Chapter 22

On the open ground outside the castle.

Before the count arrived, the artisans gathered in small groups to chat. Their faces were filled with barely suppressed excitement and anticipation, mixed with a trace of unease.

"I wonder what kind of blueprint would be considered the best by the count's standards. I already did my absolute best drawing mine..."

"I have no hopes of becoming the president of the Artisans' Guild. After all, I know my own limits. But I'm good at my work. Once I join the guild, I shouldn't be considered too bad, right?"

"Even if there's no hope, living in the count's territory is already far better than living anywhere else."

"Yeah. Luckily, I made up my mind to come here back then. Otherwise, I definitely would have regretted it later."

They gradually began discussing the benefits and changes they had experienced since moving to Komoy Fort.

They talked about how life had become much easier after the taxes were lowered.

Then they spoke of the summer recruitment that was about to arrive. Those in their families who did not want to become artisans could consider enlisting in the army.

Dief could not help saying longingly, "The soldiers who patrol the city every day look so impressive."

"One group wears black armor, and another wears white armor. I heard they are the Black Cavalry and White Cavalry led by Lord Fernandi Edward and Lord Walker William respectively."

"And I heard from others that most of the soldiers who make up the Black Cavalry and White Cavalry were actually slaves. Later, some soldiers in the two cavalry units accumulated enough merit and successfully shed their slave status..."

Conrad smiled as he listened to his younger son speak.

Darren could not help saying, "We've practically been run off our feet these past two months. We barely even have time to sleep. When did you find the time to learn about all this?"

Dief muttered, "I'm not as busy as Dad and you, Brother. I still haven't learned many things about engineering drawings, and I can't help much either..."

"So naturally, I use my free time to ask around about the situation in this territory. Honestly, the count is truly the best lord I've ever met!"

Conrad nodded in agreement and sighed. "Praise the Creator God for the count's kindness and tolerance."

They did not continue talking for long.

Cyrus emerged from the castle.

He held a list written on parchment in his hand and was, as usual, lifted onto a tall chair by Judas.

The artisans on the open ground unconsciously fell silent.

Judas said, "After six days of selection, we have chosen the best city planning and layout design among them. The owner of that blueprint will be appointed president of the Artisans' Guild."

"But those who were not selected need not feel discouraged."

"We will divide the Artisans' Guild into four ranks: Ordinary Artisan, Junior Assistant Engineer, Intermediate Engineer, and Senior Engineer."

"Those whose blueprint drawings and city designs are good will respectively receive one of the three engineer titles: Junior Assistant Engineer, Intermediate Engineer, or Senior Engineer."

"Of course, the amount of money distributed each month will differ depending on the rank..."

Before he could finish, someone below could not help speaking up.

"Excuse me, sir, does that mean Senior Engineers receive the most money?"

Judas nodded. "Naturally."

"If you work hard enough, earn merit in future construction projects, and improve your own abilities... your rank will rise."

"Ordinary Artisan to Junior Assistant Engineer, Junior Assistant Engineer to Intermediate Engineer, and Intermediate Engineer to Senior Engineer."

"If a Senior Engineer earns sufficient merit, he will receive a reward and a substantial bonus as encouragement. Whether Junior Assistant Engineers and Intermediate Engineers receive bonuses will depend on the circumstances."

As soon as those words were spoken.

The artisans' emotions were completely ignited, and their excitement surged.

They had thought the competition would end after merely selecting a president. They had not expected such an unexpected benefit.

Some of them knew they had no chance whatsoever of becoming president.

But perhaps they could still hope to earn an engineer title.

Judas had them quiet down before continuing, "Now, the count will announce the contents of the list."

The artisans could not help holding their breath.

Conrad nervously clenched his fists.

Cyrus unfolded the parchment, cleared his throat, and read it as though he were presiding over an awards ceremony.

"There are seven Junior Assistant Engineers: Benson Nat, Chad... There are five Intermediate Engineers: Payne Ayer, Eugene... There are three Senior Engineers: Yilifu Bana, Fagin Inris, and Paul Snet."

From the very first word, Conrad had anxiously waited to hear whether his name would be called.

Yet until the final word ended, his name never appeared...

In an instant, an expression of loss and disappointment gradually appeared on his face.

But at that moment.

Conrad heard the count continue, "The president of the Artisans' Guild will be—Conrad Brown. He will also receive the title of Senior Engineer."

It was as if an enormous surprise had suddenly dropped onto Conrad Brown's head, leaving him dizzy and dazed. Even his soul seemed to float in the air without anywhere to settle.

It felt as though he were dreaming.

An incomparably wonderful dream.

Darren and Dief were the first to react.

The two excitedly shook his body and stammered out their words.

"Dad, Dad, you... you seem to have become president?!"

"Dad! Tell me, is this real?!"

Dief could not help covering his mouth. He had nearly screamed aloud.

