“Did you hear the story? Department 1 supposedly went on a group vacation to the Kelli Kingdom.”
“To the Kelli Kingdom? Where did the money come from?”
“They were chosen as the outstanding department and it was completely free.”
“Is that true!?”
The eyes of gossiping employees sparkled.
The Kingdom of Kelli.
Chosen by the Empire Magazine as the top vacation spot for three consecutive times.
One of the 10 places one must visit before they die.
A place rumored to guarantee a century of happiness to newlyweds, and to rekindle the flame for couples experiencing a lull.
“Can we go too if we work hard?”“Of course. You know what kind of person Director Ascal is? Accepting minimal bribes, always being only 10 minutes late, and comparatively just and fair. Surely, he will send us too.”
“It’s time to unveil our hidden work skills.”
A new wind of change was blowing.
If one works diligently, the rewards will come back to them.
This fact provided substantial motivation for the managers and officials.
The story of Department 1 heading to the Kelli Kingdom for a group reward vacation revitalized the forgotten morale of the Evaluation Department staff.
Department 2, Department 3, and even Department 4 began to ‘work.’
The officials, as if using their previous laziness as a stepping stone, began to work fervently.
.
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.
.
“Productivity has increased threefold.”
“What? Department 1 should be on vacation now.”
“Average tardiness has also dropped from one hour to 30 minutes. Even without being pushed by the managers, they are voluntarily finding work to do.”
Lia reported.
Ascal walked around the office to check. There was no way those people were working. Surely, Lia must have misunderstood something.
“No, that land is tied up as a plant conservation area; its appraisal should be a third of its current value.”
“Don’t you know the rumor that the conservation area will soon be released? Including its potential value, this much is reasonable.”
“Listen. We appraise the current value, not the future one.”
Upon quietly arriving in Department 2, Ascal witnessed an unbelievable scene.
They were seriously discussing work.
No one was slacking off.
This was unacceptable.
This was problematic.
“Everyone, take it easy. I brought some snacks.”
Ascal, bringing donuts laden with cream, encouraged Department 2 to take a break.
Somehow, this momentum needed to be broken.
“Is the Director-nim here? I’m sorry, but we’re working right now. Could you visit again later?”
However, Department 2, without even looking at the snacks, re-engaged in their work amongst themselves.
The isolated Ascal desolately left Department 2.
‘No. It’s just Department 2 for sure. Let’s go to Department 3.’
To that extent, Ascal trusted Sushia.
Even if everyone was diligently working, Sushia would be different.
Arriving at Department 3 with expectations, this time, Ascal was appalled.
“Ah... Director-nim. You’re here?”
With dark circles from working late, Sushia was busily completing a document.
“What, what happened, Sushia?”
“What do you mean?“
“Why are you working?”
“?”
Ascal’s voice trembled.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Sushia, possessing a wealthy background as a noble, naturally lazy, wouldn’t work unless ordered. That was the Sushia Ascal knew.
And now, that unchanging fact was shattered.
“Aha... Why am I working so hard? I also want to go to the Kelli Kingdom.”
“You can go with your allowance, can’t you?”
“I wasted too much this month, so my father cut off my allowance. I’m poor now.”
“So you work?”
“..If you’re not going to help, please don’t disturb me and leave, Director-nim”
Ascal was driven away again.
This was dangerous.
At this rate, even without Department 1, the Evaluation Department seemed to function. Even more actively than before.
If it remained this way when Department 1 returns?
It was certain to be an uncontrollable disaster.
He had to come up with a plan.
“Lia. Come to think of it, isn’t there an empty room on the 2nd floor of the Evaluation Department?”
“Yes. I heard it’s been left unused because it’s too small to be used as an office and too large to be a storage room.”
“Convert it into a recreation room.”
The Evaluation Department didn’t have a recreation room.
In fact, the regular office serves just as well.
“We’ll affiliate with the empire’s best snack shop using the leftover budget. And we will hire a masseuse to ease our weary minds and bodies. Specifically, a skilled Cat Tribe masseuse, known to be expensive.”
Temporary motivation easily succumbs to temptation.
Just slightly redirecting the water’s path, everything would revert to its place.
“I’ll create a real paradise. To the extent that one won’t even think about working.”
.
.
.
.
Not much later, the recreation room was completed.
“Director-nim! Welcome!”
As soon as the door opened, a gentle music box sound was heard.
The magical music box, playing healing melodic scales along with the scent of lavender oil, seemed to heal the weary mind and body.
