Chapter 151 - The Expanding Organization
While we scout for potential recruits from the prison population, we also continue to attract people through street scouting, organizational negotiations, and general recruitment. The reputation we’ve built and the proactive hiring have made the influx of new members much smoother compared to the struggles of the past. The incident with the delinquent adventurers significantly boosted our reputation, and Margaret’s promotional efforts have been effective.
Not only local troublemakers but also people from the Royal Capital, nearby towns, and even other countries have joined. Some are immediately useful, and others, like Lily and Charlotte, have specialized skills. The influx has exceeded expectations, and our organization is poised for even greater growth.
We’ve repurposed the former headquarters of the Marzio Family, which we’ve kept idle, into a residence and training facility for newcomers. The new recruits are immersed in a rigorous regimen of training and education, leading to a fulfilling life.
The process of education helps correct twisted mindsets, to some extent, even for those who have been marginalized by society. At the very least, they gain a degree of social competence necessary for life in an underworld organization.
Exactly what ‘normal’ means is debatable, but at the very least, they acquire the basic social skills needed to survive in our organization.
Many of the new recruits have been assigned to the Secretariat Unit and the Combat Unit, and this trend will continue. Other units are also thriving.
Initially, the influx of new members caused chaos, but by the time winter approached, everyone had adapted to the new dynamics.
"How are the new recruits doing? I was worried they’d be unmanageable, but it seems to be going well."
It’s not surprising, but conflicts among the new recruits are common. After all, more than half of those who want to join us are unruly troublemakers.
They start fights over trivial matters, and some have a habit of stealing.
I anticipated these issues and am prepared to deal with them to a certain extent. However, the Kikyo Society isn’t a charity. We give appropriate responses to actions, whether good or bad.
"Yes, the junior members have been a big help. They’re not just competent but also show strong leadership."
New recruits are often supervised by the junior members, and they’ve performed exceptionally well.
The growth of the junior members, especially in recent times, has been remarkable. Long-time members actively support the executives and cover any gaps in their workload. Their performance has exceeded expectations.
Reviewing the reports, I feel a sense of satisfaction. Yes, things are going well.
Unfortunately, we’ve had some dropouts and unqualified individuals, but that was expected.
As an organization positioned at the opposite end of the spectrum from saints and gentlemen, we cannot tolerate hopeless fools who show no potential or effort. We ruthlessly weed them out, but we do give everyone a chance. Such incompetence is rare, and overall, things are clearly going well.
"How’s the development of Sixth Avenue coming along?"
Frederica, who’s also reviewing the reports, seems satisfied.
"It’s progressing exactly as planned. Not too fast, not too slow, and steadily moving forward."
That means any unexpected irregularities haven’t significantly disrupted the plan. While there are occasional setbacks, they remain within our expectations.
The hotel project is progressing smoothly. Not only the construction but also the staffing and management are well-coordinated. Frederica, who oversees the project, gives her approval.
Sophie’s contributions are significant, but the Construction Unit deserves special mention. They’ve honed their skills through diligent work on small jobs contracted by the guild, earning a reputation for their reliability.
Their robust physical strength, stamina, and vast magical power, combined with the foundational knowledge gained from training, have earned them a good reputation. As their experience grows, their abilities become increasingly recognized.
The fact that many of the workers are beastfolk, who are less prone to gender bias, has also contributed, but their solid work ethic has earned genuine recognition.
The Kikyo Society rewards results. We’ve promoted Priene, the unit’s leader, to a quasi-executive role with greater authority. We’re actively expanding the Construction Unit by recruiting more members, especially from the new recruits, as we need more people for large-scale projects.
They’re significantly contributing to the construction of the high-end hotel on Sixth Avenue, taking on more responsibilities than initially planned. Frederica has greatly benefited from their efforts, and they’ve exceeded my expectations from the start.
Eventually, our Construction Unit might be capable of building most structures on their own.
We’ve expanded all units, but some are more prominent, especially the newly established ones.
With the organization’s growth, we’ve not only increased the number of existing units but also created a new one, the Security Unit.
"The new unit is still in the trial phase."
"It’s in the testing stage. As we move forward, we’ll get the hang of it. Let’s observe for a while."
The Security Unit, led by Valeria as the Head of Presidential Security, is a broader version of her role.
While I have my own dedicated security, there are other situations where security and protection are needed.
The primary focus of the Security Unit is to protect the headquarters and guests. Given the Kikyo Society’s structure, I and the Vice-Commander are not always at the headquarters, and the Combat Unit is often deployed elsewhere. Even when they are present, they might be training or on leave.
In the worst-case scenario, only the Secretariat Unit, Intelligence Unit, and Healing Unit members would remain. While the Intelligence Unit has capable members, they are usually out on assignments, leaving behind those skilled in desk work.
Every member of the Kikyo Society, regardless of their role, possesses exceptional combat skills. Even those who handle finances and paperwork undergo rigorous training to maintain their combat readiness.
