Murphy's Law states: If anything can go wrong, it will—no matter how small the probability.
And right now, Li An was experiencing the sheer terror of Murphy's Law firsthand.
For instance, Li An had initially assumed that the project he deliberately approved was bound to fail.
Yet...
Not only did the project succeed...
It even made front-page news in the Imperial Daily.
Or, for another instance, his favorite bakery had suddenly shut down.
《Magic Stone Innovation a Resounding Success! Marble Co., Ltd. Stock Skyrockets, Shop Owner Strikes It Rich and Quits!》
Seeing this notice, Li An was struck completely speechless.
“...”
“Who's going to make my breakfast from now on?”
His stomach let out a rumbling protest.
Left with no other choice, Li An could only wander the streets aimlessly like a vagrant.
Fortunately...
Before walking far, he spotted a roadside sandwich stall.
It was a stall he had never seen before.
But...
Beggars couldn't be choosers when there were no other options.
Besides, the woman making the sandwiches looked like she possessed exceptional culinary skills.
As for how Li An could tell? A woman with the face of an angel couldn't possibly be a bad cook, right?
It wasn't as though everyone was the God of Thunder.
“A ham and cheese sandwich, please.”
“Right away.”
Li An took the sandwich and took a bite.
In the very next second...
His eyes shifted slightly.
“Mmm—”
“Delicious.”
It was genuinely phenomenal.
Many people believed a sandwich was nothing more than a bit of meat slapped between two slices of bread.
That understanding wasn't entirely wrong.
But in reality...
A difference in preparation could create a world of difference in flavor.
The sandwich before him featured meticulously baked bread, lightly crisped on the outside and radiating a rich wheat aroma.
The mellow richness of fresh cheese stimulated his taste buds the moment it entered his mouth.
As Li An bit down...
The crust yielded with a crisp crunch.
The tender, juicy meat intertwined flawlessly with the refreshing crunch of lettuce.
Perfection.
“Coming here was definitely the right choice.”
Li An could not help marveling.
“How does it taste?”
The woman asked gently.
She reached up to smooth back her long blonde hair, which had been ruffled by the wind.
Beneath the sunlight, the golden strands swayed softly.
“It's exceptionally delicious.”
Li An offered his praise without reservation.
The woman smiled.
“To be honest, this is the recipe I usually make for the children.”
“So I wasn't sure if adults would enjoy it.”
“Children?”
Li An was taken aback for a moment.
The woman before him appeared to be only in her early twenties.
Why would someone so young mention children?
“Yes.”
The woman nodded.
“I teach children at an orphanage.”
Looking at her, Li An nodded in realization.
“What you're doing is truly wonderful.”
“Hehe.”
The woman gave an embarrassed smile.
“Actually, it makes me very happy too.”
“Being able to help them is deeply meaningful to me.”
Having enjoyed such a delicious breakfast, Li An's mood brightened considerably.
Pointing to all the sandwiches on the stall, he said:
“These...”
“I'll buy them all.”
The woman blinked in surprise.
“All of them?”
“Are you sure?”
Li An nodded.
“Yes.”
“I think my colleagues should taste something this good as well.”
In truth, it wasn't hard to guess.
The money made from selling sandwiches was likely meant to support the orphanage children.
And so...
Carrying a bag filled with sandwiches, Li An left the stall.
Yet after walking a short distance...
His footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
Blonde hair.
An orphanage.
Caring for children.
Along with exceptional culinary talent.
Putting these keywords together...
Li An suddenly thought of someone.
Irene.
One of the characters in this novel world he had transmigrated into.
In the original plot...
The orphanage Irene stayed at was eventually destroyed due to the tyrannical reign of the future Empress, Elizabeth.
Amidst despair...
She awakened holy power.
Ultimately, she became a revered Saintess.
And in the subsequent imperial rebellion that erupted, she became a pivotal figure driving the revolution forward.
Of course...
The current timeline was still very early.
Elizabeth had not yet become Empress.
Irene's orphanage was still intact.
It was still a long time before that future turmoil.
