༺ Freedom in Prison (2) ༻
I headed to the Ministry of Finance as soon as I left the Crown Prince’s palace. Part of me wanted to go back to my lodging in the academy and cry alone, but there was no helping it.
“Since the probation’s location isn’t your home, you’ll need to prepare. I can extend that much consideration. Your probation will start tomorrow.”
How could I just go back after hearing that?
‘Preparations, my ass.’
It wasn’t like I was commuting from home; I was already living at the academy. What was the point of preparing?
The statement ‘Your probation will start tomorrow’ clearly meant that he wanted me to spend today working at the Prosecutors’ Office before going back.
‘Did something happen?’
The Crown Prince never assigned tasks without a reason. He might drive people hard, but he wasn’t the type to do so without purpose.
Nothing specific came to mind. There were no calls from the Minister or the Senior Manager, and there wasn’t any routine business that needed attention around this time of the year. It’d probably be best if I went to check it out myself.
I hope it wasn’t anything serious.
My heart was already heavy from the probation; I’d be truly sad if something else went wrong.
And then, something did happen.
“Executive Manager.”
“Huh? Executive Manager?”
If nothing happened, then the scene before my eyes would make no sense.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered?”
All the managers were present in the office except for the 2nd Manager, who had left for the far North.
Besides, they weren’t the type of people who would hold a meeting without me.
I had the managers sit back down before taking my seat. Unfortunately, something serious had indeed happened.
“Wasn’t it quiet on the inside? Is it an external matter, then?”
“Yes,” the Senior Manager affirmed, making me sigh.
If it were a domestic issue, then the managers could’ve handled most matters. If it was a large-scale case that even the Senior Manager couldn’t handle, then it would have reached my ears sooner.
So, it had to be an international issue. Despite hoping otherwise, a troublesome situation had arisen.
“Which area is it from?”
“The North. There’s been an armed conflict with some tribes.”
“This is maddening.”
I couldn’t help but be amazed at this double whammy of bad news.
An international issue was bothersome enough, and now it was even from the North—the worst-case scenario.
No wonder the Magic Tower suddenly started summoning the mages.
International issues, especially those in the north, nearly always required military intervention. This was no exception.
And such matters usually involved the Special Service Agency or the Magic Tower.
‘Those bastards.’
So, the North caused trouble, the Magic Tower summoned the mages, and I ended up substituting for that mage and also became the one to take the fall. It turns out that my probation was because of the North.
What a bunch of burdens in my life. They’ve never been of any help, really.
“Where’s the 2nd Manager?”
If the Magic Tower was involved to this extent, then the 2nd Manager’s assignment in the north must have become extremely difficult.
After all, the 2nd Manager only went to the north for intelligence gathering. If the situation escalated to the point that it required military force, they’d be out of their depth.
“About that…”
The Senior Manager hesitated unusually. Why is he making me feel uneasy?
After a brief silence, the Senior Manager finally continued.
“The report from the 2nd Manager was due today.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
This was strange. Since the mage from the Magic Tower was summoned yesterday, the report should have been made yesterday at the latest. Even the Magic Tower cannot foresee 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 day’s delay…
I almost sighed again at the unwelcome news. A report being a few hours late was understandable. Unlike Margrave Sorden, the 2nd Manager was out in the field with just his division, so gathering information would take time.
But this wasn’t a matter of just a few hours—it was a whole day’s difference. That meant that there was a situation that prevented him from reporting for an entire day.
‘Has he already been hit hard?’
This wasn’t just a spike in difficulty to the ‘hellfire’ level; it was as if they’d already been knocked out by a hellfire punch.
“The 2nd Manager has decided to stay on site.”
“Bullshit.”
The Senior Manager nodded at my comment. Even he thought that the 2nd Manager should return.
‘He’s so stubborn.’
He must have been initially shocked by the hellfire punch from the north. And then, his wounded pride must have made him insist on continuing his mission.
He always complained about being given tasks, but he also tried his best to complete them once he started. What a weird person.
‘So that’s why I was sent here.’
I rubbed the back of my neck absentmindedly. The reason why the Crown Prince suddenly told me to work before leaving made sense now; it was because of this.
The Crown Prince knew about the Prosecutors’ Office’s deployment to the north. He must have found it odd that only Margrave Sorden made a report. And since the Executive Manager of the Prosecutors’ Office came to the Capital, he sent me to deal with it.
I really have too much bad luck. How could the timing overlap like this?
“If he was beaten so badly, then he should have returned on his own.”
With a sigh, I activated the communication crystal.
It was okay for this guy to get beaten, but I’d rather be the one doing the hitting instead of other people.
What a weakling. How dare he let himself get beaten up? I should tell him to come back immediately.
