Chapter 407: The Emperor Doesn’t Know Labor Laws (3)

From the day I scattered reward money to the dying zombies until now, I’ve tried not to even glance towards the Senior Manager’s office if I can help it. It’ll probably be like that until the last day.

After all, they’re grinding away their bodies and souls in real-time to realize the Retired Emperor’s final personnel order. If a superior needlessly hovers around, wouldn’t it rapidly chip away at their lifespan? I know that feeling well.

If I were a specialist in administrative processing, I’d at least try to end the suffering of those pitiful zombies, but I’d honestly only be a hindrance if I intervene in the situation the Senior Manager is leading. If you can’t be helpful, at least don’t be a nuisance.

If you stay still, you’re at least halfway there.

I don’t know who came up with this saying, but it’s wise. If you can’t be a competent and diligent superior, it’s better to be an incompetent and quiet one.

— Aren’t you being too lazy?

“Isn’t it better than burning everything by insisting on handling it all yourself?”

Even Elizabeth couldn’t refute this, nodding seriously.

The former Executive Manager of the Prosecutors’ Office proved how annoying it is when a superior meddles everywhere. He wasn’t incompetent, but he was a capable bastard, which made him a real pain. Even Elizabeth grimaces at the mention of the former Executive Manager, so the suffering of the Prosecutors’ Office officials at that time must have been indescribable.

He was crazy.

Even setting aside personal feelings, that guy was truly insane. Right after I took the position of the Prosecutors’ Office’s Executive Manager, I could only laugh bitterly while looking at the materials left by the former head.

Who wipes out an entire village just to find one traitor?

He even wiped it out when it wasn’t even confirmed that the traitor was in that village.

Of course, among the Prosecutors’ Office’s Executive Manager’s authorities is the right to execute on a regional scale, but past heads rarely used it unless it was a truly urgent situation. I haven’t used it until now either.

But he was probably the only one who used it like it was nothing. No wonder his entire family was wiped out when the 2nd Prince’s faction fell.

— It seems a superior should at least be quiet if they’re not fun.

Elizabeth muttered softly, perhaps reaching the same conclusion.

Yes, while the word ‘fun’ is a bit grating, it’s true. It’s best for a superior to just sit quietly in their seat. I wish the Emperor would realize that too—

— Ah, the Intelligence Department’s Executive Manager is a quiet person too, right?

“Yeah.”

I nodded at Elizabeth’s words that cut off my thoughts. I had already told her that the 1st Division in charge of interrogation and the 2nd Division in charge of intelligence would be moving to the Intelligence Department. Now, Elizabeth’s direct superior will be the Intelligence Department’s Executive Manager.

Fortunately, the Intelligence Department’s Executive Manager is beyond quiet, bordering on having a faint presence. He’s like a legendary Pokémon, hard to see unless you actively seek him out in his office. At least he’s not the type to bother his subordinates.

But actually…

“The 2nd Manager will be the Intelligence Senior Manager.”

— What?

“When the Ministry of Inspection is established, the 2nd Manager will be your superior.”

Unfortunately, the Senior Manager who will lead the Managers in place of the office-bound Executive Manager is the 2nd Manager. It’s a lineup that makes your chest feel tight.

— Can I retire?

Elizabeth asked cautiously, her eyes darting around. She seems to be feeling dizzy at the thought of the 2nd Manager becoming her superior instead of a colleague.

Well, Elizabeth might know the 2nd Manager better than me, her superior. They were often together being of the same rank, and they collaborated frequently due to having similar types of work.

“How could you?”

However, I can’t give Elizabeth the answer she wants. How could a weak Executive Manager who can’t even give vacations decide on a Manager’s retirement?

If retirement was possible, I would have done it first. Even if it’s my lover, I can’t yield on retirement.

— If retirement isn’t possible, then how about a transfer? Senior Aria went to the Empress’s Palace too, so they’ll need more ladies-in-waiting, right? Can’t you send me there?

“No.”

Her effort to look pitiful while blinking her eyes is admirable, but that’s even more impossible.

What sin has the Empress committed?

What crime has the Empress committed to have to live with Elizabeth as her lady-in-waiting? I know they’re unexpectedly close, but being close and employing her as a lady-in-waiting are separate issues.

Moreover, the Empress recently gave birth and needs to rest, and she’s in the noble position of Empress who needs to embrace the imperial family and the empire. And to have Elizabeth by such an Empress’s side? Instead of receiving Elizabeth’s assistance, she might develop stress-induced illnesses trying to deal with Elizabeth’s eccentricities.

It’s a harsh evaluation of my lover, but one I can make honestly because she is my lover. To control Elizabeth, you need to subdue her with even greater madness, and it’s unconscionable to expect the Empress to do what even I can’t.

“Don’t worry, I’ll promote you when the time comes.”

So I tried to soothe her by suggesting a different direction, but,

— If I get promoted, won’t the 2nd Manager get promoted too?! Then it’s meaningless!

A logically perfect statement flew at me, and I couldn’t refute it.

This is all because of the 2nd Manager…

These are the best days. If my life were always like this, I think I could smile even if my status were lowered to a commoner.

Our little bundle of joy.

I couldn’t help but smile seeing my adorable son, Julian, sleeping soundly in his cradle.

No matter how many times I look, he’s the spitting image of Christina and me. His navy hair, like downy feathers, is beautifully reminiscent of Christina, and his blue eyes, though not visible now as he’s sleeping, sparkle like mine.

