Chapter 155
As soon as I left the Crown Prince’s Palace, I headed over to the Ministry of Finance. Part of me wanted to return to my academy lodging and just cry alone, but there was no helping it.
“Since your probation location isn’t your home, you might need to prepare. I’ll extend that much consideration. Your probation starts tomorrow.”
After hearing that, how could I just go back?
“Preparation, my ass.”
It wasn’t like I was commuting from home; I was already living at the academy. What was there to prepare for?
Given that he said, “Your probation starts tomorrow,” it was clear he wanted me to work at the Prosecutor’s Office today before heading back.
“What’s going on?”
Still, the Crown Prince never assigned tasks without a reason. He might treat people like dogs, but he wasn’t one to screw them over without reason.
Nothing specific came to mind. There hadn’t been any calls from the Minister or the Senior Manager, and there weren’t any routine matters to deal with at this time of year. It would probably be best if I checked it out myself.
For now, I really hoped it wasn’t anything serious. My heart was already heavy from the probation; if something else happened, I’d be truly devastated.
And then, something did happen.
“Executive Manager.”
“Huh? Executive Manager?”
If nothing was going on, then the scene before my eyes wouldn’t make sense at all.
“What’s happening? Why is everyone gathered here?”
All the executives were present in the office except for the 2nd Manager, who had headed up north on a long journey. They weren’t the type of people to hold a meeting without me around.
I sat down and had the others take their seats again. Unfortunately, it seemed like something serious had indeed happened.
“Things were quiet inside, so is it something from the outside?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
With that answer from the Senior Manager, a sigh escaped me. If it were a domestic issue, the managers could handle most of it. If it were a major incident that the Senior Manager couldn’t handle, it would’ve reached my ears sooner.
So it had to be something international. I didn’t want that to be the case, but it seemed like a troublesome situation had unfolded.
“Which area are we talking about?”
“The North. There’s been an armed conflict with some tribes.”
“Great. Just great.”
I couldn’t help but admire this double dose of bad news.
An international issue was annoying enough, and now it was from the North—the worst-case scenario. No wonder the Magic Tower suddenly started summoning mages!
If something happened internationally, especially in the North, about 90% of the time it required military intervention. And this was one of those situations.
Missions like this usually involved the Special Service Agency or the Magic Tower.
“Those bastards.”
So, trouble in the North led to the Magic Tower summoning mages, and I ended up being thrust into the mix and taking the fall for it. In the end, my probation was because of the North.
What a burden they are in my life. They’ve never been helpful, really.
“Where’s the 2nd Manager?”
If the Magic Tower was involved to this extent, the 2nd Manager’s assignment up there must have suddenly become nightmarishly difficult.
After all, the 2nd Manager had only gone to the North for intelligence purposes. If the situation required military intervention, he wouldn’t be able to manage that.
“About that…”
The Senior Manager hesitated unusually. Why did that sensation of unease creep in?
After a moment of silence, the Senior Manager finally continued,
“The 2nd Manager’s report was due today.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
This was odd. Since the mage from the Magic Tower was summoned yesterday, he should’ve reported by then at the latest. Even the Magic Tower doesn’t have the foresight to predict the future!
“The report from Margrave Sorden was made yesterday.”
“So the 2nd Manager is late?”
The report from Margrave Sorden came yesterday, and the 2nd Manager’s report came today. A whole day’s delay…
I almost sighed at the unwelcome news. Reporting a few hours late is understandable. Unlike Margrave Sorden, the 2nd Manager was out in the field with just his division, which could slow the information gathering process.
But a full day’s delay? That meant something had prevented him from reporting for an entire day.
“Was he already hit?”
The difficulty levels had not just spiked to hellfire; it felt like he had already been knocked out by a hellfire punch!
“The 2nd Manager has decided to stay on site.”
“Bullshit.”
The Senior Manager nodded along with my comment. Even he seemed to think the 2nd Manager should return.
“His pride is just too stubborn.”
Initially, he must have been taken aback by that hellfire punch from the North. Then, once he realized he got blindsided, his ego kicked in, making him insist on finishing the mission.
When assigned duties, he whines a lot, but once he gets started, he digs in and works like a dog. Such a quirky personality.
“So that’s why I was sent here.”
I rubbed the back of my neck absentmindedly. The reason the Crown Prince suddenly told me to do some work before leaving made sense now—because of this.
The Crown Prince knew about the prosecutor’s office being dispatched to the North. He must have found it strange that only Margrave Sorden’s report came through. While the Executive Manager of the Prosecutor’s Office was at the Capital, he sent me over to handle it.
I really have the worst luck. How could the timing overlap like this?
If he got beat up that badly, he should have returned on his own.
With a sigh, I activated the communication crystal.
It’s one thing for this guy to get beaten, but I’d rather be the one doing the beating than watching someone else get walloped!
