I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 56
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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 56
“I just lied again, so it’s natural that the elves don’t trust us.”
First, I cleanly admitted the part we did wrong.
“But I have no intention of becoming a hostage either. I’m a manager of Belheim, not Nuviar, and I only received a request from Smith Viscount to solve the river flooding problem.”
At my words, Smith Viscount’s face visibly darkened, while Callix Crowbell smiled proudly.
“However, it’s true that I also participated in the lie, so to take responsibility for that, I’ll remain in Nuviar until the relocation work is finished.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Callix Crowbell gripped my shoulder tightly.
It was a warning not to say such ridiculous things.
But I had already spoken, and I couldn’t think of any other good method besides this.
“And I’d like the elf in the middle to stay as well.”
So I ignored Callix Crowbell’s warning and continued speaking.
“Stay with me and see with your own eyes whether Smith Viscount properly carries out the relocation work. Wouldn’t that put both sides at ease?”
“That’s…”
When the elf sitting on the left frowned and tried to say something, the middle elf stopped him.
“Very well. Let’s do that.”
Then he nodded his head.
The elves on both sides squinted their eyes as if dissatisfied with his decision, but said nothing.
‘As I thought, the middle elf must have the highest status.’
He looked the youngest on the outside, which was interesting.
“Please keep your promise this time.”
The middle elf continued, looking not at me but at Callix Crowbell. Those words were closer to a warning than a request.
‘What? Do they know each other?’
I looked back and forth between Callix Crowbell and that elf. Smith Viscount and the others did the same.
“…”
Perhaps annoyed by the pouring gazes, deep wrinkles formed between Callix Crowbell’s brows.
He clicked his tongue and grabbed my arm.
“Get up.”
Unable to properly resist the rough pulling force, I was dragged out of the meeting room by him.
* * *
Callix Crowbell dragged me to a room near the meeting room.
“Why did you step forward?”
As soon as he closed the door, he questioned me pressingly.
“I clearly told you not to step forward, didn’t I? And you agreed to that.”
He was still gripping my arm tightly, making it hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes.
“But why did you step forward? Did you lie to me?”
“F-first, please let go of this hand and talk!”
I shook the hand he was holding and shouted loudly.
Callix Crowbell narrowed his eyes but obediently let go of my hand.
‘Ah, it’s bruised.’
I had noticed since he lifted the barn pillar, but his strength is ridiculously strong.
When I touched my bruised wrist, his gaze naturally turned to my wrist.
“…”
Seeing the bruise, his fierce momentum that had been pressing me visibly faltered.
Bewilderment and some unknown displeasure mixed and rippled in his eyes, but he soon frowned deeply and turned his head away.
I guess he does feel some pangs of conscience?
“I’ve never broken a promise.”
I continued speaking while inwardly snorting.
“What I agreed to do back then was to say I don’t know when Smith Viscount or the elves asked if there was a method. I clearly answered that I don’t know to that.”
I hadn’t answered that I don’t know without thinking back then.
“And even if I’m not the general manager of this construction project, it’s true that I proposed the reservoir and sluice construction, so I thought I couldn’t completely avoid responsibility.”
As I spoke, my heart, which had been beating rapidly from fear, gradually calmed down.
“I was just trying to fulfill my responsibility, but was that wrong?”
Callix Crowbell, who had been looking at me with displeasure, clicked his tongue after seeing the bruise on my wrist.
“I’ve thought this before, but you have quite a strong personality. It would have been nice if you were a little more obedient.”
Look who’s talking.
“Are you really planning to stay in Nuviar? What about preparing for the summer rainy season?”
“I’ve finished all the blueprints and basic work, so Team Leader Anton Brown and the other City Planning Department employees should be able to handle it well together. We did it during the autumn rainy season last time too.”
“I wonder. I can’t trust anyone other than you.”
It was a touching statement, but it gave me chills when this man said it.
It sounded like he was saying he would never let me go.
“Well, I can give you about a week, thinking of it as giving you a vacation.”
A week. I don’t think we can finish it in that time.
“I’ll have to get proper compensation from Smith Viscount for today’s incident.”
“Please include my share too.”
When I quickly added my words, he tilted his head.
“I thought you were on Smith Viscount’s side.”
“I’m not.”
I shrugged my shoulders lightly.
“I did that to fulfill my responsibility, but I had no particular intention of taking sides.”
“Then are you on my side?”
Huh, why is the conversation flowing that way?
“Of course.”
Though I was bewildered, I smiled and spoke without showing it.
“I’m a manager of Belheim, so naturally I’m on the Lord’s side.”
Naturally saying things you don’t mean to your workplace superior was a basic quality of an office worker.
Satisfied with my answer, he nodded with a pleased smile.
“I hope that feeling won’t change in the future.”
It won’t change.
Forever.
* * *
Callix Crowbell threatened Smith Viscount to send me back within a week, then left for Belheim.
It was because he couldn’t be away for long as the Lord of Belheim.
Instead, Noah Roheim came over to this side.
“Aren’t you busy serving the Lord as well, Assistant?”
Settling on the terrace with a clear view of the garden that Smith Viscount was proud of, I asked Noah Roheim.
“I am, but about a week should be fine.”
Noah Roheim answered while elegantly setting down his teacup filled with black tea.
“There are other assistants besides me.”
“Huh? There are other assistants?”
It had been over six months since I joined the City Planning Department, but I had never seen any other assistants besides Noah Roheim.
“Of course. There are two more besides me.”
“Really? I never knew because I’ve never seen them.”
“They all work only in the office, and I mainly handle reporting to the Lord and external affairs, so that’s probably why.”
Ah, I see.
“I’ll introduce you to them when we return to Belheim later. They’ve both been hearing about Miss Eileen’s achievements and have been saying like a habit that they want to see what kind of person you are.”
When you put it like that, meeting him does feel burdensome.
As I continued talking with Noah Roheim, I could see people busily running around beyond the garden.
They were flora and fauna specialists who had come from Nuviar and nearby cities for the relocation work. Since everything had to be finished within a week, they worked day and night.
On the other hand, I was here as both a hostage and for surveillance purposes, so I had nothing particular to do. I didn’t know anything about relocation either.
Even if I did, I had no intention of bothering to get involved.
‘I wonder what that elf is doing right now.’
The elf who had said he would thoroughly monitor whether Smith Viscount kept his promise hadn’t shown his face since the day of the meeting.
“Ah, I noticed during the meeting that the elves seemed somewhat afraid of the Lord. Do you know why?”
“Well.”
Noah Roheim thought for a moment, then continued speaking.
“I’m not certain, but it’s probably because of the monster extermination incident.”
“The monster extermination incident?”
“Yes. You know that when the Lord had just inherited the duchy and became the ruler of Belheim, he drove out all the monsters around the city, right?”
It was the first time I’d heard this story, but I nodded tactfully.
“It seems the monsters that were driven out then went to the Kanabel Mountain Range and caused trouble there.”
Noah Roheim took a sip of tea, then continued.
“So the elves living in that mountain range requested help, but the Lord immediately drove them away, telling them to solve their own problems themselves.”
Judging by their reaction, it seemed like he didn’t just drive them away.
“But when the elves kept persistently arguing that he bore some responsibility too, I heard he beheaded the elf who came as their representative.”
As expected, there was another incident.
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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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