Chương 182: Summary

Although I'd tested my chain of interconnected plants before, I still wasn't sure what to expect from a long conversation. To initiate the conversation, I leaned into the plant and said, "Calling, calling, calling." The plant, of course, transmitted the sound. It took a few seconds to complete, and echoes rumbled back through the leaves, creating interference. I mitigated it by holding the plant's lower leaves and only letting two rattle at a time.

At least right now, the plant was still a sapling, and there weren't many leaves to contain. A few seconds later, a voice rustled through the plant. I would have said it crackled like radio static, but it didn't exactly do that. A sound, more like the rustling of leaves on a tree, created interference, and I had to strain my ears to make out the voice on the other end of the line.

"Cuthward will be here soon," the voice replied.

"Who are you?" I asked. I didn't want to sound too accusatory, but I also didn't recognize the voice.

"I am his assistant, Sir Levi. He appointed me three days ago to help organize himself and all the tasks he had to do. Now, if you would let me go find him, I will return as soon as I can."

"Sorry, yes. Please. Once you send Cuthward, can you also find Hardric?"

"Of course, sir." I waited a few minutes, leaning on the windowsill and watching the crescent of Welkinmere circle overhead. Finally, the plant rattled again, and Cuthward's voice came through.

"Apologies, Levi. I wasn't sure when you would try to speak to me."

"Do you think we could make this a weekly call?" I asked.

"Say, around this time precisely?"

"I could do that."

"Now, have there been any problems so far? Anything I should know about?"

"The Greencloaks haven't reported anything, but the ranchers were reporting the booming of wicca Arts three days ago. I assume they were responsible for that disturbance."

"What about the gophers? Have they been an issue?"

"Not yet. The squad you left behind has been capturing them and dragging them back to the garrison to help train up your new recruits. It's a group effort, but it seems to be working out for them." I nodded, even though Cuthward couldn't see me. It was good to hear the squads taking initiative.

"I assume that means training has been going well?"

"They've been following your instructions to the letter."

"Excellent." I paused.

"Are there any Labyrinth entrances nearby?"

"There is one in the valley wall, about a day's trek north. The cultists would've kept the upper levels clear, and there wasn't much to worry about orc-wise." I grimaced.

"You should place watchmen there. Hinlaw doesn't just control cultists. Him and his allies have used suppression collars on orcs in the past, using the beasts for their own benefit. And with the routes between the Labyrinths open underground, there's a chance of an orc attack from there. Be ready."

"I will arrange it immediately, Sir Levi."

"Thanks." That had been nagging me for a little while, and it was good to get it off my chest.

"Otherwise, the wall has been progressing well," Cuthward told me, filling the silence.

"It is nearly complete. We just need the smiths to finish the hinges for the gates, and then add the watchtowers at even intervals."

"Have you made much progress with the bureaucratic side of things?" I asked.

"You know, decentralizing the portreeve's power?"

"I have been drafting up the necessary paperwork, all awaiting your seal," Cuthward said. He sighed.

"It has been a long process, and there are plenty of messes to untangle. Tunmod created so many laws and conflicting pieces of legislation. We're trying to find out what's absolutely necessary, and what can be tossed away without consequence." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"I trust you're doing a good job," I said.

"Just let me know when it's done."

"It will be done, sir. Lastly…there have been rumours circulating." Cuthward paused.

"I don't believe it is official yet, however I'm told that Lord Hinlaw has been trying to create a law punishing 'malicious words.' Should this go through…are we expected to comply?"

"What would it do?"

"Effectively, it seems like it would punish anyone who openly criticizes the cultists. All across the domain, now, and backed by Hinlaw's armies." I rubbed my forehead.

"Well, we're not part of his domain anymore. He can't make us comply, except by military force."

"He might try that."

"What do you mean? He would start a civil war?"

"He could, possibly, accuse you of tolerating malicious and harmful sentiments towards a peaceful religion. He's setting up reasons to depose you. He's trying to turn public sentiment against you in a battle of words."

