I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 138

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 138

“Are you referring to military experience? May I ask if that’s necessary for manufacturing goods?”

“We’re making military supplies, so naturally someone who knows the special environment of the military should be making them, shouldn’t they? Coming from a combat department, you don’t even know something this obvious.”

‘You crazy bastard, why would that be necessary for making gloves?’

I have these gloves too, so I know there’s nothing special about them.

They’re just ordinary winter gloves, no different from what you can commonly get.

If you have a brain, it’s impossible not to be able to make them.

‘Ah, is that it?’

I thought for a moment about why he was spouting such nonsense.

It wasn’t difficult to understand his intention.

‘This bastard is a cancer cell.’

After I was assigned here, I looked into the factories that had been supplying us until now, and without exaggeration, 90% were run by former soldiers.

It’s obviously not because soldiers are skilled craftsmen that they won all the contracts – it’s all solicitation and corruption.

‘How annoying.’

In a way, he’s the main culprit who created this current problem.

Recalling how I suffered for a week because of these people, my head got hot beyond just heating up, and it exploded as it combined with extreme sleep deprivation in a chemical reaction.

“Is it because of professional knowledge that you omit cotton from leather gloves, change underwear fabric, and have a defect rate exceeding 30% for masks? May I ask?”

“What is that supposed to…”

“I’ve only been here for a week, but there’s something I’ve clearly realized.”

I stepped forward from the platform and looked back and forth between General Velom and Colonel Gavel.

“His Majesty doesn’t know even half of the current reality. Because if he knew to the same extent as I do, it wouldn’t have ended with just a few people being purged.”

“What you’re saying now is…”

“I!”

I cleanly cut off Colonel Gavel’s words and raised my voice tone by one level.

“I came here under His Majesty the Emperor’s orders. Unlike some people, I’m not interested in which factory gives the most bribes. If you want to maintain the status quo, I will personally report the relevant matters to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Trembling.

General Velom’s hands, who had just been sitting and listening to the conversation, shook.

He would know well that the moment I report to the Emperor, he won’t survive.

‘Of course, I have neither the intention nor the authority to report to the Emperor, but how would these guys know that?’

If I really judge it to be hopeless, I’ll probably tip off the Intelligence Agency.

‘If they investigate there, the Emperor will find out too, so I guess it’s the same thing.’

Anyway, there’s only one decision General Velom, tainted by fear, can make.

“Personnel Director! Did you read His Majesty the Emperor’s edict with your eyes closed?!”

“C…Commander.”

“How can such a foolish person exist! Even though His Majesty the Emperor said to change, you keep picking fights over every little thing – how embarrassed Lieutenant Paran must be!”

General Velom shouting loudly while scolding Colonel Gavel.

Even his face was flushed – he was sincere right now.

“It’s because of people like the Director that supplies are in this state now! Haven’t you come to your senses yet?! Such a useless!!!”

“I’m…I’m sorry!”

Colonel and General.

The ranks differ by two levels, but the power they hold can’t even be compared.

“Why on earth is having military experience or not important to a Colonel? Answer me!”

Even though he had bowed his head, General Velom’s relentless questioning didn’t end.

Watching this, I felt sorry for…

‘Not sorry at all.’

The fact that such a person is a Colonel shows just how hopeless the military is as an organization.

“Director, after the meeting ends, go back and carefully read His Majesty the Emperor’s edict.”

“Yes…”

After the scolding that lasted nearly 5 minutes ended, Colonel Gavel answered with a soul-drained expression.

Then the Commander’s gaze turned back to me, and his expression changed so dramatically it almost rivaled a movie actor.

“Hmm, very excellent. To think you could lower the unit price like this. As expected, someone who received a First-Class Medal of Military Merit is definitely different.”

“Thank you.”

“Because we have such outstanding talent of the Empire, our military still has hope, doesn’t it? Everyone should learn from Lieutenant Paran.”

Is he planning to put me on a spaceship and send me flying?

The praise wouldn’t end.

“Given the situation, quick handling is key, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. With requests pouring in for defective supplies, we don’t have much time.”

“Right. I know everything. So without needing to report anything, handle things immediately. Everyone should actively help when our Lieutenant says he’ll do something. Understood?”

General Velom said this while looking around left and right.

Who could possibly shout “no” here?

“Yes, we will do so.”

The commanders who seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

Well, I think I roughly know how they feel.

‘That Lieutenant bringing the Emperor to threaten them must really piss them off.’

I don’t particularly want to make enemies either, but if I keep catering to their whims, this will never get resolved.

‘Then I’d have to inspect each factory one by one like Sergeant Major Kairon did, and that’s a bit…’

And since I have no ambition for promotion, there’s no need to try hard to look good.

“To overcome this crisis, shouldn’t we unite and pull ourselves together to move forward? Lieutenant.”

“That’s right, Commander.”

“I couldn’t be more reassured. Whenever you need anything, come find me. Haha!”

He laughed heartily, but I could feel the weight of responsibility on his face.

‘Hmm, right. If I can seize control like this, that’s good enough.’

