"This is good work, Jonah."
I complimented the shepherd.
We were currently in my study in the Vice-Master's office.
I was looking through the report on what happened in the lobby while I was asleep. On what Jonah did, to be exact.
The report on the lobby's progress was extensive and really detailed.
Jonah put a lot of effort in compiling this document. He made it especially for when I was finally ready to reassume my Vice-Master position.
The shepherd only took charge for fifteen days, but he managed to accomplish most of Master's orders.
Personnel management, facility construction and improvement, resource gathering, equipment production, and various other matters.
Jonah was able to ensure the lobby's operation kept running smoothly in my absence.
That man had truly done a great favor for me.
"All I did was assigning the tasks. The supporter chiefs did most of the work, honestly. Lady Sharine and Sir Jasper also helped me compile that report."
He said humbly.
I expected him to be like this.
"Even still, Jonah. Had I known you're this capable, I would've shared some of my work with you since the very beginning."
"I actually want to talk to you about that."
Jonah replied to me almost immediately.
He went on.
"Why don't you let me keep helping you?"
I raised my eyebrows upon his suggestion.
The shepherd continued while I had yet given a reply.
"I've been managing the lobby for the past short while, and I realized that there are plenty of matters that aren't worth your attention, Fina."
He then looked over the lobby's report in my hand.
"Like the facility maintenance and improvement, for instance. They certainly require daily supervision since resources and workers shifted all the time. But most of these matters are not urgent to the climb and too tedious that you should just let me deal with them.
"Reports on resource gathering in the Weekday Dungeons are often filled with requests for more workers and tool repairs and upgrades. They are important for the climb but reviewing and approving all the reports took too much time. I can handle these tasks so you can focus on more important matters that require your immediate attention.
"There are also too many reports on personnel appointment and transfer that needed to be approved. Master is the one that set the number of workers in each supporting station, anyway. So you should just let me take these tedious tasks from you."
Jonah continued pointing more matters that were not worth my time.
He was right.
Most of the matters Jonah pointed out were things that I would usually approve immediately.
The supporter chiefs had done their job very well that they only needed my signature for the reports which made the process mere formalities.
There were times when I had to give some input and corrections, but anyone else could think of that.
It was not necessary for me to handle those menial tasks when someone else could do it in my stead.
I did have certain matters that Sigyn assigned which required my full attention.
For instance, the airship construction.
Master had issued this order ever since we cleared the 20th floor.
Alam told me an airship would become more and more important as we climbed higher in the tower.
In that case, we had a lot of work to be done.
We needed blueprints for the airship, materials, and engineers to construct the vessel.
Jonah would not be able to handle this project given his lack of expertise in magic engineering.
Master had also issued a new standard of equipment for the Raid Team.
All weapons and equipment were to be imbued with special attributes suited for the bearer. Mages were to be provided with supporting artifacts. Special sets for each hero in the Main Forces.
I, myself, had to be involved in executing this order.
There were plenty other matters immediately pertaining to the Raid Team that required my full attention.
I also had to spare my time to handle new demands that would come up as we climb the tower and prepare for the next Quintal Trial.
Indeed.
I truly needed to make my work more efficient.
For the sake of the climb and for the sake of Dunia.
"You're right, Jonah. From now on, I'll let you help me with my work."
The shepherd put on a big smile.
He was really relieved hearing my answer.
But then he put on an expression like he was still not done giving suggestions.
"I'm glad that you've allowed me to help you, Fina. Even so, I still think you need more people helping you with your own work."
Jonah had a point once more.
As we climbed higher and the scale of the lobby and the Raid Team grew, so would the scale of my work.
I eventually would not be able to handle all immediate matters of the Raid Team by myself.
My ultimate duty was to climb the tower, after all.
I needed to invest a lot of time to develop and improve my skills as a hero.
As the leader of the Zeref army, my father had my brothers helping him.
He and my brothers also had their own aides and commanders supporting them.
As the leader of Sigyn's army of heroes, I would certainly need my own aides as well.
But that could wait.
I could still handle all the work given to me right now and I intended to take care of them personally.
There were also more pressing matters to deal with for the moment.
"For now, let's solve a manpower problem that is more urgent."
I told Jonah as I turned to a page of pending order from Sigyn.
[Master 'S1GYN' is ordering Vice-Master 'Serafina (★★★★)' to assign the following heroes into parties.]
[Heroes: 'Serafina (★★★★)', 'Jonah (★★★)', 'Shanny (★★★)', 'Devisha (★★★)', 'Zecht (★★★)', Tarran (★★★)', 'Yuxia (★★★★)', 'Ulrica (★★★★)', 'Matrias (★★★)', 'Djhotti (★★★★)', 'Vallerynne (★★★)', 'Graihan (★★★★)', 'Arian (★★★)', 'Halim (★★★)', 'Ashni (★★★)']
[Designated Parties: Party 1, Party 2, Party 3]
[Directive: No particular directive for the party assignment]
Master had ordered the rearrangement of the Main Forces.
