Chapter 173: exercising leadership authority

Later in the day, after the grand welcome, Clark was finally led to one of the public mansions of the city. That was where he would stay, for the short period before the inauguration commenced.

Though this was where he would stay, he would probably stay there sparingly as most of the procedures required to progress on the inauguration plans needed his physical presence.

As it was such an important ceremony, only a few of its procedures would be carried out virtually due to security.

After taking time to rest a bit, he finally got prepared to go to his first meeting with the city’s diplomatic leaders. This time, he got dressed in a plainer black suit to look more official and set for work.

As he drove his exotic car out of the well-protected mansion, he could not help but think of the terms that were remotely sent to his implant not long ago.

Though Vatican City was originally just a city without any leader, it was still one of the best cities in Southern Sparta. The terms that were presented to him, to welcome him as their leader still surprised him.

In the terms that were decided on, it was included that he would get his own mansion, worth 1,000,000 Spartan credits. That he would also get free workers, that would help him take care and maintain the mansion, just like in the Spartan army headquarters.

It was also included that his monthly salary, which would be effective from the day he became the city leader was an astronomical 500,000 Spartan credits. Till now, this astronomical sum still left him speechless.

Though the money seemed big to him, to other normal city leaders, all their salaries were probably higher than his own. For a city at Vatican’s level, the annual income was frightening, that is why it’s called a city.

And originally, if a leader is appointed to lead the city, they are the ones who now seat on top of this huge money. They don’t feel any remorse, as their contribution to the city, in the long run, can completely offset what they took.

This was what made the easy manner he agreed more shocking and surprising. Even the diplomatic leaders expected him to complain, but he accepted it immediately.

His reasons were that first, he was not taking the role of a leader to his home city to milk it dry of its money and resources. He took the role, to further his ambitious goals of establishing his reforms to change the world.

Secondly, the recent surge of money in his account was kind of overwhelming to him.

From a decent soldier who lived in thousands, to the soldier he now was who lived in millions of Spartan credits. The rapid surge in his status was still taking him hard to internalize completely. He sometimes felt that he already started living his dream.

Thirdly, he loved his city. A wide smile could not help but bloom across his face when he thought of the expression that would be in his non-biological mom’s face on seeing him being crowned the leader of the city.

In just a few years, which was originally an extremely short time of growth for other soldiers, he managed to accomplish this much.

His success gave him confidence and validated the methods he took to training himself. The best training was always live training, and he was in no way tired yet of seeking more live threatening missions.

Now that he was a mercenary, and was the commander of a mercenary organization, he would have freer rein and opportunities to go to his dangerous adventures.

Not long later, his exotic car finally arrived at the mansion of the Vatican head diplomatic leader. This was where he would actually spend most of his time, as most of the plans would be fleshed out here. His soldier followers were also here.

All 5 diplomatic leaders were already waiting for him outside, as soon as his car drove into the large compound.

After coming down, they greeted him respectfully while his soldiers saluted him from the side. A 21-year-old man standing before so many veterans in the diplomatic field looked odd, but he was the real deal.

He nodded to acknowledge them, before going straight in the direction that they showed him.

A large hall was already in the mansion, where all their meetings for the remaining parts of the month would be carried out. He quickly located and sat at the master seat, before finally facing his new delegates.

All 5 diplomatic leaders occupied various positions in the city. The head who hosted him, Mr. Patrick, was the commissioner of technological development in the city.

The others were respectively the commissioners of implant regulation and control, health, agriculture, and information.

As soon as the meeting started, he took rein of its trajectory as he laid bare all his plans for the city, the things he tolerated and the things he did not tolerate at all.

He especially touched on embezzlement of funds, as his soldiers gave him some not too good reports about the activities of some of them in the financial aspect.

He made it clear into their thick brains, that despite how young he was and how old they were, he had no tolerance for corruption in his reign as the leader of the city.

It's either corruption or him, there was no scenario where they could coexist. His easily accepting their terms did not make him a fool or someone easily manipulated, he had seen a lot in his short life to be called an experienced veteran.

As he was appointed as the leader of the territory, he would ensure the city’s continuous upward trajectory rise. Any sign of decline was intolerable to him.

After making his plans, likes, and dislikes known, the leaders finally had a recent picture of his temperament. They already read information from the city’s database about him, but that was outdated information already. This was the new, real him.

