NOVPUB*Family.*
Just hearing the word warmed their hearts.
No noble had ever used such language to recruit talent. For them, administrators were disposable, mere tools to be used and discarded at will.
Unless someone had sworn loyalty and served for years, hearing such words was out of the question.
But here was the steward of Fenris Territory, calling them family even before they began their work, as though extending a hand to walk together forever.
The thought of joining this "family-like territory" filled the students with overwhelming excitement.
Marlon, too, held the contract in his hand, fighting back tears.
*Mom, Dad! I've finally gotten the chance to work as an administrator in a great territory! The hard times are over now! I’ll make sure you live comfortably with the enormous pay I'll earn!*
Of course, this wasn’t something he could decide on immediately.
He needed time to discuss it with his family and organize his thoughts.
With a warm smile, Claude continued.
"Once you make your decision, come find me. I'll be staying at Seyron Academy for the time being. And if any of your families live far away, just let me know; we'll send soldiers to escort them safely to the territory."
The students beamed with joy.
Those with nearby families could move easily, but those with families far away found it difficult to relocate to another kingdom.
But with soldiers to handle the logistics safely, it was an incredible relief.
Marlon, who had been worrying about convincing his parents, now felt his last concern melt away.
*This is incredible. The level of support here is unmatched. I can’t wait to get home... but wait, what’s this?*
Marlon noticed a small line of text in the corner of the contract.
"*Term of service... 20 years?*"
His mumbling made the other students look for the same line.
"Why would they specify this?"
"Isn’t it natural to stay until retirement?"
Normally, becoming an administrator was the hard part; retiring could be done freely.
The only cases of being forced to continue were out of fear of the lord or difficulty refusing a request to stay.
No one expected betrayal or espionage among administrators, so specifying a service term was unusual.
Claude wiped a bit of sweat and explained.
"Ahaha, that simply means we guarantee employment for that period. We’re practically family, so it’s our commitment to stand by you."
Marlon and the other students nodded, quickly reassured. It felt very much like a family, knowing they’d be provided for with such stability.
Leaving for other places could be a drawback, but in these times, it was hardly a consideration.
With the atmosphere fully in his favor, Claude whispered to Wendy.
"How’d I do?"
"...."
With a shortage of personnel, Fenris Territory was struggling, so she couldn’t fault Claude for his actions.
But standing beside him made her feel as if his bad influence was rubbing off on her.
In the end, Wendy chose silence.
*They’re given more than enough compensation, after all.*
Ensuring fair pay for hard work was a principle Ghislain held firmly. Thus, Fenris’s administrators were paid several times more than those in other territories.
The problem was they’d have to take the money whether they wanted it or not.
*Besides, most of them wouldn’t find proper work elsewhere.*
If they didn’t come to Fenris, most students wouldn’t find decent positions elsewhere.
*This timing is uncanny.*
In any other time, even with Claude leveraging his alumni network, recruiting so many people would’ve been impossible.
Everything Ghislain orchestrated always seemed to align perfectly.
* * *
A few days after the recruitment drive, Marlon, who lived close by, was the first to return to Claude.
"My family has decided to move, too. We’re in your care, sir."
"Great choice! So, what do your parents do?"
"My father is a carpenter, and my mother works with dyes!"
Claude whipped his head around, biting his lip to keep from laughing.
*Recruit one administrator and get two skilled workers as a bonus?*
With a controlled expression, Claude replied, "I’ll send soldiers to help with the move, so don’t worry. Plus, there’s plenty of work in the territory, so your parents will earn a lot if they’re willing to work."
"Thank you!"
Over the next several days, more students arrived.
Most of them had decided to follow Claude, as the drought left many struggling to survive, and opportunities in a major territory were rare.
After all, only a select few were well-compensated in the current economy.
"I’ll do my best! My family is coming with me!"
"My family is staying behind, but you’re really offering that salary, right? I need to send money back home."
Claude warmly embraced each student, welcoming them with open arms.
"Don’t worry about a thing. The territory will take care of everything. Even if your families stay behind, you’ll have no need to worry."
This time, he wasn’t lying.
Administrators of Fenris received several times the pay of their peers.
And the territory would cover everything for both those moving and those staying behind.
Of course, they’d be expected to spend the rest of their lives in Fenris.
*I’m sorry, juniors. I’m just trying to survive, too. Let’s be a real family and stick together. Hey, at least the pay is good, right?*
Claude’s eyes glistened as he hugged the students.
* * *
Claude was busier than ever.
In addition to recruiting students, he had to meet seniors and friends who had once been his mentor's pupils.
Tracking down each person individually was highly inefficient.
"Find everyone on this list as quickly as possible and bring them here. Offer them food—no one can say no to that. If they refuse, drag them here!"
Following orders more reminiscent of Ghislain, the soldiers acted swiftly.
Those who had returned to their hometowns received letters along with supplies, while those nearby came quickly, lured by the offer of food.
Most had lost their positions or were working under poor conditions due to their involvement in their mentor's rebellion.
Some looked at Claude with resentment, others with relief, and some with a mix of envy and curiosity.
Claude would persuade each one as they arrived.
"Let’s be real. Staying here, there’s no hope left, right?"
"I know, but leaving home suddenly is...."
"So, what? Are you going to starve here? Who’s going to hire you? What can you do here?"
"Urgh...."
Leaving home was never easy. But for those already abandoned, few options remained.
