124: Chapter 124 Taking Office as City Lord! Tedious Administrative Duties! Reactions from All Sides!

The next day, in the core district of Gino City, at the Municipal Hall building.

The new City Lord, Rowan Flynn, officially stepped into his office for the first time.

The room was spacious and slightly old-fashioned.

Tall windows were embedded with completely transparent glass, showcasing a decent level of magical industrial progress.

Behind the heavy mahogany desk was a tall bookshelf, and a detailed map of the entire Gino County hung on the wall.

In front of the long conference table, the main heads of each department in the Municipal Hall had received notice and were all present, waiting for a long time.

They varied in age, all wearing crisp imperial official uniforms, with respectful expressions on their faces.

Among these people, most were commoner officials who had risen through examinations and seniority, with the characteristic caution of commoners between their brows.

There were also some officials with slightly indifferent expressions; these were arranged by noble families in the county through the County Council, carrying a trace of an indelible noble foundation in their posture.

The moment Rowan stepped into the room accompanied by his attendants, everyone bowed simultaneously and said in unison:

"Lord City Lord!"

Rowan nodded slightly, walked to the main seat, and sat down, his gaze calmly sweeping over every face.

"Let us begin."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a faint sense of pressure.

The reports began.

The heads of each department stepped forward in order, presenting dossiers to him, and then reported on their respective matters in fluent imperial official language.

First was the Deputy City Lord, Brandt Hoffman.

He was an old man with silver-white hair but a straight spine, hailing from the Baron Hoffman family in the county, though he was not the eldest son and had no connection to the inheritance.

He spread a map and a thick booklet on the table.

"My Lord, this is the complete map of Gino County and the latest population and land census." Brandt's voice was steady and waveless.

On the map, towns, villages, roads, rivers, mineral veins, forests, farmland... were filled with various colored inks and symbols, extremely detailed.

Accompanying this were a dozen small booklets, each recording the population, location and area of farmland, estimated output, etc., from the county city to every border village...

The information was vast as the sea; just opening the directory on the title page, the dense entries were enough to make one's head spin.

Brandt reported the key figures and general distribution at an even pace.

Rowan listened silently, his fingertips occasionally brushing over a certain area on the map, or quickly flipping through the pages, his gaze sweeping over the neatly written small characters.

His expression remained normal; no one could glimpse what he was thinking.

After the report, Rowan waved his hand, signaling Brandt to step down.

Next to come forward to report was the head of the Personnel Department, Knight Derek Summers.

He was a lean, middle-aged man.

He presented a beautifully bound personnel roster and resume compilation.

Rowan took it and briefly flipped through it.

The paper was crisp, the ink fresh, and the names and positions were arranged neatly.

After hearing the summary, he waved for him to step down and placed the roster gently to the side.

He didn't know them anyway; he would look at it when he had time.

Then it was the head of the Finance Department, Garrett Gray.

This was a slightly chubby middle-aged man.

He presented the treasury account books of Gino City.

"My Lord, this is the total record of Gino County's recent fiscal revenue and expenditure, storage, and municipal expenses." There was a hint of imperceptible tension in Garrett's voice.

Inside the account books, dense numbers covered every page.

Including the collection and storage of various taxes, the quantity, location, and rotation dates of grain warehouses, the number and purity of gold and silver coins in the vault, and even the valuation of gems and bonds, and the daily expenses of the Municipal Hall...

The complexity of the items and the intricacy of the details were enough to make any first-time viewer dizzy.

But Rowan did not show any impatience.

His slender fingers flipped through page after page, not fast, his eyes focused.

Suddenly, his gaze paused slightly on a few lines of summarized figures, and a ripple that was almost invisible flashed in the depths of his eyes.

The fiscal situation of Gino County was much more stable and affluent than he had expected.

It seemed that the previous management of the Farrell Family was quite capable, at least in accumulating and managing wealth.

A thought quietly crossed his mind.

Perhaps the beauty pageant to select his female officials and maids later could be funded by the Finance Department...

Garrett finished his report and waited, holding his breath.

Rowan looked up and gave him the first smile since entering the office, saying: "The accounts are clear and quite organized. It is not easy to maintain; thank you for your hard work."

Garrett clearly did not expect to be praised; he was stunned for a moment, then a flattered smile quickly piled up on his face, and he said repeatedly: "It is my duty to serve you, My Lord!"

Only then did he bow and retreat, a faint glint in his eyes.

Next was the commander of the City Guard, Miles Dalton.

As soon as this person came forward, the atmosphere became solemn.

