Chapter 693: Selection of the New Regional Director

Chapter 693: The New District Head Selection

Night. Bedroom. Inside the study.

Alfred sat before his desk, penning a self-criticism.

If souls could manifest in physical forms, then at this moment, Alfred’s desk—no, his entire bedroom—would be utterly choked with tickets of contrition.

Alfred believed that tonight’s dinner party had been a failure.

The reason for its failure was that it was not perfect.

During the dinner, the young master had frowned several times, and the direct cause of all of it was his own operational error.

He had been too intent on pursuing and enjoying the thrill of proselytizing, thereby blurring the boundaries. It could even be said that he had done his job "too well," causing a single event, when placed within the overall scheme, to become a subpar gear that failed to match the grand machinery.

The self-criticism grew longer and longer, the pages stacking thicker and thicker.

Yet suddenly, Alfred stopped and set his pen down.

"Smack."

With a light slap to his own forehead, Alfred realized he had committed yet another mistake. The young master did not even bother to look at official work documents so long as they had passed through his hands, so how could the young master possibly read this heavy self-criticism?

He could have simply gone directly to the young master to admit his mistake in person, recognizing and resolving the issue in a more concise and efficient manner. Yet here he was, writing so much material. This was falling into the trap of formalism, a violation of the team-interaction principles the young master desired.

As for what those principles of interaction actually were...

"Smack."

Alfred gave his forehead another gentle slap. He realized he had blundered once more, having actually failed to establish a set of interaction principles for the circle of believers in advance.

"Alas, if it weren’t for the young master’s trust and care for me, given this meager ability of mine, I wouldn’t be worthy of the position of the young master's personal valet at all."

Alfred cast the self-criticism aside and began drafting the *Principles of Conduct for Believers' Interaction*, which he intended to announce at the next collective learning and exchange meeting.

As for the specific contents, Alfred would not ask the young master; instead, he would summarize and induce them based on his long-standing pattern of interaction with him.

At this moment, images began to float into his mind of the young master discussing problems with him time and again, especially that time on Volcano Island. Due to Lord Theisen’s "admonishment," the young master had leaned against the side of the bed in a very dispirited state, engaging with him in a question-and-answer style dialogue.

"Rule One: Among believers, everyone is equal."

This was a politically correct phrase within the Church of Order.

Alfred hesitated, the tip of his pen trembling slightly, but in the end, he crossed out the sentence and rewrote it:

Among believers, and between believers and the Deity, there is equality in thought, personality, and status. (The concept of the Deity shall be further elaborated and cognitively guided in subsequent sections).

Alfred felt that the path the young master trod, along with the people who would gather around him now and in the future, should be primarily centered on the Church of Order. Therefore, while it was unavoidable that various rules and regulations would carry the shadow of the Church of Order from the very beginning, they must also incorporate unique elements belonging solely to themselves.

Otherwise, if the young master's future New Church of Order bore no difference from the Old Church of Order, where lay the meaning and driving force for the new to supplant the old?

On his own end, in accordance with the young master’s consistent requirements, he had to drag the very concept of the "Deity" down from order right from the start.

Though this was somewhat logically inconsistent.

Because a large part of their confidence to establish themselves and develop in the future stemmed from the fact that they possessed a "Deity";

Without a "Deity," what difference was there between their group and the other ideological factions within the Church of Order? Would they not just become another "Da Vince"?

Because we have a "Deity," we can develop and have a future; yet our future cannot rely upon the "Deity."

Needing to rely on the power of the "Deity" on one hand while doing everything possible to suppress the status of the "Deity" on the other was simply too impractical, even if the one proposing this concept was the young master, the "Deity Himself."

Alfred felt this was akin to demanding that an army be capable of taking the battlefield to kill enemies ferociously during wartime, while also demanding that it lay down its rifles and all hostility during peacetime to willingly perform volunteer community service.

How could such a bizarre army possibly exist in this world?

"Whew..."

