The Foundation Ceremony (1)
The feeling of waking up in the Gilorian world is still impossible to forget even now.
Confusion? Fear? Amazement?
It all crashed in at once, a chaotic storm.
A world where magic was real and monsters slaughtered people.
My common sense shattered in an instant.
“I have to survive.”
In that unknown world, the only thing I could do was stay silent.
Mouth shut, I watched everything around me and curled up as tightly as I could in the face of an unknown threat.
I made sure not to let my emotions show on my face.
One moment of carelessness could cost me my life.
Thanks to that, I became a master of expression control.
A man who always wears a blank face and never lets his true feelings show.
—Zeo doesn’t get flustered.
The people who liked me put it that way.
—I wonder what the guy’s thinking?
Those who disliked me said it with a sneer.
Anyone who had met me would probably think the same.
But both of them were wrong.
‘I just don’t think about anything.’
I’d even call it a habit now.
I’d frozen judgment on every situation because everything felt so surreal.
If I thought “Does this even make sense?” I couldn’t do a thing.
It was like my brain had an automated program that said “a situation happened, so I solve it.”
But that blank face sometimes caused problems.
Right now, for example.
I was sitting in the Capital Defense Command conference room.
The attendees were me, Frida Keilak the head, the National Tax Agency director and his staff, and the Audit Bureau investigators.
“Um… so from our National Tax Agency’s perspective, we’re truly sorry to Inspector Zeo Blood.”
The director, a massive kangaroo-built man with huge chest muscles, kept bowing his head.
It looked sincere when someone admitting their mistake and apologizing.
I stared at the director with kind eyes, truly apologizing.
“Uh… so… Inspector. Sorry again. Um… and…”
But that director was fidgeting the whole time.
He kept wiping sweat beads off his bald head.
His subordinate staff were whispering low.
“Why is the director acting like that? Does he have a history of getting screwed over?”
“Shh. You don’t know Inspector Zeo Blood? The guy who’s won the Faithful Taxpayer Award for three straight years as a labyrinth hunter.”
“Oh… that guy who took down the most monsters in the Empire? The top entry in the Faithful Taxpayer Roster!”
I let the useless past talk slide past my ears.
After all, I was enjoying the current conversation way more.
“In that context, Assistant Director Gonzalez has been terminated. Um… while there are some unfortunate family issues, I understand if you understand we’re holding them responsible for pushing the excessive investigation on Inspector.”
Firing a vice director whose term still had a long way to go…
Satisfaction welled up inside me.
After all, I’d become somewhat influential in the Gilorian Empire.
I looked away from him and calmly accepted the apology.
Now it was time for more forward-looking talk.
But was the bald director’s mind elsewhere?
Why was he so nervous?
“I’m truly sorry. The regular tax audits on Inspector Zeo Blood will be exempted for the next three years, and we’ve decided to refund 0.06 percent of the taxes you paid.”
On top of the apology, an excessive reward was being poured out.
Every time the director bowed his head, the table shook.
‘Why is this happening?’
I had already accepted the apology, but was my intent not getting through?
“Ah, my stomach is hurting for a bit….”
Even the director used a stomachache excuse and rushed out of the room.
I looked up at the Audit Bureau investigator from the Prime Minister’s Office sitting next to me.
This investigator was the one who had run away the moment he learned Marian was a princess of a military enterprise.
“Our Audit Bureau also conveys our sincere regret, and we plan to run a full article in the Empire newspaper to restore the lost honor. We’ll send you the draft, so please review it and let us know if you want any changes reflected.”
The document he handed over was an op-ed titled “The Reality of Group Hypnosis Magic Performed by Heretics.”
A write-up by a Royal Magic Tower expert on hypnosis magic that wasn’t widely known to the general public, but the professional terminology made it hard to understand.
But the highlight of this op-ed was at the end.
“The 1st Grade Freelance Prosecutor of the Gilorian Empire, Zeo Blood, had national institutions forcibly conduct investigations.
This is a clear mistake by national institutions that failed to recognize the reality of group hypnosis magic, and each institution has expressed regret over it.”
A high-level op-ed like this running in the Empire newspaper?
I had to admit, it was the best apology I could have received.
“Hah! Did this article even pass the Prime Minister’s Office censorship?”
It was Frida Keilak’s question.
Actually, I had been curious too.
“Yes, it’s about Inspector Zeo Blood’s honor, so the Prime Minister is personally overseeing it.”
Even I was surprised.
I truly felt like an influential figure in the Empire.
Just as I was about to express thanks, the investigator’s face turned completely white and he shot up from his seat.
“I-I’m feeling a bit sick, so I need to use the restroom for a moment.”
