Li An was experiencing unprecedented agony.
With a loud slap, Isha dropped a thick stack of documents onto the desk.
Within it were his inaugural ministerial address, imperial laws, and various notes of caution he had to memorize as a minister.
“Do I have to memorize all of this?”
“Yes.”
Li An picked up the documents with a calm expression.
However, after a single glance, he fell silent.
The words were crammed so tightly together that it was hard to tell if it was a letter or a congregation of ants holding a meeting on the paper.
“Can't I memorize it tomorrow instead?”
Isha's expression shifted slightly.
She then unfastened her long hair, which she usually kept neatly tied up, and spoke in a firm tone.
“No.”
This was a princess's command.
Li An could only begin memorizing with tears in his eyes.
He couldn't help but wonder.
Should workplace bullying be reported to the minister?
Oh.
He almost forgot.
He was the minister now.
...
“Minister—no, I should call you Your Excellency now! Dinner has been prepared! Let's head to Whale's Breath!”
Sushia walked into the office with a bright smile.
At some point, Isha had already tied her hair back up.
She looked at Li An, her gaze seemingly asking:
Are you really planning to agree just like that?
Li An maintained a solemn expression.
This was a decision of ministerial proportions.
“Dining with colleagues is also part of the job.”
Mission accomplished: a successful escape.
...
Whale's Breath.
Arriving here, Li An couldn't help but feel a complex wave of emotion.
When he first came here, he was just an obscure, minor official.
Now, he had actually become an imperial minister, stepping into this establishment once more.
However...
“...”
After spotting the banner hanging at the entrance, Li An was left utterly speechless.
“A warm welcome to the Honorable Minister. Please, head upstairs this way.”
“Very well.”
Li An followed the staff member to the second floor.
The entire restaurant had been booked by the Evaluation Department today, so there wasn't a single outsider inside.
The uniformed imperial officials sat together in neat arrangements.
For some reason...
No matter how one looked at it, it resembled some large-scale criminal organization holding its annual conference.
And the one sitting at the head of the table...
...was the boss.
“Minister, please have a drink.”
Section One Chief Kane poured a drink for Li An himself.
Since Li An became minister, Kane seemed to feel that he could no longer treat him as casually as before, speaking with constant respect.
It actually made Li An feel a bit lonely.
It felt as though a distance had formed between them.
“Thank you.”
Li An raised his glass and took a light sip of the expensive wine.
He then looked up.
Countless staff from the Evaluation Department were watching him.
Thinking back on it...
Too many things had happened over the past year.
“So much has truly happened...”
Someone universally dismissed as a fraud had actually successfully improved magic stones.
Hot springs had suddenly bubbled up in a wasteland.
The Third Princess of the empire, Elizabeth, had become his secretary.
A restaurant once doomed to go under had suddenly exploded in popularity.
He had even nearly been kidnapped by the local natives...
Li An couldn't help but sigh.
“So exhausting.”
How on earth did he manage to stumble his way into becoming a minister?
“Minister.”
Sushia, already a bit tipsy, stood up unsteadily.
“It's time for you to give a toast.”
All the staff of the Evaluation Department looked at Li An expectantly.
Li An thought about it.
“I hope everyone can safely retire in the future.”
“Hahaha!”
The crowd burst into laughter.
“Minister, what do you mean by that?”
“I'm serious.”
Li An had a completely serious expression.
“I'm not joking.”
“To retirement!”
“To the Minister!”
“To the Empire!”
The atmosphere of the banquet instantly heated up.
Watching everyone drink and laugh, Li An figured it was about time to leave.
According to convention...
...a boss only needed to make a brief appearance, foot the bill, and then disappear.
Next was his cue to vanish.
Just as Li An was about to stand up...
...a sudden commotion broke out near the staircase.
“Sir, this place has been fully booked for today. You cannot go up...”
“Do you have any idea who this person beside me is?”
“...”
Li An looked up.
A young man accompanied by an entourage was pushing his way up the stairs.
Judging from his attire, any onlooker could tell at a glance that he was a noble.
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on him.
“It's too noisy in here.”
The young man frowned.
“Quiet down, all of you.”
With just a single sentence...
...the venue quickly fell silent.
One had to admit, he was indeed exceptionally skilled at commanding attention.
“Arrange a seat for me.”
“Well...”
“Hmph.”
The young man looked around.
“That spot over there is decent.”
He walked straight over to the seat opposite Li An.
And sat down.
That was the most prestigious seat at the table, second only to Li An's.
“...”
Li An watched him with great interest.
“What is good to eat here?”
“The mutton is quite good.”
“Bring me an order of that then.”
“Right away.”
The more Li An watched, the more amusing he found it.
Just who was this guy?
To actually be arrogant to this degree.
Judging by his aura, one might even wonder if he was some foreign royal.
“Hey, you there.”
The young man casually pointed to the side.
“Bring me a glass of water.”
“Ah? Yes!”
The young lady of the Duke of Senistia's house actually obediently fetched the water.
Li An: “...”
Just what on earth was this guy's background?
“May I ask where you are from?”
The young man smiled.
“What's this?”
“Are you truly that curious about my identity?”
Everyone stared at his mouth.
The man spoke slowly.
“My name is Sules Neron.”
“I am the heir to the Neron family, which has recently been bestowed with the title of Baron by His Majesty.”
“A baron personally bestowed by His Majesty?”
Someone subconsciously repeated.
“Exactly.”
