Chapter 30 - Volume 2 (2/2)

Isaac sighed deeply. Just changing one word was enough to outwit Reisha’s simple mind. She was now boasting about how there’s nothing to worry about since she’s here to help. Isaac decided to give a little piece of advice to Reisha – a heartfelt one at that.

“You should never sign a contract for someone else’s sake.”

“Huh? How did you know? That’s one of the absolute laws for elves, to never pledge for someone else, not even for a family.”

“…”

Reisha disappeared the moment they arrived at Port City, saying she’d go around for a look.

Isaac wasn’t worried, since she’s very used to going about on her own. Even if she causes an incident, there’s nothing to worry about. This was Port City, not New Port City.

Isaac wandered the streets, not knowing where these communicators were set up. But finding out where wasn’t a problem. Everyone on the streets was busy talking about this revolutionary invention.

“Hm, I guess it’s still treated as entertainment by most people.”

The communicators were placed in Port City’s main plaza, which was so full of people that Isaac didn’t even need to search where it could be. Those who have already used it were boasting to the crowd that surrounded them, who were listening attentively about the experience. There was a long queue to use the communicator.

The queue seemed too long to wait for, and Isaac turned around without a doubt in his mind.

“This one of the useful times to have the power of authority.”

Communicators were revolutionary tools that could change the paradigm of the generation. Considering the Empire’s history and their personality, Isaac was sure that these communicators were already installed in many of its government buildings for efficiency. It hadn’t been long since it was invented, but unlike New Port City, Port City was probably number one candidate when it came to installation of this equipment.

“What a difference.”

Compared to New Port City’s City Hall, which was more akin to a residence, Port City’s City Hall seemed more like a giant manor for a high ranking n.o.ble. Being a prosperous city meant there was more funds the city government could use, and since most people who visited the city hall were people from high society, the city had to decorate its hall like that of a n.o.ble’s residence.

Just as Isaac had expected, Port City’s City Hall had some Communicators installed. But what he didn’t expect was that the city was also operating all the calls with a switchboard.

“This is the telephone device’s most modern version, yet it’s operated with the most rudimentary system. What kind of a technological gap is this?”

Isaac smiled bitterly as he watched the operators frantically moved the crystal b.a.l.l.s in every direction. You could see how new this technology this was by watching all the mistakes these operators made with their lack of experience.

“How did you get here? This area is restricted for city’s personnel only.”

A man who seemed to be the overseer of the communicator room approached Isaac with hostility until he realised the College Emblem on Isaac’s chest. His face stiffened, and Isaac had to repeat what he said to the reception down at ground floor.

“I’m Administrator of New Port City. I need to use them for an official matter. Is there one available?”

“There is one but… Do you even know a place that it can connect to?”

He was tensed up because of the College emblem at first, but Isaac’s history had been revealed to its finest detail to everyone. Even he, a man well below Isaac’s rank, looked down on Isaac.

Many of the higher ups in the Empire stilled preferred to use the old way. To them, communicators were just devices they’d use out of curiosity. When they were first installed, they frequently visited this place to talk to their friends and acquaintances, but it seemed their curiosity had been sated and hadn’t shown their faces for some time now.

But to the regular employees of the offices, this device, which significantly shortened their work time, was both a blessing and a curse. The operators may take some time because it is their first time working, but even so, the employees of the offices celebrated how much time had been saved thanks to this device. However, it also meant that they were given more work to complete because of their increased efficiency, and most didn’t know whether they should be happy or sad about this fact. This was the situation the communicator service was in, yet some backwater administrator from New Port City decided to visit when they were at their busiest hour. The overseer a.s.sumed that the official matter was just an excuse, and the real reason he came was to sate his curiosity.

Since communicators in the city hall was for official use, there was no fee. The overseer also a.s.sumed that the administrator came here to save money since public communicators came at a steep price, so there was no reason for him to show any manners to Isaac.

But the College is the College. Out of reluctance, the overseer led Isaac to a communicator which was placed in a corner instead of a private communicator room.

“All of the private communicator rooms are currently in use. This is the only one available now, if that’s okay with you. You can tell the operator where you wish to connect.”

Many in the room whispered to each other when they saw the rumoured Administrator from New Port City. Of course, none of their words were very nice things to hear.

‘A monitor is it?’

Isaac looked at the booth he was placed. It was akin to a sight you’d see from a PC café, with just a monitor that sat in front of him. Isaac ordered his operator.

“To Gabelin’s Department of Supplies.”

“Sorry?”

“Connect me to Gabelin’s Department of Supplies.”

“Ha. Understood.”

All of the operators in the room who were eavesdropping looked as if they understood everything. There is only one reason for an Administrator to contact the Department of Supplies: to receive more supplies. But no amount of crying from an Administrator of New Port City would connect him to the higher-ups, and he could imagine Isaac getting a scolding for not connecting to Levonen Province Department of Supplies first.

The operator moved the switchboard without a shred of sincerity. It seemed there was still confidentiality in these devices, and only voices could be heard while the screen remained black.

-This is Count Grobelin’s Exchange. How may I help you?

“Grobelin? I thought I asked for Gabelin?”

-We’ll connect you to them.

-h.e.l.lo. This is Gabelin’s Department of Finance Exchange. How may I help you?

“Department of Finance? I want the Department of Supplies…”

-We’ll send you back. Please connect from the previous exchange.

-This is Count Grobelin’s Exchange. How may I help you?

Is this some customer service bulls.h.i.+t…

Isaac sighed at how quickly these operators learnt how to make someone feel miserable by transferring the caller in an infinite loop.

“I told you to connect to Gabelin’s Department of Supplies.”

Isaac tried to put it as nicely as possible as he thought to himself that he’d been through this kind of thing back in the past. But the operator talked back to Isaac instead.

