A War Hero With No Regrets – Chapter 25

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The operation that started at 2:00 AM was completed when the morning sun had fully risen.

“This is crazy.”

Looking at the scenery of the Hornet’s Nest that had become a mess overnight as if a Titan had attacked, a man sighed.

Raft Vels. He was a high-ranking executive who was a member of the Central Committee of the Imperial Labor Party, the upper organization of the Revolutionary Front, and at the same time, held the position of commander of the 4th Regiment of the Revolutionary Front.

And beside him was Dane Schmidt, who had now completely switched sides to the SSA. Of course, the fact that he was a defector was unknown even to the SSA personnel except for Werner and Karin.

“It seems the President has made up his mind firmly. I thought he was just a hunting dog that obeys his master well, but…”

Isn’t he no different from a pure beast like this? If he hadn’t decided to defect, he too would have become a cold corpse tonight.

Thinking that way, a chill ran down his spine. ‘It wasn’t the right time yet. They showed off recklessly.’

The sigh he let out also contained pity for his revolutionary comrades who had become uninvited guests. Raft, who belonged to the moderate faction even within the Imperial Labor Party and had risen to the rank of major in the Eastern Military District during the Titan War.

As he had a career as a military officer, he was naturally appointed as the regimental commander of the Revolutionary Front, but he didn’t have much real power. It was the reason why the operation to attack the Eastern Army Command wasn’t stopped even though Raft strongly opposed it.

No matter how much the Eastern Military District was filled with fools whose heads were dizzy with peace, there was nothing the Revolutionary Front could gain from such extreme terrorism. Moreover, the terror attack didn’t even succeed, and the result that followed was today’s tragedy.

Raft was simply furious at having lost precious comrades due to the tyranny of the extremists.

“Chairman Raft, that person is over there.”

At the words of Dane Schmidt, who was assisting him, Raft turned his head. Werner Grimm slowly approached in a black uniform.

‘He’s young, as I heard.’ Two chrysanthemum flowers sparkled on the young officer’s epaulettes.

Indeed, Raft could feel a definite spirit in his gait. There was no trace of hesitation or fear.

The gaze that was looking straight at him was filled with intelligence and wisdom, but the faintly shining eyes were tinged with an eerie aura. National Security Strategy Agency Director, Werner Grimm.

Judging by his appearance alone, he seemed to be in his mid-20s. Although it wasn’t difficult to find generals in their 20s due to the aftermath of the war, having the rank of lieutenant colonel still meant that his ability was highly recognized within the military.

He was already overwhelmed from the start. Although there was quite a difference compared to Raft Vels, who was reaching his forties, he felt the difference in their class with just the initial exchange of glances.

It was only natural since he was the leader of the beasts that had crushed the Revolutionary Front overnight. However, as he had come to negotiate to some extent, he couldn’t show a disheveled or weak appearance.

Raft straightened his posture and held out his arm first toward Werner.

“I am Raft Vels, a member of the Central Committee of the Imperial Labor Party.”

“Nice to meet you, Chairman. I am Werner Grimm, Director of the National Security Strategy Agency.”

The two exchanged a formal handshake. As soon as Werner grasped that hand, he immediately got to the point.

“First of all, I express my deep regret regarding the matter of the Revolutionary Front. When we arrived late, we couldn’t find a single survivor. It seems they were annihilated due to internal strife.”

At those abrupt words, Raft Vels desperately suppressed the hollow laughter that was about to escape. Ah. You’re starting off like this from the beginning.

This is like playing blind man’s bluff, isn’t it? In the first place, the story was all agreed upon in advance.

The existing leadership was already trying to shift the arrow of the revolution’s failure to him. No matter how much Raft was a member of the Central Committee of the Labor Party, they must have thought he was an outsider who interfered unnecessarily.

It was an inevitable situation. Isn’t it the way of the world to kill first if you don’t want to die? So Raft nodded his head towards Werner and answered.

“We will take care of what some extremists have done in the future. The Imperial Labor Party does not want an armed conflict with the Eastern Military District.”

“His Excellency the President has also acknowledged the ideological value of the Imperial Labor Party with great generosity. Now that everyone needs to rise above the wounds of war, I sincerely hope that Chairman Raft will do his best.”

“…Thank you, Director.”

From that day on, the SSA became an uncomfortable neighbor to the Revolutionary Front and the Imperial Labor Party. It was a temporary settlement.

However, Werner had no intention of ending this matter in such a half-hearted way. While Raft Vels was taking control of the organizational structure centered around the moderate faction of the Revolutionary Front and the remnants friendly to him.

Some members and executives of the Central Committee of the Imperial Labor Party went missing. Some were found crippled after being severely beaten by thugs in back alleys.

Some became addicts who frequented brothels like they were eating meals after becoming addicted to drugs. Some were even attacked by burglars who broke into their bedrooms, and their entire families were killed.

Even those who had never been announced as Imperial Labor Party executives to the public didn’t escape a tragic fate. Putting aside how they found out, wasn’t the mastermind behind it too obvious?

“Th-there was no need to go this far!! You clearly said you would mediate the conflict between the Eastern Military District and the Imperial Labor Party…!”

In the end, the enraged Raft visited the Eastern Military District branch of the National Security Agency.

“At this rate, only the power of the Eastern Military District will become stronger, won’t it?! If you change your words now, we will also-.”

“I kept my promise. Look here.”

“??”

Raft had no choice but to shut his mouth after seeing the contents of the newspaper Werner had placed on the desk.

[Eastern Army Commander Heinrich Rendal expresses intention to resign.]

[A big step by the President for military reform, abolition of the Eastern Army Command… Reorganized into the Imperial Military Supply Command.]

