Chapter 12: An Unintended Rise to Power
“People look like ants from up here.”
Ascal had always wanted to try this line.
He looked out of the window from the director’s office. People were bustling below.
Observing them while leisurely sipping his coffee was pure bliss.
A sense of superiority.
A feeling of gratification.
A privilege only top officials could enjoy.
‘Indeed.’
Ascal had barely scraped into the category of what people call a ‘High-ranking official’ as the main head of the Evaluation Department, the position of director.
One could say he was now teetering on the brink of real power.
“Would you like more sugar in your coffee?”
But that thought was fleeting.
The moment he saw Lia, the tension in Ascal’s shoulders melted away. Regardless of his high position, the very embodiment of power stood right before him.
His mood dampened in an instant, Ascal stirred his coffee with a spoon.
“It’s just right. Speaking of which, Lia, you’ve been working as my ‘temporary’ assistant for quite a while now.”
Weighing his words, Ascal looked at Lia who paused from clearing away his finished coffee, waiting for a reply.
He swallowed hard.
Details about Lia’s deeds before becoming the emperor weren’t elaborated upon in great detail.
At most, there were mentions of her plotting in secret or gaining various hands-on experiences.
Ascal ventured a guess. Lia was likely a journeyman. Once she deemed her experiences adequate, she might leave his side.
“So, do you plan to continue working as my assistant?”
Lia’s movements stopped.
Had he hit a nerve?
‘After all, for the future empress, this place might be too confining.’
Ascal began to mentally prepare some kind words.
‘We’ve had a good run together, and let’s greet each other warmly if we ever run into each other on the streets.’
Ascal had expected a graceful parting, but he sensed an odd atmosphere.
After a long silence, Lia spoke in a subdued voice.
“Was I, in your opinion, insufficient in assisting you, Ascal-nim?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then, can I qualify as your official assistant?”
Ascal broke into a cold sweat.
It seemed Lia had interpreted his words a bit differently.
In truth, he hadn’t thought at all about what would happen after her temporary assistant term ended.
He had to come up with some kind of excuse.
“There’s one final test left.”
“A test?”
“A competent assistant should proactively achieve results even if their boss doesn’t direct them. It’s about taking initiative in tasks.”
It was a rather convincing excuse.
Lia seemed convinced as she nodded.
“Then, I’ll deliver the results.”
With that she left.
‘Wait a minute. What have I just done?’
After Lia had gone, upon reflection, Ascal belatedly realized his mistake.
Even now, it was hard to handle how things were going wrong, and now he had set the auto-mode – likely the most advanced auto-mode in the empire.
.
.
.
.
“The backlogged reports have all been cleared!”
“The aggressive complainant is, for some reason, terrified and apologizing!”
“The tricky artifacts that were hard to categorize are all neatly sorted!”
“The Baroness, moved by our work, donated her entire fortune!”
“How on earth did you do it, Director!”
‘Uh, I turned on the auto mode.’
“It’s all thanks to your hard work.”
Contrary to his thoughts, Ascal said something else and hurriedly escaped to his office.
He’d really done it now.
In game terms, it was like sending a level 100 subordinate to handle internal affairs. He had poked the sleeping tiger and now set it loose on the world.
Holding his head in agony, Ascal was in pain when Lia, having finished her tasks, entered the office.
She already held the day’s work report.
“Here’s today’s report.”
Reviewing the report Lia handed over, Ascal nodded.
Even though he had heard about all these achievements through the grapevine, seeing the actual report made her efficiency all the more terrifying.
Moreover, the cunning way she made it seem as if all the credit was his was particularly malicious.
No matter how hard he tried to find a fault, he couldn’t.
“…Congratulations. You’ve passed.”
With no other option, Ascal pulled out a contract from his office desk and stamped it.
With just Lia’s signature, she would officially become his assistant.
“But on second thought, your talents seem too extraordinary to be satisfied as just an assistant. Don’t you want to play in bigger waters? I have some contacts in the Magic Department. If you wish, I can get you transferred there.”
