A War Hero With No Regrets – Chapter 40

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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It was a tragedy.

Mikhail Bismarck and his entourage, who had safely arrived at the airport, boarded a private plane and returned to the Empire.

If it was a natural thing, it was a natural thing.

They had witnessed heads of state becoming chunks of meat before their very eyes.

As the situation was serious, all procedures had to be carried out safely and quickly.

If they hesitated and even the President was assassinated, it was evident that the Empire would fall into great turmoil.

It was the moment when the seemingly peaceful summit was covered in blood and the smell of gunpowder.

“What do we do now?”

“First, let’s issue a statement. Express regret and manage the existing anti-government forces more strongly.”

The President’s bureaucrats began emergency work from inside the plane.

From the speech to the nation that would be delivered as soon as they arrived in the country to the passage of the bill pending in the parliament.

The number of tasks to be handled had suddenly increased due to this terror attack.

It was an unprecedented disaster that occurred after the war with the Titans.

Two heads of state were killed at an event where all the leaders gathered in one place.

All the incidents that would result from it could not even be predicted.

The National Security Strategy Agency, which had a fire on its feet, was no different.

It was originally the President’s direct information agency that handled information related to domestic and foreign trends and national security.

Even the three key figures of the National Security Strategy Agency, including Director Werner Grimm, were directly involved in the problematic incident.

Was it expected that there would be a terrorist attack targeting the heads of state in foreign trends?

What will be the next move of the Republic of Bostania?

The Revolutionary Front, including the Revolutionary faction, and the Imperial faction within the military were successfully suppressed or controlled, but is there a possibility that they will run rampant again?

Who is behind the terror attack and what are their forces?

The National Security Strategy Agency began a comprehensive investigation into the incident in the Republic of Bostania.

Questions poured in without a single day of rest.

Not only within the military but also to various national administrative organizations, including the police.

The National Security Strategy Agency reviewed and analyzed the documents submitted by the relevant organizations and visualized the domestic situation.

Another month passed like that.

The incident that occurred in Bostania was named the ‘Brooklyn November Tragedy’, and the world was still in a state of turmoil.

However, contrary to concerns, fortunately, the domestic situation in the Empire did not fluctuate much.

This was because, compared to other leaders who had died or were seriously injured, the President’s injury was only minor.

He was standing at the furthest distance from where the bomb exploded, and at the same time, coincidentally, the Secretary General of Svarog, who was standing next to him, naturally mitigated the impact of the explosion.

It was a level that could only be said that he was truly lucky.

“Therefore, our National Security Strategy Agency has determined that there are no signs of such terrorist organizations committing crimes. Most of them have already been dismantled, and the society of the Empire is very stable.”

Second Lieutenant Dante Bay reported in a clear voice.

“In addition, the Republic of Bostania is currently suffering from riots and protests in major cities, including the capital. Martial law has been declared, but there is also intelligence that some of the martial law troops have joined the protesters.”

“In the Svarog Federation, ‘Bosolav Shoigu’, the chairman of the Federal Supreme Council, has been elected as the next Secretary General.”

“Although there are no particular comments from Wales or the East Country, they also seem to be having a headache in many ways.”

Of course, they would have a headache.

Werner nodded his head while exhaling cigarette smoke.

“Report immediately if there are any unusual incidents.”

“Yes, understood. Ah, and… His Excellency the President has personally requested a meeting with you.”

“I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“I just received this information as well. It would be better for the director to directly contact the administration…”

“I understand, thank you for letting me know. You may go.”

Second Lieutenant Dante, who had finished his report, saluted and left the office.

Werner Grimm had returned straight to Forbidden Lake as soon as he returned to the country.

It was because he had to submit a report directly on his participation in the summit.

Moreover, a great disaster had occurred in which the President of Bostania and the Secretary General of Svarog died simultaneously.

Understanding and predicting the impact of that was the biggest agenda for the National Security Strategy Agency.

But even before the report was completed, the President summoned him.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t shake off the bad feeling.

Was he scheming something again?

Werner Grimm crushed the remaining cigarette in the ashtray and immediately connected the power to the communicator.

[Incoming call from the Lion’s Den]

The red LED attached to the communicator was blinking.

It was urging him.

Werner lightly tidied up his clothes and connected the video call.

Soon, the face of President Mikhail Bismarck filled the screen.

“How have you been, Director Werner?”

“Yes, I just finished reviewing the report. I think I can finish it and send it to you tomorrow.”

Werner spoke in a voice that was more rigid and businesslike than ever.

“As expected of Director Werner. Your work is always thorough.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“But… what should I do about this? I have one more personal favor to ask of you—no, your National Security Strategy Agency.”

Then the President’s eyes slightly sparkled.

