Chapter 120


    When I entered the office, Frenssen, who was working on documents, stood up and bowed to me. Considering our rtionship, I didnt think I needed to say empty courtesy words to Frenssen, so I asked him directly, So, what did you find?


    As expected, this region is having a hard time dealing with the refugees.


    Right.


    I sat down in the office chair and let out a sigh. If this was a suspense or mystery movie, this was probably the scene where our conversation would be wiretapped, but that sort of magic didnt exist in this world. Even if it did exist, who the heck would use it to wiretap the conversation of a suburb towns governor? The fact that I had begun to think about this kind of random thing might be a sign of me being stressed out.


    Ah, for Gods sake, why the heck did I get assigned to this kind of ce? I finally could somehow understand why Father told me to be prepared at that time. Ah I wanted a cup of delicious tea. If only Lily was here


    Lily had actually said that she wanted to apany me here, but I refused. I mean, I couldnt exactly take Lily who was the kingdoms <i>hostage</i> to keep Mazell in check with me. Of course, I didnt say this to her.


    I used her safety as an excuse to persuade her to stay in the capital. Well, this excuse was true, though. There was a risk that the capital might get attacked by demons just like in the game, but unlike the game, the Knights in the current capital were still alive, so at least for now, the capital was still a very safe ce.


    On the other hand, Anheim was a pretty dangerous ce. You couldnt call the military force here an elite. The terrain here wasnt easy to defend, the public order was still chaotic, and there would be a battle against Gezarius soon.


    Lily epted my exnation, though begrudgingly. She showed me a face like a puppy who was hurt, so I felt like a viin.


    Is there an archive here?


    Yes, but most of the documents in the archive are documents rted to this regions administration, the trial records, that sort of thing.


    I see.


    As expected, since Anheim wasnt the ce where the Knap estate was located, there were no Knap houses private documents being kept there. The information I could get in this countryside region was limited, so I needed to return to the capital as soon as possible. There was one more thing that I needed to do for me to be <b><i>forced</i></b> to return to the capital With that thought in my head, Sir Behnke, who held the position of my current chief aide, opened his mouth.


    Was it fine to do that kind of thing in the meeting?


    Its fine. I want you to check how the bandits are allocated, like who got the mostborers, and who got the troublemakers.


    Understood.


    I wanted to know the power dynamics of the guilds here. I knew I wouldnt be able to know all of this ces power bnce just by investigating theborers allocation, but at least I might get a rough understanding. I also needed to find out the power dynamics between the town and the surrounding viges in the Anheim region.


    Two main types of viges were built near a town. One was the vige that was built without the help of the town. This kind of vige used to be autonomous, but became affiliated with the town because they asked for the towns protection against demons.


    The vige chief of this kind of vige was usually quite influential and was often a member of the Pledgers Council.


    The second type of vige was the vige built by former residents of the town. Usually, a familys second or third child who somehow lost their job in the town, so they went to cultivate thend outside of the town. The cost of development for this kind of vige was paid by the town, so this type of vige was essentially the towns subordinated vige.


    However, the actual rtionship between the town and the viges was often moreplicated. After all, a vige meant the existence of able vigers who, if united, might be capable of raising a rebellion against the town. For me to know the exact power dynamics between the viges and Anheim town, I might need to survey the viges directly.


    I dont mind if the regions governance goes through the Pledgers Council first. After all, our current priority is to stabilize the public order in the entire Anheim region. Have the officials we brought from the capital identify the problems of this region that existed since it was still part of a Marquisate.


    Understood. Is it okay to not make any major changes to the towns governance?


    Its fine. Im His Majestys governor, so although I could improve the state of the territory to a certain extent, I couldnt make any major changes on my own.


    I see.


    Sir Behnke nodded. Did he just casually probe about my intention toward Anheim?


    In the first ce, my primary aim was to get out of here and return to the capital as soon as I took care of Gezarius. I didnt have any time to make major reforms in Anheim. Well, I would use this chance to test my idea, so I could implement it in the county if it was sessful.


    Welner-sama. Sir Holzdeppe, Sir Kesten, and Sir Gekke are here to see you.


    Let them in.


    With Frenssens reply, the people outside entered the office. With this, all of my current staff had finally gathered.


    Well, although I called them <b><i>my staff</i></b>, my real rtionship with each of them was different. With Gekke-san, although he seemed to evaluate me highly, our rtionship was still a money-based rtionship, so I couldnt ask him to do anything unreasonable. I mean, I already felt grateful because he epted my half-year contract.


