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The 2nd Division of the Prosecutors' Office. Rather than combat, our main task was support, specifically information gathering. This meant that most team members didn’t stay in one place; they roamed various regions while collecting data. Luckily, we had assigned areas, so there was no need to travel from the eastern edge of the empire to the western edge.

My assigned zone was the capital, which was only fitting. After all, who else but me, the Manager of the 2nd Division, would manage the capital?

Some foolish and petty individuals might resent the fact that their superior was stationed in the capital while they were out there in the field, but there was an unchanging truth that I could always say to them confidently:

"If you don’t like it, then get promoted."

This was the Executive Manager’s favorite saying and mine as well. I worked like a dog before I became a manager. Now that I had been promoted, what was wrong with taking it a bit easy?

And it wasn’t like I became the manager by just breathing. I won this position through a high-stake gamble in life. Two years ago when my boss took charge, I quickly allied with him and earned my current spot.

I had mostly stayed in the capital since becoming a manager. Unless there was an unavoidable reason, I planted my roots here and had no intention of moving. Any ambitious gentleman with a taste for the finer things should reside in the capital, shouldn’t he?

I might as well start looking for a burial plot.

And lately, this resolve had only strengthened. My tombstone should be in the capital so its winds could forever whisper in my ears.

"Manager."

"Oh, you’re here."

This was the Senior Team Manager who, like me, oversaw the capital and the metropolitan area. We were close and often shared drinks; lately, his presence was even more welcome.

"The rumors are spreading quickly. Even the smallest villages in the metropolitan area have caught wind of it."

"Excellent."

I received nothing but pleasant reports from the Senior Team Manager.

Thank you, boss.

I silently thanked my superior, who was at the academy. It was very considerate of him to create interesting incidents, keeping his subordinate in the capital entertained.

There was no need to pay for theater tickets anymore. After all, free, thrilling drama unfolded often enough.

We’re also quits now.

A wave of satisfaction washed over me. Under a true superior were true subordinates. Since he had provided me with enjoyable drama, I also did some things for him.

It wasn’t anything grand. I just wildly spread the rumor that he and Mage Duchess went to the Magic Tower early in the morning while holding hands. That rumor would have spread on its own, but I fanned the flames to hasten it.

The goal was modest: to spread it throughout the empire before the New Year’s Ball.

"What about the other rumors?"

"They were completely buried."

"Perfect."

I became even more satisfied. The best way to quash a rumor was to overshadow it with a bigger one.

The incident of the 1st Manager crying in front of the Executive Manager was overshadowed by his allegedly sleeping in the national cemetery, and that incident was perfectly buried by the recent Mage Duchess’s affair.

The Executive Manager must be pleased. His embarrassing past has been covered by his subordinate. Plus, the ominous rumor of Mage Duchess crying and wandering the capital at night was also covered.

This deserves a reward.

I should formally propose a bonus for the entire 2nd Division at the year-end meeting for protecting our boss’s honor.

"Good job. Let’s keep this up."

"Yes, Sir."

"How about a drink after work?"

"Sure."

The Senior Team Manager left the office, grinning. He’d likely pick the place for our drink.

If only every day was like this.

I sank into the sofa as soon as he left. My job satisfaction had been through the roof lately. I feel like I could do this type of work for another twenty years.

The 1st Manager is doing well, too.

Besides, the internal environment within the Prosecutors’ Office has also been quite enjoyable ever since.

My attention naturally shifted to the 1st Manager whenever rumors of the Executive Manager’s rose-tinted love life spread. I had to watch her reactions closely in the past, but now there was no need.

"It’s okay! The Executive Manager is the man I set my eyes on, so of course he’d be popular!"

"Doesn’t that mean you might lose him?"

"Ha! He isn’t the type to abandon me!"

It was surprising even now. How did he charm the 1st Manager so thoroughly? She would’ve reacted sensitively before, but now she just smiled it off.

Either way, it was a positive development. Thanks to her baseless confidence, I could now move freely.

Please, I hope it’s a happy ending.

I briefly offered a prayer while remembering the 1st Manager’s grinning face. As her fellow colleague, I should at least wish for her happiness.

Be happy, 1st Manager.

I’ll find my happiness, too.

I pulled out my communication crystal from my pocket. And as soon as I saw it, I couldn’t help but laugh.

The Mage Duchess’s incident... Just mentioning it might confuse people with the incident at the Crown Princess's birthday banquet. I hadn’t contacted the Executive Manager since then, so calling him now would make it our first contact.

My heart pounded. I wonder what kind of expression he'd have on his face?

