I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 33

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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 33

 

As soon as I entered the nobleman’s office, I checked his hands first.

 

‘It doesn’t look like he has his sword.’

 

His expression wasn’t too bad either.

 

Most importantly, he wasn’t paying any attention to my entrance and was focused on his documents.

 

“You called for me, my lord.”

 

When I spoke to him, he glanced at me briefly and pointed to the sofa with his chin.

 

“Sit there and wait a moment.”

 

His voice was the same as usual, so it didn’t seem like he called me to scold me.

 

‘Still, I shouldn’t let my guard down.’

 

Since the other party is Callix Crowbell.

 

I carefully sat on the sofa. As I kept being tense, my back naturally straightened.

 

When the tea the servant brought out had cooled a bit, Callix Crowbell sat on the sofa across from me.

 

“I heard an interesting story.”

 

I had an ominous feeling that only this man would find it interesting, while I wouldn’t find it amusing at all.

 

“The administrators of Districts 2 and 3 came to see you?”

 

See. My prediction was right.

 

“They said they’d give you two hundred gold if you installed triangular roofs and drainage systems in their districts too. Is that correct?”

 

When the administrators of each district came to see me, there was no one around me.

 

‘But how does he know in such detail?’

 

I didn’t even tell Anton Brown about the amount they offered?

 

“I didn’t call you to reprimand you, so you don’t need to be so tense.”

 

“Then why…”

 

“I’m just saying it as a warning.”

 

…Isn’t that the same thing.

 

“You can accept bribes.”

 

At the unexpected words, I reflexively widened my eyes.

 

“But regardless of how much you receive, we won’t be doing drainage construction in Districts 2 and 3 for the time being. The same goes for triangular roofs.”

 

“…Then shouldn’t I not accept bribes?”

 

“Why? If they’re offering money, is there a reason to refuse?”

 

Callix Crowbell asked back as if he truly didn’t understand.

 

“Well, it’s money given in exchange for doing the construction…”

 

“If they really wanted the construction done, they should have bribed me instead. Well, if they had come to me, they would have lost their lives instead of money.”

 

The words he added with a cynical smile gave me goosebumps.

 

As expected, I need to be careful of this man.

 

Suddenly feeling parched, I drank the completely cooled tea.

 

“By the way, I heard you’ve been looking into migration permit prices.”

 

“Cough-.”

 

At the words that suddenly came out, I coughed dryly as I choked.

 

It was fortunate that I had just swallowed the tea, otherwise I would have spat it out.

 

‘How does he know about this too?’

 

When the administrators came, I at least consulted with Anton Brown, but I didn’t tell anyone about the migration permits.

 

I was really careful when I was looking into it, but it was creepy that he knew everything.

 

“So you said you wanted to quit the City Planning Department? Because you want to leave Belheim?”

 

“Ah, that’s… it’s not like that.”

 

I wiped my wet lips and hastily made excuses.

 

“It was just pure curiosity. A resident I met while repairing buildings complained that even though they wanted to leave because they disliked Belheim’s weather, they couldn’t leave.”

 

“Ho, I wonder who that resident was?”

 

“…Haha, well. I just heard it in passing, so I don’t really remember who it was.”

 

It was an awkward excuse even to my own ears. Yet Callix Crowbell didn’t press further.

 

“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. You can never leave Belheim.”

 

At words that were no different from a death sentence, my heart sank with a thud.

 

I wanted to ask why, but that would reveal my true feelings, so I just smiled awkwardly.

 

“Why are you smiling so stupidly? Don’t tell me you were really thinking of leaving?”

 

Now he’s even criticizing my smile.

 

“No, no. I have no plans to leave for the time being, so you don’t need to worry.”

 

It would be more accurate to say I can’t leave even if I wanted to because I don’t have money.

 

“‘For the time being’ sounds like you’re thinking of doing so later?”

 

“Haha, no way…”

 

He’s unnecessarily perceptive, I tell you.

 

“Is that what you called me here to say?”

 

Please let this be the end.

 

When I asked with desperate hope because I wanted to leave, he snorted.

 

“Hardly. Do I look that idle to you?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

When I answered promptly, he chuckled and took out luxurious stationery from his inner pocket.

