Volume 3 Chapter 15 The Mastermind
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
While Melon was meeting Duke Yōmo, Reina left the Royal Palace and arrived at the army’s teleportation research base located under the capital of the Apocalypse Empire.
”Lieutenant Reina. Regardless of everything, I’m very glad you returned safely.”
”I apologize for the worry, Major. But what about the gate? How is Zaharu?”
”We’re still investigating, but we have almost no leads on the bandits. This time, Zaharu betrayed us, and the gate was taken by the anti-establishment forces. It’s a disgrace for our army, but fortunately or unfortunately, due to His Majesty the Emperor’s elopement scandal, it seems the flames haven’t reached us yet, which is somewhat of a relief. That said, we captured the gate with great effort. We must secure it at all costs, so I ask for your continued cooperation.”
”Understood. It seems the neighboring Elves are getting anxious since they don’t know our situation… What is the state of the national politics now?”
”Ah. For now, the influential Nobility are advancing politics through council, and there is no particular chaos. However, the military’s upper echelons are controlling information regarding both His Majesty the Emperor and the gate. Both are bad for public perception and affect the nation’s prestige. I don’t know what the Emperor is doing now. So, Lieutenant Reina, I would like you to summarize the technical aspects of what you engaged in over there. Even though the gate was taken, you must have gathered valuable data, right?”
”Yes, of course… Understood. I will compile the records to be useful for our country.”
After parting with the Major, I returned to my office and sat at my desk for the first time in over 6 months.
I thought it must be covered in dust, but someone must have cleaned it.
The Major said that, but it’s hard to believe the military can’t track the movements of the anti-government organization within the country and the gate.
Either they know and are keeping it a secret, or the military is involved behind the scenes in the seizure… well, both seem possible.
And that gate is still incomplete.
If the military is involved behind the scenes… then surely, I would be called as well.
While thinking about such things for a few days, I was preparing the operational records for the gate fixation that had come from Zerlant when I was summoned by the military’s General Staff.
It seems I will be questioned about Zaharu and Stanford’s actions.
Still, the General Staff?
It’s not the military police… I went in with suspicion, but it turned out to be nothing.
As I thought, the military was involved behind the scenes…
Cooperate secretly to complete the gate.
In return, I was told by the Chief of the General Staff that I would be the first to be sent there once it’s completed.
If I refuse, it seems I would be immediately detained on suspicion of being a spy for Zerlant, and if that happens, regardless of my will, I would end up spilling everything I know under drugs or something and become a wreck.
To have the General Staff completely under control, I wonder how many big shots are moving behind the scenes… no, that doesn’t really matter anymore.
What I need to do is discover and complete the gate.
If I do that, I can cross into the human world to search for my sister.
I don’t even need to ask Queen Asuka for help.
My goal has been that from the start….
* * *
Elves cannot fly, but among the demons, there are those who can control flying dragons, making it relatively easy to move over long distances.
After being blindfolded and flying for about half a day on a flying dragon, the blindfold was removed… and there was a small fort in a very deep mountain area.
The existence of a lookout like this for reconnaissance means that this place is… near the border with the spirit clan?
Led by a soldier into the underground of the fort, I met a familiar face there.
”Lieutenant. It’s been a while. I’m glad to see you returned safely from the Elf’s place.”
”Zaharu! You bastard!! …but… well, I understand that the military is involved in this matter after all.”
”Thank you. Well, Stanford is really a traitor… but I’m glad to have you here, Lieutenant. I can’t sleep at night thinking about what will happen if I don’t finish that gate.”
”Hmph. So what should I do?”
”It’s the power unit. What we need now is… I think I can gather mages to chant the spell to stabilize the other side of the gate, and I’ve made some progress on measuring the mana probe for the naturally occurring gate position over there. However, the energy for stabilization is completely insufficient. That… charging battery made by the Beastfolk girl from the Elf country… I need you to somehow handle that, Lieutenant. You were the one who saw it up close.”
”Well, I did see it, but… I can’t understand the specifics or make it.”
”I see. However, I’m in a hurry, but I’m not panicking. I have some samples here, so I’d like you to proceed with the analysis.”
”Honestly, you’re thorough. So what’s happening with the gate now?”
”Ah. It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lieutenant, but it’s hidden. I mean, on the surface, this is just a normal fortress, so people unrelated to this gate mission occasionally come and go…”
”I see… but this fortress. Looking at the structure, it seems like a frontline fortress for the spirit clan. Is it really okay to be secretly making a gate here?”
”You don’t need to worry about that, Lieutenant; the higher-ups are considering it. So, Lieutenant, now that you’re here, you are an accomplice with us. I apologize, but when you leave here, please consider it as when the gate is completed and we go to the human world.”
”…Understood.”
* * *
”So, how is that Reina doing? General Peacock?”
”She is quietly and seriously researching the charging battery, Lord Asunabal. However, it seems quite difficult to create the same one immediately. That Stanford really is annoying. If he hadn’t interfered, I would have already obtained the gate that was completed long ago.”
”Well, there’s no use complaining about that now. But the other day, when the gate is completed, I received assurance from them that we can take over this Apocalypse Empire and the neighboring kingdom of Twelrant. Lord Asunabal, you have a wide range of connections.”
”Oh, that’s wonderful. As expected of Lord Asunabal, you have a lot of connections.”
”Enough flattery. But… if that’s the case, we need to dispose of the emperor as soon as possible and prevent the completion of the gate.”
”Yes, that’s right. Leave the emperor to the military. As for the battery, how about we just take it from the Elves?”
”Hmm, that’s a good idea. I’ll have Zaharu and Bear take care of it.”
And so, Zaharu and Bear were summoned by Lord Asunabal.
”… so, I want you two to go get the battery from the Elves,” Lord Asunabal said, to which Zaharu protested with wide eyes.
”That’s impossible! If we could get it peacefully, that would be one thing, but we’re talking about stealing it! And besides, it’s a huge thing, like 3 carriages full. Even if Bear has incredible strength, we’ll be destroyed at the border!”
”I’m confident in my strength, but even I wouldn’t be able to handle 3 carriages full… but you’re right. If we could just kidnap the guy who made the battery, that would be perfect.” Bear said quietly.
”Oh! That’s a great idea!! I’m sure it’s that Beastfolk girl who made it. If that’s the case, Bear, you should be able to handle it alone. But Bear, don’t hurt her, okay? Bring her back in one piece.” Lord Asunabal said with a faint smile.
”Then, from a military standpoint, let’s aim to dispose of the emperor instead of capturing him alive.” General Peacock said with an eerie face.
”Are you sure that’s okay? Won’t there be nobles who side with Balmstra?”
”What? It’s just a matter of taking care of those nobles before they can flee. We’re already narrowing down their hiding spots.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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