The Seven-Day Agreement and the Pilot Workshop

By the time the weapons demonstration ended, the atmosphere at the testing ground had changed.

At first, many Tear Knight artisans had dismissed the weapons as crude iron contraptions from a frontier Workshop, nothing like the Church's usual weapons.

Now their attention had shifted to the weapons themselves.

Several workshop supervisors quietly discussed ammunition consumption. A few veteran artisans deftly took apart the locking mechanisms, examined them, then put them back together as they exchanged opinions.

When the discussion died down, Shien turned to the Cleric Adrian had sent. "You can formally read out the Governor's Mansion's directive now."

The Cleric walked to the center of the testing ground and solemnly unfolded the document. "The Governor's Mansion and the Sacred War Reconstruction Institute have jointly approved the establishment of the Tear Knight Standardized Military Readiness Pilot.

"Shien Greenwood, deputy envoy of the Reconstruction Institute, will serve as its chief and oversee the division of work among the pilot workshops—"

Many present had already heard that the Reconstruction Institute intended to reassign workshop responsibilities. After the weapons demonstration, though, they were less resistant and listened carefully to the governor's directive.

When the Cleric finished, Shien turned to Lorenz and the master artisans. "There's no need to worry. Advanced Holy Relic research, maintenance of the Elite Knight Order's equipment, and other high-level work will remain with the Master Workshop.

"Production of ordinary weapons and basic repairs will gradually move elsewhere.

"You possess Tear Knight's most refined craft expertise. It makes far more sense for you to spend more time on research and maintenance."

Lorenz's expression eased. His greatest fear had been that Shien would use this opportunity to push deeper into Holy Relic production and the Master Workshop's core affairs.

It seemed he had worried for nothing.

Shien appeared more interested in