Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: War on Terror (4)
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Ortz Kingdom Intelligence Headquarters was in an uproar.
The reason was utterly ridiculous.
"Colonel Rielson, that bastard, betrayed us?! Does that even make sense?! Do you know what kind of family the Rielson Barons are? For the second son of Baron Rielson to betray us!"
The Rielson Baron family might have a modest title, but they were a house that had served the Ortz Kingdom loyally for generations.
A lineage renowned throughout the kingdom for gathering only those with unwavering loyalty.
That was why Intelligence Headquarters had entrusted them with key positions.
For such a man to betray his homeland...
"Isn't the sergeant major who filed the report just mistaken or something?"
"I thought so too, but it doesn't seem like that's the case."
"What do you mean by that?"
The Intelligence Commander furrowed his brow.
He fixed a stern gaze on the one who had dared to object, lips pressed tight.
If no reasonable explanation was given, the look in his eyes promised a cold plunge to the riverbed.
The staff officer who raised the objection hurriedly replied.
"As Your Excellency is aware, our spies and agents operating in the Empire direction have been getting exposed unusually often lately. Over the past week alone, two branches have been uncovered."
"That's a serious issue."
"We have a total of 57 branches in the Empire, and normally only about one gets discovered per year. But two in a single week..."
Only one conclusion formed in the staff officer's mind.
'Internal key personnel leaked information on our spies.'
It was a claim too dangerous to voice aloud, but...
The circumstances were all too clear.
The staff officer sighed deeply in his heart before speaking.
"Colonel Rielson has clearly been turned by the Imperial Army and is feeding them information on the branches we've set up across the Empire."
"I don't want to believe it, but..."
There was no objective proof that Rielson had betrayed them.
However, considering all the current circumstances...
It was far more unbelievable that Rielson hadn't betrayed them.
The Intelligence Commander had his own personal views on the matter, but...
'I need to look at this objectively.'
"With the situation like this, I have no choice but to believe it. Sergeant Major Noah's report points that way, and so do the events unfolding. Our spy network in the Empire is essentially fully exposed to the Imperial Army already, isn't it?"
"Rielson can only contact agents in the Empire's east and north. So the west and south should still be safe."
"Damn it, that wretched Rielson bastard."
If they hadn't lost their entire spy network inside the Empire...
Rebuilding it wouldn't be impossible.
But regaining their previous level of intelligence would take at least three years.
The Ortz Kingdom's plan to incite rebellions across the Empire had gone up in smoke.
"If he hadn't betrayed us, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"My apologies, sir."
"No need for your apologies."
The Intelligence Commander ground his teeth as he said it.
Colonel Rielson's betrayal had turned all of Intelligence Headquarters' ambitious preparations to dust.
But now, they had no choice but to accept reality.
Turning a blind eye to reality wouldn't improve the dire situation.
It would only drag them deeper into the muck.
To salvage anything, they needed countermeasures immediately.
"Operations staff!"
"Yes, sir."
"Any way to break through this damned situation?"
"Our operations department will search for a method as quickly as possible."
The Intelligence Commander pulled out a cigar and lit it upon hearing that.
When non-smokers were present, one had to ask politely if it was okay to smoke.
Lighting up without asking was like showing up to a funeral in a white suit.
But he had no time for such courtesies now...
"Ha, damn it. This is driving me mad."
The Intelligence Commander inhaled deeply and lowered his head.
"So, no method exists?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"What about countermeasures...?"
"We must withdraw our east and north agents from the Empire immediately. And order all documents burned without leaving a single one behind. That's the best option."
"Nothing else?"
The operations staff officer bowed his head at the question.
And said nothing more.
He hadn't answered verbally, but his action spoke volumes.
"With things this bad, no helping it. Order the east and north branches in the Empire to withdraw immediately, and burn every last document."
"Understood."
"Every minute, every second counts! Transmit the withdrawal orders first!"
The spy network they'd built in the Empire had been stripped bare long ago.
