Evil dragon has a warm heart

Chapter 74 - 74 74 Manor Meeting (Part 2)

?Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Manor Meeting (Part 2) Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Manor Meeting (Part 2) “The responsibilities of the Chancellor of Records are…, the responsibilities of the Chief of Public Security are…, the responsibilities of the Court Chief are… blah blah blah…”

Compared to Russell’s concise and to-the-point manner, Charles, the first Chancellor of Records of the Wuyao Snake Manor, tended to be much more verbose.

Fortunately, he stayed on topic and didn’t stray from the subject matter.

“Blah blah blah… Thus, we will proceed to elect a few administrative officials under the supervision of the Chancellor of Records, which include the Tax Officer, Agriculture and Pastoral Officer, Education Officer, Diplomatic Officer, and Health Officer… By the way, the three chiefs can concurrently hold the above positions as well.”

Once Charles finished speaking,
Russell, seeing the serf technician and tun leader of the Magic Medicine Tun, Red-Nosed Rudi in the crowd, suddenly had an idea and interjected, “Charles, let’s also add a Technical Officer, responsible for the research, development, and promotion of magic potion and magical material cultivation techniques.”

“As you wish,” Charles replied amiably.

The nominations began immediately after, and as the Chancellor of Records, Charles first nominated a candidate. Then followed by Chief of Public Security Eric, and Court Chief Hans, who each in turn nominated a candidate.

Furthermore, everyone seated at the small market, including representatives of the serfs, were allowed to raise their hands to nominate candidates, or nominate themselves.

Ultimately, officials were confirmed by a show of hands.

Of course.

If Russell had someone suitable in mind, he just needed to say the word, and it would become the final outcome—because what Russell said was the law of the manor.

The lively nomination process lasted a full hour, finally selecting several officials under the Chancellor of Records.

Katie was confirmed as Tax Officer, while Old Hans doubled as Agriculture and Pastoral Officer, Charles also served as Education Officer and Diplomatic Officer, Catherine as Health Officer, and Red-Nosed Rudi as Technical Officer. The list was approved by Russell, and officials immediately took office.

Subsequently, the election of officials under the Chief of Public Security began, which included the commanding officers (Knight Commanders) and deputies (Knight Deputies) for the knights’ corps, the rangers’ corps, and the patrol team.

Half an hour later, the Knight Commander of the manor’s knights’ corps was confirmed to be Eric in a concurrent role, while Katie simultaneously served as the Ranger Commander of the Cave Ranger Squad.

The Manor Knights Corps established the Public Security Patrol Team, led by the Knight Deputy, who was Russell’s Knight Attendant Tom; the Cave Ranger Squad also established the Grotto Patrol Team, led by the Knight Deputy, fulfilled by Catherine.

Lastly, the election for the Court Chief’s officers began, with only three positions available.

The Judge was Hans serving concurrently, the defence officer was appointed by Russell to Ranger Halls, which was a way to ingratiate himself with the Cavern Free People. The escort officer was carried out by Russell’s Knight Attendant John.

“Sir, all manor officials have been elected. In total, there are three chiefs and six regular officials—nine officials altogether,” Charles reported to Russell, summarizing the nominees, and also publicly announcing them to all the serfs of the manor.

Charles, Eric, Old Hans, Katie, Catherine, Red-Nosed Rudi, Knight Attendant Tom, Knight Attendant John, Ranger Halls.

Although not many in number, and most holding multiple positions, this was ample.

With Wuyao Snake Manor being of its current size and population, nine officials were sufficient to meticulously manage all affairs of the territory.

“Let’s proceed to the next process, Charles,” Russell said.

“Certainly.”

This was a comprehensive and far-reaching manor meeting, with the following process being the adjustment of tun leaders and serf overseers, as well as the selection of twenty subordinate clerks—after all, the officials needed subordinates to run errands.

Currently, Wuyao Snake Manor had seven tuns.

“Rename Pea and Wheat Hamlet to Market Hamlet,” Russell changed the name of one tun, considering it good fortune to welcome a new atmosphere.

