A royal decree had arrived.

 

 

The archaic handwriting and choice of words revealed the document’s origin.

 

“This is serious.”

 

The Emperor is taking action. 

 

With his health recently improved, the Emperor had been looking for ways to keep himself busy. However, control of the empire had already shifted to the Crown Prince, and so the Emperor had started to engage in these ‘seemingly meaningful but ultimately futile’ tasks typical of someone nearing retirement.

 

But it was an imperial command. It could not be ignored.

 

Ascal gathered his department heads to relay the message.

 

“Each of us should plant a tree.”

 

“Where should we plant them?” 

 

“In the backyard behind the Evaluation Department. Each person can plant a sapling there.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

The response was lukewarm.

 

Ascal considered three options:

1. Scold them.

 

2. Motivate them.

 

3. Straight up ignore the decree.

It became clear. There are things you only see when you reach this position. The first option was overwhelmingly tempting.

 

As Ascal was deep in thought,

 

“Does everyone intend to tarnish the Minister’s reputation? Other departments will be planting trees too; we can’t afford to be outdone.”

 

'Incredible.'

 

Ascal was moved. 

 

Kane, a department head, had played his card right. It was like a skill from a game that only activates with a loyalty level above 80...

 

“That’s a good point. I’ve heard the Department of Development and Innovation is on the rise. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to lose the title of ‘Outstanding Department’ to them next year?”

 

“I actually enjoy planting!”

​

Arin suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention. 

 

She then averted her gaze, seemingly embarrassed.

 

'Right. She was a department head too.'

 

It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but having enthusiasm is certainly a good thing.

 

“Then, let’s conclude this meeting with that.”

 

 

“Should I just mix some poison in the medicine? That inept old fool is finally getting comfortable, and now he’s tormenting his subordinates again. Maybe I should just end him...”

 

Elenia, the former Empress of the Empire, spat out these venomous words. 

 

Ascal, unable to respond, simply sat in his chair, staring into space. Sometimes, it’s best to pretend you didn’t hear anything. Engaging could lead to a permanent separation of his head from his body.

 

“How’s business going?”

 

Realizing she was the former Empress, Ascal seriously contemplated whether he should use honorifics with her, but decided to interact with her as usual when she was just Elenia.

 

It seems this family has a penchant for double identities. Yulia, Serena, Elenia—could the Crown Prince be the same?

 

“Yes. Where there are people, there are concerns. Everyone has their own set of worries. Love advice, for instance...”

 

“I see.”

 

“Hehe. You seem quite popular, Minister?”

 

Elenia leaned in and whispered to Ascal.

 

“Which of my daughters catches your fancy? Serena or Yulia?”

 

Ascal replied calmly.

 

“How could I dare harbor disrespectful thoughts towards the noble royal family?”

 

“You’re not exactly out of their league anymore, are you?”

 

"..."

 

Those playful obsidian eyes. Getting caught in a witch’s pace always leads to loss. Ascal feigned ignorance.

 

“Let’s end the jokes here. You came to the fortune-telling house to have your fortune told, right? Oh, by the way, fortunes are free for life for you, Minister.”

 

“And the candy is free too!”

 

Flora came toddling over and handed Ascal a candy. He patted Flora’s head and savored the candy—it was grape-flavored.

 

“So, what would you like to know from your fortune?”

 

“Escape from the Empire.”

 

“You haven’t given up on that yet?”

 

“Escape from the Empire.”

 

“Ha...”

 

Elenia fiddled with a crystal ball. Last time, she had looked into it without much thought, and it shattered, but this time she was careful to avoid overloading it.

 

Repeatedly consulting the fortune about the same matter wasn’t ideal, but Ascal was also a benefactor and a man who brought storms with him, causing his fate to change dramatically.

 

Maybe this time.

 

“Ah. It might actually be possible?”

 

“Really!?”

 

“The direction of fate points north, north. That way, your wish might just come true.”

​

Ascal’s mood improved dramatically.

 

“You’re the best fortune teller.”

 

“Thanks for the compliment. Oh, and I heard you were planting trees; do you need any saplings?”

 

“I was planning to look for some after work, but if it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it.”

 

“Here you go.”

 

Elenia handed him a sapling in a small pot, its vibrant green leaves fluttering.

 

“Thank you.”

 

.

.

.