After Cyrus finished reading the list from atop the chair, he obediently placed his hands behind his back and waited, giving the artisans time to react.

Not long afterward.

He quietly whispered to Judas, "So this Conrad Brown is the one Taylor and Bana brought back from Niramo. What a coincidence."

After they had confirmed the candidate for president, Walker casually mentioned what had happened in Niramo.

Conrad Brown had been oppressed in the Artisans' Guild of Niramo. His abilities and talents had had no room to be displayed at all, which was why Taylor and Bana had invited him to Visas.

Cyrus whispered disdainfully, "Niramo's lord is no good. Like ruler, like subjects—the people below are just as bad and morally corrupt."

They deserved to lose talented people.

After the commotion below gradually subsided.

Conrad held a hand over his chest and finally managed to process the tremendous surprise.

Cyrus said, "Thorn Artisans' Guild will be the name of the guild to be established in Komoy Fort."

"Ordinary Artisans who did not receive engineer titles need not lose heart either. Participation is what matters. Later, you will each receive an encouragement prize of forty copper coins."

Upon hearing this, the disappointment on the ordinary artisans' faces lessened considerably.

Cyrus said, "The president and the engineers from the three ranks whose names were just called, step forward."

People began stepping out from below one after another.

Under a knight's direction, Conrad stood at the very front, his heart pounding violently without pause.

Judas said, "The count specially had badges made for the engineers to represent their identities. The pattern on them is also the emblem of the Thorn Artisans' Guild."

"Senior Engineers will receive gold badges, Intermediate Engineers silver badges, and Junior Assistant Engineers iron badges. After entering the guild, you must wear them on your chests at all times."

"This is both an identity and an honor."

The Artisans' Guild emblem was a hammer and chisel axe encircled by a ring of black thorns.

Judas continued, "You will also receive rewards."

"Each Junior Assistant Engineer will receive two silver coins, each Intermediate Engineer will receive ten silver coins, and each Senior Engineer will receive three gold coins."

Compared to the money, the rewarded engineers cared more about the badges symbolizing their identities.

This was the count's high recognition of their abilities!

Their hearts surged with emotion, and they could not control their expressions as all kinds of feelings churned endlessly in their chests.

—Coming here had truly been the right choice!

The ordinary artisans had never expected that there would even be badges.

At this moment, they were extremely envious and secretly hated their own lack of ability for being inferior to others.

Conrad stood quietly to one side and waited in silence, because he knew his turn would come last.

Sure enough.

After all the engineers' badges had been handed out.

Judas personally walked to Conrad's side and said with a smile, "From now on, I should call you President Brown. Please come before the count..."

Conrad's limbs moved somewhat stiffly. He had no idea how he had managed to walk before the count, and he even stammered out a greeting.

Cyrus smiled.

He took out a badge interwoven with gold and silver and fastened it to Conrad's collar. "The president's reward is ten gold coins. In addition, you will receive a house in Komoy Fort free of charge and the right to directly seek an audience with me."

Darren and Dief could not help tightly covering their mouths, afraid that they would lose composure before the count and embarrass their father.

But they truly could not restrain their overwhelming emotions. They stamped their feet and rejoiced wildly.

The others erupted into an uproar as well.

Sure enough, the president's benefits were even more enviable.

That day's announcement ended with Conrad unable to control his emotions and bursting into tears.

The soldiers escorted them back to Komoy Fort.

Aside from the Brown family weeping tears of joy and barely sleeping all night, everyone else's thoughts were stirred as well, and their enthusiasm had been roused like never before.

The plans to rebuild Visas and Komoy Fort proceeded alongside the work of constructing the castle.

The soldiers were responsible for mining and transporting Black Ore.

Lured by ample wages, many commoners and slaves from the two cities also eagerly joined the construction efforts, forming engineering teams led by Ordinary Artisans or engineers.

After Cyrus, old accountant Nick, and Gibran calculated everything repeatedly, they discovered that while their funds were still fairly sufficient, they were desperately short on manpower!

Without enough people participating, the five-year construction plan could stretch to seven years, nine years, or even longer before it was completed...

How would that be any different from the plan becoming nothing but a bubble?!

"..."

After a long silence, Cyrus sighed deeply. "Judas, we should go out and recruit people."

Such a huge area of empty land in Komoy Fort would be wasted otherwise. Properly using land resources was the right thing to do!

Besides, Visas was also a classic case of a city with too few people. They had to recruit another wave of people to settle there.

Judas calmly asked, "My lord, where do you have in mind?"

So he could promptly make the arrangements.

Resting his little chin in his hand, Cyrus thought for a moment. "Exclude Kaies, the royal capital. Promote it in as many nearby cities as possible, with Niramo marked as a priority."

"This time, the neighboring country of Gaina will also be included in the promotion. Fernandi is not suitable for going there for now, so have Walker lead people there."

"Yes, my lord."