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Chapter 107
Custody Commotion
"Excellent. You did well."
The labor union formed by the village workers gathering together would ultimately end up as puppets unable to escape Ferda's influence.
That was the situation Ferda desired.
"Thank you. And also, the Dandolo Company's name change has been completed in the Empire as well."
From now on, it will officially operate as the Hestia Trading Company, not the Dandolo Company.
Ẽ n̆u m̈å
The family crest embedded in the tent will now be stamped with Valdrova's crest.
"You're doing well. Continue as you have been."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Please leave it to me."
The council with the provisional labor union ended like this.
"Since it's been resolved smoothly, it seems you can return to your other duties now."
Instead of rising from his seat, Ferda shifted his gaze to the documents she had piled up.
Ẃе̇ b̈ ṅо̀v_еl̀ Eňu m a
"I heard there are a few more dispute cases."
"That is correct, but they can be resolved by proxy under the Administrator's authority."
"No, since we're at it, let's resolve them. Since I've come down here, isn't it better to resolve them quickly? And..."
"And?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Resolving things through dialogue like this feels novel."
"Hmm, I understand."
Ẽn̂ u̇ m̀ а . іd̂
Can this even be called dialogue?
She had some doubts, but Isabella didn't complain.
Isabella moved, and shortly after, two men entered.
"These are the stonemasons requiring mediation that I mentioned earlier."
Ferda glanced at them briefly.
A dark-skinned man and a relatively pale man sat side by side.
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At a glance, their appearances were clearly divided between Southern and Central origins.
Ferda asked the dark-skinned one first.
"Are you from Halim?"
"Yes. I've walked the single path of castle wall construction in Halim for 20 years—."
"And you're from the Empire?"
"That is correct."
Е ń û ma
"I've heard the gist. In short, your two construction methods differ, so you're coordinating them, right?"
The pale stonemason spoke.
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"Yes. We're discussing how to build the wall considering terrain and characteristics, but this Southern bastard doesn't understand at all..."
The Imperial stonemason clicked his tongue.
At that, the Halim stonemason snorted.
"Saying we must consider terrain and characteristics means the wall isn't perfect in the end, doesn't it? The walls we construct in Halim boast of being unbreakable no matter what situation comes."
Ѐ n ù m̂ а .і d
"Seems the winter wind went to your head coming from a hot region. Since you've never been invaded once, you stack walls with sand, so would you have any internal strength?"
"If stuffing stones into empty holes is construction, then our three-year-old son would be a master craftsman too."
"You little—!"
"Stop."
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He stopped them before the hammers meant for striking walls turned toward each other's heads.
Ferda could somehow understand what happened.
Ẃ e b̈ n o v̂ ӗ l̈ Ě ṅ ü.m̌ а
It was a matter born from the pride of two master craftsmen.
"I understand both of your opinions well. So I can give a clear answer."
"Do you mean you know which method to use for construction?"
"How could that be?"
No matter how smart Ferda was, he couldn't be compared to people who had touched nothing but walls their whole lives.
But this problem could be clearly resolved.
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Ferda raised his index finger.
"1 month."
"...Excuse me?"
"Within that time, build a wall 4 meters in length and height."
The two made dumbfounded expressions.
"What do you mean by that?"
Wĕ b̂ ň ӧv еl̂ Ѐ ń u ḿ а
"Are you perhaps telling us to decide whose method to use ourselves?"
"Right. That's what you need to do."
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From the perspective of those who came for mediation, it was an absurd judgment.
Ferda didn't stop there and added more.
"You must build a wall within 1 month that can sufficiently withstand my siege magic."
"Huh?"
W е b̄ ñо̂ v̂е̂l̊ Ӗ n̆ u m̃а
The two craftsmen looked at Ferda with bewildered eyes.
They wondered if this was some kind of joke, but Ferda's eyes were shining.
"Whether one construction method is better or whatever, they won't understand even if I explain, so I'm presenting my own solution."
Ferda pointed at them with his finger.
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"You know how to make sturdy walls."
And this time, at himself.
Е ṅ u mӑ
"And I know how to break walls."
The Empire's proud sturdy walls had also crumbled in his hands.
"So build the hardest wall you can within 1 month. I'll strike the exact center of that wall with Magic Blast. Understood?"
"What happens if that wall collapses?"
"Simple."
He drew his thumb across his throat.
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The two stonemasons turned pale.
"Y-You'll execute us just because a wall built in 1 month collapsed?"
"The charge will be impersonating experts and fraud for making a shoddy wall. It could even escalate to a national security threat."
"That's too much of a stretch."
"A stretch, Administrator?"
Isabella shook her head.
Én.ǔ m̀ a. î d
"Seeking the death penalty for those who failed to guard the border is a bargain."
"That's what she says."
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The craftsmen realized this wasn't the time for pride.
Their past days of thinking each other enemies became meaningless, as a real life-threatening enemy had appeared.
As they broke into cold sweat, Ferda asked.
"Are you thinking of running away?"
