I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 55

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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 55

“It’s true that when a reservoir is built, the surrounding ecosystem will be damaged.”

Since this was an undeniable fact, I acknowledged it cleanly.

“However, if we don’t proceed with the reservoir construction, the Raed River will flood and countless people will suffer damage.”

I emphasized this point again.

“Then people will cut down trees and dig up the ground to repair the damage, destroying even more of the forest. And this behavior will repeat every time the Raed River floods.”

“…Are you trying to threaten us now? That you’ll destroy the forest if we don’t allow the reservoir construction?”

The leftmost elf asked with a frown.

The right elf also looked clearly uncomfortable, but the middle elf remained calm.

“It’s not a threat, but a statement of fact. You need to know the exact situation for negotiations to work.”

“What kind of negotiation is this…”

When the right elf started to speak indignantly, the middle elf grabbed his shoulder. The elf flinched and closed his mouth.

“Please continue.”

Oh, not only was he the most handsome of the three, but his voice was pleasant too. It had a calming effect just listening to it.

‘And he’s not speaking informally either.’

He was likeable in many ways.

“I’d like to make this proposal.”

Since he seemed like the most reasonable one to talk to, I continued while looking at the middle elf.

“We will relocate the animals that lose their homes due to the reservoir to the nearby forest and upstream regions. We will also transfer trees and other plants to different areas as much as possible.”

At my words, Smith Viscount and the Nuviar managers looked at me with great bewilderment. It was understandable since I had brought up something we hadn’t discussed beforehand.

‘But there was no time to discuss it.’

If we had met a day or two earlier, we could have talked about it, but since we sat down at the negotiation table immediately, there was no opportunity.

On the way to the meeting room, I was too conscious of Callix Crowbell’s presence to bring it up.

“This way, we can minimize the concerns you have. What do you think?”

“Well. From what I can see, this seems like a proposal where only humans don’t lose out.”

“What a disappointing thing to say. To proceed with relocation work requires considerable manpower and costs, so we too must bear significant losses. Isn’t that right, Your Lordship?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s right.”

Smith Viscount, who had been dazed, tactfully nodded his head.

“The losses are indeed enormous in many ways, but for coexistence, we can endure that much.”

Ooh, he knows how to say the right things too.

As expected, a nobleman who rules a large city is different.

“That’s right. Humans are ultimately beings who depend on nature, so we must live together.”

“We don’t want to solve problems at the expense of nature either.”

The Nuviar managers also chimed in one by one to match the atmosphere.

I had been worried they might say this was nonsense and that we couldn’t do such things, but fortunately they didn’t.

‘Well, conducting relocation work and building a reservoir would be more beneficial to Nuviar in the long run.’

There are so many foolish humans who chase immediate profits without looking far ahead, so it was fortunate that Smith Viscount wasn’t one of those types.

Fortunately, this strategy seemed to work, as the faces of the two elves who had been dissatisfied throughout the meeting softened a little.

“…”

The elf sitting in the middle remained exactly the same as before. At this point, that elf was actually more frightening. I had no idea what he was thinking.

The elves exchanged conversation in an incomprehensible language again.

‘They must be discussing what to do, right?’

While waiting desperately hoping things would go well, the side of my head stung.

It was because Callix Crowbell was glaring at me.

‘Still, this is pretty good.’

At least he’s not telling me to stop doing useless things and leave immediately.

“Fine. We’ll accept you humans’ proposal, but we also have two conditions.”

After a long discussion, the leftmost elf spoke.

“First, start the reservoir construction only after all relocation work is completed.”

That would make the construction schedule a bit tight, but we could manage it with night work.

“Second, until the relocation work is finished, we’ll keep that human woman who is the project manager with us.”

…What? Me?

Bewildered by the unexpected demand, I just blinked. Smith Viscount and the Nuviar managers were the same, and even Callix looked somewhat dumbfounded as he raised his eyebrows.

“Humans are a species that lies so much, we can’t trust them.”

The rightmost elf spoke with a face full of distrust.

“So until you keep your promise, we’ll keep that human as a hostage.”

Ha, they’re openly calling me a hostage.

But more than that, there’s Callix Crowbell, Smith Viscount, and other managers here, so why me of all people?

Is it because I’m the general manager of this construction project?

“If you don’t trust our word, how about writing a contract?”

When Smith Viscount suggested this, the elf snorted.

“How can we trust a piece of paper that’s only valid among humans?”

“If you don’t accept these two conditions, we’ll consider this negotiation null and void.”

The elves spoke firmly as if they wouldn’t back down any further.

At this, Smith Viscount made a groaning sound and glanced at Callix Crowbell.

‘I’m the one being taken as a hostage, so why is he reading this man’s mood instead of mine?’

It was absurd, but it didn’t seem like the right time to step forward, so I waited for now.

“We also need time to discuss, so would it be alright if we answer after deliberating?”

Smith Viscount thought for a moment, then asked the elves.

“That’s…”

“Rejected.”

Before the elf could finish speaking, Callix Crowbell stood up abruptly and spoke.

“There’s a limit to how much nonsense I’ll listen to. Continuing to listen is just irritating.”

“Y-Your Grace.”

Smith Viscount called out to him with a flustered face at the blunt insult.

Then Callix Crowbell looked down at the viscount as if he couldn’t believe it.

“You’re spouting nonsense just the same.”

“What?”

“The general manager of this project should be you, not Eileen, yet not only did you push that responsibility onto her, but now you’re trying to hand her over as a hostage. Is this proper repayment to the benefactor who solved Nuviar’s problem?”

He’s delivering a refreshing fact-bombing here too.

While it felt satisfying, I was also troubled. I had barely convinced the elves, but his recent statement brought us back to square one.

“Ha, as expected, humans lie as naturally as breathing.”

…Not square one, but negative territory?

“You’re the ones who spouted the most nonsense.”

This time Callix Crowbell glared at the elves and snapped.

“The planned reservoir construction area isn’t your elves’ territory, so what’s your reason for coming all this way to meddle?”

“It’s not our territory, but we couldn’t just watch the forest being destroyed, so we stepped forward.”

“You’re lying just the same.”

Callix Crowbell snorted.

“Elves are a species that values territory, so they don’t interfere in other territories’ affairs. Did you think I wouldn’t know that?”

Having hit the mark, the elves’ expressions visibly hardened.

Even in this situation, the middle elf only raised his eyebrows without any other significant change.

“Well, there are exceptions. For instance, if someone very close to you asked you to step in on their behalf.”

Callix Crowbell’s eyes flashed coldly.

“I won’t pry into who that person is, so keep it reasonable. If you continue crossing the line, I won’t stay still either.”

The meeting room temperature seemed to drop below freezing in an instant.

The elves exchanged brief glances, and among them, the middle elf looked at me.

“I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“What? My thoughts?”

It was revealed that I’m not the person in charge of this construction project, so why bother?

“Seeing how much His Grace the Duke cherishes you, you must be an important person, so I’d like to hear your opinion.”

That man cherishes me? What nonsense.

He’s probably just annoyed because I don’t move according to his will.

I couldn’t bring myself to say that and rolled my eyes. From what I could see, this was the last chance to negotiate with the elves.

‘Then I suppose I should do this?’

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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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