Chapter 33 – I Guess I'm Good At This Diplomacy Thing

While the deliberation on Albert Lorten's suggestion lingered, I had my hands occupied with the pettiness of the pimp system that I created.

"You're lucky, you know. Otherwise... tch!" I swore at it.

Of course, I did not speak out loud lest I am presumed crazy by my classmates but internally.

[ Daily Quest ]

Quests:

— Support Albert Lorten's picnic idea [ Reward: 3 Pimp Points ]

— Get the majority to agree to the idea [ Reward: 3 Pimp Points ]

— Find a date for the class picnic [ 6 Pimp Points ]

"Damn, system!"

I cursed it in my mind but it was not as if I had any other choice than to carry out the daily quests.

Now, I have to pick a side by force on a matter that I didn't care about.

Now, I'm being coerced into joining Albert Lorten's side and supporting his idea.

All for what?

Don't get me wrong. I was in full support of Albert's suggestion.

I, for one, thought that it was a great idea given the premise on which it was suggested.

Like he said, we needed to build relationships, cordial ones, amongst ourselves first before extending it to the other classes.

Without that, we may never be able to fully understand each other and in the end, failure at the task that Jonny gave us would be inevitable.

Quest:

[ Support Albert Lorten's picnic idea ]

That was the first of the quests and they were set up in a way that did not allow me to attempt them in the order I wanted.

Each one led to the next and because of that, I'm bound to start the first quest first and no other one.

I heaved a sigh and closed my eyes for a short period of time.

Thinking. Deep thinking but not too deep.

Internally, I was thinking of the best possible way to convince the students of my Emerald class to buy into the idea of one man — Albert Lorten.

I believed it would be easier to win them over since it was originally Albert Lorten's idea.

Albert's charisma with other scholars was worth studying. He was a young man who could easily garner the trust of others, I dare to say, just by existing.

Tsk, tsk.

I slowly raised my hand amidst the ongoing debate between the different sides that were created concerning the matter.

"He's right," I said.

For a moment, though brief, the class went mum and all eyes were fixed on me like I was a superstar performing on a grand stage.

"What are you on about, creep?" Jasmine muttered by my side.

I'm sure the Barley's queen of pomposity believed that I didn't hear her whisper but I did... and very clearly too.

"I said, Albert Lorten is right and I support the idea."

"What are you saying, man?" Rordon asked.

I looked at him and he at me. We could read each other's facial expressions, and although his question was aimed at getting me to expand on my opinion, we both knew we were not on the same side on the matter.

I don't know why Rordon was against the picnic idea so much that I could reckon him to be the leader of the side that disagreed with it but it didn't matter.

All that mattered at that moment was that I support Albert and convince the majority of the Emerald class to agree with his suggestion.

Capisce?

[ You have gained +3 Pimp Points for completing the quest 'Support Albert Lorten's picnic idea' ]

I knew the first quest was going to be easy peasy lemon squeezy and the level of difficulty would increase as I went further.

However, I was not so worried about the first two quests as much as I was about the third which required that I find a date... a companion for the picnic.

I paused and stared at my friend, Rordon, in silence before clearing my throat and speaking again.

"I wish we'd all understand where Albert is coming from like I do. I believe he is looking at both the present and the future. A present where we can all understand one another regardless of who we are, what we can do or where we came from.

"I believe I'm speaking your mind, Albert?"

Albert Lorten was startled when I called his name.

"Y-Yes, Dee. O-Of course."

He was lost.

He looked at me with curiosity plastered on his face, like I had taken his little idea and expanded it.

His little candle flame was becoming a wildfire through the words that came out of my mouth.

However, I didn't catch why Albert was surprised since I believed that diplomacy was a skill every noble should purpose, at least, father believed so as well.

Being born to the Lorten Family meant he was also a noble by birth and to us nobles, the ability to control and convince a person or group of persons was something that you learn as a child.

Every patriarch ensures that their children gain that power to broker.

Nobility in this world was not only about how much wealth a family had in its coffers or how special your inherit magic was.

It was also about how much you could control and how much you could influence and keep loyal to your family's crest.

I won't be wrong to say that the skill varies with family.

Perhaps, Albert was amazed at my skill of speaking because we, Nuttinsons, do it better than any Lorten he had seen do it.

That's for him to answer anyway.

"Albert," I called him for the third time before Sheila helped me bring Albert back from his deep thoughts.

"H-Huh?" he thoughtlessly uttered.

"I... said... why don't we put it to vote?" I repeated myself, "Or don't you agree?"

"Yeah, sure. Yeah. That's a good idea, Dee. Let's vote."

Albert moved to the front of the class and put his hands behind his back.

"Ahem, we will now vote. Everyone, including myself and Dee, will have to vote. That's the only way this will work.

"Now, those in favour of the picnic can raise their hands."

Albert was the first to raise his hands, then I did and Sheila followed after me before Bolzen.

Just like that, it continued like a chain reaction and hands were lifted into the air.

I looked at Rordon who was still sceptical about it and he scoffed at me.

Rordon sneered. "Pfft, fine."

After about four minutes of Albert taking the headcount, he walked back to the front of the class.

"That's it then. Looks like everyone is in support of the idea."

It was a splendid outcome for me.

I guess I'm quite good at this diplomacy thing.