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After Kisha outlined what Aston needed to address for the artisan-type awakened ability users, he needed to head out to seek Tristan’s help.

The tasks ahead were substantial, and Tristan’s expertise would be crucial in coordinating with the Supply Center and the whole process.

Together, they needed to secure a free pass for all the materials required to set up the workshops.

In return, the artisans would contribute their skills and earn work points, creating a mutually beneficial system.

Kisha fell into deep contemplation once more.

"Wait... hmm. Instead of just creating a workshop, why don’t we let them turn this into their own livelihood?

They can have the freedom to choose—those who want to stay in the workshop can remain, while those who wish to branch out on their own can receive our support until they’re self-sufficient.

In the meantime, they can repay us with their crafts. "

She turned to Aston, who immediately caught on to her idea. He nodded enthusiastically, agreeing that this approach was much better.

It aligned perfectly with their plans to open a marketplace once the base was ready to welcome other survivors.

The marketplace would not only serve as a trading hub but also act as a relay point for superhumans venturing further out, just as Kisha had envisioned happening in the future.

Soon, as awakened abilities became more widely recognized, superhumans from various shelters and bases would begin taking on missions to expand and fortify their own territories, gather supplies, and collect crystal cores from zombies.

When that time came, many of them would inevitably be drawn to their base.

Turning those people away wasn’t an option—it would only paint them as a prime target for predatory forces.

Instead, it was better to share some of their resources through trade or exchange.

However, before that day arrived, they needed to focus on becoming stronger to secure their position.

Through trade, they might even attract more powerful allies—a realization that only struck Aston after Kisha mentioned it.

It was indeed a better approach for the marketplace, offering everyone the freedom to choose their own path, decide how to pursue it, and see how they could grow and develop to their fullest potential.

After finalizing their agreement, Aston departed to meet with Tristan and begin setting up the project with the artisan-type awakened ability users.

Meanwhile, Kisha went to assist Vulture and the others in continuing work on the wall.

After parting ways with Kisha, Aston headed straight to the temporary office designated for the City Lord and Vice City Lord.

There, he found Tristan buried in paperwork. The office itself, ironically, had yet to be used even once by Kisha or Duke.

When Aston arrived at the office, he found it bustling with workers coming in and out, carrying stacks of paperwork.

He peeked inside and saw Tristan buried under a mountain of documents, yet he appeared unfazed, as if this was just another day for him.

Calm and collected, he carried himself with the grace of a true gentleman, fully accustomed to the hustle and bustle around him.

"Secretary Tristan, do you have a moment?" Aston asked hesitantly.

Tristan looked up from the document he had been reviewing, his movements unhurried as he removed his glasses. "What can I do for you, Minister of Defense, Mr. McMillan?" he replied with calm professionalism.

"We have a proposal that needs reviewing, and I’d appreciate your opinion on it as well," Aston said, stepping inside and sitting down across from Tristan.

"Shoot," Tristan replied, leaning back in his seat with both elbows resting on the armrests, his fingers intertwined in a relaxed but attentive manner.

"As you may already know, I’m currently overseeing several projects," Aston began. "One of them is the cafeteria, primarily intended for the warriors, though it’s open to the public as well. Alongside that, there’s the warriors’ lodging, which comes with full utilities and serves as a privilege for them, allowing their families to stay.

The reason I’m fully responsible for these projects is that they’re all directly related to the warriors. "

Aston paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "This time, however, I’ve been tasked with launching a workshop and a program specifically for artisan-type awakened ability users."

"Artisan-type awakened ability users? That’s a new one..." Tristan mused, his voice calm as the gears in his mind started turning. "Are they considered support-type awakened ability users?"

"Kind of..." Aston replied. "Since they aren’t directly related to the warriors or the base’s defense, I could really use your help with this. I’m not too familiar with what they might need, and given your experience working in a multi-billion-dollar company like Winters’ Corporation, I thought you’d be more suited to this kind of work," Aston continued, his tone a little hesitant.

It was clear that Tristan was swamped with work, juggling the responsibilities of signing papers for both the City Lord and Vice City Lord positions.

While both the leaders focused on fieldwork, the burden of paperwork always fell to someone— in this case, to Tristan.

Aston felt a twinge of embarrassment, realizing that despite knowing how much Tristan was already handling, he still had the audacity to ask for his help.

Tristan remained silent, his gaze lowering to the papers on his desk, leaving Aston unsure of what he was thinking.

To break the silence, Aston began relaying what Kisha had discussed with him.

Tristan, already familiar with the plan for the marketplace and the idea of opening the gates to other survivors, listened intently.

After sharing the details of the conversation, Aston handed over the pie chart and a list of the artisan-type awakened ability users.

"This will help you understand the focus areas," Aston said, "so you’ll know if we need to prepare more resources for blacksmiths, seamstresses, or any other crafts. It’ll give us a clearer idea of what to prioritize."

"Actually, setting up the workshop itself isn’t too difficult," Tristan began, his tone thoughtful.

"Especially with the territory expansion, we have enough space to allocate for the craftsmen. The main issue, however, lies in the materials they’ll need.

For those involved in food-related crafts—cheese, pickling, and so on—our Supply Center has plenty of resources readily available, and requesting more shouldn’t be a problem. "

"The real challenge comes with the other artisans, particularly blacksmiths, seamstresses, potters, and similar trades.

They require specialized materials that we may not have in abundance.

" He paused, his mind already working through potential solutions, considering the logistical and supply issues that might arise.

"As far as I know, my master and the young madam discussed raiding a linen factory, which would certainly solve the seamstress’s material shortage," Tristan said, leaning back slightly.

"As for the blacksmiths, they present a whole different set of challenges, but considering that the young madam is planning to open a workshop, she may have already prepared some materials for them."

He set the papers aside and unfolded a map of City B. "We could convert the building on the newly acquired land near the northern wall. It’s large enough to house a workshop, and we can partition it to ensure each type of artisan has their own designated area."

"For those who wish to work independently, we could allocate a certain amount of supplies each week and follow the young madam’s idea—having them pay with their crafts in return." Tristan’s mind was already formulating the logistics, weighing the pros and cons of the proposal.