Nor could anyone ever assemble such an army.

Alfred pursed his lips. This problem had actually troubled him for a very long time; every time the young master reiterated the concept of "negating the Deity," he would fall into such reflections.

However, Alfred was not despondent. He believed the young master certainly had a plan, a solution, and a "blueprint" in his heart.

"Rule Two: Internal communication methods for believers..."

"Rule Three: ..."

By the time Alfred finished writing the clauses and looked up, he found that dawn had already broken. A glance at the time revealed it was actually nine o'clock in the morning.

Rising, he took a shower, changed into a dark blue, tight-fitting suit, and carefully checked his appearance in the mirror while washing his hands meticulously.

Despite not sleeping a wink all night, Alfred remained in high spirits. He had always possessed an exceptionally high degree of subjective initiative toward the work assigned to him by the young master.

Especially after receiving Compasini’s inheritance, his training in combat was minimal, nor did he deliberately develop in that direction; his focus was primarily applied to the handling of various affairs.

For instance, when analyzing an event or addressing a problem, he could simultaneously simulate dozens or hundreds of possible scenarios in his mind to perform calculations. This was the developmental path Alfred had chosen to alter for himself;

For he felt that the young master did not lack "enforcers," and the Twelve Knights would serve as a supplement to that strength in the future, while the young master himself was an all-around powerhouse.

Therefore, it was enough for him to excel in administrative work; the young master would forever be in need of a chief steward whose character was trusted and whose competence was up to the task.

And this was precisely the reason why Alfred could evolve from a mere aberrant demon in Luojia City to someone who could now suppress the former High Priest's student in terms of administrative capability.

He had been studying and researching diligently, never pausing.

Alfred arrived before the young master's bedroom and knocked. The doorbell rang inside, and Alfred pushed the door open to find the young master sitting alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a teacup and gazing out at the lush greenery ahead.

"Alfred, waking up to see a massive yard outside the window where one can ride horses and play golf is truly pleasant."

"But that is also the reason you chose to move out of the manor back then, because you wished to rid yourself of such pleasantry."

To the Karen of that time, becoming an "aristocrat," enjoying an "aristocratic" life, keeping a beautiful fiancée, and being surrounded by gentle maids who served you while also wishing to be developed into mistresses...

Such a life was something anyone would envy.

Yet precisely because Karen discovered that he was actually beginning to enjoy this feeling, to the point of starting to accept Wien aristocracy cuisine, he resolutely decided to leave this place, rent a house in York City, and live and strive on his own.

Alfred felt that part of the reason the young master remained unable to accept Wien soybean paste to this day was that Wien soybean paste carried another layer of meaning to the young master—such as corruption and degeneracy.

"Young master, I need to present a self-criticism to you regarding last night's events."

Karen raised his hand, cutting off Alfred's self-criticism: "Alright, it is enough that you recognize there was a slight error in execution. I believe you will reflect and improve, and you will surely do better next time. Let us skip this step."

"Very well, young master."

Alfred was not the least bit surprised by the young master's reaction; this was the young master’s unconditional trust in him.

As for Karen, he had already found on many occasions that he had nothing left to teach Alfred. Many of Alfred's current awareness and ideas were more advanced and complete than his own.

Especially when Karen took the clauses Alfred had drafted overnight and began reading through them.

"Young master, please point out any areas here that require deletion or revision."

"I think it's very good. For the moment, I don't see anything that needs changing."

"Yes, young master, you are correct. Some problems cannot be seen right now and can only wait to be exposed or noticed during the course of development."

"Mm... exactly, that is what I meant."

"Yes, your subordinate understands." Alfred gathered the documents and inquired, "Do you have any arrangements for today, young master?"

"I do." Karen produced two books from beneath the foot of his chair—one was a novel, *The Hut of Bias*, and the other was a tome of spells. "My arrangement for today is to strive to finish reading this novel, and then hopefully have a little time left over to finish reading this spellbook."