Sules waved his hand dismissively.
“Today is a joyous day. There is no need to be so stiff.”
Instantly.
The aristocratic officials from the Evaluation Department who possessed illustrious lineages stood up one after another.
Those from counts' families.
Those from marquises' families.
And even members of ducal families.
Each and every one of them had an astounding background.
Finally...
The daughter of the Duke of Senistia also raised the pitcher of water in her hand.
Li An looked at her.
What are you doing raising that pitcher?
Yet, Sules remained completely oblivious.
“Good luck to you.”
“...”
Sules raised his head blankly.
...
“You intend to join the Evaluation Department?”
“Yes.”
Sules bowed his head respectfully.
“It would be my absolute honor to serve the Honorable Minister.”
Before long...
Sules Neron officially joined the Evaluation Department.
Just like that...
...Li An had once again successfully scouted a new talent.
...
Serena was in an excellent mood.
Because she had finally found a way to track down the Prince of the Night.
A tracking doll.
This was a magical item she had purchased at an exorbitant price from the swamp witch.
Even for a princess like Serena, it was a hefty sum of money.
But to find that man...
...it was worth it.
Place a physical sample of the person you wish to find inside the doll.
Then, channel mana into it.
The Prince of the Night barely ever left a trace behind.
But Serena was exceptionally skilled in magic herself.
Back when she was near the stage, she had quietly collected a strand of hair.
Precisely to prepare for a situation like today.
This was by no means some underhanded scheme.
And it certainly wasn't stealthy stalking.
This was merely the fundamental preparation expected of any outstanding mage.
Serena placed the strand of hair into the doll.
She then funneled mana inside.
Buzz!
The doll's eyes instantly lit up.
It worked.
“...”
Serena froze completely.
The Prince of the Night was actually still in the empire?
She felt as though she had been struck over the head with a heavy club.
No wonder.
No wonder she hadn't been able to find him for so long.
It turned out he had never left the empire in the first place.
Serena set off immediately.
Following the direction guided by the doll, she chased after him all the way.
To avoid exposing her identity, she even pulled her wig down low.
The city streets at night were not a suitable place for a young lady to roam alone.
“Well, hello there, gorgeous.”
“Out all by yourself?”
“Why don't you hang out with us for a bit?”
A few drunkards stumbled over.
Serena didn't even bother to spare them a glance.
She dealt with them in a matter of seconds.
Then, she continued her pursuit.
As she kept walking...
...her feet gradually began to ache.
Her soles throbbed from the hard ground.
The night wind was freezing.
But the doll's eyes only grew brighter and brighter.
There was absolutely no way she would give up now.
“So cold...”
Serena couldn't help but pull her shoulders in.
If she had known, she would have taken a carriage.
But what time was it?
In the dead of night.
A dignified princess of the empire, sneaking out in secret to look for a man...
If word of this ever got out, how could she ever show her face in public again?
Thus, she had no choice but to go on foot.
Finally...
...Serena came to a halt.
Before her stood a luxuriously decorated tavern.
The doll's eyes abruptly flared a vivid crimson.
Serena's eyes lit up as well.
“Found you.”
He was inside.
...
On the other side...
...because of Sules's sudden intrusion, Li An had completely missed his chance to slip away.
Ultimately...
...this gathering dragged on late into the night.
Li An was forced to remain.
“Over the Mountain of Friendship we go~”
A heavily inebriated Sushia was belting out a song at the top of her lungs.
The other equally drunken officials clapped along to the beat.
“Minister.”
Sushia wobbled her way over.
“Honorable Minister, don't you have some kind of talent to perform for us?”
“Usually, the boss only needs to watch.”
“Don't be so stingy.”
Sushia's face was full of anticipation.
“Just perform once.”
“To commemorate your appointment as an imperial minister.”
Everyone's eyes fell upon Li An.
Those gazes...
...were clearly waiting for him to make a fool of himself.
Under this kind of pressure, it was hard to refuse.
Perhaps the alcohol was getting to his head.
Or perhaps it had been a very long time since he had been this relaxed.
Li An actually found himself in the mood.
“Actually...”
“I do know a little something.”
“I remember some lines from a play.”
“Let's hear it then!”
The crowd immediately cheered him on.
Li An cleared his throat.
The piece he planned to perform was Isolette and Jelon, which he had carefully listened to countless times before.
Li An lowered his voice...
...and began to mimic Jelon's tone.
“Do you know what diamonds represent?”
“Oh.”
Someone couldn't help but marvel.
“He's actually quite good at this.”
In the light of day, Li An would never have done something like this.
But it was now the dead of night.
Complemented by the effect of the alcohol...
...his guard and mood had loosened completely.
Thus, Li An's performance received an enthusiastic response instead.
Next up...
...was the most classic scene of the entire play.
Li An lowered his voice once more.
“Isolette.”
“Escape with me.”
“Alright.”
“I have been waiting for you to say those words.”
“?”
Li An froze.
The person who suddenly delivered the counter-line...
...was a woman.
And her voice...
...why did it sound so incredibly familiar?
Li An felt his eyelids growing heavy.
But this time...
...he didn't fall asleep.
Because in the very next second...
...the woman kissed him directly on the lips.
Serena.
Or rather...
...Serena, under her alias Celi.
After delivering that line, she kissed Li An without a single word of warning.
The entire tavern...
...instantly plunged into dead silence.
...
In the next split second:
“Aaaaaah!”
“The Honorable Minister has a lover!”
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