“Can you just write up a plan? The conversation we are having now and the contents of the plan must be treated with the utmost secrecy. Only carefully selected personnel within the National Security Strategy Agency should know about it.”

As expected.
Wasn’t the back too rotten to be too rotten?

“What kind of plan is it for?”

However, the answer to the casually thrown question was deeper, thicker, and more sickening than Werner’s expectations.

“War.”

“…”

“Try planning a war, Director.”

***

“Here is the plan, Captain.”

“Good work, Lea.”

The officer with neatly short-cut hair smiled at Lea.

It was a fellow officer working in the same regiment’s information department.

He tapped and organized the documents handed over by Lea, then put them in the drawer under his desk.

“Is it okay if I review it tomorrow?”

“Ah, yes. Are you going off work now, Captain?”

“Yes, yes, I’m leaving work on time today. I made plans to have a drink with my classmate.”

“Ah…”

He pointed to another officer loitering near the entrance.

Even in his military uniform, he looked dressed up, and as Lea Gilliard looked at him, he cleared his throat and approached.

“Well… would the information officer like to come along too? It’s a cocktail bar that just opened, and I heard the drinks and food are both incredibly delicious…”

“Ah, I’ve been too busy lately. I have to work overtime today too.”

It was an obvious excuse.

She had already noticed when he brought her an energy drink a few weeks ago, saying she looked tired.

If he didn’t cross the line, she was going to just leave him alone, but this time she decided to firmly reject him.

“Ah…! Over-overtime, I see. Haha, indeed, you must be busy with the turmoil in the country. Th-then how about tomorrow…?”

“I have plans to meet with people from the fortress I used to work at tomorrow.”

It was a clear rejection to anyone who saw it.

Eventually, he was dragged out of the information department by his fellow officer.

“This guy is even worse today. Well then, First Lieutenant Lea, take care.”

“…No, it’s nothing. Have fun, Captain.”

Soon, the voices of the two men were vaguely heard from beyond the corridor.

“Hey, man… why didn’t you tell me she was working overtime… I could have at least bought her an energy drink.”

“Hey, hey, just give up now. That energy drink had no effect at all. Let’s stop bothering our lieutenant and find someone else?”

As expected.

Lea Gilliard stared at the wide-open door for a moment, then sighed and turned her head to the documents.

It had already been a month since she regained her memories.

She had been literally sick in bed for a week after uncovering all the fragments of memories from the Akasha of the Graveyard.

Her whole body was feverish, and her mind was hazy.

Whenever she ate something, she would vomit it right back up.

She couldn’t even drink water.

It was a state where it wouldn’t have been surprising if she had fainted and been found as a corpse.

If Regimental Commander Julia Anke hadn’t been startled and nursed her, she might have really ended up like that.

When a week passed like that.

Lea Gilliard was finally able to get up from her bed.

She was a member of the Graveyard.

And she was also the proud lover of Luthers Edan.

Even though she hadn’t remembered until now, now that she had regained all those memories, she couldn’t act as she had before.

While she was sick, Lea Gilliard humbly decided to accept that fact.

Even if just thinking about it made her heart feel like it was being torn apart, and the pain of stirring the hole in her punched-out heart was felt.

Even if her throat felt like it would choke every time she called out his name, and she wanted to strangle herself every time she recalled his face.

That’s why she had to accept it even more.

They were nothing but a burden to him.

They made him cling to trivial emotions and gave him only terrible memories.

Love? Can’t live without him?

It’s selfishness.

It’s greed.

She recalled the image of Luthers Edan crying out in tears.

She remembered him desperately pulling the trigger at her, who had become a terrible Titan and was screaming.

Luthers Edan had been burying everyone like that until now.

Moreover, hadn’t Luthers Edan finally grasped peace?

Titans were nowhere to be found.

The powerful enemy that had turned him into a ghost of countless regressions had finally been defeated.

Coincidentally.

It was a victory he could only achieve after giving up on restoring their memories.

In the end, there was only one thing she could do.

To carry on the will of Luthers Edan.

To live as if she had forgotten him forever, as he wished.

Taking on all the work in the information department these days was also part of that.

At least when she was working, bad thoughts didn’t come to mind.

Just like now.

Luthers Edan.

As soon as she stopped working for a moment, that name inevitably came to mind.

Perhaps it was because she had promised to meet the people of the Graveyard tomorrow.

But no matter what it was, it didn’t change the fact that it was a feeling derived from a longing that was like an illusion, out of reach even if she reached out her hand.

“Lu… thers…”

Without realizing it, she murmured that name while looking out the window.

Winter was approaching.

She was just enduring.

The heart that was frozen solid with a hole in it.

The deep wound that could not be filled with anything.

While desperately trying to tie herself up as if she was okay.

She would simply follow the footsteps of her lover who had been steadily walking ahead.

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