Chapter 20

Taylor and Bana asked the burly man where Conrad Brown lived.

The man said, "Most of those outsiders who settled in Niramo live in the same area. Head to the far eastern edge of the city and ask along the way. Someone will know."

After leaving the tavern.

Bana asked, "Are you thinking of recruiting Conrad Brown for Visas?"

Taylor nodded. "Just from hearing his account, it's clear that Conrad Brown is quite capable. As for those people in the Artisans' Guild, they throw their weight around and suck up to the powerful. They're rotten to the core. We're better off without them."

Bana strongly agreed.

For the moment, Conrad Brown knew nothing of the decision they had made.

He was walking home. This was the very edge of the eastern district—a chaotic place filled with dilapidated, filthy dwellings and outsiders.

They suffered the same discrimination and oppression in Niramo, yet no one ever stepped forward to resist or unite.

Everyone was indifferent, concerned only with living their own lives and unwilling to meddle in anyone else's affairs.

Just as the people living here clearly knew Conrad Brown had done nothing wrong. When he discovered problems, he had tried his best to correct them, only to offend the president of the Artisans' Guild and his son and suffer endless humiliation and exploitation there afterward.

Conrad Brown was innocent.

Yet no one spoke up for the innocent. There was not even a comforting word, or so much as a simple greeting.

Conrad Brown walked home in silence.

He had a considerate wife who never complained, two intelligent and outstanding sons, and after coming to Niramo, Mrs. Brown had given him a lovely, beautiful daughter. She was only a little over a year old.

Thinking of his sweet, soft little daughter.

A faint smile appeared on Conrad Brown's face. As he stepped through the door, he said, "I'm home."

His eldest son, Darren Brown, and younger son, Dief Brown, hurried out of their room to greet him.

"Dad, you..."

When Darren Brown saw the torn hem of Conrad Brown's clothes and the obvious muddy marks on his knees from having struck the ground, the smile on his face gradually faded until it vanished completely.

Only then did Conrad remember the "evidence" on himself that he had not cleaned up in time. He hurriedly raised a finger to his lips. "Shh."

Mrs. Brown was cooking and had not yet come out of the kitchen.

He did not want his wife to worry.

However, Dief had not noticed his gesture and immediately shouted angrily, "Dad, did those people from the Artisans' Guild bully you again?!"

With a clatter.

The sound of bowls and dishes falling to the floor came from the kitchen.

The next moment, Mrs. Brown hurried out.

"Conrad, oh no, are you all right..."

Mrs. Brown's heart ached over what her husband had suffered. She looked as though she were about to cry.

"Why do they always... You've never done anything wrong. Creator God, they'll surely receive their punishment..."

Darren and Dief clenched their fists tightly. Anger swelled within them, and their faces were filled with fury.

Dief even wanted to rush to the Artisans' Guild to argue with them, but Conrad stopped him.

"Child, it's useless."

Darren said as well, "Don't go, Dief."

"If you do that, you'll only make Dad's situation even harder. Those people won't reason with you. They might even throw you out and laugh at you."

Dief was indignant. "But are we supposed to let Dad keep suffering their bullying?!"

Conrad sighed. "If we ignore them, perhaps they'll find it boring before long."

On the contrary, sometimes the more one resisted, the more suppression one invited.

Just as the atmosphere in the house grew somewhat heavy, a shout suddenly came from outside. Someone was looking for Conrad Brown.

Conrad was puzzled.

He had no familiar friends at all in Niramo. Who would come looking for him?

When he went outside to see, he discovered that the people looking for him were actually the two knights from earlier.

Conrad could not help feeling flustered and uneasy. He stood at the door without moving for a long while before finally saying, "Sirs, may I ask what you need..."

Taylor said, "Why don't we talk inside? Don't worry, it has nothing to do with the Artisans' Guild."

Conrad hesitantly stepped aside. "Please come in, sirs."

The place was dirty and messy. The house was old and worn, and everything inside was equally shabby.

After looking around, Taylor and Bana sat down on chairs.

Mrs. Brown anxiously brought them two cups of water.

Darren and Dief stood off to the side instead of approaching, secretly observing them without drawing attention to themselves.

Taylor said, "I'll be straightforward. The two of us have come on behalf of Lord Desinia to recruit skilled artisans from various cities to return to Visas."

"You will take part in the construction of Visas and Komoy Fort, and all benefits will be generous..."

He paused, glanced at Conrad's family, and continued, "You may leave by yourself, or you may bring your family to Visas with you... Can you read? The parchment contains the favorable terms and benefits offered by the lord."

Conrad could naturally read. He nodded at those words and accepted the parchment Taylor handed him.

Darren and Dief could not help exchanging looks, curious about what benefits were written on it.

The farther Conrad read, the more disbelief appeared on his face. "Th-these conditions... are they real?!"

Bana said, "Of course they're real!"

"Do you think we would deceive you? Look at the seal on the parchment. That is Lord Desinia's family crest."

At the very bottom, Conrad saw a rose surrounded by thorns.

He clutched the parchment, looking hesitant and uncertain. "Why me?"

Taylor said, "We heard what happened to you."

