I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 23

“The path where rainwater flows. Interesting, give it a try.”

Despite my three days of agonizing over how to convince the lord, Callix Crowbell readily gave his permission.

I felt bewildered yet anxious at the same time.

If this doesn’t work out properly, he won’t dump all the responsibility on me, will he?

“Then I’ll submit an official document requesting consent and cooperation from the residents.”

“Why do we need the residents’ consent and cooperation?”

“Well, major construction work could cause inconvenience to nearby residents…”

“This is my land.”

Callix Crowbell spoke arrogantly, lifting his chin.

“Whatever I do on my land is entirely my freedom. So there’s no need for the residents’ consent or cooperation.”

No matter whose land it was, construction work would inevitably cause problems like noise and dust, leading to complaints from nearby residents.

That’s why people usually circulated official notices asking for understanding beforehand, or at least prepared token gifts.

But he said there was no need for that.

It was absurd, yet I could understand it on one hand.

This world was medieval, where the lord’s word took precedence over law.

‘With that kind of mindset, no wonder he turned residents into monsters to use as weapons and shields to stop the male lead from rescuing the female lead.’

As the content of the original novel came to mind, a chill ran down my spine.

“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave now.”

“Yes, I’ll be going now.”

I immediately left the office and muttered while looking at the tightly closed door.

“I really need to leave this place as soon as possible.”

I absolutely refused to die a dog’s death.

To do that, I had to obtain the lord’s wish scroll no matter what.

‘First, let’s repair the places damaged during the summer rainy season.’

I organized my plans in my head while walking down the elegantly decorated marble corridor.

‘I can leave the repairs to Anton Brown and the City Planning Department employees.’

I had been worried about the other employees’ abilities since Toma Harens was so incompetent, but fortunately they weren’t that bad.

While they couldn’t take initiative, they carried out assigned tasks without complaint, making them perfectly convenient to work with.

‘I should also select a workshop to work with.’

Originally we used Oak Heart Workshop, but after the Toma Harens incident, there was no designated workshop.

‘Should I entrust this to Nain Workshop too?’

I was already planning to commission them for the triangular roof, so it seemed good to entrust everything together.

Taking this opportunity to see what other workshops were available, I headed to the 5th District.

* * *

The 5th District was the craftsman and workshop area, where various workshops like stonemasons, carpenters, and metalworking shops were gathered.

Since Oak Heart Workshop was also located here, I unintentionally passed by it.

Being the largest workshop on this street, it naturally caught my eye.

“It’s certainly big.”

It was the size of several other workshops combined.

From inside the workshop came the sounds of hammering and metal clanging.

“Looks like they’re still getting orders.”

Rumors had spread throughout the city that Oak Heart Workshop had been bribing the City Planning Department team leader to win contracts.

So I thought no one would commission them anymore, but this was unexpected.

They might be working on orders they had already received.

“Hey you!”

Anyway, it had nothing to do with me, so I was about to pass by when I heard a familiar voice.

It was the Oak Heart Workshop owner who had caused a scene in the office before.

So his name was…

“Hello, Mr. Walter Hauf.”

When I called his name, Walter Hauf raised his eyebrows as if slightly surprised.

“You know who I am and you’re still being insolent?”

“When was I being insolent? I just greeted you.”

“Talking back is being insolent.”

Oh please, how impressive.

There was nothing good about talking with this guy for long, so I just turned around, but Walter Hauf grabbed my arm.

“Where are you going in the middle of our conversation?”

“You told me not to talk back, so I left. Is there some problem with that?”

“What?!”

Ugh, my eardrums are going to burst.

“Not only did you make a fool of me, but now you’re ignoring me too?”

If it’s a problem either way, what exactly am I supposed to do?

“Oh, I’m sorry. Well, I’m busy so I’ll be going now.”

This didn’t please him either, as Walter Hauf grabbed my arm again.

“You’re going to Nain Workshop, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“I said no. And even if I were, it’s none of your business, Mr. Walter Hauf.”

“How is it none of my business? That should be our job!”

What a shameless person.

“Then I’ll commission you, so will you give me a bribe too?”

When I openly mentioned bribes, his expression stiffened slightly.