-Hey. Why do you keep connecting to us? We’re busy as it is already without you making it worse! We’ll send you back again. You do it one more time and I’ll report you!

“…”

While Isaac sat dumbfounded by the operator’s reaction, it seemed the operator from the other side forgot to finish the call. Everyone could hear the conversation the operators were making.

-What is it?

-I don’t know. It’s that idiot who asked me to connect to Gabelin’s Department of Supplies.

-Why is he asking for that here?

-I know right?

-If it’s Gabelin… Isn’t that the Department’s headquarters? He’d get a straight connection if he asked for Department of Supplies Headquarters. Maybe he’s purposely saying Gabelin to get misunderstood as Grobelin for another purpose.

-What are you saying?

-I’m saying that maybe that man has feelings for you.

-Ha! Don’t make me laugh. He sounded like a typical Rank 3 knight stationed in some rural village! I have standards you know! You remember this too! The moment you get in a relations.h.i.+p with a man like that, it will be the end of your life!

-But the call came from Port City?

-Really? Ha! I bet he’s still at the bottom of the caste. The most that man will achieve is a t.i.tle of Administrator of some backwater village. Do you really want to have the t.i.tle of ‘village chief’s wife’?

All of the operators could hear the conversation between the two operators, and they could only keep themselves from bursting in laughter.

-Aaah! Why am I, a woman who has both beauty and intelligence and currently enrolled in Campus having to spend the golden opportunity of holidays doing this? Shouldn’t men line up to meet someone with my status?

-Are you really asking that? It’s because you didn’t have enough points to graduate, and the professors are willing to make up the difference if you did this job.

-Is there a rich man with a short life? I’m confident that I could drop out from Campus if it’s to serve someone for a month.

-With your skills?

-What about my skills, you b.i.t.c.h!

Isaac pulled out a cigarette as he was forced to listen to their conversation. He was stuck here as long as they didn’t finish the call and transferred him back to the previous exchange.

All of the operators in the room were twitching in pain as their stomach cramped from trying to stifle their laughter. Even the overseer was quietly snickering, but he finally made a move since the entire exchange room was now paralysed by this event.

“Hey! Who are you?! Do you think the public network is for your petty talk?!”

-Kyaaa!

Finally, they realised the connection was still on. With a scream the operator from Grobelin closed the call. After a moment of silence, Isaac ma.s.saged his head as he made his call.

“Gabelin, no connect me to Department of Supplies Headquarter.”

“Yes.”

Isaac looked at his operator who was still laughing at what had happened. Now that he thought about it, that man definitely did it on purpose.

Do I f.u.c.k him up or not?

It was during this time the connection got through straight to where Isaac wanted.

-h.e.l.lo. This is Amy from the Department of Supplies Headquarter Exchange. How may I help you?

As expected of the Empire’s main government facilities. Unlike the other calls Isaac made, the screen showed not just her voice but her face as well. Amy, the operator of the department, was beautiful enough to be an object of desire for the men around her.

“Hm. Where do I connect from here?”

Isaac realised that he only knew Mazelan Sunbae was working in Department of Supplies, but not his t.i.tle or which cabinet he worked in. In truth, he didn’t even make an effort to find out. The only thing he had to ask for was the name Mazelan, but there was no way it would be that easy.

“Hm. Do you know any of the higher ups with the name Mazelan?”

-Mazelan was it? I’ll have a look.

It seemed she was well trained for her job. Despite Isaac’s unexpected request, Amy still kept a smile on her face and looked through her records. After a few searches, she replied with a troubled look.

-I’m sorry but I couldn’t find anyone who is currently working in Department of Supplies under the name of Mazelan.

Everyone who was overhearing this call snickered at Amy’s reply. It annoyed Isaac but his priority was finding Mazelan. After a quick moment, he recalled Mazelan’s official name.

“Then how about Marvelia Zelion Lankast Hugh Gabelin. Does that name ring a bell?”

Amy’s face stiffened at the mention of that name. So did all the other operators in Isaac’s room. It was as if time had stopped within these walls. All of the operators looked to each other to check if what they had just heard was true.

There was only one reason for a person to carry the name Gabelin.

That name was reserved for royalty.

Just speaking the name in public is considered ill-mannered, and even the highest ranking officials speak the name sparingly. Yet that name was blurted out from an Administrator of the worst city in the Empire.

While everyone was frozen in place, Isaac silently urged Amy to hurry up. Amy simply looked back at Isaac in disbelief. There was no need for her to search for him.

-Are you talking about Vice Commissioner Marvelia?

“Vice Commissioner? He’s already promoted that far? I guess having a nice family backing you up can get you somewhere no matter how much you play. Anyway, connect me to him.”

But it’s not just a family!

Everyone in the room screamed toward Isaac in their minds. The room was at a halt for all work; the Communicators were ringing with all the calls that had not been received. But there was no time to receive them. Just making a noise in this situation could send them into trouble.

Amy’s face was still tensed up as she attempted to connect to Vice Commissioner. She carefully spoke back to Isaac.

-Um, Vice Commissioner has asked you to wait because he’s currently in a meeting.”

“Wait? That’s annoying…”

You crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d!

Once again everyone shouted in unison in their minds. It is expected for the subordinate to wait if the superior demands it. This would be the same for a run-of-the-mill Vice Commissioner from another department, let alone a royalty! Yet he was complaining that it was annoying!

“Well, you can still send him a message right?”

-Uh, yes. What would your message be?

“Tell him that he better pay back for the time when he forced the cheque on to me after playing in New Port City’s pubs and brothels.”

The atmosphere in the room dropped cold, matching the winter’s wind in the cold northern lands.

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