A meter-tall mountain of documents filled up three office desks. The room was stuffy and unbearably hot. The little lass and her two assistants were busy going back and forth between the desks.
The overly tall mountain of documents caused the room to only be able to hear shouts, footsteps, and the sound of pen and paper colliding. I couldn't see anyone. This was the first impression I had when I walked into the City Lord's office.
By the side of the wall, bamboo swords, bamboo dragonflies, Gomoku and other small toys were scattered all over the floor, covered with a thick layer of dust. Looks like that brat Adam hasn't returned to this room for a long time.
To be honest, to be able to turn the City Lord's office into a recreation room, he is definitely one of a kind among the underground city lords.
Anne is a full 1.7m and is considered tall among human females. But at this moment, she looks like a midget student stuck in front of a desk. Looking from the horizontal, I can only see books and documents, not a single person.
The little lass has heavy dark circles under her eyes. She was busy fighting with the sea of documents, so she didn't even notice my entrance.
Walking over, I signaled to stop the assistant who was about to call Anne. Casually, I picked a few documents and looked through them.
"The repair plan for the municipal facilities that were damaged during the riots in the 7th to 9th Street", "The three suggestions for the drainage system to be completed before the rainy season", "The living quarters of the four new tribes in the city."
"Lord Wumianzhe, this is Lord Marguerite's intention. All the documents that are B-grade and above in the Administrative Office have to be looked through by Miss Anne and sign her opinion. Then, Lord Marguerite will sign her opinion and finally, it will be returned to Miss Anne for a final decision."
That is to say, before every document is completed, Anne has to deal with it once. Then, Marguerite will add her opinion to it and finally let Anne make the final decision. She has to go back and forth at least twice.
This is practically a hands-on teaching. I sighed silently. Looks like Marguerite really intends to wash her hands of the matter, that's why she used such a cramming method of teaching to allow Anne to quickly grow to the point where she can deal with administrative matters independently.
"Your Administrative Office, is this how you deal with administrative matters? All the documents are personally looked through and signed by Marguerite? Handle all the government affairs by yourself? "
After receiving a matter-of-fact reply from the other party, I looked at this inconceivable mountain of documents and couldn't help but click my tongue. The population of Sulfur Mountain City was close to 3 million. Just thinking about it, it was obvious that this was an astronomical number of government affairs. Going through them one by one? I finally understood why Marguerite had always been living in seclusion. Fortunately, Marguerite was an undying who basically didn't need to hibernate, but …
"Isn't this type of administrative method a bit too primitive? It's just like the rulers of ancient times, relying solely on their wisdom and knowledge to make decisions. Perhaps the eternally rational undying beings who don't sleep or rest might be able to do this, but humans …"
There were so many documents, and it might only take one or two days. If they were all handed over to the City Lord to handle in the future, she was afraid that she would not have any free time.
My mission is to groom a qualified lord, not a lunatic who is crushed by political affairs. Thus, I lightly cough and inform the trainee city lord of my arrival.
"Anne, do you know what the essence of administration is?"
…
What is the essence of administration? Let everyone live and work in peace and contentment? Turning the so-called Utopia into reality? Let all races coexist peacefully?
No, no, it's not that complicated. Administration can only be carried out within the established framework. Ideals and whatnot, it's impossible to achieve just by administrative means.
However, administration isn't that simple either. The lack of an administrative department in a city would directly paralyze the entire city. An overly slow administrative efficiency would cause the citizens to be extremely dissatisfied. It is indeed an indispensable existence in any city.
"As the City Lord, I … I will work hard to let everyone live a good life."
"Little brain, don't think so much. I'm just asking you what the essence of administration is. Forget it, I'll tell you directly. It just so happens that you also need to rest."
I pulled the little lass to the side and gestured for my assistant to bring a cup of tea.
The little lass's face was a little dispirited and her fiery red hair had lost some of its luster. She seemed to be lacking in energy and her gaze towards me was a little evasive, as though she was worried that I would scold her.
Shaking my head, I could already guess what happened. Marguerite is an impatient and perfectionist. She always assigns tasks to her subordinates based on her own abilities.
