Chapter 316 - 314: Reform

Chapter 316: Chapter 314: Reform

Although the two-year-old Mammoth calves were quite large, they were only suitable for simple training in carrying weight and pulling cargo, and could not yet be formally put to work.

According to the Star Velvet Mammoth handler, they would need to wait at least another year for the two calves’ physical condition to improve before they could be put to work, and even then, they would have to be careful not to overexert them.

Not until three years later, when the Mammoths reached adulthood, would their physical strength be significantly enhanced.

At that point, they could pull three or four thousand pounds of cargo for a full day and night without rest, and it would be no problem at all.

Duane had Ralph select six handlers to shadow the visitors and learn how to care for the Mammoths, while he himself brought Emerson back to the castle to extend his hospitality as the host.

During the meal, in addition to strengthening the bond between Viscount Raul and Duane, Emerson also mentioned that he hoped Simone and Constance would bring their child back to the manor to visit their grandfather, whose health was deteriorating.

Duane expressed his support for this.

After all, visiting a gravely ill relative was only natural; it would have been heartless of Duane to prevent it.

However, after some consideration, Simone and Constance politely declined, using the excuse that they were too busy with the territory’s affairs to get away.

In truth, they were afraid—afraid that this hard-won reunion would be torn apart again by a single trip back home.

Even though the Duane they now followed was renowned, leaving Black Forest Island and setting foot on someone else’s land presented too many risks.

They didn’t dare to take the chance.

Hearing their response, Emerson was somewhat regretful but didn’t press the issue.

He was already gratified that Simone had gone from being a wanted man to one of Duane’s followers.

After the banquet, Duane summoned Julian and Ralph to his study.

One of the men was the territory’s General Affairs Consultant, and the other was its grand steward and treasurer. They were the leading figures among the Civil Officers.

"It’s been a long time since I last called you both together for a meeting."

Duane sat down casually behind his desk and gestured for them to sit as well. "I hear you’ve both been very busy lately."

At his words, both men nodded.

"My Lord, you see it clearly," Julian said. "The territory’s affairs are growing ever more numerous. Your industries and lands have expanded significantly, so the number of things we need to manage has naturally increased as well."

Ralph added, "The fields, the tea plantations—they all need to be managed. And with Owington in the Silver Jade Territory and Haien in the Southen Plain, many matters require our personal supervision."

Duane nodded.

He had delegated the authority to manage these things to them, as he himself simply didn’t have time to oversee every single detail.

"You’ve worked hard."

Julian and Ralph were touched. To receive their Lord’s affirmation meant their hard work had not been in vain.

Duane’s tone shifted. "However, the Silent Shore will soon begin sending fifty thousand people to Black Forest Island in waves. On top of that, people from all over the Kingdom will likely start arriving, wanting to join us. The affairs of the territory are only going to increase, not decrease."

The settlement and employment of fifty thousand people, the expansion of the port, assigning manpower to the Red Brick Factory, the construction of a new castle... there were too many things to do.

The two men felt a wave of pressure wash over them at his words.

However, they didn’t complain.

After all, they were Duane’s followers. The stronger Duane became and the more prosperous Black Forest Island grew, the more they stood to gain.

’Just imagine,’ they thought, ’when we first followed Duane to Black Forest Island, who would have thought this remote island, known as a place of exile, could develop so much in such a short time?’

"I called you here today mainly to discuss two matters with you."

Duane continued, "The first is that I want to give you all a raise in pay. Not just for the two of you, but for the other Civil Officers as well."

Upon hearing this, both men’s eyes lit up.

It was their duty to work hard for their Lord, but when faced with too many tasks and immense pressure, anyone could feel burnout.

However, if that work came with higher pay, the feeling of burnout wouldn’t sap their motivation.

"My Lord, you are truly benevolent!"

Julian exclaimed. "My salary is already high enough; you don’t need to consider me. However, the men under us have certainly worked hard. This would be a great way to motivate them."

