Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 146

I hoped that the deacons would get angry and storm out, but they only mutter their dissatisfaction in low voices, making their complaints unclear. They are probably frustrated with my attitude but are afraid of returning and negatively affecting Priest Nicolo’s evaluation.

Moreover, they might sense from the atmosphere that I have decided it’s okay to cut them off if necessary.

Despite their dissatisfaction, they can’t take action or even voice their complaints. They lack decision-making ability.

It can’t be helped. I don’t like this method, and I have no obligation to educate them, but here we are.

I address the deacons: “I would like to ask you. Do you have any objections to the fact that this project is for the church and, by extension, aims to improve the lives of the rural areas?”

Since it is a specific question that can be answered with either yes or no, they should be able to respond.

“No objections.”

“What does it mean for the lives in the rural areas to improve? Is there anyone who can answer?”

A deacon named Clement steps forward to answer. “It means that the people in the rural areas work peacefully with God and build good families. It is also stated in the holy scriptures. The rural area…

I interrupt him as he begins to quote the scriptures. I am also irritated by their naive answers. Haven’t they heard Priest Nicolo’s words that miracles from God wouldn’t produce wheat?

I continue to ask questions. “To improve the lives in the rural areas means to have a stable and abundant harvest of crops, to sell the crops at a fair price, and to have light taxes. Does anyone have any objections to this definition?”

“No objections.” A young deacon named Adelmo answers reluctantly.

“Then, does anyone know the current price of a bag of wheat in the market of this town?” When there is no answer, I continue. “Does anyone know the price at which the church sells a bag of wheat to merchants in this town?”

There is no answer regarding whether they know from the church’s records.

“Does anyone know the price at which farmers sell a bag of wheat to merchants? Does anyone know how much merchants pay adventurers for the protection of wheat during transportation from the rural areas to the town?”

“Does anyone know how much the church pays for the storage of wheat in warehouses?”

“Does anyone know the number of workers required to clear wasteland?”

“Does anyone know the number of workers required to construct irrigation canals?”

“Does anyone know the cost of building a water mill?”

These are all things that need to be known for the church’s upcoming rural development project.

However, with each repeated question, their faces grow paler, and they begin to look completely downcast.

I say in exasperation: “You are ignorant of matters outside the church. I too have things I do not know. If you do not start by acknowledging this, the upcoming challenging project is bound to fail. This will not only close off your path to advancement but also endanger the lives and livelihoods of the rural areas and farmers. I want you to feel this responsibility. What I am about to teach is, in a sense, a system for handling failure. Everything we do, not being divine, always has the potential to fail. To minimize this, we must learn, investigate, and think with humility. I want you to have that resolve. If you cannot agree with these points, then it is a waste of time for both sides, and I would like you to leave. If you choose to stay, I want you to correct your attitude.”

The deacons remain completely silent, looking down, and none of them try to make eye contact with me as I conclude my remarks.

It’s a matter of waiting and seeing. If their attitude does not improve, then I will have to proceed with the project without them.