Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Regulations Enforced
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My face burned hot. Especially in front of my daughter, I felt like I’d shown an utterly pathetic side, and it made me deeply uncomfortable.
My daughter was a bright child. On top of that, she was a good girl who openly expressed her respect for her father.
When such a child hesitated and said, “Father, come next time,” I even felt shame.
I told my wife to go back home first and wait. Then I hurried to the Dun administrative office. I wasn’t calm enough to walk demurely while saving face.
“Hanbrus, what brings you here? Weren’t you the one bragging to me about booking the inner courtyard?”
I explained the situation to my friend, who asked with a puzzled tone. About the arrogant head chef who’d grown complacent after gaining fame.
“That chef does have his stubborn side. But weren’t you the one late for the reservation?”
“Look, my friend. I know that as well as you do. How important promises are. We argued, but his point about the rules had merit, so I was ready to back down. But then something happened that turned my stomach and insulted my family.”
Hanbrus explained how the chef, after turning him away, had immediately let in a customer who hadn’t even made a reservation.
“How do you interpret this situation?”
“That chef let in a customer without a reservation? Is that true?”
“Exactly! In front of me, he cited the rules and said he couldn’t accept anyone without a reservation. But the moment he sent my family away, he took in a waiting customer. And it was just some ordinary citizen without a reservation. I was so ashamed. To show that to my child.”
“That chef went too far. To humiliate you like that.”
“Has that head chef ever accepted customers without reservations before?”
My friend Walz stroked his chin and replied.
“Not that I know of. He was the kind of chef who made even 2nd Class Aristocrats stick to reservations. That rigidity earned him some resentment, but now it’s even praised as artisan spirit.”
“See? A guy who turns away even 2nd Class Aristocrats suddenly serves food to some no-reservation nobody? It was a ploy to insult me. To humiliate my family.”
“You’ve got every reason to be upset.”
I steadied my breathing and spoke calmly.
“If it had been just me, I could’ve brushed it off as stepping in shit and ignored it. But I was with my family. And my daughter Lairi saw it. What do you think she must’ve thought?”
“Hmm.” My friend let out a thoughtful sigh.
“What do you want me to do? You didn’t just come to vent complaints.”
“A guy who loves rules? Then we handle it by the rules. I know the security level in Dun has been raised to the maximum. Even someone of verified status like me couldn’t pass the checkpoint without inspection, so something serious must’ve happened.”
Walz furrowed his brow. He was a friend known for his resourcefulness and on a fast track for promotion. For even him to look this troubled meant something truly difficult had occurred in Dun.
“You’re right, something serious did happen. But what does that have to do with your issue?”
“I’m not here to throw a tantrum without cause. As I said earlier, I just want to give it back to him by the rules.”
“By the rules, huh. I get what you want.”
“Sorry to bother you. But I couldn’t just let it slide. Aren’t we nobles? We lead the citizens like dogs, and the citizens follow us. Isn’t that true benevolence?”
Though classified as a new noble, he’d always wanted to be counted among the mainland nobles. Nobles standing shoulder-to-shoulder with citizens? A foolish notion. How could superiors stand alongside inferiors?
“Watch your mouth. Someone about to join the 2nd Administrative Bureau can’t afford talk like that, or you’ll be demoted on the spot.”
“I know. But someday, when I rise to director, I’ll change the direction. Why should nobles split into mainland and new factions and fight among ourselves?”
He saw his friend give a faint smile. A true noble who shared his ideology.
“Still, be careful. You could get crushed before you achieve your goals. Even the ‘Tian’ family, a pillar of the mainland, is staggering right now. The emperor, the council, mainland, new nobles—all are on edge, so playing it safe won’t hurt.”
“Got it. You always have a keen eye.”
Walz called a subordinate. He began skimming through some documents. Hanbrus watched his friend prepare, then asked.
“Just to be sure, what’s the head chef’s background?”
“Why do you ask?”
“That guy dropped Director Arleng’s name.”
“Really? If he’s close to the director, proceeding strictly by rules might feel iffy.”
“That’s why I want you to check. At the time, hearing the director’s name threw me off, and I didn’t respond, but now it seems suspicious. That chef was definitely military. The scar on his face, the prosthetic leg—that’s military-made. A mere soldier wouldn’t know the director...”
“Ex-military, huh. Wait a moment.”
Walz pulled out another file. Soon, he chuckled and said.
“You got one-upped.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s the chef’s record. See for yourself.”
Hanbrus read the documents his friend handed him. A business license and the chef’s personal registry.
“He was military, alright. Branch: rear support?”
“Look at the discharge reason. What does it say?”
Following his friend’s lead, he read the discharge reason. He let out a hollow laugh.
“Discharged due to a cooking accident? That’s ridiculous.”
“He served even in forward bases like An’dun, Dii, or Kadap, but as support staff, not combat.”
Rear support was a branch far from promotions. Would failures who couldn’t even be shieldbearers have connections to the top administrative power?