Along with the promotion of Karen's position, his corresponding treatment had also risen precipitously, making it much easier to apply for and obtain higher-level spellbooks.

However, spell-learning scrolls were rather cumbersome, and even internal personnel had to pay a hefty fee to borrow them. Therefore, Karen preferred these neat and straightforward "compilation editions" made of ordinary materials. The downside lay in the differing efficiency of learning; spell-learning scrolls offered a more immersive experience that accelerated comprehension and mastery. However, efficiency was never an issue for Karen.

He often fretted over his tendency to grasp and learn things so rapidly that he would misapply the nuances in practice.

It was much like obtaining certifications too easily; one ended up with so many credentials that a panicked, clumsy scramble was inevitable at the service window.

"Very well, Master. I shall go today to give Vick and Leon their ideological education... no, their ideological exchange lesson."

"Mm."

After Alfred departed, Karen set down his teacup and began flipping through a book.

"The Hut of Bias" was a fantasy adventure novel filled with imaginative elements, but to ordinary people, Karen's current life already defied imagination, so reading this book gave him the sensation of reading realistic prose instead.

With that, a whole morning slipped away.

When a maid came midway through to ask about lunch, Karen requested only three pastries and continued reading.

Finally, at half past three in the afternoon, Karen finished the book.

Closing the volume, he stretched comfortably; for an avid reader, spending an extended, leisurely period like this immersed in a book was no less exhilarating than a climber conquering a towering peak.

The thought that Rasma was returning under great urgency while he was here "wasting time" only multiplied the delight of stealing a moment of leisure amidst the chaos.

After all, anxiety on its own yielded no further benefits past a certain threshold, and this was where the true value of balancing work with rest became clear.

Karen picked up the spellbook and began flipping through it—yes, merely flipping.

He had actually learned many spells during this period, for after all, one had to eat every day, and since Karen disliked reading the newspaper at meals, he naturally studied instead.

However, it was usually enough to select the single most cost-effective option from each category of spells; given his circumstances, he had no need to worry about wasting spiritual power, leaving a very narrow margin for practical adaptation.

By the time a book was finished, only two spells would prove worthy of his actual application, a screening process usually handled by Purr and Kevin because no one else was qualified to step into Karen's perspective.

Blessed with his own absolutely exceptional talent, combined with the Inmelles family belief system and two top-tier teachers who were hard to come by in this world, it would have been difficult for Karen's prowess not to advance swiftly.

As if bound by a telepathic connection, just as Karen set down the spellbook and prepared to take a sip of iced water, the door was pushed open.

The one who walked in was Eunice.

Karen leaned back, his neck resting against the chair, as Eunice walked behind him and naturally began massaging his shoulders with both hands.

"Mm..."

"You have worked hard," Eunice said.

"I read a novel all day, how can that be considered hard work?" Karen reached up and caught her hand.

"Did you not have lunch?"

"I was not hungry, I will have a proper dinner."

"I spent the whole day talking about fashion design with Ophelia, and I feel many clothing elements from Dark Moon Island are perfect to incorporate into my work; they fit my design philosophy very well."

"Because the geographical environment of Dark Moon Island has caused its culture to lean toward the vintage; no, her homeland inherently possesses an ancient feel, so it aligns with the conservative style of your fashion designs."

"I find that you truly understand everything," Eunice said, looking down at Karen with slight surprise.

"I seem to know a little bit of everything, but not much deeply."

"You are too modest."

"It is a fact, not modesty."

"I initially thought you would find my designs lacking in fashion and avant-garde spirit."

"Not at all. Fashion and the avant-garde are, more often than not, just following trends; trends are like the rising and falling of the ocean tide, but many core elements and essences never change.

Not just fashion design, but also interior decor and architectural design—the more closely they chase a trend, the easier it is for them to look dated and obsolete in a few years, whereas vintage and conservative things remain vintage and conservative, changing very little over time.

Of course..."

"Of course what?"

"Some things still need to bring forth the new from the old and keep up with a bit of the trend."

