Chapter 1265: City Clerk
“You claim to be from the Steam Armor Factory? Do you have proof?” The City Clerk looked at us with suspicion. Anyone could enter the venue with an invitation; he wouldn’t blindly believe we represented the Steam Armor Factory, as disguises and fraud were common in this world.
“Yes.” Older Brother Jayad and I presented our employee IDs. Mine stated ‘Technical Advisor,’ and Older Brother Jayad’s was ‘Supervisor.’
Positions like ours were special; they didn’t clearly indicate rank and were determined by one’s closeness to the boss, which could mean a high position or a low one.
After all, a technical advisor could offer merely suggestions, or they could decide the future direction and design focus of products. A supervisor could oversee one workshop, or they could manage all factory employees.
“Can you two make decisions on behalf of the Steam Armor Factory?” the City Clerk asked us. As for Lorna, he had already dismissed her as a minor figure, perhaps a secretary.
“Of course. You can discuss any needs you have with me.” I said this, believing that even if a true representative from the Steam Armor Factory were here, they would have to listen to me.
My idea was that since Cando City was in trouble, we should increase production as much as possible to support the front lines. Furthermore, more orders meant more profit, which wouldn’t be a bad thing for the factory.
The City Clerk looked at our youthful faces with suspicion but nodded, saying, “The Lord of the City and the reinforcements indeed need more armor, especially Steam Armor. However, funds are tight. We hope you can prepay for a batch of armor.”
“Certainly, but please show us the order form first.” I agreed immediately. I believed the Lord of the City’s manor wouldn’t default on payment, but acquiring equipment earlier could save more soldiers.
So, the City Clerk actually wrote an order form for me. Jayad and Lorna also came over to look at it. Seeing that they weren’t reacting, my face darkened.
“One hundred sets of Steam Armor, two thousand sets of soldier armor, to be delivered within a week? Are you joking? And this price is below cost!” I felt the order was purely a prank.
Soldier armor at five gold coins per set, while the market price was twenty gold coins. Moreover, considering the current special situation, the price had already risen to over thirty gold coins, and it was unavailable.
He couldn’t possibly think I was one of those merchants hoarding goods and inflating prices, could he? I genuinely wanted to assist the city’s defenses, but his order form was treating me like a naive fool.
Putting other issues aside, over two thousand sets of finely crafted armor would be difficult to complete in a week, even if the factory operated twenty-four hours a day. Even if the workers worked overtime and were exhausted, the quality of such rushed armor would be questionable.
“Well, you could perhaps reduce costs slightly. It doesn’t need to be so meticulously made. Soldiers only need breastplates and arm armor. This way, it can be made faster,” the City Clerk said to me with a smile.
“Hmm? If that’s the case, we can consider it.” I pondered. Soldiers indeed didn’t need full-body armor like knights; they only needed protective gear for their vital points.
Considering the urgent need for war and the Lord of the City’s budget issues, such a simplified procurement plan was indeed acceptable.
Just as I was about to think about the details, the City Clerk smiled and whispered to me, “If you’re willing to give me a little kickback, I can increase more orders as long as you can secure them.”
“Eh?!” I looked at the City Clerk in surprise. He dared to openly solicit a bribe from me, rubbing his fingers together with a very lewd smile.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you understand the industry rules? I’m the one in charge of equipment procurement. If you maintain a good relationship with me, we can discuss any orders you want in the future,” he said with a smile.
“Oh? I’m not really familiar with these so-called industry rules. Could you tell me, Master, what would happen if I refused?” I asked, also smiling.
Older Brother Jayad trembled slightly. He knew as soon as his sister smiled like that, someone was in trouble.
“Nothing much would happen to me. However, the armor you deliver would still need to pass quality inspection. If you’re willing to give me a little ‘hardship fee,’ I can lower the standards and make it easier for them to pass.” The City Clerk still smiled kindly.
The implication was that if I didn’t give him a kickback, he could obstruct the inspection, and whether the quality was acceptable would be entirely up to him.
“Oh? Is that so? Then I’ll go ask the Knight Captain if this is true. Of course, I’m quite doubtful about whether what you said earlier about being able to decide armor orders is true,” I said, standing up directly.
The City Clerk’s face immediately turned grim: “Little girl, don’t be so presumptuous. The Knight Captain is currently busy entertaining foreign guests. Do you think you can just see him whenever you want? You can’t even enter the main hall!”
“Oh? Is that so? Well, if they come out, I certainly don’t need to enter the main hall.” I looked towards the area where those religious figures were seated. The Lord of the City was currently talking with the Marquis there.
“Are you crazy?! You dare to disturb the Marquis and those religious figures?!” the City Clerk exclaimed in great alarm. He wasn’t afraid of me exposing his actions; usually, the Lord of the City turned a blind eye.
However, if their scandal were to unfold in front of the Marquis, the Lord of the City would lose face completely. He would then vent his anger on me, and as a mere clerk, he couldn’t withstand it.
But that girl would undoubtedly bear the Lord of the City’s wrath. She was simply crazy!
Seeing me actually walking over, he grabbed me, saying, “Wait! Stop! Let’s talk properly. I don’t want your money anymore, okay?”
The City Clerk was truly afraid of this girl, who seemed to have no regard for life. He didn’t want to ruin his future; he had a good life ahead of him.
“Oh, I actually didn’t intend to see the Lord of the City. I just wanted to find a Knight Captain to witness the order between us. After all, such a major matter requires an authoritative person to attest to it,” I said.
The City Clerk was about to laugh, thinking which knight would bother with you at a time like this. However, he suddenly showed an expression as if he had seen a ghost because he saw a Knight Captain indeed walking over, and it was the one he least wished to encounter.
Numanuer, the most popular knight under the Lord of the City right now, who had achieved many recent victories. His most famous trait was his uprightness and deep hatred for evil.
Frankly, under normal circumstances, he would rather see the Lord of the City than Numanuer. His reputation among the officials was notorious in a different sense.
The Knight Captain wasn’t wearing his classic Steam Armor today but a gray-blue suit. Seeing me, he smiled, “You came too? Why didn’t you say so earlier? What do you need me for?”
The City Clerk was so scared that his legs went weak. They knew each other!
