C767
August 20, 1803.
It had been about a month since Lueth had returned to the human world.
As soon as she began her duties as the chief butler, she quickly took control of the Family, demonstrating her capabilities.
[Tenth Flagbearer, it seems we must reinforce support for the contamination in the neutral zone. Zipple has been increasingly passive in supporting the contaminated neutral zones, so we must engage with them and secure their support.]
"Chief Butler, the areas where Zipple is passively supporting are mostly places where we won’t gain much. In fact, it would cost us more in reconstruction expenses if we included them in the Hufester alliance."
[I’m aware. There are barely any viable resources, and most of the areas are practically in ruins. But what's important now is the image of Runcandel. Even from a humanitarian perspective, if we reduce our efforts, we could still save many more lives.]
"Understood."
[Additionally, this is a critical moment for talent, and talent can emerge from unexpected places. Someone we desperately need could suddenly appear in the zones we’ve provided aid to. Just like the engineers who emerged from the relief zones last time, such events were frequent in my era as well.]
Lueth was not just the chief butler; she was an ancestor who had kept Runcandel alive to this day.Even the former patriarch of the Family, the eldest of the previous generations, was her distant descendant.
Moreover, after witnessing Lueth's administrative abilities, Jin granted her the authority to exercise full power in internal affairs, making her, in effect, the second-in-command of Runcandel.
[Chief Instructor, Tasha-nim]
[Speak, Chief Butler.]
[The new recruits we received this time are all excellent. Once the team leaders are selected, provide each of them with a fine sword.]
[I have several swords selected already.]
[Also, pay special attention to the newcomers who have been fighting in the existing stages. We must ensure that unnecessary factions don’t form. It’s good to stimulate the fighting spirit through competition, but that’s not the appropriate method for the current situation. Always strive together and set goals that must be achieved through cooperation.]
[I’ll make sure of it.]
[Sir Vallas, how is the Black Sword Association doing these days?]
[Hahaha, not a day goes by without my sword being stained with the blood of those embezzling reconstruction funds. They are all criminals, but still.]
[Very well. If there is corruption within Hufester, the Black Sword Association must continue to demonstrate that it will take direct action and enforce the law. However, no innocent individual should suffer.]
[Don’t worry. Anyone who shows even the slightest hesitation will be brought before the Princess of Tikan to confirm the truth. However, it seems we’ll need to increase our strength. So, it would be great if the Chief Instructor could send us some promising individuals.]
[The Law Guardian has been fervent in compiling the clan’s law lately. From what I’ve read, Section 5 seems overly strict overall. How about easing the criteria for each exemplary law?]
[Chief Butler, I believe compromising on that matter would be inappropriate. No matter how chaotic the times, the law must stay true to its nature.]
[You have a valid point.]
[However, we can add provisions that allow for flexibility under exceptional circumstances.]
[That’s an excellent alternative. Proceed with that. And the chief civilian guardian, Sir Tellot.]
"Yes, Chief Butler-nim."
[It’s commendable that you personally go around encouraging both the existing residents and immigrants and proactively preventing various conflicts. As Chief of the civilian guard, that’s natural. However, for now, it would be better if you focused more on personally examining talented individuals among the relief residents.]
"Understood, Chief Butler."
[First-class Butler, Petro.]
"Yes! Chief Butler-nim."
[The Family’s financial reports need better organization. Make an effort to ensure closer collaboration and exchange between departments. As the first-class butler and the exclusive butler of the young patriarch, you should at least manage that. Also, there was a missing item in the sales information from the Lutero Federation's black market. I won’t tolerate such mistakes twice.]
"I apologize, I will correct it immediately."
[That should be enough for now. Let’s return to our positions and continue our work. The next meeting will be at 2 a.m.]
The members of Runcandel were going through challenges unlike any other.
But no one harbored any discontent.
Lueth possessed a peculiar power that made everyone obey her orders while constantly infusing them with vitality.
As everyone left to fulfill Lueth’s orders, Jeremiah entered the meeting room.
Lueth stood and greeted him courteously.
[Have you arrived, young patriarch?]
"I heard you haven’t had enough rest for several days. Are you alright?"
[For fairies, this is nothing to worry about. Thanks to your excellent overall management, I’m working smoothly. You smell of earth and iron, young patriarch. Have you been in the Empire?]
"Yes, I inspected the construction works of the shipyard facilities. The foundation work for excavating the underground space is already complete, and we’ve now started the internal construction."
[It seems we are short on engineers. Highly skilled construction engineers were scarce even in my time.]
"I believe so. However, we are doing everything possible to recruit engineers, but the bigger problem is the absence of a construction supervisor and the shortage of engineers to build the fleet once the shipyard facilities are completed."
