Days had passed, and my daze recovered slowly, but I found myself rarely as bad as the first day. My mind no longer went completely blank or so dazed that I could not concentrate. It was a pain, but I luxuriated in the attention and love of my won. They all attended to without question, and it was sothing that I shouldn't have found so odd.
It felt nice, and when I was working, Yuri or Alexia stayed with as I caught up on the financial decisions for the Embassy. Things would be different when I was gone, and there would be limited funds. I talked with Rose, and the brewery's beginnings were promising as I was the brewer.
Alchemists had a reputation to uphold, and apparently, people trusted to co up with a strong brew. It was flattering, to say the least, but I had other things to be worried about. I had not heard from my sister in the last couple of days, and the vote would be soon. To make matters worse was the fact that my replacent should be here soon.
They had sent them not long after that last ergency eting, and that ant that I needed to be ready to go soon.
I took a deep breath, and I knew that I wouldn't leave the Demon lands until after that vote. If it was positive in my favor, I would take it ho. If not, I would leave it here while leaving in the middle of the night before all the formalities were complete. I would not bring ho a dead letter for the elders.
It would not only reflect poorly on , but it would be bad for relations with the Demon lands.
I had more than enough rits, though, from the Demon lands after the windfall of Francis a couple of days ago. That was not the best negotiation that I have ever conducted. The nation would be paying a little more than I think I could have done at my best. Francis wasn't looking to annoy us, though. He wanted to make a decent inco for himself and his n that he sent our way.
They were coming to be blooded in the hardest training course that can ever exist. The battlefield was his main reason for making them rcenaries. Plus, I think so minds in the Demon lands might think they wanted the Empire trimd down.
It was the largest nation besides their own, and the Kingdom of Arlin was right beside it, which ant that the Kingdom would keep the Empire in check even if it was distracted.
It was a strong play, and I had to give it to the Demon Land representatives. They knew that we would want combat power, and those that were closest to us knew I already had the Succubi Illusionists. It made want to feel out what the Incubi thought before I left. The Vampires I didn't think would join in, though.
I didn't have any proof that it was only a feeling, and I didn't know specifically what it was.
I was lost in thought, wondering if I should contact Jeraxes to see if he was interested too. A sudden knock on the door brought out of my thoughts. I was in my office and had not been planning anything much for the day except to finish so reports and get things out of the way. "Co in," I shouted, interested and turning to the door.
In ca my sister, Christina, with her usual look. She moved toward my desk and looked at with a serious expression. "Your replacent has arrived in the Demon lands. I have already sent Alexia out to go fetch them to bring here. You have roughly a couple of hours to et them." Christina told , and my eyes widened in surprise.
That was amazing timing to make passage here unless they sent my replacent before they told . I frowned and leaned back. I needed to think, and I shrugged. This was sothing that I was going to play by the minute and see who the other was. I would also insist on staying a couple of extra days, settling this person in with so large nas here in the Demon lands.
Technically it was sothing Ralph was supposed to do for to ensure that I knew all the workings here so I could pick up where he left off.
I sighed, and my heartbeat felt loud in my ears as I contemplated everything. "Thank you for the warning," I told her, "Did they send your replacent with whoever this is?" I asked her a second later.
"Unknown. I am unsure if I can leave this post to soone with little knowledge. Also, to update you, Mistress Sally made her moves after we first departed making that deal. I got a report that she called the dusa representative over and for two days. She was not seen leaving for those two days, and when she walked out of Mistress Sally's building, she looked almost the sa but with a deep blush.
It is unknown whether she did her part, but after you ca and left, the dusa showed up again. She looked annoyed and deeply blushed when she left just a few hours later. Instantly the first thing MIstress Sally did afterward was fire our contact." The report had raising my eyebrows, and I couldn't help but frown.
"My conclusion is that she already knew who our mole was and made sure we saw her movents for us to receive a report and send them on their way. This is a very scary woman." Chistina finished her frown very deep. "I do not know where this Mistress Sally ca from or who she is. I would need funds, and frankly, I am unsure of what or if I could find what we are looking for.
Her counter surveillance seems to be top-notch or sothing of that effect. All I know of her now is that she is regarded as a Mistress of her craft and is a Dominatrix here in the Demon Lands. So say she showed up one day with gold and bought the place. Now her clientele enjoys her services.
That is all I could get, and I need more to work with if I want to investigate." Christina's report made worry, and I sighed.
"We don't have the funds," I replied with a large sigh, "We simply do not have the funds. I have regulated so much gold into the repair and maintenance of the Embassy. If you can find where Ralph hid the gold he embezzled, then maybe I can fund more operations. But the Embassy is going to need repairs. This Wizard tower was falling apart, and the enchantnts were about to wear out.
I don't know who was before Ralph at this mont, but our image here will take a major hit if we don't revitalize it." I looked at the roof, "No more funding, and you need to increase the businesses under the spy ring you are building. Or I highly recomnd that you increase the number. I made a lot of gold while here, but that was only enough for initial investnts.
