Chapter: 4
[ …The head of the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Finance, Carl Krasius, is dispatched as an emergency inspector to the Empire Academy. ]
[ …dispatched as an emergency inspector to the Empire Academy. ]
[ …to the Empire Academy… ]
“Really wish I could just drop dead somewhere.”
Due to the Minister’s heinous schemes, I tasted both paradise and hell in a fleeting moment. Not long after returning to my office, I stuffed the remaining documents haphazardly into a drawer.
At this moment, I felt that I could hardly focus on work. Wow, taking something back after giving it away is the worst! And he’s doing it so casually.
Of course, the Minister has never once mentioned giving me permission to retire.
“I’m leaving first.”
“Pardon? But it’s not even time to leave yet. Where do you think you’re going?”
“You all should head home too.”
“Well, having flexible working hours is important.”
As I dangled the carrot of early leave, the complaints from the Managers quickly subsided. They couldn’t even dream of leaving early; suddenly being told they could go home must feel like a fairy tale.
Especially the 2nd Manager, who was practically dancing as he rushed out first. That jerk needs some sleep; is he going down some weird path again? I briefly considered calling him back, but then I’d have to stay too, and I really didn’t want to do that.
*
The day after the historical early leave…
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations!”
As I stepped through the office door, the higher-ups gathered around, clapping and welcoming me. What is this? A new kind of harassment?
“What the heck are you all doing?”
“We heard everything! Your wish came true, right?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
That wish was just burned to a crisp in lava yesterday!
Looking at them indifferently, I noticed the Deputy Manager sneaking up behind me, tapping my shoulder. Then he pointed at something in the air with his finger. Following his finger, I squinted my eyes shut.
[ Congratulations! Department Head confirmed to go to the Academy! ]
[ Ah! So very envious! An Academy life in your glorious twenties! ]
Two ridiculous banners were flamboyantly hanging up.
“What the hell…”
“Department Head, are you perhaps moved?”
“Hehe, we hurriedly set this up after finding out last night.”
“If something like this happened, you should have told us sooner. Isn’t this a happy occurrence?”
One after the other, I glanced at Motherfer 2, Motherfer 1, and Motherf*er 3. As I turned toward the Deputy Manager, he shyly averted his gaze. It was as if he was apologizing for not stopping them. Yeah, you must have been dragged into this too; you’re the only one I can trust.
“…Where’s the 5th Manager?”
“We told him to prepare for a celebration party for you yesterday, but after that, we couldn’t reach him.”
“He hasn’t even come to work yet? What on earth—missing today of all days!”
Alright, the 5th Manager can join my list of trustworthy people. It looks like he chose to go silent, as handling three other Managers sounds like overwhelming chaos. Honestly, I can’t say I blame him for that.
I laughed. The 2nd Manager joined in, then the 1st and 3rd Managers laughed and clapped faster. The Deputy Manager quietly slipped out, closing the door behind him.
*
Not long after the Deputy Manager stepped outside, I heard the unmistakable sound of something tearing apart, followed by the dull thud of three heads hitting the floor.
“Is it over yet?”
The 5th Manager approached the Deputy Manager, who was intently listening to shouts that were becoming strikingly similar to the Minister’s. Given how quickly he arrived, he was probably lurking around, preparing for this chaos. Truly, a commendable approach for a manager in the Inspection Department. It’s just a shame he’s using that skill to survive under the Department Head.
“It just started.”
“Hmm, have you eaten?”
“Nope, I rushed over after hearing the news.”
“Well then, let’s go grab something to eat. This is bound to take at least an hour.”
The Deputy Manager glanced at the firmly shut door and nodded. It doesn’t seem this is going to wrap up quickly.
As the Deputy Manager walked alongside the 5th Manager, the air resonated with guttural roars coming from what sounded like hell.
“YOU BASTARDS, HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELVES HUMAN!? ROAR”
Maybe it’s not just an hour; it could easily stretch to two. As I prayed for the well-being of my trusty Managers, the Deputy Manager hurriedly walked away.
*
Thanks to the three Managers’ explosive antics, the Inspection Department had a lively morning, and I found myself rubbing the back of my neck for feeling deeply moved for a solid two hours.
