As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion. Weston's words were flawless, and Zeeself believed them immediately without a doubt.
He clenched his fist again, glaring furiously into the distance.
"Those useless wastes too, actually letting their children gossip about Zera in school. It's simply unforgivable!"
At this moment, Zeeself wished he could fly directly to those students' parents and have a good "reasoning" session with them.
A few seconds later, he looked down at Weston again.
"Since that's the case, you don't need to follow Zera anymore. From tomorrow on, stay in the guild and do chores so you don't go out and embarrass her!"
"Of course, no problem!"
Weston nodded hurriedly, but the next moment, a look of worry appeared on his face. "It's just..."
Why is this so troublesome?!
Zeeself frowned and shouted, "Just what?"
"It's just that if those students find out about this, they might say things like 'Miss Zera can't even afford clothes for a follower,' 'She has no money but likes to feign affluence,' or 'She finally can't keep up the act anymore'..."
"They dare?!!"
Zeeself's eyes widened, and his voice instantly raised by 50 decibels.
But calming down to think about it, he felt that such a situation wasn't impossible.
"You caused this mess, you think of a way to fix it!"
"Of course, no problem!"
Weston smirked slightly. "As long as we let those ungrateful, snobbish guys know how wealthy our Red Lizard is, and how much you, Lord Master, dote on your daughter, won't that solve it?"
"Cut the crap! Just tell me directly, what should I do to let Zera vent this anger?"
Zeeself waved his hand impatiently.
"The method is very simple!"
Weston brought out the wording he had prepared long ago. "Since those people think my clothes cheapen her image, then Master, you should outfit me with a brand new set, ten times, a hundred times better than what they are wearing!"
"When those people see that even a mere follower like me is dressed so well, they naturally won't dare to look down on Miss Zera anymore, nor will they dare to gossip about her!"
"Master, don't you agree?"
Zeeself was silent for a few seconds, seemingly in thought. "That makes some sense..."
"Right? Right?"
Weston struck while the iron was hot. "By the way, one follower might not be shocking enough. We should assign two directly!"
"I suggest letting Mavis come along as Miss Zera's follower as well."
"After all, I am a boy, so their visual impression might not be that strong."
"But Mavis is a girl. With her as a comparison, those people will definitely be so ashamed in front of Miss Zera that they won't even be able to lift their heads!"
"At that time, wherever Miss Zera goes, she will have the two of us followers protecting her. How majestic would that be!"
The more Zeeself listened, the happier he got.
This trope of "being looked down upon" followed by a "face-slapping reversal" made him breathe rapidly with excitement, trembling on the spot.
"Not bad, not bad..."
"Weston, this idea of yours is excellent. I, the Master, approve!"
Looking at Weston, who wasn't even as tall as his waist, Zeeself's eyes were full of satisfaction.
However, when his gaze fell on Mavis, a hint of hesitation appeared.
"But... if Mavis becomes Zera's follower, who will do the guild's chores?"
Weston hadn't expected that even at a time like this, Zeeself was still thinking about the guild's chores.
Fortunately, his reaction was extremely fast, and he immediately came up with a countermeasure.
"Master, you have always been wise. Why are you confusing priorities at a time like this?"
"Anyone can do the chores in the guild!"
"But restoring Miss Zera's face isn't something just anyone can do!"
Zeeself frowned again and asked in a deep voice, "Why is that?"
"The reason is simple!"
"This is, after all, a conflict between children. Naturally, it should be us, fellow children, who help Miss Zera get 'revenge'."
"If the adults in the guild step in, even if Miss Zera successfully vents her anger in the end, those people in the school won't be convinced. Instead, they will think Miss Zera relied on adults to win and look down on her even more!"
As Weston spoke, he raised his fist high, acting filled with righteous indignation.
I didn't expect this kid to be so loyal to Zera...
Zeeself nodded with satisfaction.
He understood what Weston meant. It was just like with the magic guild "Blue Skull," which had always been at odds with Red Lizard. If one day the opponent hired some overly powerful outside help, even if they won in the end, he wouldn't be convinced.
"Master, you have to think clearly."
"No matter how important the chores in the guild are, can they be more important than Miss Zera's face?"
Weston's last sentence was like the final straw that broke the camel's back, completely firming up Zeeself's resolve.
"Of course not!"
"Zera is my most beloved daughter, more important than the entire guild!"
Zeeself glanced at the two of them again.
"Isn't it just two followers? I agree!"
"I'll go buy you the best clothes right now. Tomorrow, you two will wear new clothes to the school and ruthlessly slap those stinking brats in the face for me!"
"You must let them know that my daughter Zera is the most excellent and noble child on this island, completely different from their shabby families!"
Weston was overjoyed in his heart, but his face remained incredibly solemn and serious, standing straight as if he had received a very important commission.
"Yes, sir!!"
"Going to the school tomorrow, we will definitely bring glory to Miss Zera and let her vent her anger properly for today's matter!"
"Hahaha... Well said!"
Zeeself laughed aloud towards the sky a few times, then clutched his jingling money bag and walked towards the clothing store in the village.
Wait until his back disappeared from view.
Weston and Mavis looked at each other, and then simultaneously burst out laughing with a pfft.
This father and daughter pair, Zeeself and Zera, were truly easier to fool than the last.
Sure enough, Zera's stupidity was inherited from her dad...
That night, when Zeeself returned, he indeed bought a set of new clothes and a pair of new shoes for both Weston and Mavis. He also notified the entire guild that Mavis's chore duties were handed over to someone else.
The mages of Red Lizard were mostly not good people.
Under Zeeself's command, the entire guild had formed a very serious culture of "bullying the weak." They treated Weston and Mavis, two orphans with no adults to look after them, like servants to be ordered around at will every day, without any of the self-awareness that adults and elders should have.
Therefore, Weston would occasionally scam them once or twice as revenge.
Afterward, Zeeself exhorted them again and again, telling Weston and Mavis to make Zera look good tomorrow.
Both of them agreed with incomparable seriousness, and then...
Turned their heads and forgot all about it.