Unable to let go of his regrets, Ascal said.
The contact he mentioned was Robin, the Minister of Magic.
He had a favorable view of Ascal, and if he recommended a talented individual, Robin would surely accept.
Of course, by the time Robin realized that in fact, Lia was a ticking time bomb, it would be too late.
Just the thought brings him joy.
Yet reality always had a way of defying expectations.
“Please give it to me. Quickly. The contract.”
“Here it is.”
Her voice had turned slightly cold.
Ascal hastily handed over the contract.
Lia, as if someone might snatch it away, clutched it tightly to her chest, much like a mother bird cradling her egg.
Terrifying.
Could it be she still felt starved, refusing to end her career merely as a temporary assistant to a director?
Just how far does the princess’s ambition reach?
‘I really have big shoes to fill. The former director was commendable indeed.’
Thanks to the previous director who vanished without any handover, Ascal was left pulling his hair out.
Paperwork scattered everywhere, filled with holes and disconnects, and tasks done in a haphazard manner only the former director could decipher.
Had it not been for Lia’s help, Ascal would have spent months sorting out the mess, ultimately collapsing from the aftereffects.
‘There’s so much leftover budget.’
The actual work had all been shoved to Department 1, while the previous director spent his days enjoying horseback rides with the upper echelons.
In truth, the real acting director of the Evaluation Department could have been said to be Kane, the head of Department 1.
‘Wait a minute. Does this mean the entire Evaluation Department will be paralyzed if only Department 1 is shut down?’
Ascal hadn’t given up on his plan of being dismissed due to incompetence. Now that he had become the director, he could pursue a high-risk, high-return strategy.
‘Perfect. This is it. From now on, I’ll bring this Evaluation Department to its knees.’
At that very moment, Ascal’s devilish cunning began to roll into action.
.
.
.
.
“Starting today, Department 1 will receive a week-long vacation as a reward for all your hard work.”
It was Ascal who said this after summoning Kane to his office.
Truth be told, he would have liked to grant a month or even longer, but given his current discretion, a week was the limit.
“Additionally, here is a luxurious travel voucher to the Kelli Kingdom. Everything has been arranged so all you need to do is go and enjoy yourself. Make the most of the week.”
The Kelli Kingdom was a renowned vacation spot frequently visited by nobles and even royalty from foreign lands.
The cost of living there was quite high, but the royal travel voucher that Ascal handed over included accommodations and meals of the highest quality, so there was nothing to worry about.
“Should I really accept something so precious?”
“Yes. Haven’t you worked hard all this while?”
Frankly, Ascal had always admired the way Kane worked. While other officials would slack off whenever they had the chance, Kane was different.
That was why, even after becoming the director, Ascal always spoke to Kane with the same respect as he would to a senior official.
“Director Ascal...”
Kane knelt down, and a tear rolled down from his fatigue-marked face.
“At least you... you recognize my efforts.”
.
.
.
.
‘Kane! Isn’t the report late? You’re the epitome of incompetence!’
‘You call this work? Ha, if it weren’t for a lenient superior like me, you’d already be begging on the streets.’
‘Hmm. You received a bonus, right? You’re treating us to dinner tonight.’
For a moment, a myriad of memories flashed through Kane’s mind.
It was said that a man would die for someone who recognizes his worth.
Despite diligently working all these years without once being acknowledged by the former director, a true sense of loyalty was now budding in Kane’s heart.
“You’ll soil your clothes. Please stand, Manager Kane.”
Ascal extended his hand.
Rising with the help of Ascal’s hand, Kane wiped away his tears and spoke,
“All this time, even without acknowledgment, I worked with the sole intention of creating a better empire. But now, my loyalty will be directed towards you.”
“Excuse me?”
What did that mean?
No, isn’t that treason?
.
.
.
.
'Director-nim Ascal awarded manager Kane a bonus.'
'Director-nim Ascal had promoted manager Kane!'
