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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Respond to Violence with Violence
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A fortnight later.
As usual, I arrived at my office in the command headquarters and sat in my chair, looking at Lucy.
Lucy, head bowed, was reviewing documents, her silver-white hair gently cascading downwards.
With a familiar gesture, Lucy tucked the stray strands behind her ear and immersed herself in her work.
Seeing her intense concentration while handling tasks, one could tell she was an excellent adjutant.
If Lucy were just an ordinary adjutant, I would have praised her constantly.
'But she's a spy.'
Lucy, right before my eyes, was someone who could assassinate me at any moment.
That's why I had been pondering for a while.
Whether or not to report the research journal I'd obtained from raiding the Kingdom's laboratory to my superiors.
To get straight to the point, I decided not to report it.
The reason was simple.
Even if I were to claim Lucy was a spy based on that journal, there was no concrete evidence.
Therefore, from Lucy's perspective, she could simply claim it was a case of mistaken identity.
While the name Lucy wasn't common, it wasn't exceptionally rare either.
If the matter were to be glossed over like that, it would be *me* who would be in danger.
From Lucy's point of view, she would believe that Daniel Steiner had figured out her true identity.
'A catastrophe would surely ensue…'
Therefore, it was best that only I knew about the 'Lucy Project' until clear evidence emerged.
Having organized my thoughts, I let out a cough.
Lucy stopped reviewing her documents and looked back at me.
Meeting Lucy's crimson eyes, I spoke.
"Headquarters informed us they'll be sending a garrison commander. Do you know when they're expected to arrive?"
"Ah. They departed yesterday with a minimal escort, so it should take about a week."
"By 'minimal escort,' what do you mean?"
"A single battalion. Even that was reduced by Headquarters. Furthermore, the incoming garrison commander requested more troops for long-term occupation, but Headquarters reportedly denied it."
A battalion-sized force departing and arriving in Nordia within a week…
That meant they were putting all the soldiers in transport vehicles and forcing a rapid march.
Was there really a need to rush so much? I had my doubts, but it was Headquarters' decision, so there must be a reason.
I gave a casual nod and opened my mouth.
"What's the situation on the front lines?"
"As you already know, it's a string of continuous victories. Reports indicate that the Empire has now occupied over half of the Kingdom's territory. The Kingdom has already lost its functions as a state."
"Indeed. At this rate, we can crush the Kingdom before winter, just as His Imperial Majesty intends."
"That is correct. However, it seems the Kingdom is preparing for a final stand, as they've withdrawn their front lines and committed all their forces to the defense of the capital. As a result, the Imperial army has also entered a sort of stalemate."
Committing all forces to the capital's defense… It was tantamount to a last desperate struggle.
However, for the Imperial army, capturing the Kingdom's capital, which was like a porcupine, would be awkward.
The Imperial army, unwilling to suffer heavy casualties, would likely propose peace negotiations to the Kingdom.
How would the Kingdom respond to this peace proposal, which was essentially an ultimatum?
'In the game, I recall they ignored the Empire's proposal and opted for a desperate last stand…'
Since I had inadvertently made a significant impact, changing the situation considerably, I couldn't predict the outcome.
Of course, it wasn't something I needed to concern myself with.
Once the garrison commander from Headquarters arrived, I would simply hand over command and return to the capital.
'Once I return to the capital, the first thing I'll do is have a drink. A proper one, not just supply-grade whiskey.'
It was just as I was envisioning the comfortable and prosperous life I'd lead in the capital.
— Retreat! Retreat!
— Beautiful Nordia has no need for scum like you!
My shoulders twitched at the citizens' shouts and cries.
Wondering what was happening, I rose from my seat and approached the window.
On the main street in front of the headquarters, I could see at least several hundred citizens marching with pickets.
'…What is this? Are they finally expressing discontent with the garrison?'
As I looked down in puzzlement, Lucy approached my side and spoke.
"It appears to be a protest against the privileged class. I had heard there were signs of unrest, but I didn't expect it to actually happen."
"The privileged class… You don't mean Nordia's nobles, do you?"
"That's right. I heard that after the Major enacted the 'Colored People Discrimination Prohibition Law,' the discord between the citizens and the nobles reached its peak. It seems the citizens' anger towards the nobles has erupted today."
As if Lucy's words were true, the citizens marched past the headquarters and began heading somewhere.
What on earth had the nobles been doing for things to explode just a fortnight after the law was enacted?
Frowning with my hands clasped behind my back, a sudden thought struck me, and I clenched my fist.
'Isn't this my last chance to lower my performance evaluation in Nordia?'
Calculating on the abacus in my mind, I turned to Lucy and spoke.
"Order the available garrison personnel. Tell them to follow the demonstrators."
"…The demonstrators, sir?"
"Yes. Managing protests is also a role of the garrison. If violence occurs during the demonstration, instruct them to restrain it. They are permitted to use force in the process of restraint."
Lucy did not question my order and immediately replied.
"Understood. I will relay the Major's orders to the garrison at once."
Confirming Lucy had turned and walked away, I turned my gaze back to the window and let out a low chuckle.
'To think such an opportunity would arise with only a week left as acting garrison commander.'