“I see...”
Li An smiled with satisfaction.
“An unexpected gain.”
It seemed his breakfast routine was officially set.
After all...
If rebellion truly broke out in the future...
At least he would have a reliable ally by his side.
Soon...
Li An arrived at the Barba Empire Administrative Hall.
But the moment he entered the hall...
He sensed something amiss.
Usually, at this hour...
The office should have been completely empty.
After all, those guys were normally still asleep.
But today...
There were unusually many people.
Everyone had already arrived.
The sharp intuition honed over his years as a Ninth-Rank official immediately put Li An on high alert.
Feigning nonchalance, he opened the door to Section Four's office.
And then...
He froze.
Everyone.
Every single person was present.
These guys, who loved being late more than anything...
Were all present today without a single absentee.
This could only mean...
Something major had happened.
“Ah...”
“You're finally here.”
Herben, the section chief of Section Four in the Evaluation Department, looked at him with a solemn expression.
The man who usually loved slacking off the most was actually wearing a serious face.
“We just received word.”
“The Minister of Magic will be paying a personal visit to our department.”
“Everyone, stay in your seats.”
“You must look like you're working.”
“No.”
“Not just look like it.”
“You must actually be working.”
Li An's pupils constricted slightly.
The Minister of Magic.
For a low-ranking Ninth-Rank official like him...
That was an unattainable, towering figure.
“Why would the Minister of Magic come to Section Four?”
“I don't know.”
Herben shook his head.
“It's precisely not knowing why such a big shot is suddenly showing up that makes it so unsettling.”
“Quick, sit down.”
“He'll be here any second.”
Fortunately...
Robin, the Minister of Magic, was one of the few imperial ministers who despised tedious formalities.
So there was no need to prepare any hollow welcoming ceremonies.
Li An sat back down at his desk.
And began working.
As a grassroots official...
Hearing that a superior was coming for an inspection triggered an instinctual reaction in his body.
“Hm?”
Suddenly...
A voice rang out.
“Is this a project application?”
Li An looked up.
A middle-aged man was standing right beside him.
“Yes.”
“This is a proposal to improve the city's drainage system using magic stones.”
“What do you think of it?”
Li An glanced down at the document.
Then he said calmly:
“It's fraudulent.”
The man's eyebrows rose slightly.
“Oh?”
“Why do you say that?”
“If you examine it closely, every single magic formula in it is completely incorrect.”
“It's merely an illusion constructed with convoluted terminology.”
“The sole intent is likely to defraud imperial funding.”
“...”
The man fell silent for a moment. With his magical mastery, it was naturally easy for him to discern the proposal's authenticity.
But seeing that this young man could distinguish it just as effortlessly still surprised him a little.
And remembering the purpose of his visit today, he smiled.
“It is truly the empire's good fortune to have an official like you.”
Hearing those words...
Li An subconsciously looked up.
Only then did he realize...
A middle-aged man exuding an imposing aura stood before him.
He hadn't even noticed when the man had arrived.
Upon spotting him, Herben's face instantly went pale.
He hurried over in a fluster.
“Minister Robin!”
“I am Herben, Section Chief of Section Four in the Evaluation Department.”
“It is an immense honor to meet you.”
“May I ask what brings Minister Robin to Section Four today, and if there is anything you require...”
Before Herben could finish speaking...
Robin had already turned his gaze to Li An.
“Your name?”
“Li An Adolf.”
“Li An Adolf,” Robin repeated.
“How do you view today's empire?”
The air froze in an instant.
This was an exceedingly heavy question.
The section chief immediately cut in:
“The empire today is prosperous and flourishing!”
“It is all thanks to His Great Majesty the Emperor—”
“Silence,” Robin said flatly.
Herben froze instantly.
“I was asking Li An.”
The section chief lowered his head like a scowled-at puppy.
Li An remained silent for a moment.
Then he said:
“I believe...”
“The empire is like a frog in warm water.”
Robin's gaze shifted.
“What do you mean?”
“The frog does not realize it is being boiled alive.”
“On the surface, everything appears normal.”
