Post-War Summit (1)
Werner Grime received an ambiguous letter from Leah Gilliard. A distinctly unpleasant feeling settled over him, and he sank into serious contemplation. Should he go find Leah? Had something happened? Why had she left a message to locate Lieutenant Colonel Drake in such a manner? Moreover, to anyone who read it, the letter seemed directed at Lutus Edan rather than John Hobbs. The sense of incongruity he felt stemmed precisely from that fact. Could her memories have been restored?
Werner, who had suddenly imagined the worst, immediately summoned the personnel attached to the Eastern Military District branch. “There should be a regimental intelligence officer named Leah Gilliard serving under Colonel Julia Anke, commander of the 32nd Regiment. Keep her under surveillance.”
“Leave it to us. Though, if I may ask, is she a target that needs to be eliminated?”
“No. If anything, she is someone who requires protection. If anything unusual occurs, report directly to me and bypass standard procedure.”
This was the Security Strategic Agency—an intelligence organization directly under the Chancellor and completely independent of the regular military chain of command. Monitoring their own soldiers was simply part of the job. Regardless of their ranks within the Security Bureau, the operatives had long used various cover identities to contact domestic figures and extract information. The subordinates therefore raised no objections. They assumed she might be connected to the recent dissolution of the Eastern Army Command. As a regimental intelligence officer, she would naturally handle classified material above her rank and position.
A few days later, the report came back: “No unusual circumstances regarding her person.” They had also investigated the letter’s origin, but the results were inconclusive.
“She is currently on leave. We heard she has been down with the flu for three days.”
“Regarding the letter you mentioned, it appears her identity was stolen. Closed-circuit footage from the relevant post office confirms that Leah Gilliard was on duty at the time of delivery.”
Fortunately, Leah did not seem to have regained her memories. If it had been the Leah Gilliard Werner knew, she would have found a way to reach him the moment her memories returned. The same would have been true for Arhen, Charlotte, and every other member of Graveyard. Werner could only smoke bitterly as the faces of old comrades flickered through his mind.
Yet too many questions remained. Who would impersonate Leah and send such a letter to the Security Strategic Agency? “The content and handwriting were remarkably similar, aside from a few details.” It had to be someone who knew both the letter’s contents and exactly who would receive it. He did not doubt his subordinates’ competence, but the situation remained deeply unsatisfactory.
“Add the post office staff to the surveillance list. Examine every parcel and letter entering both the Eastern Military District and the Security Strategic Agency.”
“Understood, Director.”
Werner had left them of his own accord, yet he could not stop worrying about them. Even after walking away, his deepest wish had always been the happiness of everyone in Graveyard. Still, he could not meet them rashly any more than they could meet him. Even the accidental encounter with Leah at the banquet hall had nearly shattered his composure. He had no idea whether a second meeting would be any easier to endure.
Furthermore, the letter from Leah Gilliard had been addressed not to Werner Grime or Lutus Edan, but to Captain John Hobbs. Openly exchanging letters under a false name would be chilling beyond words. He had grown accustomed to being hated, yet the wounds still hurt. He merely pretended otherwise, desperately bandaging the scars.
It was regrettable to burden his subordinates with something so personal, but he could not simply abandon the Eastern Military District branch. Even after the Eastern Army Command was reorganized, the Security Bureau’s mission had to continue. Conversely, Werner could not remain stationed there indefinitely. It was only a temporary arrangement. Werner Grime repeated the thought like a mantra.
“Then please leave the Eastern Military District in our hands.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Leaving the remaining work to the other soldiers, Werner and Karin returned to Security Bureau headquarters at Forbidden Lake. The first news that greeted the director upon his return was a direct summons from the Chancellor.
Hadn’t the man claimed there would be no further trouble once he had been coaxed? New orders arrived almost daily. Werner stood before the camera with a weary expression. The face on the screen belonged to Supreme Commander Arthur Philias. The other man looked equally exhausted; in just a few months his already aged features had grown even more haggard.
“What is it this time?”
[The Chancellor has summoned you to the capital.]
“The capital…?”
[He wishes to personally commend you for your service in the Eastern Military District affair.]
Nearly two months had already passed since the matter was resolved. Commander Heinrich Rendal had been dismissed and the Imperial Way faction scattered. The Chancellor’s purge, carried out under the banner of reform, had proven remarkably effective. Once moderate elements including Dien Schmidt took control, they had even established direct contact with the Revolutionary Front. As expected of the Chancellor. In pure political acumen, he stood on equal footing with Werner, who had lived through forty regressions. Yet this same Chancellor had suddenly called for him, citing an achievement that had already been settled. There had to be another motive.
“Is that truly all?”
Werner’s eyes flashed. The sharp gaze seemed to reach Arthur across the screen; the older man grimaced.
[Damn it. Why are you so perceptive? Does field duty sharpen one’s instincts that much?]
“I’ll take that as confirmation.”
[Looking straight through a man like that… Well, to the point. Have you heard about the summit scheduled in two weeks?]
The summit. It would have been stranger not to have heard. From every broadcast to every online article, nothing captured public attention quite like the leaders of the five nations that had survived the Great War gathering in one place. When Werner nodded, Arthur folded his arms and continued.
[Without the Titans, these countries would have gone to war long ago. They may be sharing the joy of victory now, but no one can say what truly lies in their hearts.]
“A canary in the coal mine, then.”
An alarm that senses danger first and warns others. The metaphor was hardly flattering when applied to a person. Arthur Philias neither confirmed nor denied it.
[He acknowledges your abilities. He believes you can read the political currents.]
“…”
[The meeting will be held in the Republic of Bostania. Since it has come to this, you might as well get some fresh air.]
Werner fell silent. He could go if ordered; the task itself was not difficult. There was little to prepare, and he would not be traveling alone with the Chancellor. As Director Werner Grime of the Security Strategic Agency, he would merely be one attendant among many. Yet he could not shake the sense of unease. The Chancellor had always been that sort of man—a figure who made Werner’s skin crawl simply by existing. Perhaps it was because he was the commoner who had sidelined the Emperor and achieved a rare revolution. Still, there was only one choice. Awkward or not, having decided to remain in the military, Werner would have to at least pretend to obey. He was not in a position to openly defy the Chancellor.
“In that case, I’ll bring one attendant with me.”
[Do as you please. Two would be fine as well.]
Two. The first name that came to mind was Ordnance Chief Lieutenant Edward Roman, and…
“I should ask Karin.”
As expected, it was Karin Maven.