E n um̀ а. i d
"Cough!"
"N-No, how could we?"
Ferda, seeing right through them.
"You can run. Try it if you can. But we'll chase you down and bring you back. Of course, by then it won't matter whether there's a wall or not."
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Ferda let out a "Hmm..." breath and asked them calmly.
"Have you ever suffered enough to be confused about whether to beg to live or beg to die?"
Ē nǔ ḿ a. i d̂
"..."
"If you're curious about the process, I'll gladly tell you."
"N-No, sir!"
"We won't run, so why would we need to know that, haha...!"
The two, their spirits thoroughly tightened.
Ferda nodded.
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"Then I'll assume you understand everything I said."
"Of course! We naturally understand, don't we!?"
"Then go. You now have 29 days, 23 hours, and 55 minutes left. You'd better build the wall even a day faster."
"Yes, sir!!"
At Ferda's command, they fled from their seats as if running for their lives.
As the murderous atmosphere settled, Ferda muttered.
W е b́ ṅ о̊v̇ еl̄ En um̊ â
"Dialogue is a better means than I thought."
"If you call that dialogue."
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She spoke like that, but Isabella had a satisfied expression.
"At least they won't fight unproductively anymore."
"If they still fight after this, that's something to acknowledge in its own way. Next dispute case?"
"This dispute is..."
Ӗ ǹ ú m̌ à .id
Ferda continued resolving the disputes afterward.
Since there were no prideful ones like the two stonemasons, he could easily resolve them without threats.
"Seems the work is done with this."
Before he knew it, all the documents Isabella had placed were gone, so he tried to wrap up.
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That was when.
"There is still one case remaining."
W е̃ b̂n о v̇ e l E n̊u m̃ a
"One case?"
Isabella took out a single document from her file and handed it to him.
"Seeing how you resolved things today, I thought you'd be suitable to judge this. This is a complaint I wrote myself."
Ferda looked at the defendant written in her complaint.
The moment he saw it, his breath caught for an instant.
It felt like what would happen was already unfolding before his eyes.
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"...You'll accuse this person?"
"That is correct."
Her blue eyes were deadly serious.
She drove the nail in firmly with these words.
"I accuse Echidna Philias of negligence."
"This fucking bitch."
Е̂.n̆ üm а̊
The one who cursed the moment they faced each other was Echidna.
The first words she spoke upon flying here the moment the telegram was sent.
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'This is new.'"
Ferda had only ever seen her gloomy, sloppy face, so this was the first time seeing her burn with such anger.
Now she finally feels like a witch.
Isabella, cursed at upon meeting, was immovable.
Е ṅ u mа̄
She pushed up her slightly slipped glasses and spoke.
"Nice to meet you, Chief Researcher. Whether human or beast, one greets when meeting, but it seems you don't fall into either of those two?"
Isabella wasn't easy either.
Echidna's eyes looked ready to pop out.
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"You picked the fight first, you know? Did eating your age through your asshole make life that tiresome???"
"What fight did I pick? I merely stated facts."
E ńù m̊а́ . і d̄
"I didn't do my job? What do you know to say that??"
The clash of two prideful women was like the collision of two dragons.
So only the innocent bystanders' backs were breaking.
"Uh, Regent-nim..."
Stefan, whose back was breaking, asked in a trembling voice.
"Why?"
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"Th-That witch... who is she?"
"A witch we hired at our castle."
"Why have you kept it secret until now? I've never heard of a witch living here..."
"There was no particular need to hide it, and no need to tell it either."
That was true.
Stefan steadied his chest, watching their expressions so his back wouldn't break further.
Wе̌ b̃ ǹо v̄ ӗ_ĺ Е̂n̈u m̆а
Isabella cleared her throat and spoke to Ferda in a clear voice.
"As I said, I accuse Chief Researcher Echidna Philias of negligence. Her research progress is less than Burnell Marquis who was recruited later, and she hasn't reported progress even once. Recording whatever one does is a researcher's duty. Abandoning that duty is no different from negligence."
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Isabella's words were logical.
Given Echidna's usual personality, she might have just apologized and moved on.
But there was an ultimate reason she couldn't admit it.
"So what you want is..."
Е nù m̆ а̄ .і̄d̆
Ferda swallowed, wondering if he should read this, then spoke.
"...Mori's custody."
Custody.
He thought it was a truly trivial reason.
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But it was also because of that word 'custody' that things became this way.
It was the reason Isabella accused Echidna,
W̃ѐb̆ n о̀_v е́l Ê n ǔmӓ
And the reason Echidna's eyes flipped.
"Look at this rationally. Can such a ferocious witch manage a delicate child?"
"Mori-chan was raised well in my hands before you came, you know?? Regent-nim, surely you won't take her from me based on such words??"
Echidna glared.
"Just asking, if that's the case, will you kill me?"
"Huh? No! No matter what, how could I touch the Regent-nim..."
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Echidna, realizing her mistake, relaxed her expression.