'If I can do it, why can't you?', 'Don't talk to me about reasons, assumptions and whatnot are all meaningless.' These are all her catchphrases. But in reality, she is known as the Saint of the Mobile Library and an immortal who is always full of energy. How can an ordinary person keep up with her pace …
To be able to be accepted as a disciple by Adam, Anne's talent in martial arts and physical attributes are outstanding. However, in terms of intelligence … For a pure warrior, intelligence is the most useless attribute. That lad Adam only has 9 points of intelligence (Intelligence is the main attribute of a Mage. It is related to comprehension and thinking speed. An ordinary person would only have 10 points of intelligence. It is very difficult to raise the basic attributes in this book), but isn't he still living happily? In my system, Anne's intelligence is 11 points, which is already much higher than her foolish foster father. However, if Marguerite's 26 points of intelligence were to be used as the standard for teaching tasks … Not to mention 26 points, even half a point, 13 points of intelligence is enough to force her to death.
Somehow, I seem to understand why the Executive Yuan eventually became her one-man organization. Perhaps, it is because she couldn't stand those 'low intelligence' and 'slow' subordinates, so she did all the work herself. In the end, she got used to it and decided not to let others interfere.
If this kind of person was thrown in the ancient times, they would be the so-called Virtuous Kings. However, if they were to die, the successor would suffer greatly. After all, you can't expect the son or grandson of a Virtuous King to be a Virtuous King who doesn't sleep or rest and possesses astonishing wisdom.
"Aiyo, as expected of an immortal. She actually didn't die from exhaustion. Anne, Marguerite must have reprimanded you. Don't worry about it. Her teaching methods are too unreliable. Back then, Eliza and Kale were almost killed by her. Furthermore, they are also Mages. "
Hearing this, the young girl starts to whimper. Instead, she forcefully shakes her head.
"Big Sister Marguerite didn't reprimand me. She is just disappointed. Anne is useless, Anne is so useless. Anne doesn't have the confidence to be a good City Lord anymore. "
The young girl's tears drip down. It seems that Marguerite's ice-cold gaze after her disappointment and the way she shakes her head and silently leaves had deeply hurt her.
This kind of silent abandonment, this kind of disappointment that comes from the bottom of her heart, makes the other party feel worse than any sharp sarcasm. It makes the other party doubt her own abilities and intelligence …
Why do I know it so clearly? In the past, when her learning progress wasn't ideal, didn't Eliza get so depressed because of this? She even secretly used me to vent her anger … Although, I was indeed the one who first used this move to hurt Marguerite. Hmph, it is her fault for being so terrible at chess. Her thinking is so rigid and she is so arrogant.
Alright, the one who started the trouble should end it. I finally understand why Marguerite insisted that I come to see Anne today. She must have subconsciously used this move to make Anne cry, but she doesn't know how to end it.
"Ha, don't cry. Come, let Uncle Bones teach you. Actually, Marguerite's method is wrong. It is normal that you can't learn it. If you do, then it will be troublesome. "
Anne widens her eyes, filled with confusion.
"Administration, it isn't that mysterious. Its essence is to solve problems. Yes, administration is just a method to solve problems. "
Yes, administration is just the act of solving problems. The Internal Affairs Bureau is an organization that specializes in solving problems.
"This task doesn't fall within the scope of our duties. Please pass it to the higher authorities to handle." = "Brother, this is a big problem. We can't handle it. You should talk to our boss."
"This plan should be carried out, but the cost involved is too high. It is impossible to accomplish with the current conditions. Temporarily put it off." = "Brother, I'm sorry. What you said is very good. We also want to do it. However, the national treasury is out of money. Let's leave it for now. "
"We can understand your difficulties. However, this task involves personal privacy. It isn't appropriate for our department to interfere. Please decide on your own." = "Idiot, don't waste our manpower. It is such a small matter, settle it yourself."
