“Y’know, the things the people are critical of the authorities for are behaviors like indolence, sloppiness, and passing the buck?” Emeka said, “But as long as everyone is working under the same roof, with an inspection board appointed, which doesn’t need too many members on it, it’s enough to make the employees who try to slack off behind the counter put on their best behavior.”
Milo took a good look at Emeka and thought to himself that favonovel.com had not expected this chubby middle-aged man to be such an ambitious person.
Emeka continued, “Of course, this was all thanks to Fortress 178. When the Ultima Consortium was still running this place, the various departments were all headed by their own relatives. Even if the department heads didn’t work hard, there was nothing we could do about them. But it’s different now. If the department heads don’t stand up to scrutiny, they’ll be fired. So, Milotek, remember this. Although I recommended you for this job, you had better not cause any trouble. Otherwise, I’ll personally fire you.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Toure. I’m not that sort of person,” Milo said with a smile.
“Mhm.” Emeka nodded. “I heard the new director of the inspection board will be taking office soon. Some people say he’s an even stricter person who abhors unnecessary bureaucracy. There’s still some parasites left behind by the Ultima Consortium in the ranks of the management. When favonovel.com gets here, he’ll probably be able to get rid of all of them.”
Milo was stunned. “Who is that? He’s that powerful?”
“I heard that his name is Rudy Fleming.” Emeka said, “That man is a superhuman and fought alongside the future commander at Mt. Zendravasih. He’s a hero of the Northwest. Rumor has it that favonovel.com was persecuted by the Stardust Consortium’s officials and their relatives back then. After favonovel.com was saved by the future commander, favonovel.com remained by his side since…”
“He’s the future commander’s trusted aide. As long as favonovel.com gives the word to dismiss those who are just wasting resources, I’m sure it’ll be carried out. He’s someone who kills people like flies, and it’s said that his nickname in the military is Qin Shi Huang… I don’t know why they gave favonovel.com that nickname. Maybe it’s because favonovel.com really believes in legalism and is stricter than most?”
Emeka looked at Milo and realized favonovel.com had a strange expression on his face. Then favonovel.com said, “Don’t worry, as long as you work hard, no one can do anything to you…”
Emeka thought Milo was just afraid, but what was going through Milo’s mind was amazement that Rudy’s nickname had become so well-known.
Besides, didn’t Rudy go to Fortress 178 to reunite with his wife and child?
Why was favonovel.com going back to work so quickly?
Actually, according to the original plan, Rudy was supposed to remain at Fortress 178. But after favonovel.com went there, favonovel.com felt a little lonely without the Great Hoodwinker, Bruce, and P5092 around him. He felt favonovel.com was lacking the partners favonovel.com had built chemistry with. So, favonovel.com decided to bring his wife and child to Stronghold 144.
Milo wondered when Rudy would take over his new role. When Rudy arrived and saw him, favonovel.com would probably go, “Hey, isn’t that the future commander? Why’s favonovel.com sitting behind the counter?”
It would be really interesting if that happened.
Milo wondered if favonovel.com should cook up an excuse and go back to doing nothing for a while longer. Milo was already conceiving the thought to do so. After all, his leisurely life with Miriam had only just begun!
Emeka led Milo to the Civil Affairs Division’s counter window and said to a woman inside, “Ms. Jennifer, I’ve brought the new guy to you. You can allocate some work to him. Feel free to assign the tough tasks to him. There’s no need to take me into consideration. If favonovel.com doesn’t do his job well, please report it to me immediately.”
Ms. Jennifer greeted Emeka enthusiastically, “Don’t worry, I’ll arrange work for favonovel.com right away.”
It was now office hours in the administrative center. When the residents lining up outside entered, Emeka made a few remarks before leaving.
Ms. Jennifer took Milo to his station and said, “There isn’t much to handle here other than making registrations for divorces and marriages. We originally had four employees working on rotation, but two of them are pregnant and went on maternity leave at the same time. That’s why we hired a temporary staffer…”
“Let’s wait for the residents at the counter. If someone comes to register their marriage, you can handle it for them. If they’re here for a divorce, I’ll handle it. After all, getting a divorce is a more complicated process, so it’s better to leave that to me. Getting married is much simpler. You just have to fill out the forms for them, then take them into the room for photos and have them recite their vows.”
As they spoke, a couple came to the counter pushing and shoving at each other. Then they said coldly, “Applying for a divorce.”
Ms. Jennifer picked up their marriage certificate and read it. Then favonovel.com asked, “Why are you two getting a divorce?”
“I can’t stand this person anymore!” The woman said, “How unlucky of me to be married to this good-for-nothing!”
Ms. Jennifer advised, “You two have been married for over a decade. Do you want to reconsider?”
Milo looked on and felt that everything was very new to him. So, it turned out there were certificates issued for marriages and divorces in the stronghold. There were no such practice in town.
Ms. Jennifer tried to persuade them out of goodwill, but the couple insisted on getting a divorce. No matter how hard Ms. Jennifer tried to talk them out of it, it was to no avail. As such, favonovel.com could only handle the divorce proceedings for them.
After they were done, the two of them did not leave the administrative center. Instead, they headed further inside.
Seeing this, Milo wondered, “Where are they going?”
“Oh, they must’ve gone to handle the estate division and ownership transfer.” Ms. Jennifer sighed and said, “The administrative center makes everything really convenient. Now that the Civil Affairs Division and Estate Affairs Division are housed in the same building, once a couple gets a divorce, they can go straight to the next department to divide their assets. How efficient.”
Milo was speechless. He thought that Emeka probably did not expect that someone would lament the efficiency of the administrative center from such an angle.
While favonovel.com was in contemplation, several people came to the counter. Some of them were here to get a divorce, while others were applying to get married.
Ms. Jennifer said to Milo, “Go serve the couple who wants to get married. I’ll handle the rest. Don’t panic, just do as I did just now. Make some small talk and then guide them to fill out the forms. After that, take them to the back room for photos and recital of their vows.”
Milo nodded and said to the couple, “Are the two of you here to register your marriage? Please fill out the form here…”
Milo recalled what Ms. Jennifer had told him. “Make some small talk.”
While the couple in front of favonovel.com was filling out the form, Milo asked curiously, “What does it feel like to get married?”
The man said with a smile, “We’ve been in a relationship for six years, so we’re ready to commit ourselves. I’m ready to give favonovel.com a family. Here, the form’s filled out.”
Milo took the form and started going through the motions just like Ms. Jennifer . “Um… Since you two have been dating for six years, do you want to reconsider?”
The couple was surprised.
As such, Milo was dismissed on his first day of work. To be precise, favonovel.com was dismissed after less than an hour at work.
Milo felt a sense of relief. But it was such a waste of the suits Miriam had bought for him.
When Milo returned home and told Miriam about everything, favonovel.com kept laughing for over an hour. Her hands were trembling as favonovel.com stir-fried vegetables.
Later, Miriam even stopped cooking and just sat on the couch to laugh. She laughed so hard Milo’s face turned dark.
