CHAPTER 163: MANPOWER

After everything that had happened, Raze’s father decided to step down from being the baron for a while. In name he was still the one overseeing the town and all their lands, but the person actually running things was now Raze.

He sat inside his father’s office with Elaine standing beside him. A stack of papers, files, and letters filled the table. Raze leaned forward, elbows resting on the wood, hands propping up his head as he stared at the mountain of work.

"This is quite a lot," he muttered.

"You like to read, don’t you, young master? This should be nothing for you," Elaine said.

"Well, it isn’t really anything... but I’d rather be out there overseeing things. After all, Ribest is going to be opening up to the public in a few weeks. The Crimson Auction House is going to announce that all the products they sold through auctions will now be available here. That will be our main source of income."

He tapped one of the papers with a finger.

"A lot of guests and people will be coming. There’s a lot to prepare before that. I’d rather be outside making sure everything is in order than stuck behind a desk."

"What about your clone, young master? Couldn’t it help you?" Elaine asked.

"My clone is somewhere learning magic. He’s training for the betterment of both of us," Raze replied. "Very soon I’ll be able to make more clones, and then things will be better."

He flipped through a file, scanning it quickly.

"We need to create a proper team. Robert may lead the townsmen now, but I need a more structured group, people I can actually trust. And beyond you, Ella, Fey, and Robert, there are very few I can say that about."

"That’s because you’ve been too busy to learn about the townspeople, young master," Elaine said. "Even though they love you and respect you, there is still a gap. To them, you’re like some sort of deity, someone who descends to make their lives better. But you haven’t truly gotten to know them one-on-one."

Raze let out a long breath.

"There’s no time for that. So much is happening. In a few weeks, we need to expand all the inns in town to make room for guests. We need to improve our security, because there will definitely be issues once trade opens. And as a town that wants to engage in major trade, we’ll need events, activities, infrastructure. There’s so much to do... and not enough manpower."

"Then how about I help you?" a voice suddenly called from outside the door.

Raze recognized the voice instantly. The footsteps had been so quiet he hadn’t sensed anyone.

The door opened.

Queen Marine walked in, followed by a knight clad completely in black armor. Raze couldn’t sense anything from within the armor. No aura, no presence, only a silent, terrifying pressure that filled the room.

After them came Lady Rose, and then a young fifteen-year-old girl stepped in. It was Magus Alice. Raze didn’t know her, she didn’t appear in any major part of the story he remembered. Her presence only deepened his confusion.

"Your Majesty," he said quickly, rising to his feet and bowing. "What brings you here?"

"It’s nice to see you, Raze," Queen Marine said as she took a seat.

Lady Rose also sat down.

The young girl remained standing between them since there were only two chairs.

Raze looked up. The moment his eyes met the girl’s presence, he felt... something. A strange aura he couldn’t place. Instinctively, he activated God’s Eye.

The result hit him like a brick wall.

Her soul blocked him completely. It shut him out as if his skill didn’t exist. And the very moment he tried, she turned her head toward him, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"Interesting," she muttered, then leaned close to the table. "You’re the one, right?"

Raze, still baffled by the failure of God’s Eye, immediately cut the skill off.

"The one who did what?" he asked.

"The one who made the theory of souls and abominations, right?" she asked bluntly. "You’re pretty young for someone who came up with something like that."

Raze glanced at Queen Marine.

She gave him a small nod.

So this was the Magus they had mentioned. But for her to be so young...

"You look younger than... you look as young as me," he said honestly.

"Oh really?" she replied with a bright smile, clearly pleased.

After all, the whole point of changing her soul had been to maintain a youthful appearance.

But Lady Rose cut in flatly.

"She’s at least seven to ten times older than you."

Raze’s eyes widened.

Magus Alice’s eyes exploded with fury. "Shut up, you old bag!" Alice yelled. "No one asked for your opinion!"

Lady Rose burst into laughter.

"Oh, you think looking young changes the fact that you’re old? Don’t forget how ancient you are. You’re probably a few years older than me."

Alice snapped.

She lunged at Lady Rose, but the knight immediately stepped forward, one arm sweeping Alice up like she weighed nothing. The magus kicked and flailed like a furious toddler but couldn’t break free.

"Magus Alice, please compose yourself before the Queen," the knight said calmly, voice sounding metallic through the armor.

Alice eventually dropped down from the restraining arm and landed with a pout. She folded her arms, glaring.

"Tsk," she clicked her tongue. "Don’t worry, you and I will have time to fight later."

"Oh no, my fighting days are over," Lady Rose replied casually. "What I do now is drink tea... and make fun of you."

Alice fumed visibly for a few seconds, cheeks puffed, before whipping her head back toward Raze.

"So how did you do it?" she demanded. "Tell me everything. I want to know."

She leaned across the table, eyes sparkling with sharp intensity.

"Come on, say it already."

"Don’t be like that, Magus Alice," Queen Marine said calmly. "You’ll have plenty of time to get all the information you want from him. For now..."

Her eyes shifted toward Raze.

"...you were talking about something related to manpower, weren’t you?"