46. An office Scene

'I feel my brain melting,' Scarlet thought to herself. Looking over the quartermaster's requestion request she frowned. On her messy desk another report was added, she was aware that the quartermaster was starting to siphon money and added a note to a third letter. Copying pertinent information she sealed the letter, approved the quartermasters request, checked the supply list and added a note for the temple to make a copy.
 
"He'll be taken care of...one way or another," Scarlet told Snug-bug. Her dog Brutus flipped over to the other side and went back to sleep. Snug-bug chirped at her, she continued to explain, "Gods save the dumbass, the accountants are contracted directly through the temple of Barasios. He also re-signed the employment contract, and it was through them as well." Brutus gave a soft boof and stretched. The blink-dog Scarlet adopted stuck her nose out from under the table, sniffed and hid again. Snug-bug licked his right eye and wagged his tail slowly. Scarlet understood the question and answered back, "True. But per the intelligence report he's using it for himself. And per the paperwork received from the temple Barasios, they show discrepancies with the books and are already looking into it. I don't think he understands that every vendor we work with is contractually obligated to send copies of the services and receipts. With so much oversight and checks and balances this gets weeded out so long as someone is paying attention... And it's my job to pay attention." She continued to write out a report.
 
She sighed and mulled, "If he was using it for the soldiers or their families, I'd just give him the money. I think it's hilarious that they think I wouldn't know what's going on." Snug-bug yawned and looked at her, and made another series of chirps before showing her his belly. Feathers ruffled his feathers and squawked, "Oh I am. I understand now why Sniffles setup the information network first before everything else. I didn't think I'd have issues this early into my tenure. I know I'm technically newly appointed but this is just... blatant." She sighed and Snug-bug flew over to her and perched on the back of her seat. He continued to chirp, "True. I didn't realize that the knights equipment hasn't been maintained well. I knew my Uncles were not taking care of the employees and were siphoning money, but I didn't realize how much or how bad it's been for them. So that will be taken care of now. I've sent the letter that the equipment that the quartermaster requested will be sent. Specifically I mentioned that I hired new blacksmiths, the personnel needed to assist them, and have acquired the materials and tools they'd need as well. That's probably not what he was hoping for, but he can't steal money that isn't given to him and I'll get updated information on the situation as they fulfil orders. Since they don't answer to him, there's not much he can do to them besides be obnoxious. And if he tries anything... well he'll be sorted out sooner rather than later." Snug-bug nodded and chirped. Scarlet frowned and thought a moment before answering, "Now that the family's soldier's pay is being handled by myself, well the company that I created for this, it's less money he's able to move around. I heard that one of my cousins are reaching out to those that were let go due to 'insubordination'. Auntie was going to rehire them but then the incident occurred. They're being brought back into the fold and fairly compensated.
 
 
He must be feeling the squeeze." Snug-bug chirped. She nodded in agreement, "True. But I have to give 'The Network' enough time to work while ensuring that our people have the tools they need to do their job. This really is just a temp stop gap. It will be fixed but the Aunties and Sniffles need more information. This will be easy to shut down, but we need to know where the money is going to before we can pull the plug otherwise we won't know what we're dealing with. The lack of knowledge makes it harder to fight them."
 
Snug-bug nudged the bag of holding and Scarlet got up to reach into it, and frowned. She kept putting out more and more reports. Looking over to Snug-bug she asked, "When was this dropped off? Was this in the bag? I thought I pulled everything from it. I don't know how I missed it." Snug-bug licked his left eyeball and chirped. "Oh! I didn't know they came by. It was the twins? Huh..." Snug-bug bounced and made more chirps. She soothed the pseudo-dragon, "No. No. I had hear that they would be the next heads of that branch. I didn't realize that Aunty put them into work already. I'm glad their training lets us interact, even if it's indirectly. Do you think I could meet them?" Snug-bug shook his whole body. "Ah, I see. No, that makes sense. Will they be making more drop offs?" Snug-bug nodded and chirped, "Ah more dead drops. And they meet you?" He bounced and she tilted her head, "I see. Well I'm glad that it's working as planned. So standard procedure, then?" Snug-bug nodded and she started to work on the new ream of papers.
 
Taking her time she added a few more notes and a placed a request for the books. It would be sent to the head of the shell company, the person she hired would collect it and give her an update. Eventually she'd get the copy. With that she'd check it against a second record that would have been collected. "It's funny that the knowledge that I obtained job with the Guilds is being used directly. I'm....I .... Lin's suggestion was invaluable." She kept a straight face and the tears back, "I'm glad I listened to them. The knowledge I gained was, is, invaluable." Snug-bug moved to her lap to give comfort. The tender moment was broken when Brutus let out a ghastly far and Scarlet had to run to the window to let air in. Several druid craft air blasts later the room was habitable. Every resident there turned to glare at the offending dog, who blissfully slept through the ordeal. The blink-dog Scarlet adopted kept inching towards him.
 
Lazy-Daisy eventually play bit Brutus. Scarlet had to stop the fight.
 
A few minutes later she sat down, musing about her current situation. No company or employee had the full picture. There were so many working parts that Scarlet had to rent an actual office to keep the paperwork so she could keep track the information. She spent the rest of the time either filling in paperwork OR writing letters. She wanted to hire a personal secretary, to be honest she wanted to hire for multiple positions but would have to do this work herself while
 
Several piles were made, in a few hours the heads of the different companies (that she technically owns) would file into her office and she'd dispatch the papers. Taking the time she double checked the boxes, ensuring that the right records got to the right people. Once she was done she sat down for lunch, the tea and sandwiches were delivered at a specific hour for her and those that worked under her.
 
Scarlet munched thoughtfully as she thought about the shell game she was playing. 'I wish I was smart enough to have thought of this myself," she picked the pickle out of her sandwich. Smelling the pickle Brutus got up and put his paw on her leg. She fed it to him. He tried begging for more, but she pushed him away, "No. Only one for you. The rest are mine." He whined and she shooed him away. Straightening the room she looked about and sighed. She now had the ability to do most of her guild job in this office and she paid good money for it's location and security. Yawning she waited for her employees. Already dreading how long the day was crawling along.