The new warden was a handsome man in his early thirties. Upon seeing Charlotte, he couldn't help but laugh, "Mr. Mecklenburg, you shouldn't be working here anymore."
Charlotte didn't recognize him, but it was clear the warden knew him, making the situation quite intriguing. Charlotte could only respond, "I haven't received my transfer order yet, so I naturally have to fulfill my duties."
The new warden laughed, "The first official act I will carry out as the new warden is to issue your transfer order, Mr. Mecklenburg."
Indeed, the new warden called Charlotte to his office and issued his transfer order. Charlotte learned that he had become the "glorious" Commander of the City Patrol in the Lukavaro District!
A civil servant's rank of document officer and a military position like sergeant major are both considered low-ranking nobility. At this level, there is an opportunity to become a manager with a political office, and as the Commander of the City Patrol, Charlotte now held a political office with the rank of third-level document officer.
This meant that Mr. Charlotte Mecklenburg had been promoted again, now ranking as a thirty-fifth-level official in the empire.
According to imperial law, city patrols nationwide are organized by district. Each district's patrol has one commander (civil) and one chief inspector (military), working together to manage daily affairs. Nominally, all city patrols report directly to the Crown Prince, with no direct superior. However, in practice, no Crown Prince has ever intervened in city patrol affairs.
The new work location was in the Lukavaro District, making his new title: Charlotte Mecklenburg, Commander of the City Patrol in the Lukavaro District.
After receiving the transfer order, Charlotte thanked the new warden, left Kilmainham Gaol, and decided to check out his new office first. The adventurers could wait a few more hours.
Charlotte was curious about the Lukavaro District's city patrol because, to his knowledge, there seemed to be no city patrol in that outer district.
An hour later, he found himself staring at a deserted estate, confirming he had not found the wrong place. The Lukavaro District's city patrol office was located at No. 1 Falcon Street, an abandoned estate covering over six thousand square meters. Despite its size and prime location opposite the district government office, it had been abandoned for years with no signs of recent occupation.
Covering his forehead, Charlotte muttered, "I wasn't wrong; there really is no city patrol in the Lukavaro District."
He was certain someone was targeting him. Although he had indeed been promoted, the deserted office indicated this was more of an exile than a promotion.
Charlotte even walked through the abandoned estate to ensure it was completely deserted and found multiple dens of weasels before heading back to his carriage.
Without further delay, he headed straight to Machu Picchu. Though unsure if seeking help from his mentor, Menier Man, would work, he decided to handle this himself. A man should rely on his own strength rather than others.
Unbeknownst to Charlotte, Menier Man had indeed become a naval officer, was recalled to Strasbourg, and was currently busy with military duties, no longer in the capital.
On the way, Charlotte opened the money bag to find a thick stack of fifty fol currency notes. Though he expected a substantial sum, he was surprised to find one hundred and fifty notes totaling seven hundred and fifty ecus.
This unexpected windfall effectively doubled his wealth.
Charlotte considered paying off the mortgage on his house on Elysee Fields Avenue 58 with this money and possibly buying a carriage or starting a business.
After a day and a half, Charlotte saw Machu Picchu again, feeling a wave of nostalgia. Since the fortress had become a maze, he felt a subtle connection with it, allowing him to sense most of what was happening inside the maze.
This connection was weaker than direct perception, like a near-sighted person watching a movie without glasses—enough to understand the plot but not the characters' details.
Approaching the fortress, Charlotte re-established his connection with Machu Picchu and chuckled, "Interesting, Earl Leo is also trapped."
Charlotte asked the carriage driver to wait outside while he entered the fortress alone.
The conference hall was deserted and chaotic, with signs of a fierce battle and two unfamiliar corpses. After a moment of contemplation, he ventured deeper into the fortress, walking leisurely as if in his own home.