What’s going to come first? My retirement, or will I collapse from stress-induced illness? It’s turning into a fierce chicken race! My chest feels all tightened up.
As I sighed, the communication device on my desk began glowing a bright blue. That blue light… it’s a direct call from the Minister.
“Damn it.”
Another sigh escaped me. They say sighing lets your luck slip away, but I’d wager I’m on a luck blacklist at this point. There’s no other reason why my life is such a mess. Should I drop by a church for some blessings? Maybe if I give a generous donation, my fate might just change.
“Yes… this is the Inspection Department Head.”
– “Huh, what a surprise you answered right away.”
Right as I touched the device, the Minister’s face appeared on the screen. Seriously, the Magic Tower has gone overboard. Why make a device that displays faces? I barely used video calls in my previous life as it was.
“Yes, well, I just wrapped up some tasks and was taking a break.”
Ensuring the Managers recognize who’s in charge is one of the Department Head’s significant duties.
– “Oh, is that so? Perfect timing! Head to my office now; it’s urgent.”
“Really? After dropping that big bomb on me yesterday, there’s another urgent matter? Did you throw your humanity away in the North?”
– “It’s related to what I told you yesterday, so shut up and come!”
And just like that, the communication was abruptly cut off. Rank really is the ultimate bully, ain’t it?
‘Hey, I don’t lose out in ranks elsewhere, you know.’
Even if I often found myself bullied by the Minister, being a Department Head generally guarantees respect wherever you go. Especially when you’re a head of one of the nation’s wealthiest departments. And now I have to deal with the Minister of all people.
“I’ll be right back.”
I relayed that to the Deputy Manager and headed for the Minister’s office. Lately, it feels like I’ve been summoned to the Minister’s office more often; perhaps it’s not just my imagination. What’s exciting about being dragged to a place where that hulking Minister sits alone?
“Oh, Inspection Department Head! It’s been a while.”
But that doesn’t mean I wanted to see anyone else either.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs? No, what brings you here?”
A stout-looking middle-aged man, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, greeted me warmly as he was sipping tea with the Minister. I immediately bowed and scowled at the Minister. If there’s someone else, he could at least have given me a heads-up.
Upon meeting my gaze, the Minister simply put the cup down, as if saying, “What do you want me to do?”
“He has an important message for you before your dispatch. Be grateful for his valuable time.”
“Haha, I’m the one who’s about to leave for the Empire’s sake, what’s there to thank me for?”
“Don’t praise him too much. He’ll just get cocky and try to match our levels.”
“Is that from your own experience? I’ll make sure to remember that.”
With a slight chuckle, the Minister of Foreign Affairs turned his attention back to me.
“So, Inspection Department Head, you’ve been appointed as the emergency inspector for the Academy, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Traditionally, sending a Manager to the Academy has sufficed. Sending a Department Head means something significant must have occurred. You’ve probably heard some details from the Finance Minister.”
‘Actually, I haven’t heard a thing.’
My gaze naturally shifted to the Finance Minister. After yesterday’s shouting match, I hadn’t caught any details.
The Minister seemed to have no further words regarding this and quietly sipped tea while avoiding my stare. Apparently, the Foreign Affairs Minister didn’t pick up on the awkward atmosphere, as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started wiping his forehead.
“Truth be told, this year’s new students at the Academy have many problems.”
“Problems? Did the number of commoners break over fifty percent or something?”
“If that were the case, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. Just take a look.”
Saying that, the Foreign Affairs Minister handed me a folder of documents.
“Here’s a list of students we should be cautious about.”
“Who on earth are these people for you to say we should be wary?”
I couldn’t help but doubt the Foreign Affairs Minister’s words. The Academy is the Empire’s premier educational institution. It’s common to see the scions of noble families enroll there; even members of the Imperial Family have studied there, as have the five Duke houses.
With rare exceptions, the vast majority of the Empire’s elite receive their education at the Academy. So, for the Foreign Affairs Minister himself to come all the way to bring in a list of cautious individuals, surely there must be some major players, right?
I quickly scanned the names, but my eyes froze at the very first entry.
1. Rutis Robens
Left speechless, I stared at the Foreign Affairs Minister.
“Uh… it can’t be him, right?”
“It’s definitely the Rutis you’re thinking about.”