He was a middle-aged knight, his posture like a spear, his face resolute, his whole body faintly exuding the bloody aura of someone who had experienced slaughter, and even more, the pressure that only a Peak Knight possessed.

Rowan narrowed his eyes, sizing him up.

Miles's report was concise and rigid.

With a slight gesture, several officers in crisp military uniforms stepped forward and presented sealed military order scrolls.

At the same time, they also presented all rosters, garrison maps, ordnance inventory lists, warhorse archives, and even training schedules for the City Guard, the city patrol, and prison guards.

These were the foundation of Gino City's military power.

Gino County was not a peaceful place; barbarians in the north, magical beasts in the Mess Mountains and the Mist Forest, sea monsters and fishmen occasionally rioting on the eastern coast...

In these places, military squads dispatched by Gino City patrolled all year round.

The report lasted from early morning until noon.

The shadows of the sun outside the window moved quietly.

Agriculture, workshops, public security, trade... the heads of each department took turns to report on the matters they were responsible for.

Information flooded in like a tide, the officials' attitudes were impeccably respectful, and the wording of their reports was rigorous, arguably flawless.

Rowan sat at the main seat, occasionally nodding slightly, occasionally asking one or two brief questions about a key figure or ambiguity, which always made the reporter's heart tremble, causing them to answer more carefully and cautiously.

Just as he was listening to the reports calmly, his mind was also thinking.

The governance of this Gino County was completely different from White Cliff Territory.

White Cliff Territory had a population of only over twenty thousand, mostly serfs attached to the land, and the affairs were simple, nothing more than spring planting and autumn harvesting.

And here... behind every seemingly boring number, there might be a tangled network of interests, far more complex than the affairs of White Cliff Territory.

But he had just taken office and could not show any signs of wanting to delegate power or push the affairs back.

Otherwise, someone would definitely have crooked thoughts.

"Very good." When the last official finished reporting, Rowan finally spoke again, his voice still steady, showing no joy or anger:

"You have worked hard. These documents and charts are the foundation of governing this city and are of utmost importance."

"Later, load these preliminary summary dossiers onto the carriage and send them to the castle."

"This City Lord needs to study them carefully."

"Yes, Lord City Lord!" Everyone responded in unison, each with their own thoughts.

...

In the afternoon, a carriage loaded with dossiers and account books, escorted by the City Guard, drove away from the Municipal Hall and headed towards Golden Flame Castle.

Inside the carriage, Rowan leaned back on the soft cushion and closed his eyes, his fingertips gently pressing his throbbing temples.

In his mind, those lines of the map, the numbers of the account books, and the names of the roster were still circling and intertwining.

These matters were not problems that could be solved by killing. He needed to go back and ponder carefully, and find someone to consult with.

After pondering for a moment, he tapped the carriage window lightly.

"My Lord?" The knight outside approached immediately.

"Go to Red Maple Manor and invite Lady Lillian to come to Golden Flame Castle."

"As you command!"

The sound of hooves was rapid, heading in another direction.

Inside the carriage, Rowan closed his eyes again and began to sort out today's gains.

...

Meanwhile, inside the Municipal Hall.

After Rowan left, the atmosphere in the hall did not calm down; instead, more subtle undercurrents began to surge.

Deputy City Lord Brandt Hoffman frowned after returning to his office.

"Study carefully..." He repeated Rowan's last words in a low voice, with no emotion in his tone.

That young City Lord's performance was too... normal.

No eagerness to establish authority as a new official, no restlessness or arrogance common among young nobles, and even regarding Garrett's accounts, he did not delve deeply but gave praise instead.

Did he not see it, or... did he not care?

Brandt recalled the look in Rowan's eyes when he listened to the reports; it was calm and profound.

The one or two questions the other party occasionally asked were always somewhat unexpected.

He felt that this new City Lord's thinking seemed different from ordinary nobles.

So, he instructed his attendant: "Copy the meeting minutes of today, especially all the inquiries and instructions of the City Lord, and send them to me later."

He prepared to ponder it further.

...

After Finance Officer Garrett returned to his territory, that respectful smile immediately disappeared from his round face.

He leaned back in his comfortable high-backed chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on the shiny desk.

"My Lord!"

His trusted scribe came in quietly, "Lord Hoffman has requested the meeting minutes."

Garrett's eyelids twitched upon hearing this, and he said, "Let him be. We should also hurry up and prepare our detailed tax accounts. If the City Lord really checks carefully, we must be able to stand up to scrutiny."

...

When City Defense Commander Miles Dalton returned to the military camp parade ground, his face was colder and harder than usual.

