Chapter 170

Chapter 170 Just ten or so days ago, the MacLaine estate posted an announcement seeking management personnel throughout all its castles. Yet before even a month— the prescribed hiring period— had elapsed, the MacLaine Town’s government office was swarming with applicants. “Now, now. Please form a line, a line!” “My god, everyone who wants to become a manager, please maintain some order... Ah, come on!” “Hey there! If you keep cutting the line, it’ll be a mark against you during the interview!” Despite the advertisement specifying a recruitment of thirty individuals, the count of applicants on that day alone had surpassed three hundred. As around a dozen soldiers sweated bullets trying to control the crowd. All of which had to be interviewed and vetted by Dwayne, Lupen and Ferran, whose faces already looked considerably wearied. A real-time scene of the MacLaine manor’s chubby trio forced into a diet. Eventually, Ferran, his cheeks already half their former size, tossed the documents he was carrying. “Oh, why is there so much! We can’t even get to our own work!” “Quiet, Ferran. It’s not just you who’s having a tough time!” “But still—” “All of you, shut it.” With dark circles under his eyes that reached his jawline, Dwayne suppressed the commotion among his subordinates with an ominous voice. His hair and beard, untouched for days, were so wild that one wouldn’t know where to begin sorting them out, adding an even more frightening aura to his presence. Lupen shrank his neck and went back to scanning the resumes. “Damn it. They’re all nobles.” A good number of the applicants were riffraff, sure, but there were also plenty with decent experience. The issue was that most of these seemingly qualified individuals turned out to be aristocrats bearing titles. It did not matter if they were untitled nobles or petty barons without succession rights; as a commoner himself, it would only mean more people for him to serve if they were to be admitted as managers. ‘How on Earth did the people from the Kallia estate know to come before we even made our announcements? This is maddening.’ For some reason, lower managers from a fallen grand estate had flocked en masse. Already fraught with internal conflict, the stress from this discord—and not just from the fatigue of continuous interviews—was almost unbearable. Dwayne may have been inscrutable, but at least Ferran shared a similar expression. Though they heaved sighs, not much else would change. After all, the final decision was not theirs to make. “Send all the managers coming from a grand estate background on to the second round of interviews. The lord will judge them as necessary.” “Dwayne, sir, does that mean we’ll end up having to serve these managers...?” “Enough. Isn’t the estate’s business more important than ours?” “Dwayne— no, brother! Then what about us...?!” “Keep it down. Everyone can hear us outside. And well, the lord will surely take good care of us.” Dwayne’s voice remained calm as he chided them, but Lupen still looked dissatisfied. “No, but still—” “After the war ends and the rewards are paid, we’ll have enough to live on for a lifetime, Lupen. Let’s not be too greedy.” “Ha... Ah, my lord, you truly are a loyal subject. I am just narrow-minded.” “I, too, am pained, you fool.” “Enough, it’s just me. I’m the bad one. Only me.” At Lupen’s grumbling, Ferran chimed in. “You lose weight when you’re stressed. You might as well just sleep it off.” “Shut up, Ferran! You pig! What are you stuffing your face with now—” “Enough! Both of you stop!!” Lupen and Ferran continued to bicker but fell in line with Dwayne’s decision. The furry financial administrator, serving the MacLaine estate for nearly two decades, looked at the applicants waiting outside with a bitter expression. ‘Our estate must be doing that well. Yeah, let’s think positively.’ But somehow, that sight didn’t bring him as much joy as it should have. * * * “How are the preparations for the harvest season in Theseron Castle?” “I’ve laid them on your desk, Administrator.” “What about the Town barrier construction?” “The documents are on the right side of your desk.” “And next, umm...” “It was concerning the road construction from Theseron to Sylvan and Vipros. It’s still being organized. I’ll have it ready for you by tomorrow morning.” “Take your time with it, Fabian... sir.” “It’s nothing, Dwayne sir. I must show the abilities that the lord has chosen me for.” Dwayne, unlike the thin and young Administrator Fabian, could only nod in response to his words. It wasn’t wrong at all. The documents were impeccably organized, the work was done quickly, and there was nothing to fault in their content. ‘Was he from Douglas?’ Dwayne finally realized the announcements initially intended for the internal MacLaine estate had somehow spread unknown to the top brass, to the capital, and across the kingdom. Thanks to that, the MacLaine estate had easily obtained the much-needed managerial manpower, yet Dwayne could not rejoice at the situation. The biggest reason was that among the applicants, the two who received the highest evaluations—Fabian and the middle-aged gentleman, Lockman—turned out to be petty barons. He felt a sudden disorientation in his common sense. And the Grand Duke before him was taking things even further. “Come to think of it, both my father and I have been rather thoughtless. War isn’t fought by knights and soldiers alone. We failed to honor the civilian officials who firmly stood behind us with titles. It’s a serious oversight.” It sounded like he could confer a barony right away, and Dwayne barely regained his composure. “Your Highness? As far as I know, all the titles bestowed by His Majesty have already been granted out.” “Ah, it’s fine. If I ask Him, I’m sure one barony would be enough. Surely His Majesty wouldn’t reject my request, right?” “Your Highness? Misusing power like that could...” “It’s alright, it’s alright. I’ll take some flak for it. Better I’m criticized than neglecting to take care of loyal subjects.” “You might not just get criticism. If you manage to alienate yourself from His Majesty because of this...” “This much is fine. If necessary, I’ll lie prostrate and beg Him.” Unable to argue further against such resolve, Dwayne ultimately conceded. Moreover, ‘To go so far for me...’ Watching Logan rush towards the communications room brought an overwhelming surge of emotions that nearly pushed Dwayne to tears. * * * Meanwhile, in the capital city of Grand, the noble houses buzzed with a hot topic. Count Kairon Wolves of the Wolves family had resurfaced. One of the border counts who disappeared after the MacLaine battle. With all other border counts executed, and their families either executed or wanted, the sudden appearance of Kairon Wolves in Grand was notable. “I shall offer all the hidden wealth of the Wolves’ house. I beg for forgiveness for past wrongs. Please, just spare my life.” Appearing out of nowhere, Kairon Wolves prostrated himself on the palace courtyard. Soldiers awaited the king’s command as they watched over him, but after more than three days, the palace offered no directive. And so, left to linger in the palace courtyard without even a sip of water, Kairon Wolves was left to dry up. In consideration of being a mid-tier Force user, this was harsh treatment. The king wishes for Kairon Wolves to dry up and die. Without executing the wanted traitor and leaving him in the palace courtyard indefinitely, rumors soon were regarded as truth, and the Sword Duke, after catching wind of it, made his way to the palace. It wasn’t good for this new kingdom to have disturbing rumors circulate for long. ‘Kairon. Cleverly played.’ Before stepping into the palace, the Sword Duke reflected on the visage of withered Kairon Wolves he caught a glimpse of. The war had ended, things were winding down, but not everything was stable yet. The royal household, in dire need of both power and money at such a time, is presented with an offer from a house that had never fallen from the top three trade organizations for nearly three centuries—they’d surrender their hidden wealth in exchange for sparing a life? The royal household saw a deal with no downsides. The suspicious angle, however, couldn’t be helped. ‘If that wealth truly exists, he could’ve simply sought asylum in another country to live...’ Of course, he’d have to worry about assassins from his home country for the rest of his life. Choosing a modest freedom over a wealthy life of fear, or perhaps... ‘He’s got some other trick up his sleeve. That’s why His Majesty left him there.’ Whatever it was, the Sword Duke’s only task was to convey his thoughts. He’d inquire about the reason His Majesty left him out there for three days. “Sword Duke, Felix Esperanza greets Your Majesty.” – Come in. Creeeak. Accompanying the familiar voice, the door opened to reveal the king’s face. The large royal office capable of holding a full assembly with all department heads. Sitting in the spacious chamber, where only ministers from each department could enter, the king was holding court. Watching with satisfaction, the Sword Duke’s content expression stiffened as he noticed a small bottle by the king’s side. ‘Alcohol?’ The king’s face flushed, presumably from the alcohol. An unexpected sight like no other, in broad daylight within the royal palace. The Duke’s eyebrows twitched. “Ah, Sword Duke. Please, come in.” “...Yes, Your Majesty. But why drink at this hour?” “Our stiff king has come to nag, I see. Ha ha. Do not be too stern. This is a kind of consolation wine.” “Consolation wine...?” “Let’s call it a ceremonial drink in memory of my dead brothers as well as my past, which felt endlessly suffocating and restrictive.” “...” “My entire life swallowed in the shadows of my brothers, struggling... I’ve only just gained freedom, so why not enjoy a little?” “Your Majesty...” “Don’t look at me like that. It won’t go on for long. So, Sword Duke, what brings you here before me?” “Well, that’s...” Just as the Sword Duke started on his intended topic... – Your Majesty, the items you requested have been brought. A booming voice interrupted him from outside the hall.