213 Office Politics (2/2)
”Very well,” the two servants answered. While both pretended that the excited king had explained everything perfectly, Ronnie asked the important questions, as always.
”And where will we get that many new recruits as well as the necessary requirements to replace the city guards? Who will train them, and where?”
”For the where, we'll need to open up a new branch for the school. Maybe set up a new building as well Any member of the police should at the very least be able to read and write anyways, some simple knowledge of mathematics would be nice too. That's something they will have to be taught, together with the laws they are meant to protect and uphold. The physical training and martial arts practice needs to be organized too. Right now we're a bit short on teachers, so for the moment they might have to share them with the other students. For the law education we can get some of the Pacha priests to help out. They've been working as judges for a year now, so they should have a basic understanding of Saniya's laws... though I might need to put some more effort into that area, I kinda neglected that so far, what with all the war and somesuch.”
While Corco was talking, the silent Faedlio in the corner of the room kept taking notes to organize the king's disjointed thoughts.
”As for combat training, we'll get some former army people. After this war, there are plenty of injured veterans who can no longer work as soldiers but can still work in this area. Those will also make up the first part of our recruits. Those veterans have shown their loyalty to the crown, and they already have some real combat experience, which counts for a lot. Beyond that, we might be able to recruit some of Sawo's former warriors, at least once their punishment is over. Finally, Quato, I want a few ghosts to step in and take on the role of leaders within the new police system. We'll absolutely need some experienced, loyal warriors in those roles to hammer this disjointed group into a proper unit.”
”However, we barely have enough ghosts to fulfill our current duties,” Quato replied.
”Yeah, I get that, but all of us stretched thin, not only you. Within Saniya, there aren't nearly enough people who have proven their dedication to our cause, and most of them are needed in other places. Since the police force is a core issue for now, you'll have to somehow deal with the lack of personnel in other areas. I'll put you in charge of organizing the police personally. I want to replace the guards by the next harvesting season, before all the villagers enter the city again.”
”Thank you, King Corco,” an elated Quato answered. ”This servant will fulfill his duties to King's satisfaction.”
As he saw the warrior's over-the-top reaction to his promotion as well as his stiff, formal manner, Corco's interest in the topic waned. Everything important had been said anyways, so he chased the servants out of the room with a wave.
”Okay, that's enough for now. You two can leave. Master Bombasticus stays behind a bit longer.”
After the two servants had bowed, one with a smile and one with a frown, they turned and left the king's study. Silence fell over the room as the two friends listened to two pairs of footsteps disappear into the distance. In the end, it was Ronnie who spoke up first.
”As you can see, these disagreements keep cropping up between servants and I am incapable of resolving them. I am really not made for this sort of work. I would much rather spend my time in the laboratory.” At the thought of more administrative work, another sigh escaped the chemist.
”As I said, everyone is stretched thin, and we're all forced into uncomfortable positions.” Corco paused for effect, before he nodded. ”You're right though. Considering the circumstances you've done really well, but you're far more valuable in a lab than in an office. Now that I'm back, there's no more reason for you to waste your time on administration.”
”Fantastic!” An elated Ronnie sat up to fix his lazy posture. ”In fact, I have already been working on a few new ideas. There have been some new artificial colors besides the purple that are as good as ready. With additional time freed up, I am sure I can show you the results very, very soon!”
This time Corco shook his head to deny the chemist his request for research.
”You should focus more on actually training your apprentices for once.”
At the sheer mention of his teaching role, Ronnie was about to jump up, but Corco interrupted him before he could complain.
”I know what you're trying to say: The brats are useless, your genius is wasted, your time is precious. Save it for someone else. We're understaffed everywhere, so you can't keep avoiding your duties as a teacher. At some point, we'll need more than just one chemist in the kingdom, and that point is pretty much now. So far, we somehow got by since we focused on the essentials and only made valuable, complex and impactful compounds. But as we move closer and closer to proper mass production, we will need literal tons of all kinds of acids and bases, among other things. No matter how hard you work, you alone just won't cut it any more. I'd teach them myself but...”
”I understand, the great king's time is precious,” a sour Ronnie replied after Corco's words had drifted off.
”No, you fucking idiot.” The king raised his brows and pointed at his chest. ”It's because I'm an amateur. What the fuck do I know about chemistry? You're the only real expert we have, so you best get to it and make some more of you.”
Although he grumbled a bit more, in the end Ronnie agreed to be more mindful of his apprentices. Maybe, Corco hoped, the new kids would be able to do some simple handiwork in the lab within a year. More and more, he realized that education was the bottleneck for the growth of his empire. Thus, it was even more important to attract talented people from other parts of the empire, and to create a better environment for them to live and work in the future.
”Right, Atau mentioned that some people wanted to see me in regard to... copper mines or something?”
Ronnie thought for a moment, before his face lit up in realization.
”Ah, yes, some traveling people came through here and claimed to have some innate connection to the earth? They claimed they can show us the valuable resources hidden under our soil. Since you weren't here, I let them stay in the city for now, but didn't do much else.”
”...why does this sound like a scam?”
”Who knows how real it is? There are many strange things in this world.”
With a frown, Corco thought about the Pacha faith which also focused on a worship of the earth. Even more, he thought about the strange cultivation he couldn't explain, and about his own second life. More and more, the idea of cultivating geologists seemed possible.
”Put them in some decent place and make sure they're taken care off for now. I'll go meet them once I have the time. In the meantime, you go back to your lab and try to at least find out the names of your students.”
”Right. Then I will get to it. What do you have planned that is more important than those guests, Master Corco?” Ronnie asked.
”Me?” Corco chuckled in response, giddy at the thought of his next duties. ”I haven't been here much over the past months, and when I came back from Chutwa everything else was overpowered by the war stuff. So I get to catch up with all the progress this place has gone through in the meantime. I'm really looking forward to all the new toys my people have prepared for me.”