“He probably heard the director’s name through nobles who frequent the place.”
“Damn it.”
“Did the chef directly claim friendship with Director Arleng?”
“No, not quite. He said they weren’t strangers, but not close either.”
“Clever bastard. If you hadn’t been worked up, you could’ve pressed him precisely right there.”
“You’re right. I was a bit dumb.”
“Either way, he’s got guts. That’s how he runs a restaurant catering to nobles.”
“Embarrassing.”
Walz chuckled softly and gathered the documents.
“While we’re at it, let’s go now. The arrogant chef will learn some humility from this, so it’s no loss.”
After being told to wait outside briefly, he stepped out of the building.
Soon, Walz emerged leading subordinates. The uniform his friend wore bore the insignia of a Dun official.
“Treat me to a meal later.”
“One meal? Soon, I’ll invite you to my mansion. Bring your family. I’ll host properly.”
He headed to the fairy’s inner courtyard with Walz. On the way, he spotted a cloaked man. The one the chef had oddly invited.
He glanced at the man eating something, then quickened his pace. That guy had nothing to do with this.
Arriving at the restaurant, he smiled at the waiter standing out front.
“Nice to see you again.”
He could see the waiter tense up. Now the world felt right. This was the proper attitude citizens should have toward nobles.
“I’m not here to harm you, so don’t worry. I just have some urgent business with your rule-loving head chef.”
The waiter, glancing around nervously, went inside. Walz, standing beside him, quietly said not to step forward.
He nodded. He had no intention of venting blindly. Just to deliver a lesson to the arrogant chef through proper procedure.
“What’s the matter?”
The head chef came out. His body was still brutishly huge. He spoke with exaggerated leisure.
“My friend here needs to take a look at you.”
He pointed at Walz.
“We’ve met once before. Million Chef. Do you remember me?”
“Yes, Deputy Director.”
“Thank you for remembering. I’m here today to ask Mr. Million a few questions. More precisely, about this establishment.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“But the weather’s quite hot, isn’t it.”
“...Please come inside.”
Watching Walz apply gentle pressure, he inwardly cheered. Normally, the chef would’ve demanded to know what was going on.
But right now, Dun was tense at near-wartime levels over some ‘incident’ even he didn’t know about. For the administrative deputy director to show up now would be dizzying.
Walz’s subordinates began rummaging through the restaurant.
“What in the world is this?”
“We received a tip. We’re just investigating per regulations.”
“A tip? What tip are you talking about?”
“Do you have the right to know that?”
Walz spoke without dropping his smile. From a step back, he watched the chef’s face darken.
It felt utterly refreshing. He should’ve recognized his place from the start. A mere cook.
When they tried to enter the kitchen, the chef shouted.
“Don’t enter there arbitrarily.”
“Hey, Chef. What are you doing? Refusing a legitimate state investigation? That’s a dangerous notion.”
He interjected with mockery. The chef glared at him, then turned to Walz.
“Deputy Director. Please stop this.”
“Stop what?”
At Walz’s gesture, the subordinates entered the kitchen. Voices murmured inside, followed by the crash of breaking dishes.
“Wh-what’s happening?”
A woman emerged from the back. Her belly was hugely swollen, full-term pregnant. The chef rushed to her worriedly, so she seemed to be his wife.
“Madam. It’s nothing serious. Just a minor investigation, so please don’t worry.”
Walz spoke gentlemanly. Kind yet intimidating—that tone he always wanted to emulate. Having a friend worth learning from was truly grateful.
“Honey. What’s going on this time?”
It seemed something similar had happened before. No wonder. A guy who stood tall and spoke his mind to nobles was bound to cause trouble.
“Stop. That’s enough for today.”
At Walz’s order, the subordinates who’d torn through the place gathered and exited. The restaurant was already a mess.
“I’m truly sorry this happened. But there’s no choice. Dun is in a very special situation right now, requiring thorough investigation.”
At Walz’s explanation, the chef’s wife cautiously asked.
“Is this over?”
“I’m sorry, madam, but we’ll likely need to visit a few more times.”
“We haven’t done anything wrong. Really.”
“I’d like to believe in your innocence. But procedures leave no room for emotions. And you may each receive summons for questioning. Please keep appointments on time; failure could lead to strict penalties under the law.”
“Isn’t that chef the one who keeps time like clockwork? He won’t be late.”
He chimed in from the side. The chef’s rotten expression and his wife’s paling face were a sight to behold.
He left the restaurant with Walz. The lingering unease had vanished.
“Since it’s your issue too, I’ll conduct a couple more investigations. Unless the chef apologizes and invites you, of course.”
“I knew consulting you was the right call. Walz, do you know how proud I am to have you by my side?”
“That’s what friends are for. Make time to visit with Lairi. I’ll give you a tour of the administrative office and buy dinner.”
“Will do. I’ll come with my daughter.”
He smiled contentedly, glancing back at the restaurant. Picturing the chef trembling in worry and anxiety—nothing could be more delightful.
(To be continued in the next installment)