Max's elite team consisted of serious combatants capable of protecting him during threats that bypassed ordinary dungeon defenses.
According to Anna's gnomes, that proved he needed a personal attendant.
Combatants could kill enemies, guard routes, and respond to invasions. They did not manage meals, clothing, schedules, correspondence, or the location of objects Max put down and expected to find later.
Max explained that Anna and Quin already helped coordinate important work, ordinary staff handled assigned duties, and the tiered response system prevented minor requests from reaching him.
The gnomes interpreted the explanation as a list of unrelated people compensating for a missing position.
The competition began without permission.
The first candidate arrived outside the core room with breakfast selected according to Max's recent habits. Max had already eaten with Anna.
The gnome recorded a failure in schedule access and withdrew.
