No Anomalies During Operation (5)
Gobert staggered but didn't fall. He'd barely put any strength into his hand. Kamei, who had followed behind him, froze coldly and immediately drew her sword. The guards followed suit, unsheathing their blades after their captain. But they couldn't bring themselves to point their weapons at a visitor they'd just been chatting amiably with, so they just exchanged uneasy glances.
"Balder. What the hell did you do to the commander?"
"What? Wanna go a round? Feel like getting intimate with the dirt again?"
I wasn't even armed, but Kamei couldn't charge at me. She knew better than anyone that my half-joking warning could turn real in an instant. She'd actually tasted the palace dirt thanks to me back at the royal castle.
Gobert raised a hand to calm his men and spoke up.
"Brother... why'd you hit me out of nowhere...?"
"You little shit. We're not the kind of brothers who lie to each other, right?"
"Y-yes...? Sure, but... what does that have to do with me getting slapped...?"
I sighed at the sight of Gobert groveling.
"Anyway... let's go inside. It's embarrassing with everyone watching."
"Got it..."
Gobert told the guards to ignore it and keep up their duties, then led the way toward the command headquarters. Kamei, still glaring daggers at me, sheathed her sword and followed.
"Don't worry, Gobert. I told the guard post guys you're some distant royal relative. At least they won't think a civilian got slapped over a complaint."
"Heh. Should I be thanking you?"
Gobert burst out laughing and rubbed his cheek.
With everyone else cleared out, just the two of us in Gobert's office. It was worlds apart from that dingy royal castle closet he'd holed up in before—the renovated junk room.
"Man... a four-star commander's office is ridiculously lavish."
I let out a dry chuckle, eyeing the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.
"My blood-sweat taxes went into this, huh..."
"What can you do? If the commander doesn't live like this, the rank-and-file grunts won't even get treated like humans. Everyone needs to be rewarded according to their station."
"So you're saying, 'How dare a commander use a bed! Dig a hole in the ground and sleep there!'?"
"Exactly."
A secretary brought in hot tea and snacks, set them on the table, and left. I snatched a cookie—damn, it was good.
"Command HQ even has skilled chefs, huh."
"Yes. This place is like a mini royal palace. Everything you need is here."
"If it were me, Gobert, I'd hole up here and never leave. Live like a king as commander till I drop dead."
"Maybe. I thought it was comfy at first, but it's not. I can't remember the last time I slept soundly—always on alert."
Gobert gave a weary smile.
"So, what brings you here out of the blue after just one day?"
"Oh, right. You bastard. Were you the assassin who killed the late king?"
Gobert clamped his mouth shut and stared at me. It wasn't the silent treatment—his face had gone pale, pupils shaking wildly.
"H-how did you... Ah... that blind woman...?"
"Yeah. She sees the past."
The teacup in Gobert's grip rattled like it might shatter any second.
"Hey, Gobert. Calm down. I'm not here to chew you out over that."
"Then...?"
"I told you. I want stability for the kingdom and my inn. That's what I came to discuss."
"Discuss?"
Gobert, tension easing a bit, set down his cup and asked again.
"Yeah, dumbass. And next time something like that happens, tell me straight. Don't go probing around like some punk."
"Truth is, I was scared you'd get mad. Father's favorite, and the kingdom's mess is my... filial betrayal..."
"Yeah, fair enough. I get it. But honestly, I was shocked."
"Shocked about what?"
"That a moron like you would even think to kill the late king—and actually do it. And that your motive was Elua."
Gobert smiled awkwardly, no point hiding anymore.
"That blind fortune-teller must've seen everything. What the hell is she? Possessed by a god?"
"Dunno, me neither. But she's no ordinary human. Anyway..."
I took a sip of tea and continued.
"Anyway, I know what you did and why you had to. No need to repeat it."
"Yes..."
"Good. So what're you planning? Take over command here and back Elua?"
"That's the idea. Elua has no real support outside the palace right now. If this forward command throws in with the queen, it'll be huge."
"True enough. Lucia's six legions are the strongest around. Problem's not you—it's Elua. That venomous bitch will suspect you and try to take you out."
Gobert nodded grimly.
"Yeah... I'm probably on her assassination suspect list. And she'll think anyone against her might rally around me anytime."
"How's command security set up?"
"Direct protection's Kamei and her guard detail. I've got protective spells on me. The room has anti-eavesdropping magic, and the whole building's warded. No dimensional gates allowed."
"The mage casting your spells—trustworthy ID?"
Gobert hesitated slightly before answering.
"Honestly, not completely. They're vetted, but not fully my people. Palace mages are all Elua's now, so no reliable ones to bring in."
"Figures. Hold on."
I rummaged in my bag and pulled out something for Gobert.
"Wear this."
It was a sapphire necklace emitting a subtle glow, made at Mideronde's request.
"What's this?"
"Magical gear that generates protective spells. Blocks incoming attack magic temporarily."
"Huh...? How the hell did you get something this valuable...?"
"Shut up and put it on. Never take it off, even sleeping. Got it?"
"Y-yeah..."
As Gobert clasped it on, the sapphire flickered faintly—a sign it was working. No mage in this world outdid Mideronde, and none could pierce gear she'd made. Physical hits? Kamei had that covered.
Wait a sec.
"Why's Kamei your guard captain anyway?"
"She hates Elua. Voluntarily stepped down from palace guard captain to follow me."
"Hm. Makes sense. Alright, now your odds of getting offed are basically zero."
I sipped tea, grabbed a snack, and asked.
"Next up. The noble council must've come crawling."
"Last night. Elder dukes from the council."
"Those geezers were desperate, huh. Probably tried to team up against Elua, dangling the throne."
"Spot on. Told 'em no flat-out, kicked 'em out. Warned if they kept stirring shit, command wouldn't sit idle."
I chuckled inwardly. Thought he was all hot air, but Gobert had spine—knew exactly what to do.
"Good call. Build a wall with the noble council. Never give 'em leverage. They'll try dragging in Bakomore—offer up Lucia territory if you help 'em."
"Already prepped for that."
"Smart. But do the legion commanders listen?"
Gobert's pleased face hardened again. Not going well, then.
"They acknowledge me as commander and keep protocol, but on ops, they stick to old ways. Feels like they cherry-pick what they deem 'rational' from my orders."
"Guys with decades in service ignoring the bastard upstart? Natural. And frankly, they're better at tactics."
"True. But in a pinch, legions might ignore me and go rogue."
"That's why I'm here."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I'll make you the God of Strategy."
Gobert just blinked at me, clueless.
Gobert took me to the ops room. Sentries panicked at the sudden civilian, so I flashed my ID from my pocket. Seeing the top-tier royal-guaranteed badge, they swung the doors open.
Officers inside rose awkwardly.
"Uh...? Who might you be...?"
Ignoring them, I planted myself in front of the massive ops map. Gobert explained to the baffled officers.
"Special agent from the palace. Here on some mission around the Lucia border."
They bought it, lost interest, and got back to work. Posing as a shadowy special operative whose identity you don't ask about? Works anywhere, anytime.
Scanning the map, Bakomore's forces were swarming like rabid dogs. I turned to Gobert beside me.
"Mark the top three biggest headaches on the border right now."