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chapter 61
One of the saddest tragedies in life is seeing a boss you truly dislike rise triumphantly and meet a brilliant future.
So, conversely, one of the happiest comedies in life is watching a boss you truly dislike suffer.
And conveniently, right here…
“Dun-dan-dan, dun-dan-dan.”
“…….”
At the naval headquarters port within Sharp Territory, a scene unfolded where tragedy and comedy played out simultaneously.
From early morning, the two people danced in time to the military band’s march, their expressions completely opposite.
“Come on, let’s spin around once!”
One of them couldn’t stop laughing, enjoying the moment immensely.
Even the wrinkles near their eyes, bent from innocence, looked like the corners of a laughing child’s mouth.
“…….”
The other, however, found the situation—having to support their superior’s waist and dance in front of subordinates from dawn—absolutely torturous.
At this point, drinking the poison-laced tonic that the executioner had prepared would have been preferable.
“…….”
“…….”
And the soldiers, desperately maintaining stoic faces while witnessing this blend of comedy and tragedy, were suffering.
Wow, this is funnier than I thought…
I’m definitely buying a lottery ticket after work today…!
Ugh, the indigestion just went down!
Even the Major General is still human after all.
Each letting such thoughts pass through their minds, the soldiers froze their facial muscles like stone, waiting for the dance to end.
After a few minutes…
“…Phew.”
Adbello, the captain, finally ended his dance, satisfied with his effort.
“See, being diligent in the morning makes the whole day enjoyable!”
With a cheerful question, he patted Reto’s bent back.
“…….”
Reto couldn’t lift his head for a long moment.
Covering his face with one hand, the humiliation of being embarrassed in front of his subordinates so early in the morning was a significant shock.
“You like exercising thanks to me, right? No need for gratitude.”
“You enjoy it all by yourself, Captain. I’ll just clap along pitifully beside you.”
Reto’s voice barely came out, drained of energy.
“You ignorant rookie.”
Tsk tsk, Adbello clicked his tongue.
“You should know the saying: ‘The good things multiply when shared.’”
“Sharing them just halves it,” Reto replied rationally.
“Captain, have you grown too old to share now? Retire and rest already.”
“The health of the elderly mind comes from exercise! From tomorrow, we’ll exercise by dancing together in the morning….”
“Still, your eyes are as sharp and brilliant as ever. I admire the wisdom in your unknown sayings.”
Listening to their conversation, the subordinates thought:
“…The Major General’s sarcastic tone is a carbon copy of the Captain’s.”
Ami whispered this so that only Noah could hear.
Noah merely nodded silently.
The Captain recognized Reto’s talent seven years ago during the war and raised him.
Adbello had been Reto’s mentor, benefactor, and the mischievous adult who taught him all the wrong things.
But these two deeply trusted each other.
“By the way, you got married, right?”
“An exceptionally beautiful and wise woman, like the Captain’s granddaughter.”
“You haven’t even seen my granddaughter’s face.”
“It’s obvious because she’s your granddaughter.”
“Are you insulting my granddaughter? Do you want to die?”
Even with such words, their trust remained strong.
“Captain.”
A crisp white jacket was draped over Adbello’s shoulder, who had been holding Reto by the collar.
It was the Chief of Staff.
Through thick glasses, a calm smile appeared.
“Your body will cool if the sweat dries. You need to keep warm after exercise.”
“…….”
Adbello glanced at the Chief with a displeased look and sighed.
“Vis, you ruined all my fun.”
“There will be a next time.”
“Are you saying you’ll dance with me?”
Though speaking bluntly, Adbello slipped his arms into the jacket the Chief was offering.
“Being this old, what am I even doing?”
Dancing in front of subordinates was fine, but having the Chief put on his jacket felt slightly embarrassing.
Still, Adbello, in full uniform, radiated the authority appropriate to his rank.
At that moment…
“…….”
“…….”
Noah and Adbello’s eyes met.
The Captain raised a corner of his mouth.
“Well, you’ve returned.”
Noah nodded lightly, a subtle smile hidden in his eyes.
The navy’s top officer had finally returned.
Upon officially returning to headquarters, the first thing Adbello did was visit the Special Corps Command.
“Grandma, please leave already…”
Reto found the situation highly displeasing.
But the more Reto wished for her to leave, the more shamelessly Adbello lingered.
“Oh, Colonel Ice! How have you been?”
“Thanks to you, I’m well. And I am a Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Still a Lieutenant Colonel? What did you do while I was gone? Play around?”