When the National Tax Agency director, who had returned to the conference room, saw the investigator rubbing his body as he left, he turned around and went back himself.
“Ha, Mr. Blood, relax your expression. These people are misunderstanding.”
Frida Keilak said with a playful smile.
Every eye in the Capital Defense Command conference room was focused on me.
People with tense expressions, sweating.
‘Ah… I blanked out again.’
Only now did I understand the tension filling the room.
I had been unconsciously staring at anyone who spoke with sharp eyes.
A habit I had soaked into my bones.
“Ah….”
No other words came to mind besides a sigh.
But people learn from mistakes.
If you know you’ve made one, you fix it.
Especially when honestly conveying your intent like this, you should open your heart, be generous, and respond boldly.
I waited for everyone to come back, then folded my hands and said with a gentle smile, raising the corner of my mouth.
“Thank you.”
But the atmosphere froze in an instant.
The National Tax Agency director, who had been returning to his seat, froze in a stiff posture.
Huh?
Why is this happening?
“Mr. Blood, was that relaxing your expression?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone, look at Mr. Blood’s upturned mouth. That’s basically Mr. Blood laughing heartily right now. Applause.”
Frida Keilak clapped twice with both hands and wrapped it up.
“The apology has been accepted and the party has thanked us, so let’s end the meeting.”
Only then did the faces that had gone stiff begin to relax.
Everyone at the table picked up one of the silver candies and put it in their mouths.
These were the silver candies famous for suppressing aging, and people knew they were quite expensive.
Just as the people were preparing to leave the conference room in a hurry, the Audit Bureau investigator from the Prime Minister’s Office approached, sweating coldly.
He rummaged in his bag and took out a large box, handing it to me.
Inside the box was a candy wrapped in a more luxurious paper than the silver ones on the table, and clearly larger.
“This is a token from the Prime Minister.”
“Oh! It’s Angeling! It’s said to be a huge upgrade from the regular ones. Eat one a week and the wrinkles will disappear!”
Frida Keilak’s eyes lit up the moment she recognized it.
“I don’t eat things like this.”
I had no interest in sweets.
And even less in health supplements.
“Really? Then I’ll take this.”
Frida Keilak’s eyes sparkled.
I gave her the whole box with a light nod.
The Audit Bureau investigator started fidgeting again like a dog that had to poop.
Clearly there was something else he needed to say.
“I’ll speak my mind.”
He took a deep breath and poured out his words like a machine gun.
“The Green Energy Park construction ceremony in Clovan City is coming soon, and the Prime Minister has personally asked to be invited.”
The Green Energy Park.
Simply put, an eco-park.
One of the Ministry of Environment’s projects to restore the natural ecosystem of Clovan City and pursue balance between city and nature.
‘But why would the Prime Minister’s Office invite me to a Ministry of Environment project?’
I stared at the investigator with suspicion.
Goosebumps rose on his arm.
“The Ministry of Environment gave us five VIP invitation cards, and the Prime Minister said he really wants us to attend if possible.”
The investigator let out a faint sigh with an uneasy expression.
Frida Keilak watched us with crossed arms and an interesting look,
though it was suspicious, I nodded with a happy expression.
“Yes. If I have the time.”
I answered with the biggest smile I could manage.
“T-Thank you!”
The investigator rushed out without checking his schedule.
* * *
“Head, do you keep in touch with Lecas?”
I moved to Frida Keilak’s office.
“No, Major General Lecas was dispatched.”
“Dispatched?”
“Yeah, he went to the Hertz Mountains to volunteer.”
I needed to untangle the threads with him.
But he had gone to volunteer in the northern border.
The Hertz Mountains were endless snowy peaks at the northern end of the Gilorian Empire.
A cold, remote, monster-infested region known for being avoided by people.
“Why did the Counter-Terrorism Unit major general go to the Hertz Mountains?”
“Well… I don’t know. It’s not under my jurisdiction.”
She said it with her mouth, but she definitely knew.
Why had he gone to the cold, remote border?
Was he perhaps involved with the merchant union chairman who had ordered a crime?
He was still suffering…
“Is it okay?”
“What?”
“Lecas, as you know….”
I couldn’t continue.
“Ah… the time he was kidnapped by the hypnosis magician?”
But Frida Keilak said it casually like it wasn’t a big deal.
“He was treated. He’s fine now.”
Hmm…
I didn’t think so.
He was still lost in the hallucination that Alec was alive.
Of course, the experts analyzed that he had partial amnesia of the shocking memory, but the red dots remained clearly burned into his eyes from the incident at the time.
“If you get a call, let me know.”
“You’re going?”
I stood up, dusting off my seat.
“Yes.”
“Okay, then take care. You should definitely go if you can.”
“Where?”
