The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 54
“N-no, w-well, Minister, what brings you here….”
The first person to greet the Minister of Finance at the Scroll Department Office was Anastasia.
Anastasia Kayen.
A nine-year civil servant with a passive disposition.
The female team leader whom the Ministry of Education civil servants had mocked at the cafe earlier.
“W-we should have c-come directly if you had s-summoned us….”
I had intended to give one of the two team leader positions in the Scroll Department to my senior, Victor Awin.
‘He’s on an extended business trip abroad, but he’ll be back soon. I even sent an early return request this morning….’
I appointed Anastasia Kayen to the remaining position. She was a reliable choice in every way.
The only drawback was that she occasionally sneaked glances at romance novels with suspicious titles during work hours….
Even now, she hastily concealed a book titled “The Handsome Boss Hides His True Identity.”
That was a problem that would resolve itself once I gave her more work.
“W-w-w-would you like some c-coffee?”
Still, as a team leader, she was doing her best.
She had spoken up at the cafe earlier, and now she was dealing with the Minister of Finance who had suddenly burst in.
The Minister of Finance asked as if exasperated.
“Coffee? What, do I not have hands or feet?”
Anastasia blinked and asked.
“Th-then, should I bring you c-coffee grounds and hot water?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Y-you said you h-have hands….”
There was a reason Anastasia kept harping on about coffee.
Oson, who wasn’t even on her team, made her fetch coffee every day.
It was because her desk was close to the break room.
[Ah, I’m sleepy. Anastasia, one coffee!]
[P-pardon? M-m-me?]
[Are there two Anastasias here?]
[I p-passed the same exam as my t-team leader, do the same work, and r-receive the same salary, but I’m n-not even their team leader?]
Anastasia’s own team leader, hearing that exchange, cheerfully chimed in.
[Then my coffee too, Anastasia!]
A passing minister also called out.
[My coffee too, Anastine!]
[M-my name is Anastasia, n-not Anastine….]
[Ugh, it’s too long. From now on, I’ll call you Coffee-stasia. Got it? Hahahaha, Coffee-stasia!]
And so Anastasia became responsible for the coffee of both the team leader and the minister every day.
The Minister of Finance, unaware of the situation, clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Do I look like someone who’s going mad because I can’t drink coffee?”
“Th-then….”
Anastasia stammered nervously.
“N-no, n-no, we have green tea powder and h-hot water as well…. W-we always keep them ready.”
“What exactly are you?”
“You’ve asked about my identity. Thank you for that. I’m Anastasia Kayen, who has become the Management Team Leader starting today.”
Hm?
Anastasia had suddenly stopped stammering.
As I tilted my head in confusion, the Minister of Finance waved his hand dismissively and spoke.
“Never mind that—where’s the Minister of Scrolls?”
I was observing his demeanor intently from the Minister’s Office.
Kibon, who stood beside me reviewing documents, tilted his head and murmured.
“He’s a minister himself, yet he doesn’t know the minister is in the Minister’s Office?”
“….”
“…Sir?”
That was the problem with foreigners—his command of the Imperial tongue still seemed clumsy.
I shook my head and answered.
“No, Kibon. That means ‘The minister should come out right now.'”
“Sir?”
“Can’t be helped. I’ll interpret for you, so come along.”
“…You’re interpreting the Imperial language, sir?”
“That’s right.”
Taking the bewildered Kibon with me, I left the Minister’s Office.
The tall, middle-aged Minister of Finance stood there with a document in hand, looking quite pleased with himself.
“Welcome, Minister of Finance. Please, come in.”
In terms of seniority, I ranked considerably below him.
The Minister of Finance strode into the Minister’s Office with quick steps.
I bowed respectfully and then asked for his understanding.
“I apologize, but this colleague is a New Intern. He still struggles with the Imperial language, but he’s eager to learn much from this work, so I’ll provide interpretation only for the more difficult Imperial phrases. Since I’ll be writing them down, there should be no inconvenience in our conversation. Would that be acceptable?”
“No problem.”
I held a notepad on my palm so only Kibon could see it.
Kibon still wore a bewildered expression.
The Minister of Finance spoke with a stern face.
“But from your position, it would be better if you heard what we’re discussing.”
“Ah, yes.”
I quickly wrote on parchment so Kibon could understand the situation.
I’m going to grill you now.
Kibon’s eyes widened in alarm.
I smiled faintly and answered.
“I’m fine with having the New Intern present.”
“Well then, let’s do it that way.”
The Minister of Finance continued bluntly.
“First, before I state my business, I must make it clear—I am a man of principle, unfortunately.”
I don’t like you.
“I reviewed the quarterly budget proposal you submitted earlier, and there are some issues.”
Since this morning, I’ve been watching eagerly for your mistakes.
“It doesn’t seem to be malicious intent—more like basic carelessness.”
You shouldn’t be a minister.
“You should know that budgets are sensitive matters. One mistake and you could be dismissed for embezzlement, which would also cost you your civil service status.”
I intimidated you earlier by calling myself a principlist, but if you step back quietly, I’ll bury this matter.
“Still, the minister’s dignity is at stake, so I came personally rather than sending a subordinate.”
I intimidated you earlier by calling myself a principlist, but let’s handle this quietly.
While I interpreted, Kibon’s expression remained bewildered throughout.
It seemed to be a moment where he felt the limitations of his inadequate Imperial language.
“The mistake you made was….”
It was when the Minister of Finance handed over a document.
I opened my mouth slowly.
“You’re referring to the discrepancy portion after execution on the second line of the implementation plan, correct?”
“…Uh, what?”
Accurate. But seeing that you already knew this, I’m anxious that the situation will reverse from here on.
After finishing my final interpretation, I set down my notepad. My Imperial language instruction ended here.
I spoke with a bright smile.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Minister of Finance.”
* * *
[Don’t worry, Mother. If things continue like this, rapid promotion is already in the bag.]
Since joining, Huan spoke proudly at every dinner.
[The Minister of Finance values competence far more than status or anything like that.]
[But you’re the son of the Baron Family…. There are many people from Viscount families in the Finance Ministry. Counts’ people show up often too.]
Typically, Imperial Palace civil servants were lower nobility or commoners.
But occasionally high-ranking nobles would arrive. People called geniuses who valued honor.
[Our minister is the Marquis Awin. It seems to the minister’s eyes, Baron families and Viscount families look similar.]
The Minister of Finance was a typical example of such a person.
He was the heir of a Marquis family, but beyond that, he wanted to serve the nation.
The Finance Ministry was a core department that even the Imperial Family couldn’t handle carelessly, and the Minister of Finance held a clear advantage over other ministers in the civil service hierarchy.
‘Of course. They handle the budget.’
Therefore, a high-ranking noble bearing the title of Minister of Finance possessed tremendous honor.
[He already remembered my name, saying my report was decent. It means I caught his eye.]
Huan spoke with satisfaction.
The problem was that I had written all of his reports.
Huan unconditionally brought Finance Ministry documents home and entrusted them to me.
[He carefully observes who wrote the report draft. That’s why even my Team Leader can’t take credit for my achievements.]
Every time I heard that, I felt conflicted.
It wasn’t because Huan was so confidently claiming it as his own achievement.
Having things taken by Huan since Academy days had become so familiar that it no longer hurt.
I simply wished our own Minister of Education were like that.
‘But…’
I smiled even more brightly at the Minister of Finance before me.
‘So the moment has finally come to use those past incidents like this!’

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