Silco had been exceptionally busy lately, barely finding a moment to catch his breath.
All because of Louis's offhand comment: "Go register the basic information of the Red Tide Territory's residents and see what each of them is good at."
Now, he was buried in a mountain of disorganized, handwritten archives, staring at a lineup of bewildered farmers and blacksmiths.
Some hesitated, painfully uncertain how to answer:
"I used to farm."
"Do you still want to farm?"
"…I don't know."
Others shrugged and muttered, "Good at living."
Silco almost flung the record book at that person's face.
Damn it. I—an aspiring Alchemist—reduced to a steward for a frontier lord?
He muttered under his breath while scribbling tirelessly, name after name, into the ledger.
He had no one to blame but himself. He was just a foolish Alchemist's Apprentice who occasionally pilfered his mentor's magic crystals for money, living a privileged life in the Emerald Federation.
Until one day, a mysterious stranger in the black market offered him a fortune—steal a secret alchemical formula from his mentor. The offer was so lucrative it made Silco's heart race.
He didn't hesitate. The money would allow him to leave his apprenticeship and open his own workshop.
But things didn't go as planned.
The formula was far too complex to memorize, so he stole the entire document. His mentor, being forgetful, might not have noticed—but he did.
The Golden Marrow Guild, his mentor's order, quickly discovered the theft and issued a warrant, swearing to bring the thief to justice.
The black-market buyer was caught and confessed, and Silco was implicated.
He realized that if apprehended, he'd not only face severe punishment but could be handed over to the Guild for experimental use in alchemy.
So he fled—disguised himself as a slave among trafficked captives, hoping to escape the Emerald Federation and then vanish.
But the slave traders were more brutal and cunning than he imagined. At the first hint of escape, they whipped him mercilessly, forcing compliance.
After several lashes, he became obedient—truly a slave. He dared not reveal his identity as an Alchemist's Apprentice. If they discovered it, they would sell him back to the Golden Marrow Guild—to be experimented on.
Through many twists and turns, he wound up sold at the Frost Halberd City black market.
He thought he'd escaped purgatory only to land in another hell—slavery until death.
Then fate intervened. A young but pioneering lord purchased him.
The lord's name was Louis, and he took Silco to this bleak Red Tide Territory.
At first Silco believed he had only traded one hell for another.
But Louis treated slaves differently from other nobles. When he learned Silco could read and had bookkeeping skills, he revoked his slave status and made him an assistant—effectively a steward.
In his time beside Louis, Silco observed one thing: Louis was a good man. He shared his rations with starving slaves, personally tore up slave contracts, and granted freedom.
A noble who treated slaves like human beings? In Silco's eyes, this wasn't just lordly—it was godly.
Tsk. Lucky strike, that's all… he thought, though he secretly still dreamed of escape. After all, what kind of Grand Alchemist lives in the middle of nowhere?
Silco's mind drifted back to the here and now:
"My lord, here is the survey of the residents you requested," he announced, placing a heavy ledger on Louis's desk.
He looked exhausted, his steps unsteady.
"Hmm, well done," Louis said, casually flipping through the pages.
The handwriting wasn't elegant, but it was clear and well organized, with meticulous classifications. Even the elderly who barely held a hoe, women who wove, and children good at hunting were noted—proof of Silco's careful effort.
He was a real find.
Louis glanced up at the young man, noting the dark circles under his eyes.
Of course, Louis already knew Silco was no ordinary person. His daily intelligence system data had flagged Silco as an Alchemist's Apprentice from the Golden Marrow Guild—and a wanted criminal.
Still, Louis didn't expose him. Why?
Partly because Silco hadn't shown malice. Louis wanted to see if he'd confess of his own accord. Partly because Silco's literacy and administrative prowess were vital. Red Tide Territory was barely functioning; they needed someone to manage basic infrastructure—not alchemy.
If Louis revealed his secret and Silco balked and quit, he'd be back to poring over ledgers himself.
This place was so desolate that Silco wouldn't run anyway.
Louis set aside the question of Silco's past and focused on the survey results. He scanned the ledger and a subtle smile spread across his face.
Though Red Tide Territory looked deserted, these people held surprising potential.