If this protest was fueled by anger, it would surely be accompanied by violence.
What would happen if the garrison unilaterally suppressed the citizens' violence?
The citizens would realize that the garrison wasn't their ally, but merely the Empire's soldiers.
In that case, the citizens' support for the garrison, which had been so carefully built up, would undoubtedly plummet.
General Staff Headquarters wouldn't look favorably upon me for toppling a carefully constructed tower due to a momentary error in judgment.
I would be able to deeply disappoint the Deputy Chief of Staff, who had placed their hopes in me.
Then I could step back from operational support and comfortably enjoy life in the interior.
There, with my safety assured, I could simply search for a clue to escape the Empire.
'Perfect.'
The incoming garrison commander would have a tough time, but that wasn't my concern.
'My apologies in advance. But life, by its very nature, is rarely smooth sailing.'
Wearing a wicked smile, I leisurely gazed down at the procession of demonstrators.
*
The procession of demonstrators continued their march until they stopped in front of a massive mansion.
"Retreat! You piece of trash who preys on Nordia!"
"Release my father at once! He's already paid off his debt to you and then some!"
"You bastard! Do you even realize you've been ruining Nordia!?"
Tarramto, the owner of the mansion, heard the commotion and came out to the front yard with his private guards, only to be horrified.
At a glance, hundreds of citizens were raising their voices, each holding a picket sign.
Among the citizens were also several nobles who had consistently advocated for the prohibition of racial discrimination.
Furthermore, Imperial soldiers in black uniforms were lined up as if protecting the citizens, which put him on edge.
"This is insane! Why are they doing this?!"
One of Tarramto's private guards spoke up in response to his words.
"Well, they're demanding that the people you've been using as slaves be released, master."
"What? Slaves? I'm making them work in exchange for food and shelter, what kind of slaves are those?! Are these lunatics demanding I hand over my private property now? They're no different from robbers, those scoundrels!"
In Tarramto's eyes, the citizens were no different from a band of robbers trying to seize his property.
He firmly believed that he was acting within normal bounds, as he was providing food and shelter, even if unpaid, while so many were starving to death during the war.
"Ungrateful bastards! Shoot them all! If a few die, they'll scatter like cockroaches in fright!"
"Sir? Master, but…"
"Shut up and do as I say!"
Hesitantly, the private guard raised his gun towards the demonstrators.
Then, the other private guards also awkwardly aimed their rifles at the demonstrators.
"G-guns!"
"That madman is going to shoot us…!"
As a result, the demonstrators recoiled in alarm.
At that moment, Lieutenant McCal, who was commanding the Imperial soldiers, raised a megaphone.
— We advise you to lower your weapons. Major Daniel Steiner, the acting garrison commander, has stated that he will not tolerate any violence occurring during the protest.
This caused Tarramto's eyebrows to furrow.
Just as he was unable to retort, Lieutenant McCal spoke again.
— If you disregard the commander's order and open fire, based on the directive to respond to violence with violence, we cannot guarantee your life, nor the lives of the private guards protecting you.
Tarramto swallowed hard upon hearing Lieutenant McCal's words.
This was because Lieutenant McCal's words sounded to Tarramto like, 'Cross the line, and we will kill you.'
'Has the Imperial army truly decided to side with the citizens?'
Tarramto, who had been gritting his teeth for a long time, had no choice but to raise the white flag.
"…Lower your guns and release those people's families."
"Sir? Really?"
"Yes. There's no benefit in antagonizing the garrison."
The hesitant private guards all lowered their weapons.
They, too, knew they had no chance against the Imperial army.
As a result, the protesting citizens all cheered in unison.
"Tarramto is backing down! Now we can see our families!"
"Tarramto, you bastard! Now you know! The garrison is on the side of the citizens! They're protecting us!"
"Long live the garrison! Long live Major Daniel Steiner!"
The shouts of the citizens, raising their pickets high, echoed everywhere.
Among them was Hamthal, the leader of the secret society Black Swan.
'To think he made Tarramto submit…'
Before the war, Tarramto had been the most influential noble in Nordia.
His business acumen for accumulating wealth involved lending money to colored people, then, under the pretext of debt repayment, imprisoning them in his mansion or farms and forcing them to work.
The exorbitant usury made debt repayment virtually impossible, and the law had always favored Tarramto, a noble, rather than the colored people, so there had been no recourse until now.
It was then that Daniel, the acting garrison commander, enacted the 'Racial Discrimination Prohibition Law,' instilling courage and strength in the citizens.
Furthermore, as if to prove he was on the citizens' side, he assigned the garrison as an escort for this protest, preventing Tarramto's indiscriminate shooting.
Now, he had no choice but to admit it.
'Daniel Steiner is not a conqueror.'
He was a liberator who had come to save the citizens from the Kingdom's oppression.
While the citizens were enthusiastically chanting Daniel's name, Hamthal quietly took a radio from his pocket and pressed the transmit button.
"All members of the Black Swan, listen."
After a brief pause, Hamthal continued, his eyes filled with conviction.
"From now on, we will align ourselves with Major Daniel Steiner's will."
It was the moment Nordia's universally recognized hero was born.