He crossed his legs while staring at Cedine with her reddened eyes.

“Shall I tell you a really efficient method?”

“…Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“Just for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you helping only me?”

“Because it’s a tactic that only you can use properly, Trainee Liere.”

This must be the first time she’s heard something close to praise from him. Cedine’s expression changed subtly. Beyond deep distrust, a hint of interest could be seen.

“What is it?”

The stimulation added to his center, which was already throbbing even when still due to his crossed legs position. Ivlik’s voice became hoarse.

“You lie down on this table and lift your skirt. You propose a deal to the man that you’ll lift it three centimeters for every useful piece of information he gives. If the man gets a high passing score, you say you’ll even take off your underwear and have s*x. But no kissing allowed, and tell him to finish within ten minutes. I guarantee you could penetrate most high-ranking officials that way.”

Cedine’s face, which had been listening intently until just now, completely froze.

“If the higher-ups order you to use such a honey trap.”

Ivlik continued nonchalantly.

“Refuse.”

“……”

“Of course, it’s true that when blood rushes to a man’s thing, his head doesn’t work well at all. But there are also humans like me who don’t react to women. If you run into someone like that, you won’t be able to escape alive.”

The lies flowed smoothly from someone who had been thinking about laying Cedine on the table even before she arrived.

“Moreover, if you succeed once with a honey trap, the higher-ups will only use you for that purpose. All the missions given to you afterward will be like that, and promotion will be difficult. Your reputation within the organization will also worsen.”

Cedine looked confused. She must have thought that the instructor was now resorting to malicious s*xual harassment, but the advice that followed was unexpectedly plausible.

‘No, Cedine. Trust your instincts.’

Ivlik mocked inwardly.

‘It is malicious s*xual harassment. Because the bastard sitting in front of you has nothing but such filthy thoughts in his head.’

Cedine frowned and asked.

“I’m in a position where I have to follow the orders from above. How can someone like me refuse the words from higher up?”

“The documents say that Trainee Liere excels in code decryption. Fluent in Sveril and Franche languages, and proficient in Isen as well? You’re a talent who received high evaluations in shooting and combat training too. Then you should appeal that you want to proceed with general undercover infiltration instead of a honey trap.”

“What if my argument doesn’t work?”

“Even in the worst case, you’ll just not receive mission assignments for a while. If they add insubordination to that, the waiting period might be a bit longer. It’s common to see them assign menial tasks to break a newbie’s spirit and encourage ostracism, even outside the Intelligence Bureau and Army Ministry.”

Ivlik advised that she should endure that period. He said that anyone trying to make a talent like Cedine Liere use honey traps after putting so much effort into nurturing her would have an uncertain future in the organization. Ignore such worthless people and wait for the right time, he said.

“Whoever your direct superior is, there’s another higher-up above that person. And remember that in any organization, the leadership is always thirsty for usable talent.”

“You mean I should wait for the right time and then appeal directly to someone higher up?”

“If you want to replace your blockhead of a direct superior, you need that much guts.”

“But…”

“Times have changed, Trainee Liere. There are no absolute existences anymore. Look at the neighboring country across the sea. They dragged the king out of the palace and cut off his head. That was already more than a hundred years ago. If even a king’s head can fly off, isn’t someone trying to break a newbie’s spirit not much of a threat?”

Cedine could be seen grumbling inwardly. She didn’t seem to have much intention of hiding her expression. When told to speak her mind if she had something to say, she hesitated a bit before opening her mouth.

“I know many countries have overthrown their monarchies. But the royal family in my homeland is still intact.”

“Does it look intact?”

“…Whatever the inside story is, it looks intact on the surface.”

Cedine looked at the instructor with a strange gaze.

“It sounds a bit odd to hear Viscount Wintermore, from a wealthy noble family, talking about cutting off the king’s head.”

“Are you saying that I, a noble to the bone, shouldn’t say such things?”

Ivlik laughed lowly.

“Then is it okay for Trainee Liere, born and raised in a baronet family, to do so?”

“How long has it been since that title passed to someone else? And regardless of what family you were born and raised in, as a person of the Devon Empire, you shouldn’t say such… rebellious things.”

Her pretty hazel eyes were once again tinged with suspicion and caution. Cedine seemed to have an inkling as she asked Ivlik.

“Is this also part of a test right now?”

“What kind of test?”

“A loyalty test. That’s your main job, isn’t it? Interrogating political criminals, thought criminals, spies, and suspects.”

“Let me make one thing clear, Trainee Liere. The reason I’m here is to educate trainees. Not to test your loyalty to the royal family and homeland to throw you in prison as a thought criminal. So relax and focus on your training.”

As if I’d be reassured when you say that. Ivlik could almost hear the words Cedine couldn’t bring herself to say out loud.

His swollen center had already subsided. Yet Ivlik liked it. Apart from s*xual excitement, the conversation with Cedine itself seemed to bring him joy. Even though, looking back later, there was nothing particularly special about the content.

“Let’s go back to the story of refusing honey trap orders.”

Ivlik uncrossed his legs and sat up straight.

“The first time is important for everything. There’s no such thing as an order you must follow unconditionally. Even if you’re in a situation where you have no choice, you should pretend you do and deceive the other party. For that, you shouldn’t let them see that you’re desperate to receive your first mission.”

“Deceive… my superior?”

“How long do you think he’ll be your superior?”

Ivlik twisted his lips.

“Trust the words of someone who’s seen off several superiors. If you lower yourself and silently wait for the right time, the other party will mistakenly think they’ve gained the upper hand and act more recklessly. The more they do that, the more advantageous it becomes for me.”

Cedine’s expression became complicated. She thanked him, saying she would keep the instructor’s advice in mind for now. Then, as if she couldn’t hold back a question that had occurred to her, she asked Ivlik.

“Have you ever been bullied in the organization, Instructor?”

She looked like she could hardly believe it. Ivlik thought that now all that was left was for a waiter to come and ask if the food was to their liking. Just as his lower half had calmed down, Cedine’s reddened eyes had also returned to normal. Her face was full of pure curiosity.

This could no longer be called psychological warfare training. Far from the trainee breaking down in tears unable to withstand the pressure, she was asking about Ivlik’s personal history. She doesn’t seem to think she’ll be scolded by the instructor at all.

‘This is… what should I call it.’

Ivlik chose an appropriate expression. Yes, isn’t this like eagerly inquiring about each other on a dinner date? It feels even more so because it’s in a dark place with only overhead lighting.

The problem was Ivlik Wintermore, who was going along with the trainee’s behavior that was straying off course.

“Why wouldn’t I have been? I’m a person who receives envy and jealousy all at once, while also being perfect for being looked down upon as a young master raised delicately in a noble family.”

“…Yes, I see. I just understood.”

“Cedine Liere.”

Ivlik’s lips curled up slightly. He couldn’t help but smile even if he tried not to. It was becoming more and more like an evening date.

“Did you just mock this instructor?”

“It’s not mockery. Your explanation was so excellent that it was easy to understand.”

“It seems like you think, ‘You got bullied because you were acting so high and mighty.'”

“Don’t twist my words as if I said something I didn’t.”

This is interesting. It’s incomparably more enjoyable than pleasing old men who just puff on cigars. If this were a real date, Ivlik would have given a generous tip to the lucky waiter. Then he would have stood up, suggesting they have drinks somewhere else, somewhere with a better view.

“I wasn’t a Lieutenant Colonel from the start, you know.”

There was some guy whose face he can barely remember now. That person told Ivlik that it was too unfair for someone who entered and graduated from the military academy at the top of his class to also have a handsome face, and that as a man, shouldn’t he have at least one scar on his face?