Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Summoned to the PR Department (2)
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* * *
Even before stepping into the PR Department, Dodo's photos—still not fully cleared away—caught their eyes.
A quick glance suggested Dodo hadn't posed willingly: dressed in a frilly pink outfit loaded with lace, or mimicking a gentleman in a black suit—the concepts varied, but every single one had a stiff, frozen expression.
"...What's this about?"
The man, who had abruptly ended his call, glared at Terisha and Sernal.
A human in his middle years, he couldn't fully hide his anger.
'Yeah, it'd be hard to mask that.'
Sernal gave a light chuckle.
He'd just heard on the phone that Complaints had taken Dodo—how infuriating must it be to learn they were Complaints?
"No, perfect timing, actually."
The middle-aged man set down the receiver and strode toward them.
"What the hell kind of stunt is Complaints pulling?"
"Watch your mouth."
Terisha fired back immediately, her ferocity from that petite frame startling even Sernal. Straight to the attack from the jump.
"We're recording on body cam right now. Keep that in mind if you don't want this biting you later."
The middle-aged man ignored her, exhaling dramatically.
"...No more chit-chat. Hand over Dodo right now."
"Dodo isn't PR property."
"I haven't approved any transfer yet. So Dodo's still with PR."
"No. That's not true."
Terisha flatly denied it, her expression unchanging, no matter how the man trembled with rage.
"Under the Special Non-Human Rights Act, anyone facing discrimination can request a department transfer without team leader or superior approval. Dodo followed proper procedure to join Complaints—perfectly valid. Not PR anymore. Didn't you know?"
Terisha's sly smile signaled she had the upper hand.
'Is this the power of experience?'
Sernal felt it again.
It was... convenient. Extremely so.
The usual exhaustion felt noticeably lighter.
"The reason Complaints is here at PR is to investigate discrimination against Dodo."
"We kindly ask for your cooperation."
Sernal followed Terisha's lead, scanning the others.
'Quick on the uptake.'
Everyone's eyes were on them, but their hands kept moving.
"Stop right there. Touch any evidence from now on, and you'll face charges for tampering and concealment later."
But how many would listen to words alone?
Sernal spread his mana, blanketing every desk.
He slipped his hand behind his back and cast.
[Cover.]
Mana turned into a thin film like spiderwebs, draping over the desks.
It shimmered faintly for a split second—someone flinched, then glared at Terisha.
"Did you just... use glitter dust?"
"No. I didn't do anything."
Terisha denied it, so Sernal spoke up boldly.
"I did. It'll sting."
Snap.
Sernal flicked his fingers, and the sheen sharpened vividly.
"...Argh!"
Someone screamed, the cry spreading like contagion.
"Let me say it again. Touch any evidence, and it'll go badly for you later."
Sernal put more force into his voice.
"Now!"
The middle-aged man bellowed.
Using force crossed a line, didn't it?
"What the hell are you doing in my PR Department?"
His face flushed red.
Rustle.
Terisha pulled the neatly folded complaint form from her bag and held it out.
"We've received an official complaint. We're handling it—not pulling stunts. Mind your words?"
Polite on the surface, but thorns laced her tone.
"Who the fuck filed it? Who dared?"
The man whipped around, glaring at his team. Who here could know what happened?
"We can't disclose the complainant's identity."
Sernal paused mid-sentence at a pained "Urk," smirking. Words alone? Nah—pain teaches best.
"Even asking is illegal. Didn't you know?"
"You punks acting like gangsters? Bring evidence! Evidence!"
"Plenty."
Sernal casually pointed to Dodo's photos on the wall.
"Forgot this is PR?"
"How could we?"
"This as evidence? Laughable. Hey, you think 'cause the government's backing your department, you're hot shit? Wake up. As your senior, I'm telling you—your division's a joke. Running around yelling 'non-human discrimination'—you think that flies? Really?"
Pfft.
Mid-sentence, the man snorted derisively at Terisha and Sernal.
Complaints had always been delusional dreamers lost in fantasy—nothing more, nothing less.
If the government snapped to reality and pulled support, Complaints' fate was obvious.
"Get real. No matter how much you scamper about, nothing changes. Think people are idiots? It's the age of money. Upper, middle, lower class by wealth—how the hell you gonna fix that?"
"Got it all recorded, Terisha?"
Sernal murmured to her.
"Of course. Crystal clear."
"Then, your turn."
Sernal yielded to Terisha. Still on probation—he had to learn.
"You've insulted not just us, but everyone at Complaints, those who pushed for the Non-Human Discrimination Ban, and even the law's purpose: 'equality for all.'"
"Stating facts is an insult?"
So what?
The man was brazen, whatever he believed.
But Terisha's face stayed stone-cold. Even Sernal was starting to get it—what propped this guy up.
PR team leader. Untouchable position, he figured.
Results pending, though.
Terisha pressed on, unflinching.
"This violates the government's directive to civil servants: 'Strictly enforce the Non-Human Discrimination Ban.'"
"No, when did I discriminate? You stole my staff first, then obstruct work with bullshit excuses! Try me!"
"Dodo hasn't been assigned a single task since joining."
"...What? No assignments? Look—right there. Got eyes? Face of the department!"
"Despite being team leader, you didn't stop discrimination—you encouraged it."
"So..."
"Dodo isn't a doll. Not a pet either. Didn't you know the government's cracking down on treating spirit beast species like animals?"
"You know what PR does? Our job?"
"Yes."
"Then shut up. Dodo was our mascot, and you stole him. Know how much trouble you've caused us? Know?!"
"That's exactly the problem."