What's the point of making it so complicated and sacred? The goal of administration is to solve the problems and troubles that will inevitably appear in life and development, allowing the majority of people to live a stable and normal life … The book that I wrote, 《The Art of Language, A Hands-On Guide to How to Deal with Complaints and Resolve Conflicts (Also known as Official, Slang Manual)》, has received great acclaim. It has indeed greatly improved the administrative ability of our judicial department. The citizens who came to visit even exclaimed, "Although I don't understand it, it sounds impressive. My opinion seems to be respected." However, the aftermath is that many people look at me strangely. There are even some who listen to me while flipping through the manual that I wrote …
"Actually, you all underestimated that idiot Adam with only 9 in intelligence. In my eyes, he is an extremely outstanding City Lord."
Hearing that, Anne raises her head in astonishment. Her face is filled with disbelief. These few days, she has heard countless complaints about her adoptive father.
"But … Everyone says that it is because of Big Sister Marguerite's help that he can be a good City Lord. If he can take on more responsibilities, everyone will be more relaxed and their lives will be more …"
"Then Sulfur Mountain City won't be far from the end. Yes, he relies on Marguerite to settle most of the administrative matters. But even if Marguerite isn't around, he can still grab someone else to settle it, even though the efficiency might be lower. His greatest strength is that he knows how to use people well. Then, he trusts the other party and leaves everything to them. He definitely won't cause any trouble. "
"You are the City Lord, not the head of the Internal Affairs Department. What you need is to find someone who can solve the problem and then throw all the trouble to him, not to shoulder it yourself."
Anne still wants to say something but she is interrupted by me.
"Look, he passed the judiciary to me, the Internal Affairs Department to Marguerite and threw the troublesome problems of the people to the Parliament. No matter what, at least this city is the fastest developing city in the entire underground world and the victor doesn't need to be criticized. Furthermore, the City Lord has the responsibility of a City Lord and it is much more important than these boring administrative matters. "
"The responsibility of a City Lord?"
"Yes. Why do you think the citizens still respect Adam even though he has nothing to do every day? It is because he fulfills his most important responsibility as the City Lord. "
"The responsibility of a City Lord?" Thinking about this term, thinking about her adoptive father's usual actions, suddenly, sparks appear in her eyes and the young lady glows with a new light.
"Protect everyone? So that everyone can live peacefully in this chaotic underground world? "
I nod my head and smile.
"Yes, it's the responsibility of the City Lord to protect everyone, to guide everyone in the direction of the future, and to let everyone have good expectations for the future. As for those trivial matters, find a few smart fellows and throw them at them. If they mess up, remove them from their positions and replace them. There will definitely be a suitable one. "
"In this chaotic underground world, strength is a must. In this aspect, you should be very talented. Sulfur Mountain City, no, I am afraid that you are the youngest Quasi-Legend in the entire underground world."
Hearing my words, as though she has finally found her strength, Anne nods her head vigorously. In my eyes, she looks like a satisfied and adorable puppy who has finally found her strength.
"Adoptive father said that I am just a step away from Legend. As long as I accept the final inheritance, the Heart of the Phoenix, I will be able to enter Intermediate Legend and then enter Saint-rank within 30 years."
"Good girl. This speed is really ridiculous. " Even I am shocked by this frightening speed. The average age of a normal Legend is over a hundred years old and Anne isn't even 20 yet. When I first popularized Saint-rank, I was already over a hundred years old. "But, to be able to smile so cheerfully, she probably doesn't know what the Heart of the Phoenix is."
I shake my head. This is their family matter and I am not in the position to comment on it. Even if something needs to be said, it shouldn't be me. Right now, my goal is to complete the main mission and groom Anne into an outstanding City Lord …
"Un, two days later, you will follow me to the Underground Alliance. On the way, I will teach you another part of the responsibility of a City Lord, 'How to use the carrot and stick in diplomacy to obtain more benefits for your side'. But, since it is an underground city, I am afraid that I can only teach you how to use the hard way."