With those and the funding that the Embassy will receive to run the place. We will break even in the next four years without a budget increase for the Embassy."
Christina deeply frowned as I told her the shocking news I had co to. "It can't be that bad is it?" Christina asked.
"Before I woke up to all the problems?" I asked, "It was worse, Much worse." I looked at her, "Think about what I have been doing, Christina; I have to host parties. I have to bribe and talk to representatives, making them want to work with us. Do you think they will want to work with us if I show a poor image? Do you think the staff will work for copper coins?" I asked, leaning forward.
"Or course you don't! You run a spy ring, and you know gold is what I need more of. I have achieved things here while I do not know what is happening!" I paused after the excitation and sighed, realizing I was about to rant. I took a deep breath, and I sat back down. "In short, I fixed many problems, but there are more that need fixing.
At least I started us back on the road to recovery with a large infusion of gold."
"Well, Do the elders know how bad it is?" Christina asked.
"I made a report, but I think there will be more funding issues in the future." I told her bluntly, "I believe that many of the larger tribes are arming the smaller beast-kin tribes, and we are doing our part on that. But I am unsure of that at the mont as I have no real information on that front. it literally is just a guess, and you can take it as such." I finished.
Christina frowned, "I need more funding to develop more information. I brought a lot of people to the Demon lands to begin and spread an information network. But my main source of information is still with my contacts in the Kingdom of Arlin." Christina said.
"Well, I doubt the Kingdom of Arlin will get involved unless soone starts making this a race war. Otherwise, they will feel obligated to join in the fight as they would be the next target." I said, leaning back. I shrugged, "It is what it is at this point. Soon we will have the replacent here to start training. Get ready to pass on your information network in a limited quantity.
Keep so of your better placed and business ones more secret. I think having a source of inco on the backup where no one else can see it flow would not be a bad thing. We can move the money through the brewery and bring it into the Embassy through that company." I finished, and Christina nodded.
"A bit complicated, but I will see to it," Christina turned and exited the room, and I couldn't help but sigh a deep, more profound sigh than I ever had before. I had no idea who was coming, and I hated the lack of information. I even knew back in my past world when my school was about to be attacked here. The internet and satellites provided that information.
So of my schoolmates were very strong hackers and learned of it, which was one of the reasons we held out as long as we did.
I couldn't help but sigh again as I didn't want to think about the previous world at this mont. This world was the one I needed to be thinking in, and I looked at the stack of paperwork. I wryly smiled and sent a ssage to Yuri to co into the office when she had a mont and preferably before my replacent arrived.
A second later, Yuri cos in wearing a purple dress and looking good. "You ssaged?" Yuri asked.
"Yes, Please bring my replacent in here. All others are to be left out as I need a private conversation with them before we bring everyone else on board. That will also give a minute to get a feel for them and choose my plans. Please have refreshnts and food ready for everyone made up and bring so in so we can eat while we talk." I ordered, and Yuri nodded.
"I think it might be better to et them at the front," Yuri said, unsure, and I barked a laugh shaking my head.
"Sorry," I apologized, "Anyone with a brain seeing this mountain," I said, motioning at all the paperwork I was behind on. "And thinks that I should be greeting them," My voice trailed off, "They shouldn't be the Ambassador, Just like this shows that I am far behind on my responsibilities," I added in at the end.
I looked at her with a wry smile, "They should understand, and it is also a test of their character," I finished.
"Very well," Yuri said, "I think it is more polite," Yuri said, and I looked at her.
"It is, and you are not wrong," I told her truthfully, "But I am also not wrong."
Yuri left the room, and I returned to work, no longer lingering in my thoughts. I finished signing so papers on so wage agreents and set them aside for Yuri to file. How much paper did we go through for these things? Who the fuck is writing them out? I thought bitterly, knowing it was my supervisors and managers.
I lost myself in it for a short ti before I heard a curt knock on the door and called out for them to co in. The paperwork I was working on was one relating to sothing about a rule I had not quite gotten the gist of yet and why it was implented. The paperwork and the explanation didn't make much sense either, and I was happy to look up from it.
When I looked up, I saw a Dark brown Bunny-kin. He was at least a head taller than , if not a head and a half taller than . Muscle coated his arms, and his biceps were large. This was a fighter, and I was surprised to see my replacent looking like a macho man. "Hello," I said, leaning back in my seat before standing up.
I stepped around to shake his hand, "I am Ambassador Chelsea," I introduced myself with a small but charming smile.
"I am Thomas Longsong," He said, reaching out and taking his hand in my own. "I will be your replacent," He looked at the stack of papers and nodded, "And now I understand why you didn't co out to et ." He smiled, and I pointed at the couches.
"Sit, we have much to discuss," I replied, "And not nearly enough weeks to get you up on board with everything that I am dealing with."
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