Chapter 161 - Kikyou-kai, Reconstructed
The air is still chilly, but the hint of spring is in the breeze.
The Kikyo Society has decided to move forward with a new structure. Thanks to our efforts to strengthen the organization, our membership has grown significantly. The new hotel business and our dealings with Donditch have been thriving. With this growth, I realized it was the perfect time to implement the organizational reforms I had been contemplating for a while.
With the increase in personnel and resources, and the expectation of further growth, the old structure was no longer sufficient to harness our full potential. We had already added new units, but now it was time for a more ambitious reorganization. After discussions in the executive board, we transitioned to the following structure, with some elements remaining unchanged.
- President: Me (retained)
- Vice-Commander: Siegrune (retained)
- Acting Vice-Commander: Gradena (retained)
- Headquarters Direct Response Unit: 8 members (newly established)
- Head of Presidential Security: Valeria (retained)
- Head of Operations: Frederica (retained)
- Deputy Head of Operations: April (retained)
- Secretary-General: Sophie (retained)
- Headquarters Secretariat Youth: 22 members
- Intelligence Bureau Chief: Josephine (retained)
- Intelligence Inspection Bureau Chief: Ortlinde (newly appointed, transferred from Deputy Chief of Intelligence)
- Intelligence Bureau and Inspection Bureau Youth: 30 members
- Security Bureau Chief: Zenobia (newly appointed)
- Security Bureau Youth: 34 members (newly established)
- Public Relations Bureau Chief: Margaret (newly appointed)
- Public Relations Bureau Youth: 4 members (newly established)
- Healing Bureau Chief: Rosabel (newly appointed)
- Construction Bureau Chief: Priene (newly appointed)
- Construction Bureau Youth: 14 members
- R&D Bureau Chief: Charlotte (newly appointed, transferred from Deputy Leader of the Fifth Combat Unit)
- R&D Bureau Youth: 5 members (newly established)
- Instruction Bureau Chief: Fulaveneta (newly appointed, promoted from Youth)
- Instruction Bureau Youth: 4 members (newly established)
- Combat Support Unit Leader: Shelby (retained)
- Combat Support Unit Youth: 18 members
- First Combat Unit Leader: Angelina (retained)
- Second Combat Unit Leader: Mary (retained)
- Third Combat Unit Leader: Albert (retained)
- Fourth Combat Unit Leader: Bonnie (retained)
- Fifth Combat Unit Leader: Paula (retained)
- Sixth Combat Unit Leader: Verone (newly appointed, transferred from Deputy Leader of the First Combat Unit)
- Seventh Combat Unit Leader: Brittany (newly appointed, transferred from Deputy Leader of the Second Combat Unit)
- Eighth Combat Unit Leader: Mia (newly appointed, transferred from Deputy Leader of the Third Combat Unit)
- Ninth Combat Unit Leader: Liliane (newly appointed, transferred from Deputy Leader of the Fourth Combat Unit)
- Tenth Combat Unit Leader: Ophelia (newly appointed, transferred from Vanguard Captain)
- Combat Unit Youth: 13 members each
- Advisors: Rosabel, Colette (retained)
- Administration Bureau Chief: Caroline (planned)
- Administration Bureau Youth: Approximately 5 members (planned)
Looking at this organizational chart, it’s evident how much we’ve grown. Just listing the heads and their teams gives a sense of our scale. Each department also has deputy leaders, though they aren’t listed here.
When we first assigned roles, the Kikyo Society had fewer than a hundred members, including apprentices. Now, we have around three hundred and twenty regular members, not counting the apprentices. It’s a significant number, and we’re still growing.
Reflecting on this growth, I feel a mix of pride and nostalgia. With this new structure, we aim to achieve even greater success.
Each role has its own importance. I, as the President, will lead the organization, supported by the Vice-Commander and Acting Vice-Commander. Frederica will continue to head the administrative side, and the other bureau chiefs and unit leaders will operate on equal footing without hierarchical divisions, as has been the practice.
The Headquarters Direct Response Unit is a new team directly under my command, the Vice-Commander, and the Acting Vice-Commander. This flexible force can be deployed as needed, eliminating the need to move people from other combat units. I expect Siegrune and Gradena to train these new recruits, turning them into elite members before long.