Eunice understood what Karen meant and replied, "I know."

"Verbal acknowledgement does not count, there will be an exam."

Eunice whispered into Karen's ear, "Shall we wait until tonight?"

"Fine, but..."

"But what?"

"I will write the questions."

"Alright."

"It will not be multiple-choice with a single answer, but multiple-choice with multiple answers."

"Alright."

"One question is not enough, there must be several different question types."

Eunice pressed her cheek against Karen's and said:

"You are the chief examiner, you have the final say."

...

Matters of the night, of course, had to be left for the night.

When nightfall arrived, it could not only bury the ugliness of the day but also conceal the shamelessness unsuited for daylight.

At dusk, Karen had the people in the manor bring out the white horse, and he began riding through the estate with Eunice behind him.

Karen loved this feeling—riding a horse through a manor that belonged to him at least in name, with his fiancée nestled in his arms; this was the ultimate lifelong pursuit for the vast majority of men.

Except when passing before the ancestral tombs of the Allen family, Karen could not help but cast a few extra glances at the tombstone of the Progenitor Allen.

That progenitor was now residing within his own soul space; of course, he was not "him," possessing no consciousness.

"It seems all beautiful things carry a fragile quality."

"Yes, because they are so rare," Eunice said, "which is why people cherish them."

"Mm."

If he had not "awakened" Count Recar that night, the Allen Manor, such a beautiful place, would have already become a slaughterhouse for the Vien royal family.

...

"I am going to report our work to the Director!"

In a soaring state of professional enthusiasm, Leon held the newly received message and climbed into the car, preparing to drive out to find Karen, who was horseback riding; the message stated that Sus was confirmed for promotion into the Digne District, and the candidate for the new district chief had been decided... it was Chief Inquisitor Giaspor!

"Hey," Vick called out to Leon.

"What is it? Are you going?" Leon suddenly felt he was being a bit too obvious, and immediately added, "You can go if you want, here are the car keys."

Vick shook his head and said, "Go on horseback."

"I am not very skilled at horsemanship, driving will be faster."

"It is intelligence we already anticipated anyway, there is no rush, but driving will ruin the atmosphere."

"True, you make an excellent point! Thank you, Vick!"

Leon immediately stepped out of the car and mounted a horse as well.

Vic and Alfred continued their stroll near the ancient castle, until Vic finally spoke up: "I notice that the Minister holds this marriage in high regard."

Having arrived here, Vic had come to see the estate for what it truly was; regardless of its past glory, now... it was hardly much of an asset.

Alfred understood exactly what Vic meant by those words, yet he chose not to explain it through the lens of romance or marriage, nor did he intend to bring up how a certain cat named Allen bound the Young Master to this manor;

instead, he countered with a deliberate question: "You feel this marriage lacks much practical value, don't you?"

"Yes," Vic replied, making no attempt to conceal his thoughts. "It isn't really a question of starting high or low. I see that everyone around the Minister is incredibly gifted and works remarkably hard. I also know that Miss Eunice once slept for a full six months just to awaken her bloodline, but now, I see no sense of crisis in her."

"Should she feel a sense of crisis?"

"Shouldn't she? Even if she doesn't know the Minister's true identity, given his current status and position, she ought to have one, yet she seems to be merely... living her life with absolute earnestness."

"Otherwise, what should she do?"

"What?"

"I asked you, otherwise what?"

"Sir, I don't understand what you mean by otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what has the Young Master been working and striving so hard for?"

"This..."

"In truth, Miss Eunice is very clever; she knows exactly what the Young Master desires."

"I still find it somewhat difficult to comprehend."

"Working and striving to climb upward in such a grueling, perilous manner keeps a man constantly taut and exhausted; he will grow numb, weary, and even lost.

Therefore, at a time like this, the Young Master needs to return home and see someone living happily, free from all care;

for a married man,

just looking at her smile

gives all the hardship and struggle out there a tangible meaning."