So I Declared Martial Law in South America (2)
While Eugene was in the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse in the division commander's office, Isabella was holding a private meeting with Pedro, just as they'd planned.
She'd been under a watch that wasn't quite a watch, so getting a message out hadn't been easy — but she'd leveraged her position as Chief of Staff to make contact, and Pedro, bound to her by blood, had come running.
"You little—! Do you have any idea where you are, showing up like this? If you were coming, you should've at least given me a heads-up!"
"I'm sorry, Uncle. Things have been so urgent I didn't even think to call ahead."
"Alright, so what's going on out there? I barely managed to talk Major General Tiago out of marching his troops into Libertad this instant."
Isabella's brow furrowed at the mere thought.
"What did he say?"
"That martial law had been declared, so the armored division closest to Libertad ought to go in and restore order. I told him that moving now could get us charged with insurrection, and that we should at least consult with the Acting President first."
"...You did well."
"Well, nothing. All I bought us is a single day. Now talk. Did President Juan and the entire cabinet really die in a bombing?"
"I was there. I saw it with my own eyes."
"...Christ. You're not hurt?"
At Pedro's question, a crack ran through Isabella's steely composure.
Get down!
The image of Eugene throwing himself over her in the instant before the blast flashed through her mind.
"I'm... fine. Thanks to someone."
"Thank God."
"That's not what matters right now."
Isabella's eyes went cold.
"We have to stop the tragedy that's about to unfold."
"Tragedy? What tragedy?"
"Do you honestly think San Marcos will function if Major General Tiago takes power?"
Pedro flinched.
"...You don't trust him."
"He's all ambition and no ability. If he takes over, this country goes into the gutter. You don't want that either, do you?"
"But there's no one else. The generals above him have no real power, and the rest are stationed too far away. Besides, he had President Juan's full confidence. Even if he's lacking, we stabilize the situation first, then hold elections and—"
"Elections? You think that greedy pig would ever give up power once he has it?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"And there is someone."
Isabella stared straight at him.
"Me? I can't do it. If I seize power, the military will never accept it. That's a straight road to civil war."
"I don't think you could do it either, Uncle."
"Then...?"
"There's Eugene. The constitutionally designated, legitimate Acting President."
Pedro looked down at his niece, whose eyes burned with conviction.
"...You believe in him."
"I believe in his ability and his character. In three years as a minister in a country rotten to the core, he produced more results than anyone. And he never took a single bribe. If he takes power, San Marcos will change. I'm sure of it."
"But the military opposition would be fierce, wouldn't it? You know he's—"
"I know. He's a foreigner. But that's exactly why it has to be him. He can see the problems that people on the inside are blind to."
"...He must be quite capable."
"Yes. More than anyone I've ever met."
"More than Prime Minister Ian?"
"There's no comparison."
"But can he actually lead San Marcos?"
"That's where you come in, Uncle. Which is why I was thinking... how would you feel about a promotion, while we're at it?"
"A promotion?"
Pedro rolled the word around in his mouth, then grasped what it meant.
"You're telling me to rise up against my superior."
"Not insubordination. A decision to save the nation."
"You've lost your mind."
Pedro let out a long sigh.
"If this fails, we die."
"You won't fail, Uncle."
"Hah. Easy for you to say."
"We're out of time. I need your decision."
Pedro frowned, sinking into thought.
He pictured it. Himself providing the foundation, Eugene leading the way. If his niece was right about Eugene's abilities, this choice really could be called a decision to save the country.
But.
He's not ruthless enough for a politician.
They said he was mild-mannered and humble. This was a country where common sense didn't apply — a nation in name only, practically a gang. Could an East Asian man with that kind of temperament survive a place like this?
If Isabella gives it everything she's got...
In the end, Pedro decided to trust his niece's judgment. Blood aside, she was the smartest, toughest person he knew.
"Alright. Let's try it."
"You won't regret this, Uncle."
Pedro pulled out his phone and punched in a number he knew by heart.
"It's me. Arm every last man in the 610th Company and send them to headquarters. Right now. What? Do I have to spell it out for you? We don't have time — just send them!"
Call finished, Pedro turned to Isabella and handed her the pistol at his hip.
"There might be a firefight. You'd better take this."
They waited a short while, and the special company arrived.
A lifelong soldier, Pedro calculated how to succeed without casualties.
Capture Division Commander Tiago in a single stroke and seize headquarters.
The worst-case scenario was Eugene becoming Tiago's hostage. If things dragged on and Tiago issued an order to eliminate Pedro, the plan was finished.