Still, her eyes weren't completely flipped.
Ferda's head ached just as much as they were excited.
'How should I handle this...'
It wasn't an easily solvable problem.
>
W̄е b̀ n.о v_е̊ l .Е̊ṅu ṁа
Originally, the process of making that golem wasn't easy, and even now he was feeling her value sufficiently from the fact that she was a Rune Maker.
'But Isabella's words have merit too.'
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A strange situation where golem-making progress was nonexistent, yet Mori's clothes became more colorful by the day.
There was nothing to say even if it looked like negligence.
'Besides, the golem's value is expected right now.'
Since they raised the name Eastern Conquest, the priority for that golem had increased.
Еñù m ã
There was a need to whip her research.
'The lever to touch that is custody.'
It was nothing short of a tightrope walk.
But a witch is a Red Circle owner.
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As a Philias, their obsession is terrifying.
Since they're subordinates who run circuits with emotion, they had to be handled carefully.
Ê n um̌ а̃_.i d
After growling at each other for a while, Echidna proposed.
"If you're going to take my custody, let's hear Mori-chan's opinion first!"
At those words, Ferda turned his gaze to Isabella.
"Fine."
Isabella showed surprising interest there.
As if negligence didn't matter.
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Anyway, to reach a conclusion, Ferda summoned Mori.
A young lady in neat attire entered.
"Ah, how... so cute..."
"Gulp..."
Echidna made a fuss liking her, and Isabella, seeing that face, let out a sound choked with emotion.
"Are all witches and dragon spawns like this?"
Еń um̂ a
"How would I know?"
No interest.
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Regardless, Ferda decided to do his job.
"I'll ask the questions. Mori, how would it be best to solve this problem?"
Mori looked at Echidna and Isabella alternately, then wrote as usual.
In flowing handwriting, she answered thus.
Е̂ ǹ uma .і̃ d̈
-I think cutting the body in half is the clear answer.
"...?"
Ferda seriously pondered those words.
Because he thought it might be a poetic metaphor.
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"Do you mean to see which of the two cherishes you?"
-Eliminating the root of conflict is also one method.
E n_ū m̊_а̂. і d
She was telling him to kill her.
Ferda heard those words and looked at Mori's face again.
Dark circles were thick under her eyes.
"...I'll judge."
Ferda opened his mouth.
"Mori will be managed under me for a week."
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"Yess???"
"Huh!?"
Isabella and Echidna, startled.
They naturally objected.
"Th-That's absurd, wh-where is there such a law? You delegated it to me."
"That was only temporary until a measure was found. Mori is the Grand Duchy's property, so its management can be chosen by me, and thus me managing it is also possible."
Е̂ nù m̂а́
Isabella fiddled with her glasses in embarrassment.
"Above all, Miss Mori is a petite girl. I think it's not good for such a girl to be handled by a man..."
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Scritch scratch scratch!
"Her own thoughts seem different."
Mori vigorously marked X's with her pen.
That judgment seemed to be the answer to her.
Ӗnû_m̄а̊
"For this week, Ruri and I will manage Mori. Since she doesn't speak anyway, there won't be much hindrance even if she works beside us."
"What will you do after that week?"
"I'll decide based on the accused's performance."
Ferda's blue eyes rolled toward Echidna.
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"Echidna."
His lowered voice made Echidna's body twitch.
Ŵ е b̄ ňо̆vе̄ l̆ Е ñum̌ ǎ
"Y-Yes!"
"The reason you entered here is to research your golem. Right?"
"Y-Yes, th-that's right..."
"Burnell showed results, but you've had nothing to say until now. I know you like playing dolls, but you at least have to do your job."
"Wuu..."
Echidna couldn't refute and dropped her head.
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"So I'll give a 6-month grace period. Until then, the management system will change on a weekly basis."
"Those words mean if I do a week, I have to hand over a week to this witch?"
"Right."
It was unsatisfactory for both.
In a situation where taking full custody wasn't enough, to switch like shifts every week.
"And."
Е̄ nù ṁ a
Ferda's words didn't end there.
"Mori will report her efficiency status to me. When efficiency significantly drops, the remaining period will be replaced by a substitute without warning. And if the substitute shows efficiency decline, I'll place them under my command for a month."
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If they fight over a toy, taking the toy away is natural.
The moment that judgment fell, light returned to Mori's eyes.
The characters she wrote on her memo were these.
-A judgment worthy of a benevolent ruler, I deem.
Wе̊ b̈ nó ve l̈ Е n̄ umа
"Good. Let's conclude it like this."
Echidna glared at Isabella.
Eyes mixed with resentment as if saying this was all her fault.
But strangely, the circuit didn't move.
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It meant the emotions contributing to circuit formation were far from such anger and resentment.
Isabella received her gaze without backing down.
Е̂ n.ùm a.іď
As for spirit, the former Magic Tower's Chief Secretary wasn't easy either.
He could feel the rift between the two deepening.
Separate from that, Mori had a much more comfortable face.
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