Ch.30Organizational Restructuring (1)

# Chapter 30: Organizational Restructuring (1)

‘They’re all pretty much the same anyway, so I might as well stay on good terms with Arthraia.’

After choosing option 1, while I was burning through all kinds of hopeful scenarios…

The day I both dreaded and anticipated finally arrived.

“Riel, today will finally be… the day of our final battle.”

“Minister, have you perhaps been injected with some strange drug?”

Hearing Riel’s words, which showed she still didn’t understand the situation, I sighed deeply and said:

“Sigh… you really don’t know anything, Riel.”

“I don’t understand why someone who’s usually more sensible than me occasionally malfunctions like this.”

“…”

But when Riel spoke so scathingly, the raging fire of my happiness circuit began to gradually subside.

And as my happiness circuit started to shut down, its place was naturally taken by rational thinking…

“Surely Arthraia wouldn’t do something so cruel to me.”

“Finally back to normal, I see.”

Returning to rationality at the last moment, I felt my anxiety unnecessarily amplifying.

Nevertheless, I tried to maintain my composure as much as possible, even taking deep breaths, but…

-Ding♪

The moment that unnecessarily cheerful and bright alarm sound reached my ears, I couldn’t hide my startled reaction.

“It’s the organizational restructuring confirmation notice. You should check it.”

“Hmm.”

How should I put this?

With Riel standing right beside me, speaking so nonchalantly without any particular reaction, I somehow felt reassured.

“…This is truly a tense moment.”

Of course, when I actually tried to turn on the terminal screen, I couldn’t help but show a slightly nervous expression…

“How long are you going to keep stalling?”

“Ah!”

That ill-mannered humanoid boldly stuck her finger at the imperial minister’s terminal, and as a result…

-Ting!

With the official restructuring plan appearing before I had time to mentally prepare, a new event message popped up in my view.

[Event: Major Organizational Restructuring!]

[The Holy Sebelli Empire has been suffering from a kind of hardening condition due to the numerous bureaucratic layers that have accumulated over many years in this vast cosmic empire.]

[Much like industrial accident victims who limp from injuries accumulated through years of overwork.]

[However, the Empire’s Emperor, Arthraia, has declared a major operation for the dinosaur-like civil service and government.]

[And finally, through this major operation, the dinosaur known as the Holy Sebelli Empire can once again take powerful steps forward!]

[Reward: Increased Imperial Influence and Integration]

Seeing this event window full of typical flowery language, I felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation.

‘Ah, this is just a passing event, so nothing specific will happen to me.’

But just as I was about to burn through another hopeful circuit…

‘Wait, why is there a scroll…’

[Additional Reward (When selecting option 1): Additional linked event progression]

Seeing another random reward pop up, I couldn’t help but look dumbfounded.

“What is this?”

——————–

And as time passed again, the day of the appointment ceremony for each department through organizational restructuring arrived.

“Hello, I belong to the Fisheries Management Office…”

“Pleased to meet you, I’m involved with the 32nd Trade Team…”

-Whisper whisper

-Murmur murmur

“Sigh.”

Perhaps because it was the day when the power holders and those responsible for each department were being appointed, people from departments not usually seen had flocked to the imperial palace.

Moreover, the place where these people gathered was none other than the Grand Hall—the party venue of the imperial palace.

Normally, this place would be filled with nobles covered in all sorts of gaudy decorations, but now it was filled with civil servants wearing drab uniforms or suits.

Witnessing this unusual sight, how should I put it…

“It’s crowded with people.”

“Humans are like garbage.”

-Smack!

“Stop saying strange things, let’s get moving now.”

After stopping the crazy robot who was trying to destroy someone’s reputation in real-time, I decided to head to a relatively secluded spot in preparation for the upcoming appointment ceremony.

Of course, due to the large number of people gathered in the Grand Hall, I had to make semi-forced contact with many people on the way…

“Ah, Minister of the Execution Department…”

“Hmm, just passing through.”