Terisha nailed his own words.
Precisely.
"Let me ask: Do you even know what Complaints does?"
"Think I'm stupid?"
"I'll throw that right back. Think we're stupid?"
Terisha hammered hard.
"No circumstances justify acting against someone's will."
"I did that? Me?"
"Yes, you."
He laughed uproariously at her response, incredulous.
"You treated Dodo—a spirit beast—like a doll. As team leader, blocked learning PR duties. Even if assigned promo work, no explanations, no respect as a person!"
Sernal, watching the staff, felt a chill at Terisha's words.
'Amazing presence.'
Sernal smirked, casting again.
[Shrink.]
Best way to seize all computers.
Mana already blanketed—no need to pick.
Computers shrank in an instant; the whole department erupted.
"Th-they shrank!"
"The computers—th-the computers shrank!"
The tiny ones flew, piling into Sernal's palm.
"You! What the fuck?!"
In the chaos, the man stormed toward Sernal.
Sernal's palm brimmed with fingernail-sized computers.
"What? Securing evidence. Forgot Complaints has investigative authority?"
Sernal flaunted them, pocketing into his bag.
Unable to take it, the man lunged at Sernal.
"You've crossed the line—"
"Don't touch Sernal senior!"
The door flew open; Dodo shouted.
Pant pant.
Dodo, breathless, eyes wide—Sernal's collar nearly grabbed.
Then, the forehead mark darkened.
Rumble.
The ground shook; Dodo's small claws grew, fur bristling.
Body swelling—before Sernal could act, Terisha approached, opening her clenched fist.
Soap bubbles enveloped Dodo.
"It's okay."
The rainbow shimmer soothed Dodo's racing heart.
'Fairy race power.'
Sernal knew, but stared anyway.
The fairy race's legendary ability: illusions to captivate eyes and hearts, bringing joy.
But not always light like this.
They could twist sight, sound, touch, taste, smell—implant fakes or erase senses. Deadly dangerous.
Required forest essence, moonlight, morning dew—rituals, group effort usually.
Not all fairies needed groups, but the hassle led government to observe, not ban.
Pop.
Bubble burst; Dodo gulped.
"...Huh!"
Shaking stopped.
Dodo eyed his sharp claws, deflating.
"Dodo was so mad I almost divine-beast shifted. Sorry..."
Divine-beast shift: all spirit beasts' power.
Normally small, but shift made them lion-or-tiger-plus sized.
Both forms valid, but government deemed small the "true" one—debate ongoing.
"C-call the police! Now! Spirit beast's attacking!"
The man yelled belatedly.
First time seeing Dodo like this since joining—huge shock.
"Go ahead."
Sernal scoffed.
"Was gonna call anyway. You're obstructing now. Know the crime?"
Obstructing official duties.
Applied to fellow civil servants too.
Suddenly sobering—or recalling damning evidence?—the man froze, then plastered on a smile.
"...Dodo."
The word dripped disgust; Sernal's stomach churned.
How long since he last said it? So awkward.
"Dodo, say it yourself—it wasn't us. We treated you great, right? I ever make you overtime? Hard labor? I hooked you up with a sweet gig for your sake."
Scraaaape.
Dodo clawed the floor at the nonsense.
"Dodo didn't want that. Didn't join for doll play."
"No need to get salty."
"You said it first—like Dodo begged for it."
"We treated you royal—fancy clothes you'd never wear, pet care, grooming. You lapped it up, then bail to Complaints and complain now?"
"Did Dodo ever say once he wanted it?"
Dodo glared.
Fury ready to growl.
"Then when'd you say no? If you had, would I—would I have?"
"Dodo said no! Lots of times!"
Dodo yelled, injustice bursting.
Delivered it over and over! Dodo wants work! Hates pet treatment! Dodo's not a dog! Not a cat!
On the verge of tears, but Dodo held firm. No weakness.
"Anything left to say?"
Terisha stepped forward, defending Dodo.
"Dodo, if you forwarded those words to him, any record?"
Sernal asked softly, something clicking.
"In Dodo's email! Texts too! Tons!"
Emails, texts—man's face twisted.
Sernal savored it. He knew: game over.
"Good enough. Remember who discriminated?"
Terisha met Dodo's eyes gently.
"Yes! Dodo remembers good."
"Done. Evidence secured, ongoing discrimination recorded, team lead's antics filmed."
Sernal checked with Terisha; she nodded.
More than enough. Overkill.
Experience said: enough to gut a department.
Not literally, but purge incoming.
Team lead's head rolling for sure.
"Orders will come soon."
Terisha warned PR outright, then turned.
"Wait—misunderstanding! All a mix-up!"
Last to leave, Sernal turned at the man's plea, glaring, whispering venom:
Shut up.
What right to whine?
"Dodo. You spoke up great. Welcome to Complaints."
Sernal grinned praise.
"Really?"
Hee hee.
Dodo wagged happily, glancing back briefly.
PR Department.
Once terrifying, suffocating—clinging dread every visit.
Now? Nothing.
"Dodo."
Terisha smiled warmly; Dodo's eyes widened.
"Yes?"
"Waffle on the way back? Like waffles?"
"Yes! Dodo loves!"
"And Sernal?"
"...Whipped cream, light."
Sernal frowned slightly; Terisha grinned mischievously.
"Know a place with delish plain waffles. Coming?"
"Sernal senior too. With Dodo and Terisha senior."
Dodo's plea, Terisha's gaze—too much; Sernal scratched his neck, averting eyes.
"Sure, whatever."
Slacking off? Always welcome.
"Take it slow. Nice and easy."