Chapter 132 - A Job Review: Part Two
In the city, minor disputes are nothing to be surprised about. Only the naive aristocrats or sheltered young ladies might be shocked by such things.
Margaret, of course, wasn’t surprised by the minor scuffle in the restaurant or the subsequent handling of it. She was simply impressed by the impressive work of our members.
After finishing our meal, we stepped out of the restaurant and ran into Valeria, who was on duty.
'Oh, Onee-sama! And Margaret?'
I explained to Valeria that Margaret had joined us today and then moved on to discussing Valeria’s current work.
'Weren’t you the President’s bodyguard?'
'Yeah, but with no conflicts lately, it’s been a bit boring just sticking to her all the time. So, I’ve been given other tasks.'
'I’m doing scouting now.'
By scouting, Valeria doesn’t directly recruit members, as that’s not her forte. However, she has a unique intuition. If Valeria approves of someone, it’s likely that person will be a valuable asset. We’ve had several members join us through her recommendations, which have proven to be solid choices.
Especially with the Information Division, at Josephine’s request, Valeria has been focusing on scouting in her free time. I’ve also been encouraging her to expand her activities. While she has been consistently taking breaks, thanks to Roberta and Violante, I want her to take on more diverse roles. She has the potential to excel in many areas.
Not wanting to disturb her, we chatted briefly and parted ways.
'Valeria, try to come back before it gets too late.'
'I will. I’ll find a good one.'
She ran off, seemingly motivated to do her best.
We continued our tour, visiting shops closely associated with the Kikyo Society. We encountered some familiar members in their coats, carrying heavy loads out of a store.
'Good work, Shelby. Buying new equipment for the Combat Support Unit?'
'Yes, Yukari-san. Our training equipment was getting worn out, and we also helped the new members get their gear.'
'Right. Speaking of new members, Margaret is joining us today. Please take good care of her.'
Margaret and Shelby, along with the Combat Support Unit members, exchanged friendly greetings.
Shelby, as the leader of the Combat Support Unit, has a variety of roles and is growing in numbers.
Their primary role is to support the Combat Unit in fully utilizing their capabilities.
They assist with transportation, protect mobile magic devices, and handle base defense. They can also take on roles similar to engineers, support retreats, and even join combat if the Combat Unit’s strength is insufficient.
They also carry plenty of recovery potions and magic potions, even during non-combat times.
They manage equipment as well. While personal belongings are up to individuals, the Kikyo Society’s shared equipment requires management, including lending and maintenance. They were recently replacing training weapons and helping new members with personal weapon purchases.
After parting ways with the busy Shelby and his team, we resumed our city tour.
Feeling a bit thirsty, I thought we should take a break, but then I spotted more Kikyo Society members in their coats.
They seemed to be dealing with some kind of dispute.
'Margaret, let’s observe from a distance.'
'Okay.'
She might wonder if I should intervene, but it’s unnecessary. Besides, I don’t know the cause, so it’s better not to interfere.
'Are you still claiming it was a mistake, as if it’s something that happens to anyone?'
'Sure! Mistakes happen, right?!'
Charlotte, with a stern gaze, questioned the young merchant, who defiantly retorted.
With her ladylike appearance, Charlotte could be underestimated at first glance.
'It’s disgraceful to think such a flimsy lie would work. We witnessed all your suspicious actions before the theft.'
Members with the Kikyo Society emblem, who had been collecting protection fees, gradually gathered upon hearing the commotion. They stood behind Charlotte, maintaining a menacing presence.
'You’re such a pest, woman. Why do I have to listen to you?! I’m busy, so I’m out of here. Anyway, I’m busy!'
The young merchant, who had been arrogant in front of Charlotte alone, realized he was at a disadvantage and suddenly turned to run.
Charlotte, as the deputy leader of the Fifth Combat Unit, signaled with a calm gesture. The young members quickly tackled and subdued him.
'There might be more stolen goods in that large bag. Bring him in.'
Indeed, peace has been maintained today.
Charlotte and her team, still busy, received a brief greeting from us before we continued.
The Combat Unit is growing in numbers, and I’m considering upgrading it to a Combat Corps in the near future. A name change could help shift mindsets and wouldn’t be detrimental. For now, it’s just an idea.
