"One tent holds four people... so, enough for two thousand people. Check.
Every tent is numbered. Check.
Simple tables and benches for eating and talking. Check."
"We have a report from the Marines," Amisu said, interrupting my count. "The kitchen area and a small water ditch to it are finished."
"Got it. I'll have Daz double-check it later."
"Where is the Vice-Governor now?" she asked.
"He is finishing the food warehouse with Robin and the Marine engineers. They are checking to make sure rats and bugs can't get in."
It looks like we'll be ready in time to welcome them.
Two platoons was only enough for the very basics, and we almost ran out of time. I had to ask Kuzan for two more.
Daz and Mihawk also helped cut and prepare wood and stone, so the camp is pretty good.
...My pirate crew might be better at building than fighting.
"Amisu, what is Mihawk doing?"
"He said the wood ash was too good to waste," Amisu reported, checking her notes. "He's putting it into barrels with a few soldiers. He said he wants to take it back and try putting small amounts on the parts of his fields that weren't growing well."
"Hm, then I'll find someone else."
He's used to all this by now.
He even has his own soldiers who can keep up with his farm work.
Well, I gave them to him.
Thanks to them, "Mihawk's Team" is very helpful when we have building or farming work.
I thought we just needed a few tables. But they managed to make a lot of them in only three days.
Also lately, I've had more planning and managing work than fighting. Amisu has been acting like my secretary.
"All right, Amisu, gather some people for the road—"
"Captain Kuro, there you are," As we were getting ready for the new troops, a man called out to me.
"Captain Vigle."
"Ah," he said, walking over. "I heard you were building the camp for the reinforcements and came to see. My men and I might use it, too."
He is one of the captains working around Mogwa Kingdom. He is the fastest to react of all the field commanders. When many others just saw us as pirates, his team worked with us from the start. He's one of the officers I ask for help often.
"Hahaha! My men were shocked," Vigle laughed. "They couldn't believe you pirates were building toilets for us Marines."
"...I think that's the most important place to put our effort," I said. "But my own crew, and the Marines, don't seem to understand."
"Captain, I also think it's strange," Amisu chimed in. "You always make us rebuild the toilets on captured ships, even if we have to break the next room to make them bigger."
"See? Just like that."
But it works.
If a toilet is small, it's hard to clean. If it's hard to clean, it becomes awful.
You should always spend time and money on places for health and comfort.
"Hahaha! I was on your ship once. It was very comfortable." the Captain said.
"Captain , are you on break?" I asked. "You've been at sea for a long time."
"You always know what's going on," he replied. "Yes, I was ordered to rest. ...But."
Hm?
"My men's morale is too high... They keep saying they want to work."
"I thought resting was an important job for a soldier," I countered.
"I think so too. But they won't listen, no matter what I say."
"...I remember your men, they were calm and always followed orders."
"Yes. This is the first time this has happened."
Let's see. Captain Vigle left for sea three days before we started building this camp.
During that time, there was one big fight. A large pirate fleet of fifteen ships was stealing things. He and his team fought them as they were trying to escape.
They were close to our base, so I sent Hancock's team and Daz's ship to help. We kept the damage low, and we got back all the stolen supplies and the people...
Ah, wait. It's because we got them back.
"Maybe their minds are more tired than their bodies," I suggested. "Did they spend time with the people they rescued?"
"Ah, yes," Vigle replied, his expression changing. "We kept them safe on our ship until the medical ship arrived."
"...They were almost kidnapped. Some of them probably lost family. Some watched their homes get robbed and burned. Some were probably hurt. The soldiers may have heard 'thank you,' or they may have been yelled at for being late. But they probably saw the raw, strong feelings of the people."
That was the only thing I could think of. The captain's face twisted a little, and he whispered, "That's it..."
"I didn't get any reports about it, so I didn't worry..."
"There was probably nothing to report," I said. "But that doesn't mean it had no effect on the soldiers..."
"I suppose not."
The young captain, who wasn't even thirty, sighed and looked at the camp.
"Captain Kuro, do you have an idea?" he asked. "I hate seeing my men look so desperate, trying to work so hard."
Right, but I'm a pirate... Oh well, it's too late for that.
"...For now, let's give them some light work," I said. "This camp is almost finished, but the road to the port hasn't been touched."
"Building a road?"
"Yes. We don't have much time, so it's just simple work. We just need to make the ground flat so carts can pass."
"Hmm."
It's hard work, but digging, filling, and smoothing is simple. It lets the mind rest.
Daz can break up the hard ground, and the Marine engineers can help.
"And after that... Amisu."
"Sir."
"Which refugee camp is the calmest right now, besides this one?"
We have plenty of people here. And more Marines are coming soon.
"Let me think..." Amisu said.
My Guards are all over, working in pairs to help the Marine officers.
I get written reports, but Amisu, their leader, hears more details from them.
"Maybe Kanan, the next country over. Miakis and Cazarie are there now, helping Captain Barsenji. The team before them, Chris, said things calmed down after the first problems with supplies were fixed."
Good, good. That's not bad.
The reports also said they started rebuilding homes. Captain Barsenji's family ran a hospital, and he wrote me a letter. He said he wanted to focus on keeping people healthy and clean.
I wish I could see it myself, but I'm sure the situation there is good.
"How about this?" I proposed. "Talk to their commanding officer. Ask him to send your unit to Kanan to help rebuild after their rest is over."
"? You want to put my soldiers near civilians again?" Bigle asked, confused.
"Yes. If their bodies were tired, they would need rest. But their minds are tired. We have to fix the cause. Kanan is calm. Your men are good soldiers. They won't cause trouble for the people, and the people won't upset them."
"...So if they were hurt by what people said," he realized, "they can be healed by what people say."
"It will also help the soldiers who are too eager to work," I added. "It will let them see that they really did protect something. It will make them feel that their work as soldiers was real."
"I see."
The captain put his hat back on. He gave me and Amisu a perfect Marine salute.
"I'm glad I asked you," he said. "I will go suggest this to my superiors right away."
So, Amisu and I saluted back.
We didn't use the Marine salute, where you show the back of your hand. We used the 'Black Cat' salute: arm out 45 degrees, flat hand to the forehead.
"We are happy to help, Captain."
I think Vice Admiral Havanese is in charge of that area.
I need to talk to Kuzan and him first, to make sure the plan works.
If it does, I'll write a letter to Captain Barsenji, and to Miakis.
If I explain the situation, they'll know what to do.