“Yet the temperature is rising degree by degree.”
“By the time the water truly comes to a boil...”
“It will already be too late.”
A brief silence fell.
The smile in Robin's eyes vanished.
Replaced by sheer solemnity.
“Are you implying...”
“There are problems with His Majesty's rule?”
Li An shook his head.
“No matter how powerful an individual may be, one cannot reverse the torrential tide of an era.”
Robin went silent.
Then...
A faint smile touched the corner of his lips.
“Young man.”
“Have you ever considered joining the Ministry of Magic?”
The Ministry of Magic.
It was one of the few imperial institutions that actually got real work done.
In Robin's eyes...
A talent like Li An...
Being stuck in a trash department like the Evaluation Department...
Was an utter waste.
However...
“My apologies.”
Li An shook his head.
“I still have many matters I need to attend to in the Evaluation Department.”
Robin was startled.
Then an expression of appreciation crossed his face.
“A pity.”
A man like this...
As expected.
Truly capable people wouldn't jump ship so easily.
Only those lacking talent would casually switch allegiances for immediate gain.
Far from being disappointed by the rejection, Robin held Li An in even higher regard.
“If you ever change your mind in the future...”
“You may come to me anytime.”
“There will always be a place for you in the Ministry of Magic.”
Hearing this, Li An nodded in surprise, then answered calmly:
“Thank you for your high regard, Minister.”
Robin chuckled.
Then he pulled a gold-bordered document from inside his coat.
“By the way.”
“Leaving an outstanding young man like you where you are truly is too much of a waste.”
“So...”
“This is for you.”
Li An took the document.
And opened it.
Inside, it read:
【Effective today, Li An Adolf is appointed as a Seventh-Rank Imperial Official and Section Chief of Section Three in the Evaluation Department.】
【May he forge glory for the empire under the benevolent radiance of His Majesty the Emperor.】
“...”
Li An froze entirely.
“What is this?”
Robin smiled and said:
“Congratulations, Li An.”
“Because you discovered and approved the magic stone innovation technique...”
“The Ministry of Magic extends its deepest gratitude.”
“This promotion reward is also the reason I wanted to meet you in person.”
“After all...”
“A jump of two full ranks is a first among all the officials I've encountered over the years.”
“Hahaha!”
Li An's mind went completely blank.
A Seventh-Rank official.
He got promoted.
But...
Why couldn't he feel even the slightest bit happy?
Only long after Robin had departed did Li An finally snap back to his senses.
He had been promoted, which also meant...
The difficulty of escaping had increased.
Originally, as a Ninth-Rank official...
If he suddenly disappeared one day...
Nobody would care at all.
But now...
A Seventh-Rank official.
The imperial Hounds would definitely keep a much closer eye on him.
All the escape plans he had previously formulated...
Were now likely ruined.
“It's over...”
“It's truly over.”
But...
Li An had also confirmed one thing.
Just as the novel's plot went...
Robin, the Minister of Magic...
Was indeed deeply dissatisfied with the Emperor.
Compared to an emperor lost in hedonistic pursuits, he cared far more for the common folk.
In the original novel's timeline...
When the rebellion broke out in the future...
Robin would join the revolutionary army.
And wage a fierce war against Yulia, the next heir to the imperial throne.
In the end...
He would be defeated and killed in battle.
Therefore...
Joining the Ministry of Magic?
On the surface, it seemed like a promotion.
In reality...
It was equivalent to voluntarily stepping straight into the epicenter of a rebellion.
“No way.”
“I can definitely never join the Ministry of Magic.”
Li An sank into deep thought.
“Is there any way...”
“To make a massive mistake?”
“Preferably one so severe that I'm deemed hopelessly incompetent...”
“And then get fired.”
He had to take action.
He couldn't wait for things to spiral out of control.
Night fell.
Section Three office of the Evaluation Department.
It was entirely devoid of people.
Li An sat in his new office.
Lost in contemplation.
Outside the window...
Was a cool summer night, offering a peaceful sleep without worry.
Rate on N.U.
