CHAPTER 72: DIVIDING THE TASK

After getting confirmation from Gideon as Baron and the one in power in this territory, Nath and his two friends took their leave.

They would return the following week to remind Gideon of his promise, right after Gideon’s words proved true.

That was to send food supplies to Dergon Village so the people there could survive until Gideon and his team came to handle their problem.

Nath left the village on horseback with his companions. Lena had also finished her clinic work; those who had not yet been examined could come tomorrow.

Seeing Gideon standing outside the manor gate made Lena curious. Still wearing her white doctor’s robe, she stood beside him and looked in the same direction as he did.

"Is something wrong?" Lena asked.

"Yes."

"Someone from Dergon came to tell us about the condition of their village," Gideon replied.

"What happened?"

"Hunger and a disease outbreak caused by contaminated river water," Gideon explained.

Lena let out a sigh. This was already the second human village Gideon’s team had handled, and the problems were always the same: waste and pollution.

The woman could only shake her head in response, exhaling softly.

"Once again because of waste," Lena said.

"Are we going there too?" she asked, making sure.

"I don’t know. What do you think?" Gideon asked.

She fell silent, crossing her arms while still looking ahead, watching the people of Rockvalley whose lives were slowly starting to show signs of change for the better.

Lena had to admit, solving the problems of each village was exhausting and took much of her time and thoughts.

Even with just the clinic work, she was struggling to treat the villagers, most of whom suffered from diarrhea, flu, and low blood pressure.

Those were only the common illnesses, the ones whose causes and effects were easy to detect, not yet the genetic diseases affecting some of the villagers.

This time Lena needed much more help. The greater Gideon’s power as Baron became, the more people he would need to carry out the changes he wanted. He could not rely solely on his team forever.

There would come a time when Gideon’s team grew too weary with all the duties and responsibilities placed on them, including Gideon himself.

"If you ask me, I don’t know... I just feel overwhelmed," Lena answered.

Gideon turned to her. What she said was written all over her face. Using your brain nonstop was even more exhausting, and everyone knew that.

If it was tied to her work earlier, it really was tiring for Lena to have to examine all of them without pause.

For that reason, he and his team would need to come up with the best strategy so the work could be done without wearing them out.

"Get some rest, Lena. The four of us can talk about our tasks tonight," Gideon said.

"Sure. A short sleep would feel amazing."

Lena excused herself, entered the Baron’s residence, and went upstairs directly to her room. Gideon remained where he was, exhaling deeply.

He was aware of what he had done. Gideon, as their captain, had given them more work than they could reasonably handle.

Lena was the first to feel the impact of his decisions; he didn’t yet know how Luke and Lyra would react.

That night, he planned to gather them and restructure their strategy for solving village problems. That way he and his team could avoid exhaustion.

I have to talk to them.

The sun set, and the main roads of the town were lit with bright oil lamps. Houses glowed warmly, including the Baron’s manor.

Gideon sat in the center of the long dining table, with the maids having prepared their best dishes for his dinner.

Lena came out of her room after sleeping and cleaning up. Earlier that afternoon, Luke and Lyra had returned with their clothes covered in mud and dirt.

Viviene arrived in simple yet modest clothing, a shirt and long pants. Sheilla, Isabella, and Alanar also came to join the dinner.

Soon after, they all gathered on the right and left sides of the table, eating together while sharing many stories.

Lena spoke about her patients, Luke and Lyra talked about the well, and Viviene shared about village life before Gideon’s arrival.

Gideon? He told them about the three envoys who had come from Dergon Village.

Lena and Viviene already knew, Luke and Lyra did not. Both of them leaned forward, paying close attention to Gideon’s story.

"Then we need to head there immediately!" Luke said, fired up.

"We need to teach that bastard Hector a lesson for polluting the environment," he added.

Their captain responded by raising his hand. He understood Lena’s earlier complaints. Luke might be ready, but not Lyra and Lena. Going on a mission with an unfit team would only bring trouble later.

Gideon fell silent, drawing their full attention. With a slow breath, he told them they didn’t need to do that for the time being.

"Viviene," Gideon called.

The woman flinched, then looked at him with full attention. "Yes, Lord Gideon?"

"Start dividing the tasks among the maids you’ve chosen. While the branch office is being built, they can assist you according to your instructions," Gideon said.

"Really?" Viviene asked, sounding excited.

"Yes, but they’ll be your responsibility. If any of them get caught in corruption, I’ll punish you as well. Do you understand?"

Viviene smiled and nodded. She had come to know some of the maids while living in the Baron’s manor. She knew who was honest and trustworthy.

With people working alongside her, Viviene could manage and record the territory’s finances more easily.

"Lena."

"What is it, Captain?" Lena asked.

"Limit your daily checkups to what you can handle. Keep a record of common illnesses and hand it to the maids. It’ll make your work easier," Gideon said.

"I can’t do that," Lena said firmly.

Gideon paused, staring at her seriously. Lena spoke that way because she still didn’t trust the maids’ credibility.

"Only a doctor can check patients. Only a doctor can prescribe medicine," Lena said.

"The maids don’t know anything. What if the villagers’ conditions get worse because of mishandling?"

"The check up will be done by me. But mixing herbs and preparing things can be done by the maids under my watch," she added.

Why was she sharper in tone lately than before?

"Is that enough, Captain?" Lena asked.

Gideon exhaled, then gave a slow nod. The routine checkups would be fully left to Lena. He also suggested adding fees for checkups outside the monthly routine ones. Lena had no objection to that.

Besides, she still needed money to buy herbs and supplies. Still, sharing some tasks with the maids and limiting her checkups would save her energy.

"Luke. Lyra."

"Yes, Captain?" Luke asked.

"Start hiring villagers skilled in construction and similar work. You’ll be the foreman, let them do the labor."

"Of course. That will save us a lot of energy," Lyra said, agreeing without protest.

Gideon smiled, his attention shifting toward Princess Alanar, who seemed comfortable living here.

He hadn’t yet escorted her to the capital, even though her trauma treatment was already complete. He might take her later once all his affairs here were settled.

"I think that’s enough. You may all rest," Gideon said.

He stood, and the others followed. One by one, they returned to their rooms to rest. But Gideon felt differently.

For some reason, he wanted to ease his mind by relaxing at the tavern with the townsfolk.

He left the Baron’s residence alone, carrying his SIG M17 just in case. Lena noticed Gideon’s change in behavior, and she followed him outside, trailing behind.

I won’t let you carry all of your burdens alone, Gideon.