Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: War on Terror (6)
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There was a single report lying on Major General Chaplin's desk.
A thief trying to steal his daughter away.
No, it was a report penned by a highly capable subordinate officer who was trying to whisk away anyone and everyone.
He had started reading it without much thought...
But with each page he turned—one, then two—his expression changed in real time.
"That mad bastard. Does that son of a bitch not have even the bare minimum conscience a human should possess?"
"What on earth does it say to get you so worked up, Corps Commander?"
"Major Schumacher has submitted a report demanding we squeeze Lieutenant Colonel Rienson dry down to his very marrow and then purge him."
The chief of staff nearly dropped his jaw at those words. Not content with having maneuvered to brand a man named Rienson a national traitor to the Ortz Kingdom through his own handiwork. He had gone even further, devising a plan to wring vengeance from the man's very bones. If he were the enemy, he might have cursed him out... 'Are all geniuses inherently that vicious?' "What exactly does it propose?"
"Submit a report to General Staff Headquarters to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Rienson's rank as is, allowing him to serve in the Imperial Army. Then have him personally round up the spies dispatched from the Ortz Kingdom."
"Planning to work the hunting dog to the bone and then boil him alive, eh? What do you think, sir?"
"Of course I'm all for it."
The idea of sucking the marrow from Lieutenant Colonel Rienson's bones was vicious indeed... But Major General Chaplin felt no particular sympathy for him.
"His subordinates tried to assassinate me and other key Imperial figures—not to mention members of the imperial family. Cowards, every one of them."
"They were even preparing to poison the soldiers' rations."
"No mercy for scum who've forgotten even the basics of honor."
"I agree completely, General."
This world had no concept of human rights. However, officers who took to the battlefield were nobles by status, so treating captured officers with utmost courtesy was the bare minimum common sense. Respecting those who fell honorably in battle was simply human decency. 'Those who discard honor aren't human.' "File the report with General Staff Headquarters, and issue orders across the entire area under the 7th Corps and our corps: from this moment forward, treat Lieutenant Colonel Rienson as a lieutenant colonel."
"Won't that cause problems later?"
"With riots breaking out everywhere, and the Ortz Kingdom lot having plotted to assassinate imperial family members no less—does it make sense for anyone to criticize me for treating an enemy POW like an officer on my own authority in a situation like this? Whoever complains is a spy."
Assassination of the imperial family—that was tantamount to high treason. High treason was a grave crime where even unwitting accomplices merely transporting ammunition could face execution. The one crime in the Imperial penal code with only a single punishment: death.
"Prepare to mobilize our corps as well."
"Yes, sir."
"And put Major Schumacher in charge on-site. He's the one who's set everything up—can't just hand the credit to someone else, can we?"
If Michael's rank had been colonel, he could have granted him full authority outright. But he couldn't dump everything on a mere major's shoulders. This wasn't about ability—it was about rank.
"And Chief of Staff, how old are you now?"
"Forty-eight, sir."
"About time for a promotion. A talent like you stuck at brigadier general? You ought to take a shot at division command."
For a general—or any officer—one of the most important duties was elevating his subordinates. It was the benchmark separating competent officers from incompetents when it came to handling their men. And having subordinates to support you from below made promotions and future career prospects far smoother.
"I'll back Major Schumacher to the hilt. Treat him like my own nephew."
Major General Chaplin's brow furrowed at those words. Michael was capable, yes—but he was also a wolf eyeing his daughter. Treat him like his own nephew...? 'Does this fool think I'll take that Schumacher bastard as a son-in-law?' It might seem perfectly natural to hand his daughter to such a promising, blue-blooded officer... 'Over my dead body.' "Chief of Staff, I absolutely cannot give my daughter to that man."
"Pardon?"
"My daughter to that scoundrel's ilk... Anyway, no way!"
Major General Chaplin was a capable soldier, but above all, he was a doting father. The doting general redid the duty roster for his oblivious chief of staff, assigning him weekend duty. ** And so, Rienson became an official Imperial Army officer (provisional, slated for execution soon). He gripped my hand tightly.