Back at Lakefront Castle, to put Julian’s mind at ease, Duane had paid him a ten-year advance on his salary.

However, this year, Julian had moved his entire family to settle on Black Forest Island, so he had privately returned the advanced Gold Coins to Ralph. His monthly salary had now reverted to forty Silver Coins.

Ralph, however, offered a suggestion. "Some people have only recently been selected as assistants and haven’t made many contributions yet. While you are benevolent, my Lord, I suggest we keep their pay as it is for now."

It was rare for a boss to proactively give his employees a raise. Duane was only doing this to motivate his subordinates.

After all, a Warrior’s pay increased with their strength, but the Civil Officers lacked a similar opportunity.

"The pay increase won’t apply to everyone, of course. The size of the raise will vary depending on the position and the level of contribution."

Duane affirmed Ralph’s suggestion. "I’m not running a charity. I simply want those who have poured their sweat into my territory to be rewarded more than others."

Both men expressed their agreement.

"I plan to establish an Officer Evaluation Department to manage performance reviews for the territory’s Civil Officers."

"Performance reviews?" Ralph and Julian exchanged a glance; neither had ever heard the term before.

"Yes, performance reviews!"

Duane explained, "It means we will record the efficiency, completion rate, and contribution level of your tasks, as well as personal capability assessments, whether any mistakes were made, if there were any disciplinary violations, and so on. The final results of these performance reviews will serve as the basis for rewards and will also impact opportunities for promotion."

Performance reviews did not currently exist in the Pruck Kingdom.

To find out how well someone completed their tasks, Lords could only rely on "asking around," which most often meant inquiring with trusted retainers.

A more cautious Lord might ask several people before making a judgment.

A more casual Lord might make a decision after hearing only one person’s account, leading to a great deal of arbitrariness.

By establishing performance reviews and creating documented records, Duane could optimize the allocation of human resources and increase administrative efficiency once the territory expanded.

Of course, this was a new concept, and Julian and Ralph might not implement it perfectly at first.

But as long as the framework and procedures were established, they would undoubtedly be refined over time.

"The two of you will take the lead on this. Also, bring in Dina Levin, Aleksey Freck, and Constance Stewart."

Dina and Aleksey were new followers. The former served as the territory’s Legal Officer, while the latter was a bankrupt merchant skilled in calculation who currently held no official position.

Bringing them in was, naturally, to help assess disciplinary infractions and cost control among the officials.

As for Constance, a lady of noble birth, she was currently in charge of producing Spell Scrolls within the territory.

Ralph and Julian understood why Dina and Aleksey were being included, but they wondered, ’Why does the Lord want Constance to join?’

’After all, a Level 4 Mage should be part of the military faction. Why is she joining us?’

They didn’t ask for details, however. They just had a feeling that once these measures were implemented, the behavior of some of the officials under them would be reined in.

After all, those with even a little power were always looking for ways to use it.

In the past, Julian had often turned a blind eye to such things, so long as the tasks were completed.

But that would no longer be acceptable.

That said, Duane’s main reason for including Constance was for supervision.

He had given power to Ralph, Julian, and the others. If that power wasn’t constrained and supervised, someone was bound to abuse it.

This had nothing to do with trust.

"Tomorrow, have Dina and Aleksey come see me here. I’ll personally tell them what to do. As for Constance, I’ll speak with her after Emerson leaves."

"Now, for the second matter."

Duane took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Education."

In this world, education had always been monopolized by the nobility.

People of lower status, like Logan, only had the opportunity to learn to read and write through their service to the nobility.

At the commoner level, there were virtually no channels for receiving an education.

Duane was well aware that this "higher learning," possessed by only a select few, was holding back societal progress.

He had first had this thought when he arrived on Black Forest Island and saw the apathetic commoners.

It was just that back then, he barely had control over his own small domain, let alone pursuing something as seemingly grand and impractical as universal education.

But things were different now. Black Forest Island had the means to implement such a reform, and he had the power to bear any consequences that might result from it.