The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 109

“Duke Jang Si-on!”

“Your Excellency…!”

The officials, who bore immense responsibility as the core of the duchy, chattered toward Si-on like a flock of sparrows, each trying to prevent a major crisis in their respective departments.

Bang bang!

“Quiet, quiet.”

As Si-on lightly tapped the table, the officials immediately fell silent, closing their mouths in unison.

Si-on, whose face had withered like someone who had spent ten years preparing for a civil service exam at Noryangjin, scanned the faces of the officials, who looked at him with the same subtle expectation as parents who had just heard their child say, ‘I think I passed this time!’

However, the lazy man who, even during his active days as a duke, left most internal affairs to his wife Stella and his eldest son Jang Theo, had not changed.

And long-time freeloaders, like him, were masters at reading the room and using their wit, as sharp as top-scoring exam candidates.

“Ahem! I appreciate your dedication to the duchy. However, such important tasks are not for me.”

“…Huh?”

Casting a brief glance at someone seated nearby, Si-on continued speaking solemnly.

“They should be handled by Hender. I am the founding patriarch of this land, its sword and shield, and I must focus on guarding and protecting the duchy for the time being. Well, that’s all for now.”

Si-on, who had been sitting next to Yonas, patted his grandson on the shoulder and stood up.

“G-Grandfa…”

Sss!

With just one sharp look, he silenced Yonas, who had been about to call out to him in a fluster.

The eternal sword and shield (freeloader) of the duchy left the pitiful descendant, trembling with despair and betrayal, and lightly strode across the conference room.

‘I’m escaping.’

‘His Excellency Jang Si-on is running away.’

‘Hmm. It seems Princess Stella was right when she lamented that he was a lazy freeloader who seizes every chance to slack off.’

As the officials exchanged glances but remained silent, Si-on, who had half-opened the conference room door, turned his face slightly and spoke.

“One more thing—make sure you take care of the soldiers who were either killed or injured in the monster hunt.”

“…!”

Yes, in his joy, he had momentarily forgotten.

The joy of today was largely thanks to those who had bravely fought for the duchy, risking their lives without hesitation.

Feeling guilty for having momentarily forgotten something so important, Yonas and the officials wore expressions of shame.

“Let’s see. Yes, provide the families of the deceased with 10,000 Dien annually for 10 years and exempt them from taxes for five years. For those who are too injured to continue service, give them a lump sum of 10,000 Dien and help them find a job of their choice.

This is the least we can do to honor those who risked their lives for this land.”

“As Your Excellency commands!”

The officials all responded in unison, bowing their heads.

Indeed, he was the founding patriarch.

Who cared if he found internal affairs bothersome?

Just having the one who retired so long ago return to us was satisfaction enough.

It was more than enough that he still cherished and loved the people of this land.

It was more than enough that he still guided these young and inexperienced ones as he had today.

“Your Excellency…”

The conference room was filled with a warm light of deep gratitude.

However.

‘That’s why a constitutional monarchy is the best. Let’s make sure to honor national heroes while leaving all the bothersome tasks to the officials—no, the slaves. And, of course, gain popularity with the people of the duchy along the way.’

“Right, right. Then, everyone, keep up the good work.”

The shameless old freeloader nodded with satisfaction and left the conference room.

Yet, the remnants of the benevolent founding patriarch’s inspirational words lingered.

“Hender, the issue with establishing a village near the Peregrine Division’s camp seems…”

“What are you talking about! If we don’t stock the grain storage right now, next year…”

“Lord Si-on, Lord Si-on! We need to repair and extend the roads to solve the myriad of issues spread across the duchy…”

“A fortress! A grand, beautiful fortress must come first…!”

“Hender!”

“Yonas Hender!”

In an instant, the officials’ masks came off.

As soon as Si-on left, they revealed their true colors.

Like hungry wolves preying on the unsuspecting Yonas, who blinked with innocent eyes, they descended on him, hoping to gain as much as they could.

“Aaah…”

Momentarily moved by emotion, the pitiful descendant, betrayed by the ancestor he trusted, felt like fainting.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

Stelman and the Peregrine Division, deployed in cycles of five to ten days, focused on completely driving the monsters toward the Brandin Mountain Range.

The reservists, who had been reorganized from regular troops and local militias across the duchy, supported or participated in operations alongside the Peregrine Division, gaining overall knowledge and experience in monster hunting.

The three elven tribes, previously divided into North Mountain, High Mountain, and South Mountain, strengthened their exchanges and shared territorial information after Si-on’s return.

With the advent of the Great Upheaval, the types and numbers of monsters in the mountains increased, and their activity range expanded significantly.

Especially problematic were the mutations, which had never existed before.

The elves, regardless of their tribe, cooperated closely in reconnaissance and hunting, establishing stronger ties than before.

The Cheolsan Dwarves experienced their busiest period since arriving in the duchy.

Sminov, the mine master, stayed at the Peregrine Division’s camp, overseeing various construction projects.

