Kuro Allegan bowed his head with a bitter expression.
“That my brother did such a thing—I’m ashamed. If I may make a poor excuse, I was not in Delriat.”
“You had no idea at all?”
“I recently noticed strange signs and sent a letter to Your Excellency.”
“It must have crossed paths in the middle.”
“Seeing you here now, that seems to be the case.”
Honestly, trusting people had become difficult.
What good was judging someone not evil through the person information window?
They could change anytime later.
I immediately checked Kuro Allegan’s status.
‘Regret over his brother’s choice, resentment?’
He definitely seemed uninvolved in the embezzlement.
After all, the Kuro caravan had faithfully paid taxes to the governor-general’s office.
They couldn’t do anything with funds already out of their hands.
If involved, different details would appear in his status.
“Understood.”
“You believe me?”
“How could I not trust Chief Caravan Leader Allegan? I only asked out of caution.”
“I understand. You had no choice. The embezzler and I are brothers, after all.”
Kuro furrowed his brow.
It must burn inside terribly.
His brother had smeared the family honor.
“Anyway, there’s much to do now. Chief Leader, perhaps restrain your travels and help me a bit?”
“The trade routes are mostly opened now, so junior leaders will handle it fine. I’ll assist with everything—my brother’s share too.”
“I’m grateful for those words. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
I invited Kuro Allegan to the governor’s residence.
There was much to discuss.
But calling the chief caravan leader in such critical times—for what?
‘It’s time his skill is needed.’
Kuro Allegan.
Holder of the skill “Employee Exploitation.”
I planned to seat this terrifying human as administrator.
The administrative vacuum in the governor-general’s office was temporarily filled with Kuro caravan employees.
All skilled in accounting, they handled money-related tasks effortlessly.
The most critical now was injecting public funds—truly the best choice.
‘Ah, I want to snatch them all.’
Talents Kuro Allegan had poured his heart into raising.
I’d let those who wanted stay, but no intention to force them.
Too coercive, and they’d only think of fleeing.
Best to coax gently with good treatment.
‘Those who want will come on their own.’
The perception of officials in Delriat wasn’t great.
Like Joseon-era ajeon (clerks).
No salary, so exploiting commoners was basic.
When public funds rarely entered the office, they’d skim “blind money.”
But now it was completely different.
‘Treatment better than most jobs.’
Plus, uniforms and badges for pride and identity proof.
Crude in my eyes, but some employees fell for the perks.
Sense of belonging greatly impacts human identity.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
Peeking into offices, I greeted the employees.
They startled and shot up from seats.
“Heok! Your Excellency the Governor, what brings you here?”
“Just checking the work environment. A bit overburdened lately?”
“Not at all. Everyone’s working cheerfully even if busy.”
Paying 1.5 times caravan salary—of course they should.
The words rose to my chin, but I held back with superhuman effort.
Fact bombs only for friends or hostile relations.
I handed over a basket of cookies and drinks.
“Have these while working. Thank you for your efforts.”
“Aigoo! No need for such things…”
One employee waved hands vigorously.
But his hands quickly shifted position.
The skill in reluctantly accepting felt oddly seasoned.
‘This one needs watching?’
I closely noted the name on the badge.
Giving uniforms and badges made this convenient.
No need for introductions to pull person info.
‘Sawyer Gibson’
As suspected, not dangerous.
No signs of bribes—just socially adept.
With high salary, no need for such risks.
“Then keep up the good work.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Excellency the Governor.”
After touring offices, I moved to the auditorium.
Named that, but different from usual buildings.
Just a wide warehouse remodeled.
But in Delriat, this level was decent.
So backward a region.
The auditorium teemed with people.
Yet not too noisy.
A few employees maintained order.
“Your Excellency the Governor! You’ve arrived?”
“Yes, how many gathered?”
“Feels like everyone literate is here. Line stretches to the back of the building.”
“A bit tough, but not bad. Means high popularity.”
“Of course. Everyone respects Your Excellency so much.”
The employee praised endlessly, crediting my reputation.
Not flattery for favor, but it had some effect.
But not the whole story.
Treatment was good to begin with. My virtue just added slight favor.
Probably the most accurate analysis.
I slowly waved to stop the lip service.
“Interviews start. Send them in one by one.”