"Anyway, this time, you are going to demonstrate your strength. Along the way, there will be many chances for you to make a move. Strive to enter Legend in battle. This time, Little Red will come along as well. I will also bring along the most troublemakers in this city, the Beyar brothers, Eaglestorm and the few clowns under me. You will be in charge of demonstrating your strength on the surface and leave the rest to me. Let's turn the Underground Alliance upside down and play it big. "
"Adam's Soul Imprint is the Indestructible Phoenix, which is best for prolonged battles. As long as you can't destroy him in one go, he will absorb the damage and become stronger. Finally, he will explode in one go. Even though it is the same inheritance, I feel that you might not be suitable for his style. I feel that you should be suitable for an all-out suppression battle style. This requires real combat experience, so you should try your best to find a fight at the Underground Alliance. "
Indeed, she still has the temperament of a little girl. Facing the government affairs that she hates, she can only force herself to do it with a sullen face. But when she talks about what she likes, she immediately jumps around excitedly …
"Government affairs? That's simple, isn't it just solving the problem? Find a few merchants who know how to manage finances and let them manage the accounts. Un, let's just treat it as a newly established department in the Internal Affairs Department … Let's call it the Finance Department. "
"Look for stonemasons and construction merchants for the construction of the city. However, you have to strip them of their own benefits first. Right, let's call it the Construction Department."
"Don't learn from Marguerite, it's too tiring. You just have to set up the framework and choose the suitable ones. If you can't do it well, just change the people. In order to protect this city in the future, you have to put most of your effort into cultivation. Hehe, I really want to hear about the legendary deeds of the new generation of Red Lotus Heroes. "
"Don't be anxious, you are much stronger than that idiot. The Adam back then was much more useless than you. He was so foolish. The first time he was dealing with someone else's family affairs, he actually …"
Slowly, Anne, whose emotions kept changing and who hadn't slept for two nights, felt extremely tired. As she listened, she actually leaned on me and fell asleep.
Looking at the young lady who had fallen into a deep sleep, I couldn't help but think of the past.
"Humans are really mysterious lifeforms. Yesterday, you were still a naughty child with a runny nose. Today, in the blink of an eye, you are already an adult."
Back then, when Adam brought Anne back, she was only a little child. Now, not to mention that she is about to become an adult, she even intends to take on the heavy responsibility left behind by her elders.
Looking at the dark circles under Anne's eyes, I couldn't help but feel a little resentment towards Marguerite.
"Really, she is so lenient towards that idiot Adam but so strict towards Anne. Adam too, the heart of a phoenix, the heart of a phoenix, such a heavy burden. Are you sure that she can accept it after knowing the truth? "
"Uncle Bones, Big Sister Marguerite, Father …" Suddenly, the sleeping young lady cried out our names.
"… Don't go!! Don't leave Anne behind! Anne will be obedient. "
Her sobbing voice made my hand, which I had stretched out to wipe away her tears, pause …
I never said that I was going to leave, and Margaret and Adam wouldn't spread the news of the city lord's death either … But it seemed that we had all underestimated this seemingly carefree girl who didn't care about trifles.
After a while, I continued. I used my sleeves to wipe away her tears and caressed her hair.
Even I couldn't hear the apologetic murmur clearly.
"I'm sorry, little Anne, adults are all selfish … We are all a bunch of selfish bastards."
…
But what I didn't know was that there were two other people in the city lord's residence who said the same thing as me.
"I knew it, letting Roland come would solve the problem. Don't blame yourself, Marguerite. Little Anne is actually much stronger than you and I thought. "
"…"
"… Don't cry, Marguerite. This isn't like you. If you can't bear to, you can still stay."
Yes, the young lady who was sobbing silently at the corner of the wall was the one who accidentally hurt Anne and asked for my help. Then, due to her worry, she went against her principles to eavesdrop on us, the always calm Saint Marguerite …
Hearing the sarcastic words of this heartless man, Marguerite, whose eyes were still brimming with tears, was instantly filled with anger.
"You can still choose not to die! Isn't everything resolved then! You selfish bastard! "If looks could kill, Adam's heart would have been pierced by thousands of arrows.
"… Yeah, who asked us to be selfish adults. It's just that we have let little Anne down, and … Hehe, don't worry too early. "
"You are laughing? You are … "
"Don't worry, I'm Annie's father after all. How could I not know what she wants and needs the most? Hehe, don't worry, I've already made arrangements. In the end, it'll definitely be a happy ending, a big one."
"I will believe you one more time, the last time!! You selfish bastard! "This was the angry roar of the Saint who was grinding her teeth.
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