“I didn’t gain enough skills in three months to warrant a promotion.”
She greeted the soldiers and asked perfunctory questions she wasn’t truly curious about.
“You were the youngest, right? Was your name Omega?”
“I’m not the youngest. And the youngest is Homs, not Omega.”
“Names aren’t a big deal. If women care about that, it’s unattractive!”
“I’m a man.”
“Oh, I thought you were just twice my size as a woman.”
As such biased greetings were wrapping up…
“…Noah Velo.”
For the first time, Adbello said his name correctly.
The weight of his words slightly darkened the atmosphere in the command room.
Reto seemed ready to jump in between them.
After staring at Noah for a long moment, the Captain asked:
“Our lieutenant married that rookie?”
“Yes.”
“So the rookie has some taste after all.”
“Thank you.”
“Come with me for a moment.”
“Captain.”
Reto quickly grabbed the Captain’s wrist, his expression twisted in urgency.
“If you have something to say, say it to me. Lieutenant Velo hasn’t done anything wrong…”
“What’s this idiot thinking?!”
Sensing his thoughts, Adbello growled and kicked.
“I called you here to take these souvenirs I bought for you! And this idiot complains even after being given them!”
“Then why didn’t you bring them along….”
“Ah, this idiot lost discipline while I wasn’t watching…”
Are you the captain? Huh? Are you the top officer?
“If you don’t like it, then you can be the Captain.”
After teasing Reto thoroughly and having fun, Adbello finally took Noah to the Chief of Staff’s office.
And only after entering the office…
“…Grandma!”
Noah could finally throw herself into the arms of the grandmother she had missed so much.
“Oh my, my little pup.”
Adbello, having shed his gruffness, smiled warmly like any grandmother.
“Have you been well? Eating regularly?”
“I’ve been fine. Were you not tired, Grandma?”
“I have a strong constitution. Your grandfather probably had it harder,” Adbello said, pointing to the Chief of Staff standing slightly apart.
The Chief nodded in agreement.
“Being with your grandmother is heaven anywhere.”
He opened his arms slightly, and Noah embraced him tightly.
“Grandpa, you look healthy, thankfully.”
“And you’ve worked hard.”
He admired how his granddaughter still looked so young.
“You’re already married…”
“Do you know how much we missed your wedding?”
Adbello scolded her lightly, asking why the marriage had to be rushed.
“I’m sorry…”
Noah laughed awkwardly, speechless.
If she had known he would return so soon, she would have discussed with Reto and postponed the wedding.
“But you’re late. Wasn’t it supposed to be a two-month trip?”
Her grandparents had departed right before Noah and Reto’s relationship got complicated and arrived after the marriage.
In months, it was only three months.
…All that chaos was just three months?
It felt like a year had passed, but in reality, only a short time had gone by. Noah was surprised.
“Traveling by ship is like that, I guess.”
Adbello yawned, giving a vague answer.
“By the way, is the rookie doing well?”
“She’s working hard.”
Although she still said frustrating things, their daily life together was happy and fulfilling.
“Looking at your face, it seems so.”
Though she hadn’t shown it, Adbello had worried about Noah and Reto’s relationship.
But seeing Noah again after a few months, her appearance had brightened, and Reto was the same. Less disorderly than before.
“…That’s good enough.”
Having dispelled his worries, Adbello got to the point.
“You’ve found Mars and Femina, right?”
“Yes, but we haven’t used them yet.”
“Expected as much.”
After a brief thought, Adbello looked at her husband.
“When will they be usable?”
“We haven’t used them in a long time. Considering inspections, it will likely be possible a week from now.”
“Then bring them a week from now.”
Noah nodded at the smoothly laid plan.
Grandma really is amazing.
She immediately saw through and resolved the worries she hadn’t voiced.
Noah finally felt the grandmother had truly returned.
“But what about your brother? Did you catch him?”
“He came home a while ago and escaped. Asga sharpened his knife, and my husband saw it while on duty.”
“What are you saying?”
“The person captured as a suspect during pirate suppression was Tenebre. My brother went to retrieve him.”
“That scoundrel is still doing that?”
Ugh, my head.
Thinking about the eldest grandson made Adbello shiver with anger, hand to his temple.
He shouted:
“I gave him beast tranquilizer to kill him if he was spotted! And he didn’t catch him!”
“Grandma, that expired.”
“I gave it on purpose!”
“Of course it was on purpose…”
While Grandma vented her fury, Adbello handed Noah a souvenir.
It was colorful star candy bought in an allied country during the voyage.
