Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

”Since when does the Council get to interfere with the appointment of the Director of the Secret Investigation Department?” Dorff glared at them. ”When Director Ales took office, he was handpicked by the previous Director.”

”Then have Ales name someone now. We’d be happy to accept that,” a noble sitting beside Sir Stannic scoffed.

The words had barely left his mouth when not only did the expressions of the Secret Investigation Department members turn grim, but even Harrington and Sir Stannic thought, ’This is bad.’

”Sir Doneto, you...”

BOOM!

Before he could finish, Albert, whose patience had long since run out, erupted into motion. He instantly appeared beside the man, his hand plunging straight through his body.

”You, you—”

Sir Doneto stared at him, his eyes wide with terror, unable to understand how he dared to attack.

”But... but here... there are...”

Albert stared at him, his expression like ice. ”You think you can humiliate Director Ales? You, a noble?”

”Albert, let him go!” Harrington shot to his feet, glaring at him. ”Are you leading the Secret Investigation Department in a rebellion against the Council and the Noble Committee?”

Albert ignored him, casually tossing Sir Doneto aside. He glanced down at the blood spattered on him, a look of disgust on his face. ”So it’s red, too,” he said.

He then crushed the still-beating heart in his hand to a pulp before looking up at Harrington and the others. ”The Council, the nobles... so what if we defy them?”

”You!?”

”Vice Speaker Harlington, Sir Doneto was indeed out of line. It’s only right that he be punished...”

Sir Stannic cut him off, forcing a smile. ”I’ve long heard of Minister Albert’s exceptional prowess. Today, I’ve finally had the chance to witness it.”

”I have no desire to see you, even if your old man is the Governor of the Caster City State!”

Without so much as a glance in his direction, Albert calmly walked back to stand behind Balats and the others, as if he had done nothing more than a trivial chore.

”Heh. He is his own man, and I am mine. This time...”

”Sir Stannic,”

Just then, Vice Director Nifa, who had been silent all this time, spoke up. ”I trust you have now seen the position of our Secret Investigation Department. Please, withdraw the Council’s appointment.”

”You...” Sir Stannic was taken aback. ”Vice Director Nifa, are you certain?”

”Absolutely.”

Nifa rose, her tall figure drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. Her beautiful gaze fell upon him and Harrington. ”In fact, before Director Ales left, he had already appointed me as the next Director.”

”You?” Harrington’s expression shifted. ”And the letter of appointment?”

”Right here.”

Nifa calmly produced two sheets of parchment and placed them lightly on the table. ”This bears Ales’s personal signature, with Archbishop Andrews as the witness.”

”If any of you don’t believe me, you can go to Krimms Cathedral and confirm it with Bishop Andrews.”

”Dawn...”

Sir Stannic took the parchment and glanced over it, then exchanged a look with Harrington. He knew in his heart that the situation was now completely beyond their control.

”Vice Director Nifa.”

”Sir Stannic, please watch your wording. It’s Director!”

”Director... Nifa. We will go to Bishop Andrews to verify this matter. But the letter of appointment issued today also complies with the laws of the City-State, so I ask for your understanding as well.”

”I understand...” Nifa said noncommittally, ”but I do not accept.”

Harrington knew things could not proceed smoothly. He gave the members of the Secret Investigation Department a long, hard look, then bit out two words: ”We’re leaving.”

With that said, he led the way out of the conference room.

Sir Stannic said nothing, merely sighing as he followed them out.

Leaving only a corpse lying in a pool of blood, its eyes staring tragically open...

Only then did the members of the Secret Investigation Department who were present finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Having Nifa—one of their own—take the position of Director was far better than the Council forcing some stranger on them at a time like this.

Especially since that person was the offspring of the City-State Governor. If he had come...