"Thanks to you, I can finally avenge my family."
"Just doing what needed to be done."
"I will repay this favor, without fail."
Lieutenant Colonel Rienson came with me to the deputy mayor's residence in the city. Honestly, I was surprised. A deputy mayor ranked among the top five local notables in this city. A man with no reason to betray the Empire for the Ortz Kingdom, if he was pledging loyalty... 'Money rotting away, and still people betray. Idiots.' "Every male servant and laborer working in this deputy mayor's residence is a spy sent from the Ortz Kingdom. Beyond that, the shops he owns serve as bases or dead drops for spies."
"Why would a deputy mayor in a city of over 100,000 do something like that?"
"The Ortz Kingdom had dirt on him being a homosexual. Blackmailed him with it, and he folded like a lawn chair."
Homosexuality meant instant execution in the Empire too. If caught in the act, even a common soldier who killed a noble in the process got a pass on punishment—a crime that grave. He'd climbed to deputy mayor in a city of over 100,000; naturally, he didn't want to die. Serves him right for doing what he was told not to... 'There are always fools who do exactly what they're warned against.' "The deputy mayor's residence is surrounded."
"Good. Everyone, move in as planned."
We were fully armed in steel plate armor. To prevent any unfortunate casualties if the enemy resisted with weapons. The deputy mayor pointed accusingly the moment we entered.
"You bastard, do you know where you are, barging in with soldiers? Has a puny major like you lost his mind?"
"The one who's lost his mind is you. You're under arrest for collusion with the Ortz Kingdom, inciting riots, and complicity in plotting against the imperial family—along with every servant in this residence."
"Bullshit! I'm the deputy mayor of this city!"
"Here's the warrant issued by the corps commander himself. Plus, Lieutenant Colonel Rienson—formerly of the Ortz Kingdom's intelligence—has confessed everything. Give it up."
In the Empire, soldiers doubled as police. The sharper NCOs and privates became what we'd call beat cops, while officers retiring from middling ranks took leadership spots in the force. So me arresting criminals like this wasn't anything special.
"Take him into custody. Lethal force authorized if they resist."
"Yes, sir!"
At the arrest order, the servants in the deputy mayor's residence came at us with every weapon they could grab. Clubs, rolling pins from the kitchen, pots, solid metal ladles, and so on...
"Kill them!"
"Fuck, I never signed up to work with this fag."
"Lieutenant Colonel Rienson, you traitor bastard!"
They couldn't land a scratch on our soldiers, fully clad in steel armor for the arrest. Even a club to the head just made you stagger briefly thanks to the helmet. No real damage. Meanwhile, the suspected spies flailed helplessly and got beaten down. Some writhed with broken arms or legs.
"What a shame. Deputy Mayor—want to go quietly, or take a beating first?"
"This is a frame job!"
"Frame job? Should've lived a clean life."
I personally grabbed the fleeing deputy mayor and gave him a few solid punches. Just enough to blacken both eyes.
"Lieutenant Lina, hand these suspects over to the guard detail. I'll round up everyone in the buildings he owns."
"Yes, sir."
"Let's go, Colonel. Time to give the Ortz Kingdom bastards a taste of their own medicine."
Rienson and I swept up every terrorist in the city. Across the Empire, hundreds more spies were arrested based on his tips. Once it was all over, Rienson called me aside and laughed with visible relief.
"Vengeance is finally mine."
"You did well, Colonel."
"They even offered me a chance to stay on in the Imperial Army, but I'm done with military life."
"I see."
"Planning to use the payout from the Empire to open a little restaurant here and live quietly."
Retiring to run a diner—not your typical ex-officer's move. Whatever; his choice, I respect it.
"For you, food's on the house every time you—" Rienson couldn't finish his sentence. Because I'd stabbed him in the throat with my knife.
"........"
Blood poured from his mouth.
"Did you think I'd let a man who plotted to kill the Empire's imperial family enjoy a peaceful retirement? And the reason your homeland abandoned you? All my doing."
I added one last word as he lay dying.
"A fittingly pathetic end for a terrorist."