    Gekke-san brought a total of 60 mercenaries here. There were ountants, healers, and even cooks, among the 60 mercenaries. In addition to that, Gekke-san and other mercenaries were also strong, so I was d that I couldpletely use the mercenary team as abat force without needing to spend additional human resources and money. Since Gekke-san was now my employee, I called him Sir in public.


    As for the cost of hiring Gekke-sans mercenary team, I charged all of them to the kingdom. I might be called brazen, but I didnt care since, for the current me, additional infamy was actually helpful. Although I got a re from Father, after I had exined my reason, he reluctantly agreed.


    As for Sir Holzdeppe, he was the representative of the military personnel that the kingdom had lent to me. In this world, people like him were called <b><i>appointment chiefs</i></b>. Normally, when a well-established noble was appointed as a governor, he would bring his own military force, but in my case, I was just a young noble heir, so I didnt have my own military force to apany me.


    However, it would stain the kingdoms honor if they let me go to Anheim with no military force, so for appearances sake, the kingdom lent me some people. In addition, since the people of this world were muscle-brained, I could be sure that the military personnel that the kingdom gave me were skilled to a certain extent.


    Of course, I was sure that Sir Holzdeppe knew about the demon general, but the knights and the soldiers under him might not know, so I have to build trust with them as much as possible.


    Then, there was also Sir Kesten, who was the military instructor that Grand Duke Seyfart sent to me. Sir Kesten was probably older than Father. He looked old enough to have retired, but his physique still looked good. Hisbat ability was definitely on the level of active military personnel. I would probably lose if I fought with him. He also seemed to be a person who I could trust to lead the troop I was nning to make. I think the Grand Duke had chosen him with that in mind.


    Most likely because the Grand Duke had already told Sir Kesen something about me, he was quite friendly with me from our first meeting. The Grand Duke lent me 5 other instructors excluding Sir Kesten, but he was the best among them all.


    Then, there was Sir Behnke, the representative of the officials I had been given and effectively my vice governor. I didnt know who he was, actually. Father was the one who sent him to me. Sir Behnke was a middle-aged man with a fine beard. He seemed to be younger than Father, but I was sure he was at least in his mid-forties.


    I epted him because Grand Duke Seyfart also seemed to be satisfied with him. I tried to investigate a little where he was assigned before he came to my side, but I couldnt find anything. Well, since both Father and the Grand Duke seemed to approve of him, I was sure that he at least wouldnt drag me down.


    There was a chance that he was someone who was sent to me to monitor me, but I wasnt worried about that since I had nothing to hide. Rather, I hoped Sir Behnke was prepared since I would wring him dry.


    Lastly, just like usual, Neurath, Schunzel, and Frenssen also apanied me as my direct subordinates. I felt they had drawn the short end of the stick by having me as their superior, especially considering what I nned to do in the future.


    Good work everyone. First, for a time being, I want Sir Gekke and his team to check the surrounding terrain. If Sir finds any demons, dont hesitate to hunt them down since I will also buy the demon materials.


    I understand. I will make sure to divide this job with the adventurers.


    Thank you. Then I want Sir Behnke to assist me in political affairs. After all, I cant take care of both the town and the entire territorys administration on my own.


    Is it fine for you, sir, to be frank like that?


    Well, sugarcoating my words wont bring any benefit.


    From the very beginning, I was nning to dump all jobs that didnt have to be done by me to others. My top priority now was to think of a n to deal with the demon generals army, not to govern the territory.


    Sir Holzdeppe, you go to the town and create an amicable rtionship with the guards and the towns citizens, so the towns public order will be maintained. Remember that if you act arrogantly because youre my, the governor, direct subordinate, Ill punish you.


    Yes, sir.


    Sir Kesten, I want to make a support troop in the future, so go to the town and bring me some useful people for this support troop among the citizens and the refugees.


    I understand. But, may I also bring people who have already worked for the town?


    Sure, I dont mind. Our current priority is to gain more soldiers. After all, weve destroyed 3 bandits bases, so we must strengthen our military to prepare for their retaliation.


    I needed more soldiers with a certain level of training, even if they were from the slums or the refugee camps, so that I could fight Gezarius. I couldnt just announce we would be facing the demon general in the future! so I used the bandits future retaliation as an excuse.


    After all, human rights protection didnt exist here. Many people and organizations here would treat refugees as a convenientbor force. Since I was the governor, not some kind of ve dealer, no one should be able toin even if I drag them into the military.


    I was sure that the people who would be brought to the military forcefully would send me someints, but hearing theirints was better than being killed by Gezarius because the soldiers I had werecking.


    After that, I gave several other orders. Once I was finished, Frenssen said, Incidentally, Welner-sama, the influential people of this town have offered to host a banquet to celebrate our arrival.


    How <i>generous</i> of them.


    Here it came.