Chapter: 95
First, I kicked out the Second Manager who collapsed after being hit with the cake, and I also sent the First Manager packing, who whined about how unfair it was after putting in so much effort. Her expression was all teary, but her voice was filled with laughter—clearly, she had a talent for provoking others. I really hope someone like her ends up under you.
As it turned out, the first task upon returning to work after such a long time was to clean up the cake that was scattered all over the floor. I should have told her to clean up before leaving, but I shooed her out way too fast.
‘Am I cursed?’
There’s definitely something eerie going on in the Inspection Department. While the Team Leaders are courteous to their Managers, strangely, once they become Managers themselves, they turn into defiant troublemakers under the Executive Manager. I still remember the Minister raising his voice at the Executive Manager back when he was a Manager.
Sometimes, I miss those scared Managers from two years ago. What happened to those sharp, strict, and serious kids?
“The work at the Inspection Department is tough, so let’s just get along!”
Those were Hecate’s words when the Team Leaders from the North were awkwardly interacting. Hecate, this time I think you were wrong. It might be okay among us, but we shouldn’t have made it comfy for those jerks.
Knock, knock
“Executive Manager, it’s me, the Senior Manager.”
“Ah, come in.”
Ironically, the one person I can understand being a bit reckless is still respectful. I guess this is what they call balance.
The Senior Manager walked in carrying a mountain of documents, flinching upon seeing me squatting on the ground. He quietly placed the documents down. Sorry for showing you such a sight.
“I’ll help you.”
“Thanks.”
They brought in a cake that was ridiculously oversized, and I still haven’t cleaned it all up. They say that among five people, only one is usually useless, but how many of us are total garbage?
“I’ll rearrange the night shift.”
“Okay.”
While quietly picking up the crumbs of cake, the Senior Manager softly spoke up. Given the chaos we caused, he was basically making a strong case for wanting to take the night shift. If I let him leave on time, he’d likely be disappointed.
With a resolve to repay that subtle appeal, a 21-year-old and 32-year-old adult cleaned up after the immature 25-year-old and 27-year-old adults.
The pile of paperwork the Senior Manager brought was substantial. After several months without a head manager, there must’ve been a lot of backlogs. No matter how much Assistant Manager we had, some projects required the Executive Manager’s final approval before passing.
“The North is still in chaos.”
“The damage is severe, so there’s still a lot of noise.”
There was a disproportionate amount of paperwork related to the North. It was the area that suffered the greatest damage during the Great Hunt war, and its repercussions are still ongoing.
At least the war mainly took place outside the borders in the North. Fortunately, the territory itself wasn’t destroyed, but resources and manpower were heavily requisitioned from the North, so it’s struggling.
The real problem is that there’s no clear leader overseeing the post-war recovery in the North. The Invincible Duke, responsible for the northern nobles, is still in the capital, and the sole Margrave up North is too busy monitoring nomads to look after the internal issues.
“Redirect some of this to the Justice Ministry. They’ve been complaining that we’re taking all their cases.”
“Understood.”
Although recovery funds are pouring in, there isn’t anyone of authority to oversee the acquisition and distribution of those funds. Naturally, all sorts of embezzlement parties will start, with the Inspection Department crashing in as the surprise guests.
It’s gotten to the point where new recruits in the Inspection Department consider gaining experience in the North as a standard route. They complain in the Justice Ministry, “Don’t forget our performance reports, too!”
With the scale of their antics, it’s no joke. Just one case gone wrong in the North could equal two or three mishaps from other regions. Those cheeky bastards—don’t they get nervous when someone they were just fooling around with gets dragged off for punishment at the Justice Ministry? They’re oddly persistent in weird ways.
“The Minister will surely be pleased.”
Just the thought of someone slamming their desk and shouting about it made me chuckle.
Managing the recovery funds is the Ministry of Finance’s job. Every penny, whether present or absent, is gathered and sent to the North, and when an embezzlement scandal reveals itself, the first one to suffer will be the Minister.
But I don’t mind. It’s the Minister who’s setting the budget, not me. The Minister’s pain is my joy.
As I flipped through the documents, something odd caught my eye.
[Request for Deployment of the Inspection Department by Margrave Sorden]
‘What is this?’
This request came from the only Margrave in the North. It certainly isn’t a request that can be taken lightly, but why would he need the Inspection Department when he should be watching over the nomads?
After gazing at the paper for a moment, I turned to the Senior Manager, who was also slightly frowning. It seemed like it was a troublesome matter for him too.
“This was a request that came in early this morning. They’re struggling with tracking the supplies released in the North.”
“Great, how annoying.”
Of all the things I didn’t want to hear, that was it.
