Chapter 39

Chapter 38

The Corpse That Defies the Natural Order - 1

The Inspection Department, now known as the Special Affairs Bureau's 4th Division, has been transferred to the Special Affairs Bureau. Among the five divisions of the Inspection Department, the 4th Division is the one most specialized in military force, and it was the division where the Minister and I used to belong. Four years ago, the head of the family arranged a position for me in the 4th Division. It was a division so focused on military force that it could even be deployed in war.

'The head of the family would never have arranged a normal position for me.'

There was no way the hardcore imperialist would have provided a comfortable position. I didn't realize that at the time. Anyway, the Inspection Department, especially the 4th Division, has always been a place where my official career has been terribly twisted. I'm not exaggerating out of frustration; even objectively, it has been twisted from the very beginning.

The Inspection Department has been openly treated as the emperor's hunting dog from its establishment to the present. It's so much so that people wonder why it is under the Ministry of Finance rather than the Special Affairs Bureau, which is directly under the emperor.

While it seems strange that the Special Affairs Bureau's Minister is between the emperor and the department, the Inspection Department, due to its nature, should logically be under the Special Affairs Bureau rather than the Ministry of Finance. However, the Inspection Department got off to a bad start.

The Inspection Department was established about 100 years ago. At that time, the imperial power did not overwhelmingly suppress the divine power. As a result, the nobles were wary of the expansion of the Special Affairs Bureau, which the emperor could use like his limbs. The emperor of that time hid his small and precious weapon in the Ministry of Finance.

'A department to impose sanctions related to the budget was needed.'

This was the reason for the establishment of the Inspection Department, and the consensus that such a department was necessary already existed, so the Inspection Department was successfully launched. However, the emperor turned the Inspection Department into a military force focused on "sanctions" rather than "monitoring the flow of money."

The nobles, whose teacups were shattered by the emperor's small and precious weapon, only then trembled and thought, "This damn emperor, that kid is at it again." However, it is much harder to dismantle a department than to create a new one. The Inspection Department has continued to exist and has been used as the emperor's weapon.

The Inspection Department was clearly a department created by the emperor to crush the nobles, and its nature was specialized in military force. As a result, it was considered a non-mainstream department within the Ministry of Finance. To the mainstream line of the Ministry of Finance, which deals with money and is known for its intelligence, the Inspection Department was seen as a group of bloodthirsty individuals.

Therefore, it was customary for officials in the Inspection Department to retire or transfer to the Special Affairs Bureau, the War Bureau, or the military after serving as the head of the department. However, this custom was shattered just two years ago. Immediately after the Crown Prince was appointed, he promoted the Minister, who was the head of the 4th Division, and me, who was a team leader in the 4th Division, to the head of the Inspection Department and the head of the 4th Division, respectively.

Up to that point, there were no issues. The Minister was secretly pleased, thinking he would retire after his last position as the head of the Inspection Department, and I was already planning to escape to the military, so my mind was already elsewhere. The Duke of Victory had said he would accept me as long as I showed up.

'That damn Crown Prince.'

The problem arose when the Crown Prince started the purge of the Second Prince's faction. The Crown Prince, who wanted to control the Ministry of Finance and the Inspection Department, tried to place his loyalists in key positions, and those loyalists were the Minister and I. We experienced the disaster of being promoted again within a month of our initial promotion.

Unprecedented rapid promotions, unprecedented control of the Ministry of Finance by the Inspection Department. Naturally, this caused turmoil not only among the existing mainstream line of the Ministry of Finance but also within the Inspection Department. I had to endure a bitter life as a civil servant, fighting against the Second Prince's faction externally and the mainstream forces of the Ministry of Finance and the opposition within the Inspection Department.

During this process, I particularly cherished the 4th Division. It was originally the division I belonged to, and I had a deep connection with it because I had personally reorganized it after it was almost annihilated in the north. However, the 4th Division, which I had nurtured so carefully, was sold to the Special Affairs Bureau. Was it too precious to keep it in the Ministry of Finance?

"Shit."

At that moment, my frustration turned into a curse. If they were going to take it, why did they only take the 4th Division precisely? I was so aggrieved when I heard that the 4th Division would be sold a year ago. Even the head of the 4th Division was unhappy. He followed me a lot.

When I heard the name "Mokgwangdae" from the deputy director of intelligence, a nostalgic and miserable memory instantly surfaced. They say that even sad memories become fond memories over time, but this memory was so difficult that I never wanted to call it a fond memory.

While I was returning to the booth, I didn't receive any messages from Villar. Fortunately, it seems that nothing significant happened during that moment.

"Ah, bro. You're here?"

"Yeah. Thanks for the hard work."

As I got closer to the booth, I saw Erih passing by with milk, so I patted his shoulder a few times and entered the booth. We've spent a lot of time together in the club, so we've become close enough to exchange greetings naturally, unlike before.

Unfortunately, that's all we are for now. Well, we've been awkward for a few years, so it would be unrealistic to expect our relationship to improve instantly.

"Now that the head is here, can I go out and play for a bit?"

"Did I go out and play?"

I shook my lips at the subtle barking of the head of the 1st Division. He is clearly human, not a water spirit, so why does he bark when he opens his mouth? You should try to be awkward with me for a few years.

