Abyssal Chronicles-Chapter 1161: The Current State of Black Rose

In the southern part of the Sadik Empire,

Inside Sabelius, the headquarters of the Black Rose Family.

As usual, Xiao, the Duke of Black Rose, sat quietly in his office, rapidly processing the mountain of documents piled up before him. Xiao's work efficiency was extremely high. Stacks of documents were completed one after another.

However, Although he processed them quickly, various documents kept being brought in continuously. The documents piled up in the office not only did not seem to decrease, but were actually gradually increasing in number.

...

After another cart of documents was wheeled in, Wanya, the Duke's secretary, frowned.

After silently pouring a cup of black coffee to help Xiao stay alert, Wanya asked with some concern:

"Your Grace, why not take a break? You have not rested for over a week now."

Wanya's concern was undoubtedly sincere.

After Asar's conspiracy was foiled last time, most regions of the Ancita continent had actually fallen under Abyssal demon control. Even those forces that had not openly submitted on the surface, such as the Dragon race, the Elven race, and the Church Nation Asumos, were essentially no different from vassal states. Yumo, the boss of the Abyssal demon group, did not understand management at all.

Politics, economics, diplomacy and such were completely beyond her.

Therefore, Xiao, as Yumo's right hand, basically took on all the management work.

In the past, when he only managed the Black Rose Family's territory, Xiao had more than enough energy. But now? Managing an area hundreds of times larger than the Black Rose's territory, Xiao's energy was clearly insufficient. Not to mention, because of those saviors who had barged in recently, the entire continent had become a complete mess. The matters that needed handling had become endless.

"You should still take a little break..."

"Do not underestimate me, Wanya."

Xiao said calmly, continuing to elegantly process the documents in his hands.

"I am a Lv8 peak Archmage. Working without sleep for a month will not affect me. At most I will just be a little tired. Lady Yumo entrusted me to properly manage the continent, so I must fulfill my duties."

"But these tasks seem impossible to finish even in a month."

"It is fine. I just need to get through this period."

Xiao replied with a light smile:

"Lady Youlan and Lady Kalina have already returned. Once the matters in the Winter Forest are handled, they will help me with official duties too. As for Lady Shuoyue, once she has had enough fun, she should also come help."

"Is that so?"

Seeing that Xiao insisted on prioritizing work, Wanya, as his secretary, said no more.

"However, this is not a long-term solution. Managing the entire continent with just a few people puts too much pressure on us."

"Indeed."

Xiao nodded noncommittally:

"Although I can barely manage, losing time to spend with Lady Yumo because of this... is really not worth it. It is time to train some new people. By the way, Wanya, how is the establishment of orphanages in various regions going?"

"Currently, two hundred and twelve orphanages have been established, and over four thousand children have been taken in."

"I see. Keep up the good work."

Xiao smiled with satisfaction.

Currently, the area around the Winter Forest had been sealed off, and entry was no longer freely permitted. People on the continent no longer sent children of criminals into the forest like before, and the Divine Punishment Sect no longer sent sacrifices to the forest either. Therefore, the training of new recruits for the Black Rose Family had run into some problems.

After all, over the past few decades,

The main cadres of the Black Rose Family had all come from within the Winter Forest.

Now, the Black Rose Family also needed to change how they trained new cadres. Due to his cautious nature, Xiao was unwilling to directly recruit from outside. Trustworthy cadres had to be the type cultivated from childhood. Therefore, her had ordered orphanages to be established throughout the continent to take in war orphans.

After all, due to the several wars in recent years, there were countless children on the continent who had lost both parents.

While building orphanages to take them in, she would also look for children worth training among them. This was Xiao's current plan.

Additionally, the training approach also needed some changes.

In the past, the main focus of Black Rose Family member training was combat ability and acting skills... Combat ability was for killing the Chosen Ones, and acting skills? Those were for deceiving Yumo. Now, there was no need to kill Chosen Ones, nor was there any need to deceive Yumo. It was time to train talents in other areas to help manage the vast Ancita continent.

Only then could the Black Rose Family develop in the long term.

"By the way, a new batch of funds has been prepared. Wanya, notify Sebastian to collect it. Then go to the small nations in the central region to establish orphanages and help them rebuild while you are at it."

"Understood, Your Grace. However..."

"What is it?"

"Expenses have been quite high lately. Are there any problems with funding?"

Wanya asked with concern.

Her worry was not without reason.

Thanks to Sabelius's fertile farmland, the Black Rose Family was indeed wealthy. But now, with investments in orphanages, helping various nations rebuild, and allocating funds to comfort the families of the war dead... the family's expenses were extraordinarily high. In the past, with support from the Dragon race and Elven race, things might have been manageable. But now... because of Yumo, the Black Rose Family no longer had frequent friendly exchanges with them.

"You do not need to worry about funding."

"You, you have already handled it?"

"Yes. The Winter Forest contains many precious mineral deposits. In the past, due to surveillance from various forces, there was never an opportunity to mine them. Now we can openly extract them. Besides minerals, the scales and fur from high-ranking Abyssal demons, after removing the Shadow power, are also very popular on the market. With income from these two sources, family funding will not be a problem in the short term."

"I understand, Your Grace."

"Oh, right."

"Is there anything else?"

"Wanya, you should also prepare a bit. Afterward, go to earth with Lady Yumo to take a look."

"Go to earth?"

"Yes. Lady Yumo sent a message earlier saying she wants to organize a group trip to Earth. I do not have much time recently, so you, Qiu Ming, Xizhi and the others should go represent us Black Rose. Also, observe carefully during the trip. Lady Yumo says there are many interesting things on Earth. If possible, purchase some to bring back."

"Are you planning to start some purchasing agent business?"

"Something like that."

"I understand, Your Grace. I guarantee the mission will be completed."

"Do not say it so seriously."

A trace of helplessness gradually appeared in Xiao's eyes as he looked at Wanya.

"Do not treat it as work. Just think of it as going on vacation to relax. There are no longer any existences on the continent that can threaten Lady Yumo. It is time for us to start enjoying life too, is it not?"

"Understood, Your Grace. Then you should also prepare to enjoy life properly."

"Mm."

Xiao smiled warmly at Wanya's words and continued processing his official duties.

However,

When processing one particular document, Xiao's relaxed expression finally showed a trace of doubt.

"Hm? What is this?"

"What is it, Your Grace? What does the report say?"

"Hmm, there is a bit of commotion in Vina, one of the small nations in the central region. Our transmission station under construction there was even caught in the blast and destroyed."

"Unrest?"

"No, it is just the king throwing a tantrum... mobilizing the entire nation's military to kill a... emm, someone who insulted the royal dignity with a mocking smile?"

"Hm? That does not seem like a big deal. Insulting royal dignity is a serious crime in many nations. It is not that unusual, right? Although mobilizing the entire nation's military just to kill one person? This king is not very composed."

Wanya frowned in puzzlement.

After all, in her view, this was not the kind of report that would make Xiao show such an expression.

Troublemakers existed everywhere. Nothing strange about that.

"That is true, but..."

Saying this,

Xiao thoughtfully turned his gaze toward another thick stack of documents nearby.

"But... similar incidents have already occurred seven or eight times in the past few days."

"Huh??"

"Send out an investigation team to look into it."

"Understood."