Crossbell Times (Zero)/Issue 7


 * -|English= Crossbell Times - Issue 7


 * [Featured Story] Budget Committee & Mayoral Elections


 * ◆Imperial Faction, Republican Faction, and Mayor◆

Even after the diet's initial session for determining budget allocations was postponed, the current session already shows signs of being a drawn-out affair.

Today in the assembly, Speaker Hartmann, leader of the Imperial Faction, was debating intensely his rivals, the Republican Faction. The hall quickly turned into a whirlwind of dirty jeers. Mayor MacDowell struggled to keep order. In the end, only a meager three paragraphs of legislation were approved.


 * ◆About the Upcoming Mayoral Election◆

Mayor MacDowell's term will be up in four months' time. That means the next mayoral election is approaching. Yesterday, MacDowell, who previously declared he would retire after the current term, made another announcement, 'I can't leave the government in its current state.' Speaker Hartmann is rumored to have plans to run for the office, after having already secured his next term as speaker. If elected, a politician from his Imperial Faction would likely take his seat as speaker. Representative Campbell of the Republican Faction is wary of this, and he's using his connections to try to establish a third-party candidate.


 * ◆How Will It Turn Out?◆

We asked a businessman about the upcoming election. It was none other than Chairman Mors of the Business Owner's Association (response below):

'The focus of the election will be on how trustworthy the candidates are. The citizens are unhappy about the political chaos. They will want to lend their support to a candidate who can both reform the government and improve the state.'


 * [Finance] Economy Is Booming

Due to a strong Anniversary Festival, businesses in the city benefited royally. After the IBC released its interim report, there are signs that those affiliated with the IBC's ventures will see even more growth. Construction-related companies are playing it safe due to the budget committee's status, but it seems that investors are interested after seeing next year's economic forecast.


 * [Society] Powerful Monsters Appear?

We have received reports that never-before-seen monsters have been spotted on the highways near Crossbell. Citizens and tourists walking the roads have already suffered injuries, and the Bracer Guild is imploring people to exercise caution.


 * [Leisure] Crossbell's Gourmet Experience

Morges Bakery on West Street is known for its freshly-baked bread. This store even offers a new special bread every month. With my mouth stuffed, I can only utter 'Superb!' Mr. Oscar, only 18 years old, bakes these specialties. Why not go check out this young prodigious patissier's bread?
 * -|Japanese= クロスベルタイムズ⑦


 * 【特集】予算議会、そして市長選へ


 * ◆帝国派と共和国派、そして市長◆

クロスベル自治州の予算議会は当初の会期を延期し既に長期戦の様相を呈している.

この日議事堂にはハルトマン議長が派閥議員を率いて会場入り、ライバルである共和国派議員たちにプレッシャーを与えていた. しかし議会が始まると一転、会場は汚い野次の飛び交う泥沼に. 意見の取りまとめに出動したマクダエル市長も苦戦し、この日の予算成立は僅か３件となった.


 * ◆４ヶ月後の市長選に向けた思惑◆

マクダエル市長の任期が４ヶ月後に迫っている. それは同時に、次期市長選が近いことを意味する.

今期限りの引退を公言していたマクダエル市長だが先日改めて続投を表明. 「荒れる議会を放っては置けない」. またハルトマン議長も、次期議長を派閥内部から擁立した上で市長選へ出馬すると噂され、すでに動いているという. 仮に当選すれば自治州代表の座を親帝国派の政治家が占める事となりそうだ. 共和国派を取りまとめるキャンベル議員もこの事態を警戒し、第三の候補擁立のため人脈を駆使している模様.

長引く予算議会、そして迫る市長選──政界を巡る熱い戦いは、始まったばかりである.


 * ◆市長選の行方は…？◆

４ヶ月後の市長選について経済界の方に伺った. クロスベル商工会・モルス会長：

（記者の質問を受けて）──市長選の焦点は、いかに信用できる人物が立つかということ. 市民は政治的混乱に憂いを抱いている. 政治、ひいては自治州のあるべき姿を説ける人物が支持されるだろう.


 * 【経済】一年後には更なる景気上昇も

今年の記念祭の影響が色濃く残り、市の景気は右肩上がりに上昇しているという. ＩＢＣの中間決算も受け関連企業が業績を伸ばしている模様. 建設関係各社は議会の行方次第と慎重な構えだが、来年の経済予測を見据えて投資家たちの関心が集まっているようだ.


 * 【社会】強力な魔獣が出現？

各地の街道に、今まで見たこともない魔獣が現れているという情報が入った. すでに街道に出た市民や観光客が怪我を負った事例が発生しており、遊撃士協会は市民に対して注意を呼びかけている.


 * 【レジャー】クロスベル美食探訪

西通りに面したベーカリーカフェ《モルジュ》は焼きたてパンで人気のお店. しかもこの店、毎月特製の新作パンを売り出しているという. 記者も頬ばって一言「絶品！」. この新作パンを作るのは、弱冠１８歳のオスカー氏. 皆さんも若き天才パン職人の作りだす世界を堪能してみてはいかが？