Chapter 24: Loving My Comrade, Loving My Country (3)
Two pieces of paper, torn in half, fell limply to the floor.
Kuung!
Placing his foot roughly on the marble table in front of him, Lieutenant General Alvin looked at .
“Who would have thought that that brief bird would completely influence Karbenna, Carter.”
“…….”
“Who was it that broke your once-rigid conviction? The Chairwoman? Or the Director? Or maybe….”
“With all due respect, my convictions have never changed, then or now, Sir.”
The original Eugene Carter was, in many senses, soone for whom the label “attention seeker” fit perfectly.
Innate talent combined with a stubborn, rebellious streak ant he always dragged trouble and incidents with him.
He was stingy with effort and had a weak ntal endurance, so so undervalued him, but at least his results were always spectacular.
He hadn’t grabbed so many “youngest-ever” titles for nothing.
Because of that, the original Eugene Carter had no real convictions to speak of.
He was extrely self-centered, only active in matters where he could be noticed.
Most people llowed with ti and beca humble, but this guy’s unrivaled talent never let arrogance fade.
That was why he couldn’t forgive his own mistakes.
But.
Unlike the original owner of this body, who had scarcely a speck of conviction, I had convictions and goals.
“I’m certainly self-centered. What always cos first for was ‘how much attention I could get,’ and that hasn’t changed even now.”
“…….”
“But regardless of the process, I have always proven myself by the results. I think the Special Task Force Commander knows that well too.”
“So… you want us to trust and follow you this ti as well?”
His expression had softened a little from before, but doubt still crowded the corners of Alvin’s eyes.
I t that gaze and spoke even more firmly.
“This is no longer a matter of Karbenna or the Special Task Force individually.”
“Hmm…”
“If we cultivate talent, isn’t that a path for the empire’s future?”
“…I know what you’re getting at.”
He slowly lowered the leg he had been dangling and crossed his arms.
“But it’s not a problem that can be solved with just our approval, right? Karbenna’s opposition will be strong.”
He remained skeptical.
To crack that doubt, I revealed one crucial piece of information.
“I already got the Chairwoman’s permission.”
“…The Chairwoman?”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying you did that without fully explaining your plan?”
“Does she look like soone who would do that, Sir?”
He shook his head decisively.
“…True. That Michel Bernhardt wouldn’t lack that level of discernnt.”
Then why, I wondered, did—
The Special Task Force Commander fell silent.
“This is only hopeful speculation, mind you.”
I leaned forward slightly and stuck my head into the conversation.
“She might be soone we could bring onto our side.”
It would be sothing everyone would eventually learn anyway.
So at the very least, it was better to give a lead first to those who would be advantageous to .
“What’s your basis for thinking that?”
To the still-negative Alvin, I began laying out the information one by one.
“Early this morning, I was attacked by an assassin sent by Bernhardt.”
“An assassin?”
At that, Walter glared at sharply.
It was the look that said he hadn’t intended to make it public.
I didn’t care in the slightest and continued.
“Moreover, they showed the craftiness to implicate Walter in the process. If I had been killed by them, Walter would have borne all the accusations.”
Walter flinched when his na was ntioned.
“Fortunately, the assassin’s skill was so poor that didn’t happen, but….”
Then a crack began to appear at the corner of Lieutenant General Alvin’s eyes.
“…So it wasn’t sent by the Chairwoman?”
“No. I suspected Bernhardt’s servant acted on their own judgnt.”
Alvin tilted his head, thinking, then his eyes lit up.
“You an putting a different Bernhardt in the Chairwoman’s seat instead of Michel.”
I almost applauded at that instant and hurriedly hid my hands.
‘As expected of the Special Task Force Commander. No wonder they reached that position.’
I forced down a smile and picked up where he left off.
“In Karbenna right now, teachers favoring the Chairwoman were steadily decreasing. She should be the center of that faction, yet she felt a bit sidelined.”
“If you, who haven’t been assigned long, feel that way….”
Walter whispered to , asking when I had even done that kind of investigation in that short ti.
“I didn’t investigate.”
I answered in a whisper too.
“How do you know then?”
“There are ways to know without investigating.”
MAGA, a damn ga, I thought — playing that for about ten years taught you everything.
anwhile, having roughly finished assessing the facts, Lieutenant General Alvin began to organize the situation himself.
“From the Chairwoman’s viewpoint, she wouldn’t have wanted to miss the opportunity to create contact with the Special Task Force. If this collaboration produced good results, that would beco her own path forward.”
In truth, that ant she trusted my capabilities enough.
I rembered the conversation I had with her on the first day I arrived in Karbenna.
“Tell what you want, Carter.”
“I just said it. I’ll mind my own safety and live quietly.”
“If your goal is to live contentedly with what you have, there’s no need to step into this hell.”
“…….”
