Chapter 226 - A Busy Organization and New Prospects
It’s been a while since I’ve been back in town, so this chapter is all about catching up on the situation.
The expedition to the western continent has been over for a few days now. In a way, it was expected, but I was thrown right back into work the moment I returned, with no time to rest. Since then, there hasn’t been a single day when I felt I could take a break. Every time we return from an expedition, it’s always the same story—it’s always busy.
We managed to have a few moments of joy, like reuniting with Caroline, whom we finally managed to bring into our fold. But we haven’t had the time to throw a proper feast or celebration. Even the valuable spoils of war, like the golden bones and pitch-black scales, have been left untouched in the warehouse. These aren’t items that can be handled lightly, but we need to figure out how to use them effectively. However, we just haven’t had the time.
The reason for this, of course, is that we’re incredibly busy. It’s not just our Kikyo Society; all the major players in the city’s underworld are experiencing the same level of chaos. The McDallian Family, the Gandrault Gang, and the Snake Head Society, which were part of the Five Great Families, have been wiped out. The only major organizations left standing are the Clad Family and the Anastasia Union.
The Clad Family, which lost a significant number of members during the recent turmoil, seems to be trying to take over the entire territory that the Gandrault Gang once controlled. However, it’s far from a complete takeover. The Anastasia Union, which suffered even more damage, has been calling in reinforcements from other countries to rebuild and is making progress in taking over the Snake Head Society’s territory. Like the Clad Family, they are expanding their control, but they are still far from achieving complete and stable dominance.
Exembra is a rapidly growing metropolis that draws attention from all over the world. However, it’s not just the city’s development that garners attention; it’s also known as a city dominated by the underworld. The collapse of the state has led to a significant loosening of the feudal system, and the rigid class distinctions are no longer as pronounced.
For example, even among the nobility, there are clear differences in titles and ranks. However, with the fall of many upper nobles and the rise of lower nobles, the once rigid class hierarchy has become more fluid. This is not just limited to the nobility; merchants in the city also have a dynamic hierarchy based on capital, the goods they handle, their customer base, and their lineage.
The collapse of the state has reset almost everything. Decline, rise, absorption, division, entry, and exit—how things were in the past is no longer of much importance. What matters now is the current strength and the ability to sustain and grow.
The same is true for the guilds and their members, who are also experiencing rapid turnover. Almost everyone in the country is caught in this whirlwind of change. The underworld, in particular, is the most affected. With more than half of the Five Great Families gone, the turmoil is far from over. In Exembra, the underworld is the focus of attention.
Many people are coming from both inside and outside the country, hoping to make a name for themselves. Sometimes, without much notice, strange groups start to assert their influence. New forces are rising, and former sub-organizations of the Five Great Families are forming new groups.
The seeds of conflict are scattered everywhere, which is a headache for those in charge. However, the Clad Family and the Anastasia Union have both the military and financial power to complete their takeover of the new territories. They also have the necessary expertise and experience, which we, as a relatively young organization, lack.
Still, it won’t be easy, and the struggle to maintain control over our territory will likely continue for some time. The conflicts within each organization’s territory will likely be frequent, but the possibility of larger-scale conflicts is minimal. A decisive conflict between the Clad Family, the Anastasia Union, and our Kikyo Society would be detrimental to all parties involved and should be avoided.
Focusing solely on our own territory is a welcome situation for us. Now, let’s talk about the current state of our Kikyo Society. As the president, it’s important to have a clear understanding of our situation.
After destroying our archenemies, the McDallian Family, we gained control of their territory. However, due to our small numbers, we haven’t been able to fully dominate the vast McDallian territory. This was a challenge even before the expedition.
The Kikyo Society has direct control over key areas that are absolutely essential. These include the immediate vicinity of the McDallian Family’s main house, a section of Central Avenue, and the pleasure district. During my absence, the remaining members have been working to strengthen our control over these newly acquired territories.
The McDallian Family’s main house is still empty, but we’ve already gained the trust of the powerful residents in the surrounding areas. Negotiations with the merchant guilds on Central Avenue are progressing smoothly, and the collection of debts is on track. At this stage, we can consider these efforts to be successful.
Caroline, our new star, has already made her presence felt in the pleasure district. She joined us in the capacity of the head of the Administration Bureau, but she’s also a longtime friend from my days in the camp. In the old Royal Capital, she used to be the head of the prostitutes, and her skills in managing the pleasure district during the city’s reconstruction were highly regarded. Her reputation earned her the trust of the powerful Duchess Oversta, Rosmerta.
Caroline has already begun to assert her control over the pleasure district, and her progress has been faster than expected. The district is traditionally female-dominated, and many women were treated poorly. Our Kikyo Society’s efforts to improve working conditions have earned us a good reputation among women. Caroline’s leadership has further boosted our standing in the district, and her efforts are paying off faster than we anticipated.
We took various precautions to ensure a smooth transition when we brought Caroline on board, but she has proven herself to be more than capable. Friends from the camp and I had no doubts about her, and she’s certainly living up to our expectations.
Once things settle down, we’ll have her lead some combat training sessions. Caroline’s combat skills are decent, but as a Kikyo Society executive, it’s important for her to be even stronger.
Overall, the situation in our newly acquired territories is going well. As for the other territories formerly controlled by the McDallian Family, a few other organizations are paying tribute to the Kikyo Society while trying to establish their own control, but there hasn’t been much progress.
Our pre-existing territories are stable. Lightning Street and Sixth Avenue are secure, and for now, our goal is to maintain the current status rather than further expansion.
One of the reasons for our current busyness is keeping an eye on the rise of new forces. During my absence, I was catching up on reports and making decisions as the president. I also sent a detailed report to Rosmerta, emphasizing the hardships we faced. Finally, the backlog of work is clearing up.
