“Have you heard?”
“Section One apparently went on a group trip to the Kelly Kingdom.”
“The Kelly Kingdom?”
“Where did they get that kind of money?”
“I heard they were selected as the outstanding department, so the Minister provided it for free as a reward.”
“Seriously!?”
Hearing this news, the eyes of the office staff who loved to gossip instantly lit up.
The Kelly Kingdom.
It had been selected by 《Imperial Magazine》 as the best tourist destination for three consecutive years.
It was also renowned as one of the “Ten Places You Must Visit in Your Lifetime.”
According to rumor...
If newlyweds spent a week there, they would obtain a century of happiness.
And couples trapped in emotional burnout could reignite their former passion just by traveling there.
“Then if we work hard from now on, can we go too?”
“Of course.”
“Don't you know what kind of person Minister Li An is?”
“He accepts only the bare minimum of gifts, is never more than ten minutes late, and handles everything fairly and justly.”
“He'll definitely reward us too.”
“Looks like it's time to show off the work abilities we've kept hidden for so many years.”
A new atmosphere began to circulate within the Evaluation Department.
If you work hard, you will surely be rewarded.
This fact provided tremendous motivation to both managerial staff and ordinary officials.
The news of Section One's reward trip to the Kelly Kingdom reignited the Evaluation Department's long-forgotten morale.
Section Two.
Section Three.
Even Section Four.
All of them sprang into action.
The officials who used to slack off seemed to treat their past laziness as merely a charging phase, now erupting with astonishing work enthusiasm.
...
“Productivity has tripled.”
“What?”
Li An froze.
“Section One should be on vacation right now, shouldn't they?”
Isha spoke while holding a report.
“Not only that.”
“The average tardiness has dropped from one hour to thirty minutes.”
“Even without being urged by the Minister or managers, they take the initiative to look for work.”
Li An frowned.
He decided to inspect the offices in person.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
How could those fellows suddenly become so diligent?
Isha must have misunderstood something.
However...
When he quietly arrived at Section Two...
The scene before his eyes plunged him into shock.
“Although this land is currently designated as a botanical conservation zone, according to regulations, its appraised value should only be one-third of the current figure.”
“Incorrect.”
“Haven't you heard the recent rumors about lifting restrictions on the conservation zone?”
“Taking its potential future value into account, this price is very reasonable.”
“That won't do.”
“We are appraising its current value, not future fantasies.”
Several staff members were engaged in a serious discussion.
No slacking off.
No chatting.
No loafing.
They...
...were actually working.
Li An felt that something was fundamentally wrong with the world.
“No.”
“This is far too dangerous.”
He had to stop them.
“Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
Li An walked in holding a box of cream donuts.
“Take a break. I brought some snacks.”
However...
The people of Section Two didn't even spare him a glance.
“Lord Minister?”
“Our apologies, we are currently working.”
“If there's nothing else, could you please come back later?”
Having said that, they resumed their discussion.
Left out in the cold, Li An could only leave in silence.
“No.”
“It's definitely just Section Two.”
“Section Three could never be like this.”
Li An still held on to a glimmer of hope.
After all...
There was still Sushia.
That noble young lady.
That girl who would never take the initiative to work without direct orders.
She definitely wouldn't change.
Carrying such expectations, Li An arrived at Section Three.
And then...
He fell into utter despair.
“Ah...”
“Lord Minister, you're here?”
Sushia looked up.
Heavy dark circles hung beneath her eyes.
Her hands were frantically processing documents.
“Sushia?”
Li An's voice trembled.
“What... what happened to you?”
“What?”
“Why are you working?”
“?”
Sushia wore a look of confusion, as if Li An had asked a bizarre question.
How could this be?
In Li An's knowledge, Sushia had a wealthy noble background. She was naturally indolent and would never work unless forced.
That was the real Sushia.
Yet now...
That reality had been utterly shattered.
“Ah...” Sushia sighed. “Why am I working so hard? Naturally, it's because I also want to go on vacation to the Kelly Kingdom.”
Li An was stunned. “Don't you have pocket money?”
“I spent too much this month.”
“Father cut off my allowance.”
Sushia wore a sorrowful expression.
“Right now, I'm... poor.”
“So you're working?”
“...”
Sushia lowered her head and continued writing documents.
“If the Lord Minister doesn't plan on helping...”
“Please don't disturb me.”
“Please leave.”
Li An was driven out once again.
Dangerous.
Far too dangerous.
If things continued to develop like this, even when Section One returned, the Evaluation Department wouldn't collapse at all. Instead, it would operate with even greater efficiency than before.
This would never do.
He had to find a way.
“Isha.”
Li An suddenly thought of something.
“Is there an empty room on the second floor of the Evaluation Department?”
“Yes.”
“I heard that because it's too small to be an office and too big to be a storage room, it has remained vacant.”
“Renovate it into a lounge.”
“A lounge?”
“That's right.”
The Evaluation Department had never possessed such a place before. After all, ordinary offices were usually enough.
But now...
Li An decided to create a temptation.
“Use the leftover budget.”
“Partner with the empire's best dessert shop.”
“Then hire masseuses.”
“Especially catkin masseuses.”
“That's renowned as an expensive, premium service.”
Human willpower was easily broken by temptation.
