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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Originally, Luthers Edan’s plan was to enter the capital at daybreak and wage a war of public opinion.
Although he hadn’t sought public appearances during his time as the Graveyard’s commander, his reputation preceded him.
Even civilians were well aware of Luthers Edan.
People rarely remembered the faces of war heroes.
They remembered names and battlefields.
The commander who had achieved the miracle of zero casualties even as every other fortress struggled, Luthers Edan, had already been thoroughly exploited by the Empire’s propaganda machine.
Luthers intended to leverage this very fact.
The Lion of Defense, the Empire’s Watchman, the Commander of Graveyard.
The Savior of Cologne, the Avatar of Tactics, the President’s Firefighter.
Luthers Edan.
His name hadn’t faded from people’s minds, and that was precisely why President Mikhail, going as far as changing his name, had appointed him as the Director of the Strategic Security Agency.
It was out of fear.
Fear that his own position would weaken if this already famous figure began engaging in public activities.
Moreover, due to “various circumstances” (though it was more about saving face for the higher-ups who had their own skeletons in the closet), the corruption allegations Arwen Orka had raised were never properly disclosed to the public.
He had judged that Luthers’ untarnished fame could be used effectively in the event of a coup.
However…
“Sir, it’s Titans! The President has finally done it…!!!”
The news that greeted Luthers was shocking enough to momentarily stun even him.
“That crazy bastard…”
He hadn’t expected things to escalate to this level.
Luthers momentarily reached for his pistol before pulling his hand back.
Not yet.
He hadn’t exhausted all his options.
He wouldn’t let down the people he had hurt, nor the fiancées who had supported him after regaining their memories.
[And please relinquish full military authority to me. I will stop them.]
[I hereby delegate all military authority to you, effective immediately.]
Though Arthur Philias was nothing more than a figurehead Supreme Commander, in situations like this, he wielded unparalleled power.
“Chief Information Officer, set the communication channel to public and ensure it reaches all personnel, including civilians, government agencies, and the military.”
“Connection established with the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. A national emergency has been declared, and the National Emergency Management Agency has approved the request.”
“From this moment on, all your communications will be broadcasted throughout the capital, Hoenbaren.”
WooooooeeeeeEEEEEEEENG—!!!
The earsplitting siren reverberated through the air.
Luthers Edan briefly glanced at the microphone Karin handed him, then continued in a calm voice.
“Citizens of the Empire, people of Hoenbaren, this is Luthers Edan, Director of the Strategic Security Agency and former Commander of the Graveyard Fortress.
As of this moment, a Titan attack warning is in effect for the entire capital.
The Titan forces under President Mikhail Bismarck’s control are currently invading the city.
I repeat, Titans are invading Hoenbaren.
Residents in the designated areas, please evacuate immediately according to the instructions of local police and officials.
Those in the Moabit, Rosenthal, and Charlottenburg districts, please proceed towards Highway 38 and evacuate southeast.
Those in the Lichtenberg, Lushan, Pankow, and Luisenstadt districts, please use Highway 11 and National Route 80 to evacuate south.
I repeat…”
Luthers Edan repeated the broadcast for several minutes, then handed the microphone back to the Chief Information Officer.
“Focus on civilian evacuation. They’ll be drawn to living beings. We’ll form a defensive line while they’re distracted.”
“…Are you suggesting we use the citizens as bait to lure the Titans, sir?”
On the surface, it sounded like a highly immoral tactic.
However, Luthers simply nodded with a glint in his blue eyes, despite Major Dante Bay’s questioning.
“That’s right. We don’t stand a chance with our current forces. Not even if we gathered the entire army. We won’t be able to stop the spread of the Titans.”
At this point, the fall of the capital was inevitable.
They had to save as many people as possible and buy themselves as much time as possible.
“If we can concentrate the enemy’s forces, we can focus our efforts on defending those areas. Chief Training Officer, what’s on Highway 38 and Highway 80?”
Major Otto, the Chief Training Officer, immediately answered Luthers’ question.
“Highway 38 leads to the Caliphate Castle, the former Imperial capital, currently preserved as a cultural asset. Near Highway 80, we have a small capital fortress established as a last stand.”
Major Dante nodded at the Chief Training Officer’s words.
Using the citizens as bait left a bad taste in his mouth, but it was the best they could do in this situation.
Karin, standing beside Luthers, shot him a look that clearly warned him against further objections.
“Deploy troops to both locations. Dispatch Major General Gunther Braun’s 103rd Division as reinforcements and contact the 92nd Defense Division stationed near Kalifa, instructing them to deploy their forces around the castle.”
“What about securing Highway 80?”
“Contact Brigadier General Erwin Staufen and tell him to redirect his forces. The Supreme Commander has authorized the temporary assignment of nearby defensive armored battalions to the 33rd Mechanized Brigade.”
“Understood.”
They were all on the same page.
A vast tactical map already unfolded in Luthers’ mind.
These were the locations where the last stand had taken place during the previous fall of the capital.
Both sites had held back the Titan offensive for four days straight, so with fewer enemies and more allies this time, buying time wouldn’t be an issue.
“Major John Hobbes, I’m entrusting the field command to you. Continue broadcasting updates and report directly to me if the situation changes.”
“Y-yes, sir, but… where are you going?”
Luthers briefly patted the shoulder of his visibly tense Chief Director, then boarded the vehicle with Karin, his adjutant.
“Field command.”
After all, the most powerful weapon was a competent leader in the right place.
“What the hell is this?!”
“…Good God…”
Inside the Security Battalion building, with all power out, Colonel Drake Brown, Commander of the 808th Security Battalion, cursed under his breath.
He had been persuaded by his old comrade, Charlotte Evergreen, who had suddenly visited him.
However, a successful coup required troops and adequate supplies.
Even with an abundance of tanks and ammunition, they were useless without personnel to operate them.
Conversely, without weapons, even a large number of soldiers were merely helpless civilians.
Unfortunately, mobilizing troops from the 808th Security Battalion, which served as the President’s personal guard, was a significant challenge.
The commanders of the Special Operations Battalion and the Security Battalion, who had been close to him, had already been dismissed and replaced with the President’s men, effectively usurping his authority.
Even Charlotte hadn’t expected much from Drake.
Firstly, the symbolic significance of the Commander of the 808th Security Battalion, the President’s supposed right-hand man, joining the coup was substantial.
More importantly, she was certain that Drake would be the best person to assist Luthers Edan.
In the future she had seen, Drake, despite never regaining his memories, faithfully carried out his former commander’s orders.
And so, they were busy loading trucks with usable weapons looted from the battalion’s underground armory when…
They both sensed something was wrong.
The faint sound of sirens.
As if drawn by an unknown force, the two ascended, weapons in hand, only to be greeted by a scene of utter chaos.
[As of this moment, a Titan attack warning is in effect for the entire capital. The Titan forces under President Mikhail Bismarck’s control are currently invading the city. I repeat, Titans are invading Hoenbaren…]
The clear and loud broadcast, drowning out even the sirens, repeatedly announced that Titans were attacking the capital.
Having already learned about the Titans held captive beneath the Armaments Bureau from Charlotte, Drake’s face crumpled in horror.
“He actually…!!!”
Charlotte was equally taken aback.
The capital, Hoenbaren, had never fallen to a Titan attack in the future she had seen.
However, they both knew exactly what they had to do.
“Drake, can you gather your men?”
“With things this bad, anyone who prioritizes politics over this deserves to be shot for insubordination.”
“Let’s go.”
Luthers Edan had arrived in the capital, and their duty was to meet his expectations.
Just like they always had.
Just like they did at the Graveyard Fortress.
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