Chapter 122: Things Remain, But People Have Changed
The office looked much as it had two months ago, yet there were differences... The gold-lettered sign Egger had personally ordered still hung high above the entrance, but strange billboard-like objects had been erected on the ground outside. Egger dismounted and approached, touching the material—ha, they were actually made of paper mache. Looking at the content—well, well—recruitment, job postings, bonds, and investment prospectuses... it was all there. It seemed the instructions he had issued before leaving had been executed perfectly.
He had originally intended for these notices to be plastered on the walls, but the office staff had innovated by creating wooden frames to display them by the roadside. A bold change, but certainly more effective.
This was undoubtedly Tyrion's idea; the man was truly a commercial genius hampered by his surname. Egger couldn't help but smile, his mind at ease as he led Casey into the office.
...
It was a comical feeling—to be the master of his own shop and not recognize a single soul. Those wearing black vests were presumably the employees—two standing by the door appeared to be guards, while a refined-looking young man sat behind the reception desk, conversing clearly and fluently with a man who looked like a customer. Listening closely as he approached, it turned out the man was applying for a security position with the Night's Watch industries, and the receptionist was detailing the benefits, pay, and specific duties.
Things truly had changed. If the signs and the lobby manager were minor surprises, the next sight genuinely astonished Egger: on the benches flanking the storefront, three people were actually sitting in line, waiting.
One had to remember that when he had been running the office, he would often go days without receiving a single visitor!
Was Egger so ugly he scared people away? Of course not. Without his persistence and legwork back then, the office wouldn't even exist now, let alone have this fresh new look.
After a moment of reflection, Egger headed toward the door leading to the inner chambers.
"What are you doing? Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist suddenly stopped his explanation and bolted upright to stop him. He had intended to call the two guards at the door, but a second later, he noticed Egger's sophisticated, high-quality all-black attire. He hesitated, freezing for a few seconds without another word.
As Egger was wondering how to introduce himself to his own staff, his young follower, Casey, keenly sensed his moment had arrived. He jumped forward without hesitation to defend his idol. "Impertinence! This is the Chief Logistics Officer! Does he need an appointment to enter his own office?"
The classic trope of the employee not recognizing the boss was actually happening to him; Egger found it amusing. He gave the young man a curious look, wondering if the lad truly didn't know his identity or was just trying to be diligent... After all, he wasn't as famous in King's Landing as he was in the rebel camps, and having been gone for two months, he couldn't really blame the boy.
By seizing opportunities and meeting the right people, the unlucky transmigrated Watchman had finally climbed to a leadership position. Although these people were recruited by Tyrion, they were truly his first batch of subordinates—his power base. Egger had no interest in petty face-slapping or power trips. He raised a hand to restrain the aggressive Casey and gave the young man a kind smile. "It's alright. You've worked hard; carry on."
With that, regardless of the man's reaction, he pushed open the door and walked in.
The door had been replaced too—from a simple plank to a heavy, thick piece of wood, likely for better soundproofing. As a result, those inside hadn't noticed the minor confrontation outside. Egger expected to find Tyrion or the other employee he had personally hired, but upon stepping inside, he found a young woman sitting behind the desk.
Who was this? Could it be a new flame of the Imp's? This was the inner room of the Night's Watch office, the place where he and Tyrion used to swindle... no, conduct official business. Even for a partner, letting such a woman sit in his chair seemed a bit too careless.
Egger felt a flash of dissatisfaction, but then he noticed the woman was hunched over with a quill in hand... Writing non-stop, she asked without looking up: "Contract signing, bond purchase, investment negotiation, or loan/joint-venture application?"
(So she's not an outsider.) The Watchman felt a sense of relief. Judging by how fluently she rattled off that line, she must have said it countless times; she was quite professional... Furthermore, Egger found the voice familiar but couldn't place it, until the woman behind the desk sensed something was wrong and looked up.
"Lord Egger!" She stood up so abruptly that her speed rivaled the receptionist outside. The force rattled the desk, nearly toppling the inkpot, which she steadied with a quick hand. "You... how are you back?"