Currently, the Combat Unit has a large number of members, and they are divided into smaller squads. With more potential leaders emerging, we could expand the current structure of five squads. More members are expected to join, and more organizations might come under our umbrella.
We’ve covered Sixth Avenue for now.
The Kikyo Society’s territories also include areas formerly controlled by the Marzio Family, the Stanbury Society, and the Karkchul Gang. There are also territories controlled by other organizations under our umbrella. They are effectively under our control, though we leave the day-to-day operations to them. They pay substantial fees to us and occasionally receive our support. I rarely visit these areas, and I’m not familiar enough with them to give a detailed tour, so we’ll skip them.
Let’s head back to the Headquarters. At this time, more people should have returned, and there are still many to introduce.
'Margaret, let’s head back to the Headquarters. Your room should be ready, I’m sure.'
We made some new arrangements like blankets, but it was mostly a matter of moving them in and doing some light cleaning.
I don’t know if she has an individual room, a shared room, or a communal dorm. The Secretariat Unit handles all such arrangements, and given Margaret’s character, she likely won’t complain regardless. Considering she has no money, a comfortable place to sleep and regular meals will be a relief.
While she’s a trainee, I have high hopes for her, so we’ve made sure to provide a welcoming environment.
'Thank you so much for everything.'
I reassured her not to worry and decided to head back to the Headquarters.
Upon returning, the Headquarters was bustling with activity.
It seemed the Healing Unit, which had been out, had just returned.
'Ah, the new member? I’m the famous healer, Rosabel. If you have any problems, feel free to ask me.'
Rosabel, as the chief advisor and head of the Healing Unit, was putting on a show in front of the new member Margaret and her numerous apprentices. Despite her significant contributions to the development of modern healing magic, her exaggerated attitude often makes her seem less impressive. It’s all in good fun, as she’s a playful old lady.
'Sure, feel free to ask me anything.'
Colette, another advisor, joined in. An elf with a rare healing magic aptitude among her kind, she is a formidable healer on par with the legendary Rosabel.
Both are reliable, but they also enjoy causing trouble and can be quite bothersome.
The Healing Unit is responsible for creating various recovery potions and has recently expanded into magic potions. Only the top members and a select few can produce these potions.
The apprentices focus on basic healing magic and recovery potion creation.
The Kikyo Society’s demand for these potions is so high that we’ve started selling the excess to the Healer Guild. The guild’s recovery potions are primarily supplied by guild-affiliated healers, usually only meeting the minimum requirements. We also buy potions from non-affiliated healers, but they are often undervalued.
Usually, the Healer Guild wouldn’t buy from organizations like ours, but with the legendary healers Rosabel and Colette, and their apprentices, the potions carry a special cachet. Even if they have the same effects, there’s a high demand for them.
Thanks to the Kikyo Society’s backing, the Exembra Healer Guild has realized that they can’t afford to cause trouble. They used to make annoying demands for our members to return to the guild, but they’ve stopped that now.
The demand for recovery potions is high not just in Exembra but worldwide. The Kikyo Society’s surplus potions are a rare find, and there’s a high demand for them. This arrangement benefits everyone. The Kikyo Society gets a significant profit, the Healer Guild earns a margin, and the buyers are happy to have access to these potions. Even the Healer Guild staff, who can be difficult, have no choice but to accept this beneficial cycle.
As the President, I’m not directly involved, but through this arrangement, the Kikyo Society gains more funds and strengthens its foundation. It’s a wonderful cycle.
After warming up with the Healing Unit, who were free after their work, we ended the day with a feast.
This is a common practice, something we do frequently.
Most members who hadn’t yet met Margaret would be introduced here.
The Vanguard Unit, led by Ophelia, is currently outside Exembra, so we’ll meet them another time.
They are monitoring the forest, the domain of adventurers, and keeping an eye on rogue adventurers and gathering information from other adventurers. This also serves as field training and exercises for the members, so they won’t be back for a while.
When they return, I’ll introduce them to Margaret.
I’ve provided a brief overview of the Kikyo Society.
For those whose memory might be a bit hazy, this serves as a reminder. (It’s also a reminder for the author.)
Following the flea market, the next few chapters will focus on the unfolding events.