“Ah! I-I apologize for the intrusion!”

Like Pokémon trainers, randomly appearing civil servants recognized my face and hurriedly retreated.

After reaching a fairly secluded spot in the Grand Hall…

The moment Riel and I sat down on the sofa prepared in the corner…

“Ahem, ahem, I would like to inform everyone gathered here…”

“Oh, it’s starting.”

With perfect timing as the appointment ceremony began, I decided to enjoy watching it with Riel in a relaxed state.

But if someone were to see me like this, they might say that my current state was that of a madman running on baseless happiness circuits.

However, I had my own reasons to believe…

——————–

A few days ago.

“Arthraia, about this organizational restructuring…”

“Oh, that?”

Having coincidentally met with Arthraia again, I casually dropped bait about the upcoming restructuring.

And Arthraia, while receiving a full-body massage from her maids, gave me a proper answer even while experiencing bliss on her bed:

“Well, since the Execution Department is going to be merged… you’ll be stepping down as the Minister of the Execution Department…”

“Oh.”

————————–

This direct statement from the Emperor herself was the basis for my happiness circuit.

Of course, one might question whether such a basis could be formed merely from ‘words’…

But in the only imperial system in the universe, the Emperor who runs such a system wouldn’t lie about something so trivial.

‘It’s a matter of her own dignity and prestige, surely Arthraia wouldn’t tell me a blatant lie.’

Therefore, I could watch with amusement at the poor civil servants who were reacting emotionally to the announcement results, with an even more comfortable mind.

‘Logically speaking, they would choose a minister from a proper department first, rather than someone who ran a groundless group like the Execution Department.’

However, even I had no way of knowing in advance who would be appointed as the new minister of the Diplomatic Execution Department.

‘I wonder what kind of useful person they’ve chosen, that they won’t tell me.’

Since Arthraia wouldn’t tell me directly, I even tried to use my authority as the Execution Department minister and information leak routes through insiders via Riel.

Despite all that, I couldn’t figure it out, which would have irritated me a few weeks ago.

But strangely, this actually reassured me.

‘The fact that they’re protecting the information this thoroughly means the person must be much better than I thought.’

And it couldn’t be a non-existent person either.

‘Judging from the bits of new information that emerged during the tracking process, it must definitely be a living person.’

Whoever Arthraia had chosen, I felt an inexplicable sense of warmth at how thoroughly they were being protected.

‘Indeed, you also want me to retire and enjoy the sweet life.’

It might be quite a stretch, but I decided to think that way anyway.

——————

After some more time passed…

Having made a somewhat rational judgment, there was no reason to be emotional about the appointment ceremony anymore.

Therefore, I decided to simply enjoy the moment and wish good fortune to whoever would become the minister of the Diplomatic Execution Department.

And not long after the announcements began, it finally came to the turn of the Diplomatic Execution Department.

-Pam-pa-ba-bam!

With a cheerful trumpet sound, a booming voice erupted from the microphone of the presenter standing at the podium.

“Next, I announce the birth of a new department, the Diplomatic Execution Department, through the integration of the Diplomatic Department and the Execution Department.”

“Oh.”

“Finally, our successor agency is being announced. I wonder who will be in charge.”

“Indeed.”

With that loud voice creating unnecessary anticipation, we unconsciously focused all our attention on the information that voice would reveal…

[Linked Event: Spokesperson for the Emperor’s Will]

[The Emperor was impressed by your decision to follow her will.]

[And for your sake, the Emperor has decided to increase your power by placing the troublesome Diplomatic Department under your command.]

[Reward: Appointment of Arto Virtorius Sebelli as Minister of the Diplomatic Execution Department.]

“The first Minister of the new Diplomatic Execution Department is… former Execution Department Minister, Duke Arto!”

“…What?”

Hearing this sudden shocking news, I couldn’t hide my surprise… for multiple reasons.