The Magistrate: Chapter 24 (Patreon)

Chapter 24

The Majordomo

The ministry eventually traced Tobias’s assassin to an organisation known as the Red Hand. Their traditional targets were wealthy merchants, but they were known to occasionally target a magistrate if the price was right. The organisation worked in cells, so the ministry only managed to round up a dozen members before the trail went cold. The entire household of the merchant who had hired the assassin was dead by the time the ministry caught up to them, leaving everyone with more questions than answers.

Going forward, Tobias had been told he wouldn’t be able to stay in inns. He wouldn’t be able to walk the streets alone. The lengths that Red Hand were willing to go to kill him meant his life was going to be quite tricky. He would have to go everywhere with a bodyguard, even in Cloud City.

Tobias didn’t regret his actions. Some people would now make it home to their families because of what he had done, and he was comfortable living with the consequences so they could do that.

Tobias was sitting in his state assignment hall office at Mist Sect, finalising the operations manual on how to run the state assignment hall efficiently, when there was a knock at the door. He’d already cleared every state assignment he’d been sent, except for the ongoing ones, so there was no reason for anyone to bother him.

“Come in,” Tobias called.

Disciple Wo entered the office, looking troubled, and was soaked to the skin.

Tobias knew he didn’t mind being wet or guarding from outside the window. Accepting Xu Ling’s bribes had taught him that the disciples of Mist Sect were more than willing to stop by to speak with him and share their umbrellas. 

Tobias motioned to the empty chair. “Is there something on your mind?”

Disciple Wo nodded as he walked over and sat. “There’s actually a lot on my mind. I haven’t stopped thinking about Peace Master So’s teachings since you shared them with us.”

“Do you need me to elaborate on something?”

Disciple Wo shook his head. “You’ve been more than accommodating, and your explanations were simple enough for anyone to follow. That’s part of the problem. I’ve been comparing what you said to what I know, to what I want. And I’ve come to realise that I don’t want to challenge the heavens. I don’t want that to be my life. I’m not like Disciple Xi. I don’t get joy from my profession. I hunt because I must contribute to the sect, not because I like the challenge. What I like is business.”

“And the sect discourages attachment to money.”

Disciple Wo nodded. “Establishing relationships with gatherers, hunters, alchemists, and martial artists to help you fulfil your assignments has been some of my most enjoyable times in the sect. You’re need for efficiency has changed how I view cultivation, and those changes have offered me faster growth than anything the sect has taught me. It’s made me realise that I’m not suited to life in a sect. I’ve decided I’m going to leave.”

Tobias frowned. “Are you allowed to do that?”

“Outer disciples aren’t taught any of the sect’s secrets. Until you’re an inner disciple, you’re free to leave whenever you want, so long as you have enough sect points. I also haven’t opened any energy meridians, so I don’t have to repay them for any techniques. It will take me some time to earn the points I need to leave, but once I have, I will.”

Considering how many outer disciples were dismissed from the sect each year for poor performance, the fact that they could leave made sense to Tobias.

“Where are you going to go?”

Disciple Wo paused. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to go anywhere. I’m interested in working for you.”

Tobias didn’t have to consider anything. Disciple Wo was trustworthy, diligent, intelligent, and willing to learn and change his opinion. There were a dozen places he could use the young man right now, but there would be hundreds of places he could use him in the future. Keeping him would also give Tobias a bodyguard if the sect refused to do so.

“How would you like to be my majordomo?”

As a magistrate, Tobias was permitted to appoint someone to manage his affairs and oversee his household for him. The position essentially allowed Disciple Wo to speak with his voice on any matter, while he acted as a personal aide. It was a mix of being a butler and the CEO of a company.

Disciple Wo considered the offer. “I was hoping to be a junior partner in your business ventures in Cloud City.”

That was asking too much. Besides running the auction and delivering messages, Disciple Wo hadn’t been involved in anything to do with the pill auction or the accommodation for the cultivators. The young man was good at networking, but those skills weren’t needed for the businesses Tobias was running.

Tobias still considered the request. “How much capital do you have to invest?”

Disciple Wo frowned. “Invest?”

“If you’re going to be a partner, you have to invest in the business. If you don’t invest, you need to bring a skillset to the venture that validates me handing over a portion of what I’ve invested.”

“I spent everything I have on pills before we came here.”

“Then what unique skills do you bring to my business ventures?”

Disciple Wo considered the question and then slumped his shoulders. He eventually bowed. “This one apologises for his disrespectful request.”

Tobias was glad he could see that for himself. “You thought your skills as my assistant for the state assignment hall would transfer over to my businesses, but didn’t think it through, I take it.”

Disciple Wo gave an embarrassed nod. “Forget I ever suggested anything.”

“It’s forgotten. However, my offer still stands. As my majordomo, you would receive a tenth of everything I earn. In the long run, this will be much more than becoming a junior partner in a single business.”

Disciple Wo rose to his feet. “Thank you for the offer, but I think I need to consider the matter more before I decide.”

Tobias nodded. “You’ve got a very long life ahead of you, Disciple Wo. Making the right decisions now will make that life much easier, so take all the time you need.”

Disciple Wo accepted the dismissal, and Tobias went back to working on the operations manual. The moment it was done, he intended to leave. Xu Ling and her father were a delight to live with, but Tobias knew that he was already pushing the limits of her father’s hospitality. Her sudden interest in cultivation was now being reduced by his presence, and that was something her father did not want. Tobias didn’t want it either. Even though they were unlikely to marry, he was sure that he and Xu Ling would remain friends for life, and as a friend, he wanted the best for her. His presence wasn’t what she needed.

So, Tobias put down his head and worked.

***

Three days later, just after dawn, Tobias entered Lower Magistrate Yun’s office. Lower Magistrate Yun preferred to see his people by appointment, but was willing to accommodate Tobias’s sudden appearance, because of the threats to his life. Keeping an unregulated schedule was now the only way that Tobias could safely move around.

Tobias bowed. “Magistrate Finch greets Lower Magistrate Yun.”

Lower Magistrate Yun scowled. “This better be important.”

Tobias placed his operations manual on the desk. “This is an operations manual that teaches you how to effectively operate a state assignment hall.”

“You were supposed to train your replacement.”

“As a senior magistrate, I can return to my original assignment at any time. I’ve chosen to stay as a favour to you and Mist Sect. There are no outstanding state assignments, and the recurring assignments have all been taken care of until midwinter. That leaves my replacement with only the Autumn assignments to take care of. They should have plenty of time to study the operations manual and learn what they need to learn. I’m more than happy to correspond with them by letter.”

Lower Magistrate Yun paused. “You’ve already taken care of everything until midwinter?”

Tobias nodded. “Anything that can be planned for in advance. My ledgers and notes are in the assignment hall waiting for my replacement.”

“I suppose this isn’t entirely unacceptable, considering your circumstances.” Lower Magistrate Yun met his gaze. “You know, you’re not what I expected. It’s a shame you have no ambition. We could have gone far together. I could see us both being ministers in the emperor’s palace.”

“I’m entirely certain that you can achieve that without me, Lower Magistrate Yun. Your attention to detail, intelligence, and work ethic will take you to the very top.”

“From any other subordinate, I would take that as pandering, but you don’t like me, so I have to assume you consider this a statement of fact.”

“I do.”