Chapter 767: Blessings Rolling In (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 767: Blessings Rolling In (1)
August 20, 1803.
About a month had passed since Ruet returned to the human world.
As soon as she began her duties as Head Butler, she proved her capabilities by instantly bringing the family under her firm control.
[10th Flagbearer, it would be best to strengthen our support for the contaminated areas in the neutral zones. Since Zipple is becoming increasingly passive in their aid to those regions, we must step in and win them over.]
"Head Butler, most of the areas where Zipple is being passive have nothing to offer us. In fact, if we bring them into the Huphester Alliance after purification, the reconstruction costs will likely far exceed any benefit."
[I am aware. Most of those regions have no usable resources, and their foundations have essentially collapsed. However, what matters right now is Runcandel’s prestige. From a humanitarian perspective, if we sacrifice a little sleep, we can save that many more lives.]
"Understood."
[Furthermore, talent is more important now than ever, and you never know where a genius might suddenly appear. One day, someone we desperately need might emerge from a region the family saved. Didn't engineers come from the area the 7th Flagbearer rescued recently? Such things happened often in my era as well.]
Ruet was not merely the Head Butler; she was the ancestor who had made the Runcandel of today possible.
Even the former Patriarchs, who had been the family's eldest elders before her arrival, were distant descendants to her.
Moreover, after observing Ruet’s administrative prowess, Jin had granted her full authority over internal affairs, making her the de facto second-in-command of Runcandel.
[Chief Cadet Instructor, Sir Tasha.]
[Speak, Head Butler.]
[The cadets recruited this time are all excellent. Once the section leader selections are finished, grant each of them a masterwork sword.]
[I already have several swords picked out.]
[Also, pay special attention to those among the new cadets who used to belong to other groups. Ensure that no useless factions are formed. While stimulating a competitive spirit through rivalry is good, it is not the appropriate method for the current state of affairs. Always set a goal that they must struggle together to overcome.]
[I shall do so.]
[Sir Balas, how is the Black Sword Council faring lately?]
[Kuhaha! My blade hasn't had a day to dry because I've been busy killing those bastards embezzling reconstruction funds. They’re all small fry, though.]
[Very good. If corruption occurs within Huphester, the Black Sword Council must continue to show that even the smallest offense will be met with direct and severe punishment. However, ensure that not a single person is wrongly accused.]
[Don't you worry. If there's anyone truly ambiguous, I've been taking them to the Princess of Tikan to verify the truth. However, it seems we'll need to bolster our strength. So, Chief Instructor, if you see any kids with potential, I'd appreciate it if you sent them my way early.]
[The Guardian Association has been working hard on compiling the family's code of laws recently. Having read it, Chapter 5 feels excessively strict overall. How about relaxing the standards for etiquette slightly?]
[Head Butler, I believe it is right not to compromise on that part. No matter how chaotic the times, the code of laws must remain the code of laws.]
[That is a valid point.]
[Instead, I will add clauses that allow for relaxed application depending on exceptional circumstances.]
[That is an excellent alternative. Proceed with that. And Chairman of the Homin Association, Sir Telot.]
"Yes, Head Butler."
[It is very good that you are personally traveling around to encourage both existing residents and immigrants while preventing various disputes in advance. It is, of course, a duty you must perform as Chairman. However, for now, it would be better to focus more on personally identifying talent among the refugees.]
"Understood, Head Butler."
[1st Butler, Petro.]
"Yes! Head Butler."
[The family's financial reports need to be better organized. Strive to ensure that each department cooperates and shares information more closely. You are the 1st Butler and the Young Master’s personal butler, so you must be able to manage at least that much. Also, there was a missing entry regarding the sales proceeds from the Lutero Federation's black market. I will not tolerate such a mistake a second time.]
"I am sorry. I will rectify it immediately."
[I believe that covers the basics for now. Everyone, return to your posts and get to work. The next meeting will be held at two in the morning.]
The members of Runcandel were spending their days in what could only be described as a march of hardship.
Yet, no one harbored any complaints.
Ruet possessed a strange charisma that allowed her to drive her subordinates relentlessly while simultaneously infusing them with constant vitality.
Two hours after everyone had left to carry out Ruet’s orders, Jin visited the conference room.
Ruet stood up and greeted him with due respect.
"Head Butler."
[You have come, Young Master.]
"I heard you haven't slept for several days. Are you alright?"
[This much is nothing for a fairy. Thanks to the broad framework you established, Young Master, I am working quite easily. I smell earth and iron... have you been to the Empire?]
"Yes, I've been inspecting the construction site of the shipyard. The foundational work of excavating the underground is already finished, and we have now begun the internal construction."
[You must be short on technicians. High-level construction technicians were very rare even in my time.]
"That is indeed the case. We are managing to recruit technicians somehow, but the bigger problem is the absence of a general construction manager and the lack of engineers to build the fleet once the shipyard is completed."