What a weakling. How dare he let himself get beaten up? I should order him back immediately.
“Oh, Executive Manager.”
The 2nd Manager visible through the communication crystal looked like he had taken quite a beating.
“Where’s your eye?!”
“Ah, this?”
He fiddled with the patch over his right eye and let out a laugh, which made me frown. What was there to laugh about?
“I lost it in a bet. Now I have to go retrieve it.”
“Stop joking around and come back!”
“Oh, come on!”
The 2nd Manager scowled at my firm order to return.
“Isn’t this a situation where every hand is desperately needed? It’d be odd for existing personnel to leave while additional support is coming from the capital!”
He didn’t actively resist the order, but he started to argue his point.
“If the 2nd Manager gave up an eye, then that’s enough. If Margrave Sorden complains, he can take it up with me.”
Of course, that was a futile protest. What could a mere 2nd Manager do against orders?
And this was a situation that required the involvement of the Magic Tower. It had escalated beyond what a division focused on intelligence gathering could handle. Margrave Sorden would understand. After all, he was the one who requested the dispatch in the first place.
“Come back and get treated.”
“Haa… Understood.”
Why did he keep being so stubborn when he had to follow orders in the end?
Once the call with the 2nd Manager ended, I lectured the other executives a little.
“You should inform me first when something like this happens. What kind of superior doesn’t know when their subordinates are getting beaten up?”
“We planned to have the 2nd Manager return and then let you know. You were already stressed as it was!”
After hearing the first manager’s words, I found myself somewhat persuaded. They concluded it would be better to convince the 2nd Manager to return rather than report his refusal and raise my blood pressure.
It made a lot of sense. If I hadn’t shown up, it would have been a decent plan.
“Executive Manager, what brings you to the capital?”
The 5th Manager cautiously asked, seeming to share the same thought.
I was struck silent for a moment. Admitting I came here because I assaulted royalty required quite a bit of courage.
Especially in front of the rebellious 1st and 3rd Managers. Wouldn’t saying that make me an even bigger laughingstock in front of them?
“Disciplinary action.”
But my hesitation was brief. News of someone getting disciplined quickly spreads in this small civil service community.
At my answer, the 5th Manager quietly looked away, as if regretting asking.
It’s fine. I’d be willing to forgive the 5th Manager for any slip-ups.
Pff!
“Wow, you just wrote a report not long ago!”
Of course, not you guys, you little shits.
The laughter of the 1st Manager and the astonished “Wow” from the 3rd Manager made me bristle.
“This time it must be probation.”
With the Senior Manager’s calm statement, the 1st Manager’s giggles ramped up even further.
“This is so unfair. More than half of the penalties I received were just me covering for their mess-ups! Being nice to my subordinates is totally pointless.”
“But what happened at the academy? There shouldn’t be any need to write a report while deployed.”
“It’s not a report.”
At that, an awkward silence fell over the office. If it wasn’t a written report, it meant the punishment was more severe.
The 3rd Manager quickly sealed his lips, while the 1st Manager covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening. Their reactions couldn’t mend my wounded heart, though.
“No way, what on earth happened…”
Silence has a funny way of swallowing words. The 3rd Manager, cautiously trying to reopen the conversation, found herself choking on the silence again and fell quiet once more.
So I decided to take control of the situation.
“Do you see this?”
I raised my right hand. This hand proves that even royalty bleeds red just like everyone else.
“I hit royalty with this hand.”
The shocked way they suddenly recoiled was a bit surprising.
Why are they acting all normal all of a sudden? Since when did they care about common sense?
“Executive Manager… Then, did you get a death sentence?”
“No. Just probation.”
As I talked about the incident that had the Crown Prince and the principal in a complete tizzy, laughter filled the room instead of silence.
With comments like, “To be an Executive Manager, you must have the guts to hit royalty!” and, “Just hitting them isn’t enough; you’ve got to draw blood!”—they teasingly added that I’d likely stay Executive Manager forever and even teased that I was avenging the grievances of the un-enrolled on a prince.
After enduring all sorts of insults, the managers finally returned to their places.
“Executive Managerrrr~ Are you angry?”
Except for the 1st Manager.
“Since I’m angry, you should all leave before I hit you and force you to write a report.”
As I waved her away, the 1st Manager pouted, glowering at me with a discontented look.
“Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Sometimes I wonder. No matter how much I outrank her, I’m still four years younger than her. Did she forget her own age?
Instinctively, I reached out toward the 1st Manager’s lips. If she’s offering, it would be rude not to accept—
“Executive Manager, you said that your probation starts tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.”
But before I could grab, she spoke up.
“Then how about we have a meal together?!”
The sight of her bright smile suddenly threw me off balance.
“A meal?”
“With her?”
For a moment, I imagined dining alone with the 1st Manager.
No matter how much I thought about it, all I could picture was us munching through military rations.
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