Ultimately, Claude’s seniors and friends reluctantly agreed to go to Fenris.
They knew their life here would only continue in destitution.
Billy, one of Claude’s closest friends, spoke on behalf of the group.
"We appreciate you setting things up for us, but why are you recruiting us instead of locals from Luthania?"
Claude put on a sorrowful expression.
"Even though it wasn’t directly my fault, I was the one who started it all. Thinking of the hardships you faced made me feel incredibly guilty."
Billy and the others cast him a dubious look.
"You... That’s not like you."
*This guy?*
Knowing him for so long, they weren’t so easily fooled. Still, Claude maintained his expression and continued.
"I’m not who I used to be. I worked with gritted teeth through painful times, nearly to the point of death... Anyway, I’m now the steward of a major territory. All of it... for you. Can you believe that?"
Billy covered his mouth, his eyes trembling.
"You... Why would you go that far...?"
The Claude he knew wasn’t this type. Though academically successful, he was just about as crazy as anyone else.
But here he was, apparently harboring such deep friendship and regret over past events.
Looking at him warmly, Claude responded, "Because... we’re friends."
"Claude!"
Billy, overcome with emotion, embraced Claude tightly, and Claude held him back, his eyes brimming with tears.
"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...."
"Don’t be sorry, you fool! It’s not your fault! It’s okay! We’re okay!"
Watching this, the other friends grew misty-eyed, joining in the hug, both men and women.
"Don’t cry, Claude! You’ve done nothing wrong!"
"To think you didn’t forget us and still cared... It means so much!"
"Never apologize again!"
As his friends grew emotional, Claude thought to himself.
*It’s not because I’m sorry... It’s because I’m taking you all to Fenris....*
After the tearful reunion, Billy cleared his throat and asked, a bit embarrassed.
"Ahem, about the contract... The pay is great, and the benefits are wonderful, but why is our term 30 years? I heard the juniors have 20 years?"
"Well... It’s because I want you to work with peace of mind for a long time. No need to worry about your livelihood—just focus on your abilities."
*The more you know, the more you have to work. Let’s just die together in Fenris. Give it your all until then.*
"Claude, you...."
Billy looked at Claude with trembling eyes again, and Claude returned a warm gaze.
"Because... we’re friends."
"Claude!"
Another tearful hug ensued, and Wendy, watching from the sidelines, let out a deep sigh, gazing up at the ceiling.
For nearly two months, Claude remained at the academy, successfully gathering a significant number of recruits.
Some who received letters from afar would likely arrive soon.
"Alright, let’s head to Fenris Territory!"
A large group of people followed behind Claude. Not
only students and friends but also their families were moving together.
With food bribes for neighboring lords and nobles, the relocation went smoothly.
For those who couldn’t make this move, Fenris would send additional soldiers to assist.
Before departing, Claude gazed at the academy’s main gate for a while.
*Anna, I hope you’re doing well.*
He hadn’t seen Anna; she was away at another academy for work on a historical text.
Claude had left money and food with the academy head, so she’d be surprised upon her return.
*...*
Feeling both regret and relief, Claude finally turned to leave.
* * *
At last, the massive procession entered Fenris Territory.
Though tired, everyone looked healthy. The journey had been a bit slow due to their numbers, but they’d had no major issues.
Ghislain greeted the newcomers with a radiant smile.
"Claude’s reeled in a big catch—oh, I mean, welcome, everyone. I am the Baron of Fenris, and I’ll treat you all as family, providing the best for you!"
"Wow!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Encouraged, Ghislain continued even more boldly.
"From now on, we are one family! Live together, die together!"
The people were deeply moved. They’d never even heard rumors of a noble who treated ordinary residents this way.
The affirmation from the lord himself about this "family-like territory" seemed to dissolve any lingering worries they had in this unfamiliar place.
They were touched, oblivious to the grim truth behind the "live and die together" part.
True to his word, Ghislain provided them with the best treatment—homes, land, and generous advance pay.
"This pay is unbelievable! I feel like I’m dreaming!"
"I made the right choice coming here! This is a land of opportunity!"
"The lord seems genuinely kind, unlike any noble I've met!"
Everyone felt as if they were floating on clouds.
While they noticed the territory was a bit underdeveloped, the construction projects everywhere gave them hope for rapid growth.
For the families who’d come along, the abundant work available was an added bonus.
Life here was so much more comfortable than it was in the Kingdom of Seyron that they couldn’t help but feel content.
Newly recruited administrators were placed in critical positions across the territory, handling important administrative tasks.
Billy, Claude’s friend, initially shrugged off the workload.
"It’s a bit much, but I can handle it. If there was this much work, he should’ve asked for help sooner."
Marlon and the other recent graduates were equally enthusiastic.
"We have to repay the lord’s kindness! We’ll become the best administrators this territory has ever seen!"
They endured a grueling schedule, teaching during the day at Fenris Academy and managing administrative tasks in the evening.
This granted them significant power within the territory.
With such high pay and authority, they were determined to make it work.
But this was only the beginning.
As Billy managed his region, he began to notice something peculiar.
"What... What is this? Is this even a real territory?"
The more he investigated, the more he realized how abnormal it was. Fenris was being run in an almost grotesque, bizarre manner.
"This... This is insane...."
As the paperwork continued piling up beside him, Billy’s face turned pale with dread.