Even though we fought each other till two years ago, there are actually quite a few pro-Empire nomads in the North. This relationship is maintained by making proper friendship payments.
Thus, whether through legal trade or smuggling, various routes send goods from the Empire to the North. Occasionally, some of the goods don’t get accounted for, vanishing into thin air.
Historically, this has been a bad omen. Hoarding supplies from the Empire’s sight means they’re up to no good. Damn it, it hasn’t even been long since Kagan died, and we’re already facing this.
“What about the Ministry of Intelligence?”
“They’ve already been dispatched to the North. The Masked Unit was stationed in the North before returning not too long ago.”
Right, if Margrave Sorden is asking for help from the Inspection Department, word must have reached the Emperor long ago. For an Emperor recovering from Kagan’s shock, something strange happening in the North would surely raise alarms.
How enraging. Just when I was busy searching the North for Kagan’s bloodline for the past two years, I now have an additional problem that’s triggering the Emperor’s temper.
“I can only hope this is just a misunderstanding.”
“I agree.”
I can only wish that Margrave Sorden miscounted the goods. Then, the Emperor might scold him, but would quietly feel relieved.
Even if a pro-Empire tribe is hoarding supplies to beat up another, that’s fine. The universe can be saved as long as a large coalition like Kagan’s doesn’t pop up.
“Damn it.”
A different kind of headache washed over me than the one I had when faced with the First Manager’s cake. Those nomads never seem to rest. If the damage we suffered from Kagan hadn’t been so severe, I would have wiped them all out.
I pressed my fingers against my temples and let out a small sigh. Thank goodness I came to work today. Even if I planned to take a day off, I’d still have to rush in here in my pajamas after such a request.
“Send a dispatch to the Second Division.”
“Understood.”
For now, we need to accept Margrave Sorden’s request. Since the focus seemed to be more on tracking the flow of goods than on combat, sending the Second Division would be appropriate.
Whoa, but that Second Manager is really dodging the night shift this time.
‘Although it’s a dispatch instead of a night shift.’
It’s like someone gifted the Second Manager a monkey’s paw to avoid the night shift. Well, at least he dodged it somehow.
By the time I wrapped up the documents the Senior Manager had brought, the sun was starting to set. It’s been a while since I’ve stayed and exceeded the official working hours.
Shouldn’t the Empire Council propose something like a Civil Servant labor law? Of course, considering all the Council members are just highborn folks, that’s wishful thinking.
Knock, knock.
Just as I was about to get up from my desk and head out for the day, a knock on the door made me scowl. Great, what now?
“Executive Managerrr—”
Before I could even tell the person to come in, the First Manager peeked her head through the door. My mood soured even more at the realization that she was the one interrupting my exit. Why does it have to be you to start and end my day?
“I have to go.”
“Are you still mad?”
“If you know that, then scram.”
“Sniff…”
Seriously.
“If you have nothing to say, leave. I want to go home.”
“Why are you in such a rush, it’s already late?”
I almost lifted my hand at her annoyed expression. Calm down. Getting worked up here will just delay my departure.
“Here, it’s a gift!”
In the midst of battling my inner impulses, the First Manager presented something she had behind her back. It was a giant cake. Oh no, not again.
As my expression automatically twisted in disbelief, the First Manager hurriedly continued.
“It’s a gift! This time, it’s really a gift!”
“So, was it fake the last time?”
“Ah…”
If this time is real, then the last time was nothing but a mockery. People tend to confess to their deeds when they’re hurried.
Anyway, seeing her awkwardly darting her eyes around made me sigh. As I reached out my hand, she instinctively covered her lips with her free hand. A wave of bewilderment washed over me.
I just wanted to take the cake. Did I pull her cheeks that much before?
…Well, I suppose I did.
“Hand it over. I’ll eat it well.”
“Here you go.”
Fighting my urge to mess with her while she anxiously kept her lips covered, I felt a twinge of sympathy. Honestly, she had it coming but watching her was a little too much.
“Thanks.”
As I patted her shoulder to express my gratitude, she finally removed her hand and smiled. If I made a surprise attack on those lips now, I might actually see her in tears.
But I held back. It wouldn’t be right to do that to someone genuinely giving me a gift.
“Executive Manager, are you not angry anymore?”
“I cooled down a while ago.”
I was just annoyed because she interrupted my departure. If I stayed mad until dinner over something that happened in the morning, what would that make me? A carrier of a rage virus?
“Then, can I cancel my night shift…?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Aaaaaang! Executive Managerrr!”
I ignored the desperate call from behind me. What was initially a gift suddenly became clear: she wasn’t someone who would give me something with pure intentions.
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