Chapter 96

After knocking down the cake and falling over, I chased away the second section chief and the first section chief, who was whining about how unfair it was after all the preparation. His face was a picture of sorrow, but his voice was full of laughter, indicating he had a talent for provocation. I wished that if I had a subordinate like him under me, it would be great.

In the end, my first task after returning to work after a long time was to clean up the cake scattered on the floor. I should have told them to clean up and leave, but I dismissed them too early.

‘Is there a demon in here?’

There must be a demon in the Inspection Department. Team leaders are usually respectful to section chiefs, but for some reason, once they become section chiefs, they become rebellious against the department heads like ghosts. I remember the minister, who used to raise his voice to the then-department head when he was a section chief.

Sometimes I miss the section chiefs who were tense and stiff. Just two years ago, they were sharp, strict, and serious, so why did they turn out like this?

"Since the Inspection Department has a tough job, let's be comfortable with each other!"

Hecate’s words when the team leaders were awkward with each other in the northern region flashed through my mind. Hecate, this time you were wrong. It’s fine among us, but it was a mistake to be too lenient with those guys.

-Knock knock

"Head, it’s the deputy."

"Ah, come in."

The person I could understand even if they acted a bit rudely is still respectful. This is a kind of balance, I guess.

The deputy, carrying a pile of documents, flinched when he saw me squatting and quietly put down the documents. I’m sorry for showing such an ugly sight.

"I’ll help you."

"Thanks."

I brought a cake that was unnecessarily large, and we still haven’t finished cleaning it up. They say that if five people gather, one of them is bound to be a troublemaker, so how many of us are troublemakers?

"I’ll reassign the night shift."

"Okay."

The deputy, who had been quietly picking up bread crumbs, spoke softly. This was a strong appeal that he wanted to take the night shift for today after causing such a mess. He would probably be disappointed if I let him go home on time.

At 21 and 32, we squatted to clean up the mess caused by the immature 25 and 27-year-old adults. The amount of documents the deputy brought was considerable. After a few months without a head, there must have been a lot of backlog. Even with a deputy head, some matters require the final approval of the head.

"The north is still in chaos."

"There are still many issues in the severely affected areas."

Especially, the number of approvals related to the north was overwhelming. The north suffered the most significant damage in the Great Purge War, so its aftermath is ongoing.

At least, the war itself mostly took place outside the border in the northern region, except for the occasional counterattacks on the border areas. This prevented the territory from being destroyed, but the north provided a lot of resources and manpower, so it’s struggling.

The problem is the lack of a clear command structure to lead the post-war reconstruction in the north. The Count of Victory, who is responsible for the northern nobles, is staying in the capital, not in his territory, and the only Marquis in the north is too busy monitoring the nomads to have the capacity to oversee the internal affairs.

"Send a few to the Judicial Department. They’re complaining that we’re taking their jobs."

"Understood."

With the reconstruction funds pouring in but no leader to oversee and distribute them, it’s natural for embezzlement parties to break out, and the Inspection Department will show up as surprise guests at such parties.

No wonder new recruits in the Inspection Department are expected to gain experience in the north. After so many crackdowns, even the Judicial Department is making sad protests like, "Leave us some of the credit."

But the scale and volume are ridiculous. Two or three cases from other regions combined are as big as one from the north. These bastards, don’t they get scared when their accomplices are dragged to the capital? They have a strange tenacity.

"The minister will be pleased."

Thinking of someone slamming their desk and shouting, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Allocating reconstruction funds is the job of the Finance Department. They scrounged up every penny and sent it to the north, but if embezzlement parties break out there, the minister will be the first to grab his neck.

But it doesn’t matter. I’m not the one who makes the budget; the minister is. The minister’s pain is my happiness.

While flipping through the documents, I came across something strange.

[Request for dispatch of the Inspection Department by Marquis Sorden]

‘What’s this?’

A request from the only Marquis in the north. It’s not a request to be taken lightly, and why would someone busy monitoring nomads need the Inspection Department?

After looking at the document for a moment and turning to the deputy, I saw he was also frowning. It seems this is a puzzling or troublesome matter for him too.

"This request was received this morning. They are having difficulty tracking the distribution of supplies in the north."

"Great."

The last thing I wanted to hear.

Even though we fought each other by hitting the chest and groin until two years ago, there are still many pro-empire nomads in the north. And this relationship is maintained by regular payments of friendship fees.

