Richard went on, "The Efficiency Department will have absolute law enforcement authority. Guided by the principle of efficiency above all else, it will manage all affairs throughout Shalin from top to bottom. Everyone loyal to Shalin will be incorporated into this system and put to use.
"My initial plan is to first establish the Efficiency Department headquarters and appoint a Deputy Minister of Efficiency Department in charge. The deputy minister will then find ways to set up branches in various places, complete the entire system, and make it function. As for the candidate for deputy minister, I have not decided yet. I intend to have one recommended or elected from among you, with whoever receives the most support winning. So, who among you is interested?"
As the people in the hall listened to Richard, their expressions changed several times.
At first, they thought Richard was trying to seize power. But as he continued, they realized that was not the case. He was gathering authority together and handing it to one of them—because, judging by Richard's meaning, he himself would probably serve as the head of the Efficiency Department headquarters in name only, while the deputy minister would be the one actually doing the work.
Such a person would hold tremendous power, rising in a single leap to become Shalin's second most important figure after Richard. For people like them, who normally only governed their own territories, such an opportunity existed only in dreams.
If they truly became the lucky one, it would be a qualitative change. Of course, if they lost the election and had to serve under someone else, living at another's mercy, that would be a different matter.
Among the seated crowd, several influential administrators were tempted to give it a try.
After all, trying cost them nothing.