He dismissed everyone and stood alone in front of the sand table for a long time, his gaze falling on the activity area of the northern barbarians at the border.

He had been a Peak Knight for too long, but unfortunately, he was a commoner... the resources required to break through to Great Knight were too far away for him.

The former Count Farrell valued his talent and used him, but that was all; he would not use vital Great Knight-level resources on him.

And the new City Lord's gaze on him carried scrutiny, as if evaluating whether a blade was sharp enough and if it was easy to use.

He summoned his adjutant, his voice low: "Verify the actual number of troops in each defense zone, ordnance wear and tear, and all accounts. I want to see the most realistic figures within three days."

"Also, any requests for troop deployment or patrols from the castle in the future must be reported to me immediately."

...

At the same time, this news quickly flowed out of the Municipal Hall and reached the ears of various interested parties.

Viscount Willis's mansion.

The study was filled with a strong smell of alcohol.

Viscount Willis listened to the housekeeper's report with a gloomy face, the crystal wine glass in his hand almost crushed.

"He took it all? And wants to study it carefully?" He sneered, his eyes full of resentment and disdain:

"Who is he putting on a show for? A country upstart, can he even recognize all the words in those account books? I'm afraid he hasn't even figured out how many gates Gino City has!"

"My Lord, this..." The old housekeeper advised in a low voice, "Regardless, he is now the legitimate City Lord, and he has the Church..."

"The Church? That Priestess Windsor with deep background has already left Gino City and returned to the Imperial Capital!"

"The current one is that block of wood, Adrian!"

Viscount Willis interrupted him, but his voice was lowered a bit, full of unwillingness:

"He just got lucky, I don't know how he managed to latch onto that priest from the Windsor Family, and the Latour Family..."

"I want to see how he manages this city without capable people!"

"Pass the word to our people in the Municipal Hall, keep a close watch on me, and report any flaws immediately!"

"Also, send a letter to the Duke's mansion and ask... what to do next."

Ice Lake City.

Viscount Harrington also quickly received the secret report.

"This new City Lord is quite interesting." Viscount Harrington put down the letter and smiled at the ally sitting opposite him:

"Not shirking, not timid, he took all the complicated practical affairs in one go. Is it confidence, or helplessness?"

"Perhaps both." A Baron family head twirled his mustache, "He lacks people, that is obvious. But this courage to take it on is also not simple."

"At least it shows that he is not a mediocre person who fears difficulties and avoids things. And, as soon as he came up, he pointed directly to the core: money, grain, soldiers, people. The path is very correct."

"For us, it is a good thing." Another family head interjected, "If he is really capable and can sort out Gino City and stabilize it, the trade route can be smooth, and the pressure on our border can also be less."

"The key is, what is his attitude towards our Ice Lake City..."

"Observe first, and release goodwill moderately." Viscount Harrington made a decision, "He is a newcomer and needs allies, and also needs to show his presence."

"He and my suzerain, Marquis Lance, are both royal vassals. At the next County Council, we can appropriately support his proposals on some insignificant matters."

"In addition, find out if he is recruiting clerks, accountants, staff, etc. around him. If there are suitable and reliable candidates, why not... send them over."

Oak Manor.

Vanessa Bryce had already sent people to receive and reorganize the territory. This was a piece of cake for the people of the Bryce Family; she had enough manpower.

Now she was trying on the newly arrived amethyst earrings in front of a full-length mirror. Judging from the last experience, that now Count seemed quite interested in her white, exquisite earlobes.

After hearing the maid's report, a trace of playfulness flashed in her eyes, and her red lips curled into a charming arc.

"Packed it all up and took it away? What a... rough guy." She laughed softly, "However, this matter is not as simple as killing."

"It's just that I don't know when our Count will realize that his best ally is waiting for him to come to the door in Gino City?"

She walked to the window and looked towards Golden Flame Castle, her eyes deep, "Having no one to use... is a big trouble, but also a big opportunity."

Dawn Cathedral, the office of the new Chief Priestess, Adrian Wood.

This middle-aged priest, known for his steadiness, listened to the deacon's report, with no joy or sorrow on his face.

"Priestess Windsor did not give any special instructions before leaving." His voice was peaceful, "This Count Golden Flame is a legitimate lord recognized by the Church. How he governs is in the realm of secular power."

"As long as it does not violate the Goddess's teachings and does not harm the Church's interests, the Church should not interfere too much."

"Notify the churches and monasteries everywhere that they can proceed as usual. If the City Lord's Mansion has matters involving public livelihood relief that need coordination, they can cooperate according to the regulations."