Our territories are finally stabilizing. If the initial phase of stabilization goes well, the next step is to strengthen our control. For that, we need to strengthen our members. This is where the Instruction Bureau plays a crucial role. Thanks to the efforts of Fularaventa, the head of the Instruction Bureau, our member recruitment and training program is going well.
During the expedition, many trainees graduated to full members, and the number of new full members has surpassed fifty. This is a rapid pace. The surge in new members has made it easier to manage our newly acquired territories, which is a significant achievement.
The influx of new trainees is due to several factors. Many are former adventurers and mercenaries, and we’re seeing a lot of talented individuals joining our combat teams. We’re also getting new members with strong administrative skills, which has made Frederica very happy.
The number of new trainees is expected to grow, and with more people, we’ll have more opportunities to recruit exceptional individuals. By the time summer ends, the increase in our numbers might be astounding.
One of my goals for the organization is to increase our full member count to at least ten times our current number, around three thousand. This is a rough estimate, but to compete with the Clad Family and the Anastasia Union, we need a significant number of members. Having a large number of skilled individuals is crucial, but sheer numbers are also important.
Once we reach that size, we can fully dominate the former McDallian territories and expand into other areas. I want to achieve this goal as soon as possible and set new targets. As the president, I need to show a hopeful future. Imagining and creating a bright future is not just for myself but also for the dreams and ambitions of those who follow me. I want to lead with confidence and pride.
In terms of personnel, the Rose Madder Mercenary Corps is still working for us. They’re primarily based in Donditch and are currently between jobs, so they’ve been a valuable addition to our workforce. They plan to return to their home country in the winter, but until then, we’ll keep them busy. We’ll also have the chance to build stronger ties, and I hope they’ll be willing to help us again in the future.
Our trade relations with the border region of Donditch and the small southern kingdoms are also going well. The magical minerals we secretly obtain from other countries serve as a cover for the mysterious materials that the Kikyo Society produces.
Currently, we only have trade agreements with two countries, but expanding our reach is a future goal. However, this will have to wait until the situation in Exembra stabilizes.
Despite our progress, there are concerns. In the uncontrolled territories of the former McDallian Family, new forces are causing trouble, and they sometimes encroach on our territories. However, conflicts are not something the Kikyo Society fears. They can be opportunities to demonstrate our strength and assert our dominance. While there are challenges, we need to focus on preparing for larger movements.
Today, I’m discussing these larger movements with a select group of executives. Before bringing it up at the executive meeting, I’m having a preliminary discussion in my room.
Only the essential members are present: myself, Frederica, the Head of Operations, and Priene, the head of the Construction Bureau.
"It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to chat, Priene."
"Absolutely, President! We only get to talk during executive meetings these days!"
She’s as energetic as ever.
"Everyone is so busy that even people in the same department struggle to find time for casual conversations. I wish we could at least take a proper meal break."
"I agree. Once new members get settled in, things might calm down a bit."
"Our new recruits are being put to work from day one, so they’re adapting quickly!"
Hmm, that’s a bit worrying. While they might adapt quickly, I don’t want them to get burned out.
"Priene, are you calling us in for a discussion about the Arena?"
"Yeah, I have a good grasp of the current situation, but I want to prepare for the next steps."
The Arena and its related facilities are almost complete, despite the delays caused by the underworld turmoil and the invasion by the Medek-Legisamo Empire. The original plan was to start events in the spring, but everything has been pushed back.
"The Arena and the surrounding facilities are almost finished. The parts we were responsible for are done, and the additional sections should be completed in a few more days. Everything is on schedule!"
"The organizing committee has decided to start major events in the middle of autumn. I attended a meeting with April, and it seems we’re struggling to secure participants."
"Participants" refers to the fighters who will compete in the Arena. They are professional fighters who earn prize money and fight in tournaments.
In addition to professional fighters, there are knights, soldiers, adventurers, mercenaries, and local brawlers who might enter for various reasons. The organizers are having trouble securing professional fighters, who are popular and can draw crowds.
"Other than securing participants, everything else is going smoothly. The Construction Bureau, led by Priene, is on schedule. Frederica’s team is still working on securing participants, but that’s not our responsibility. If necessary, we might need to increase entry fees and prizes to attract more participants. We need to avoid a flop at the first event."
Running the Arena is a major undertaking involving various sectors. Our role is to manage the security and operations once the Arena opens. It’s both an entertainment venue and a gambling hub, requiring a strong security presence. We need to handle security and manage the high-profile fighters who might cause trouble.
"Large Arena events in other countries are more common in the summer, which is the current season. Negotiations to secure participants are likely to intensify soon."
"Don’t worry! From autumn to winter, there are no major tournaments, so with a generous prize pool, we’ll have no shortage of participants!"
"I hope so."
We still have some time to prepare. Autumn to winter is a challenging period. Winter travel is difficult due to snow, but the decision to hold the event during this time is based on the belief that it will be successful.
The Kingdom of Brenark has gained prominence after defeating the empire, and the attention on Exembra is at an all-time high. Opening the Arena in the middle of autumn will have excellent promotional effects. If we can attract a large crowd and keep them through the winter, we can turn them into long-term visitors. This will have a significant economic impact.
Our Kikyo Society will benefit from the Arena’s revenue, as well as our hotels and gambling venues. To maximize our profits, we need to ensure the stability and growth of our territories.
Priene’s upcoming tasks will be crucial in achieving this stability.
As mentioned in the preface, this chapter is primarily a status update. However, we’ve also hinted at new developments. In the next chapter, we’ll continue to build on these new stories.
It’s been a long time coming, but the Arena is finally about to open. How long has it been since it was first mentioned...?
In any case, this marks the beginning of a new chapter. I look forward to the next update!