Originally, just excavating the underground of the Land of the Sword Emperor would have required immense technical skill.
However, that part had been resolved in a short period through the strength of high-ranking warriors, various magics, and the Authority of Ten Thousand Ice.
They had literally dug out the earth with raw power and prevented collapse using the Authority of Ten Thousand Ice and magic.
But the actual internal construction could not be carried out that way.
To realize Quaul’s blueprints, they needed the world's top construction technicians.
While Quaul was currently acting as the temporary general manager, his primary field was magitech.
No matter how much of a genius he was—centuries ahead of his time—the field of architectural engineering was a different matter.
Even the Empire's finest technicians were expressing difficulty in realizing Quaul’s designs.
"Doctor Quaul says that to make it work perfectly, we need someone with the skills of at least Zipple’s top technicians or someone like Bubar. Or, a Contractor of the God of Architecture would have to appear."
[I am emphasizing the need to continue recruiting talent, but there is no telling how much time that will require. Besides, if a genius of that level is needed... honestly, we can only rely on the heavens. If we cannot find a technician, is completion itself impossible?]
"No, he said it is possible. It will just take several times more time and resources."
[Several times... we don't exactly have much leeway in our finances as it is. Wait, did you say a Contractor of the God of Architecture?]
"Did something come to mind?"
[I should check when and in which region the last Contractor of the God of Architecture appeared.]
Ruet summoned the scribes and gathered the history books regarding contractors stored within the family.
[Let’s see... here it is. In March 1666, a man named Clap Modal from the Bakle Autonomous District of the Lutero Magic Federation was the last to form a contract. He died in 1701. The contractor before him was Kien Salasa of the Bakle Autonomous District in 1603, and before that was Harriet Bayer in 1541, also from the Bakle Autonomous District.]
"...They are all from the Bakle Autonomous District?"
[The old name of the Bakle Autonomous District was the Bakle Kingdom. In my time, it was known as a kingdom especially favored by the God of Architecture. Ah, I remember now. In our day, we also sent knights to obtain the Contractor of the God of Architecture from the Bakle Kingdom.]
"If the God of Architecture still only forms contracts with those from the Bakle Autonomous District, there is a high probability they are already affiliated with Zipple."
[Likely so. Still, if there is a contractor in the Bakle Autonomous District, wouldn't it be worth a try? We can't exactly invade and kidnap them like we did a thousand years ago. We could use the Compass to confirm if a contractor exists in Bakle, and if so, collect information through the Seven-Colored Bird and then send Nameless to bring them here.]
It was a dangerous method that could potentially escalate into a major conflict.
However, as Ruet said, it was necessary to first confirm the existence of a contractor through the Compass.
Jin immediately rode a Red Owl to Tikan, retrieved the Compass, and returned.
The Compass simply displayed a red dot in the region where a contractor existed.
It did not provide a precise location, nor did it give any other information.
Looking through the Compass, there were red dots in the Bakle Autonomous District, but there wasn't just one.
"...It seems there are more than five contractors in Bakle alone."
Since Bakle was an autonomous district close to Drakka, it was inevitably a region that Zipple’s contract mages frequently visited.
[For the time being, I will keep an eye on the red dots in the Bakle Autonomous District while I work. I will observe if the numbers fluctuate...]
Just as Ruet was saying that, a new person visited the conference room.
"Head Butler, and Young Master."
"Sir Telot."
[What is it, Sir Telot?]
Telot, the Chairman of the Homin Association, cleared his throat, looking slightly embarrassed.
"I've come because there's a boy among the refugees claiming to be a Contractor of the God of Architecture. I wanted to verify his claim before bringing it to you, but I think I need help from the Princess of Tikan or yourself, Head Butler. When I asked him to demonstrate his authority, he just spouted nonsense."
Jin and Ruet blinked at each other for a few seconds.
[...What did he say?]
"He said he’s a 'preliminary contractor,' so he needs some kind of trial to properly form the contract. Anyway, the brat is in the hallway."
Normally, Telot would have dismissed the boy's words as nonsense, but knowing how desperate they were for a Contractor of the God of Architecture, he had come to the conference room on the off chance the boy was telling the truth.
[I must meet him. Please have him enter.]
When Telot relayed the order, the waiting knights sent the boy into the conference room.
His grubby appearance was typical of a refugee, and his eyes held the characteristic rebellious spark of a defiant youth.
He had apparently been acting tough and unyielding even in front of Telot the whole time.
"Ah, seriously, I told you I’m a preliminary Contractor of the God of Architecture! You shouldn't treat me so roughly—! Oh! Lord Jin! You’re really Lord Jin Runcandel, right!?"
The boy's angry expression vanished as soon as he saw Jin, his eyes beginning to sparkle.
It was the look of someone finally meeting their idol.
Jin thought for a moment about where he had seen that expression before.
It was the same look Enya had when they first met.