 

At the Evaluation Department, a competitive tree planting had begun. To make it more interesting, bets were placed on whose tree would grow the best.

 

Ascal was skeptical.

 

'It’s not like trees grow overnight; it would be a miracle if they didn’t just wither away after a few weeks.'

 

Despite his grumbling, Ascal planted the sapling in the backyard.

 

But the tree grew overnight.

 

'What on earth happened in just one day...'

 

Was it a mistake to use the poop of gem frogs as fertilizer, or was there something peculiar about the sapling the witch gave him, or perhaps it was the song Sushia sang to it that caused it to grow?

 

Ascal, seeing the tree now as tall as he was, looked around in shock.

 

All the other saplings planted by his colleagues were gone.

 

Had someone dug them out overnight?

 

But there were no signs of digging.

 

“My Lucius...! Who would do such a thing!”

 

Sushia, coming with a watering can, collapsed in despair.

 

“Calm down, Sushia. We can plant more saplings.”

 

“But, but Lucius won’t come back.”

 

Ascal consoled Sushia and instructed his staff to plant new saplings.

 

The next day, the saplings were gone again.

 

And Ascal's tree had grown even larger, now taller than Ascal himself.

 

“Could it be that this tree is absorbing the other saplings?”

 

Sushia, arriving with her watering can, collapsed once more.

 

“Maximus!!!!!!”

 

“Stop getting attached to them in just one day.”

 

Then Yulia, examining the tree, remarked,

 

“The reddish hue in the grain, the greed consuming its competitors... It could be a Red Lightning Tree. Where did you get this?”

 

“From the fortune teller...”

​

Ascal swallowed his words. Hadn’t he yet to witness a mother-daughter reunion? From what he had heard, their relationship didn’t seem too warm.

 

“Are you talking about the new fortune-telling shop? I’ll go check it out right away.”

 

“Now that I think about it, it might have been from a flower shop.”

 

“What was the name of the flower shop?”

 

“Erus, was it?”

 

“There’s no such flower shop in the empire. You must be mistaken, Minister.”

 

Could it be that Lia knows the name of every flower shop in the empire? That’s unlikely. This must be a bluff.

 

“And if a flower shop sold this sapling, they would be penalized. It’s an unauthorized exotic species.”

 

“Now that I think about it, it might have been from the fortune teller.”

 

To give him a harmful tree. Ascal didn’t hesitate to blame the fortune teller.

 

 

“Cough, cough. What brings you to this poor old woman?”

 

Elenia had transformed into an old woman. She looked different from when he first saw her at the illegal street stall. 

 

The twins were also missing. 

 

Peeking around, Ascal noticed the twins hiding like cats under covered tables and in crevices.

 

The twins put their fingers to their lips and mouthed silently:

 

- It’s hide and seek. We can’t get caught.

 

Ascal pretended not to notice.

 

“Where did you get this sapling you gave to the Minister?”

 

“It’s from my homeland, but is there a problem with the sapling?”

 

“See for yourself.”

 

“Oh, my back.”

 

The old woman picked up her cane and went outside. 

 

What was Elenia’s purpose in giving him such a sapling? 

 

The old woman, seemingly with poor eyesight, approached and caressed the tree’s grain.

 

“What is this... Why is it so big?”

 

Elenia was flustered.

 

 

- That’s a divine tree.

 

Ascal, seriously contemplating whether to remove the tree or not, met a dragon in his dream.

 

“It seems we meet quite often these days.”

 

- I’d rather be sleeping peacefully, but interesting things keep happening.

 

“What’s a divine tree?”

 

- It’s a tree with a spirit. Some races worship it as a guardian deity. However, usually, trees that aim to become divine end up dying instead.

​

But why would such a precious divine tree grow in the backyard of the Evaluation Department?

 

There were too many guesses to even begin to list.

 

- Offer tribute to me.

 

“Pardon?”

 

- That orb would be ideal, but a divine tree could somewhat restore my power too.

 

“It hasn’t even fully grown yet?”

 

- In about a hundred years, it should be mature. Offer it then.

 

“Most humans don’t live a hundred years.”

 

- You...

 

Just then, a white dragon appeared and bit other dragon’s neck.

 

- Ouch.

 

It wasn’t very effective.

 

The newly appeared dragon was much smaller compared to the dragon, even smaller than Ascal.

 

Then, the small dragon turned to look at Ascal.

 

[I’ve finally found you.]