It was Nina. She had traded her papermaking workshop clothes for a set of black attire, giving her quite the office lady look. No wonder he hadn't recognized her at first... Why wasn't she at the factory overseeing production and technical improvements? Why was she here playing gatekeeper? Of course, asking that would make it sound like he was unhappy to see her. Egger hid the fact that he hadn't recognized her and walked over with a bright smile. "Back is back; what do you mean 'how' am I back?"
"No, I mean..." Nina turned beet red at Egger's teasing. Seeing him walk around the desk, she quickly pushed her chair back to give him his seat. "I mean, if you were coming back, you could have told us in advance so we could prepare a welcome."
Tell them in advance... how?
To Nina and the members of the Night's Watch industries, he might be a big shot, but in a rebel-crushing army led by the King and filled with high nobility, what was he? Before returning, was he supposed to ask Robert to borrow a raven to message King's Landing, then have Grand Maester Pycelle send someone to the office to prepare for his arrival?
"I'm just a minor official; no need for such airs. You might not find it a bother, but I'd rather avoid the fuss." Egger shook his head with a laugh. He didn't explain the reality; he wasn't about to undermine his own prestige in front of a worshipping subordinate. Walking behind the large desk, he realized the chair had been replaced as well. It had a wide back, massive armrests, soft cushions, and a layer of velvet—aside from lacking wheels and the ability to swivel, it was a literal primitive version of an executive chair.
Good god, an executive chair...
It was certainly comfortable.
The seat was his to begin with, so there was no need for modesty. Egger sat down with zero psychological burden, leaning back and sinking into the chair.
"Who bought this chair?"
"The Mast—Lord Tyrion ordered it, and I went to purchase it."
"Excellent, much more comfortable than the old wooden one."
The cushion still held Nina's body heat, and his nose seemed to catch a faint, delicate scent... They say when one is well-fed and warm, thoughts turn to desire. The current Egger was far beyond merely well-fed.
Looking up at Nina, Egger quickly understood why he hadn't recognized her at first. The girl hadn't just changed her clothes; she had styled her hair and applied makeup. Egger didn't know much about such things, but the one thing he could tell was that she was wearing lipstick.
Just a bit of lipstick, and yet such a startling effect? Right, from a biological and genetic standpoint, red is usually the result of blood flow, signaling health and good nutrition. Full shapes and luster demonstrate the moisture-retention capacity of skin and membranes—an effective proof of youth and a physical signal of mating intent...
Stop—cut it out. She was just a temporary representative of the office, grooming herself for the collective interest and happening to put on some lipstick. Why think so much? Egger stopped his internal monologue and snapped back to reality, only to find he had been staring at Nina's lips for way too long. The poor girl was already lost and flustered under his gaze, the color on her cheeks threatening to outdo her lipstick.
"I... I'll get you some... water, My Lord." The girl couldn't even speak in a straight line. Without waiting for Egger's consent, she fled the room.
Egger watched her retreat, unable to stop marveling—lipstick really is a woman's best aphrodisiac. Just a thin swipe of color made Nina's originally plain, almost bland features burst with radiance... The black form-fitting dress made her skin look even fairer, while the reddened lips made her strikingly beautiful. The black-and-red combination was the finishing touch that transformed Nina from the girl next door into a glamorous lady.
One who seeks greatness must manage his brothers—both the ones under his command and the one between his legs. With a long sigh, Egger finally retracted his thoughts completely. After eighteen months of celibacy, such heavy suppression probably wasn't good for one's health; he'd have to find an outlet sometime.
Nina returned with a glass of water. Though the flush on her face hadn't faded, her demeanor was much more natural. She sat in another ordinary chair by the desk. "You've worked hard, My Lord. Was the journey smooth?"
"The roads were good and the weather clear; it couldn't have been smoother." Egger took a sip of water, looking at the girl with a smile and a gaze as clear as he could manage. "This time, I've truly returned laden with spoils!"
"Laden with spoils?" Nina looked left and right, noting that even Casey's hands were empty. "Where are your things, My Lord? Should I arrange for someone to bring them in?"
"Haha, no need, they're already in." Egger waved a hand with a laugh. "I'll explain the details to you later. For now, tell me—what has happened at the office during these two months?"
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