Meanwhile, the workers, adorned with red armbands and left behind in Cheolsan, led the dwarves in the “Great Leap Forward,” a massive labor campaign (Si-on had flinched upon hearing the name at first, but the result was completely different from its ‘original’ counterpart).

Rozin, Fland, and the towns and villages of the duchy quickly regained stability.

Small hamlets with fewer than fifty households remained anxious, but thanks to the reservists, who had been trained and returned in batches, the concerns were significantly alleviated.

Through Hender’s bold decision (prompted by the Minister of Military Affairs begging at his feet), the reservists returned to their homes equipped with 32-layer linen armor, round shields, short swords, and spears.

The reservists, who were sternly warned that selling their equipment would result in execution, were outfitted with gear matching the specifications used by the Black Eagle Regiment in the past.

In other words, with just four to six reservists, who had undergone intense training, even dozens of small monsters like goblins or kobolds could be easily dealt with.

As stability spread throughout the duchy, the residents praised Hender and the officials.

More importantly, they felt immense gratitude and admiration for the Si-on Ducal Family, who had proudly raised the banner of the Three-headed Eagle once again.

Amidst this smooth progress, a rumor began to circulate, spreading across both towns and military districts.

It was especially enticing to farmers, who spent their lives growing crops and raising livestock, and poor fishermen, who relied on good weather to fish but otherwise had to starve.

* * *

“A new, large village, possibly even a town, will be built right next to the Peregrine Division’s camp!”

“The dwarves are building massive workshops and factories, and they need a lot of workers!”

“You can earn at least double what you make farming or fishing!”

“And the best part is that with the Peregrine Division nearby, you won’t have to worry about monsters at all!”

The residents of the Si-on Duchy, particularly those in the southern villages who had witnessed or experienced the monster crisis firsthand, were greatly stirred.

Groups of twos and threes discussed the Hawk County (named after the Peregrine Division), and those with a quick temper immediately traveled to nearby towns or cities to gather more information.

And just days after the rumor began, notices were posted in all the towns and cities of the duchy.

Job and Laborer Recruitment

– Number of recruits: 000
– Recruitment period: Ongoing
– Recruitment fields: General laborers and apprentice or experienced workers for monster by-product processing and related tasks
– Eligibility: Any citizen of the Si-on Duchy aged 15 to 50, male or female (priority given to heads of households with two or more dependents)
– Wages: General laborers and apprentices start at 300 Dien per week; experienced workers start at 500 Dien per week

Etc.

Woooh!

The residents of the duchy, seeing the announcement stamped with the seal of the Si-on Ducal Family and Hender, cheered.

The wages seemed modest, but the key was in the word ‘minimum.’ Essentially, as long as one showed up, they were guaranteed at least 1,000 Dien per month.

For those who no longer wanted to farm or for younger sons born into poor farming families with little inheritance, it was the best opportunity.

Moreover, the fact that they were recruiting at least a thousand people caught everyone’s attention.

While most commoners were excited, thinking they had a chance given the large number of recruits, the more perceptive few thought differently.

“If there are thousands of workers, and they bring their families with them, that means at least three or four times as many people? So, we’re talking about a population of over 10

,000! Those who set up shop early will make a fortune!”

Whether they had capital or not, merchants rushed toward Hawk County, aiming to be the first to sell food, drinks, or anything else.

These merchants, who had rushed to Hawk County faster than anyone else, were initially a bit disappointed by the still-small population of the village.

However, as hundreds of workers finished their shifts each evening and as Peregrine Division soldiers, organized in groups, took leave or breaks every week, spending their money around town, the merchants’ disappointment quickly turned to delight.

With the Peregrine Division swelling to almost 500 trainees, the nearby village’s economy boomed.

Though price gouging, typical of garrison towns, soon emerged, the immortal freeloader made sure to have Sminov threaten unscrupulous merchants, swiftly driving them out.

Although there were a few minor incidents, within less than a month of the job announcement, thousands of applicants and those aiming to profit from their wages had flocked to Hawk County.

This marked the beginning of the ‘Great Transformation’ of the Si-on Duchy, a movement that left Hender shocked, the officials astonished, and the other territories and nations bowing their heads in awe.

“How about that? Just as I predicted, right?”

“…”

Standing at the window of the expanded headquarters, Yonas and Sminov, who gazed at the distant Hawk County, could only nod in astonishment.

When they first heard Si-on’s plan and decided to follow his instructions, they had both thought, ‘Sss. Will this really work?’

But now.

Even in broad daylight, people swarmed like ants, and carts and wagons continuously passed along the road they had laid out.

On one side, waterworks were being constructed, diverting a branch of the river, while on the other side, buildings were rapidly being erected.

‘How could this be working!’

Yonas and Sminov shared the same thought.

No, this wasn’t just ‘working.’

It wasn’t simply a success.

It was a massive success that couldn’t be described with mere words.

(Continued in the next chapter)