“The Green Energy Park construction ceremony. The Prime Minister’s Office is already worried, and that’s exactly when you need to be careful.”
Frida Keilak opened the door for me.
Her expression looked quite tired.
* * *
Checking the schedule wasn’t too difficult.
Our office had declared a week-long vacation, so there was no big schedule.
“Senior, I probably can’t come to work because of my stomach bug.”
It seemed gastroenteritis was going around, because even Marian was complaining about stomach trouble.
My stomach kept churning nonstop and I couldn’t keep up.
I sent her a few calming potions and told her to go to the temple hospital if it got worse, then started my own vacation.
Assistant Director Piaget had also taken two days off for the “Investment Consultation Meeting for Longevity,” so it was the perfect time to rest.
I boarded the Auto-Maseok carriage and headed to the construction site, scanning the news.
“Phoenix Al Smuggling Ring Arrested, Wealthy Suspicious of Involvement in Immortality Desires.”
“Warlock Academy Group Curse Incident, Parental Anxiety Rising.”
“Mysterious Corpse Floating in Clovan City A-3 District Water Source—Is Public Safety Okay Like This?”
“Unicorn Extinction Crisis, Protected Area Designation Discussions Intensified.”
No major events stood out.
As I read the news, I suddenly arrived at the construction site.
‘It would have been nice if Marian and Piaget had come too.’
The autumn wind was gently blowing now, and the weather was perfect for enjoying nature’s melody and healing.
The Green Energy Park construction ceremony began under perfect weather.
“VIPs, please come this way.”
Even receiving special treatment.
In the specially prepared space, comfortable chairs and various foods were ready.
And piles upon piles of those damn Angeling candies.
People passing by each grabbed one.
“Thank you all for taking the time to come.”
The ceremony started with the MC’s greeting.
It was a flashy start, as befitting the Ministry of Environment’s large project.
Light rising from the magic crystal in the center of the stage created a massive hologram.
Inside the hologram, the completed Green Energy Park appeared vividly in the air.
Lush forests, clear lakes, and various magic creatures living between them moved as if right before our eyes.
“This is the Green Energy Park that Clovan City residents dream of and we are creating.”
The MC’s voice echoed in the hall and, as if on cue, applause covered the ceremony.
But the applause wasn’t as big as expected.
Because many seats were empty.
I had heard quite a few people couldn’t attend because of gastroenteritis.
The MC raised his voice even more, trying to compensate.
“Now, the grand journey of the Green Energy Park construction begins with remarks by the Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Zylas, the representative of EcoNova Industry. Please welcome them with a round of applause.”
With the cue, the two men stepped onto the stage.
The following speeches were, of course, extremely boring.
We had reached a historic moment, the park construction would be a great landmark for Clovan City, renewable energy was this, sustainable ecosystems were that, work and life together…
The yawning story continued endlessly.
A man in the front row checked his watch and sighed,
and in the back, a young couple who had been exchanging glances with each other stood up quietly only for a chair to topple, so they sat back down awkwardly.
The highlight was, as always, the child.
“Mom, when does it end?”
He asked loudly, drawing expectant glances from the surrounding people.
But he ignored it, and the oracles who were painting gold on their faces and dreaming of a wonderful future didn’t stop talking.
Eventually, I started listening to the side chatter.
“They say Representative Zylas graduated from the Imperial University.”
“There was even a rumor he’s the hidden bastard of the royal family.”
“Hey, then what’s with the green eyes? The imperial family all has golden eyes.”
“So it’s just a rumor.”
“There’s also a rumor that he’s excellent in the F&B sector.”
“This Angeling is made by an EcoNova subsidiary company, right?”
“Oh!”
Such pointless talk came and went.
“They’re not going to move the goblin living area before the Green Energy Park is completed?”
“That would be good. Honestly, it’s not good for hygiene either.”
“That way house prices will rise.”
Economic and social commentary also came and went.
But what reached my ears was something else.
“The goblins have been causing trouble lately with some weird stuff at night. Especially why their living area is right next to our neighborhood.”
“I heard it too. Something about performing a curse ritual. What are they planning next….”
More goblin rumors.
But it didn’t seem easy to just pass it by.
“The mysterious corpse that floated in the water source is inside the park site?”
“Really? Right next door is the goblin living area.”
“So. The goblin patrol guys are saying the corpses used in the curse ritual were dumped into the water source.”
“We shouldn’t even go near there for a while.”
The people were linking the mysterious corpse incident from the water source in the news articles with the poor goblins.
It was just a rumor.
Unfortunately, the goblins didn’t have the intelligence to plot crimes.
They were just a race that was satisfied with six meals a day.
“The goblin patrol will invade the goblin living area within a few days.”
I began to feel that my long-awaited vacation would end right here.