Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Revenge (3)
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“You crazy sons of bitches!”
Hattie Shaw’s shout erupted in the otherwise quiet office.
While compiling information pouring in from all over the continent in a hastily set-up office, a few reports thoroughly grated on her nerves.
She grabbed the stack of papers with the information and rushed to the command conference room.
“Hattie Shaw, calm down first!”
When a furious Hattie Shaw burst into the conference room, where they had been holding daily regular meetings since the war began, Mike Hoare calmed her down and asked her business.
“The Empire has definitely crossed the line. The same incidents are being reported from all over the country.”
Hattie Shaw spread the papers she'd brought across the table.
“Villages scorched by the Northern Alliance, missing citizens. And it seems they're devastating the territories that didn't cooperate with the war effort and handing over their people to the laboratories.”
“Those crazy—!”
At the news, the command staff, their faces contorted like demons, each picked up a report from the desk and read its contents.
“Several territories that were preparing for independence, like Rzhev, have been completely devastated, down to the smallest villages.”
“Furthermore, there are reports that the land they passed through is turning into a Demonic Realm. This is no small matter.”
“So they don't even feel the need to hide it anymore.”
It was a series of reports that were hard to believe. That the Empire would seize this opportunity to act so blatantly, and that their actions were so horrific.
“And on top of that, they're pinning all the blame on the Northern Alliance.”
Rzhev clicked his tongue. It was a rather nasty trick. Just the kind of thing that bastard Ludwig Brandt would do.
“What they're after is, I suppose…”
“Experiments.”
Those damn experiments. Just when did the Empire become so broken? A sigh escaped Rzhev's lips.
“We need to find the locations of more laboratories.”
“I'll dig deeper. Were the two locations Fritz Schäfer coughed up the only ones?”
They had gotten two laboratory locations from Fritz Schäfer. One, which had been verified, was passed on to the special forces. The other's exact location was still being pinpointed and the facts confirmed.
“Not yet. He's not fully coherent from the pain.”
“Ahem. I thought just severing his limbs would be enough. For a guy so full of demonic energy.”
While transforming, Fritz Schäfer had his limbs severed by Mike Hoare. The shock left him half-mad, and his fluctuating consciousness made it impossible to extract any reliable information.
“What are they after? Why are they risking so much for these experiments?”
At Gleb's murmur, Hattie Shaw, as if remembering something, cautiously spoke up.
“Kratos once asked a similar question. He asked when the Emperor's last public appearance was.”
“Kratos did?”
“And he said something strange before leaving on the special forces mission.”
Hattie Shaw recalled that moment and repeated Kratos's words.
“He said it didn't seem to be complete yet.”
“Not complete, you say.”
Kratos wouldn't have said something like that lightly. His insight was more trustworthy than anyone's.
“Hmph. It seems like we have more and more to do. And we're not even the saviors of this continent. We never wanted such a grand role.”
“That's because the Empire is in such a state. To think that striking down the Empire is the path to saving the continent. What a joke.”
Mike Hoare snorted at Rzhev's lament. Ever since what happened to Lord Prometheus, Mike Hoare hadn't held a single positive feeling for the Empire.
“For now, let's relay this information to the special forces.”
***
“They've lost their minds. They've gone completely insane.”
Peri Batoni, who was in a regular communication with command from their camp, fell silent at the news. Kratos's words grew increasingly harsh, but Peri was too stunned to reply.
Because he was right.
“I don't know what the hell they're after. What do they hope to gain…”
Kratos couldn't easily answer Peri Batoni's murmur. Though he had his suspicions.
Because whether those suspicions were right or wrong, the fact remained that the Empire was conducting biological experiments on its own people.
“What should we do?”
“We have to save them, of course.”
And it wasn't just that. To blame it all on the Northern Alliance. How utterly absurd.
What was even more absurd was that the ridiculous lie was working. Even considering how tightly information was controlled.
“First, we… phew. I think it's right to save the living first.”
“The border region will have to wait.”
Saving the people who were being dragged away right now—the living—had to be the priority, didn't it?
Peri Batoni stepped out of the tent and shouted to the unit members preparing to camp.
“Change of mission.”
The special forces, having destroyed the laboratory near Ashar, had been moving toward the Holy Kingdom's border region as planned, but they changed course after a sudden message from Rzhev.
“The Empire has finally shown its true colors.”
“True colors? Did they have any more true colors to show?”
Hadn't they just seen it when they raided the Empire's laboratory a short while ago? Things more horrific than anything they had ever witnessed in their lives as mercenaries.
A sight that made even veteran mercenaries, who had seen their fair share in this line of work, turn away and retch.
They had taken in the unfiltered traces of biological experiments so cruel and inhuman that it was hard to believe fellow humans could be responsible.
It was only natural that there was pushback.
“They say they're slaughtering their own people and sending them to the laboratories. Using the war as an excuse.”