All it took was a slight redirection, and everything would return to its original state.
“I shall create a true paradise.”
“A place so intoxicating that people won't even want to think about work.”
...
Before long, the lounge was officially completed.
“Lord Minister!”
“Welcome!”
The instant the door opened, the gentle sound of a music box resonated.
The magical music box played a soothing melody, and the aroma of lavender essential oil permeated the air.
Weary minds and bodies felt instantly cured.
“Here is your dessert.”
“As our first guest, please enjoy to your heart's content.”
The moment the dessert entered his mouth, it melted away. A rich yet non-cloying, premium sweetness slowly spread across the tongue.
Such was the craftsmanship of the empire's top dessert shop.
“Please fill in the areas of your fatigue and your desired massage pressure. We will do our utmost to help you recover.”
A catkin receptionist dressed in a white uniform handed over a form.
Li An nodded.
“I'm not here for a massage today.”
“I just wanted to take a look around.”
“Of course.”
“Lord Minister is welcome anytime.”
Stepping inside, Li An saw several massage beds.
Every single one was occupied.
In fact... reservations were required.
The lounge had actually become this wildly popular.
“Lord Minister...”
“This place is amazing...”
Following the voice, Sushia was lying on a massage bed.
A catkin masseuse was pressing on her back with furry paws.
Precise technique.
Flawless pressure.
Even traditional massage methods were thoroughly mastered.
Sushia looked as though she had completely melted.
“So comfortable...”
Then, she fell asleep.
Ten minutes later...
“Recovery complete!”
Sushia suddenly sat up.
“Back to work!”
With that, she swiftly departed.
The next employee entered.
That clerk, who had been utterly exhausted with backaches and sore shoulders just moments before, ate a dessert, received a massage, and returned to their post refreshed and brimming with energy.
Li An watched in utter bewilderment.
“What is this?”
“A respawn point?”
“Do employees come in to respawn after they die?”
Upon further observation, Li An finally realized: the employees strictly adhered to the time limit. Once their break ended, they would leave on their own accord.
This place...
...was not a slacking den at all.
It was the ultimate supply depot for boosting work efficiency!
“That spot has been occupied for over an hour, though.”
“At least...”
“There's still someone truly utilizing the lounge.”
Li An showed a gratified expression.
“A truly admirable spirit of slacking off.”
“How respectable.”
Curious, he drew back the curtain.
And then...
He saw an entirely unexpected person.
A man receiving a massage.
Upon seeing Li An, the man flashed a bright smile.
“Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Oh!”
“Li An!”
“I was just thinking about looking for you.”
“I didn't expect you to come here.”
The visitor was none other than the First Prince of the Empire, the Crown Prince: Kane.
“I saw there was a lounge here, so I came in.”
“I didn't expect the skills here to be even better than I imagined.”
“By the time I came to my senses... two hours had already passed.”
“Hahahaha!”
The catkin masseuse was drenched in cold sweat.
Because the customer she was currently serving...
...was the Crown Prince.
“A bit harder here.”
“This spot is very tight.”
“U-Understood...”
Li An was silent.
And then...
He swiftly chose to flee the scene.
“I saw nothing.”
“I know nothing.”
...
《Imperial Magazine》 Special Report: Evaluation Department Lounge Feature
(Published with imperial authorization following completed review)
We would once again like to express our gratitude to the Minister of the Evaluation Department, Mr. Li An Adolf, for granting this magazine an interview.
Pushing open the doors to the lounge, the first thing that welcomes visitors is the gentle melody of a music box.
The soothing music played by the magical music box, harmonized with the lavender fragrance, gradually calms even the most tense of nerves.
However...
An even more astonishing sight awaits.
Please imagine:
A catkin girl in a white uniform walks toward you.
She raises her adorable paws and presents an exquisite dessert.
The dessert melts in your mouth, its luxurious sweetness enveloping the entire palate.
This is none other than the artisanal confectionery crafted by the empire's premier dessert boutique, LeBlanc.
(This article is proudly sponsored by LeBlanc Dessert Shop.)
Afterward, the catkin girl attentively inquires about the points of your fatigue and your desired massage pressure, gently guiding you onto the massage bed.
In the next moment, soft yet powerful hands begin massaging your weary body.
Not too light.
Not too heavy.
Just right.
It feels as if every stiff muscle is being breathed back to life...
...
Li An closed the magazine.
“Wait.”
“Hasn't 《Imperial Magazine》 always had poor relations with the government?”
“I thought they would write a negative report.”
In the end... they were moved to an extent even more exaggerated than he could have imagined.
“I see.”
Right at that moment, a new document was delivered.
【Imperial Department of the Year】
【Congratulations to the Evaluation Department on being selected as the Imperial Department of the Year.】
Due to the heightened motivation of the staff, coupled with the monstrous surge in efficiency brought about by the lounge, the Evaluation Department... had actually become the best department of the year.
The certificate was filled with words of praise, alongside promises of an increased budget.
“This...”
“Can be used as an excuse later.”
Li An looked at the certificate and fell into deep thought.
“No.”
“Things cannot continue like this.”
He made up his mind.
“I'm taking a vacation.”
“I'm escaping from here.”
Escaping from this...
...completely out-of-control Evaluation Department.
Rate on N.U.