This is why I work in the Prosecutors' Office.

I felt at peace. If my boss wasn’t who he was, then I wouldn’t have lasted long in this field.

— What is it? Why are you calling me again?

It didn’t take long for his face to appear. He looked like he was ready to kill if this call was for a trivial reason.

"Wow, Executive Manager. Looks like you’re doing well."

— Does it look that way?

"No."

— You son of a...

I burst out laughing at the immediate curse.

But if I just teased him without a reason, then he’d cut off the call. I couldn’t let that happen.

"The capital has been lively lately, so there’s never a dull moment."

— ...

That shut his mouth.

Though he was currently deployed at the academy, he was an active, high-ranking civil servant in the capital for two years. It would be strange if he didn’t know what was happening in the capital now.

"I have one good news and one bad news for you."

— What is it?

"First, the good news: the story about you sleeping on the ground has been completely buried."

His expression softened a bit; he seemed relieved.

"The bad news is... well, you know it."

— Damn it.

It didn’t take long for him to curse again, but his lack of further reaction showed that he understood that this was the best outcome.

After all, the 2nd Division worked hard to achieve this. Complaining would just make him a lousy boss.

"I’m looking forward to the New Year’s Ball. People might place bets on who your first wife will be."

Even nobles placed bets when interesting events occurred. Who would guess correctly? How would things unfold?

Who would become the first wife of the current Executive Manager of the Prosecutors' Office? Would it be the Mage Duchess, or the Iron-blooded Duke’s daughter? Even if the Emperor forbade such betting, it was bound to happen in secret.

"Could you give me a hint? I’ll split the winnings with you."

Having delivered all of the necessary information, I threw in one last provocation. Now, he’d probably tell me to stop messing around and hang up—

— All of them.

...?

"Pardon?"

— All of them.

"...What do you mean?"

— All of them will be my first wives.

I examined the still-active communication crystal.

Was it broken?

Why did the sound seem off?

***I made my way to the Minister’s office, still trying to calm the unsettling feeling in my chest.

It was honestly daunting to go to the Minister’s office on my own two feet, but I was the first to discover this dreadful disaster. As the one who discovered it, I had the duty to report it quickly.

— Does only one have to be the first?

"No, but that’s a societal norm—"

— Societal norms change with time.

The Executive Manager spoke like a teacher lecturing a student. Just recalling his words made my head throb again.

Yes, he was indeed right. Societal agreements could change with circumstances. However, having only one first wife was an immutable agreement. It was a truth as unchanging as the sun rising in the east and water flowing downhill. That was something that could never change, no matter the circumstances.

"...Yes, that’s impressive."

— Isn’t it? I knew you’d understand.

Like hell I understood. But resisting would only provoke him further, so I pretended to agree. Even though pretending took a toll on my sanity, I was the only one who could report the Executive Manager’s condition to the Minister.

Determined to save my superior, I arrived at the Minister’s office. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Knock knock—

"Minister, it’s Lafayette Varon, the 2nd Manager of the Prosecutors' Office."

"Come in."

The audacity of a mere Manager skipping over the Senior Manager and the Executive Manager to go straight to the Minister—this was something I couldn’t have done until recently, but now I could.

"What’s this? Have you already chosen a venue?"

The Minister looked up briefly from his work and spoke bluntly.

His words made me instinctively shrink back. The Minister had been teasing me endlessly ever since he found out about my relationship with Lady Christina.

"It’s not about the venue. I have an important report."

"So are you saying that marrying Christina isn’t important?"

Damn it, how did it turn to that?

"Just kidding."

Thankfully, the Minister chuckled and put down his pen. He looked at me expectantly as if he was waiting for me to share my important report.

I swallowed hard. I had to report that my boss had gone mad to someone higher up. Who else would have to deal with such a dreadful task?

However, it had to be done. At least the very least, the Minister needed to know so we could handle this situation. Only a superior and not a subordinate could address such a madman.

"The Executive Manager has gone mad."

I blurted it out and closed my eyes. No lengthy explanation was needed; saying he went mad should be enough.

But the response was nonchalant.

"He’s always been crazy."

No way.

I was momentarily speechless.

And at the same time, I understood. If one had to choose between normal and crazy, then he was definitely closer to the latter.

"He’s even crazier."

I added softly after a brief hesitation.

Only then did the Minister’s expression harden slightly.

"...More than usual?"

I quietly nodded.

Reporting that my superior had declared that he would take both the Mage Duchess and the Duke’s daughter as his first wives required more courage than I had anticipated.

Even the Minister fell silent after hearing that.

An eerie silence settled over the Minister’s office.