Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Improving the Constitution of a Modern Man (9)
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1901 dawned with the new year.
People celebrated the safe passage of the previous year and prayed that this one would be filled only with happiness.
Since Krüger took power, there must have been good years and horrific ones.
But now it was the nineteenth year.
No one bothered to nitpick whether things had been "good or bad because of the Leader."
The Leader was simply there in his position, naturally. As always.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About two weeks into the new year, my wounds had healed considerably.
The stitches had come out, scabs had peeled away, and scars were starting to form. There was still some pain, but I could walk around just fine.
"The police are hot on the trail of missing persons, and some bodies have actually turned up. A woman who went missing in District 13 was rescued from a red-light district. Oh, that's good news."
"On the other hand, the kidnappers haven't been caught, of course. But they've revealed that the White Crow Unit has anywhere from a minimum of twenty to a maximum of thirty members? Pfft!"
"Don't move."
As I chuckled while reading the newspaper, Richard cautioned me while examining the wound on my back.
"How's it looking? Can I get discharged soon?"
"Rest a few more days, promise me you'll take your antibiotics diligently on the outside, and I'll let you go."
"Of course. I don't fancy dying from a bacterial infection. Oh, and about that diagnosis you mentioned before."
Richard nodded with a gentle smile.
Now it was the final phase of the plan.
1. Lay the groundwork with Daniel's feature article series.
2. Stage Erika's kidnapping incident.
3. Spread rumors using Georg's connections.
4. Self-inflict wounds to fake fending off the kidnappers and rescuing Erika.
5. Get the White Crow Unit's name out through the press.
6. Have Richard write up the forged diagnosis.
7. Use that diagnosis to retire from civil service.
8. Open a bar with the reward money from Erika's father.
Everything had gone off without a hitch so far.
The one snag? I'd ended up getting a medal too, by accident.
The Lucas inside me was whooping and hollering like a maniac, but the soul from Korea felt an eerie chill.
'Getting noticed by the Leader is good, but why does it feel so ominous?'
I trusted my instincts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was a day of heavy snowfall.
Schupaven, especially Lüdelheim, saw frequent snow and rain in winter.
I was practicing in front of the mirror to act natural at tomorrow's medal ceremony.
"Long live the Great Leader! It was only natural. It's just so regrettable that I couldn't capture that vile reactionary alive. I should have thrown away my life to take him prisoner..."
I was mumbling through a few scripted lines when the nurse knocked on the door.
"Mr. Redan! Ms. Braithner's father is here to see you."
"Hm, he's here quick."
I straightened my clothes and limped over to open the door. If he hadn't shown up by today, I was planning to track him down myself.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lucas Redan."
"Good to meet you. I'm Emet Braithner."
I shook the hand he extended politely and met his eyes.
'This is Erika's father...'
It felt a bit surreal.
In these brutal times, he wasn't the only one collaborating with the dictator.
Yet this mild-mannered, affable-looking man had driven his wife and daughter to the brink.
His wife had selective mutism, they'd said. Erika's rollercoaster obsession with the White Crow Unit surely stemmed from her father too.
Bound and trapped in that cave for days, she'd endured by stewing in hatred for him. That hatred and rage had become her life's fuel—she could never suppress her emotions or reconcile.
"Sorry. Standing too long is tough."
I let on that I was in pain and staggered; Emet waved it off.
"No need, no need. Sit down."
I perched on the bed and looked up at him.
"It's an honor to meet you again. Is Ms. Braithner well?"
"They said it might've been too late if you'd been even a little slower. But she's much better now—well enough to stroll the estate gardens. Thanks to you."
"No, no. If anything, I'm sorry I didn't rescue her sooner."
"What are you saying? I should be the one bowing to you."
Emet actually started to bow deeply.
"No, no, please don't. It's too much."
"The least I can do for the man who saved my daughter."
"Haha, well..."
After some modest back-and-forth, Emet set the briefcase he'd been carrying on his lap.
"And this is the reward I promised. Please accept it."
Click. Stacks of crisp bills came into view.
'My god, how much is that?'
Even eyeballing it, it had to be well over five million pelt.
My heart started racing.
With that money, I could do anything. Anything.
This was a crucial moment.
I quickly put on a serious face and leaned back slightly.
"I didn't do it for a reward. Please keep it."
"I meant to come sooner, but with my sick daughter on my mind, I couldn't leave home. Forgive me."
"I don't resent you, sir. I rescued your daughter only to ease the Leader's worries—I'm not worthy of such a large sum."
At my firm refusal, Emet drooped his head in disappointment, then pleaded.
"Please take it anyway. If word got out that I didn't pay the reward I promised my benefactor, what would people think? For my reputation's sake, if nothing else."
"Sigh... if you insist that much."
I took the case with an expression like I wasn't thrilled about it.
"Thank you."
"Thank you. I'm the grateful one."
"Oh, I heard you're a 9th Grade Clerk in District 13. I know the office chief—I'll put in a good word. You're getting a medal from the Leader himself, so your future's secure, but I want to help however I can."
I smiled and shook my head.
