After swearing loyalty to the lord, Aspen felt both excited and burdened. He was about to take the appointment letter, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and leave when a thought stopped him. "Oh, Governor, what about Uncle Dimis—"
"Let him keep running the mine."
John continued working through Faoken's official documents without looking up. "Mining requires specialized management. In terms of ability, he's better suited to the job than you are right now."
"But that doesn't mean you should sit back and let him hollow out the authority I've given you. There are two things you need to do."
"First, personally choose three young people and send them to the mine as apprentices. Officially, they'll be learning the trade. In practice, they'll be keeping watch. Dimis is experienced enough to understand what that means and cooperate."
"Second, as the 'chief administrator of Darkmoon Territory,' organize a safety team to inspect the mine once a month. That falls within your lawful authority, and he must cooperate."
"So that will let me keep him in check?"
"In practice, no."
John set down his pen and looked up at the thoughtful Goblin before him. Smiling, he said, "But at least it will tell the mine's chief supervisor that you're watching him."
"And Dimis is a smart man. He knows where the line is, so he'll seek cooperation rather than confrontation."
"Once you've built up your own people, the two of you will naturally find a new balance."
"Either he'll bow his head and become an asset to you, or—I'll remove the piece that failed."
John's voice was calm, and he spoke as though it were nothing.
But after witnessing the terrifying governor's authority earlier, an authority that had felt like staring straight into hell, Aspen understood the chilling threat behind those