At those words, the mercenaries drew a sharp breath.
“What in the…”
The mercenaries' pent-up fury erupted from all sides.
“Damn it! What does the Empire hope to gain by committing such experiments?”
“Who knows? What they're thinking. I'd like to know myself.”
A heavy silence fell.
Though they were mercenaries, they had all once been citizens of the Empire. Those who died in the laboratories were also citizens of the Empire.
The people they were going to save now were also citizens of the Empire. The sight of an enemy army going to save the citizens of the opposing nation was quite comical, but what could they do?
If they didn't save them, the consequences would be horrific. It wasn't something they could just ignore.
“The rescued citizens will be sent north with a split-off part of the special forces.”
Their homes were destroyed and their families killed anyway; moving to a new home would be for the best.
“Understood.”
“We'll be moving nonstop for a while, so keep your wits about you.”
The special forces, meant to shake the Empire, had suddenly become a rescue team.
***
The Northern Alliance's meetings grew longer. The defense of Rzhev was no longer the sole issue.
“I believe the intelligence division's mission should be refocused on locating the laboratories and conducting rescue operations.”
The Imperial army gathered before Rzhev marched and provoked them daily, as if in protest, but never launched a direct attack.
They hadn't understood the reason for amassing troops without attacking, but now they knew for sure.
“We need to control internal information as well. The soldiers are afraid.”
Rumors about what the Empire was doing had already spread widely within Rzhev. The soldiers were terrified by them.
Wondering if they would meet the same fate.
“Damn them. Their intention to slowly bleed us dry is obvious.”
“I don't even know who the villains are and who we're fighting against anymore.”
The war had become a farce. It had originally begun as a struggle to protect themselves, a rebellion against the Empire's current regime.
Now, it was showing signs of becoming a war of rescue.
Protecting and rescuing. There was a clear difference between the two. If one had to say, rescuing was more difficult than protecting.
Because rescuing also included protecting.
“Is it right to save everyone? Do we have to? Our own hands are full as it is. And even if we save them all… I'm not sure we can protect every one of them.”
Towards the end of the meeting, someone cautiously voiced a skeptical opinion.
“Still.”
“He's not wrong. It's a perfectly valid opinion.”
Of course, opinions could be freely expressed. Any opinion. Besides, his point wasn't wrong.
“The food issue is also significant. We can't just take in refugees indiscriminately. We need to prepare in advance.”
It was an issue that should have been dealt with first but had been pushed to the back burner.
“And we need to secure space for them to live. Adma is already at capacity, isn't it?”
The problems were piling up. The real issue was how to handle all of this in the middle of a war.
Right outside Rzhev, the Imperial army was encamped, watching for an opportunity.
Wasn't the entire continent under such strict surveillance due to the war that even merchants' movements were restricted?
“We'll find a way. No, we *will* find a way. We can't just turn our backs on them.”
He hadn't expected such opposing views, as he'd thought it was obvious they had to be saved, but Mike Hoare's mind was unchanged.
In the past, he would have surely voiced a similar opinion. Back in what Lord Prometheus called his "storm and stress" period.
But not anymore.
“If we turn our backs on them… what makes us any different from the Empire? I'm not saying we should take everyone in. Just that we should embrace those within our reach, as far as our arms can stretch.”
As far as my hand can reach.
It was something Lord Prometheus often said. You can't save the world. But for those within your reach, you do what you can, what you're able to do. That's all that matters.
“As much as we can. Only within the realm of possibility.”
Of course, he wasn't saying this without any plan or contribution.
“I will offer a portion of the Mercenary Nation's assets. I'm not sure if we can secure food, but we can try through the Merchant Guild.”
Everyone nodded at Mike Hoare's statement. If the Mercenary Corps—no, the Mercenary Nation—took the lead, the burden would be much lighter.
“We'll take responsibility for the additional personnel. It's about time we established a base village in the middle of the Demonic Realm. They can't just camp their way here forever.”
“Then, let's settle that matter. Since the Mercenary Nation has offered to take the lead.”
Krain Rzhev concluded the agenda item with a benevolent smile and moved on to the next.
“Speaking of which, what about the gate connection with the Holy Kingdom?”
“It's in the final stages. We're having trouble locking down the coordinates.”
“Once the gate to the Holy Kingdom is connected, procuring food will become much easier.”
Of course, that couldn't be a complete solution. The only complete solution was the end of the war. An end that came from the fall of the Empire.
“And another problem we must consider right now is how to bring those people here.”
Through the Imperial army's siege.
“Hmm… I'll ask about that.”
Since Mike Hoare was the one who first proposed saving the people, he continued to participate actively in the ensuing discussion.
“Ah, the Mage Tower?”
“No, Kratos. I'm sure that fellow will come up with some kind of solution.”
He didn't doubt it for a second.