Episode 165 – My lord, you are eating.
With the knight’s voice, the door to the main hall opened and a father and son with red hair and red eyes walked in side by side.
“Huh? Archduke? The lord didn’t say that he would personally punish anyone who comes to see the archduke for not doing work for a week… Yes. I’m sorry.”
Henderson, who had been speaking loudly without notice, shut his mouth when Padrick glared at him.
The two father and son sat side by side at the head table while the vassals gathered one by one watched from all directions.
“We will begin the first regular meeting of the Marquess of McLane.”
As soon as Padric announced the start of the meeting, Logan came forward.
“I heard that as the war ended and the family ascended, there were many big and small changes. Let’s talk about the problems one by one and find solutions. Who wants to talk first?”
At those words, Dwayne raised his hand first.
“As I said before, we need to recruit administrative personnel before everything else. We need to hire more officials in the name of the family.”
“I heard that, but why are there so few officials? Didn’t the officials of Bipros just pass on? Except for the high-ranking officials.”
“…The lord told us to select people to accept. As we excluded all those who have committed even the slightest corruption or are related to the Bipros family, the absolute number of people has become too short.”
“Ah…”
Logan could only nod.
They say there is a shortage of people, excluding those involved in corruption and those related to the Bipros family. What more can they say there?
“Okay, I understand. Then, are there any problems for the others?”
When Logan looked away, surprisingly, Clayton took a step forward.
“I have figured out the research the Archduke requested. I need to pay for the research.”
“oh…!”
Logan’s eyes light up when he hears that it’s a commissioned study.
Clayton’s words did not end there.
“Also, it’s embarrassing to say this, but as I became famous, more wandering wizards came to the Magic Tower and more people applied to become wizards. But this is becoming a bit of a problem.”
“…Isn’t that a good thing?”
It is said that wizards are flocking to Clayton, who has reached the level of a wizard and earned the nickname Golem Master.
Isn’t this an opportunity to bring in new disciples to the Magic Tower? what is the problem?
“Well… there are very few people who are talented in magic, but many of those who come here are half-babys, and most of the wandering wizards are those who caused trouble and were kicked out of the magic tower or school they previously belonged to. We need to filter out these people and select those who are truly talented. I need help.”
“Hmm. What specific support do you want?”
“I’m embarrassed to tell you, but…”
“Clayton is the treasure of our territory. Anything…”
“I think all you need is money.”
“Ah…”
…You really deserve to be embarrassed.
Clayton added hurriedly, wondering how he interpreted Logan’s gaze.
“That means we need to create an artifact or a magic circle that can identify and measure the Magic Tower’s guard magic and the talents of children, and…” He
must have felt the eyes around him narrowing.
“Definitely! We need too many rare metal materials to conduct the experiments for the research that Logan entrusted us with.”
Clayton presented an agenda that could not be ignored.
The revival of the Golem Tower was directly connected to the power of McLane territory.
Although that alone was a task that could never be ignored.
‘Kraune’s research… this must be done.’
The result of a vision that increased the strength of the Imperial Knights by 20% in a previous life.
If I could, I had to make it.
Logan nodded with a small sigh.
“Hmm. First of all, I understand that problem. Does anyone have any other problems?”
Perhaps because he had been waiting for his turn, Hamar, who was present as the head of the workshop, immediately followed up with his remarks.
“There is a shortage of manpower in the workshops as well. We have ordered that repeating crossbows be sold throughout the country, but there is no manpower, so it is going to be difficult. To do it properly, we need three times the number of craftsmen we have now.”
“Three times as much?”
“Yes. That’s also based on our dwarves’ standards.”
“Okay. Really? A little less….”
“That’s the minimum too, master.”
Hamar’s request was ultimately a matter of money.
A sigh kept coming out of Logan’s mouth.
“Ha, I understand. Does anyone have any other problems?”
“Viscount Heinkel will tell you about matters related to the Knights.”