"Ugh!"

He tried to hit my arm, which was holding his lips, so I held it tighter. This time, it seemed to hurt a bit, as tears welled up in his eyes. Indeed, the head of the 1st Division looks better when he's crying...

"Brother, don't be too harsh. Sister also works hard and wants to rest a bit."

Behind the struggling head of the 1st Division, Louise cautiously approached. The head of the 1st Division looked at Louise, who was defending him, with a grateful expression, even with his lips held. Oh, did I cause a bit of a commotion?

I let go of his lips, and he quickly hid behind Louise. The way he only stuck out his head was quite embarrassing. A 25-year-old hiding behind a 17-year-old...? My annoyed gaze made the head of the 1st Division look at me with a pout.

"The head should value cute subordinates more."

I almost blurted out "puppy" instinctively but held back because Louise was right in front of me. The head of the 1st Division grinned and patted Louise's back.

"See? The head seems to be weak for you."

"Hehe..."

Louise scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed at the head of the 1st Division's words. I'm sorry, it seems you're suffering by getting involved in this.

"Come out from behind your young sister."

"No."

"Louise, can you step aside for a moment?"

"Ah, yes."

"Uh...?"

Louise moved from in front of the head of the 1st Division to my side without hesitation. The head of the 1st Division looked at her with a dazed expression. Is Louise closer to me or to you? Your failure for not even making this simple calculation.

After suppressing the head of the 1st Division's 3.5-minute rebellion, I gave him a break, as Louise's words bothered me. Yes, if I push him, I should let him rest a bit. But he can only rest inside the booth, not outside.

"Is there anything more meaningless than resting at the workplace?"

He grumbled but sat in a corner of the booth to rest. His talent for adding unnecessary comments is quite impressive.

"By the way, what does 'crow' mean?"

The head of the 1st Division, who had been looking around, asked in a low voice. "Crow" is a slang term for an intelligence officer who operates outside. This is one of the countless traditions of the intelligence department. If I had been called a "crow," I would have bitten my tongue.

"You need to work with me tomorrow. Mokgwangdae is also coming."

"Wow, really?"

At the mention of Mokgwangdae, the head of the 1st Division, who had been indifferent, brightened up. He must be happy to see the 4th Division again after a long time. I remember he was particularly close to the head of the 4th Division.

"But why is Mokgwangdae coming?"

"The Apels Revival Army is coming to the academy tomorrow."

"Who?"

"The Apels Revival Army."

At the mention of the Apels Revival Army, the head of the 1st Division looked as if a graduate student had just heard that their advisor, who promised to take responsibility for them, was retiring. It was indeed a ridiculous piece of news. I, as well as the head of the intelligence department, was quite taken aback.

As I waited for the head of the 1st Division to come to his senses, his expression suddenly changed subtly.

'That kid's achievement instinct is kicking in again.'

The recent activities of the Apels Revival Army date back at least 200 years. Naturally, the head of the 1st Division has never seen or interrogated them. A new rebel without any interrogation experience? Perfect for stimulating the head of the 1st Division's achievement instinct.

"Hehehe..."

I quietly turned my gaze as he started to laugh, having reached some conclusion.

The first day of the exhibition ended. Despite it being the first day, I feel as if I've already been mentally exhausted for 3-4 days, which is quite sad.

"The head of the 1st Division was so excited. I think there will be chaos again."

- But the head of the 1st Division does a good job, doesn't he?

"If he didn't, would I have kept him around?"

I sat on the bed with the communication device in my hand and exchanged updates with the head of the 4th Division, who is now the head of Mokgwangdae... It's hard to call him that, but it's the 4th Division head.

"Things were easier with you around, but now the crazy ones are running wild. The gap is too big."

- Thank you for your kind words.

The head of the 4th Division bowed his head at my words. His long gray hair followed the movement of his bowed head.

"Well, let's talk again tomorrow. Is noon okay?"

- Contact me when it's convenient for you. I'll be available anytime.

"Sure. Oh, and the head of the 1st Division also wants to see you, so contact him if you have time."

- Understood.

The head of the 4th Division, who was the next to be sad when I was sold to the Special Affairs Bureau, was the head of the 1st Division. They were close because they were the only female officers among the Inspection Department's executives. When the head of the 4th Division left, she complained that she would be the only woman left.

- Then I'll take my leave. It's an honor to work with you again, sir.

The head of the 4th Division bowed again and ended the call. I miss her more and more as time passes. It's hard to find someone as polite and well-mannered as her.

Thinking about the three useless executives who remain in the Inspection Department, I sighed. Still, it's fortunate that there are three sane people to counter the three crazy ones.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

It took 38 chapters for the setting of the Inspection Department to be revealed, and the genders of the executives are now all public. I didn't intend to keep it so tightly wrapped, but it just happened this way.

1. Is it realistic to become a head at 19? = Many people found it plausible for various reasons, but it was still a controversial promotion at the time.

2. The surrounding reactions to the young head are too calm? = There were opposition forces that were not calm, but they were eliminated (physically).

I'm glad I could explain the two major mysteries about the sword a bit...

The main event has finally started. The results will be out in 12 hours, but I will come to you, dear readers, tomorrow regardless of the outcome!

Thank you for reading this chapter!