Seeing that they all understood his plans and stand, he heaved a sigh of relief before nodding at them to start their talks. Despite his strong stance, he did not want to start a beef with the city’s diplomatic leaders as soon as he came into office.

They nodded to indicate that they understood, before the head commissioner, Mr. Patrick stood up to better control the remote virtual projector to show him their sketched plans for the ceremony.

According to their budgets, the ceremony was going to be very large. It was going to be celebrated outside his new mansion, which was to be built by them.

After being shown the sketch template of the mansion, though he was not too impressed again after all the luxury that he had seen, he still felt happy as it was a gift not straining his pocket.

After discussing some other random facts and requirements for the ceremony, they finally ended this session of the meeting.

This was when he finally called for the other lesser leaders of the city, like the commissioner of police, and all other commissioners.

As the new leader of the city, he had to know his subordinates now to select the ones he liked to help him regulate and be in charge of things under his rule. This was an important procedure that he did not want to miss by any means.

Though as a soldier he was not too versed at such diplomatic matters, his implant enabled him to have a preliminary understanding of how it’s done.

A minute later, all the commissioners and lesser leaders that were called for entered the large hall. They arrived this fast because they were all originally waiting in the mansion, in the case they were called, like now.

Clark greeted them with a smile, made them feel at ease before he finally commenced his meeting with them.

Unlike that of the main 5 commissioners, he took only 30 minutes with them before he concluded his first meeting with them. At least, now he finally knew the faces and the temperament of his subordinates to be.

After finishing all these, he bade them all farewell before leaving back to his temporary mansion. His new mansion was scheduled to be completed in about 15 days.

Though he felt sore all over from the long meeting session, on getting home he did not while his time away lazily, he made use of the training room that was built in the mansion especially for his use.

Despite the astronomical heights he already reached, to soldiers like Commander Rashford, he was still a baby. He was careful not to get arrogant easily, he still trained diligently every day.

After so long, though his attributes shown by his implant were not improving like before, they were still showing a steady but slow gradual increase.

His mastery over his weapons was now also far better than months ago when he was still in the Mediterranean Sea.

“To get to the ambitious heights that I’m aiming for, I have to maintain my strict training schedule”.

This was an important lesson that he learned during his days as a gladiator. Train and stress yourself now, so that you will not regret being lazy on the day of battle.

With this motivating thought, he quickly changed into training clothes that better outlined his prominent muscles and well-proportioned chest, before going for training.

1…, 2…, 3… He counted to himself as he performed his drills, while cool music blasted out of the hidden sound amplifiers, calming his soul and his fast-beating heart.

…

The next day, the Vatican news media finally broadcasted the happenings of yesterday, and the grand king-like welcome of their new leader to be by the Vatican citizens and leaders.

“Good morning my fellow Spartans, my name is Gabriel Fairland. This is news coming to you from your regular broadcasting station, VOV [View of Vatican]”.

“Yesterday, in the Vatican central airport, a large assembly of citizens, soldiers, policemen, and leaders alike all gathered together to welcome their new leader to be who came back from a business trip”.

As the slightly dark skin toned young reporter read the news while faintly brushing his non-existent beards with his left hand, a video projection of the scene yesterday was on display.

“As you can see, the gathering was very harmonious and peaceful. From this, it can be easily discerned that Major Clark Pendragon is a leader who is loved by the people”.

“The love is not one-sided, it's reciprocal as depicted by the scene where he waved back with a wide smile at his citizens. The reaction from them proved it all, it is priceless”.

“According to many Vatican citizens, Major Clark is the God-sent leader who will usher them into higher realms of development trajectory and rapid growth”.

“I personally agree with most of the people, as I also believe in our new leader. But we still have to be patient, our speculations shall be proven quickly in a few years”.

“The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to commence on the 2nd of the next month, April. I wish the Major good luck and a happy inauguration. I believe you don’t want to miss this exciting event, so see you again next month as we stream the ceremony together”.

“This is VOV, we remain dedicated to providing you with verified information. Once again, I’m Gabriel Fairland, please don’t go anywhere”.

[Thank you for reading this chapter, I really appreciate it. If you love this book, please leave your power stones behind to support it. Purchase privilege for The Conspiracy Of The Elites and read a varying amount of chapters ahead of regular readers.]