Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C160

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Chapter 160: Precise Missteps

Let’s rewind slightly, back to when the was still stuck on the road.

With all the important guests having arrived but no sign of the crucial Lionheart carriage—or its new duke—the newly appointed head of and the remaining elder were on the verge of panic.

“Is Old York losing his mind?”

Unaware that another member of the “,” the steward, had already passed out after suffering a heart attack under someone's relentless verbal torment, the current head of House Lion—bulky, dressed in a specially tailored oversized tailcoat—couldn’t help but grumble.

“He claimed he’d served the previous duke for years, handling every special occasion without fail, so I trusted him with this task. But something as simple as escorting the new duke out and back via a carriage is taking this long? What’s going wrong?”

“Don’t worry, let’s wait a bit longer.”

Compared to the flustered house head, the elder of House Lion remained far calmer. After sending two attendants to hurry things along, he stroked his gray brows and said, “Our new duke isn’t like the old one—he’s an unrefined commoner who’s never had a day of noble education. Mishaps at events like these are almost inevitable. For now, we can only trust Old York and give him more time.”

“More time for him? And who gives us more time?”

Peering through the gap between the curtains, the house head noticed some guests’ growing impatience. Sighing deeply, he muttered, “If I’d known even this part would go sideways, I’d have simplified the process earlier. We’ve packed too much into such a tight schedule that there’s no room for error.”

“Patience,” the elder advised, sipping tea leisurely. He dabbed at his white beard with a handkerchief before continuing, “The new duke is reckless and clueless about being a proper noble. To make him cooperate willingly, he needs to understand that even though he holds the title of , House Lion cannot survive without our support.”

“The elaborate ceremony serves a purpose—it’ll teach him humility and underscore how indispensable we three are. Without us managing things, he wouldn’t even manage the investiture properly. Once he realizes this, future interactions will be smoother.”

“That makes sense…”

Slightly reassured by the elder’s words, the house head hesitated briefly before nodding. “Alright. We’ll stick to the original plan. You keep sending people to fetch the duke, while I go to the main hall to placate the impatient guests.”

“Go ahead.”

---

As the two elders reached their consensus—one dispatching messengers, the other stabilizing the crowd—the passage of time did little to soothe the mounting frustration among the waiting guests. By now, many had grown visibly restless.

“Well, well…” A certain Count, infamous in the capital due to Leon’s remark, sneered loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. “Our new duke certainly knows how to make an entrance.”

Glancing around at the increasingly furrowed brows of those present, he added, “Everyone here shares ties with House Lion through marriage. Many of us are peers of the late duke, making half of you his seniors—and some of you, two generations senior.”

“We elders rose early, braving the cold and dark to honor the memory of the late duke. Yet here we stand, left cooling our heels. Is this truly acceptable?”

Though the Count’s sarcasm was blatant—practically shouting, “I’m stirring trouble!”—two factors ensured his words resonated:

First, the gathering wasn’t exactly composed of saints; most attendees were vultures circling the carcass of House Lion, eager to claim scraps. They understood each other perfectly, so there was no need to pretend civility.

Second, being kept waiting for so long had already soured everyone’s mood. Instead of objecting, several guests chimed in with agreement or outright support.

“Indeed, House Lion has dropped the ball this time.”

“It’s not just dropping the ball—they clearly don’t respect us as kin.”

“They’re one of the kingdom’s twin pillars. Why should they care about us lesser nobles?”

Under the deliberate provocation of opportunists and the silent complicity of others, the situation escalated rapidly. By the time the house head emerged from backstage, the entire hall buzzed with complaints and thinly veiled insults.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please, hear me out!”

Breaking into a cold sweat at the rising tide of discontent, the house head raised his voice urgently. “My sincerest apologies! Today’s ceremony was hastily arranged, and the duke has unfortunately been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. This is entirely our fault—we underestimated the preparations needed and failed to show proper respect to our esteemed guests.”

“But allow me to explain: the delay stems from our desire to honor your presence. The event was planned with great care and grandeur, which inevitably led to complications. Please, dear friends and relatives, forgive these oversights in light of past camaraderie.”

“Moreover, among us today are , and Prince Joshua, representing Princess Veronica. Let us extend courtesy to them by maintaining composure. I humbly thank you for your patience.”

The once-chaotic hall fell silent almost instantly.

It wasn’t surprising. Though delivered hastily, the speech was masterfully crafted. It began with an immediate apology to defuse tensions, followed by a clever reversal: the delay wasn’t neglect but rather a gesture of deep respect. With a few swift rhetorical maneuvers, the house head clawed his way back onto the moral high ground.

He then invoked the presence of the prime minister’s representative and the princess’s envoy, subtly warning that further disruptions would reflect poorly on both. Finally, bowing deeply, he thanked everyone for their understanding, effectively shutting down any lingering objections.

This performance showcased why the “Lion Three Elders” had risen to power after the infamous . Their skills weren’t mere products of age—they were honed talents. The house head’s impromptu damage control demonstrated remarkable verbal dexterity.

Unfortunately, while his words pacified ninety-nine percent of the crowd, they inadvertently riled up the single most troublesome individual.

“I represent no one.”

At the mention of “Prince Joshua, representing Princess Veronica,” a lavishly dressed young man standing near the front turned sharply toward the speaker, his expression darkening. Ignoring the discreet tug of his companion’s hand, he cut in sharply:

“Watch your tongue. If anyone represents royalty here, it’s me—not some proxy.”

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