You don’t like it? Well, I don’t like it either.

“I’ll give you one.”

…Huh?

“How much do you want? Should I give you gold too?”

“…Are you serious?”

“I don’t lie about things like this.”

No, this seems like something you should lie about…

“How much do you want? As long as it’s not an outrageous amount, I’ll try to match it.”

This man was more troublesome than I thought.

“I don’t need it.”

I frowned and shook off the man’s hand, feeling like I was getting a headache.

“And if you’re a workshop owner, you should compete with skill, not try to solve things with money.”

“Then I’ll show you my skill.”

I wanted to ask if he even had skill to show.

“Toma Harens said if we wanted to get commissioned, we had to show proper sincerity, so I had no choice but to give him the golden turtle.”

Walter Hauf looked aggrieved, as if he hadn’t wanted to do it himself.

Hmm, he doesn’t seem to be lying…

“I’d like you to treat me politely, not with bribes. No matter how skilled someone is, I don’t want to do business with rude people.”

At my words, Walter Hauf flinched and quietly let go of my hand.

“Ahem, that’s true. I think I’ve been too excited and treated you roughly. I’ll apologize. Sorry.”

He changes his attitude quite quickly.

Unlike Toma Harens who was a lower noble, this was possible because he was a commoner.

I had thought everyone with a surname was nobility, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.

Commoners whose abilities were recognized, like merchants, craftsmen, or scholars, had surnames.

They could even establish their own families and received good treatment.

“I want to maintain a good relationship with you going forward too.”

“It’s not ‘you,’ it’s Eileen.”

“Right, Miss Eileen. Let’s forget about the past and work well together from now on.”

When Walter Hauf offered a handshake, I placed the blueprint in his hand instead.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the blueprint for the triangular roof scale model.”

I had brought several copies just in case, and it was a good decision.

“Since you said you’d show your skills, try making a triangular roof according to this blueprint.”

* * *

I gave the same blueprint to not only the Oak Heart Workshop but also the Nine Workshop and other small workshops nearby, commissioning them all.

The deadline was two days later, by 1 PM.

When I said even being one minute late would mean disqualification, everyone showed up at the City Planning Department office starting from 12:30.

They’re all quite diligent. This part gets a passing grade.

Walter Hauf, who arrived last, frowned deeply when he saw the people from other workshops.

“Wasn’t this job only for our workshop?”

When I came out of the office, Walter Hauf approached and asked in a low voice.

“Of course not. I gave every workshop a fair opportunity.”

“But…”

“Why? Don’t tell me you lack confidence?”

Having nothing more to say, Walter Hauf made a groaning sound and stepped back.

“Now then, shall we examine the triangular roofs you’ve made?”

I checked them in order of arrival, starting with the Nine Workshop’s first.

‘Well made.’

The cross-section was a bit uneven, but that was an equipment issue, not a skill problem.

My standards were calibrated to modern times, making them excessively high compared to the standards here.

I continued the evaluation, taking that into account.

As expected from small-scale workshops, some did poorly, but others performed better than expected.

The most surprising was the Oak Heart Workshop.

I hadn’t expected much since all the previous work from Oak Heart Workshop had been uniformly terrible, but this was quite good.

‘I guess Toma Harens’ blueprints were the problem.’

After all, what fault could the craftsmen have?

This confirmed that the rumors about Oak Heart Workshop substituting money for skill were false.

With Oak Heart Workshop being the last, all evaluations were complete.

Out of seven workshops, only three caught my interest.

“Nine Workshop, Cheshire Workshop, and Oak Heart Workshop—please have just these three remain.”

With time being tight, the more manpower the better.

But that didn’t mean I could entrust work to incompetent places.

The managers of Nine Workshop and Cheshire Workshop were delighted, but Walter Hauf from Oak Heart Workshop had a subtle expression.

He probably didn’t like that other places were selected besides his own.

Such greed, really.

“Now then, Team Leader.”

When I called, Anton Brown stepped forward as if he’d been waiting.

He placed his hands on his hips, raised his chin high, and looked at the workshop managers arrogantly.

“Please tell these people what kind of work they’ll need to do going forward.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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