Chương 111: Chapter 2.48: Doubting Effectiveness

"It would truly be unconscionable not to prevent you from making a mistake." Utter and complete silence settled over the room at the retired Majordomo's proclamation. Favius gritted his teeth as she continued.

"The Young Dominus is no doubt brilliant and blessed with insight by the Gods and Muses alike. Nonetheless, if these projects are truly as vital and grand as they appear to be, it would be best for the Young Lord to focus on his inventions. The pedestrian aspects of the endeavor can be handled by those experienced in matters of organization and logistics." Favius took a long breath. Do I just let her keep talking? Fuck, I don't really understand her social status. He scanned the faces in the room.

Serran had put on his stonily stoic mask. His sisters were studying the elderly woman intently. Most of the craftsmen simply stood there, surprise written clearly across their faces. Even Brutus's expression was serene, but Favius noted the man's controlled breathing. Fucking hell. Maybe he could have helped if he wasn't playing this stupid game with Sirrana.

"Hierarchy," continued Vibia, this time turning to Favius, "is not always an expression of tyranny. After all, even our Republic, where the Constitution and Senate stand supreme, only utilizes that god-given ordering of men within the Hearthmother-sanctified walls of a high city. Yet when the Republic goes to war..." She gestured broadly at the audience.

"Is command not assigned to Strategii? Who in turn command Kilorii, Centurii, and the Decurii, who in the end ensure that even the least talented but loyal soldier finds their place in the line?" Serran took two quick steps towards Vibia, who froze at the moment. But Favius held up his hand, and the Majordomo stopped in an instant. She turned around and studied Favius. The old woman's eyes flicked from side to side across the room, and she swallowed, blinking several times. She spoke up again.

"My Lord, I—" Favius waved her off.

"No, please do continue. After all..." He smiled while a plan formed in his head. She isn't stupid. In fact, she's voicing many of my own doubts, and I won't even pretend that I'm doing this for entirely rational reasons. Well... He shook his head gently. I do believe this is a more rational way to organize things. But in the end... Vibia turned to the audience again, making it clear whom she was addressing.

"If everyone does everything, responsibilities become unclear. A good leader ought to consult his lessers, yet always remain the specialist who decides. He is responsible for the smooth running of the operation and is the one with the power and flexibility to do what needs doing. That..." She gestured broadly.

"Is what I would ask of the Young Dominus: that he focus on his inspirations while allowing experienced people to ensure that his vision comes true. After all..." She lowered her tone and shook her head as if overtaken by great sadness.

"It is far from an uncommon tale that those blessed with divine insight fail to realize their potential because they were overwhelmed by the mundanities that others could have—no!" She raised a finger towards the ceiling.

"Should have handled for them." Favius swallowed in the ensuing silence. A few people were whispering in the audience, but most were studying her. No. They are studying me, looking for how I'm going to react to this. In the end, Favius inclined his head.

"Thank you, Lady Vibia." The whispers redoubled, and the elderly woman turned around, raising her eyebrows at Favius's friendly tone. He continued with a broad smile.

"For demonstrating how I believe this organization should be run. I provided an initial model, and you engaged in just the kind of critique..." He gestured broadly.

"... we all need to realize the potential of these projects."

"That's not—" she began, her face visibly flushing. But Favius interrupted her with two raised fingers.

"Your experiences and beliefs are valuable. They will be taken into account. Yet instead of such an open discussion..." He pointed at her standing in the center of the room.

"I had already thought of how to do this and prepared a mechanism." He gestured towards the servants, who still stood there waiting with piles of differently colored wax tablets.

"Young Lord, no, I meant—" she began. But suddenly Brutus's rumbling voice filled the room.

"I believe the Young Lord made his position clear, didn't he?" Everyone froze, and Favius's eyes flicked towards the armed cultivator. Is this a good look? I reframed her argument, and now Brutus is shutting her down publicly. Then again... His eyes fell upon Serran, who was using a handkerchief to wipe sweat from his brow. I think she already overstepped by speaking up in the first place. Still, if I shut her down too directly, my actions disprove my words. Fucking hell.

Vibia visibly took a step back, yet rallied one last time.

"My Lords, I merely meant to say that, with my duty and my—""Enough," said Brutus.

"The Young Dominus was explaining something and is, in his youth, still too polite to hold the line of propriety. I, however..." Brutus almost purred the words.

"Shan't be disrespected in such a way." Vibia swallowed hard and fell back. Favius nodded at Brutus, whose expression was still. But before Favius could decide how to continue, Serran walked over to him, sweaty handkerchief in hand.

"Dominus," he said.

"Might we speak?" He gestured towards the antechamber where they had talked before, his shoulders visibly tense. Favius chuckled. Jesus, I feel like I'm having more interruptions than presentations here.

