Heading North (4)
The general manager couldn't hide his embarrassment. It was the first time he'd ever received such a demand.
"Sir... I have no idea why you're suddenly saying this..."
"The reason she's quitting will be explained by Miss Libera herself."
Libera clenched her fists. In a voice thick with emotion, she said,
"I just can't do this anymore."
"..."
"This doesn't feel like the place for me. No one acknowledges me... no one needs me here. Everyone wants me gone, so I'll leave on my own terms. Thank you for everything up until now."
"Wait. Hold on a moment, Miss Libera. Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Did something bad happen to you?"
"...Did something bad happen? Does the manager really know nothing?"
"Please calm down first. Miss Libera, you're far too worked up. Settle your mind and let's talk this through calmly..."
Dante interjected.
"I'm not sure there's much to talk about."
"...Sir. This is an internal matter between our crew."
"Not anymore. I recommended she switch jobs."
"...?"
Dante leaned against the wall and slowly opened his mouth. His posture was a bit slouched, but the manager couldn't point it out. The man before him was Dante Aision, eldest son of the Aision count family. He was the VVIP customer holding the most expensive ticket on this train—a noble from a wealthy count's house. Someone of that stature could slouch all he wanted!
"As the general manager, you really had no idea? There was bullying among the crew. The service attendants deliberately isolated Miss Libera."
"How... how would you know that, sir?"
"I heard the story and looked into it myself. This is my conclusion."
Dante spoke with a subtle smile.
"Miss Libera is a woman of great value, but the way she's been treated here is downright cheap."
"!"
"That's why I recommended she switch jobs. And she accepted."
The manager panicked. Libera wasn't handling any critical tasks, to be sure. But visually, she was more than adequate. A northern beauty working on a train heading north! Just having her stand there set the atmosphere, so he'd always considered her a solid crew member.
But... bullying? Something like that had been going on?
"Switching jobs? Isn't that a bit hasty?"
"..."
"Miss Libera, please calm down. It's all too common to make poor judgments when you're hurting right now. Have you really thought about how this rash decision might change your future...?"
"Yes. I've thought about it."
"..."
"It'll be better than this, at least."
The manager frowned and turned to Dante.
"What company did you recommend?"
Dante answered immediately.
"I'm planning to write a recommendation letter for the Petaconia Merchant Guild."
The manager's eyes widened in shock. The Petaconia Merchant Guild? Did he mean the massive operation run by Countess Shabrilla Petaconia...?!
But how? No way this young noble had connections to Countess Shabrilla!
The manager shook his head inwardly. No, impossible. At best, maybe a branch manager acquaintance. Ditching a luxury train attendant gig for merchant guild serving girl? That'd be a loss for Libera. Even if bullying was real, the pay here was solid—way better than some local shop clerk!
"You can really write a recommendation for the Petaconia Merchant Guild?"
As the manager eyed him suspiciously, Dante replied without changing expression.
"Of course."
"...If it's some middling guild, it might ruin Miss Libera's future."
Dante let out a scoffing chuckle.
"Since when have you been so devoted to her?"
"...Pardon?"
"You didn't even notice if a new attendant was fitting in. Pretending to care now just rings hollow. It only makes me question your managerial competence for doing nothing until this point."
"A-Are you saying that to me?!"
The manager's face flushed red. But Dante's next words turned it pale.
"Yes. To you."
"Such insolence..."
"Wouldn't it be better than me telling your company directly? I splurged on a Noble Class ticket, only to find the train in shambles. Wouldn't that count as a customer complaint?"
"..."
Dante was right. If it was just to the manager, he could file a report and be done. But if Dante bypassed him and complained straight to headquarters? It'd be the crew's doomsday!
As the ashen-faced manager fell silent, Dante drove the final nail.
"I'm not here to fight. I just came to terminate Miss Libera's contract and void any penalties or compensation claims."
"..."
Not here to fight. It might sound like a bad joke from anyone else, but Dante's words were cold reality. He wasn't here to fight because the manager had no grounds to resist. Dante demanded; the manager complied. This wasn't a fight. It was coercion.
"Just... just give me a moment."
The manager muttered while wiping cold sweat.
"I'll look into the details... confirm if Miss Libera really faced bullying... and then terminate the contract."
"Yes. I'll wait. But hurry."
"Th-Thank you..."
The manager bolted from the room in a fluster.
Libera looked at Dante worriedly.
"Is it okay to just let him go?"
"Worried?"
"...What if they all conspire and lie?"
Her concern was valid. Bullying was internal crew drama. If they closed ranks and clammed up, sorting right from wrong would get messy. We did nothing wrong. Didn't you mess up too? It'd devolve into a mudslinging mess, leaving even Dante without a sharp retort.
But Dante just smiled faintly.
"They won't have the luxury."
"...Pardon?"
"The baronesses are already on it."
Dante had already unleashed his hunting dogs(?). The baronesses! They'd dig into this boldly. Imperial noble ladies were no pushovers!
"We just wait here."
Dante said with a grin.
"It won't take long."
And it didn't.
The manager rushed to the crew quarters, only to find utter chaos.
"So—! Stop beating around the bush and explain yourselves properly!"