Wailing over a corpse wouldn't bring the dead back to life.
The living agents were Ortz Kingdom's assets and pillars.
'Salvage what we can, as much as possible.'
"And how should we handle that Rielson scum?"
Everyone in the room ground their teeth at the question.
One traitor's actions had exposed decades of painstakingly gathered intelligence branches on the Empire.
In truth, it was just Major Michael Schumacher's little prank...
But to those unaware, Rielson was the root of all evil.
"Colonel Rielson is a national traitor. And shouldn't we make an example of his family too?"
"You mean execute them?"
"We don't know how many agents will die because of this incident. To quell their discontent, and to set an example, yes."
"Then that's what we'll do."
The Intelligence Commander stamped the personnel file detailing Colonel Rielson's evaluations.
"National Traitor" was imprinted on the document.
"Send it to Staff Headquarters. And as you all know, this time only Colonel Rielson is guilty. For the Rielson Baron main house..."
"We'll draft the report to ensure no direct harm comes to them."
"Do so. Dismissed."
The Imperial Army Intelligence Department had shared some rather amusing news.
"Lieutenant Lina, we've got some pretty interesting intelligence."
"What kind?"
I handed Lina the report I was reading.
Horror flickered across her face as she finished it.
"Colonel Rielson designated a national traitor. Who would've thought it'd actually happen."
"The enemy intelligence doesn't get full access to information, which is why this works."
All the Ortz Kingdom knew was this one fact.
The secret bases of their agents maintaining the spy network infiltrating the Empire kept getting exposed.
Claiming the Empire's counterintelligence suddenly improved wouldn't hold water.
By simple logic, they'd naturally assume Rielson betrayed them and spilled all their secret base locations.
'Though in reality, only his low-level subordinates actually betrayed.'
"How's Colonel Rielson holding up?"
"Even as a prisoner, he's maintaining his dignity to the end. All he's demanding is better treatment for the captured agents."
"I'd bet he's tried escaping."
"Not a single attempt."
We were treating him to five-star hotel levels of comfort, but surveillance never slacked.
If he escaped, all my preparations so far would go to waste.
Still, with that level of loyalty, I figured he'd attempt escape a few times at least.
He hadn't cracked under torture, so he couldn't just be content with our hospitality and give up...
"What a tenacious bastard."
Lina tilted her head.
Calling a guy who gave up escaping after we moved him to a nice room a "tenacious bastard" was funny enough.
Rielson's intentions were plain as day.
He judged that failing one escape would tighten surveillance, making future attempts harder...
So he was biding his time until an opportunity arose.
"A man brimming with loyalty who didn't flinch under torture wouldn't abandon escape plans. He'll bolt the moment he spots a gap in our watch."
"Was he acting that way to loosen our guard?"
"Someone with strong will can wait months, even years, enduring patiently."
Not something a young guy like me should say.
But there are people with truly unbreakable wills.
Stuck in this situation, Rielson almost feels like an independence fighter, and me like the Japanese oppressor.
"Well, that's all over now. A man with such fierce patriotism and unyielding loyalty can't endure being abandoned by his homeland."
Even if their country discards them, some pledge eternal loyalty, sacrificing their lives and families without hesitation.
But those types are exceedingly rare.
If Colonel Rielson stayed loyal to Ortz Kingdom to that degree, I'd make him my role model.
Hell, I'd petition for his most honorable execution possible.
Because a man who keeps faith even after his family is purged under a false national accusation won't crack no matter what.
"Let's go."
I faced Colonel Rielson.
Thanks to my arrangements, he wasn't in prisoner rags but wore his Ortz Kingdom uniform.
Was that why?
A hint of goodwill toward me showed in the colonel's eyes.
But only up to now, that is.
"Colonel Rielson, I'm truly sorry, but I have some unfortunate news to deliver."
"They've decided to execute my subordinates."
"No."
I handed him a copy of the fresh report from Imperial Intelligence.
"Your homeland has abandoned you."