[New Military Supply Commander, “We will be soldiers who are dedicated to the Imperial people, not soldiers who take up arms.”]

The dissolution of the Eastern Army Command. It wasn’t just the Imperial Labor Party that had only the ripe parts harvested.

To think they would blow away an entire command at once. Raft barely succeeded in suppressing the hiccup that was about to come out.

“There was an embargo until now. I apologize for not being able to inform you in advance as military affairs are confidential.”

“…”

“The Eastern Army Command that had been harassing comrades no longer exists. Those who pretended to be part of the Imperial faction and engaged in corruption will all be sent to the central government and punished according to the severity of their crimes. But do you want more than this?”

“…No. I made a mistake.”

The revolutionary leader swallowed his dry saliva and stood up from his seat under the gaze that seemed to pierce through him. It was clear that this man should never be messed with arbitrarily.

***

“Leeea!!!”

Colonel Julia Anke made a strange sound and flung open the door to Lea Gilliard’s private room.

“Eek! You startled me!!”

Surprised by the regimental commander’s visit that was too sudden, Lea hid something she was holding in her hand. It was an instinctive action.

“Your reaction is so funny every time I surprise you. But what is it? Are you writing a letter again?”

“Ah… yes… that’s right.”

“Oh my, you’re really persistent. Isn’t it about time you met him at least once?”

Julia shook her head, looking at the arm that was gathered behind her back in a docile manner. Lea Gilliard had been continuously exchanging letters with the problematic captain she had been infatuated with during the last banquet.

And with handwritten letters! Not text messages or phone calls, but letters in this day and age.

In Julia’s eyes, they both had to be fanatics. In an era where you could make a real-time video call with someone across the sea with the press of a button, what’s with the letters?

Lea also knew it wasn’t normal, so she could only lower her head with a red face.

“He said their headquarters is near the Supreme Command. As a field-grade officer, it’s not easy for him to move around except for work.”

“Come to think of it, I was also busy as hell when I was a captain. Running around on the battlefield, writing reports in the rear. Moreover, he said it’s an extraordinary agency, so the work alone must be no joke.”

She recited as if reminiscing about the distant past. In fact, in terms of time, it was a memory of not even 3 years ago.

“So Lea, do you want to have a late-night snack? Letters are nice, but let’s eat something first.”

Julia shook the plastic bag she was holding. It was food she had personally packed from downtown after working overtime.

10:00 PM, when people feel the most hungry. It was also the right time when her stomach was growling.

Lea immediately put the letter she was writing on the desk and unfolded the floor table.

“Phew…”

Then Julia plopped down in front of the table with a deep sigh.

“It must be very tiring, right?”

“Does it make sense for the unit affiliation to change so suddenly? It’s fortunate that it’s not a command-direct unit or a technical administrative unit, but a combat unit. Otherwise, I would have gone crazy with material organization and return.”

“It was a bit sudden. Well… now that the Titans have completely disappeared, it’s strange for the Eastern Military District, which already had a narrow scope of responsibilities, to remain, so it’s not unreasonable for His Excellency the President to give such an order.”

“Right~? Those kids who put on airs, calling themselves nobles, will all disappear now.”

In fact, it was no different from a purge by the President, but the commanders of the Eastern Military District didn’t think of it as a purge. As those born with noble blood received special treatment in personnel matters limited to the Eastern Military District.

Officers from the common people or those transferred from other regions were sick and tired of the blatant discrimination.

“But how are the letters going? Is there any progress? It’s obvious from the content that you’re not meeting.”

“Ah… that’s…”

Lea scratched her cheek in embarrassment. It had been almost ten days since they started exchanging letters, but there was nothing substantial in the content.

Just a report-like letter about what work he did today and what work he would do tomorrow. If Lea had even a little dating experience, she would have known that this was a kind of “drawing the line”.

Unfortunately, Lea didn’t have the dating knowledge to judge such things.

“It’s not going well, is it? I knew it would be like this.”

“It’s not easy.”

“Moreover, you said it was your former commander who helped you to be able to do that.”

“Not the commander, but the deputy commander.”

“Right, Major General Arwen.”

The fact that Lea was able to exchange letters with the captain in the black cat mask was purely thanks to the help of Arwen Orka. It was a route she had obtained by using her power as the head of the Inspection Department while continuing to investigate the Revolutionary Front and the National Security Strategy Agency.

At first, the SSA refused, saying it was an overreach of authority, but they must have wanted to prevent the head of the Inspection Department from being bothersome, so they simply provided the address. To think she couldn’t utilize the address she had obtained with such difficulty.

Tsk tsk tsk. Julia couldn’t help but feel sorry for her junior and subordinate, who was really bad at romance.

“If it’s okay, should I just introduce you to another man?”

“Ah, no. It’s really okay.”

She was about to politely refuse Julia’s kind offer, and it was right at that moment.

Knock knock knock. Someone knocked on the door of the dormitory.

It was a late hour close to midnight. There was no way there would be anyone else visiting.

“Huh, Lea. Did you order a separate late-night snack?”

“No.”

“Then who is it? Who is it~?”

Julia got up from her seat. It might have simply been a mistake in the room, but the place they were staying was a dormitory exclusive for female officers.

It couldn’t be ruled out that those with impure intentions might have intruded. There was even news that a panty thief had entered the neighboring regiment.

As the war ended and life became livable, people’s minds were slowly coming loose.

When Julia opened the door like that.

Plop. A letter that had been wedged between the door cracks fell to the floor.

The origin written on the envelope was. “Graveyard?”

It was a fortress where Lea had once belonged but was now closed. But there was no way a letter would come from a closed fortress.

When Lea opened the suspicious letter to check, there was a message made by cutting out and pasting newspaper letters.

[Stop, sending, letters.]

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