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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Werner Grimm looked back and forth between Karin Maven, who was shedding tears, and the terminal brought by the chief of staff, before finally answering the phone.
“This is Werner Grimm, Director of the Strategic Security Agency.”
There was a sound of someone taking a breath, and then a familiar voice rang out.
“This is Heinz Bismarck. Have you been well?”
“…”
There was nothing he could say.
Werner just held the terminal with a bewildered expression, then carefully asked.
“What’s the matter?”
“I won’t say much. I’m joining Brigadier General Luthers’ side.”
“What do you mean—”
“We found traces of Titans in Saint Francis. Fortunately, they were all dead, but there’s only one person who would do such a thing.”
“You… don’t tell me you’ve been in contact with Charlotte or Lea?”
“Yes, but even if I hadn’t, I would have figured it out eventually. Our unit was conducting its own investigation.”
Damn it.
Werner bit his lip.
He had tried hard to scatter the main players.
To prevent them from recalling those memories, full of both fond recollections and pain.
So that they could be satisfied with just watching from a step away, but they had come together again like this.
What on earth were Charlotte and Lea doing?
Were they trying to gather the Graveyard members and involve them in a coup?
Why were they stubbornly causing trouble even though they knew he wouldn’t want this?
His head ached.
“Heinz, there’s no need to…”
“No. Our Holy Cross Brigade has already secretly begun withdrawing from the area. We plan to land in the Empire via the ‘Eslanoplan’ of the rebels still remaining in the southern part of the Republic of Bostania.”
“What?!”
“Didn’t the Commander always say? It’s better to have more than not enough. Even if you don’t need us, if the elite troops of the Imperial Army immediately stand on the Commander’s side, the pressure on the central government will be no joke.”
“This is… treason! It’s not something you or I alone can take responsibility for!”
“When did we ever care about such things?”
He was at a loss for words.
“The one who taught us that we could do anything to win was Commander Luthers himself. How can a person who diverted several nuclear bombs just to win one battle be shocked by diverting just one brigade?”
Heinz’s characteristic humorous tone came through.
“The advance troops have already finished preparations to move. Wow, come to think of it, this is quite interesting. It means even the Strategic Security Agency couldn’t fully grasp our movements, doesn’t it?”
“…”
“I guarantee it will be a surprising attack from the President’s perspective. Luthers— no, Brigadier General Werner Grimm, your orders.”
If that was true, it meant that most of the Holy Cross Brigade’s troops had already left their stations.
It would only be a matter of time before the President’s military, which had entered into close cooperation or vassalization with the Republic’s government forces, received this information.
If that happened, Heinz Bismarck would already be confirmed for execution as the ringleader of a rebellion just for that alone.
“Heinz!!”
Why on earth was he doing such a thing?
The position of commander of the Holy Cross Brigade was one where only success remained ahead.
Moreover, being a distant relative of the President, he wouldn’t be easily discarded like others.
Even if he were, the President he knew would surely give him appropriate compensation before dismissing him, so with Heinz’s abilities, he could actually stand out more in the private sector.
There was no reason for him to mobilize even his subordinates to come help.
It would only burden him, without providing any help.
“I, I…!!!”
“Director.”
Karin, who had approached from behind Werner as he was about to answer with a trembling voice, suddenly embraced him.
“Everyone trusts you. Just as we trust you, please trust us too.”
“Trust you?”
“No one tried to force that burden on you. It’s just that we couldn’t bear to watch you trying to carry a burden you couldn’t handle alone, so we’re trying to do something…”
At that moment.
Werner felt as if something inside his heart was breaking.
That was right.
It had always been himself who couldn’t trust his comrades.
Behind the words saying he trusted them was the complacent thought that if they died, he could just regress.
The duality of intensely hating himself while saying only he could do it.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know.
He had forcibly turned his eyes away.
Werner Grimm, no, Luthers Edan.
Because he was a weak person.
Unable to bear it, he had run away without properly facing it.
During the forty regressions, he had gained many things and many things had changed, but the arrogance and lies he still harbored in his heart had not changed.
Luthers Edan, at this moment, was able to open his closed eyes and face himself.
The one looking at him straight on was a stubborn commander with a shaggy beard, unilaterally rejecting everyone’s attention.
His blue eyes held no spirit, just fatigue.
He was just tapping the terminal listlessly, chewing on a cigarette, with no hope or emotion.
Yet his lovers were looking at him with pitying eyes, and that sight was so ugly and disgusting.
As he turned his head, there was another image of himself dressed in a splendid uniform.
Luthers could remember that time.
It was the moment when he had taken a commemorative photo with all of the unit members who were still alive when he was appointed as the Graveyard Fortress commander.
He laughed, chatted, and talked about the future with the unit members.
Dedicate your life for the victory of humanity.
He used to talk about the days that would finally come after that victory.
It was a scene that made him smile without realizing it.
That’s right.
He had finally grasped the victory he had longed for so much, but he himself was in his ugliest state.
He only now realized that the moment when he shone the brightest was when he was with his comrades who had believed in him, no one else.
Even the stubborn commander, while gossiping or arguing behind his back, never questioned the orders themselves.
Even in this cycle where he had forcibly sealed everyone’s memories, they still trusted only Luthers Edan.
Moreover, the members of the Strategic Security Agency were the same.
They had stepped forward even though it was clear they would be executed for treason if caught or failed.
What was in their eyes and voices was trust.
Unconditional trust in the person who had willingly pulled them out of despair.
But what about now?
The pillar that should have been the focus was shaking and weakening, and even their iron-clad faith was cracking.
All of this was his responsibility.
Gulp.
Werner Grimm swallowed dry saliva.
He opened his closed eyes and smiled gently at Karin, who was embracing him from behind.
“Yes… it was my fault again this time.”
“Director?”
“Karin, could you bring me a map of the Empire?”
“…!!”
A flash of blue light spread in his eyes.
At that sight, which hadn’t been seen for a while, Karin Maven jumped up and hurriedly brought out a map of the Empire.
“This coastline is under the jurisdiction of the 19th Division and the 3rd Fleet, right? I’ll talk to the 3rd Fleet, so Heinz you should return as quickly as possible. The landing point is…”
Werner Grimm pointed his finger at the northern coastline of the Empire map.
“Hambremen.”
It was a coastal city just 120km away from the capital Hoenbaren.
“Hambremen. Understood. I’ll keep this direct line open. I’ll report every hour on the hour.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
“It’s an honor to be able to fight together again, Brigadier General.”
Heinz’s communication ended like that.
Werner Grimm, who had been staring at the black screen of the communication terminal that had just cut off, shifted his gaze to the officers of the Security Agency who were standing in front of his office.
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“…Director.”
“Contact Supreme Commander Arthur Philias and tell him the Security Agency will move within 24 hours.”
“Are we still going ahead with the camp raid operation…?”
“Yes, but it’s not just about rescuing my acquaintance. There are probably quite a few soldiers imprisoned in Ashblinka.”
It was a political prison camp.
An emergency personnel order had been issued at a time when a massive purge of the military was expected.
If they were forcibly arrested and detained rather than simply relegated to unimportant positions, they were likely individuals who had been exercising strong influence.
If they could liberate those who had been unjustly captured, the chances of the coup’s success would increase exponentially.
They would be able to fully incorporate the units these people had commanded.
“And from now on… I’d like you to call me by my real name, not Werner Grimm.”
He added as he put on his uniform jacket that he had thrown in the corner.
Not the President’s hunting dog, Werner Grimm, Director of the Strategic Security Agency.
The Empire’s Watchman and legendary war hero, Luthers Edan, had finally risen from his grave.
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