Valeria could have had her own team, but she preferred the freedom to act independently. I don’t need a large security detail, and having a sister figure like her is enough. Thus, she remains the sole Head of Presidential Security.
The Secretariat is now officially called the Secretariat Bureau, and the existing executives will continue their roles. However, we’ve added a new position of secretary to support each bureau chief, creating a more robust support structure.
The Intelligence Division has been split into the Intelligence Bureau and the Intelligence Inspection Bureau. Josephine remains the Intelligence Bureau Chief, and Ortlinde, who previously served as Deputy Chief of Intelligence, is now the Inspection Bureau Chief. Both roles are largely unchanged, but the Inspection Bureau will focus more on internal oversight, which has become increasingly important with our growing membership. Their collaboration with Josephine remains crucial.
The Security Bureau has been elevated from a security team to a full bureau, with Zenobia as the new Chief. Initially, they will focus on securing the headquarters and the high-end hotels. Eventually, they will take on the security of all our facilities and events. Given the scope and responsibility, we may need to divide the bureau into smaller units under Zenobia’s overall command. She has the expertise and the trust of the members, so we plan to provide her with additional personnel as needed.
The Public Relations Bureau is now an official bureau, with Margaret as its Chief. She has done well in her role so far, but she needs to adapt to managing a team. The bureau is still in its early stages, and the Deputy Bureau Chief position is currently vacant.
The Healing Bureau has been formalized, with Rosabel as the Chief and Colette as the Deputy. This change clarifies their roles, but their responsibilities remain largely the same. Young healers will continue to receive training and education, and we expect the Healing Bureau to grow and develop over time.
The Construction Bureau has been promoted from a team to a bureau, with Priene as its Chief. Her team has shown great potential, and they will play a crucial role in upcoming projects like the construction of the Arena.
The R&D Bureau is a new addition, with Charlotte as its Chief. She has shown significant success in her research on etching magic, and we believe her skills are better suited to a research-focused role. Her background as a noble and her negotiation skills will be valuable in collaborating with other organizations. We also appointed Lily as the Deputy Chief, recognizing her exceptional research capabilities and contributions.
The Instruction Bureau is another new bureau, led by Fulaveneta. She has excelled in training apprentices, and her ability to connect with and inspire them is unparalleled. We expect her to continue to produce competent and dedicated members.
The Combat Support Unit has been upgraded to a bureau, with Shelby continuing as its Chief. Their role remains the same, but they will have more autonomy in budget management and equipment maintenance, reducing the administrative burden on the Secretariat.
The Combat Units have been expanded to ten, reflecting our long-term vision. The new leaders, Verone, Brittany, Mia, and Liliane, are former deputy leaders of the combat units. Ophelia, formerly the Vanguard Captain, will now lead the Tenth Combat Unit. We plan to increase the size of each unit and appoint deputy leaders from the Youth.
The Advisors retain their roles, with Rosabel and Colette continuing to provide guidance across various areas. They will remain key figures in the organization.
The Administration Bureau is still in the planning stages, with Caroline expected to take the lead. We will either assign her the management of our existing pleasure quarters or consider building new ones, depending on her input.
Despite the challenges, I am confident we can manage this new structure. The numbers of Youth in each department are provisional and will change as we reallocate personnel for various experiences and projects.
With our growing membership, we expect the Kikyo Society to continue to expand. Our reputation is growing, and the Epic Junebel Hotel & Resorts is gaining worldwide attention. The opening of the Arena is also imminent. These developments will attract even more applicants, and we are prepared to handle this growth.
We are far from replacing the Five Great Families, but we are determined to grow. For example, the Clad Family, one of the largest factions in Exembra, has a membership that is probably fifty times ours. We have a lot of work to do, but I am confident we can achieve our goals.
As the President, I am committed to leading the Kikyo Society to greater heights. Our members are capable and dedicated, and I aim to provide them with the opportunities they deserve. This new structure is a step towards our future.
I am ambitious and want more for the Kikyo Society. It hasn’t been easy, but I believe we can achieve our goals.
This is just the beginning. We have a long way to go, but I have faith in the Kikyo Society.