Chương 1599: [1504] – Y07.004 – First Rays of Dawnval IV

The business had shifted towards the centre, for they numbered almost two hundred, almost a fifth of the typical population of Iyrmen who were set to stay within the Front Iyr. To Adam's estimations, a little under half of the business were children, so he was glad they were settled towards the centre, mixed along with a vast number of Iyrmen, and though the business preferred to keep the company of other members, the Iyr did not allow such a luxury.

As the half elf approached the central plaza, that which was formed of a large central area where a fire would often rage, he noted roughly half of the active business figures remained, those who wore bronze thread along their collar, revealing their position of the business, those who made roughly ten gold each month, quite a fair sum, though the business also dealt with almost every other expense imaginable.

'The Iyr called for them to work even on the first day of the year?' the half elf thought.

'I guess it's best to keep them busy and keep their minds off of everything?' As the half elf approached, he waved towards many of the members with bronze thread, glad to see they were mingling together, thanks to the various Leads. As his eyes darted around, he noted a few of the silver and gold thread weren't about, though he supposed it made sense that the Golden Savages weren't about, since they preferred to keep their blades wet, and the Iyr would be more than happy to keep them busy.

"Oh? Nobby's working today too, is he?"

"He's still in the village, Executive," Lead Rick said, his face heavily scarred from his rough life, his hair and beard neatly trimmed, carrying a blade at his side of fine design, for it was designed by a particular fool of a father.

"Oh, right, yes," Adam said, clearing his throat lightly, his eyes darting about, realising he had also allowed Nobby's family to spend their time in the nearby village.

"Any news?"

"We are blessed to have little news."

"You can say that again."

"We are blessed to have little news," Rick repeated.

"It was just…" Adam shook his head lightly.

"Anyways, uh, if everyone could gather round for a quick meeting?" It wasn't long before the various members took their place before the half elf, who spotted how many children were missing, only to realise they were probably in school too.

"I hope everyone has had a good morning thus far," Adam began, flashing a charming smile towards the rest of the business.

"I reckon that you'll probably have to remain within the Front Iyr for this year too, sorry about that, but the Reavers are still ravaging across the land, and your safety is a great priority. Once more, I want to apologise, for though I should go out to deal with them, there's just so much to do."

Although the half elf joked, there was a darkness within his tone, and an arrogance that suggested, he, the Crazy Father, could really deal with the Reavers, in which the combined forces of Aldland, Floria, and Aswadasad were currently engaged in dealing with, each with armies in the tens of thousands, if not a hundred thousand. However, it was the last few words which caused a dark atmosphere to sweep through them, staining the morning with an anxiety.

"I'm not sure if there's anything else to say, but if you need anything, you can send word to the various Leads. Is there anything right now which troubles anyone?" One of the men elbowed another lightly, causing him to rub his side gently. However, his cousin spoke up on his behalf.

"Executive, we wished to ask, you mentioned you were going to leave to Aswadasad some time this year, and we were wondering, when you go, how many of the warriors of the business will you take?"

"A great question, Lead Jeremy, uh, we were planning on taking a few, just those at the top, mostly the Executives, maybe a couple of the Managers, but otherwise most of the business' warriors will remain behind." Adam had realised if the Iyr was going to send so many great warriors, taking Experts may have been a bad idea, for it might end up wounding their hearts.

"Thank you, Executive." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Executive," said someone who looked near identical to Jeremy, both tall, strongly build, with dark eyes. The pair wore a breastplate, carrying near identical blades at their side too.

"I have a small issue."

"Yes, Lead Remy?" Remy smiled.

"Ah, well, I suppose if you've promoted me to Lead, I have no issues at all."

"If neither of you were Leads, I'd be a fool for real, and I'm not that stupid," Adam said, smiling towards the pair, and as the pair eyed him up with furrowed brows, the half elf's smile dropped. He reached into his robe, opening up his journal, flipping to the last page where he found the names of the top of the business, those who wore gold thread around their collars.

He skipped those at the top, the Executives and the Managers, eyeing up all the Leads and those who still wore gold thread, though did not hold the title of Lead.

"Oh. You really aren't Leads, and not just that, but you're both wearing silver thread too?"

"That's right, Executive."

"That doesn't sound right at all. Didn't I promote you guys last year?"

