Two days later, the senior Officer Flint came knocking on his door, bringing along a thick dossier in his hands.
Bobby invited him inside his house.
"City Master, I have collected and completed the screening process. All those who passed are in the file." Senior Officer Flint, the middle-aged-looking man, passed the dossier to Bobby.
"Oh, thanks for helping me," Bobby said, then he began reading the thick dossier. And he completely memorized all the data written in it within five minutes, as all it took was just a glance for him to memorize and even analyzed them all in his head.
Then he said, "Alright, let's leave for the Cantoon city early tomorrow morning." He then placed the thick dossier on the table.
But, on seeing that, Senior officer Flint thought in his head: 'Hmm, fair enough! It's a fat-ass dossier. It would take a lot of time to read and digest it. And clearly, he's a hot-blooded youth. There is no time for him to review them. On one hand, the trust he has in me is pretty clear.'
"Yes, City Lord! Let's do that. Later, I'll tell everyone about this good news to get ready." Senior Officer Flint responded with a courteous tone.
After realizing something, he further added, "Sire, I have received 3,455 applications comprising 2,997 applications from our soldiers and 458 applications from others that include several traders, farmers, and other normal class people. But after analyzing all of their profiles along with my groups of people, we rejected 365 applications after finding that they have some dirty past that would become a liability later on. So, my last list has 3,090 applications comprising 2,649 applications from our soldiers and 441 others from outside the military."
He continued, "After a calculation, looking at the records, our city's current population will be 12,365. And out of this, 2,649 will be elite agents and soldiers. So, over 21% of the population are those who are currently serving for the Blue Lagoon Unit."
Bobby had already figured it out, but he didn't stop him as he listened carefully to him. "Thanks, Senior Flint, you're really a loyal friend. And sorry for the trouble. Alright, then have you contacted all the architects I have mentioned?"
"Yes, but 36 of them refuse to sign the contract." Senior Officer Flint responded with a wry smile.
"Huh! That's more than half of the architects. Why are they refusing? Don't you try to persuade them to increase their percentage?" Bobby asked.
"Yes, I did that. I even jump the percentage from 10% to 25%. But they still insisted that they would never step a foot inside that ill-fated city. They say that it'll bring them bad omen and their reputation will get damaged…" Senior Officer Flint replied, and he even scolded them with a frown. "Hmph, a bunch of superstitious brats!"
Actually, Bobby had been to the Golden Sparrow, and he really liked the design and the infrastructure of the city. So, he was planning to use all the 70 architects who designed and constructed the city from the grassroots level.
"No, I don't think that's the exact reason for declining our contracts…. It's because of those Noble families." Bobby muttered under his breath.
But learning that over half of 70 architects refused to come or even stepped inside the Cantoon City because of some ridiculous region, Bobby realized that some influential people, probably noble families, were probably responsible for this.
As such, it was absurd for all the scientific experts and all those professing to use magic to refuse from taking a monumental job based on some superstitious nonsense.
After pondering for a couple of minutes, Bobby responded, "Alright, we still have 34 architects. Tell them I'm ready to use the wages that have previously been meaning to use on those 36 architects and also to bring all their apprentices."
He added, "And, Senior Flint, I need you to find out everything about the 36 architects. I mean everything, their families, friends, and even their servants or even about their pets. Since they dare to look down on our city with over 21% of its population serving in the military. Let's show them. ?We should be the one they should take more seriously than those noble families."
Senior Officer Flint also nodded his head in agreement after realizing the fact that Loki was the illegitimate son, born out of the wedlock of the Bradworth family's current patriarch. And after attaining a noble hood of his own, removing his status as a bastard, it was understandable that the current powerful Four Noble families didn't like him even more.
But he still didn't know that there was more animosity between them already.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Suddenly, they heard the tower bell's gonging sounds.
"Oh, it's starting. City Lord, there's no time. Your presence will be required there." Senior Officer Glint said hurriedly. He then stood up and bolted out of the house.
"Be hurry!" His voice came from outside the house.
Bobby was still confused and thought, 'Is it another event to show off the Chief's candidate?... This is really going to be a pain in my neck.'
He then walked out of the house, too. After locking the door, he spread his wings and flew up in the air while quivering his wings.
Senior Officer Flint was already waiting for him high above in the air. Then the two flew and drifted in the direction of the Elite Group's Building.
It took them barely 2 minutes to reach there. Bobby saw that there was already a sea of soldiers surrounding the building, just like the one he had seen a few days before.
They landed in an empty place, folding their wings.
Several minutes later, the bell stopped ringing. And soon after, a middle-aged-looking handsome man emerged from the building as ten men and women followed, standing on equal terms.
The middle-aged-looking man was none other than the current head of the Elite Union, Vice-Chancellor Kuppo. ....(please, stay tuned!)