"Surely, the people in his armies and just the general people of his land know about the cultists, though? And know what they get up to?"

"Some do," Cuthward said.

"Soon, they won't be allowed to speak about it, though. The anti-cult sentiment is concentrated in the countryside and in smaller cities like Hyrdford. In the larger, insulated cities, it isn't as much of an issue, because the cults aren't that much of an issue." I hung my head.

"I don't believe people are that blind…"

"Then you've never been to Steelshore. Were you born there, you might be just as blind as the locals."

"That sounds like something we don't have much sway over," I said.

"Don't comply, unless a Subtle Man forces you to. You're part of Lord Ceonwin's domain, now, and you don't have to worry about what they're doing in Hinlaw's domain. Protect Hyrdford, and decentralize the portreeve's power before the new appointee arrives."

"Can't he just replace all the law we're tossing away and reverse everything you did?"

"It requires my seal, right?"

"Correct." I chuckled under my breath.

"Well, I won't give him that, so we won't have to worry about it." After a few seconds, a new voice cut into the line. Hardric. He said, "Good evening, Sir Levi."

"Is everything alright with the guild?" I asked. He gave a detailed update of everything they'd worked on over the past few days. The most critical task was finding buyers, so he sent out the workers who he thought would be the best salesmen. They were to travel through Ceonwin's Domain, and higher north to the mountain Orders, where they could potentially find buyers.

"There's an Order in the mountains who is looking to replace some powerful healing potions that they used recently," Hardric added.

"The…Dun Altir Order, I'm told. It's just a rumour, but they could be excellent buyers."

"Excellent," I told him.

"And you're managing the strain alright?"

"For now, sir, yes. I'm not sure if I'll be able to maintain this pace forever."

"Don't kill yourself," I said.

"If you need to delegate, we have the financial freedom—for now—to bring a few more workers into the guild. Make sure they're hard workers, sure, but as long as they know what they're doing, we should be fine."

"Should be?" I inhaled sharply.

"Will be." I still had to run my financials past Abacus to make sure everything was in order. I shouldn't have been making promises like that yet, but I needed to reassure him. After that, we said our goodbyes. I released the plant's leaves, letting the interference take hold, and effectively closing the line. It was already late enough, and I needed to sleep. Besides, Anchor and Brawl shared our room, and they could still hear me talking. I didn't need to keep them up any longer.

~ ~ ~ The next morning, after my usual routine of grooming Burr and eating breakfast, I put on my armour, took hold of my spear, and checked my stats. Vitality: 72 Agility: 77(+4) Strength: 75(+10) Perception: 49(+1) Focus: 95 Presence: 104 Back on track, I thought to myself. Almost three attributes a week in everything except Perception. And, of course, the boost from my spear. When I gripped the shaft, the (+10) appeared on the reading slate, and when I let go, it disappeared.

As for my Skills, there was no change. I needed to try using some of the proper spear styles today. Last week, I'd gotten sidetracked trying to escape the Labyrinth's lower level and dealing with lava monsters, and the thought of using a new spear technique hadn't even crossed my mind. Today, I'd need something that could keep me at a distance and used fast jabs, so it didn't burn my spear too much.

Over the past week of sparring, I'd practiced multiple styles from the spear manual, and today, I was going to draw on the Needle of Twere —a defensive style, but one that would suit my needs. After checking my stats, I joined up with my squad and led them to the cellar, where our spools of rope waited.

"Brawl, can you carry ours?" I asked.

"Of course, brother." He slung his shield over his back and hoisted up the spool of rope.

"I assume we plan on being the first team?" I lifted my chin, angling it toward the Drillmaster. The elder Dupe stood at the end of the hall, arms crossed as he stared at us.

"Today, every squad is expected to coordinate. You will need to arrive at the descent dish as quickly as possible, and all of you will need to do it—you will need all the rope you have made. Pick a leader, pick a squad to stay behind to lift up the dish, and do not fight amongst yourselves. Go."