Recruiting Talent

On the fourth day after Nakanuma Takuma started work, his wife, son, and daughter were brought to the village.

They had been apart for only a week, but seeing each other again felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Looking at the village, which resembled a construction site, his fourteen-year-old daughter, Nakanuma Rina, grew worried.

"Father, are we going to live here from now on?"

Nakanuma Takuma smiled and patted his daughter's head.

"It may not look like much now, but one day this will become the greatest metropolis in the Land of Grass. No, in the entire world."

"Really?"

Nakanuma Takuma nodded firmly. "You'll see."

"Tch!"

Nakanuma Takuma's son, Nakanuma Sora, clearly scoffed at his father's words.

Nakanuma Sora had never wanted to come. He was on the verge of making a name for himself at the Daimyo's residence, only to be ordered to move to this godforsaken place. Naturally, he was bitter.

He even resented his father for it.

Seeing his son like this made Nakanuma Takuma furious.

"You ungrateful brat! If you really don't want to be here, you can leave. You're grown now. Don't expect another penny from this family to squander on your foolishness."

Nakanuma Sora shrank back and, in the end, did not dare argue.

Just then, a staff member wearing a red armband approached with a stack of documents.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Nakanuma Takuma, chief engineer of the First Construction Group?"

Nakanuma Takuma immediately put on a smile. "I am."

"Your residence in the Construction Group Family Compound is ready. Do you have time now? I can take you there."

"Yes, of course!"

"Then please follow me."

The compound was a cluster of buildings not far from the village center: three neat rows of square courtyards.

The staff member stopped before the courtyard marked 001, took out a key, and opened its vermilion gate.

The courtyard was small, around two hundred square meters. A brick-and-stone screen stood in the middle, with enclosed gardens on either side.

Beyond the screen stood four rooms in a row. Unlike Japanese-style buildings, all four were made of brick and stone, and their windows were fitted with glass.

The room in the middle was the largest and was clearly meant for receiving guests. There were also two bedrooms and a kitchen.

The staff member explained as they toured the property.

"Nothing's been planted in the gardens, so you can grow vegetables or flowers, whichever you prefer. You can eat at the staff cafeteria at mealtimes or cook for yourselves. The toilet is behind the bedrooms. Remember to flush after using it. This area is already connected to the Underground Water Pipes, so there's no need to worry."

"We've prepared bedding, cookware, dishes, and other necessities for four people. If anything is missing, let me know and I'll have someone bring it."

Nakanuma Takuma was too stunned to speak. It took him a long moment to find his voice.

"All this was prepared for me?"

The staff member nodded. "Yes. The village chief said all senior technical specialists will receive the same treatment."

Nakanuma Takuma's face reddened. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "How much is the rent? You know I've only just arrived. I don't have much money."

The staff member smiled. "There's no rent. You may live here free of charge for the rest of your life."

Free for life!

Nakanuma Takuma could hardly believe his ears. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming, then grew uneasy.

"No, no, I can't accept this. I haven't done anything yet. How can I deserve such generous treatment?"

"The village chief said this is how skilled specialists should be treated."

Tears streamed down Nakanuma Takuma's face. He wanted nothing more than to bow before Lu Zeming.

"A man would die for one who truly understands him. From now on, this old life of mine belongs to the village chief!"

"The village chief would rather you stayed alive. Your guard will be here shortly. He'll be responsible for your safety from now on. We're short-handed at the moment, so we can only assign you a Chunin. Please forgive us. The village chief said that once the village has developed, you'll be assigned a Jonin as soon as possible."

The Nakanuma family stood stunned all over again.

A ninja, assigned just to protect me? And I'll even get a Jonin later? Most nobles couldn't afford that. I'm being treated better than they are!

"Dear, take the children inside and get settled. I'm going to work right now and repay the village chief!"

There was no denying how useful a talented specialist could be. Since Nakanuma Takuma's arrival, Lu Zeming no longer had to worry about construction matters.

Lu Zeming only had to state what he wanted, and Nakanuma Takuma would produce a proposal and an execution plan.

Tsukizaki Yuki coordinated the workers and supplies, so Lu Zeming did not need to worry about those either.

The work Lu Zeming had to handle dropped by nearly half overnight.

Yes, specialists. I need more of them. Then I'll have more time to train, and researching Runes and spirit medicines takes time too.

With that in mind, Lu Zeming immediately sent for Tsukizaki Yuki and Nakanuma Takuma.

As soon as they arrived, Lu Zeming asked eagerly, "Do you know any other experts? Agriculture, surveying, metallurgy, casting, mechanical design, chemistry, textiles—any field will do."

Neither man dared take Lu Zeming's question lightly. They searched their memories for anyone who might qualify.

After a long while, Nakanuma Takuma said cautiously, "I know someone. I wouldn't call him a chemical expert, but he's an explosives specialist who's spent his whole life studying explosives. I worked with him before, building bridges and blasting through mountains."

Lu Zeming sprang to his feet. "Yes! Absolutely! Invite him—we must invite him. If he comes, I'll give you credit for it. Anyone else?"

This time, Tsukizaki Yuki spoke up.

"The family of my distant cousin's cousin has made paper for generations. Would that count?"

"Yes. Invite them—all of them. We'll offer generous terms, food and housing, monthly wages, and a share of the profits once their projects are up and running!"

Tsukizaki Yuki and Nakanuma Takuma both smiled. For skilled specialists, this place was practically paradise.

Once the benefits were made clear, specialists who had never been valued elsewhere would surely flock here. When they did, Flower Village's development would accelerate another step.

At almost the same time, a new task appeared on the Mission Board in Flower Village's central square.

"Recruiting skilled specialists: Anyone with expertise in agriculture, surveying, metallurgy, casting, mechanical design, chemistry, textiles, or related fields is welcome to work in Flower Village. Generous terms offered. Anyone who provides verified information about a suitable specialist will receive fifty Work Points. Anyone who brings such a specialist here and sees them successfully take up a position will receive two hundred Work Points."

For the villagers, the second half was what mattered.

"My second uncle's a blacksmith. The tools he makes last more than ten years. Would he count?"

"My old neighbor's cousin's uncle used to fire porcelain, I think. My neighbor's family never ran out of bowls and plates. They were as smooth as a woman's skin—beautiful!"

"What about charcoal burners? My grandmother's family used to make charcoal!"

"My eldest uncle's family brews liquor. Does that count?"

The staff soon answered the villagers' questions.

"Yes. They all count!"

The villagers erupted with excitement. Some began writing invitations, while others packed their bags and prepared to fetch people in person.

The news spread like wildfire from Flower Village across the Land of Grass.

Within just three days, a steady stream of people began arriving at the village entrance.

There were blacksmiths carrying their bedding, papermakers pushing handcarts, porcelain makers leading ox carts, and even herders who had brought their families and a few sheep.