My brow furrowed sharply.
“Why in the world is Prince of the Armein Kingdom coming to enroll in the Academy?”
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be here like this. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been thrown into disarray. I’ve reached out to the Armein side, but they too were completely freaked out by the Prince’s determination.”
With that useless response, I irritably scratched my head while glancing back at the name Rutis. He was the third prince of the Armein Kingdom, the second most powerful kingdom after the Empire.
While international students have enrolled in the Academy, no high-profile individuals ever had prior. They have their own esteemed institutions; why would they come all the way to the Empire?
“Just fantastic.”
“It would be troublesome if you reacted too soon; there’s more to read.”
Though the impact of the first name was staggering, I hadn’t yet even seen the rest. Once I finally glanced down the remaining names, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
2. Lather Ostia
3. Tannian Enes
In rank order, these were the Second Prince of the United Kingdom of Yuben and a prospective Saint candidate of the Holy Kingdom.
While dumbfounded, the Foreign Affairs Minister continued, his voice low but undeniably sharp.
“The three listed are from foreign nations. Domestically, I’m sure you’re aware that our Empire’s 3rd Prince is also enrolling this year.”
“Yes… I’m aware.”
That’s what makes me even more insane. The Empire’s Prince, the 2nd most important kingdom’s Prince, the United Kingdom’s Prince, and the Holy Kingdom’s Saint candidate all gathered in one place. If a terrorist attack takes place, the entire continent would go insane.
“Ah.”
So, that’s why I’m being dispatched here…
I looked at the Minister, who had been silent, and he gave a nod, confirming my suspicions with a demeanor that said “Yes, that’s it.”
“While the Academy claims to be neutral, it’s strategically located within the Empire, and most of the students are of Empire origin. This is why the Empire’s military oversees the Academy’s security. But things got complicated after those three decided to enroll here.”
The three countries are concerned about the Academy’s neutrality. It’s understood that it’s physically located in the Empire, but they are questioning how security is solely in the hands of the Empire. Of course, the fact that a school within the Empire is secured by the Empire is natural for them. Yet from their perspective, such oversight causes serious concerns.
Naturally, the external ministries face a hard time asking about such a situation. Still, with the unwavering resolve of the Princes and the Saint candidate to attend the Empire Academy, their royal family’s priority took precedence.
At first, each nation insisted on sending an escort to bolster the Academy’s security. But no country would allow foreign forces into its territory. Despite this, there was tremendous desperation from the three nations to ensure the safety of their VIPs.
After a series of negotiations, each country offered various concessions to allow a small number of security personnel from their nations to accompany the students—this included the submission of personnel lists and the withdrawal of excess guards except those deemed absolutely necessary.
“There were already complaints about too many security forces at the Academy. We had been brainstorming ways to alleviate that. Then, suddenly, three countries offer to provide funding if they can send their forces. So it was decided to readily accept their terms.”
“Of course, reducing the number of security guards would lead to an uproar, so we were tasked with coming up with a good excuse. Nonetheless, sending an inspector from the Inspection Department to the Academy is standard protocol during this sort of crisis. Given the current exceptional nature of the newcomers, we’ve been fortunate to receive generous donations, providing justification for sending a Department Head this time.”
I couldn’t argue against the Ministers’ remarks. It didn’t matter which civil servant ventured where; they wouldn’t be able to bargain with the royal family directly. Essentially, they want a Department Head to apply pressure to the security averages beneath them.
I understood the adequacy and the urgency of the situation.
The problem lies in the fact that this duty has been thrust onto me.
‘Was this always meant to be an Academy tale?’
Three prominent figures, all crossing borders to enroll at the Academy in the same year? It seems a higher power is intent on leading the main characters there.
Damn it, I never suspected it would veer into an Academy tale just because there weren’t mentions in the free chapters! Who would have guessed I’d read those past chapters, seeing juvenile portrayals, and end up here?
As I grumbled inwardly, the Minister patted me on the back.
“Whenever you find things tough, always keep this in mind; if you fail, war might break out.”
Wow, that really boosts morale.
With that, I was cornered into preparing for my dispatch to the Academy.
Now that I have possessed this body, can I at least have some hope for a regression? I wish I could go back just four years.
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