Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Dismissal
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“Wasn’t the inspection supposed to end yesterday?”
Walz stepped forward in place of his bewildered subordinate. The leader of Inspection Team 3, whom he had seen the day before, stroked his chin and replied.
“Yes. The administrative office inspection I conducted at my discretion concluded yesterday, but new orders have come down.”
“New orders? From whom?”
“You know full well there’s only one person who can give us orders.”
The Inspection Unit Leader, then. He told his anxious subordinates to return to their seats and then looked at the team leader.
“It’s about the modules. There shouldn’t be any suspicions hanging over the administrative office.”
He spoke softly enough not to be overheard by those around them. The team leader lowered his voice at the mention of modules as well.
“You can rest easy on that front. We’re not here about that.”
“No, are you investigators looking into something else entirely?”
“I’m sorry, but the Ministry Head has no right to know the reason for the investigation. If you believe the inspection is unjust, you can make your case later.”
Walz’s mouth twitched, and he let out a small sigh. The Special Inspection Unit’s disregard for hierarchy was irritating, but that was the source of their power.
Moreover, no organization that had clashed with the Inspection Unit had ever come out of it well.
They didn’t move unless they were certain.
That was the current Inspection Unit Leader’s principle, and the reason he maintained his legitimacy and authority despite all the abuse hurled his way.
If the Inspection Unit Leader had given the order, then there was some issue with the administrative office.
“Weren’t we supposed to overlook the minor issues?”
“I won’t pursue the matters I mentioned and moved past yesterday. The Leader confirmed that as well.”
“So there’s another issue. I can’t imagine what it might be.”
“The Leader said there was an act of intimidating citizens with authority.”
“Citizens? Intimidating?”
It was no coincidence that the Fairy’s Courtyard sprang to mind the moment he heard it. Could that chef have gone to the Inspection Unit Leader?
But how could a mere chef even meet the Inspection Unit Leader? And even if he did, how would he recognize someone even he himself had never seen?
Could they have been acquaintances all along? The thought sent a chill down his spine.
But the chef he’d seen last night had been suppressing his anger, clearly without any clever tricks up his sleeve. If he’d had the Inspection Unit Leader as an ace, he would have been far more relaxed.
“Could you tell me precisely what the matter is?”
“Since you’re the party involved, of course I’ll inform you.”
“The party involved?”
His ominous premonition had never been wrong.
“I’m here today to determine whether the investigation you conducted was appropriate.”
For a moment, it felt like the ground had given way beneath him. His mouth went dry. An internal administrative office inspection might have been brushed off with a ‘well, it happens between friends.’
But standing before him was the Special Inspection Unit. Even a small issue would snowball if they sank their teeth into it.
His anxiety grew, but he steadied himself for now. It went against regulations, but it wasn’t some grave wrongdoing.
He had only slightly damaged some shop fixtures and given the chef and his wife minor unease.
There had been no violence whatsoever, nor any remarks that could cause problems. He had followed procedure in case of contingencies.
Yes, he had abused his power due to personal feelings, but explaining the chef’s insolence should earn him leniency. Above all, the Inspection Unit Leader was a First-Class Noble. He would understand a noble’s pride.
It would end with a salary deduction at most. With that thought, his mind eased somewhat. They moved to another room.
The reception room seemed better than his personal office, so they headed there. He served tea and gathered his thoughts.
“I’ll partake.”
The team leader sipped his tea. There was no overbearing attitude. His frayed nerves settled considerably. Given the team leader’s relaxed demeanor, it seemed it would wrap up at an acceptable level.
“You went to the ‘Fairy’s Courtyard’ for an investigation—what was the reason? I’m asking because we couldn’t find any documentation on it.”
“I’ll be frank.”
He recounted the full sequence of events without omission. Lying would only risk perjury charges.
“So you took emotional action against the chef’s disrespectful behavior toward a noble.”
“I admit it. I know it was wrong. But that chef disrespected a noble. Isn’t respecting nobles a given?”
“It seems you haven’t heard His Majesty the Emperor’s New Year’s address. He emphasized that citizens and nobles must respect each other and work together for a better empire.”
“That was just to placate the citizens…”
“The Ministry Head is interpreting His Majesty’s words however he pleases.”
He waved his hands emphatically in denial.
“No! That’s not what I meant at all.”
The team leader eyed him with narrowed gaze. The tension he had barely contained began to surge again.
“It’s troubling when someone in an official position speaks so carelessly. Please help me keep my workload from growing. It’ll be exhausting for both of us if it escalates to treason charges.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“Then let’s return to the Courtyard matter. Do you admit to using public authority for personal reasons?”
“Yes. I regret it.”
“Do you admit it was at the behest of Hamburs, 3rd Class Aristocrat?”
“Yes.”
The team leader said while lifting his teacup.
“That’s strange. Hamburs, 3rd Class Aristocrat, says he never instigated it.”
“That guy said that?”
“It seems you two need to have a talk.”
