“???”
Hitsugisukan looked puzzled. After being a duke for so many years, he had decided to take a break. With Minks possessing the Moon Stone, they could now use Sulong form at any time, greatly increasing their safety.
Zunesha, who wanders aimlessly, is also not easy to find, not to mention the elite Musketeer Squad and Guardians who have become proficient in using Sulong form.
In addition, Zeraora and Setsuna’s strength made Hitsugisukan feel that he is far inferior to them. So, if he hands over Zou Island to them, he can peacefully live out his retirement.
Not to mention that Setsuna can communicate with Zunesha now. Although its huge body may not be flexible enough, Zunesha’s every move can be a terrible disaster for the outside world.
In the past, being enemies with the Minks meant opposing the entire nation of Minks. However, things have changed; now it is truly being at odds with an entire nation. The attacks unleashed by Zunesha have long surpassed the realm of human capability.
Although he is a conservative ruler, he has a thorough understanding of the residents of Zou Island. When Setsuna was a child, she used to clamor about wanting to become a duchess.
Earlier, she had mentioned waiting until after marriage. He thought they could become the new rulers of Zou Island as a married couple, but now she surprised him with this move.
“Duke Hitsugisukan, no, I should address you as a senior now. Senior, this is an order from the newly appointed duke. I feel that I am not yet suitable to rule Zou Island, so I’m entrusting this heavy responsibility to you. It seems inappropriate to say it this way, but let everything continue as usual.”
Previously, she thought the duke’s position was lofty, and she would be able to do whatever she wanted without anyone stopping her. However, now she understands that this position entails not only authority but also responsibilities and the fate of the entire race.
She’s not done playing yet, but she’s willing to do her part for the big ship called Minks. However, she is not yet ready to be the helmsman indefinitely.
“Wait a moment, it isn’t right. Didn’t I transfer the position of duke to you?”
“Yes, but I’m ordering you to act as the proxy in my capacity as the duke. According to the term used in other countries, this should be called regent? Anyway, you have plenty of experience, so let’s just continue as usual. I’ll come back in a few years.”
“No, I’m at an age where I should be resting. Since that’s the case, with my current authority, I once again order you to take over this position!”
Acting like a nesting doll, Hitsugisukan attempted to pass on the position, but reality differed from his expectations.
“No, the current duke is me. You’ve already given me the position, haven’t you?”
Touching his empty head, Hitsugisukan suddenly realized the issue. Zou Island’s transfer ceremony was straightforward. During this time, everyone had already accepted Setsuna as the heir. Therefore, he only needed to unilaterally announce it.
As soon as he had uttered that sentence, it meant the transfer of the position of duke was complete.
From now on, as the retired duke, he had to follow the orders of the new duke, but the new duke didn’t have to listen to him.
This was also why Setsuna asked Hitsugisukan to act as the regent, rather than reappointing him as the duke. She had already sealed off any possibility of Hitsugisukan using the nesting doll trick to shirk his responsibility from the root.
Furthermore, to prevent any unexpected occurrences, she didn’t set a specific date. In a sense, the day she takes the throne is always tomorrow, not today.
“Relax, relax. You’ll only need to work hard for another ten or so years; that should be enough. You’re still in your prime; don’t rush into retirement.”
According to the original timeline, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi would have already taken over Zou Island by this time, and Hitsugisukan would have already disappeared. However, the situation is different now. With the aid of supplies, everything on Zou Island is thriving.
This situation naturally improved the mood of Zou Island’s helmsman, and he also became healthier.
In this situation, Hitsugisukan didn’t know what to say, so he was forced to take on the position of regent. After the proclamation of this order, the younger generation didn’t feel much, as it seemed no different to them.
However, the older folks who knew the previous Duke Hitsugisukan were slightly surprised, but they just sighed, realizing they couldn’t keep up with the trends of the younger generation.
While the nominal position of the Duke of Zou Island had changed hands, everything remained the same. Setsuna’s actions served as a wake-up call for Hitsugisukan, prompting him to start looking for talented individuals within the Minks to share these responsibilities.
Looking at his people below, Hitsugisukan couldn’t help but sigh at how the times have changed; the throne had unexpectedly become a hot potato.
Nevertheless, this kind of scenario is only possible in the peculiar environment of the Minks. In ordinary countries, such a thing would never happen, as the competition for throne had long erased humanity, leading to instances of fathers against sons and brothers against brothers being all too common.
Those who relinquish power early may not be guaranteed their own security in their later years, so most people in any country will cling tightly to power as long as they have a breath left.
After the celebration, everything returned to normal. However, Hitsugisukan felt that he had lost quite a bit of hair. Nonetheless, the unsuccessful succession ceremony did have some impact—the Mink’s Musketeer Squad underwent a new round of outfit changes.
There is a notable difference between Minks and regular humans—they weren’t afraid of static electricity. They could use the power of static electricity in their fur for combat, and Mareep’s wool shared this characteristic.
So, a batch of untreated Mareep wool-made battle suits was sent to Zou Island.
They looked like ordinary clothes and didn’t have any special abilities. However, when worn by regular people, the torment of static electricity can be agonizing, making the experience of touching a car door in dry winter appear much more pleasant.
But Minks were different. This static electricity could combine with their own, allowing them to generate a stronger electric current.
Moreover, in an electrified state, these clothes inherit the fluffy nature of Mareep wool, effectively reducing the likelihood of Minks accidentally tearing the clothes when they transform.
The style of the clothes remained the same as Mink’s traditional attire, but with the addition of a storage belt.
Inside the buckle of the belt was a groove that could be used to embed a Moon Stone. When needed, just press the switch on the belt, and the back would open, allowing the Moon Stone to make contact with the Mink’s body, triggering the Sulong transformation.
Pressing the switch again after the battle would isolate the Moon Stone from the body, thereby ending the transformation. This simple mechanical device could facilitate this process.
This could be considered an update to the equipment of the Minks’ Musketeer Squad and the Guardians. Even just hearing the words battle suit and transformation belt, they sounded quite cool.
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