Zen used that opportunity to investigate the key locations inside the base, which had been disguised as a storehouse, and, after sneaking back out, managed to draw up a rough blueprint.
Finding the hidden entrance to the basement in particular had been a major discovery. Not only was the room of the organization’s leader there, but there was also a secret path connected to the outside. Without that knowledge, they probably would’ve failed to catch most of the leaders.
He hurriedly came up with a plan, enlisted the help of the other centurions, and succeeded in raiding the storehouse and destroying the base.
Zen rescued many young boys and girls along with Keel. While the kids were returned to their homes—or other protective facilities—Keel had grown deeply attached to Zen. That was why the Leadon family had brought him in.
All’s well that ends well—that was what Zen had thought, anyway, but the glorious achievement of exposing the syndicate’s illegal slave trade all ended up being credited to the other centurions who’d helped, with his name being completely left out. It was because at the time of the raid, Zen hadn’t brought a single guard under his command with him. After all, he’d known that even if he tried, nobody would’ve believed that he’d uncovered the underground organization’s hideout and he would’ve been scornfully laughed out of the room.
The only reason those other centurions had been willing to help at all was that they were also government officials. Thus, their decision to assist him was purely political. That was characteristic of how the world of government officials worked. They’d reasoned, “I’ll tag along if that’s what the son of the Leadon family says,” or “He’ll probably shoot up the ranks right away, so I suppose I should put him in my debt now.” (He didn’t get promoted at all after that, though!)
When he’d personally reported the incident to the director of the Guards Bureau, he’d been given some choice words. “You’re a government official for this ministry, not someone who works his way up the ranks by going to the field. You’re supposed to command those under you. Remember that you must do better to control your subordinates and use them well, not show yourself off the whole time and be satisfied with just that.”
And Zen had been so grateful for that advice.
As he thought back to that time, he said aloud, “In the end, I’m much more comfortable being the one sweating my tail off, not the one pushing people around like I’m high-and-mighty.”
That’s why I can’t get a promotion as a government official, he thought to himself keenly. He stopped stroking his best friend’s fur. Keel suddenly looked at him with a knowing gaze.
That gaze said, That may be your nature, and you may have been like that so far, but I know you’re a man who’s capable of leading people when you need to.
Yes, this smart, mysterious, white wolf sometimes stared at Zen as if speaking to him with his mind. He was particularly eloquent today.
Even on the day you saved me, you probably could’ve persuaded your subordinates if you’d put your mind to it. However, time was of the essence to you. You worried that while you were busy trying to persuade those stubborn veteran guards, innocent young girls and boys would be sold off, right? That’s why you immediately took different measures and decided to rely on your fellow centurions. You knew very well that you’d have to hand over the credit, yet you prioritized saving us instead.
More than simply consoling Zen, he was encouraging him. Don’t be so hard on yourself, my friend.
However, even while he truly appreciated Keel’s kindness, Zen shrugged his shoulders. “You’re overestimating me.”
To distract from how embarrassed he felt, he smiled mischievously and declared, “Keel, you were still a pup back then, but you’ve grown up so much now!” He once more tousled the fur on his best friend’s back and head.
Keel stopped looking at him with that knowing gaze and playfully nipped his foot to get back at him.
You had to scold ordinary dogs if they bit you, even in play, to ensure that you kept your position as master over them; however, such discipline wasn’t necessary for this smart white wolf. There was no hierarchy between Zen and him.
As if they’d become innocent kids again, the two roughhoused for a while.
Hearing a knock on the door, Zen stopped aggressively ruffling Keel’s fur. The senior housemaid had come all the way to this separated building to give Zen a message.
“Madam Sharla calls for you, Sir Zen. Please come to the parlor at once.”
“My older sister? Okay.” Zen hurriedly stood up, and Keel wagged his tail against his back as if urging him to get going.
Sharla, the second daughter of the four Leadon siblings, was quite an intimidating person. She was a great woman who, like Yohia, was someone Zen could never compare to. But if what made his brother scary came from his strictness, then Sharla’s was from aggression. Yohia was way better when it came to arguments since he could actually be reasoned with.
Sharla would go so far as to hit Zen with no hesitation, saying that striking her foolish little brother as a punishment was only natural. In other words, she treated him worse than she treated Keel.
“Why is big sister Sharla in the house in the middle of a weekday?” Zen muttered. He couldn’t not grumble to himself. Unlike someone like him who’d received a demotion, she should have been hard at work carrying out her duties at the palace.
“Ugh, I have a bad feeling about this.” Leaving his house, he looked up as he headed to the main house. The housemaid who led the way was, of course, well aware of the situation and pretended to not hear him.