Chapter 48

Please avoid reading this if you are eating.

There was a time when I dreamed that once we gained autonomy, we could do as we pleased... But in reality, once we obtained autonomy, the interactions with the nobility became quite troublesome.

"Master George, another invitation to a party has arrived. This time, it's an invitation to a dance party from Baron Modest."

It seems that the news of the king granting us autonomy spread quickly throughout Orizon, and the castle has been receiving daily invitations to dance parties and tea parties from nobles and merchants.

"Baron Modest... I believe he is part of Duke Gold's faction... I'm busy with preparations, so please send a letter declining the invitation."

Duke Gold is a noble who is in opposition to my grandfather and is a proponent of the ape supremacist slave movement. I think Baron Modest wants to win Duke Gold's favor by trying to recruit me.

"Is that wise? You might end up on Duke Gold's bad side."

Even though I have been granted autonomy, I don't have a noble title. My position in society is quite low.

"It's true that I don't have much time. Besides, for a dance party, you need a partner, don't you?"

I'm so busy that I barely have time to sleep. Most importantly, I can't dance well. Even if I invited Marina, I would embarrass myself and worsen our relationship.

"I thought more people would apply. Should we reconsider the working conditions?"

According to Mr. Volf, the number of new applicants is not good. Orizon has a low literacy rate, so anyone who can read and write can find a job easily.

"If we do that, the current staff will be dissatisfied. I was happy when I heard the number of applicants, but most of them were difficult to judge for hiring."

The majority of the applicants were spies from other territories. The Assassin Guild helped us screen them out. The most common applicants were related to the Nitek family.

"It's not good to poach civil servants from other territories."

After the spies, the next most common applicants were current civil servants. Orizon, like Alan, has many lords who value knights and other military officials more than civil servants, so we received a certain number of applications. However, poaching a large number of current civil servants who might know confidential information about the administration could be problematic. If we anger other territories and lose our trading partners, it would be a disaster.

"There's no point in rushing. We've received the results of the second round of recruitment from the Guilliam Trading Company. Besides, there are other issues that need to be addressed."

Hiring incompetent people and creating a bad work environment would be the worst outcome. I don't intend to create a cozy workplace, but a tense atmosphere would be unbearable.

"The goblin problem, the reorganization of the military, and increased interactions with the nobility need to be addressed."

Reorganizing the military. In the past, we could participate in the Acco Knight Order, but now we need to handle everything from supply to operations within our territory. The knight order is less active now, but if a demon king appears, they will be very busy. It would be disastrous if they couldn't mobilize when needed.

"But if we strengthen the military too much, it will raise suspicions. There's no concrete evidence that a demon king will appear, so without a justifiable reason to increase taxes, the people might become dissatisfied."

I understand Mr. Sanda's concerns. There are no monsters in Baur, which is an advantage, but the current small knight order is sufficient.

"The key is to prevent the knight order from becoming redundant. We need to build facilities to entertain women and establish schools in Baur."

As the population grows, waste management and sewage disposal will become issues. We'll also need hospitals and will have to host parties at Baur Castle. It would be convenient if a buried genius applied for a job.

---

After school, I went to the Guilliam Trading Company to pick up the resumes from the second round of recruitment.

"Master George, here are the resumes. We've already investigated their backgrounds, so you can rest assured... but that's why there are fewer of them."

Verde handed me a stack of about a dozen resumes. Upon checking them, I found that they were all highly desirable candidates.

(I can't reject them at the document screening stage for the sake of the Guilliam Trading Company... I'll have to interview them and assess their character.)

"Thank you. When we recruit, the applicants tend to be biased towards ape people. But through the Guilliam Trading Company, we get a diverse range of candidates... Celio Lapin? Could this be Peter's father? However, his background is concerning."

The race is rabbit person, and the family section lists Connie Lapin. So, this is Peter's father with rabbit ears. I don't really want to imagine that.

"Indeed, Celio worked in Duke Gold's territory, but it was in a small village's office. It's been over ten years, and he's been doing day labor with no connection to Duke Gold... If you ask if there's no personal interest, I'd be lying."

Verde blushed and fidgeted. She seems to have grown as a merchant, but she's still a naive raccoon when it comes to love.

"The issue is why a family man like Celio would give up a stable position in a village office to do day labor. I think it must have been a significant struggle for a beast person to work in a village office in Duke Gold's territory."

"The knight who governed the village where the Lapin family and Peter were born treated beast people without discrimination. However, he was fired for offending Duke Gold. Many of the beast people living in the village were enslaved... The Lapin family barely escaped to the capital, but Peter's sister was captured and enslaved."

The Lapin family and Peter's family had been hiding their origin in Duke Gold's territory, but it seems they were recently discovered.

"Peter's serious sense of justice might be due to that... But is it okay? If you recommend his father, Peter might feel inferior."

If Verde and Peter were to get together, this could cause tension. I'm worried if this naive raccoon could handle it.

"Don't underestimate me. As a Guilliam merchant, I only sell what I'm confident in. The same goes for people. I'm recommending Celio Lapin because I believe he is needed in Baur."

"Understood. Now, let's talk business. I'm starting a new venture soon, and I want the Guilliam Trading Company to be involved. I also need you to assess the potential of new products. Are you coming with us to buy supplies this Sunday?"

"Yes, I'd be happy to!"

Verde nodded with a smile at my proposal. I hope her smile lasts even when she sees the products.

---

The participants this time are me, Donga, Verde, and Hewbo. By the way, Mr. Volf refused to join.

"Alright, everyone's here. We're going to ride this from now on."

"This is a new golem vehicle, isn't it? But what's the box at the back? It's made of iron and looks very sturdy."

"It needs to be sturdy... for various reasons."

"This hose is made of Emperor Elephant hide, isn't it? It's a valuable item that doesn't get damaged even by iron."

As always, Verde's discernment is reliable. By the way, I got the Emperor Elephant hide by asking my grandfather. But considering the cost, I want to get rubber soon.

"Master George, you said to come in clothes that can get dirty, but where are we going?"

"We'll definitely get dirty, and we'll definitely be scolded by Baham."

"We're going to Task Mountain. I've already talked to the dragon."

I talked to him, but he was taken aback.

"Lord, it's been a while. But are you really going to take that?"

The Ruby Dragon, Akadama, greeted us. Akadama's scales were even redder than before.

"Yes, please let us have it. I'll even pay with magic stones if necessary."

"No, if I sold it, I'd be scolded by the clan leader. But if you take it, it would be a relief... This way."

Akadama led us to a large hole. A strong stench was emanating from inside.

"Master George, where are we?"

Donga asked, pinching his nose. By the way, all three of us were tearing up.

"It's a toilet. A dragon's toilet."

"Lord, what will you use our droppings for?"

"Recently, goblins have been sighted in Baur. Mixing dragon droppings into the soil is a low-cost way to deter goblins compared to sending knights."

Goblins have a keen sense of smell. They won't come near if they smell dragons.

"Are you going to sell it as a product?"

Even Verde seems confused.

"Let's dry it first. It's dragon droppings, not chicken droppings."

Mixing it into the fields should repel beasts and enrich the soil.

"What's the new golem vehicle for?"

It's a natural question for Hewbo. It's something that doesn't exist in Orizon.

"As the population grows, waste management will become an issue. This vehicle will collect and process it."

It's a Baur Corporation special vacuum golem vehicle. As a lord, I can't avoid this problem, even if it means dealing with odors.

Thanks to everyone, we've reached the second place in the daily rankings and surpassed the threshold.