However, I’m concerned. If something were to happen, it would be better to have combat-specialized members on hand. We’ve been attacked before, and the possibility remains. This means our headquarters’ defense system has always been a source of anxiety.
I want to eliminate any vulnerabilities. The headquarters house many valuable assets, and I want to remove any opportunities for breaches.
My goal for the newly established Security Unit is to eventually handle the protection of all important locations, not just the headquarters.
Currently, the Combat Unit rotates to protect the casino and branches. I want to shift these responsibilities to the Security Unit. This will give the Combat Unit more flexibility, allowing them to concentrate forces or go on expeditions more easily.
Another focus is the protection of guests.
For example, our interactions with nobles are gradually increasing, and it’s reasonable to expect that representatives from the House of Oversta in the Royal Capital might visit the Kikyo Society. Rosmerta has expressed her intention to visit whenever possible.
While the Combat Unit can handle these tasks, it’s better to use them as a dedicated combat unit. They are specialized in offense, not defense, and it’s better for everyone to have clear roles.
"The unit leader is doing a great job, so there’s nothing to worry about."
"Zenobia is up to the task. The main focus is on training and developing the new recruits."
I chose Zenobia as the leader of the Security Unit. This decision was unanimous at the executive meeting, with no objections.
She has exceptional combat skills, strong leadership qualities, and experience in base defense and VIP protection from her mercenary days. She has the knowledge to plan security and protection, and we plan to assign more capable new recruits to her team. This gives me great confidence in the unit’s future.
She gladly accepted the role, and the unit is now fully engaged in training.
Another new addition is the Public Relations Unit, but it’s not going as smoothly. To be honest, it’s not doing well at all.
The only media liaison in the early days of the Kikyo Society was Margaret.
Her performance in this role was satisfactory. She did a good job, and I don’t think she can handle it alone anymore. Therefore, I promoted her to the head of the Public Relations Unit and assigned her subordinates. There was no one else suitable for the role.
However, compared to other unit leaders, Margaret’s leadership still falls short.
She’s been with us for a relatively short time and isn’t a combat specialist, making her more vulnerable to being underestimated by the type of people who might consider joining an underworld organization.
Her country-girl demeanor also makes her appear less authoritative to the new recruits. Despite being a unit leader, she’s often disrespected by her subordinates.
Margaret’s combat skills, however, are far superior to those of the new recruits, who are still in training. Beyond combat, her public relations skills are also reliable. She’s diligent in building connections with various people, constantly working to strengthen and expand these networks. She’s always mindful of the Kikyo Society’s interests, whether it’s refuting baseless rumors or sowing seeds for a better reputation. Her pleasant demeanor makes her less off-putting, an important trait for public relations.
She’s also quite knowledgeable about the Kikyo Society, despite her relatively short tenure. She’s studied extensively, which is evident from her detailed understanding of our organization.
She’s the most knowledgeable about how we’re perceived from the outside and how we should respond. We rely on her for these insights.
"Should we transfer some promising junior members from other units to support her?"
"We don’t have a suitable deputy for Margaret at the moment. It would be easier if someone qualified came along. For now, let’s observe how things go."
There’s no need to rush. The new recruits will eventually recognize Margaret’s worth. Since we’re still actively recruiting, we’re optimistic that someone suitable will join and support her.
Beyond just increasing the number of members, there’s more room for improvement. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity.
"Once the training for the new Combat Unit recruits is complete, we need to have a discussion with the executives."
"What do you have in mind? The next batch of recruits still has some time before they graduate, so we can discuss it whenever."
Currently, we assign new recruits to various units as needed. When they graduate from the training, their final destination is determined based on their individual qualities and preferences. We ensure that the initial training is consistent across all units, such as having the Secretariat Unit and Combat Unit train together.
Until they become full members, this approach works well. However, the next step is crucial.
The Kikyo Society’s Combat Unit has room for improvement beyond just increasing the number of members.
"It’s a minor issue, but it’s about balance."
For a long time, the Combat Unit has been dominated by members who excel in close combat. I want to change this.
Instead of focusing solely on close combat, having a balanced mix of members specialized in long-range, mid-range, support, and magic would make the Combat Unit even stronger.
"It’s a matter of personal preference, and it’s hard to ensure the right mix."
That’s true. Those who join the Kikyo Society, especially the Combat Unit, are often combat enthusiasts who prefer close combat.
For example, Albert from the Third Combat Unit is an elf who excels with a bow and magic, but he practices with a hammer as a hobby. Even I, who often charge into battle, sometimes ignore the best strategy. It’s not my place to judge.
"Yeah, it’s just a suggestion."
Ignoring personal preferences is never a good idea. Reflecting on my own experiences, it’s a fundamental principle.
However, recognizing one’s strengths and weaknesses is a different matter. People often have different likes and aptitudes. Recognizing this can provide more options. It’s important to encourage open discussions about this.
There’s no need to miss out on opportunities for the organization to improve. We’ve decided to grow stronger.
And we’re moving forward at full speed.
We will become stronger in every possible way.
We need to enhance various forms of ‘power’ and prepare for the ‘next’ challenge.