Doesn't sound too interesting? Just another confusing fantasy world with its stupid Engrish terminology? So, why should you care and read it along with me?

Well, first of all, the art. It's not...unique, in a highly distinguishable sense per se, but this is one very beautifully drawn manga. The art style is reminiscent of the anime Last Exile, which I confess I think is only good for its art and concept. The world is always drawn with deep and satisfying detail, combining European Medieval architecture with an occasional hint of steampunk; the characters are all pretty and pleasant to look at, although they're not averse to making funny faces for a while.

Second, the characters. None of them really broke new grounds in the manga Hall of Fame or anything like that. There's no Harima, or Morita-senpai, or someone as unique running around. But that doesn't mean they lack life. First, the lead boy is a good kid, smart enough in his head and good with his hands, though his really good point is the heart. Yes, yes, you've heard it all before, "shonen lead with a heart, what's new?" Well, this one isn't annoying in the least. He's not spouting stupid lines of friendship every other page, he's not jumping blindly into action because he's the shonen lead and can't ever die: he's learning about the world like a kid his age on an adventure would; oh, and he's a bit of a crybaby, which is kinda cute.

And there's a little girl tagging along with him, named "Niche," and called herself his "dingo," which stands for a Letter Bee's partner in the manga's terminology. She's like a younger shorter Yami from To-LOVE-Ru (super dangerous long hair, loli body structure, and a bit of an attitude, although of a different kind) with furry paws-for-hand. She's not quite human, very powerful in fact, and some characters treat her as a creature, but she certainly likes our boy. Not surprising, considering he was the first person in the world (probably) to treat her nicely and even risked his life to save hers.

To round out the cast, there's the little sister of Gauche the mysterious ace Letter Bee, who's a bit like him in that they both are crybabies and they like Gauche very much, one as a big brother/only family and another as the elusive idol. She's obviously something of a love interest here. There's also some fellow friendly Letter Bee's, who become Lag's friends; some older adults who work in the headquarters; and of course Gauche himself, a cool and talented guy, but his fate is so far a mysterious and very important plot point...

Finally there's the plot. I won't say much on this one, but let's just say that it's quite excellent. The pace develops quite nicely, never faltering but also never rushing ahead. The mysteries are big -- this isn't the nicest of worlds, the government is a bit oppressive, but the so far mysterious anti-government factions aren't very nice either. And the characters have yet to act outright stupidly on any occasion.

P.S. The scanlation effort on this series is quite wonderfully regular for a series that isn't the biggest latest thing coming out of Japan. It's a monthly series, started only in 2007...and as much as 19 chapters are scanlated! Good job, scanlators! And of course good job mangaka!

Sylvette seems to have a higher chance at this point since Niche would out live him.

Well, Garrad continues to show how of an ass he is though it was amusing that Aria got demoted too.:heh: Hopefully Largo actually has plan and instead just goofing off.=/

Lag seems have gotten in quite a bit of trouble however.

Well it turns out that the cold letter department is the place where letters that have problems (can't be sent, won't be received, ect) go and both Aria and Lag have been demoted to work down there. So we might have a "letter of the month" arc now, this current one is a little odd, and I really hope it doesn't fall into letter of the month routine. Hopefully we'll get some juicy information with each chapter as well.

I expect next chapter slightly episodic, but no more than what we had before like with the "Lighthouse" and "Picture Letter" chapters. I don't think we have worry about "letter of month".

I do wonder if Lag is overstepping his boundaries as a letter bee at times with the way he gets really involved with the clients life (which I remember that Gauche said was what you weren't supposed to do) but honestly I like him better for it. Plus I can't see Aria getting annoyed at him now that they're in the cold letter division, if it takes that extra effort to get those letters delivered then go for it!
Also think that we won't see EVERY letter down there get delivered or even most of them (please no anyway, that looked like a lot) I think we'll have a few more chapters focusing on those letters and then will get back into the main swing of thing, heck, maybe by this time next year we'll see the inside of Akatsuki.