Chapter 471
Having met my condition of a clean break, I had to properly welcome Bermuda.
"Bermuda really is capable, isn't he?"
"I was a general. This level of paperwork is expected."
"He's even more efficient than I am."
"Even as a merchant, I can't calculate this fast."
After making a contract at the temple to prevent betrayal or leaks, I gave him work without any stat boosts. He finished it quickly. In FBO, he was known as capable, as long as he didn't betray.
"Hmm, this is a good work environment. Tasks are clearly defined. Document formats are standardized. Communication between departments is established. Cooperation is easy. At my old job, factional infighting made smooth progress impossible."
He'd instantly grasped how Freihait operated.
"Best of all, no one here is actively working against the organization. No fools who are useless at everything except causing trouble. No stress. I can focus on my work."
Maybe Bermuda was the first to truly appreciate this work environment. His previous experience was on a different level. Coming from a world of covert operations, this open, transparent town might be more than refreshing. It might be almost unknown.
"Those magic trains will help streamline logistics and reduce manpower needs. Investing in education is also good. The divine contracts preventing betrayal are a major advantage... Compared to this place, my last job was garbage."
Esmeralda and Zink, who had been managing the town, stared wide-eyed at his processing speed. He'd had to navigate factional infighting just to prove his worth. Without those shackles, of course he'd relax. Work like this? Easy.
"For now, Bermuda, you'll support Esmeralda. She's often tied up with diplomacy and school reports. She needs help. Keep her informed. Fill in the gaps."
"Understood. I'm on it."
He was probably imagining how to optimize this town. He'd behave himself for a while. Leaving him alone would be trouble. I'd have to keep involving him in festivals that broke common sense. Keep challenging his assumptions. If he enjoyed this place and became one of us, he'd be a reliable unit. He seemed less jaded than in FBO.
"Any questions? Comments?"
"Regarding personnel. Currently, Lady Esmeralda, Lord Zink, myself, and former merchants run the town. Frankly, this town will grow. Its population will increase. Current operations are fine, but when that happens, we won't be able to cope."
"Every department has that problem. We're educating the kids, trying to solve it."
"Lord Liberta, your judgment isn't wrong. But it's optimistic. I expect a large influx of people within six months. We need immediate reinforcements or faster training of the children."
He'd identified the biggest problem. More accurately than anyone. With data. With more urgency than anyone.
"Putting children into the field... According to Gato, a few can read, write, and do basic math. Can they handle field work?"
"We'll train them. Assign them to Lady Esmeralda, Lord Zink, and me. Three months, and they'll handle basic tasks. It will also motivate the children. Being selected for the field."
Personally, I was against putting children in the field. We needed people, but inexperienced workers would cause chaos.
"Eventually, Lord Zink and the merchant clerks will transfer to import/export. Then we'll be critically short on administrative staff. So while we have time, we should train their replacements. Give them specialized knowledge and work ethic."
Bermuda said that wasn't a problem. He gave reasons. They made sense. He addressed my concerns.
"Esmeralda. Zink. What do you think?"
"I agree. Some of the children are old enough to work. Not in politics. But administrative experience will help them."
"I agree. They can read, write, and do math. There's plenty of work for them."
"Hmm. Then coordinate with Gato. Test them. First test, written. Second test, interview with Gato. Six kids. Two each for you three. Acceptable?"
If the people on the ground agreed, I wouldn't object. But they had to meet basic standards. Testing was non-negotiable.
"That's reasonable."
"I agree. Bermuda?"
"That's fine. What about the test content?"
"Can the three of you work on it together?"
They agreed.
"Understood."
"I'll do it."
"Leave it to me."
"Then, I'm counting on you."
Esmeralda nodded. Zink and Bermuda agreed. Experimental, but putting children into the field was decided.
Administrative staffing was covered.
"My lord. The Garden Guards also want to recruit a few children. Is that permitted?"
If this was possible, of course the security department would want their own recruits. Genjirou had come with me. He was probably worried about kids the administration might take.
"Barze?"
"Yes. And a few others."
Barze, who studied hard and then trained at the Garden Guard station. In FBO, I didn't see him using a sword. But the Garden Guards taught swords, spears, bows. He'd become a samurai, not the Thousand-Hands Barze. Genjirou wanted him immediately. Even without levels, he was absorbing their training. He was considered quite capable. He was serious. His goal was to be my personal knight. Highly motivated.
"Okay. But coordinate with the administration. Only six recruits."
"Thank you!"
The Garden Guards were also short-handed. This was a drop in the bucket. But recruiting everyone and training them on the job would make the academy pointless. We needed results from proper education.
"Also, to Esmeralda and the others. Treat the children as trainees. Strict情報 management. Keep educational records."
"Understood."
"Yes, sir!"
Maybe this was a good time to train future Garden Guards. The only department not short-handed was the craftsmen. They might be short-handed in the future. Can't be complacent.
"..."
The Entertainers were the most short-handed. The street kids Petra taught liked me. But I hesitated to put them directly into情報 gathering.
Reinforcing administration and the Garden Guards without helping the department that needed people most was a problem.
"I'll have to do something."
"What are you planning?"
"Personnel for the Entertainers. I have an idea."
情報 requires trust. We were lucky to get Judeus, Shalia, and the others.
"I'm going outside town for a bit. Alone. Handle things while I'm gone."
"Wait! Who knows what chaos will follow if you're not being watched!"
They were exhausted. Overworked. Leveling up doesn't eliminate fatigue. They were energetic during the mixer with the shrine maidens. Afterwards, they were down. No one had started dating. As their employer, I needed to give them private time.
"It's fine. I'm just going to talk to an organization in the underworld. They value loyalty."
"How is that reassuring!?"
"Loyalty? Lord Liberta, are you going to Hagets?"
"Oh, you know them?"
"I've heard rumors. Duke Marchias couldn't work with them. Incompatible personalities. But I've looked into their work, their reputation, their structure."
I'd tried to leave. Casually mentioning something important. Esmeralda grabbed my arm. She wasn't letting go.
For情報, you need underworld contacts. That's dangerous.
"Lady Esmeralda. If it's the organization I think it is, Lord Liberta should go alone. Bringing attendants will make them distrustful. Worst case, they'll refuse to meet. Vanish into the shadows."
"...Liberta, is that true?"
"Yes. Especially nobles like Ingrid and Esmeralda. Their leader is unusual. You can't send a messenger to make an appointment. Their rule is: the leader comes alone."
Walking into the underworld alone. Normally, not acceptable. But sometimes, you have to.
"That's why I gave up on contacting them. Duke Marchias didn't trust anyone. They sensed that. They never approached."
Bermuda's words decided it. My next destination was set.