So, the seven tuns were now Market Hamlet, Magic Medicine Tun, Grotto Village, Barley Hamlet, Wheat Hamlet, Alfalfa Hamlet, and Lentil Hamlet.

“Market Hamlet currently has 854 people and 143 farming households, divided into fourteen ridges. The former headman was Iron Arm Dunn, who is also the owner of the blacksmith shop,” Charles looked at Dunn in the crowd and asked, “Dunn, will you continue to run for headman of Market Hamlet?”

Dunn, who is about fifty, has a thick beard. Due to years of blacksmithing, his arms are thicker than the thighs of an ordinary man.

“Of course, Sir,” Dunn stood up, his voice resonating as he spoke. “I would like to continue serving the Lord.”

“Good, Dunn is running. Who else wants to run for headman?”

“I, I would like to run,” the bakery owner stood up, “Lord, gentlemen, please allow me to introduce myself. I am the bakery owner, everyone calls me Top-hat Posey. I believe I am more suitable for the headman of Market Hamlet than Iron Arm Dunn.”

Following him, a few other Market Hamlet serfs stood to express their desire to run for the headman position.

Although the headman is not an official and does not receive a salary.

But compared to ordinary serfs, a headman can pay less tax, and this alone is enough to make the serfs eagerly compete for the position.

The serfs of Market Hamlet had already gathered in the streets.

Under the leadership of Charles, the group of serfs voted enthusiastically, and after several noisy rounds of voting, Iron Arm Dunn succeeded in defending his post and continued as the headman of Market Hamlet.

“Dunn, after you go back, you must quickly organize the farming households of the fourteen ridges of the hamlet and elect a new serf steward.”

“Chancellor of Records, please rest assured, I, Dunn, guarantee to complete the task perfectly!” Iron Arm Dunn, with his thigh-thick arms, continued to beat his chest, making it thump loudly.

Russell doubted whether he might kill himself if he kept thumping for a few more times.

“Next is Magic Medicine Tun, which is newly established but has already been fully staffed with 581 people and 97 households, divided into eight ridges. The former headman was Rudi with the red nose, a serf technician who plants Glowing Mushrooms, and with rich work experience, he has now served as a technical officer.”

After Charles finished his introduction, Red-nosed Rudi expressed that he would continue to run for headman, and then only two other serf technicians of the same rank stated their intention to compete.

Unsurprisingly, Red-nosed Rudi was elected by a large margin.

“Now it’s the recently established Grotto Village, which after adjustment, has 358 people in 121 households. Since households have fewer members, the plan is to divide them into only six ridges. Currently, there is no headman, nor a steward for the serfs, so the farming households of Grotto Village can eagerly participate in the election.”

The serfs of Glowing Valley live in family units, typically with six people per household.

However, in environments like Echo Water River Cavern, families tend to be smaller, often just a couple, hence there are many households with fewer people.

After some elections, Druk, who was one of the three Dungeon Rangers, narrowly defeated the other two Rangers Hauls and Bal.

This left Hauls with a somewhat dark expression, as he had previously received Russell’s support and was appointed as the defense officer under the jurisdiction of the Court Chief. He had thought that with the Lord’s favor, he would successfully take on the role of headman of Grotto Village but was defeated by Druk.

“There are other places if this one doesn’t suit,” he muttered to himself.

At that moment, Hauls felt many grievances and already planned to follow the path of the Wildcat sisters, leaving Grotto Village to settle in other hamlets.

“It’s Barley Hamlet’s turn now, with 612 people and 105 households, divided into nine ridges. The former headman was Black Pete…” Charles was saying as he pulled out his pocket watch to check the time, “Hmm, it’s already twelve noon. Let’s break for now, everyone can go and have lunch. We will continue at one o’clock in the afternoon.”

This time, Russell, as the Lord, did not provide a meal.

After all, with three thousand five hundred people, the manor’s kitchen could not handle it, so the serfs had to go back to their own homes to find their own families for lunch.

However, the newly elected officials were invited by Russell to the manor’s annex to enjoy a sumptuous lunch.

“Cheers, here’s to achieving outstanding results in your new positions,” Russell raised his glass of red wine.

The officials responded in unison, “We will serve the Sir wholeheartedly!”