Padric emphasized certain words and subtly winked at Heinkel, who was seated below the podium.
“I don’t think it makes sense for me to get involved in the Knights’ issue right now.”
Increased wrinkles and gray hair.
Heinkel’s expression was calm as he stroked a prosthetic hand made of wood and metal in place of his missing right arm, but in the eyes of others, he only looked pitiful.
After the meritorious award at the royal palace, Heinkel and Clayton Ronian, who had made great contributions in battle, were given the status of Viscounts with the right of succession under the leadership of Padric.
In addition, Victor and Eilen, the top knights of groups 1 to 10, and instructor Kaisolon were all rewarded one level higher than those who received the rank of baron except for Ronian.
But even that compensation seemed insufficient to make up for the shock of the senior knight losing his arm and force.
Naturally, Padrick’s expression as he looked at him was bound to be complex.
“…Yes, I will say it myself. As the northern region of Calia was included in our territory, the majority of the existing Knights of Calia chose to remain there and become subordinate to our territory.”
“The majority?”
Logan asked back with an expression of surprise at the words that started with a small sigh.
“But I thought you would like it if there were more articles?”
“The number of our knights remaining after the war is 112. However, the number of Calia knights who chose to transfer is as many as 201.”
“Huh… Wicken Callia must have been upset.”
“No. Instead, they said he pushed me to go.”
“…yes?”
“Rather than stay in Calia and live under surveillance and live under restrictions, Count Wicken, the Marquis of Calia, told us to go to McLane and spread our wings, where we have become the new powerful man. Perhaps that is why Sir Jorge, the commander of the Knights of Calia, also came to us.”
“Huh? A top-class knight?!”
“Yes. That’s why it’s more of a problem.”
Logan was able to understand his father’s words right away.
Wicken Callia’s choice is surprising, but since their territory was officially subordinated to McLane by order of the king, the highest lord of the knights of this country, it is not that strange that the knights chose to transfer.
However, since a lot more knights than the existing number of knights, including the highest level knights, had transferred en masse, it would not be easy to deal with them even if they were expressing their will of submission.
And maybe.
“Now, it is difficult to decide whether or not to pass on the iron blood sword that has become our symbol. If we treat them equally, the existing knights who created the current territory will be disappointed, and if we differentiate them, it will cause problems later. It’s the same.”
“…Isn’t it your father’s motto that if you play well, you will become friends?”
“That too has its limits. Moreover, isn’t the situation a lot different now than before?”
The time when a series of territorial wars broke out and the country was divided into two sides was over.
Times of chaos and times of peace. It was natural that the way we treated knights had to change as well.
Logan sighed and looked around the crowd.
“Is there anything else on the agenda?”
After confirming that no one came forward again, Logan fixed his gaze on Dwayne.
“Now, let’s start by discussing the issue of selecting the officials that Administrator Dwayne mentioned. It’s not difficult to put out an announcement to recruit managers, but how many specifically do we need to select?”
“There are 20 castles, but the number of officials is less than that. Officials from old Bypros are making an effort in the area, but due to the war, they are unable to dispatch supervisors, so many other castles are run by a consensus system of village chiefs in the surrounding villages. “If this situation continues, the territory’s work itself will become paralyzed or collapse.”
The complexions of everyone listening stiffened as the situation was much more serious than expected.
“Is the situation that bad?”
“Right now, the castle officials, including myself, are working day and night without a day off, but the administrative work of the two towns and Sylvan Thethron McLane Castle is overwhelming.”
But that means we had fun drinking alcohol like that during the festival.
‘No matter how much the lord’s orders are…’
Logan swallowed the words that rose up to his throat.
There was no need to waste time bringing up the past in this serious situation.
“So how many more do you need?”
“We need 30 experienced managers who can be deployed immediately.”
“Thirty? Is that enough?”
“…for now. And actually….”
Dwayne, encouraged by Logan’s positive response, glanced at the crowd and cautiously added a word.