“Here are some desserts. Since you’re our first guest, please relax and enjoy.”
The dessert melted at the tip of the tongue as soon as it was tasted. The subtly lingering, luxurious sweetness proved the worth of partnering with the empire’s best dessert shop.
“Please specify your pain points and desired pressure level here, and we’ll make sure to relieve your fatigue.”
A Cat Tribe receptionist in a white gown handed over a questionnaire. Ascal nodded.
“I didn’t come for a massage today. May I take a look around the recreation room?”
“Of course, you’re always welcome, Director-nim!”
There were several massage beds, all occupied. The recreation room was such a hit that one had to make a reservation to get in.
“Director-nim... this is amazing...”
Following the receptionist inside, Sushia, lying on the massage bed, was receiving a massage.
The Cat Tribe masseuse, pressing down firmly on the back with her cat-like paws, exhibited expertise even at a glance.
Moreover, the pushing and pulling technique was so exceptional that it seemed they fully grasped even the traditional Chuna massage method.
Sushia, having melted into a puddle, soon fell fast asleep. And about ten minutes later, suddenly, Sushia jolted upright.
“Recovery complete. Time to get back to work!”
As soon as Sushia left, another employee entered and began receiving a massage.
And the employee, once hunched over in fatigue, left to return to work after eating the dessert and receiving a massage, miraculously refreshed.
‘Is this some kind of respawn point? Are they dying and being resurrected?’
From his observations, employees adhered to the rules, using the recreation room only for a specified period before leaving.
At this point, Ascal slowly began to realize.
The recreation room had become not a place for employees to slack off but the ultimate rest stop to enhance work efficiency.
‘That spot has been used for over an hour. Still, it’s a relief that there are people using the recreation room as originally intended.’
An admirable stance for a splendid salary thief.
Quite inspiring.
Slightly curious about who it was, Ascal gently lifted the curtain.
And there was an unexpected figure.
The person, shirtless, receiving a massage, greeted Ascal warmly upon seeing him.
“Crown Prince...?”
“Oh! Ascal! I was just thinking of visiting you, and here you are. I came in because there was a recreation room, but the skill here is much better than I thought. When I came to, I’d been here for over two hours. Hahaha!”
The Empire’s Crown Prince, Kain.
The Cat Tribe masseuse was sweating bullets, being worked hard by that Crown Prince.
“Oh, that spot is a bit more tense. Press harder.”
“Understood...”
Let’s pretend I didn’t see anything.
Ascal hastily made an emergency exit from the place.
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◆Imperial Magazine - Evaluation Department’s Recreation Room Edition◆
※ This introduction has been written after receiving the empire’s permission and undergoing review.
※ Our heartfelt thanks once again to Mr. Ascal Debrue, the main head of the Evaluation Department, for granting interview permission.
Upon opening the door, the first thing to greet the me was the soft melody of a music box.
The magical music box, with its heart-soothing tunes, alongside the scent of lavender oil, helped to calm the slightly excited nerves a notch.
But there was an even more astonishing encounter - imagine this! A Catwoman, dressed in a white gown, approached the you, adorable cat-like paws lifted, offering a dessert.
Upon entry into the mouth, it melted from the tip of the tongue, the luxuriously sweet taste enveloping the palate - indeed, a dessert crafted by the empire’s top dessert shop, Leblanc. *This article was written in exchange for a modest fee from Leblanc*.
Subsequently, the Catwoman earnestly inquired about the my tired areas and the desired pressure, guiding the me to the massage bed with utmost sincerity.
The moment the I lay down, gentle hands pressed firmly, massaging the weary back.
Neither too painful nor too soft, the apt pressure turned tangled muscles into divine touches...
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Ascal closed the magazine.
“Wasn’t the Imperial Magazine not on good terms with the government? I allowed it because I thought they would write something negative.”
“It seems like they were overwhelmingly moved, even more than expected.”
“I see.”
“Also, the certificate arrived today.”
<Department of the Year - Evaluation Department>
<Congratulations on being selected as an Excellent Department of the Empire.>
With the insane increase in employee efficiency due to motivation and the recreation room, it ended up being chosen as the Department of the Year.
The certificate was filled with words about additional budget arrangements and praises.
‘I’ll have to use this as a talking point later on.’
“I will take a vacation too.”
This couldn’t go on.
Ascal decided.
To run away from this place.
»»—ᴇɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ—««
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