第１３９２堀：人には限界がある (Part2)
"Relying solely on information from Lady Lowell of Gartz carries a significant degree of risk. While Lady Eris and Lady Ratz have been tracking the flow of funds and supplies, they haven't been able to conduct on-site investigations. Well, they aren't part of the intelligence division, so expecting them to sniff out irregularities in standard trade is a tall order."
"I see. On the surface—or rather, from the perspective of the merchants—they are merely conducting routine business. One cannot simply interrogate them without cause."
"Precisely. It’s not impossible, but to act so overtly would only alert the merchants. And that, of course, applies to the migrants from the two nations who have settled within Weed as well."
As Yuki-sama spoke, Prol entered through the door.
"…I was told to wait a moment, but I see now it was to allow for this explanation. So, have you all reached an understanding regarding us investigating the dark guild, Lady Fiora?"
At that question, we nodded in unison.
"That is a relief. However, we all have our own duties to attend to. Yuki-sama included, of course. It is not as if everyone can simply step in and cover for one another, so let us finish today’s tasks before we convene to discuss information gathering."
Prol, seemingly accustomed to such matters, moved quickly to organize the agenda. Her logic was sound, and having no cause to interject, we simply nodded.
"Then, let us attend to our work for now. Ah, it would be best to set a specific time. Since this is a formal meeting, let us aim to conclude our tasks by 15:00 and gather at 16:00. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes."
And so, we set about our respective duties, though finishing them by that designated hour proved surprisingly difficult. I hadn't realized how much effort it would take to compress several hours of work. It wasn't just me; Orelia and Yayui seemed to be struggling just as much, barely managing to finish by the deadline.
"I see. Well, trying to cram work that usually takes a set amount of time into a shorter window is no easy feat."
"Indeed."
"Ahaha~. So that’s how you were doing it~."
For some reason, Yuki-sama, Prol, and Hovis were laughing as they listened to us recount our struggle.
"Um, Yuki-sama? Have we done something worthy of laughter?"
Orelia asked, looking perplexed. To be honest, I shared her confusion.
"Ah, my apologies. It’s just that you all are so earnest. The work I entrust to Fiora and the rest of you is yours to manage as you see fit. It’s only natural, really. Complex matters require time, while simple ones can be cleared away quickly. To an outsider, that distinction isn't always visible. I provided a guideline, but it was just that—a guideline."
"Yuki-sama is correct. If one is capable of achieving ten units of work in a standard timeframe, it is impossible to achieve the same in a shorter one. If the time is reduced, the workload must be scaled back accordingly. One cannot simply increase their pace of work overnight."
"Exactly~. I, for one, checked with Yuki-sama to see which tasks weren't urgent before I prioritized them~."
Ah, so that was it. Certainly, when I served as a general, I had managed the distribution of tasks in exactly that manner.
"It would be ideal if you could perform your duties as perfectly as Lady Fiora and Lady Orelia, but that is rarely feasible. If you push yourselves to complete everything, your hours will only increase, fatigue will accumulate, and the precision of your work will suffer. Furthermore, the information you gather from your daily routines will diminish. It is not a sustainable practice."
Kirika added this with a serious tone. Coming from the head of the intelligence division, the weight of her words was clear. A decline in the precision of the intelligence department would be nothing short of a nightmare.
"With that said, these temporary tasks are now part of your regular operations. We will make the necessary adjustments. I apologize for not stating this sooner. Tomorrow, we shall consult on which tasks should be deferred and which can be delegated to the various embassies for processing."
With those words, the discussion regarding the adjustment of our workload concluded. Good grief, it seems we were simply putting too much pressure on ourselves. There are times when one must push through, but if that becomes the constant state, it is merely overwork. Adjustments are necessary, indeed.