Originally, even excavating the underground space of Sword Emperor Castle required immense technical expertise.
However, that part was quickly resolved thanks to the power of high-ranking knights, various forms of magic, and the power of Myriad Ice.
Literally, they dug into the ground with their strength and prevented collapses with the power of Mythic Ice and mana.
But the actual internal construction couldn’t proceed the same way.
To carry out Qwaul's design, they needed the world’s highest-caliber construction engineers.
The overall responsibility currently lay with Qwaul, but his primary profession was magical engineering.
No matter how much of a genius he was, the field of architectural technology posed a different problem.
Even the top engineers of the Empire were struggling to execute Qwaul's design.
"According to Dr. Qwaul, we would need either the best engineers from Zipple or someone on Bubare’s level to complete the work perfectly. Or perhaps a new contractor of the god of architecture could emerge."
[I stress the continued recruitment of talent, but we cannot determine how long it will take. And if we need geniuses of that caliber... honestly, we must rely on chance. If we don’t find the engineers, it doesn’t mean the project’s realization is impossible.]
"Yes, that’s what I’ve said. It will just require more time and resources."
[How much more? We already have limited financial resources. Wait, did you mention a new contractor of the god of architecture?]
"Yes, something crossed your mind. Do you have an idea about it?"
[Let’s check when and where the last new contractor of the god of architecture appeared.]
Lueth called for the scribe and gathered the historical records on the contractors stored within the clan.
[Let’s see... Ah, here it is. In March 1666, a person named Clap Modal, from the Autonomous District of Brakle in the Lutero Magical Federation, was the last known contractor. He died in 1701. The previous contractor was Kien Salasa, from the Autonomous District of Brakle, in 1603, and before that, Harriet Bayer in 1541, also from the Autonomous District of Brakle.]
"...Are all of them from the Autonomous District of Brakle?"
[The former name of the Autonomous District of Brakle was the Brakle Kingdom. It was known as a kingdom particularly favored by the god of architecture. Ah, now I remember. During our time, we sent knights to try to acquire the contractor of the god of architecture from the Brakle Kingdom.]
"If the god of architecture continues contracting exclusively with individuals from the Autonomous District of Brakle, there’s a good chance they’re already affiliated with Zipple."
[Most likely. However, if there is a contractor in the Autonomous District of Brakle, it might be worth a try. We can’t invade as we did a thousand years ago. We can use the compass to confirm the existence of a contractor within Brakle, and if they exist, gather information through the Seven-Colored Peacocks and send an anonymous invitation.]
It was a risky method that could potentially lead to a larger conflict.
However, as Lueth said, it was necessary to first use the compass to confirm the existence of a contractor.
Jin immediately headed to Tikan on the Red Owl and returned with the compass.
The compass only indicated the presence of a contractor with a red dot in the corresponding region.
It didn’t provide precise information about their location or any other details.
Using the compass, they discovered multiple red dots in the Autonomous District of Brakle.
"...It seems there are more than five contractors in Brakle."
Since Brakle was close to Drakka, it was a region frequently visited by Magicians contracted by Zipple.
[For now, I’ll examine the red dots in the Autonomous District of Brakle while continuing my work. I’ll observe the fluctuating numbers...]
Before Lueth could finish her sentence, someone entered the meeting room.
"Chief Butler-nim and young patriarch."
"Tellot-nim."
[What is it, Sir Tellot?]
Tellot cleared his throat and showed a slightly embarrassed expression.
"I’ve come because there’s a girl among the refugees claiming to be the contractor of the god of architecture. I tried to confirm it in advance, but it seems we might need the help of the Princess of Tikan or Chief Butler-nim. When I asked the girl to demonstrate her power, she only spouted nonsense."
Jin and Lueth exchanged glances for a few seconds.
[What exactly did she say?]
"She said she’s a reserve contractor and that there must be some trial for a proper contract. Anyway, that girl is in the hallway."
Normally, Tellot would dismiss the girl’s words as nonsense, but knowing how desperate the situation was for a contractor of the god of architecture, he came to the meeting room.
[Since we must meet her first, please ask her to come in.]
Tellot gave the order outside, and the knights waiting escorted the boy into the meeting room.
He had the typical look of a desperate refugee, and his eyes showed the peculiar determination of a lost child.
Throughout the encounter, he didn’t back down in front of Tellot.
"Ah, I really am the reserve contractor of the god of architecture! You shouldn’t treat me so roughly... Oh! Sir Jin! You really are Sir Jin Runcandel, aren’t you?"
Upon seeing Jin, the girl’s angry face transformed into a sparkling expression.
It was the look of finally meeting an idol.
Jin paused for a moment, thinking about where he had seen that expression before.
It was when he met Enya.
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