"Your ability is beyond question, and Visas is currently recruiting talent. If you don't want to continue being bullied like that, seizing this opportunity is the wisest choice."

Conrad understood what Taylor meant. His heart had already begun to waver, but he felt even more unease. His expression showed repeated hesitation.

Taylor said, "I understand that you cannot make a decision immediately."

"I can give you one day to think it over. Come find me at the Nas Inn tomorrow evening."

If you think this book is good and don't want to lose it next time, remember to add it to your bookshelf.

After saying that, he left with Bana.

After they left.

Mrs. Brown and the two boys hurriedly asked Conrad what exactly had been written on the parchment to make him react so dramatically before.

After Conrad explained it to his family, he received three equally disbelieving gazes.

Darren said in surprise, "The conditions offered are far too good. We can have a place to live in Visas for free, and there are even subsidies... Dad, could they really be swindlers?!"

But he immediately rejected the idea.

"No, no, they were clearly knights. Impersonating a knight is a serious crime. How could they be swindlers?"

Dief had already begun looking forward to it. "Dad, are we going? After we leave here, will no one ever bully you again?!"

Conrad could not make up his mind.

At that moment, Mrs. Brown took his hand and said, "Dear, I understand your doubts."

"We worked so hard to settle down in Niramo, but now we must decide whether to leave this place and move to another city to live and work."

"There is no doubt that this is an extremely difficult choice."

"But you must understand that nothing could be harder than our current situation."

"As long as the president and his son remain in the guild, you will never have an easy life. I don't want you to keep... Why not take a gamble? At least there is hope for a better life."

Darren nodded. "Yes, Dad. That's what I think too."

"But no matter what decision you make, I will support you unconditionally."

Dief said, "Me too, me too!"

Conrad said, "Let me think it over carefully. Tomorrow... I'll have a definite answer."

Mrs. Brown returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Darren and Dief each went back to their rooms as well.

Conrad went into the bedroom he shared with his wife.

Their youngest daughter, Belle, was sleeping soundly on the bed. Her little fists were clenched beside her head, and her tiny mouth occasionally puckered as if she were still nursing.

Conrad stared blankly at his daughter's utterly adorable appearance, an uncontrollable smile appearing on his face.

He gently stroked her soft little cheek and said so quietly that he was almost inaudible, "Our Belle still has a long time before she grows up."

Conrad watched her for a long while before finally making a decision.

The following morning.

Conrad did not go to the Artisans' Guild. Instead, he went straight to the Nas Inn.

Afterward, he returned home to pack. When the Thorn Merchant Guild set out again, he would leave with them.

More than a month later.

The two teams that had gone to various cities returned to Visas one after another, bringing back many artisans and their families.

Not a single artisan had come alone.

Cyrus gathered them in the open space before the castle.

Conrad Brown's family was among them, and they saw the young Earl Desinia.

After confirming that everyone had arrived.

Cyrus said, "I know what you most urgently need confirmed right now."

"I can give you a definite answer. Every promise and condition written on the parchment is genuine and valid. You will receive what you deserve."

The artisans and their families could not help showing delighted expressions.

Cyrus continued, "But the premise of the benefits and conditions I offer is that you must wholeheartedly rebuild Visas and Komoy Fort for me."

"If I discover anyone slacking off, cutting corners, or even trying to reduce materials and workmanship to deceive me during construction, everything granted to you will be immediately taken back once you are found out!"

"Not only that, you will be permanently expelled from Visas and Komoy Fort!"

First came the sweetener, then the stick.

The artisans below looked extremely obedient as they nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Cyrus said, "I will establish an Artisans' Guild in Komoy Fort. As for the guild president, the position will be held by whoever is capable, and all of you may compete for it."

Visas now had a sufficient population.

But Komoy Fort... after his military recruitment and tax reduction measures, the city had become far too desolate. He needed to find a way to balance things out.

As soon as those words were spoken, the artisans could no longer restrain their excitement. Their eyes shone as they burst into noisy discussion.

"President of the Artisans' Guild?! Anyone can become one?"

"Is what the lord said true?!"

"Creator God, I must fight for it!"

Conrad Brown's face also flushed red with excitement.

Cyrus raised his hand to quiet them. After the noise gradually subsided, he continued, "The method of competing for the presidency is this—I require you to familiarize yourselves with Visas and Komoy Fort within two months."

"And based on your own ideas, redesign and plan the layout of the entire cities. Not only must the zones be clearly divided, but the purpose and function of every area must be marked in detail."

"Two months from now, I want to see the plans you submit."

The artisans looked at one another.

That seemed... a little difficult...

Cyrus said seriously, "You may form teams with others to plan and design. Naturally, the credit may be divided equally, or given to the person who contributed the most. You may also work alone... Compete however you wish."

"However, if anyone steals, snatches, or destroys another person's plans during the competition, refuses to act fairly, and only wants to win through petty tricks..."

"You are welcome to report such people to any knight in the city at any time. They will report it to me."

"Once it is confirmed that such a thing happened, everything granted to them will likewise be taken back immediately, and they will be permanently expelled from Visas and Komoy Fort!"

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

The artisans answered unevenly, their spirits lifted.

Conrad Brown shouted especially loudly.