Chapter 1727: New Appointments and Lawrence's Realization

Feisu Chinese.

August 6, 838, Netheril Calendar.

Government Hall, on the east side of the Linshui Village Altar Square.

Xia Duo rarely attended the routine meeting of territory officials. Just yesterday at this time, Huo En from Jilan Tower had sent another Sending, urging for the candidates for the Bloodline Sequencing Project.

Regarding this, Xia Duo had already handed it over to the Progress Society to select before the Midsummer Festival. There were four people in total, and when he asked yesterday, they were all ready.

Additionally, the people Aiwa was to select to take to the Seventon office were also prepared. The reason Xia Duo had not yet set off was precisely because of this routine meeting.

Although he could decide on territory personnel matters with a single word, he still brought some important personnel appointments to the routine meeting for everyone to discuss together.

At this routine meeting, Xia Duo would officially appoint Lawrence as the Chief Official of the Territory Culture and Education Department. Previously, the Culture and Education Department had always been led by Laidun, and Lawrence had existed more as a staff member.

But after such a long assessment, Xia Duo was very satisfied with Lawrence's work attitude and results, so promoting him was a matter of course. After all, as the Territory Administrator, Laidun could not have his energy constantly tied up by the Culture and Education Department.

"Does anyone have any objections to appointing Lawrence as the Minister of the Territory Culture and Education Department?"

This was the first time Xia Duo had proposed the concept of "Minister" at a territory official routine meeting; it was a new Netherese word he had coined himself.

However, the people present did not seem surprised. After all, before today's meeting, Laidun had already studied the new word with them. Furthermore, the matter of Lawrence about to head to the Akaola Kingdom for further studies was already a fact known to everyone.

"I agree." Jiefu from the Development Department was the first to express his stance.

As a department head who was always worried about being replaced by a capable subordinate, every time he encountered an opportunity to earn favor in front of the Lord and his colleagues, he would be the first to stand up.

He knew very well that the various systems in the territory were now countless times more rigorous than in the past. Although he could not compare to his subordinate Kelake in terms of ability, as long as he did not make mistakes or provoke public anger, who would deliberately target him?

Even if Kelake had more ability, it was not Kelake who usually interacted with the heads of the various departments in the territory, but himself. Although the territory's laws and systems had avoided the influence of personal relationships as much as possible, people were ultimately not machines and would still be influenced.

Now that Lawrence's promotion was a foregone conclusion, let alone him, even Laidun, as the Administrator, could not go back on his word at the last minute, so what was there to worry about?

Jiefu even gave Lawrence a little praise after stating his position, "Everyone can see the work of the Culture and Education Department during this period. If it were anyone else, I'm afraid they wouldn't do better than Lawrence."

"I also agree."

Having been beaten to the punch by Jiefu, Jiake was not to be outdone and immediately stood up to express his stance. In fact, most people in this meeting room today looked at Lawrence with a bit of inferiority in their hearts, even if they didn't say it out loud.

Now that the other party was highly valued by the Lord, this further intensified such thoughts, perhaps mixed with a sense of crisis that they might be replaced by someone more outstanding, making them subconsciously show goodwill toward Lawrence.

Xia Duo sat high in the main seat and naturally saw these subtle little emotions below clearly. He was not surprised that Lawrence could smoothly integrate into the territory's system, but the fact that the other party could be so "popular" gave Xia Duo some thoughts.

It wasn't exactly dark, but a sense of vigilance arose.

Lawrence was undoubtedly powerful as a Spellcaster, not to mention being a Bard who was best at stirring people's hearts. Perhaps Lawrence had not used Spells on the ordinary people of the territory in his work, but what about others?

A relevant Protection mechanism must be perfected!

Thinking of this, Xia Duo glanced at Jiefu, who looked nervous at the end of the conference table. Young people still needed to take on more responsibility!

……

Soon, the voting concluded. Lawrence officially became the Minister of the Territory Culture and Education Department. Xia Duo congratulated him and immediately announced that Lawrence would be sent to the Akaola Kingdom for artistic exchange.

Although it was essentially "further studies," it was under the name of "exchange." It was only because Xia Duo had once saved the life of the Akaola Crown King; otherwise, if it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have easily obtained such a formal "exchange" opportunity.

Small countries were like this, and large countries were even more so. It was fine for humans to perform, but wanting to communicate with other artists of the same kind was almost impossible to achieve.

Without a doubt, this decision by Xia Duo immediately received unanimous support and approval from everyone.

Lawrence himself stood up excitedly, his voice trembling as he said:

"For a long time, Elves have always held various prejudices against humans. Fair exchange, especially in the field of art, is extremely rare. Lawrence will certainly not fail the Lord's expectations."

Although he was a performer by background, Lawrence's speech this time was entirely from the heart. As a Bard, he had undoubtedly been to the Elf Kingdom and had even received some preferential treatment far exceeding that of ordinary Mages.

But in his view, that kind of preferential treatment from Elves was not equal; it was more like condescending charity, as if they were deliberately propping up a human artist who worked hard to learn from Elves just to prove how great Elf art was!

Although he was very dissatisfied in his heart, Lawrence did not deny that he had indeed been influenced too much by the Elves.

It was not until he came to Daxia Territory and saw the vibrant life of ordinary people, which was completely different from other places, that he realized where the artistic path he had been thinking about all along really lay!

This was also the main reason why he agreed to stay in Daxia Territory.

Those Bards who came to Daxia Territory with him, although they were still staying in Daxia Territory now, still regarded themselves as passersby, waiting only for the original inspiration temporarily stirred in their hearts to dissipate before they would immediately leave and head to the next place to continue their search.

But the current Lawrence already knew that the inspiration accidentally stirred by the outside world would not lead him to the true hall of art; instead, it would slowly devour his true human emotions and make him a Slave to his moods.

Now he had found the true source of original inspiration—not from the outside world, but from his truest heart.

But the heart alone was empty; it still needed the life he truly loved to constantly fill it. In this way, inspiration would constantly emerge, and the true hall of art would open its doors to him.

Lawrence did not know how much the Lord had paid for this fair exchange, but he knew he must not waste this opportunity.

……

Next, the meeting process was handed over to Laidun. The content was generally the same as before: each department reported on their work situation during the recent period and handled some cross-departmental coordination issues.

This time, with Xia Duo personally present, the atmosphere was harmonious, and most of the topics were completed in a short while.

After all, this routine meeting was not held once a year, but every five or six days. In many cases, the routine meeting served as a place to finalize relevant decisions, rather than for discussion and deliberation.