smile on his face couldn't tell if it was purely social or a mockery of Hastings' current situation.

Kelya, who was relatively plainly dressed, followed behind Rika Fujimaru as a maid, holding the Aquila Scepter for her in the background; On the other side, the head priest of the Holy Blood, Kobro, as the representative of the host's Holy Blood Angel, and Rika Fujimaru's introducer in a social sense, were also smiling at everyone. The scene looked harmonious and happy.

As for why the representative of the Holy Blood Angel is the Chief Priest of the Holy Blood - first of all, the over-prestige Captain Dante's war is obviously not suitable for this occasion, and it will make it difficult to figure out who the protagonist of the ball is; Secondly, Mephiston, the chief think tank, is obviously not suitable for this occasion, he is too majestic and nervous from another angle. After the elimination method, only Cobro's identity and personality are suitable, and the head priest of the Holy Blood is naturally responsible.

Although he didn't seem to be very comfortable on such occasions, all he did was mechanically introduce the name and position of the person who came to Fujimaru Ritsuka. At present, this peaceful and pleasant social atmosphere is mainly due to Hastings's almost non-stop back and cheat sheets, as well as crowd fundraising.

However, Hastings does have to admit that Rika Fujimaru is somewhat talented in this area - for beginners, her demeanor in the social arena is a little too good. Although she only had time to memorize the basic information of all the attendees, as long as Hastings provided some details about the subject in a timely manner outside the venue, such as personality, hobbies, political leanings, etc., she was able to smoothly raise the right topic and keep the scene from falling into an awkward silence.

And on this basis, these people who are present, who have been screened for a round before entering the venue, and who are qualified to get together with the Imperial Saint in terms of status and status, not to mention the actual business ability in their own positions, at least the level of dealing with people will not be too outrageous. The ever-present presence of the Praetorian squad guarding the sidelines is also a clear reminder that everyone present should use their "not too bad" abilities in the "right direction".

Due to the rush of the whole process of the landing ceremony, the people currently gathered in the dance hall built for diplomatic missions in the Arax Angel Fortress are actually not the "most important" group of people in the entire sector. Except for those who are in the Baal system in their own positions, the really important high-ranking officials are busy with their own affairs in their own areas of responsibility, and it is impossible to quickly assemble here in two or three days. The people gathered in the ballroom now are "important, but not so important" people who happen to stay in Baal for reasons such as debriefing, submitting applications, seeking supplies or support - this personnel structure is also beneficial, at least the difference in identities between the two sides does not allow Rika Fujimaru to face too acute problems.

After Hastings handed Rika Fujimaru one last cheat sheet to a mechanical priest ("She's the sage of the Kilpatrick Two-forged world, not the Great Sage, and besides, in her sect the Leom Messiah is not exactly equal to the Emperor"), he once again looked around the ballroom out of professional habit. His glance didn't have any clear purpose, but what he saw did make him realize that he probably wasn't going to waste all these two hours alone in a corner of the wall and get moldy.

A lady, a woman like Ritsuka Fujimaru, who had previously expressed her bewilderment, the kind of woman who "can go to the ball with five kilograms on her head and at the same time maintain her demeanor", walked towards him with a smile on her face and a feather fan.

And on her chest, beneath those jeweled necklaces, the rose knots of the Inquisition swayed gently with her steps.

(End of chapter)

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