"Th-That is... well...!"
"Dodging again?! Is this how you treat imperial nobles?!!!"
The manager gaped. A pack of baronesses...!
Were tearing into the attendants mercilessly! Why?! What went wrong?!
"Pl-Please forgive us! If there's a problem, I'll resolve it right away!"
As the manager bowed first, the baronesses' eyes sharpened.
You just bowed first, right...? You're done for... Their chilling glares said it all!
"We've received a most displeasing report."
"A-A displeasing report...?"
"About workplace bullying. It was so absurd and infuriating, we couldn't stand it!"
"???"
"How can you treat a fellow human so cruelly and barbarically? And right in the heart of the Empire!"
Having seized the moral high ground, the baronesses never looked back. Righteous action demanded no hesitation!
"Ignoring such injustice? We'd lack the qualifications of imperial nobles!"
"Yes! We must root out corruption and uphold justice!"
"We'll report this to His Majesty the Emperor, so you know!"
As the noble ladies swarmed and shouted in unison, the attendants couldn't utter a peep. The manager was the same.
"Uh... please calm down first... just calm..."
"Calm?! You want us to calm down!? Now?!"
"Can't even tell who's at fault! Look at this shamelessness!"
"Apologize first! Right now!"
"..."
"..."
As Dante had planned, the baronesses relentlessly interrogated the crew and successfully uncovered evidence of the bullying.
"To think I used a product from such an immoral company. Unbelievable!"
"We need to spread this across the entire Empire—no one left unaware!"
"My father knows the newspaper president. Shall we get an article printed?"
The manager bowed until his nose scraped the floor. With damning evidence out, all he could do was grovel...!
"I don't even know how to apologize!"
"Apologize? Do we look like we're here for apologies?!"
"First...! I'll upgrade all your tickets to Noble Class...!"
"Oh my. Trying to buy our silence with a mere upgrade?!"
"Also, as apology for today's distress, full ticket refunds..."
The baronesses exchanged glances. They were helping Dante, but snagging some compensation(?) wouldn't hurt?
"Go on, keep trying."
"Let's see how far you'll go!"
"Uh... and..."
The manager sweated bullets. Every minute, every second was hell...!
"Lord Dante~!"
A saccharine voice called out. The baronesses cooed at Dante in fawning tones.
Seeing their pleased faces, Dante was certain.
Success.
The ladies had succeeded in their hunt(?).
"It was exactly as you said, Lord Dante. These attendants were up to no good, weren't they?"
"What did you do?"
"We gave them a proper scolding~!"
The baronesses burst into tinkling laughter—hahaha~.
Dante bowed his head.
"Truly impressive, ladies. Stepping up to right a wrong—brave and just."
"You're too kind~"
"We just did what we had to~?"
Buoyed by confidence, the baronesses exclaimed,
"Lord Dante! Care to join us for dinner...?"
"My apologies. I have matters to discuss with Miss Libera."
"..."
The baronesses couldn't shake their lingering disappointment. Everything had wrapped up nicely. The bullied attendant, Libera, terminated her contract penalty-free and gained her freedom. The baronesses had punished the arrogant commoners for workplace bullying, upholding imperial justice. And they'd even earned praise from Dante Aision!
But... why end it here? They'd built massive inner rapport with Dante. They'd shared an episode righting imperial wrongs together!
Yet once the deed was done, Dante didn't spare them a glance. Justice served. That's it, right? He just hoped they'd finish their trip unscathed.
The baronesses showed their regret before him.
"Lord Dante, we helped you so diligently... not even one meal together...?"
Dante replied with utmost courtesy.
"Helped me? Weren't you helping Miss Libera?"
"..."
"I find it admirable that you pitied her and acted justly. But dinner is a bit much."
"..."
"Then I'll take my leave."
The baronesses wilted, heads drooping glumly.
Ah... romance is hard...! They could've ridden a little flirtation with that handsome guy from the train...!
The train pulled into the station. As Dante disembarked, the baronesses followed like mesmerized fans. Too bad to let a handsome, wealthy noble slip away...!
Of course, Dante didn't look back.
Why would he glance at the baronesses? A handsome, rich young master's dating edge(?) amounted to this much...
That was when it happened.
"Ohohohohohoho~!"
"?"
A lavish eight-horse carriage halted, and a noblewoman emerged. One baroness recognized her.
"Th-That's...?!"
"You know her?"
"It's Countess Petaconia...! Head of the Petaconia Merchant Guild!"
"!!!"
Countess Shabrilla Petaconia. The red-dressed noblewoman pointed straight at Dante and cried,
"How have you been, Dante Aision!"
Dante greeted her politely, as always.
"Very well. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Ohohoho~! When my friend Elena's son calls, I come running anytime~!"
Shabrilla, whom he hadn't seen in a while, was as vibrant and beautiful as ever.
"We have time before the train departs, right? Shall we have an elegant cup of tea~?"
"Sounds good."
Shabrilla glanced at the hovering baronesses but ignored them cleanly since Dante said nothing.
Without a look their way, Countess Shabrilla shut the carriage door. All that remained were the baronesses, staring at the carriage with dripping regret...