“Deputy Commander, if it’s not rude, may I offer some advice? Of course, it’s all for your sake, Deputy Commander.”

Aguil clenched his teeth. He didn’t want to hear advice from the likes of him, nor was he curious about it.

But he couldn’t reply that it wasn’t okay because he had never encountered such a situation before. He had never met someone who wasn’t scared of him.

In such cases, Aguil didn’t know how to bend subordinates to his will.

The new recruit apparently didn’t expect a reply and continued.

“Ahem! When I was young, I had a superior who always frowned like this.”

The new recruit furrowed his eyebrows. He scrunched his face so much that his eyes, nose, and mouth almost met in the middle, which looked rather comical.

Yet, no one laughed.

The new recruit, not intending to be funny, returned to a serious expression and continued.

“I always thought that he had a disease that made him incapable of smiling! Haha!”

People were puzzled as the new recruit burst into jovial laughter.

No one understood what part was supposed to be funny.

“But then I realized it wasn’t the case. Recently, I saw him spending time with his son. He always had a slight smile on his face. And you know what’s really surprising?!”

“……What is it?”

“He looked ten years younger when he didn’t frown compared to when he did! Haha!”

“……. ”

The new recruit ended his story with a laugh. He was the only one laughing after his lengthy monologue.

Aguil opened and closed his mouth several times. Then he suddenly remembered that the new recruit had incorrectly addressed him earlier.

“Wait, what did you call me earlier? What? Deputy commander?”

“Yes, I called you Deputy Commander!”

“Ah, look at this guy.”

“Yes? Who are you talking about? Me?”

Infuriated from head to toe by the new recruit’s frivolous tone, Aguil advanced toward him, puffing himself up.

“Ahem! Aren’t you getting a bit too close.”

“……. ”

But that, too, turned out to be more difficult than he had thought.
Aguiel, who had never met someone larger than himself in his life, couldn’t even dream that the newcomer would be taller.

Taking large strides towards the newcomer, Aguiel realized that the top of the newcomer’s head was higher than his own by the length of a palm.

“This, this brat…”

Aguiel raised his hand as if to strike but hesitated. His hand slowly lowered without making contact.

Stepping back cautiously, Aguiel coughed awkwardly.

“What, you fool! Why did you hire someone so clumsy?”

“I apologize. Let me explain.”

Before leaving the corridor, Aguiel glared at the newcomer, pouring all his annoyance into a lingering look. Despite this, the newcomer spoke with an innocently radiant face.

“Deputy Chief! It’s been a pleasure!”

“….”

After Aguiel had gone, the coworker who stood next to the newcomer finally let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t call the Deputy Chief ‘Deputy Chief.'”

“Huh? What in the world does that mean?”

“Anyway, the Deputy Chief doesn’t like being called ‘Deputy Chief.’ So, remember that.”

“If I don’t call the Deputy Chief ‘Deputy Chief,’ what should I call him?”

Confused by the newcomer’s lack of understanding, the coworker shook his head helplessly.

“Think about it, what other titles are there besides Deputy Chief?”

“None?”

“Never mind. Obviously, you should call him Chief, idiot.”

“But isn’t there a separate Chief? We should save ‘Chief’ for when we address the actual Chief, or else the Chief will be upset, right?”

“Don’t worry about it. The Chief will never show up anyway.”

The newcomer, who had been answering vaguely, suddenly focused. His eyes sparkled, but his coworker didn’t notice.

“What do you mean the Chief will never show up? Did the Deputy Chief say that?”

“Yes, even the Deputy Chief said he’s never met the Chief.”

“Hmm, I see.”

The newcomer’s gaze drifted aimlessly to the floor. The coworker patted his shoulder and got up from his seat.

“Just remember this and be careful with your words next time. The real power here isn’t some unknown Chief, it’s the Deputy Chief.”

After the coworker left, the newcomer slowly sank back into his seat.

As he quietly resumed his work, a small tapping noise caught his attention.

To be more precise, the sound came from underneath the carpet on which he sat. The newcomer quickly pressed himself against the floor and peeked.

Lifting the corner of the carpet, he saw a line drawn straight across the floor. He tapped on it twice.

“Not yet, please wait a little longer.”

Once the inside quieted down, he casually spread the carpet back and sat on it.

Finding a comfortable position, he soon closed his eyes again.

Seeing as sleep was easily coming to him, it must have been a good time for a walk.

Halfdrowsy, the newcomer muttered to himself.

“Yawn, I miss our young lady…”