The team leader poked his head out the reception room door. He called for someone, and moments later, Hamburs entered alongside an inspection unit member. He looked at Hamburs with displeasure.
“Please talk it over.”
The team leader said. He spoke up quickly.
“Didn’t you come to me directly and ask? To correct that chef’s attitude.”
“Look here, friend. When did I ever say such harsh words? I merely vented that I didn’t like that arrogant chef. Then you took it upon yourself, didn’t you? Saying it was time to show the authority of nobles.”
Hamburs scratched his chin lightly and glanced upward. He understood his friend’s actions but resented them.
Since he was already slated for the Recorder position, he didn’t want to get tangled in this. One misstep and the position could vanish.
He stared steadily at his friend. He needed to weigh his options. It was going to end with a salary deduction anyway.
If he took the blame alone, he could call in the debt from the future Recorder. It wasn’t a loss—quite the opposite, a gain.
His friend seemed to want that too. He made his decision.
“I must have been mistaken for a moment. On second thought, it was my decision alone, just as my friend says.”
“So Hamburs, 3rd Class Aristocrat, merely vented to a close friend and made no demand for administrative pressure?”
“That’s correct.”
“This resolves any inconsistencies in Hamburs, 3rd Class Aristocrat’s statement. Do you both agree?”
He exchanged glances with Hamburs and nodded.
“This conversation is conducted under official Inspection Unit certification, so no later clarifications will be allowed. I’ll ask once more: is there anything you wish to correct?”
“No.”
Hamburs said. Only then did the team leader pull out a notebook from his pocket. He dipped the pen nib in the ink he carried and began writing.
He watched silently, but the notebook’s design looked oddly familiar. It seemed similar to the cover pattern on the notebook that reporter Wolfie used.
An inexplicable unease welled up. He racked his memory. The more he looked, the more the patterns matched.
No, it wasn’t just similar—it looked identical. The paper quality seemed low, but aside from that, the thickness, cover pattern, everything matched.
“That notebook…”
He ventured cautiously.
“It’s the personal notebook issued to Inspection Unit members.”
“Is it bought from outside?”
“No. The Inspection Unit Leader personally commissioned them, so no one outside our unit uses these notebooks. I can say that with certainty.”
The team leader said with a smile. It was an annoyingly bright smile, one that felt like he knew everything. He felt exposed first, and without realizing it, he stood up.
He opened the closed reception room door and peered out. There stood reporter Wolfie in front of his personal office. Their eyes met, and she smiled warmly. That was the moment his dread doubled.
No, it couldn’t be. Just then, Hamburs grabbed his shoulder and quietly asked what was wrong.
“It’s nothing.”
His agitated mind had conjured an illusion. That’s what he decided to believe. But his foot in its shoe began to tremble against his will.
“I’ve finished the record. This will be used as legal evidence. And since you must be busy, I’ll inform you of the administrative penalty you’ll receive right here.”
“Right here?”
“Yes. In fact, the Leader has already rendered all judgments. He truly is remarkable. His predictions are never wrong.”
He was tense but also relieved on one hand. Instant judgments usually meant light penalties. It would wrap up with a salary deduction after all. The notebook reporter Wolfie had was just a misperception…
“Ministry Head Walz. You are dismissed effective immediately. You have two weeks for handover, during which an Inspection Unit member will be attached to you.”
The words hit him mid-thought, and he merely blinked at the team leader.
Not a deduction—what? Dismissal? His head turned toward Hamburs. His friend’s face was equally shocked at the word.
“W-Wait a moment. Did you say dismissal?”
“Yes. There will be no reinstatement afterward, and you’ll never wear an official uniform or tie again. I strongly recommend looking for other work.”
For a noble in office, no two letters were more horrifying than ‘dismissal.’ He frantically demanded an explanation.
“I can’t understand this. I admitted my wrongdoing, but this punishment is too harsh.”
“I’m merely conveying the Leader’s judgment. It’s his sole authority to issue administrative penalties. I can’t explain the reasoning.”
“Then where is the Leader now? I need to hear the reason.”
“I don’t recommend it, but if you insist, I’ll ask on your behalf.”
“Please do.”
The team leader stood. He watched the team leader leave the reception room with his eyes. Instead of heading to the office exit, the team leader turned toward his personal office.
He saw the team leader bow to reporter Wolfie. Witnessing that scene, he held his breath, while his friend beside him stepped back.
Reporter Wolfie was walking in. In her hand was the tie the team leader had handed her. Humming a tune, she tied the tie around her neck and stood before him, sharp as a blade.
“I’m not particularly fond of ties myself, but I have to wear one for official business. Now, I’m quite looking forward to what you two have to say.”
“I… that is…”
He couldn’t find words. Hamburs was likely the same. Reporter Wolfie—no, the Inspection Unit Leader—said.
“For reference, wouldn’t it be unfair if only one of you got dismissed? So I plan to fairly report this to Bureau Chief Aleng. He’ll handle Hamburs’s punishment himself.”
She smiled with utterly innocent brightness.