— Oh, Executive Manager.
The 2nd Manager visible through the communication crystal looked like he’d been beaten up pretty badly.
“Where did one of your eyes go?”
— Ah, this?
He fiddled with the patch over his right eye and burst into laughter, making me frown. What was there to laugh about?
— I bet it on a gamble. Now I have to go get it back.
“Stop talking shit and come back.”
— Oh, come on.
The 2nd Manager frowned at the firm order to return.
— Isn’t this a situation where every hand is desperately needed? It would be odd for existing personnel to leave when more people are coming from the capital.
He didn’t actively resist the order from his superior, but he started to argue his point.
“If the 2nd Manager has sacrificed an eye, then that’s enough. If Margrave Sorden complains, tell him to talk to me.”
Of course, it was a futile protest. What could a mere 2nd Manager do against orders?
And this situation warranted the Magic Tower’s involvement. It had grown too large for a division specialized in intelligence gathering and not combat. Margrave Sorden would understand. After all, he was the one who requested the dispatch for information gathering in the first place.
“Come back and get treated.”
— Haaa… Understood.
Why does he keep being stubborn when he has to obey orders in the end?
After ending the call with the 2nd Manager, I lectured the other managers a little.
“You should contact me first when something like this happens. What kind of superior doesn’t know when his subordinates are getting beaten up?”
“I planned to have the 2nd Manager return and then inform you. You were already stressed as it was.”
The first manager’s words convinced me. They concluded that it would be better for them 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 good plan.
As if he had the same thought, the 5th Manager cautiously asked.
“Executive Manager, what brings you to the capital?”
I was momentarily speechless. Saying ‘I came here to be disciplined for striking royalty’ required a considerable amount of courage.
Especially in front of the rebellious 1st and 3rd Managers. Wouldn’t admitting that make me an even bigger laughingstock in front of these two?
“For disciplinary action.”
But my hesitation was brief. Rumors of someone being penalized spread quickly in this small civil service community.
The 5th Manager quietly looked away as if he regretted asking.
It’s fine. I’m willing to forgive the 5th Manager for making mistakes.
“Pff…!”
“Wow. You were writing a report just a while ago.”
I wasn’t, you damned bastards.
I felt a surge of irritation at the 1st Manager’s laughter and the 3rd Manager’s astonishment.
“It must be probation this time.”
The 1st Manager’s giggles grew louder at the Senior Manager’s calm statement.
This is unfair. More than half of the penalties I’ve received were because I was covering for their mistakes. I guess there was no use in being nice to my subordinates.
“But what happened at the academy? You shouldn’t be writing a report while you’re deployed.”
“It’s not a report.”
An awkward silence fell in the office at that. If it wasn’t a written report, then it implied a punishment more severe.
The 3rd Manager quickly shut his mouth, while the 1st Manager covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. However, their reactions couldn’t mend my wounded heart.
“No way. What on earth happened…?”
Silence had a way of devouring words. The 3rd Manager cautiously started to speak again, but he couldn’t overcome the silence and closed his mouth.
So, I decided to take control.
“Do you see this?”
I raised my right hand. This was the hand of the proletariat who proved that even royalty had red blood.
“I struck royalty with this hand.”
The way they suddenly backed away was a bit surprising.
Why were they acting like normal people all of a sudden? Since when did these guys start caring about common sense?
“Executive Manager… Then, did you get a death sentence…?”
“No.”
It was just probation.
When I mentioned the incident that shocked the Crown Prince and had the principal wringing his hands, laughter filled the room instead of silence.
They spoke nonsense like ‘You need the courage to hit royalty if you want to be an Executive Manager,’ ‘Just hitting them is not enough; you need to draw blood,’ ‘Executive Manager, you’re probably going to stay as the Executive Manager for life,’ and even mocked that I had avenged the grievances of the unenrolled on a prince.
After all sorts of provocations flew around, the managers finally returned to their places.
“Executive Managerrrr~ Are you angry?”
Except for the 1st Manager.
“Since I’m angry, you should go back before I hit you and make you write a written report.”
As I waved her off, the 1st Manager pouted and looked at me with a sullen expression.
‘Isn’t she embarrassed?’
I sometimes wondered: Despite my higher rank, I was actually four years younger than her. Had she forgotten her own age?
I instinctively reached out toward the 1st Manager’s lips. It would be rude not to grab when offered—
“Executive Manager, you said that your probation starts tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
However, she spoke before I could grab her mouth.
“Then, how about we have a meal together?!”
Seeing the 1st Manager smile so broadly confused me for a moment.
“A meal?”
With her?
I briefly imagined dining alone with the 1st Manager.
No matter how much I thought about it, all I could picture was us munching on military rations.
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