"Of course, Majordomo." He raised his voice.

"I will always be open to hearing any critique that holds merit." Favius took the lead, and a brief moment later, Serran closed the wooden door behind them. The Majordomo instantly bowed deeply, his hands clasped together.

"Young Lord, please forgive me. And please forgive Vibia. She... she..." For the first time, the Majordomo stuttered before shaking his head. Favius smiled encouragingly.

"Her tongue has grown sharper than her political acumen in retirement. It seems I had not accounted for this. If you wish to see her removed after what she did—" If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Favius waved him off. He stepped forward and squeezed the man's arm as Serran again wiped sweat from his face.

"Serran, it's fine. It was unexpected, but I think I handled it." Favius paused and looked into the man's eyes.

"Didn't I?" The Majordomo paused, and a smile spread across his face.

"Yes. Yes, My Lord. You did handle it well. Nonetheless..." His expression hardened.

"I shall be having words with her. Addressing her speech to the people like that..." Serran shivered, and Favius nodded, his thoughts already racing. All right, I think the presentation with the books... Yes, I mean, I have settled on the cues with my sisters, so...

"However, if I may," said Serran after walking over to a side table and emptying an entire cup of watered-down wine. He held one out to Favius, and the boy accepted it gratefully. While he took a sip, Serran spoke up.

"While her actions were unacceptable, I myself was quite surprised by what you proposed. Thus, I believe her criticism itself is not without merit." Favius managed to smile. This was always going to happen. He let out a long breath and allowed his shoulders to slump.

"I know, Serran. It's not that I myself don't have doubts, but really, what we are doing is unprecedented in the Republic in..." Favius patted his coin purse.

"More than one way." The Majordomo sighed.

"Indeed. Yet nonetheless, there might be wisdom in appointing foremen. A small circle..." Serran rotated his hand.

"Who you could educate, who would then carry forth your ideas into the workshop." Favius shook his head.

"No. This..." He paused and felt the heavy weight of guilt in his stomach. By the Gods. If I could only tell him about Earth, tell him that there is precedent for this, he would be more accepting. But... No, that's on the list of things to do. But doing it here and now would be stupid. Favius cut himself off.

"Do you mind if I answer this in public? After all, otherwise I would only have to repeat myself to address what Vibia said." The Majordomo inclined his head.

"That would be appreciated, Young Lord." Favius gulped down the rest of the watery wine, set the cup on the table, and walked towards the door. Approaching it, he heard the indistinct chattering of murmured and not-quite-so-murmured conversations. Yet the moment he cracked the door open, silence fell over the room like a gavel. Favius again used pneuma in the technique Marcus had taught him to project the appearance he wanted and stepped back onto the center of the stage.

"I thank you all for your patience," he began.

"The Majordomo brought some vital concerns to my attention in..." He looked first at the smiling Serran, then at the uncomfortably shifting Vibia.

"A manner that befits his station." He noted the Majordomo and Brutus nodding in approval. Well, not that I actually believe that. Or maybe... Favius kept himself from finishing the thought. After all, praise in public, criticize in private is something I've heard on Earth before. Still, he turned to Vibia.

"Lady Vibia Severa, your concerns shall be taken into account. Yet in the future, I would appreciate some..." He paused and, with a smile, let the moment linger.

"Subtlety in our public interactions." Chuckles rose from the older people across the room, and even Serran's face twitched into a smile. The elderly woman lowered her head deeply.

"I—" she began, then straightened.

"I thank the Young Lord."

"Nonetheless," continued Favius, "I should explain why we need the structures I am proposing. Hierarchy..." He raised two fingers beside his head.

"... and efficiency are indeed supreme when it comes to many tasks. Farming, mining clay, or hauling wood. All of those are well known, so the only question that remains is how to perform them as efficiently and safely as possible." He spread his arms as if embracing the room.

"But what we are doing is rather different." He pointed towards the table of demonstration objects, and Urania caught his intent in an instant.

"The hives..." She gestured with both hands, drawing the audience's attention.

"The soap and paper..." She held a printed sheet and a collection of various soaps aloft.

"Their making requires deep expertise, experimentation, and coordination." Favius nodded.

"While efficiency still matters, effectiveness stands supreme above it. Feedback and understanding are required to prevent foolish mistakes in complex tasks." He gauged the audience's reaction, and by now a good half of them were nodding along, yet many still seemed to be considering the issue. Well, she used Republican politics and the military as examples, so... He turned to the side where Brutus stood like a statue, leaning on his axe as if it were not an expensive arcane artifact but merely a walking staff.

"In military affairs, things can be simple, yet every soldier understands that the ultimate task is to defeat the enemy. However, if tasks are complex, if every unit, every group in the workshop works with perfect efficiency yet does not understand what the others are doing..." Favius shook his head, mirroring the sadness that Vibia had projected several times.

