Volume 7 - CH 15

Chapter 15 – The Start of The Support Plan

“Eto, I’ll leave this matter to you. Please report it through Kamaran in detail.”

Saying that, Labolt leaves the room with Treasury Secretary Meyer. With how sudden the event turned out, Eto wondered whether everything would be fine, but looking at Kamaran’s expression, it seemed that his meeting with Labolt had a good outcome.

“The support plan must have been approved from the beginning.” Kamaran said with his eyes squinted.

“So what’s left was about me, huh…”

“Ee. Labolt-sama knew who Eto-sama was from the start. That too, and I think he also thought it would be a problem if there is a strife in Veil. However, if we look at how Eto-sama entered the Margrave territory, I am sure Labolt-sama also knew that Eto-sama is not a person who wields his power unnecessarily, so this meeting probably was just a final confirmation.”

Eto somehow felt that Kamaran’s eyes probably contained laughter.

‘Are, then, isn’t it fine if I didn’t talk long about such embarrassing things?’

That’s what Eto thought, but since the result was a great success, he had no complaints. Because Eto knew that the only way to get a person who has a higher position than himself like a lord to understand his thoughts was to speak honestly. Eto thought at least they could understand what kind of person he is.

“Then, from now on, we just have to gather the people and proceed to trial and error.” Eto said to brace himself.

Along with a sense of relief that the support plan could finally start, Eto also felt anxiety due to not knowing what kind of difficulties were waiting for him.

After that, Eto, who returned from the Margrave’s castle to the Knights’ facility, told the people involved in the plan that the crime victims support plan had been approved by Margrave Stainbolt, Temporary Acting Lord Labolt, and Treasury Secretary Meyer.

Hearing Eto’s explanation, Salina the female knight expressed tears and joy knowing that many victims will be saved. She also told Eto that the other day, Captain Andrea asked if she could be the one in charge of protecting the crime victims, and she agreed.

With this, regarding the knight, while getting the cooperation of Captain Andrea, the plan also made a system with Salina as the contact person. Doctors and pharmacists surely will also be chosen from those who are friendly and credible to the Knights.

As for the self-help group, building no.5 of the Knights’ facility was set as the headquarters of kidnapped victims. On top of that, the applicants will also be able to participate in the self-help group conducted by the church. The reason for that is so that they can choose one that is easy to go from their home or work place. Moreover, rather than lengthening the period where the victim cannot attend the meeting due to traveling distance, with giving them a place that is easy for them to attend, they would be able to frequently attend the meeting and consult their problems with the group. However, those with severe symptoms will continue to receive nursing care from a doctor or pharmacists in building no.5.

On the church side, Priest Francesco will be the guardian, and Pastor Teilhard will be responsible for the protection and support of the participants. Eto also plans to have some pastors dispatched to the self-help group meeting held in building no.5.

Eto also asked for the cooperation of Lurie and others who have been involved in the church’s self-help group for years. At first, they will be asked to participate in the meeting and instructed on how to make the arrangements, how to proceed with the meeting, and the follow-up after that. Eventually, the goal is to have the self-help group running with the victims playing a center role.

For diagnosis and treatment by doctors and prescription of medicines by pharmacists, subsidies will be paid from the budget they got from the Margrave according to the symptoms of the victim. And in the first year, it seems the funds reserved as reserve funds will be used as financial resources.

Needless to say, for those whose symptoms were severe to the point of making it difficult to conduct daily activities, the full payment will be exempted, however if the symptoms are light, the payment will be increased slightly to reduce the financial burden of the group and at the same time encourage their rehabilitation. Adding to that, in order to accurately grasp the condition of the victim, Eto thought of referring not only to the diagnosis by doctors and pharmacists, but also to the stories of pastors who participated in the self-help group.

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A few days later, the kidnapped victims who reside in Veil once again gathered at the Knights’ facility. Doctors, pharmacists, and pastors will be asking the victims in turn. Eto also explained the support plan and encouraged them to join the self-help group.

“How is it, Salina-san? Have you gotten used to the work of the case officer?”

The other day, Salina was officially appointed as a crime victim protection officer belonging to the Knights. Currently, her works are managing the female knights who act as the guards, and also listening to the consultations from the victims.

“Regarding the work I’ve done so far, there is no problem. However, regarding the information exchange with the church, I feel that my authority was too big.”

In this crime victim support plan, Salina’s job as the contact person for the Knights is to share some of the victim information that the Knights had so far with the self-help group of the church.

“I can’t help but wonder how much information I should disclose. Although confidentiality was strictly enforced in the Knights, I think giving victim information to the church may help in some way. And right now I am so busy that I can’t check the current situation of each victim.”

“I heard the Knights have been providing information to the church even before this plan started, is it any different?”

“No, we still do that. However, it was, in fact, just us asking for help from the church to handle those with severe symptoms.”

To put it simply, rather than sharing information, it was more like the Knights relied on the church when there are victims they are unable to handle. However, now that Salina has become the contact person for the Knights, even those with mild symptoms can be encouraged to join the church’s self-help group. And the problem is that since it was not possible for the church to support all the victims, she had troubles on who to choose and how much information she could share to the church.

“I know that I have no choice but to fumble my way for the first time in anything. So, if there is a kidnapping victim applying for a subsidy or has a problem within a self-help group, please feel free to bring them to me. It may also be better to leave the management of the guard knights to someone you can trust. That way, Salina-san can focus on deepening cooperation with the church and other related parties.”

“Understood. Thank you very much, Eto-san.”

Hearing that, Salina had a motivated look on her face. That was probably because although until now she has been able to solve and deter crimes as a knight, the only thing she can do for the victims of crimes was just return them to their families. And now, she can reach out her hand and help them.

“From now on, we will create a mechanism to support crime victims. Which means, we will be busier than we are now, so be prepared.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Although Salina is enthusiastic, it would be a problem if she strained herself. Thus, Eto thought that in order to disperse the amount of work, it was necessary to gather more people who could be entrusted with supporting victims.