Over a thousand residents. Farmers and herders dominated—but there were over a hundred experienced fishermen. Dozens of hunters, blacksmiths, carpenters, tanners. Enough to establish a self‑sustaining community.
Exactly what Louis needed.
He hadn't asked Silco for simple record-keeping. He wanted to understand this land's context. A territory is like a finely tuned machine; every cog must spin in the right place. If farmers were forced into blacksmithing, or fishermen drafted for ditch-digging—things would grind to a crawl.
A lord who doesn't know his people cannot shape his land's future.
He closed the ledger and looked up at Silco.
"We have good people. It's clear that this territory is not barren—it's just undeveloped."
Silco sighed in relief.
Louis continued: "Now, we'll assign roles. Farmers farm. Herders herd. Fishermen fish. Hunters hunt. Blacksmiths forge tools. Carpenters build houses. Tanners make leather. We'll assemble the team to rebuild this land."
He paused, gesturing toward the ledgers behind Silco.
"I need you. Not as an apprentice, but as an advisor and manager. But be warned: I'm no sorcerer. I won't offer alchemy opportunities—yet. Instead, you'll help me allocate resources, draft plans, draft contracts, oversee implementation."
Silco's heart tightened. He'd wanted escape, but this offer was… tempting—and different.
"I understand, my lord," he said quietly. "I accept."
Analysis of Resident Data
Below is an overview of Silco's survey results (simplified for clarity):
Skill Category
Estimated Count
Notes
Farmers & Herders
~600
Skilled in traditional agriculture and animal husbandry.
Fishermen
100+
Experienced—can support food supply and future trade.
Hunters
Dozens
Good for securing food and scouting resources.
Blacksmiths
Dozens
Essential for tools and simple machinery.
Carpenters
Dozens
Needed for housing, bridges, other infrastructure.
Tanners
Dozens
Provide materials for clothing, harnesses, trade goods.
Artisans (Weavers, Potters)
Some
Useful for local economy and trade goods.
Children & Youth
Small number
Identified hunting/weaving potential—future workforce.
Elderly
Numerous
Mostly retired; some assist with weaving or managing tasks.
Louis's Strategic Management Plan
Agricultural Focus
Group farmers by expertise (crop, irrigation, livestock).
Rotate labor, introduce efficient techniques, and stockpile food.
Fisheries & Hunting Support
Schedule fishermen for lakes/rivers.
Train hunters for food, resource tracking, and territory protection.
Artisan Workshops
Blacksmith & carpenter workshops near the settlement for centralized tool production.
Tanner's yard set up to process hides for leather goods.
Weaving/pottery studios for domestic needs and trade goods.
Infrastructure Projects
Roads between farmland, workshops, main settlement.
Storage barns, community wells, watchtowers (built by carpenters/blacksmiths).
Apprenticeship & Training Programs
Pair youth with artisans to build skills for the future.
Administration Systems
Silco to draft contracts, track production yields, maintain accounts, and produce weekly reports.
Behind the Scenes: Silco's Thoughts
Silco observed Louis out of the corner of his eye.
He's not just a good man, he's a visionary. But a frontier—butler?
Silco felt a pang of conflict. This life might delay his alchemy dreams, but… maybe, just maybe, there was importance—purpose—here.
Still, part of him burned with the desire to escape and reclaim his destiny as a Grand Alchemist. He'd told himself: One day…
Yet, for now, he would stay.
He would carry out Louis's orders. And perhaps… just perhaps… he would build something more meaningful than his alchemy dreams: a new territory, a fresh beginning, and maybe, someday, a chance to return to his original dream.
Next Steps
Immediate Deployment: Assign teams based on skill, set up essential workshops.
Data-Driven Planning: Silco to create weekly status reports for Louis.
Monitoring Output: Track food production, tool manufacture, infrastructure progress.
Future Vision: Explore trade opportunities, secure external relations, consider gradual introduction of alchemy once stability is achieved.
Epilogue Thought
Silco glanced across the log-stone table at Louis, whose gaze was fixed on the ledger.
He realized: this might be the most challenging and rewarding assignment of his life.
For the first time since his fall from the Emerald Federation, Silco felt… useful.