Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Hit the Emperor with a Barrage of Facts (3)
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There's a saying that's always bandied about in politics and business.
"Personnel is policy."
The greatest virtue of a top executive or a nation's supreme ruler is placing the right people in the right positions.
A fearless berserker goes to lead the shock troops, while the guy who's good with money handles the accounting.
If you let everyone maximize their talents, that organization is bound for success.
That's why the Emperor was always racking his brains over who to put where.
Summoning Major Schumacher this time was to figure out where to slot him and let him grow...
"Grand Chamberlain, have you ever heard that saying?"
"What would that be, Your Majesty?"
"Fortuna sometimes sends us mere mortals geniuses we plain folk can't even comprehend. I've always believed it, but... I've never felt it so viscerally, right down to my bones."
The Grand Chamberlain's eyes widened slightly at the Emperor's words.
It was a pretty genuine show of surprise.
He'd served him for over fifty years, but this was the first time he'd seen the Emperor praise someone so highly.
Yet on the other hand, it made perfect sense.
"What makes you think Major Schumacher is that exceptional?"
"What Major Schumacher told me is top-secret Imperial intelligence. Not even vice ministers among the bureaucrats or generals below staff officer rank in the General Staff get to see it."
The fact that the Empire was doomed had to be kept under wraps as much as possible.
Once word got out, Imperial Army morale would plummet—that much was obvious.
In a crisis already, if the will to fight tanked too?
"The Empire could really collapse."
"Want to know what's even funnier?"
The Emperor shrugged.
Then he let out a hearty laugh.
It wasn't from amusement—it was remembering how stupid the Empire had been, staring him right in the face.
"Our proud Imperial General Staff didn't even notice this until Major Schumacher pointed it out. Not a single one of them caught on. Isn't it hilarious just thinking about it?"
"Your Majesty..."
The Emperor was laughing through his mouth.
But his fists were clenched so tight his hands had gone white, bloodless.
"When I heard that the General Staff had been completely oblivious until Major Schumacher flagged it... do you know how that felt?"
"How did it feel, sire?"
"I wanted to dishonorably discharge the entire General Staff on the spot. I couldn't stand seeing those idiots strutting around as staff officers."
Officers were the Empire's cream of the crop, handpicked elites.
And among them, the absolute best of the best—these were the ones who hadn't even noticed the simple insight from Schumacher, fresh off his lieutenant's commission.
The Emperor recalled that absurd feeling and downed his harsh liquor in gulps.
Having vented his anger, the Emperor suddenly broke into a smile of his own accord.
"Well, at least we found out before everything blew up. And luckily, our Empire has a certain doctor who knows how to fix it."
"...So you'll put him to good use, then?"
"Of course. I can't kill a war hero who could save the Empire with my own hands."
If you can't have it, take it.
A common tactic in war and politics alike.
Especially talented people—you can't let the enemy get their hands on them, no matter what.
They'd grow insanely strong and corner your side.
"Knowing the Empire's weaknesses so well means, conversely... he knows exactly how to bring it down, doesn't he?"
Those who know how to kill people well also know how to save them.
That's why in the Empire, where medicine isn't systematized yet, executioners moonlight as surgeons.
They cut so many necks and see so many bodies, they pick up a lot.
The Emperor figured if Schumacher betrayed them, he'd play a huge role in finishing off the Empire that way.
And for someone who might betray you, the old custom is to put a leash on them.
Hostage families are common...
But Schumacher has no family right now.
So a different approach was needed.
"Grand Chamberlain, how do you think we can slip a leash on Major Schumacher's neck?"
A wicked smile played on the Emperor's lips.
Like a busty blonde eyeing a short, cute guy.
The Grand Chamberlain wore a similar smile.
Unbeknownst to him, Schumacher had two white-haired old men obsessed with him.
"Loyalty! Battalion Commander Michael Schumacher, returned from the Imperial capital per His Majesty's orders."
My direct superior sighed, looking annoyed.
"Talented guys like you get dragged everywhere and run ragged. Do you know how much I suffered while you were gone?"
"I'm sorry, sir."
It's not like the regimental commander had extra work piling up without me.
Why's he saying crap like that? Geez.
Does it bug him that much to see a kid way below him rising up?
"I mean, a major like you who crushes near-rebellions in a flash can't possibly be idle. I get it as your regimental commander. How dare I defy His Majesty's orders? Guess I had to hold down the fort and spin my wheels."
"I'm sorry, sir!"
"No need to apologize."
The regimental commander made me apologize twice, then propped his feet on the desk.
Even if I'm his subordinate, it's rudely crossing the line.
The higher you climb, the more you stand out, the more enemies you make—unavoidable...
But experiencing it firsthand still twists my gut.
Still, having lots of people checking me like this means I'm doing well.
Think positive.
"Sorry to call you right after you got back. The General Staff has a new special assignment for you, Major Schumacher."
I swallowed hard.
If the General Staff is issuing special orders, it's no ordinary gig...
What now?
Suppressing the riot wasn't easy—surely not telling me to infiltrate enemy territory and spark a conflict... terrorism-related orders?
"The General Staff is reassigning you to the Experimental Corps."
"...The Experimental Corps, sir?"
Experimental Corps sounds like it guards prisons...
Obviously not.
It's the unit every staff officer passes through once, with extreme autonomy.
A place to prove your command skills based on everything you've learned.
The testing ground where new strategies, tactics, and doctrines from the General Staff get trialed.
"His Majesty's will, letting me do whatever I want, huh."
"Jealous. I flunked the staff officer exam at exactly 13th place, so I'm staring down retirement as a lame-duck colonel. Meanwhile, my subordinate was already a major when others were prepping for lieutenant."
It's a universal law.
People who fail exams always swear they missed it by one question, one point.
Doesn't change anything...
But they always make that excuse-not-excuse.
"The General Staff said if there are officers you really want, you can bring them along."
"Is that so?"
"Just don't cherry-pick all the good ones. I'm busting my ass to keep this regiment afloat as is... if you take the competent ones too, it'll hurt."
For the record, even non-staff officers can earn stars if they're truly capable.
If this guy was really propping up the regiment solo...
"He'd have stars by now."
But he's a pot-bellied lame-duck colonel without them, so obvious.
Decent enough to survive to colonel, but no further.
"I'll take Lieutenant Dorothea, Lieutenant Chaplin, and Lieutenant Yurgen."
"The two lieutenants make sense, but why Lieutenant Yurgen?"
"He's been my platoon sergeant since I was a lieutenant."
"You're really not taking anyone else?"
"No, sir."
Truth is, I'd love to snag other talented officers too...
But seeing him throw a fit, better stick to these three.
I don't have to care if the lame-duck colonel envies me.
No need to make extra enemies.
"Fine, you're dismissed."
"Loyalty, sir. Thanks for everything up to now."
Truth is, I don't owe him jack.
The grief he's given me over seniority...
Can't even put it into words.
And as I'm leaving, now he flashes a nice-guy smile.
"You'll make a fine officer. Keep at it steadily."
Yeah, I'll work hard so I don't turn out like you.
It sucked meeting you. Let's never cross paths again.
The Experimental Corps is mostly near the Imperial capital.
High-ups from the General Staff come observe and manage directly often.
So now I'm suddenly living in the capital region.
And then Lina and Monica show up at my place...
"Sir, first time living centrally? I know a great clothing shop..."
"The commander has no interest in clothes."
And they start checking each other.
Favor one, and it blows up big time.
Time to borrow Prime Minister Hwang Hui's wisdom.
"Can't both of you help me out a bit?"