"So, how did you get here in the first place? When I learned about Tarnow being put under siege, I was almost completely certain that you would be cooped up in the castle!"

Standing in front of the thin yet still somehow busty girl, I couldn't help but sigh the air out of my lungs with relief. To think that one of the sources of my greatest worry would be all safe and sound felt as if a huge burden was taken off my back.

"It's quite simple. With nothing to do in Tarnow about two days before the invasion started, I moved some of our brewery and construction workers along with several managers to the mining town, hoping to diversify the production. I'm not going to lie, the news about the possible invasion scared me a bit, but the main point of my actions was to avoid our main cash product being completely lost during the course of the enemy aggression. I'm sorry for overstepping my bounds!"

Bowing her head for the first time since I could remember, Matsu looked like someone completely else without her usual dose of unruliness. Yet rather than focusing on this unusual sight for my eyes, I put my attention to what her words entailed.

"It's okay. From the moment I made you a Chief Executive Officer, all the decisions regarding the beer production were completely in your hands, unless I were to intervene personally. And let's be honest, while I managed to salvage the situation, I don't think we would be able to resume the production in Tarnow fast enough to cover our expenses. Speaking of which, what is the progress of setting up the breweries in this place?"

In the end, it all came to numbers. While I was happy that this first real development officer of mine was already capable of thinking for herself, I was still quite curious what was the scale of her actions, especially with how she claimed that she was worried she was doing more than she was allowed to!

"While we had some casualties due to the constant raids of the Ostros mobile forces, most of the workers managed to make it safely to the mining town. The worst part is… That I lost two managers. I'm deeply sorry for that."

Once again bowing her head, this time Matsu at least gave me the proper reason for being like that. While every single life mattered, in reality, the monetary worth of a single manager was that of nearly a hundred workers!

The time required to teach them all the important stuff, their talent alone, and all the other aspects that came into play even when picking the candidates for the managers, made them immensely valuable a.s.sets to my side. Just a single look at what kind of miracle those managers of mine dared to perform during my absence in the mining town was enough to prove that point!

"It's okay. At war, it's impossible to be unharmed. As much as it pains me, this loss is something that we have to just swallow and move over. Anyway, let me guess, that building near the border of the town itself… Is my mansion, am I right?"

With how this single piece of architecture domineered over the rest of the entire housing area, it didn't take a genius to realise it was most likely the place that those first few managers of mine were so proud off. As a project that they took care of by themselves from the very first few lines of the blueprint paper all the way to the finis.h.i.+ng touches, I was quite curious what the finished product would entail!

Also, this new mansion of mine gave me the opportunity to switch the topic before the atmosphere would turn a bit too dense and sad for my comfort, so banking on it was the first thing that I did the moment this topic appeared!

"It's just as you guessed, sir. With how even I was forbidden entry inside before you would get the chance to see it on your own eyes, I won't be able to tell you what was done inside to let you prepare mentally… But just from the incredibly satisfied faces of the managers responsible for it, I can only advice you, sir, to raise your expectations beyond what you would initially think to be possible!"

Slowly starting to feel the hype of discovering the achievement of my underlings, I only nodded in response to Matsu's words, before tightening my hold on Elia's face. As happy as I was to get the chance to be presented a d.a.m.ned mansion, with how I was about to go to war either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I knew that this mansion would be a place for a battle far more fearsome than what I went through back in the marketplace!

"Welcome, sir. It's G.o.d's mercy to see you in good health!"

As soon as I approached the doors, the old carpenter, the same who was initially responsible for the entire wood manufactory, bowed deeply before me and Elia.

"Raise up. This is something that you waited for a long time, so let's not spoil the fun with unnecessary ceremonials!"

Helping the old man up, I raised my eyes towards the huge entryway to the mansion. Just a quick glance around the place was already enough to confirm several of my guesses. In the end, with how my managers fully focused themselves on the mansion alone, the water exchange station built right beside the enormous building was already a huge giveaway of one of the semi-palace appliances!

"Anyway, let's not waste any more time. We are pressured by the time of the army departure, so it's best if we can enjoy living in this place for as long as we can, rather than just standing outside. So… Can we?"

Directing those words to the main architect of this place, I could see the corner of his lips skyrocketing, putting a huge smile on his face.

"After you, sir!"

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