I already feel sorry for the future ladies who will grace the social circles. It’s heartbreaking to think of those ladies falling lovesick because of our Julian. Even this father made many ladies cry before meeting his life partner.

But that’s all experience too, I suppose.

I smiled even more deeply watching his hand twitch as if dreaming. If my son were to take advantage of ladies, I’d be the first to scold him, but simply having many romantic experiences shouldn’t be a flaw.

Being popular and having a trash personality are separate issues. Of course.

“Lafayette.”

“Ah, Christina.”

As I was endlessly gazing at Julian, I turned my head at Christina’s call from behind.

Christina approached with a broad smile and embraced me. I hugged her back and kissed her forehead.

No matter how many times I think about it, these truly are the best days.

“It’s nice to see you here from the morning as always.”

“Haha, indeed it is.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her words. Living with my life partner and having the fruit of our love are both happy things, but it’s also joyous that I’ve secured a vacation because of it. I can be with my family from the morning like this.

I’ve managed to get a honeymoon leave and parental leave in succession, vacations that even the harsh administrative department never touches. Thanks to this, I’ve been able to enjoy peaceful days even while the Prosecutors’ Office is busy with the establishment of the Ministry of Inspection.

When Julian was born, we couldn’t even have imagined that the Prosecutors’ Office would become a ministry. Perhaps Julian is a gift from Enen for all my hard work?

By the time my vacation ends, the establishment should be in its final stages.

It’s obvious. The Senior Manager must be pushing the work forward in place of the Executive Manager, and the Executive Manager wouldn’t overturn what the Senior Manager has done.

The only variable might be the Intelligence Department’s Executive Manager, but he’s also drowning in the Intelligence Department’s work, so he’s not likely to engage in a power struggle with the Senior Manager.

In other words, the establishment of the Ministry of Inspection is proceeding without any room for me to intervene.

Perfect.

So I just need to leisurely report to work at the completed Ministry of Inspection—

Huh?

The communication crystal I habitually carry in my breast pocket started glowing.

Who could it be this early in the morning? Father or Mother? Or perhaps my father-in-law or mother-in-law?

“This is Baron Lafayette.”

I moved away a bit and took out the crystal, in case the conversation might wake Julian.

— It’s me.

“Executive Manager?”

I frowned at the unexpected caller. I never thought it would be the Executive Manager.

“Come on, contacting someone on vacation?”

It’s too unexpected. It’s an unspoken rule in the Prosecutors’ Office not to bother someone on vacation unless it’s a real emergency. If the Executive Manager contacts Managers on work matters during their vacation, the Managers would make the Executive Manager’s vacation colorful too.

It was the ultimate consideration to keep each other alive. That was what vacation meant in the Prosecutors’ Office, but the Executive Manager crossed that line. It’s regrettable.

— I’m sorry. Something came up that I need to tell you right away.

Of course, the probability of an urgent situation arising is higher than the probability of the Executive Manager crossing the line.

We’re doomed.

I instinctively thought so. If it’s a situation serious enough for the Executive Manager to ignore the unspoken rule and contact me, what on earth has happened? I almost wish he had just crossed the line.

— Where are you right now?

“…I’m in the capital, at least.”

— That’s good.

Anxiety started creeping up. He’s saying it’s fortunate that I’m within a distance where I can rush over immediately.

— Yesterday, I submitted a temporary list of Ministry of Inspection executives to His Majesty, and he’s summoned all the candidates. It seems he intends to appoint them as per the draft.

I unconsciously swallowed.

“Um, Executive Manager? Why are you telling me this…?”

I had a hunch about the content, but I spoke while trying to deny it. Hoping that what the Executive Manager just said meant ‘So we need someone to fill in.’ If that’s what he meant, I was ready to grumble but willingly help.

However, reality was always cruel.

— I put your name down as the Intelligence Department’s Senior Manager.

“……”

The best days of my life began to crumble.

As I was moving to the Ministry of Finance building, I unconsciously looked up at the sky.

It’s so damn clear.

It’s clear to the point of being cruel. The sky is just clear, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

“Senior Manager? So you’ve been promoted? Congratulations! That’s really great!”

It’s pitiful. There’s no one to comfort me in my suffering. Even Christina, who had been pouting at the news that I had to go to work during my vacation, smiled brightly and rejoiced at the news of my promotion.

I know that’s the normal reaction. It’s normal to aim for promotion as a goal to strive for throughout one’s career as a civil servant—it’s the Prosecutors’ Office executives who worked like dogs as soon as they became executives that are unusual.

But we are the Prosecutors’ Office. We’re witnesses who’ve seen in real-time how painful it becomes with each promotion. For us, promotion is a poison that should be avoided as much as possible.

Senior Manager?

Moreover, having seen the Senior Manager living buried in paperwork, there’s no word more terrifying than “Senior Manager.”

I’m going crazy. Being a Manager in my 20s was already beyond my capacity, but a Senior Manager in my 20s? Does this make any sense?

— The 3rd Manager is now the Enforcement Department’s Executive Manager, just so you know.

But remembering the 3rd Manager who has risen beyond Senior Manager to Executive Manager, I felt a little calmer.

Right, I’m better off than him.

And a Senior Manager in his 20s is much better than a minister in his 20s.

Hah.

I decided to think of it that way.