 

“A letter came from the Smith Viscount’s house.”

 

“A viscount’s house?”

 

“Yes. They heard that Belheim survived the autumn rains thanks to the drainage system, and requested that we install drainage systems in their territory too.”

 

Ho, it seems the drainage system I made has become famous nationwide.

 

This was good news.

 

“It must rain a lot in the Smith Viscount’s territory too.”

 

That’s probably why they want drainage systems, I asked vaguely, but Callix Crowbell looked at me strangely.

 

“Don’t you know what kind of place Nuviar is?”

 

Of course I didn’t know. I’d only been in this world for about half a year, and I’d been in Belheim the whole time.

 

When I first entered the City Planning Department, I did read books about the Monola Empire, but most of them were about history or the royal family. I didn’t see details about territories.

 

“Huh.”

 

When I affirmed with silence, he sighed and tilted his head sideways.

 

“How can you be a citizen of the Monola Empire and not know about Nuviar in the east?”

 

…Because I’m not from here.

 

It was frustrating to feel wronged but unable to tell the truth.

 

“The eastern part of the empire has little rainfall and many desert areas. So most cities struggle with water shortages, but Nuviar is an exception.”

 

Callix Crowbell explained kindly, which was unlike him.

 

“Thanks to the Raed River that crosses the city, they don’t worry about water and farming goes well too. So people call the Raed River a goddess’s blessing while simultaneously cursing it as the source of evil.”

 

“Source of evil?”

 

“Yes. The Raed River floods once every two years and swallows everything.”

 

The moment I heard those words, I was reminded of a certain country whose civilization was sustained by a single river.

 

“It seems the Smith Viscount wants to prevent the river from flooding, so he asked for drainage systems to be installed.”

 

“If that’s the case, it would be better to maintain the riverbanks rather than drainage systems.”

 

“As far as I know, they spend a lot of taxes every year maintaining the riverbanks.”

 

But they still failed.

 

“There’s also the method of blocking it with magic, but you can’t block the entire area around the river, and above all, it costs a lot of money so you can’t try it every time.”

 

This situation is similar to here.

 

Belheim was also preventing flood damage by protecting only Districts 1, 2, and 3 with magic due to cost issues.

 

“So it seems they want to rely on drainage systems… Do you think it would be effective?”

 

“I’d have to go see it in person to be sure, but the chances are slim.”

 

I answered honestly.

 

“Drainage systems only serve to drain water so it doesn’t accumulate inside the city, they can’t prevent river water from overflowing. Rather, if the water level rises and causes backflow, it could become even more dangerous.”

 

“Your architectural knowledge is quite impressive indeed.”

 

His gaze toward me was mixed with surprise and suspicion.

 

“You didn’t even attend the Academy, so where did you learn something like that?”

 

“It’s natural talent.”

 

Though there was blood, sweat, and tears before that.

 

My shameless answer seemed to work, as Callix Crowbell didn’t pry any further.

 

Instead, he placed Smith Viscount’s letter next to the ashtray and took out a cigar.

 

“Still, just in case, I should go to Nuviar and take a look.”

 

If it’s for quickly draining water that pools in the city after the river overflows, it would be effective.

 

“Why would you go there.”

 

Callix Crowbell, who had lit his cigar, tilted his head at an angle.

 

“You said drainage channels can’t prevent river flooding, didn’t you?”

 

“That’s true, but still, if I see it in person, I might come up with a solution.”

 

“If you have time to worry about other territories, worry more about Belheim. You’re Belheim’s administrator.”

 

Taking a deep drag of his cigar, he exhaled pure white smoke and sank deep into the sofa.

 

“Just so you know, no matter how sweet an offer Nuviar makes, don’t even think about going there for a second.”

 

Callix Crowbell dropped his cigarette ash not into the ashtray but onto Smith Viscount’s letter, curling his lips at an angle.

 

The letter where the ash fell began burning pitch black.

 

“I have absolutely no intention of letting someone else take what’s mine.”

 

…Why am I yours?

 

“If I see even the slightest sign of that, you’d better be prepared.”

 

It seemed like he was saying I’d end up like that pitch-black burned letter if I ignored his warning, so I answered yes several times.

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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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