"Now, let's move on to the main topic of the discussion. I am changing the town of Levaerûn. As I observed, there's not much livelihood in this place. Due to the violence around the town, the shop owners are hesitant to hire new faces in their businesses, which is sensible. But we have already talked about the violence inside the town earlier, and now that the human slave shop will be taken down, I'm aware that it will cause more unemployed citizens of the town."
"Oh, right? I didn't think about that." Leo commented while putting his hand on his chin.
He's back to his happy-go-lucky persona again. This guy can change his mood quickly, isn't he?
"I have an idea to prevent the economy from breaking apart. First, I want to make this place self-sustainable. Raiden managed to do it in her faction territory; all we need to do is to expand it throughout the town and open it for everyone; as long as they won't cause any problems inside the town, they're free to live here. Furthermore, we're giving them a safe place and possibly a job to start a new life on."
Leal raised his hand. "I get what you are trying to say; a safe place is feasible, but a job for everyone is too extreme to achieve. You already said earlier that there's too little livelihood in this town; how come we could provide something that we already lacked in the first place?"
"Yeah, I had a lot of thinking about that matter." I shifted my gaze to Raiden.
"Rai, the supplies that you are distributed throughout the town, where are they coming from? Are those supplies exported from another kingdom, or did your faction produce them yourself?"
A proud smile emerged on her face. "Of course, my faction produces it all. I won't stoop to other races for something I can produce but better in quality."
Yep, just like I thought. That's how she managed to turn a single faction into a self-sustained community; her faction can strive independently.
She has great achievements to back up her enormous ego.
"Then, we can use your knowledge and expertise to boost the volumes of livelihood in this place greatly. Please give me a little rundown of what businesses you can easily spread throughout the town for everyone to get employed in.
"Oh my, what could you possibly do without me here? It can't be helped, then. If you want something we can work on right away, how about livestock butchering establishments, metal and stoneworks, and restaurants? We could use some butchers and miners in our business, and it can open an abundance of job opportunities for everyone."
I nodded. "Yes, and we can open multiple meat and workshops and hire more people in the process. However, on that note, if you can easily do it, why haven't you done it before?"
Leal and Leo cleared their throats and looked away.
Ah, I get it.
Raiden breathed out. "I did. But these two imbeciles let all of the establishments I built get destroyed. Well, as expected of the two violent faction leaders that they are. The only thing left is the restaurant I built right next to the marketplace of the Fang faction. It's a good thing that Xin is keeping it safe."
Do you mean it's her business?
Then? What business does Leo have? Just a bunch of human slave shops?
I coughed. "Moving on. I have been seeing the large land around the edges of the town. Do you think we could use that land to create some farmlands? If the ground is good for plantations, we can clear out some portion of the forest to expand it."
"We can; I already have been doing it at the edge of my faction's territory; that's where the crops' products are coming from. There are fruit-bearing trees in the forest and a sea in the northern part of Levaerûn. My people do the labor of producing high-quality salt. Would you like to see them?"
Wow, she really has all of this set, isn't she? As if she had already taken care of every potential problem I would face.
I nodded. "I would like to see it. With that said, the main reason I gathered you all here is that you are the current faction leader of this town. As you know, I'm not that familiar when it comes to managing a huge town with different cultures in it. So I need you to continue governing your factions and be the representatives of each one of the factions after I leave."
That really sounded cool in my head, but now that I already voiced it out, it sounds like I'm just a lazy idiot with a big dream who doesn't want to do the hard job.
"So, you are saying you want us to be the delegates of every faction while working directly under your control, even in your absence? You are appointing us as your second in command?" Raiden clarified while leaning her head on her hand over her knees and attentively staring at me.
Yeah, I know; asking someone as powerful as her to work under me who is far weaker than her, sounds awful, no matter how I put it.
It won't be a surprise if she disagrees.
"Yes."
She nodded. "Very well."
Ah! She agreed. That scared me big time!
"Good. I will lay out my plan tomorrow to discuss it more and how we can execute it. Does anyone still have a question?"
Leo raised his hand. "You just assigned us as your second in command; at least come up with a proper name for the new group you established. I don't want people calling us the former faction leaders of the town of Levaerûn."
"Is it really that important?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with him. You should come up with a fitting name for your second in command. We are a prominent set of people, so it's reasonable to say that we deserve it, no?" Raiden seconded.
I never thought about it.
"Do you have any suggestions in mind?"
Both Leo and Raiden shook their heads.
"You should be the one coming up with it. You are the Boss." Leal suggested.
Even you, Leal?
I exhaled.
I have to do it, then.
There are three of them, each an extremely powerful individual.
Hmmm.
I put my hand on my chin as I stared at them.
"How about...commissioners?"
"Commissioners?" All of them said at once.
"Yes, what do you think?"
Leal and Raiden nodded. "Not bad."
Leo didn't say a word and nodded.
I think he likes the sound of it, I guess?
"I hope everything is settled and you three will help each other. I want to entrust the town with you and hope everything will flow smoothly. Raiden will lead the business, Leal will be in charge of employment, and Leo will be assigned to the law enforcer."
"Okay, I got you, Boss, but why are you leaving so soon? Do you even know what Zephyros looked like?" Leo said.
"Uh, not really," I replied.
"So naive," Raiden said as she stood from her seat. "As I said, the Nation of Zephyros is a nation where free wind blows. But unlike the word free, citizens there were kept in by their Leader, the holy knight of the Augustus Family. He robbed his people's freedom and locked down the nation, preventing them from fleeing and escaping."
"What the hell kind of leader that bastard was?"
"One hell of a bastard, Boss. He hated demi-people. Every beastfolk tribe was turned into their slaves. He was the embodiment of a tyrant," Leo replied.
"He is a skill stealer, Troy," Raiden added. "I want to warn you. He might already steal your skills before you could even imitate it."
Heh, I doubt if Cherubim would want that.
"Don't worry. I have an Ultimate Concealment Skill, so I think I'm safe," I replied without thinking.
"No way," Raiden uttered, which made me turn to her.
"Ha?"
Raiden closed the space between us and looked me in the eye.
"Figures since I can't read your status. Since when have you imitated that kind of skill? I never showed that to you."
Raiden became suspicious again.
"Erm, I…I just had it in me."
"Oi old-ha- I mean Raiden, stop doing that to the Boss. Maybe there's something unique in him that's why he has your concealment skill," Leo said.
"Then how can he explain the Ultimate Elemental Magic? When we were up there fighting, he used it against me, and one of those Inferno Arrows hit me. Common elemental magic can't use such powerful techniques."
Raiden touched her still in bondage wound. And I saw her hissed in pain.
I gulped.
"Maybe there's more about his imitation skills and that he could imitate inactive skills, let alone hiding. Or maybe it does something to the skill he imitates?"
"Oi, what are you trying to imply? It's enough that I imitate skill, period."
"Boss, you're not good at keeping a secret, right?"
"Gah! Enough of that. So how will I enter Zephyros?"
"Via teleportation portal," Raiden answered.
"Tele what?!"