"What use is it if, in ignorance, workers make mistakes that other teams have to undo? If one team only ever curses the other because they seem to get everything wrong?" He again raised two fingers.

"There must be mutual understanding for industry to be as productive and effective as possible."

"Exactly," called out Caliga, and Favius's eyes fell upon her. Before he could even wonder, she winked at him. Then his older sister gestured at the servants, who had been standing there for a long while holding the stacks of wax tablets, to place them in front of the three respective groups. With a chagrined expression, Favius studied their relieved faces as they finally put down their burdens.

"But," Caliga continued, "we will discuss and work out everything through those tablets. They will become what my brother calls..." She gestured at Favius, who took over.

"The living heart of each workshop: the Book of Issues."

"Caliga, how will the Book of Issues work?" Urania asked. His older sister grinned, and while she spoke, Favius took some time to study the different attitudes in the audience. A few were clearly trying to conceal their murmuring with their neighbors. Others seemed to have decided simply to follow the show.

"The Book of Issues," Caliga began, "is something every worker will spend a quarter of an hour with each week. You are to read the entries of the others..." She raised her first finger.

"Make one to three entries of your own and think about how to improve the workshop."

"What sort of entries ought to be made in the books?" asked Serran, taking Urania's line. His younger sister barely avoided huffing, and Favius could not help the smile that spread across his lips.

"Most obvious to them. Ideas, issues, whatever annoys them, whatever they think should be improved next. That way, all the ideas that are in people's heads..." He tapped his temple.

"Or are spoken between people..." He gestured at Serran.

"Are made legible for everyone. The expertise builds, can be discussed, and becomes collective."

"Exactly," continued Caliga.

"To begin with, each workshop will have a weekly discussion where we see what we need to change about structures and processes. After all..." She grinned broadly.

"It's on us to make sure that my brother's ideas actually work in practice." Chuckles erupted throughout the room, and Favius puffed himself up in mock offense while shaking a finger at his sister. The laughter redoubled, but Favius's thoughts were racing. After all, this is why I hired only literate workers. But still, I really do hope this all works out. Ultimately, I need a system like this if I want to get this world ready for the war between worlds. I cannot do it on my own. I need other people. He swallowed.

No, I need a culture that innovates and iterates and that I can rely on. While his thoughts were running, his eyes fell upon Vibia. To his surprise, the reprimanded former Majordomo was not sulking. Instead, she was leaning forward, studying the piles of wax tablets with an intrigued expression. Favius's eyes widened in surprise. I thought she would be angry, but no, she seems to be engaged. He smiled. Maybe I can actually work with her.

The event wound down after that, and people plundered the buffet while socializing. Favius meandered through the crowd, remembering names and the previous occupations of various workers, especially his own, though also those who appeared important in the other social groups. Yet as day turned to evening, he found himself standing together with Brutus and Serran. Serran gestured at Brutus, and Favius felt the cultivator's electric aura settle around them.

"That was certainly an interesting afternoon," began Serran. Favius chuckled alongside his protector.

"Still, Young Master, those work circles and the Book of Issues..." Serran shook his head.

"I could almost see them working. But if this fails to produce results, your father..." Favius raised two fingers.

"I am well aware that while I have the legal right to do everything I'm doing here, practicality outweighs all." Serran nodded and looked across the room at Antonius, who had been a silent observer all day.

"Indeed. Your father is likely to have questions." Favius let his head slump, but in the end nodded.

"It's not that this is unexpected. In fact, I planned for this." He looked at Serran and smiled.

"Let's make a deal, Serran, shall we?" The Majordomo raised a mistrustful eyebrow, but Favius's smile only widened.

"Give me one cycle of seasons during which you fully support this. If by then you still think the system is unworkable, I will leave all organization to you." Brutus chuckled.

"Favius, the Majordomo is obviously just worried about his shares." Serran took a step back and flinched as if he had been struck.

"My Lord, I would never—" Favius laughed.

"No, you should, Serran. After all, that's why I gave you those shares."

"But nonetheless, my duty to the familia—" he began. Brutus snorted.

"Such a system of participation is far from uncommon among heroic parties. Even in my time with Titus..." He shook his head, and his expression grew wistful.

"He used to lead. Yet whenever one of the other four held more expertise, they would take command. And that is to say nothing of how loot is shared on a pirate ship." Serran's expression soured.

"Certainly, I cannot deny that there is precedent for such an organization. However..." He swallowed the next word he was about to say and nodded.

"Yes, there is precedent. Very well." They all nodded at one another, and Favius grinned, looking over the mingling workers and even catching a glimpse of Urania in animated conversation with Vibia. This. All of this. I sure hope it will become something worth remembering.