So, whether through official trade, unofficial trade, or smuggling, the empire’s food and industrial products flow into the north through various routes. Sometimes, a part of the supplies released in the north goes unaccounted for and becomes a mystery.

Historically, this is a bad omen. Hiding supplies from the empire’s eyes means they are planning something the empire would find troublesome. Damn, how long has it been since the Khan died, and this is already happening?

"The Special Affairs Department?"

"They have already been deployed to the north. The Blacklight Team also recently returned from the north."

Of course, if Marquis Sorden requested a dispatch from the Inspection Department, it must have already reached the emperor’s ears. For an emperor who just suffered the Khan shock, sensing something amiss in the north is a terrifying piece of news.

This is maddening. We’ve been searching the north for two years because we couldn’t kill the Khan’s bloodline. Now, there’s one more trigger for the emperor’s outbursts involving the north.

"I hope it’s just a misunderstanding."

"Agreed."

I hope Marquis Sorden just made a mistake in counting the supplies. Then the emperor would scold him for not doing his job properly but secretly feel relieved.

Even if a pro-empire tribe is stockpiling supplies to beat up another pro-empire tribe, it’s fine as long as a large coalition like the Khan doesn’t appear.

‘Damn.’

A different kind of headache came over me, different from when I saw the first section chief’s cake. Nomads are never quiet for a moment. If the damage from the Khan wasn’t so severe, I would have pushed them all out.

Pressing my temples with my fingers, I let out a small sigh. At least I’m glad I came to work today. If I had taken the day off, I would have had to rush here in my pajamas because of this request.

"Send the dispatch to the second section."

"Understood."

We have to accept Marquis Sorden’s request. Since the focus will be on tracking the flow of supplies rather than combat, the second section is the right choice.

Wow, but this second section chief. He’s avoiding the night shift like this.

‘But it’s a dispatch instead.’

It’s like someone gave a gift to the second section chief, who fervently avoids the night shift. At least he avoided the night shift.

By the time we finished processing all the documents the deputy brought, the sun had already started to set. I easily exceeded the regular working hours on my first day back.

Do they even propose a civil servant labor law in the Imperial Parliament? Of course, with all the lords in the Imperial Parliament, it’s unlikely.

-Knock knock

Just as I was about to get up to leave, the knock on the door made me frown. Damn, what now?

"Head!"

The first section chief poked his head in before I could say to come in. I was even more annoyed that it was the first section chief who was interrupting my departure. Why do you have to be the one to greet me at the start and end of my workday?

"I have to go."

"Are you still angry?"

"Get lost if you know."

"Ouch..."

He’s making an “ouch” sound.

"If you have no business, go quickly. I want to go home too."

"Since we’re already late, why are you in such a hurry?"

The first section chief’s pouting face almost made me raise my hand again. Calm down, getting excited here will only make me leave later.

"This is a gift!"

While I was battling my inner impulses, the first section chief extended the hand behind his back. A huge cake in the first section chief’s hand. Not this guy again.

My face must have twisted automatically, as the first section chief quickly continued.

"A gift! This time, it’s a real gift!"

"Was the last one a fake gift?"

"Ah."

So, if this one is real, the last one was a deliberate prank. It’s common to confess to one’s crimes while speaking hastily.

Anyway, I sighed and reached out as the first section chief awkwardly looked around. He covered his lips with his free hand, and I was momentarily taken aback by his instinctive defense.

I just wanted to take the cake. Did I pull his hand so often that he reacts like this just by reaching out?

...I did do it often.

"Give it. I’ll eat it well."

"Here you go."

Worried that I might pretend to take it and then grab his lips, the first section chief still had his hand over his mouth. Seeing this, I felt a bit solemn. Honestly, it’s self-inflicted, but it looks a bit sad.

"Thank you."

I patted his shoulder lightly and thanked him. If I attacked his lips here, I would really make him cry.

But I held back. It’s not right to do that to someone who genuinely gives a gift.

"Are you not angry anymore, Head?"

"I got over it a while ago."

I was just sensitive because my departure was interrupted. If I stay angry from morning to evening over something that happened in the morning, that’s not human; that’s a rage virus carrier.

"Then, can you cancel my night shift?"

"I’m leaving."

"Ah! Head!"

I ignored the desperate calls from behind.

I thought it was a genuine gift, but this guy is not pure-hearted.