87: Chapter 62 Preparations Before Departure_3 87: Chapter 62 Preparations Before Departure_3 “Do you understand what I mean?”
After hearing this, the girl’s expression visibly became one of disappointment.
But Olivia also understood the difficulty in Leon’s words and had to let go of the impulsive thought she had just had.
Leon stood up, walked over, and patted the girl on the shoulder, comforting her, “I know you want to help us and you want to see the world outside of Selva.
Believe me, it will happen one day, but not now.
Why don’t you take these couple of days before we leave to train our martial arts?
I’ve heard that Lokhak has been seeking you out to spar whenever he has free time?”
Hearing Leon change the topic, Olivia perked up and nodded, “Lokhak says he’s always having nightmares and suffers from insomnia, so he needs to practice martial arts until he’s exhausted every day before he can sleep.
However, his strength seems to have increased a lot lately, and he’s made a lot of progress compared to the beginning.”
“He’s more diligent than I am.”
Leon sat back down at his desk and picked up the rough pieces of paper on it.
They had records of the cultivated land, pasture, residential land, forest, public land, population, livestock, craftsmen…
and other rough data from his recent personal measurements and investigations of Selva, Longka, and Platon.
Though not entirely accurate, they were sufficient to calculate a relative yield of the territories.
After deducting everyday food storage, seeds for planting, and the levies and taxes before the conflicts, the three territories would only just manage subsistence for the next year and save little income.
Any development would have to wait until after the war ended.
Especially now, as the young and strong men from the other two lands could not return home from the border fortress in the short term, and Selva had just been struck by disaster.
Before this batch of winter crops was harvested, he himself was powerless to tackle more developmental activities that required manpower and financial resources.
In other words, during this period, the state of the territories would be the same with or without them.
Putting down his documents, Leon looked at Olivia, who was sitting with a long sword strapped at her waist, “Indeed, we do have something we need to entrust you with.”
Hearing she could help her friends, the girl’s spirits lifted, and she asked curiously, “What do you need me to do?”
“Once we leave, Selva’s affairs will be managed by your father’s help.
But if there are any accidental situations in Longka and Platon, I want you to keep an eye on them.
We’ll inform the village officials of both places before we leave.
Also, I’ll leave behind some Gold Coins from the chest under your bed for emergency use in the territory, and the weapons and Armor in the storage.
In case of an emergency, you have the right to allocate these resources, remember, it is you who have the right to do so, not Uncle Bryan.”
As he spoke, Leon stroked his chin, then reminded the girl with some unease, “Many men have lost their wives and children, and some women their husbands.
If in some time people wish to start new families in the village, be sure to ensure it is of their own free will.
I will not tolerate any coercion.
If a conflict arises in the village, you have the ability and the right to intervene on my behalf.
In the worst-case scenario, you have the authority to forcibly subdue the thugs.
This trip might take a month at the least, and beyond that, I do not know.
Consider it my commission to you.”
As he spoke, Leon began to write the actual commission document on paper.
The content of the document included not just Selva, but also Longka and Platon.
Opening a drawer, he took out the small Sword Wing Badge seal sent by Knight Balfe these past days, and stamped it over his signature.
The rest was to have Lokhak and Azeryan do their own signatures and seals tomorrow.
Standing up, Leon solemnly said to Olivia, who looked surprised, “Olivia, I now officially commission you as our proxy, with the authority to use our emblems.
You must maintain the order of the territory until we return.”