It did not seem Master wanted us to simply fill the vacant spots in Party 1 to 5 with new heroes.
Since the members were to be distributed only up to three parties instead of five, our original formation.
The arrival of the Garudas and the Tsamudrans must had affected this decision.
Alam said Master had appointed them as the new Party 4 and 5.
Those two groups had definitely disturbed the power balance in the Main Forces.
We could not simply recruit inexperienced heroes from the Reserve Forces to replace the ones we lost in each party.
Even if they were 3-star at summoning heroes, they still would not provide a synergy that matches the bonded parties'.
But the other parties in the Main Forces still needed to keep up with the Garudas and the Tsamudrans.
That was probably the reason Master wanted to distribute the rest of the Main Forces members into Party 1, 2, and 3.
Every hero listed here was among the most experienced raiders in the entire lobby.
We would be able to restore the power balance in the Main Forces by having all these heroes work together.
"What do the others think of this order, Jonah?"
I asked.
He replied immediately.
"Those of us in Party 1 want to stay in the party, myself included. While most of the others in Party 2 till 5 have left the decision to you."
I was certainly glad Jonah and the others wanted to remain in Party 1.
Even after we lost Darius, I would say our party still had the best potential in the Main Forces to match up with the new bonded parties.
I already intended to keep Party 1 intact.
All that remained for our party was to find someone to fill the vacant position due to Darius's absence.
Though we might not need to search for long.
"You said most people in the other parties have left the decision to me. But not all of them?"
Jonah nodded.
"There is one person that have decided where they want to go."
Upon his words came a knock on the door.
My detection field had already sensed the new arrival even before he entered the building.
Even without my improved magic sense, I recognized his small stature immediately.
"Come in, Tarran."
The door swung open and a boy wearing a knit cap walked in.
Even after all this time, Tarran still looked the same as when he brought my plate of dinner during our early days in the forged land.
"They said I could find you here, Miss Serafina."
Tarran spoke in his polite timid manner.
I nodded to him.
"And now you've found me. What is it, Tarran?"
Upon my question, the boy immediately looked at me straight in the eyes.
All the timidity vanished from him.
It was no boy who stood before me.
He was a hero of the forged land whom had survived two Quintal Trials.
"I want to join Party 1."
Tarran stated clearly.
This was no surprise to me.
Jonah already told me that Tarran had received Darius's bow and ring he left for him.
The young raider had also re-experienced the fourth Quintal Trial through Replay Stone and listened to Darius's final words about him.
I suspected he would want to join our party to replace Darius after what he witnessed.
Even so…
"Are you certain that is what you want to do, Tarran?"
I asked him.
He nodded immediately.
"With Sir Darius gone, Party 1 need a new archer. I believe I have the skills to become a suitable replacement."
I observed the young raider upon his words.
[Tarran Royle (★★★) Lv.20 (Exp 18/155)]
[Class: Rogue]
[Strength: 37/37]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 31/31]
[Agility: 37/37]
[Skills: Basic Archery Lv.10, Basic Dagger Technique Lv.9, Eagle Eye Lv.7, Rapid Fire Lv.8, Switching Lv.5, Weakness Detection Lv.8, Insight Lv.5, Nimble Movement Lv.6, Stealthy Movement Lv.4, Dagger Throwing Lv.7, Projectile Defense Lv.5, Pain Resistance Lv.3, Fire Resistance Lv.2, Composure Lv.3, Strongbow Lv.4]
Tarran had been promoted to 3-star since he had reached level 20.
He had also been promoted to the Rogue class like Darius'.
His skill proficiency even surpassed the former knight.
This young raider's potential was certainly on par with Jonah and Shanny.
He seemed capable to match Devisha's fighting style too.
And there was no question about his determination.
Tarran would face any challenge in front of him or he would not survive two Quintal Trials.
There was not a reason to not include him into Party 1.
I, myself, had been planning to recruit him.
That being said, I could not just simply add Tarran into our fold.
"What does Zecht think about your decision?"
I asked.
Tarran was a vital member to Party 2.
Even with Master's order for rearrangement, Zecht might want to keep working with him.
"Don't worry, Miss Serafina. Brother Zecht supported my decision. He actually encouraged it."
Tarran said clearly.
"Is that so? Then where is he now? Why isn't he here with you to speak about the transfer?"
The boy suddenly turned hesitant to reply.
His face was tainted with worry.
Jonah answered in Tarran's stead.
"Zecht has been locking himself in his private training chamber. He's in there for most of the time ever since we returned from the 20th floor."
The shepherd's voice was filled with sympathy.
Anyone would react that way to someone that had suffered like Zecht.
I would need to speak with him eventually.
"Tell the others to gather tonight."
I told Jonah and Tarran.
"Once I've looked over the lobby and got a precise grasp of our condition, I would announce the new formation of the Main Forces."