"Follow me."
Pedro lied that they'd been summoned to provide security for Tiago, and the gates of division headquarters swung wide open. A moment later he reached the commander's office, drew a heavy breath, and threw the door wide.
"Sir! I have an urgent matter to discu— hm?"
He found Major General Tiago lying dead, and Eugene looking down at the body with ice-cold eyes.
He... he killed him?
This was bad. Major General Tiago was dead.
I'd tried the CPR they'd taught us in the reserves, but it was useless on a man whose neck was already broken.
No.
Why did he have to die right in front of me? It looked exactly like... I'd killed him!
This wasn't about whether I could talk Colonel Pedro around anymore. If this went even a little wrong, I was a murderer.
I-I should hide the body first...
But could I even lift that mountain of a man? He looked well over 260 pounds.
No. I have to. I can do this!
My eyes landed on the desk Tiago had been using. If I dragged him over and stuffed him in there, it might just work. I was still calculating where to grab him and how to haul him when the door burst open.
"Sir! I have an urgent matter to discu— hm?"
Someone who was clearly a high-ranking officer walked in.
"......"
"......"
Suffocating silence settled over the commander's office.
I should say something...
His eyes were packed with misunderstanding. I was about to launch into an explanation when a thought stopped me.
I didn't do anything wrong.
This wasn't something I needed to explain. I'd have to have actually done something first. The guy had thrown a one-man tantrum, slipped, and broken his own neck.
Channeling every ounce of my former drama-club training, I delivered the facts with the most sorrowful expression I could muster.
"Ahem. The division commander slipped and broke his neck. A simple accident."
"I-I-I see."
Thank God. He seemed to believe me.
"Yes, a truly unfortunate incident. A star of San Marcos, gone so suddenly."
"...So that's how you intended to handle this. Understood. I'll report that Major General Tiago was so devastated by His Excellency Juan's death that he staggered, tripped, and died."
He reconstructed the facts almost perfectly just from looking at the body. This was no ordinary man.
"That's exactly right. And you are?"
"Ah, forgive me. Colonel Pedro, commander of the 3rd Regiment, Armored Division."
The moment I heard Pedro's name, relief flooded through me.
Isabella did it...!
I smiled faintly and held out my hand.
"Eugene Choi. I'm currently serving as Acting President, however inadequately."
Pedro shook my hand with a queasy look on his face.
"To snap a man's neck and then smile like that..."
"Pardon? What was that?"
"Ah, nothing."
Pedro looked like he was in rough shape. Why was he pouring cold sweat like that?
"First, we should get the situation under control. Announce Major General Tiago's death... then take command of the division and carry out martial law."
"Don't worry. I'll handle it immediately."
Pedro projected confidence. Isabella had been right — without Tiago, he could take the division.
"What should we do with the body?"
"We'll cremate him immediately, no autopsy, and turn the remains over to the family."
"Well, it was an accident. No need for an autopsy. Good. Handle it that way, and..."
I met his eyes and put the plan Isabella and I had prepared into motion.
"I'm promoting Colonel Pedro two ranks to Major General. You'll take command of the armored division and serve as Martial Law Commander. Protect the peace of San Marcos."
"I'll give it everything I have."
He looked rock-solid. Isabella had been a hundred times right about bringing this man on board.
Glad I teamed up with this guy.
A short while later, we entered the Ministry of National Defense with the armored division's troops.
When the soldiers poured in, the Chief of the General Staff and his officers tried to resist.
Pedro dealt with them without hesitation. In the end, the senior generals were bound with rope and marched off to prison.
Sorry, everyone. Once things settle down, I'll have it commuted to house arrest.
The truth was, arresting them had been Isabella and Pedro's idea, not mine. They'd said that unless we seized military command in one stroke, the threat of civil war wouldn't go away. So I'd had no choice but to authorize the operation.
Heartless, the lot of them... tsk.
But what could I do? I was nothing but a powerless Acting President. When the people who actually held the power said jump, you jumped.
I was watching them go with a guilty conscience when Isabella approached.
"How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Major General Tiago."
"What? I didn't do anything..."
"Did you take him down with Korean taekwondo? Or some mysterious Eastern martial art?"
"No, I didn't kill him—"
"You needn't tell me. If anything, I'm pleased to learn that Your Excellency has more steel in you than I had anticipated."
Isabella nodded, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"...?"
"It would appear my choice was not mistaken after all. Heh heh heh."
What on earth was she talking about?