Sitting at the walnut desk, Horn put down the quill, flexing his fingers and frowned, looking towards the study's doorway.

A few artisans stood at the door, installing a new door for the study.

Unlike the previous door Jeanne had smashed, this new door was carved and inlaid with numerous gear patterns by skilled artisans.

Not only the door, but even the decorations, tapestries, and furniture in the room were inlaid with chains and gears.

After the Joan of Arc Castle City Hall became the temporary administrative center of the Pope Country, it naturally made changes in style to distinguish itself from the Church.

A new dynasty brings new atmospheres.

Another point is the economic shrinkage caused by famine; it's good enough that people aren't selling their houses, who would care to decorate?

As a result, many small workshops making furniture and decorations fell into decline.

Horn issued this order to not only meet his needs but also to slightly save their industry.

Though he wasn't sure why, they always believed that exposing gears and chains as decorations would certainly win the Pope's favor.

Of course, these gears and chains weren't necessarily real iron products; many were wooden or stone artifacts painted to look metallic.

This metal color and gear preference has been a market trend lately.

The main reason is that the primary buyers of these goods post-famine are the War Monks.

These War Monks are generally rough types who just love shiny things.

Moreover, the War Monks have deep feelings for the Holy Guns, especially those obsolete guns they took to the battlefield.

They even treat the Holy Guns as part of their body, preferring to pay to buy them back rather than letting Horn recycle them.

Internally, War Monks have a habit of using discarded Holy Gun parts like gears as pendants or amulets.

When ordering customized attire at a tailor shop, War Monks bring these discarded parts to be integrated into their clothing.

There are broken striking rods made into walking sticks and claws crafted into brooches.

To win over these "new Knights," Hundred Households Captains, citizens, and wealthy merchants began mimicking the War Monks' clothing.

This artistic trend spread throughout the Kush Territory under promotion by a few workshops who received large orders and their funded sculptors.

Thinking of this, Horn pulled out a document from a precarious stack.

This was a report submitted by Chervis, Abbot of Saint Scythe Monastery, primarily noting that Isolde, a wealthy woman from Sour Melon Town, suddenly donated 400 pounds sterling to the Saint Scythe Monastery yesterday.

This wasn't investment for shares, but a genuine donation.

This 400 pounds sterling is almost one-third of her wealth, exceeding half of her liquid assets.

Flipping to the report's end, Armand, the secretary, attached three related notes.

First, the widow decided to offer her carriage business for free use to the Salvation Army.

Second, the Town Mayor of Sour Melon Town seems to want to seize her property.

Third, the widow is trying to marry her daughter to Jeska, meeting frequently these days.

After reading the three notes in sequence and rereading Isolde's industry category, Horn picked up the quill to make notes.

"The first civic merchant actively supporting us can be rewarded as an example. Allocate a 900-pound sterling order for Salvation Army uniforms' dyeing, to be negotiated by Jeska."

No sooner had he put down the pen, Horn wanted to rest for a while, when Madlan forcefully pushed open the newly-installed door.

"Your Grace, it's time for the regular meeting."

"I know." Horn pinched his brow, stood up, and strode towards the meeting hall.

Since finishing the Hundred Households System reform, Horn realized the previous small council government structure seemed insufficient for the operations of 200,000 citizens.

Therefore, he adjusted again, reorganizing the previously chaotic duties and newly added functions.

Currently, the Senate and Red Cardinal Group remain unchanged, with five courts and one office established under the Red Cardinal Group.

Holy Court, with Qianqian serving as Interim Saint Vault Master, covers tax, budget, expenditures, and drafting financial laws and other fiscal-related fields.

Truth Court, led by Madlan as Truth Elder, primarily manages faith and doctrine, bluntly speaking, law and order, local administration, publicity, and public construction.

Gospel Court, with Busak as Evangelist, mainly handles trade, missionary work, external exchanges, and translations.

Exorcism Court, with Jeanne as Exorcist Leader, enacted by Hakuto and Jeska, mainly expels demons and counters heresy, essentially war preparation.

Judgement Court, with Marshall as Chief Judge, oversees judicial management and law enforcement, making final case judgments.

Secretariat, with Armand as Chancellor, primarily responsible for Horn and various document tasks, serving as advisors.

In addition, there are some small agencies directly responsible to Horn, such as Child Soldiers, Holy Father Association, etc.

The heads of these departments hold regular meetings every seven days, each reporting work, formulating plans, a habit formed on Autumn Dusk Island.

After long periods of training and governance, the bishops and senior officials who remain on the front line are mostly experienced now.

"Is everyone here?" Horn asked, opening the documents on the desk without raising his head.

"Everyone is here."

"Let's start then." Horn lifted his head, "Madlan, let's begin from you."

Kush Territory has developed smoothly recently, and the bishops quickly completed their reports, leading the meeting into its substantial portion.

"The carriage business involved in accepting bribery has been identified by Cheka." Horn pointed with his quill at the notes in his hand, "Unless accident strikes, these are the bandits."

"These bandits truly are audacious." Busak couldn't help but chuckle.

Horn cleared his throat: "Have you all read Cheka's investigation report on the bandits?"

"Read it." Madlan frowned and said, "It's still hard to imagine that bandits are right beside us."

"Thus, I've always believed eliminating bandits requires more than just force." Horn opened the investigation report on the bandits.

A junior monk stood nearby reading the document to the bishops present: "These bandits amount to approximately 500-800 people, smaller gangs with only a few dozen, with three main bandits, each commanding over a hundred horse bandits.

The three bandits are Bloodfoot Defort, Black Scar Blackscar, and Beastman Grush.

Defort is the main spokesperson, acting brutally, often attacking villages or kidnapping, with countless lives under his command.

Blackscar oversees smuggling and black market sales, also profiting from loans, reportedly in contact with Lower Reif.

Lastly, Grush, weakest yet most capable, reportedly handles extortion of passing wealthy merchants and setting up checkpoints, also defending the mountain fort.

However, he has a decent reputation, rarely kills civilians, gains income mainly through tributes, many forced refugees opt to join him."

"Since they've been identified, the implication is war, right?" Jeanne remarked, dressed not in cumbersome lace hollow dresses but in tailored male attire with a single-shoulder cloak.

Horn questioned, "Has the army's adjustment deployment been completed?"

Jeanne bowed her head, drew several sheets from the documents in front of her, and handed them to Horn.

According to this report, current Salvation Army allocations, promotions, retirements, and recruitments are all prepared.

The Black Hat First Corps is led by Jeska personally, since Victor's injuries are severe and have not yet healed.

The Black Hat Second Corps is led by Kolman, although he was amputated, luckily his ankle remains.

Hilov recently designed a brass gear prosthetic for him, almost behaving like normal except for speed.

Black Hat Third Corps is led by Juer Dan, a Joan of Arc Castle person, formerly a street cloth vendor, whose valor during the Joan of Arc Castle siege led to his promotion.

Black Hat Fourth Corps is led by Deputy Corps Commander Brune, Rudilo's injuries haven't healed yet, so he must rest first.

The Black Hat Fifth Corps is led by veteran Mormul from Red Mill Village, and the Black Hat Sixth Corps has newly joined Barnaby from the Joan of Arc Castle as Corps Commander.

"Therefore, depart in three days, mainly using Black Hat Third to Sixth Corps, to launch an offensive against the bandits.

These corps are either new officers or new War Monks, perfect for practicing troops."

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