Path to Recovery IV

On Selenday, the 30th of Augustis, a meeting was held between the Continental Courier Service and the government of Vernum City on the top floor of the Continental Courier Service office building. Generally, the city government would invite businesses to the noble district if there were discussions to be had, but etiquette between those of similar standing demanded that the side making the request had to do the visit, and the Continental Courier Service was worthy of this treatment. Though she was aware of this meeting, Carolyn had expected that she would simply read the minutes after it was over, but as the branch manager's assistant would not be available, Carolyn would have to take her place.

Carolyn found out about this news on the day of the meeting, so naturally she was baffled, but Rome assured her that there was little she had to do and that she could handle it. His words didn't provide much comfort due to her nerves; however, Carolyn resigned herself to completing the task.

Carolyn's outfit met the dress code of her workplace, but Rome suggested that she change into more formal attire and sent her to a nearby boutique. This would be paid for by the company, but Carolyn could keep the outfit afterwards. Although Benedict and Lety had questioned her fashion sense, Carolyn was still able to select a suitable outfit for the meeting. It was a forest green blazer, a long skirt and heels with a chocolate brown shirt and black stockings. It was nothing revolutionary, but at the very least, Rome didn't see an issue with it. However, Rome also thought her fashion sense was quite conservative since most of the women that worked at the company likely would have chosen a pencil skirt or at least left the blazer open.

Nonetheless, with her attire settled, Carolyn could focus on the meeting. The mayor would be coming, but the plan was for the government officials to arrive first to inspect and help prepare the venue. Most of the residents of the noble district were actually only people with high positions in the government, and besides visiting nobles who had all left since the start of the Amber territory's financial crisis, only the mayor's family held a noble title. Hanson had been the one to tell Carolyn this during their lessons, but most citizens of Vernum City were unaware, so Rome made sure to inform her. Besides Rome and the mayor, there would be a few high-ranking people from both sides, so Carolyn had to be aware of their respective statuses to avoid making any major mistakes.

As she helped welcome the early government officials, Carolyn committed names to faces. Although these people weren't among the upper echelon of the city government, they were all at least senior government officials. Although a local senior official wasn't comparable to a junior official from the domain capital, these senior officials still held considerable sway within the city.

"Yes, Mr. Rocker. Please come this way."

"Excuse me, has Mr. Clark arrived yet?"

While Carolyn was inviting officials, she heard a request from behind, so she turned to face them, but her polite smile faltered when she saw who it was. She wasn't alone either, as the person making the request was also surprised to see her.

"Well, well, we sure do run into each other quite often, Ms. Bart."

"Ah, yes. How should I greet you this time?"

Carolyn took a moment to realise that Ms. Bart referred to her because she said she was from Bart Village and it was common for villagers to use their village name as their formal surname in the city.

"I suppose there's no point hiding it now. Clara O'riley, nice to meet you."

"Carol Bart, nice to meet you as well."

With both of their polite facades recovered, the two did a handshake with a hint of genuineness in their smiles. Since she first knew her as Riley, and it was part of her full name, Carol decided to keep thinking of her like that. Riley also dressed conservatively in a plain grey blazer and skirt, but she had a mature charm that Carolyn couldn't replicate.

"As for your question, yes, Mr. Clark should be speaking with Assistant Branch Manager Rome right now. They were near the first door on the left the last time I saw them."

"Thank you. Let's continue our conversation another time."

"Certainly."

Given the job she had at Fort Hamridge, Carolyn originally thought that Riley was a local junior government official, but based on the list of attendees, Clara O'Riley was a junior government official in training from the national capital. Carol had thought that this person would either be an innocent yet competent person or a spy for the throne, but once she matched the description to Riley, she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. Still, she buried her suspicion and continued working.

About an hour after the government officials starting coming in, the mayor arrived as the final member of the meeting. Before the mayor actually entered the room, he was announced by his assistant, a dreary young man wearing eyeglasses. Carolyn had expected that he would come with guards, but besides his assistant he appeared alone.

"Welcome, Sir Letile of the Letile Baronetcy, mayor of Vernum City!"

The Letile Baronetcy referred to the family that oversaw Vernum City since its establishment during the age of the third Baron Amber. They were originally farmers but earned the recognition of the Baron after proposing a brilliant agricultural reform which aided the Amber territory in becoming one of the most fertile regions of the kingdom.

After the announcement, everyone inside the room stood at attention while the mayor stepped inside. Sir Letile was a balding man with a rotund figure but a fatigued face. Carolyn had seen his portrait before, but even disregarding the artistic liberties taken, he seemed to be in haggard condition. Few residents were able to maintain a shape like his, but he appeared to be suffering in his own way. It could be a mistake in her perception, but Carolyn sensed a strong amount of guilt from him.

Sir Letile walked as briskly as he could to the seat at the head of the table, with government officials on his left and the Continental Courier Service on his right. His assistant pulled out his chair and stood behind him as the mayor sat down.

"You may be seated."

Upon the mayor's consent, everyone around the table sat down. Carolyn felt nervous in the presence of a noble and top authorities of the city, but she tried her best not to make it show. Her role in the meeting was simply to record what was said so it wasn't very stressful. Continuing from previous meetings, the Continental Courier Service had agreed to aid with construction and recovery efforts in the slums district while the government took care of handling drug addicts and recording the demographic information. In this meeting, a deadline was set for the end of aid to the slums and associated costs of the entire project.

Anthony and the plan to gain tax amnesty came up in the meeting, but the government side refrained from sharing much information besides the fact that an envoy had been sent to the capital city of Leticium and they were awaiting a response. Though there was some fierce discussion when compensation and costs came up, the meeting went well for the most part.

Once the meeting was over, the mayor left with his assistant, and everyone else soon followed. Riley said she would be busy, so she couldn't go out for lunch, but Carolyn was in a similar position, so she didn't mind.

Meanwhile, in the slums district, Mike finally awoke from his nightmares and regained enough strength to sit up.

"Ugh..."

"So you're finally up. Looks like we can kick you out in a few days."

Bryan responded to Mike's groan with sharp words. Mike frowned, but he didn't have enough energy to complain. After spending a few minutes recalling everything that happened while he was bedridden, he remembered Carolyn's proposal. He was still reluctant to agree to it, but he figured he could at least talk to her. He was faintly aware of what was happening around him, so he wasn't surprised to see inside the church more populated than he remembered, but it wasn't a welcome sight.

As he tried to lift himself off the ground, his atrophied muscles weren't able to sustain his weight, and he fumbled back to the floor.

"Don't push yourself. Even if you get hurt, we're still breaking two fingers and kicking you out once you've gotten the drugs fully out your system."

"What, ever."

Mike tried to respond but found it physically difficult. Being this weak reminded him of when he mocked Derrick for putting up with that sickly girl. Back then, he thought it would be better to die than have to live by relying on someone, but his mind was forced to change. Despite how humiliated he felt, he still wanted to live.