“Wouldn’t it be difficult to immediately send newly elected officials to the lords of each province? I think each province will be able to manage and supervise without problems if we at least send people who have built up a certain level of trust within them.”
At those words, the surroundings became quiet for a moment.
Everyone, whether administrators or knights, began to pay attention to the mouths of Logan and Padric.
It is truly a great honor to take charge of a castle and act on behalf of the lord.
As Dwayne said, we cannot make a fool of appointing a newly elected official as a powerful person in one province right away.
If you count the two towns as castles, McLane territory now has as many as 20 castles.
Excluding McLane Town, 19 honorable places began to twinkle in the minds of the vassals gathered here.
“Yes. Would it be okay to select some of the most popular vassals who have worked hard and send them to Seongju?”
“Yes. That would be great.”
And the same goes for Dwayne, who answers quickly.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t read that expression, so Logan chuckled without even realizing it.
“father?”
“Yes. All the candidates are here anyway, so since we’re talking about it, it would be better to decide here.”
At Padric’s words, the vassals’ eyes brightened in earnest.
“Then, Dwayne, please recommend a candidate first.”
At those words, the furry magistrate’s face turned red to the point where his eyes were visible.
“Are there any resources available…?”
“Oh, except of course, since you have to manage everything here.”
“Yes?! Why?!”
“I care so much about you, Dwayne, that I would send you somewhere else.”
“Uh huh… Damn.”
“So, please make a recommendation.”
As I was laughing at Dwayne’s obvious frustration, an odd answer came out from behind me.
“Even if you get a recommendation, I think you need at least one criterion.”
“Damian? Ho-oh, tell me.”
The former Independence Army intelligence chief, encouraged by the positive response, expressed his opinion with a slightly flushed face.
“I don’t know about the existing southwestern territories, but I think it would be better to send current senior knights to the castles in the Calia and Taren regions.”
“The knights?”
“Yes. Since ancient times, there has naturally been territoriality in land newly incorporated into a country or territory. This is especially true in cases where hostile regions have been annexed. A typical example may be soldiers’ neglect of duty.”
“Aha. So?”
“Yes. If the lord of the castle is a knight, even a knight of intermediate level or above, he will be able to at least overcome that point. Even if we send a separate supervisor to do the actual work.”
“… That’s a good idea. I’ll do that.”
“Thank you!”
Logan secretly clicked his tongue as he looked at his favorite Damian, clenching his fists. The
‘Evil Brain’ Damian Nadal, his favorite, just got one of his ideas for greetings adopted
. The feeling of disparity is too great. I need to give that friend something to show off his talents.’
New things to worry about arose, but right now the issue of territory came first.
“Now, let’s decide on the castle lord using the criteria Damian mentioned. Recommend whatever comes to mind!”
As soon as I finished speaking, hands came up from all over the place.
“I recommend Rugel Heiss!”
“I recommend Ferran Doyle…”
“Sir Reactor, an administrator from the old Vipros. …”
Castle lord. Owner of a castle.
Of course, he was just a kind of representative belonging to the domain, but as long as he was not in conflict with the owner, it was a position that no noble within the castle could ignore.
Moreover, the castle lord of this era did his job well. There was no need to step down from one’s position, and it was possible to continue to be the lord of the castle for generations.
It was literally a status no different from a semi-noble.
So, the competition among vassals to occupy that position was bound to be fierce.
“I recommend Chief Knight Sir DeGrom. “
I am Sir Enrique…”
‘The family has grown so big.’
Just three and a half years ago, McLane was just a shabby castle built as a fortress. To think
that such a family had grown so big.
Logan smiled, feeling proud once again, and then made eye contact with his father, who was smiling similarly. All
his heart.
Perhaps he feels sorry again for interrupting his rest.
‘It’s all thanks to you.’
My father gave a thumbs up along with that gesture.
It was a full four hours later that all 19 castle dispatched administrators and castle lords were decided.