Since the Commander’s attitude had actively changed, not a single commanding officer publicly opposed the bidding system, no matter how much money they’d received under the table.

Thus the weekly staff meeting ended, and rumors quickly spread throughout the support unit to be careful of a certain Lieutenant.

* * *

“Ion!”

A familiar figure from behind near the main gate.

When I called out loudly, Ion, who had been looking elsewhere, turned around.

“You came. It’s really been a long time.”

“I know. Have you been well?”

This was definitely the first time seeing him since the Training Unit, but it wasn’t awkward at all.

‘This is what a best friend is.’

My precious connection number one.

Our Ion hyung-nim.

His noble countenance is truly magnificent whenever I see him.

“Yeah, but more than that, Paran, you’ve been causing quite a stir. What exactly have you been doing?”

“What have I been doing? Just suffering through hardships that weren’t in my fate.”

I could really talk about this story all day if there were no restrictions.

“You said you wanted to live comfortably, but after struggling so hard to become second place, what kind of change of heart did you have?”

“What change of heart? There’s nothing like that. My military life just got thoroughly tangled up.”

“For something like that, I’ve been hearing stories about you way too often.”

“I want to rest a bit too. More importantly, what are we going to eat for lunch?”

“A noodle shop opened in front of here. So let’s go there.”

“Ah, that place.”

It was exactly the same as what I’d heard from Sergeant Major Kairon earlier.

“Have you been there?”

“Not that, but I heard the department members talking about it today.”

Places where people live are all the same everywhere, it seems.

“It seems like a lot of people go there. Come to think of it, you said you’re a director now?”

“Yeah, Plan Director.”

“Really amazing. I’m practically the youngest in our department.”

“It’s an undeserved position. And what you do is probably more important?”

The department where Ion currently works is the Western Border Defense Command Operations Staff.

A kind of brain that controls the units in the west.

It’s a place you can never enter unless your abilities are recognized.

“Don’t flatter me. I’m just doing errands.”

“Hey, everyone starts like that. More importantly, I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

We caught a passing carriage and headed to the newly opened noodle shop.

“Welcome.”

When we opened the stiff door that clearly looked like it had been installed recently, an employee greeted us.

“How many people?”

“Two people.”

“I’ll show you to an available seat.”

Among the few empty seats, we chose a corner spot and sat down.

“Lots of customers.”

“Well, it opened last week. They say the taste isn’t bad either. Most importantly, it’s perfect for lunch.”

“I’ll give you that.”

What virtues should a lunch menu have?

Moderate fullness, and food traces that don’t linger unpleasantly.

Surprisingly, noodles satisfy all of these requirements.

‘Of course, it still can’t beat pork stir-fry and pork cutlet though.’

There’s always a sky above the sky.

“What do you want to eat?”

Ion showed me the menu and asked.

“Me? Hmm, I’ll just go with the recommended menu.”

Meat noodles written at the very top.

It’s a dish name that couldn’t possibly taste bad.

“Then I should get the same thing. Two meat noodle soups, please.”

“Yes, sir!”

The employee who had been serving food took our order and headed into the kitchen.

‘They’re busy. So busy.’

They absolutely have to sell a lot during lunch, so they must be swamped right now.

“Don’t you meet any of your training camp classmates?”

Ion took a sip of water and asked a casual question.

“Hmm, Derick maybe? I met him when our work overlapped.”

“I heard about that too. Derick really likes you.”

“You’ve met him?”

“A couple times? He came looking for me whenever he visited the command center.”

“Ah, I see.”

This guy seems to be managing his connections too.

‘Smart kid for his age.’

He’s going to make it big in the future.

“At the Planning Division, you’re handling the problematic supply issues right now, right?”

“Yeah, dealing with the supply shortages is my job. It’s driving me crazy.”

“Isn’t that too heavy a burden for a lieutenant?”

“You understand. I’m really dying from the stress.”

‘Even this guy who just became a captain knows it, so why don’t those higher-ups get it?’

They should all just be purged.

“That just means you’re trusted that much. Father talks about you a lot too.”

“The Duke does?”

Why is my name coming out of the mouth of one of the Empire’s highest-ranking nobles again?

“Yeah, he says you’re remarkable. It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen Father praise someone like that.”

“That’s an overestimation.”

“You’ve accomplished things, so how can it be an overestimation?”

Endless praise here too.

I was gradually becoming too embarrassed to speak properly.

“Here’s your food.”

Just as I was wondering what to do about this, the employee came over with perfect timing, carrying our meat noodle soup.

“Thank you.”

I gave a sincere greeting and then examined the noodles.

‘There’s quite a lot of meat in it.’

At 8 silver per bowl, the value isn’t bad.

“Looks delicious.”

Ion, thinking the same as me, took a sip of the broth first.

“Mmm, good. Perfect for winter.”

The broth must have been excellent, as Ion made sounds of admiration.

‘How is this guy going to be the next duke?’

That feeling I’d seen at the training camp, you know, like a rich young master, had become quite faded.

‘The military ruins everyone.’

It’s just the root of all evil.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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