"Perhaps you did, Executive, though you may not have written it down or informed us."

"You know what, I think that might have been what happened, actually. Well, I'm very sorry about that, although I suppose we can say that you can keep those magical weapons if I already didn't say so, and I can promote you both to Leads right now. In fact, let me double check, since there are probably a few of you I should promote." Adam skimmed through his book, noting all the names.

'I guess I could promote… I don't know, I think we have enough Leads? Although, maybe I should at least hand over a few silver out?' As the half elf stood awkwardly before them, checking through his notes, the red skinned Iyrman smiled towards them all.

"Executive, should you not inform them of the fact one of the Executives has stepped down?"

"Who?" Adam asked, taken out of his thoughts. As Jogak raised his brows, the half elf nodded, flushing lightly.

"Right, uh, as some of you may have noticed, Executive Jaygak has been missing for some time, and she has chosen to step down in order to take the place of an Elder within the Iyr." While some of the newer members tried to recall who Jaygak was, a few of the more experienced members blinked, taken aback.

"Sorry, Executive, did you say Executive Jaygak is now an Elder of the Iyr?" Remy asked.

"That's right."

"Not a Great Elder, but an Elder?" Jeremy asked.

"I hope so," the half elf joked.

"Is there an issue with Jaygak taking the place of a Great Elder?" Jogak asked, half offended by his nephew's words. However, as the half elf side eyed his uncle, Jogak fell silent.

'That Jaygak?' Rick thought, glancing aside to the others, who knew of the young woman. However, though she was perhaps a little troublesome, so they had seen and heard throughout their years together, many of them had experienced her blade, and the understanding.

Jaygak was unlike the other Executives, each monsters in their own right, especially the half elf before them, but even Jurot, the grandson of the Mad Dog, and Kitool, related to one of the Ten Paragons, were each figures who were terrifying monsters, considered among the most talented within the Iyr.

It was Jaygak, whose talent was considered acceptable, average, within the Iyr, from her family, who understood their hearts, they who were born as farmers and porters, and yet had somehow claimed the rank of Expert, though even then, they were not like many of the Experts across the land. However, upon thinking of Jaygak's feats, it was not entirely surprising she could claim such a grand title.

"How wonderful," Aria, one of the guards, said, causing mummers of congratulations to pass through the business. Jogak picked up his daughter, whispering in the Iyr's tongue.

"Do you hear that? Everyone is showing respect to your kaka." The girl flushed lightly, clutching her father's collar, trapping him.

"Kaka?"

"Ah, you must call her Elder now?"

"Kaka?" Jogak relented, allowing the girl to bury her head within his neck, the Iyrman still beaming proudly, and if those who recently joined didn't know who Jogak was, they certainly knew he was the Elder's father considering the joy upon his face.

"I think, for now, promoting Jeremy and Remy to Leads makes the most sense, although if there's anyone who wants to talk about it, they can let me know. I want to apologise to you both, though, Jeremy, Remy, I thought I had promoted you when I had promoted the sisters into Leads."

"It's completely fine, Executive, we know you've been busy," Jeremy said, half saluting the half elf.

"Aye, and if you require any support when you and yours head to Aswadasad, I'll be more than eager to accept," Remy promised.

"Ah, well, I suppose I won't be able to, since it's a matter of the Iyr?" Adam said, glancing aside to Jogak, who nodded, more so for justification.

"As you say," Remy said, instantly retreating, since he wasn't sure if his heart could handle such intense stress. Even if he had reached the realm of an Expert, a dream he hadn't dared to even consider as a porter, he wasn't sure if being an Expert would save him from something like a matter of the Iyr.

"May I join you?" asked a young woman, on the shorter side, though quite muscular, her copper hair cut short. She was darker of skin, bronze, like the Kans, her eyes dark, almost black, adorned in a freshly forged breastplate, untested as of yet, and wielded a beautiful blade at her side.

"I may not be able to refuse the Sword of the Lady, but the Iyr may."

"I would like to-," Lani began, only to realise she could not be so playful, not just because of her title, but because this was one of the only matters in which she couldn't trouble the Iyr, regardless of her title or position within her Order.

"I shall request permission properly."

'It might be difficult even for you,' Adam thought, not realising who she was going to ask.