"I appreciate it, but my health isn't great, so I may have to quit. I've received plenty from you already—no need to push."
He looked a bit moved at my calm words.
"You're a rare, upright young man."
"You're too kind."
It was so pitiful, him praising me without knowing the truth or the plot—I let out a hollow laugh.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A red carpet was laid out on the stark gray street.
Police formed a cordon to block the spectators' view, while officials from the Leader's residence bustled about preparing for the new year's second event.
It wasn't as grand or flashy as the Leader's New Year's address, but it was festive enough to honor a hero.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "How do I look? Passable?"
"Whoa—looks sharp!"
I spun around in my tailored black suit, and Oscar clapped.
With the reward money, I'd splurged on it. I didn't have anything suitable for the medal ceremony anyway.
Of course, I hadn't bought it myself—I'd called the boarding house and asked them to handle it.
"It suits you perfectly, dear."
Mrs. Schmidt dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Why the tears, ma'am? On a day like this."
"Tears of joy, child."
The whole boarding house family had gathered for my medal ceremony today. Even Collin. I'd haggled relentlessly with the nurse, who hated anything unsanitary, to bring him along.
"Woof! Woof!"
Collin, even bigger now, charged at me and tried to lick my face.
"There, there. Been good, Collin?"
After I was hospitalized, Richard had sent him back to the boarding house, so it had been weeks since we'd seen each other.
I stretched out to pet him from a distance so he wouldn't dirty my suit.
"Calm down, calm."
"Lucas, they're here," Daniel said, peering out the window.
"Guess it's time."
"We'll go with the doctor to the venue. See you there."
"Don't be nervous—do great!"
After the family encouraged me and left, the black-suited men barged in.
"Ready? You need to come with us."
Courteous tone, but muscular builds and stern faces made them intimidating. I nodded lightly and sandwiched myself between the two bruisers to head for the carriage.
On the way to District 1 of Lüdelheim.
The closer we got to the capital's heart, the more pristine cityscapes unfolded outside the window.
My heart pounded painfully fast, my stomach churning like I might hurl any second.
"You alright, sir?"
The brute noticed my pallor.
"Just carsick... Mind if I open the window?"
With his okay, I gulped fresh air. Not that it helped—I knew that.
This wasn't motion sickness.
'Why am I so anxious? Why?'
Tension from meeting the Leader?
No. I didn't see myself as that timid.
Brain fog from overwhelming joy messing with my emotions?
'No way.'
I feigned calm composure, but crossing into District 1 felt like my chest was ripping open.
The carriage stopped.
With the brutes' support, I staggered out onto a red carpet beneath my feet.
Sidelong glance at massive crowds, ears filled with thunderous cheers. Flashes blinded me.
Feels like I'm suffocating.
Forcing a shy, innocent young man act, I took one step, then another.
At the end of this long path: the Leader.
Walking that 50-meter red carpet felt like an eternity.
Deep breath. I schooled my face into appropriately tense nerves and slowly approached the end.
Clear as glass blue eyes that pierced the soul.
Golden hair sparkling purely, like unalloyed gold.
'Friedrich Krüger...!'
Lucas's script descriptions weren't exaggerated. He was a once-in-a-century beauty with an immense aura.
"Lucas Redan, right?"
As he spoke from the high podium, the Lucas inside me fainted dead away, making my body sway.
"Hahaha! So tense!"
Krüger laughed heartily, goodness knows why, and came down personally to steady me.
Our eyes met, and a dangerous jolt like electricity shot through me.
'This bastard... the dictator who'll slaughter millions.'
Oddly, that thought melted away all my anxiety and fear.
I slowly assumed proper posture and thumped my chest with my fist.
"Long live the Great Leader! Forgive me! I was so nervous at the thought of meeting you that I caused a scene!"
"Nothing to apologize for."
He chuckled casually and turned to the crowd.
"People of Schupaven!"
His magic-amplified voice boomed, instantly silencing the noisy throng.
"You've all heard. Crude thugs calling themselves the White Crow Unit have appeared. They've committed the atrocity of kidnapping innocent, loyal Lüdelheim citizens."
"People of Schupaven! But you need not cower in fear. Where there's evil, someone steps up to smite it—that's the law of the world and our people's nature."
"Not because of the police. Not because of the army. Right before your eyes—this man! This utterly ordinary young man is the slayer of evil."
"That's Schupaven. Every one of you, as Schupaven folk, holds the same potential as this youth. Anyone can be a hero, saving neighbor and kin. Pursuing justice, loving good—that's our national character, our pride."
"Citizens! Will you all follow this young man's example and become ordinary yet great people?!"
As Krüger bellowed, cheers engulfed the square.
Standing right in front of him, my ears had been ringing since his speech began; now with his full-throated roar, agony hit like my eardrums burst. I squeezed my eyes shut.
'Ah, feels like my eardrums are gone.'
Tears streamed down. I tried to pass them off as tears of being deeply moved.
Cheers repeated several times before dying down. Finally, Krüger patted my shoulder and hung the medal around my neck.
"A fight with kidnappers, huh. Good play."
With a sneer.