Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165

With the announcement of the knight, the great hall’s doors opened, and side by side walked in a pair of red-haired and red-eyed father and son.

“Ah? The Grand Duke? Didn’t the Lord proclaim that he wouldn’t assign the Grand Duke any work for a week, and that he would personally take care of anyone who came to seek him… Yes, my apologies.”

Henderson, who had spoken too thoughtlessly and loudly, silenced himself under Patrick’s stern gaze.

One by one, the vassals gathered, watching from all around, as the father and son pair took their seats at the head of the table.

“We shall commence the first regular meeting of the MacLaine Viscounty,” Patrick announced the start of the meeting, and Logan immediately stepped forward.

“After the war ended and our family was promoted to viscounts, there have been many big and small changes. Let’s discuss the issues one by one and find solutions. Who would like to start?”

As he spoke, Dwayne raised his hand first.

“As I mentioned before, above all, we must supplement the administrative staff. We need to recruit more officials in the name of our family.”

“I heard about that, but why is there such a shortage of officials? Didn’t we take over Bifrost’s officials, except for the high-ranking ones?”

“…The Lord commanded us to be selective in taking people in. Anyone who had even the slightest corruption or was related to the Bifrost family was excluded, leaving us critically short on staff.”

“Ah…”

Logan had no choice but to nod.

With the exclusion of those involved in corruption and those related to the Bifrost family, there was a shortage of people, and what more could be said about that?

“Yeah, I get it. Are there any other issues for the rest?”

As Logan shifted his gaze, surprisingly, Clayton stepped forward.

“I have caught the gist of the research that the Grand Duke requested. We need funds for it.”

“Oh…!”

At the mention of the requested research, a spark shone in Logan’s eyes.

Clayton’s words didn’t end there though.

“In addition to that, as shameful as it is to say out loud, since I’ve become known, many wandering mages have been coming to the mage tower, or people who want to become mages have been applying. This has posed some problems.”

“…Isn’t that a good thing?”

The implication was that mages were flocking to the mage tower due to Clayton, who had reached the realm of a magic user and earned the moniker Golem Master.

Wasn’t this the opportunity to take in new apprentices? What was the issue?

“Well… there are many among them who are mediocre at best in magic, and the wandering mages are mostly those who have been kicked out of their previous mage towers or sects for causing trouble. We need help to filter out such individuals and to select truly talented ones.”

“Hmm. Specifically, what kind of support do you require?”

“It’s embarrassing to admit… but…”

“Clayton, sir, you are a treasure to our territory. Anything…”

“We just need funds.”

“Ah…”

…There was indeed something to be embarrassed about.

Reading Logan’s reaction, Clayton quickly added.

“That is, we need to create artifacts and magical circles that can be used for the mage tower’s defense and can identify and measure the talent of children, and also…”

Feeling the surrounding gaze becoming sharper.

“Crucially! The research that Logan entrusted us with requires a large amount of rare metal materials.”

Clayton presented an issue that couldn’t be ignored.

The revival of the golem mage tower was directly connected to the power of the MacLaine domain.

As overwhelming as that task was, the research on Kraowne had to be achieved.

In his previous life, it was a visionary project that increased the empire’s knights’ forces by twenty percent.

If possible, it had to be accomplished no matter what.

Logan sighed softly and nodded.

“Hmm. We understand that issue as well. Does anyone else have another problem?”

As if waiting his turn, Hamar, the master of the workshop in attendance, immediately followed with his remarks.

“The workshop also lacks workers. It’s near deathly tough since we were ordered to sell our rapid-fire crossbows nationwide but had no recruitment for manpower. If we want to do it properly, we need thrice the number of artisans we have now.”

“Three times as many?”

“Yes, that’s the minimum, based on our dwarven standards.”

“Ugh. Is that so? Can’t we do with a little less…?”

“That’s already the smallest amount, my lord.”

Hamar’s request was another issue that needed money.

Logan let out yet another sigh.

“Ha, alright. Any other issues?”

“For the matters related to the knights, Heinikel ‘the Knight’ will speak for us.”

Patrick emphasized a specific word while subtly gesturing towards Heinikel seated below the dais.

“It doesn’t seem right for me to involve myself in the knights’ affairs.”

With noticeably more wrinkles and white hair, and a wooden and metal prosthetic where his right arm once was, Heinikel’s expression was calm, yet to the others, it seemed pitiable.

After the merit distribution at the royal palace, Heinikel, along with Clayton and Ronian, had received the rank of knight under Patrick’s lead for their significant contributions during the war.

Aside from Ronian, the remaining ten, including Viktor and Ailen from the knight squad and the total commander Kaisellon, were rewarded with rank above baron – a reward higher than the rest.

Yet, even that compensation seemed painfully insufficient to fill the loss of arm and force suffered by the superior knight.

Patrick’s expression inevitably became complex as he looked at Heinikel.

“…Alright, I’ll speak myself. With the incorporation of the northern Kallia region into our domain, the majority of the existing Kallia knights opted to remain in their positions and align with our territory.”

“The majority?”

Logan, who began his reply with a soft sigh, was met with surprise.

“One would think you’d be pleased with the increase in knights?”

“Our knights numbered 112 after the war. In contrast, the number of Kallia knights who chose to transfer reached 201.”

“Wow… Wicken Kallia must have been furious.”

“Not at all. On the contrary, he pushed them to go.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Wicken Kallia, formerly the lord, er, the count, said it was better to go to the newly powerful MacLaines and spread their wings than remain in Kallia under surveillance amidst restrictions. So, even Lord Jorge of the Kallia knights came to us.”

“A high-grade knight’s with us?!”

“Yes. That’s precisely why it’s an issue.”

Logan understood his father’s words immediately.

Wicken Kallia’s choice was unexpected, but since the knights have officially aligned under the lordship of the king to the MacLaine domain, their transfer was not too bizarre.

However, the issue was not simple since more knights had joined than before, including high-grade ones, and even if they expressed obedience, managing them wouldn’t be easy.

And perhaps…

“Now, we must decide whether to pass on the Blood Sword, which has become our symbol or not. If we treat everyone equally, the knights who have built the current territory may feel slighted, and if we make a distinction, it might cause problems later.”

“…Don’t they say, ‘Familiarity breeds closeness?’ Wasn’t that one of your father’s principles?”