“Yes!”
Soon, my specialty began: filtering by name alone.
Any slight evil tendency—total rejection.
Hired mainly those with high work zeal.
But interviews, meant to end in ten seconds, grew longer.
For a somewhat bewildering reason.
“I-It’s an honor to meet you, Your Excellency the Governor!”
“Yes, nice to meet you. Your name?”
“Leslie Bandro.”
“What work did you do?”
“Accounting in a caravan.”
“Until when?”
“Until yesterday.”
What on earth was this?
Job changes happen after confirmation.
This reckless.
Anyway, I’d already decided.
‘Decent enough.’
Four years caravan experience, awe toward me, full work zeal.
How could I not hire?
About to end the interview, Leslie timidly raised a hand.
“Your Excellency the Governor.”
“Yes, speak.”
“Um… could you give me one autograph?”
“Huh?”
At the sudden words, I just blinked.
A vassal state’s low noble asking an imperial top royal this?
Etiquette breach aside.
I didn’t care for formalities anyway.
But realistically possible?
‘We’re the ones who wrecked Delriat, after all.’
Feelings toward the governor-general’s office couldn’t be wholly good.
Imperial appointees had repeatedly committed corruption.
“Keup! I’ve been rude. Sorry, Your Excellency the Governor.”
My silence led Leslie Bandro to bow deeply.
Embarrassed and apologetic.
Watching, I nodded belatedly.
“Sure. Where should I sign?”
“Um… here.”
“Yes?”
Leslie immediately held out his coat.
The thin cloth Delriat people always wore.
Sign there?
Not even an athlete—what was this?
Still, I dipped the quill in ink.
Not hard.
No need to refuse.
Swik! Sswik!
Fortunately, the coat absorbed ink well.
Not fancy—just my name in cursive.
Yet Leslie Bandro rejoiced as if about to cry.
“Keuuu! Thank you, Your Excellency!”
“Ah, yes. You’ll hear if accepted. Then.”
“Even if rejected, it’s fine. Today is the best day of my life.”
Leslie bounced out of the interview room.
I let out a small hollow laugh, stroking my chin.
Bewildering, but honestly not bad feeling.
‘So this is having a fervent fan.’
I’d heard cheers often.
But autograph request—first time.
People usually found my high status intimidating.
But meeting the next interviewee, deep regret hit.
“Your Excellency the Governor.”
“Yes?”
“C-Could I also get one autograph?”
“No need to bow that low, right?”
“Please grant me the same honor as Mr. Bandro!”
“This is…”
I looked troubled but signed anyway.
But the next one made the same request.
Every interviewee lined up, proffering all sorts of items.
Like Leslie Bandro, asking for autographs.
After hundreds of repetitions, a bad thought flashed.
‘Ah, maybe not hire that guy?’
Though the territory had collapsed, Delriat still had countless talents.
Just unseen until now.
I aimed to find raw gems in the mud and polish them clean.
For that, essential was…
‘A school.’
Not to raise overall education.
Just to mentally arm new officials.
How had steadfast Hozein Allegan changed?
No guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
‘Prevent in advance.’
I knew.
Even with checks, procedures, systems—holes always pierced.
Humans operated it all.
Naturally prone to mannerism or poor judgment.
But now, no minimal barrier against absurdity and injustice.
Environment where the powerful rampaged freely.
‘What if the one wielding the knife isn’t me?’
Imperial judges somewhat followed my precedents.
Chief justice authority lived.
But here, legal wasteland.
Rebuilding from scratch—I’d equip everything properly.
“Of course, the intent is good, but it’s insanely tedious.”
Revising law codes, building systems—how could it be easy?
No one even to consult.
Relying solely on memory—taste of death.
‘Wish writing work decreased at least… Huh?’
Grumbling inwardly while holding the quill, a good idea struck.
The law code I’m making—officials must memorize it anyway.
No need to struggle alone.
I headed straight to the governor-general’s office.
“Arms might fall off. Slaves to writing. No, new officials.”
Of course, not making them work for free.
Daily bonus to keep reputation.
Smirking sinisterly while moving, a voice suddenly came from beside.
“At times like this, you really seem like a demon.”
It was escort Cordell McNeil, following like a shadow.
What nonsense.
This is all for Delriat’s sake.