“If you cooperate with us… we’ll return not only the power and honor you desperately wanted to regain, but also wealth.”
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of becoming Bernhardt’s puppet.”
“…That’s a pity. I thought you would be a great asset to us.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t et your expectations.”
“You may step down.”
At the end she smiled as if she had been relieved.
As if she had heard the answer she wanted.
‘I never thought that choice I made then would co back like this.’
Of course, things wouldn’t go so smoothly.
Because I had forced things through, despite many controversies, I had to secure comnsurate results, and in the process I must not arouse Edel’s suspicion.
Their relationship was still nothing short of pure hostility.
To et both of these conditions while dealing with Bernhardt’s sches on top of it… the difficulty remained undeniably high.
Even so, I had no choice but to do it.
‘If I were going to give up over a trial like this, I would’ve quit MAGA long ago.’
And truth be told, I almost had.
While I was lost in thought, Lieutenant General Alvin, having co to his conclusion, spoke up again.
“Well, if we can pull Karbenna’s resources into the Special Task Force through this, there’s no business more profitable than that….”
He gave a steady, piercing look.
“Are you really confident? Conducting a monster extermination exercise with a bunch of cadets won’t be as easy as it sounds. There’ll be plenty of variables.”
“I’m confident, Sir.”
Without a mont’s hesitation, I answered. Alvin chuckled softly and nodded.
“Good. Proceed.”
We both stood at once and bowed our heads.
“Thank you, Sir!”
“Then we’ll need soone in charge on our side too… Ah, right. Colonel Belfor.”
“Yes, Sir?”
“You’ll be overseeing the Special Task Force’s end of the schedule.”
It was a sudden bolt from the blue.
Colonel Belfor, clearly flustered, quickly asked a question.
“But, Commander, I’m scheduled to be dispatched to Eber next week… I’m afraid it’ll be difficult to take full charge.”
“What are you talking about? That’s that, and this is this.”
“But still….”
“Who said you have to handle both leadership and command? We just need soone from the Special Task Force as the official representative—it looks proper that way. Don’t you think?”
“…Yes, Sir. That’s true.”
The conclusion was practically already decided.
“Well, since you’re at it, do your best. I’ll make sure this performance goes straight into your evaluation.”
On behalf of my dumbfounded fellow officer, I answered loudly and confidently.
“Colonel Belfor will handle it perfectly, Sir!”
“Of course you will.”
“Anyway, if that’s all, you’re dismissed.”
Alvin rose from his seat slowly, sweeping his gaze over us one by one.
“Then I’ll see you later, Carter.”
We saluted together toward the departing Commander.
“Thank you, Sir!”
Once the Special Task Force Commander left—
I imdiately slung an arm around the utterly dejected Belfor’s shoulders.
Seeing this, Walter followed up with a cheerful shout.
“L-Let’s do our best together!”
“That’s what they call loving your comrades and loving your country, right?”
“…I wish you’d both just vanish.”
That sa afternoon, at Karbenna.
Fourth-year Class 2 dormitory, seventh private room.
Sitting upright before her desk, Lea Bronte continued her conversation.
Before her rested a neatly arranged communication artifact, the Tebrel Orb.
She had cast a soundproofing spell over the entire room, so no matter what was discussed, it wouldn’t cause trouble—but still, just in case.
Throughout the report, she kept her voice extrely low.
“…In summary, we’ve uncovered a lot of circumstantial evidence, but concrete proof is hard to find.”
That was the gist of her earlier report.
In response, a seductive, llow voice flowed from the other end.
“I see.”
There was a faint note of disappointnt in that one line.
Feeling as though she could picture her master’s disappointed expression, Lea lowered her head.
Then, with a resolute tone, she continued speaking.
“…I’ll dig deeper.”
“What do you an?”
“Well, I’ve at least narrowed down the list of possible brokers. If I trail them one by one, sothing’s bound to co up, right?”
“No, Lea—wait.”
“If I don’t uncover evidence linking Bernhardt to this incident before that day…”
Lea tried to keep the conversation going with forced energy, but—
“Lea!”
The person on the other side had already made their decision.
“I understand your determination, but you could end up putting yourself in danger. For now, don’t act rashly. Stay put until I arrive.”
“…….”
“Understood?”
“…Yes, I understand.”
“If I co back and find you hurt, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
That was where the conversation ended.
As the orb’s light faded, Lea let out a deep sigh and rose from her chair.
“As long as I don’t get hurt, that’s fine, right?”
Twisting the aning to her own convenience, she flicked her brown hair and stepped outside.
Nurous broker candidates flickered through her mind.
One in particular stood out sharply in her mory.
The boy who’d been thoroughly beaten by Francia Brida in a duel not long ago.
The fourth son of the Halenber family—Eric Halenber.
“…Talk about bad fate.”
Not quite as tragic as the Brida family, who had nearly been wiped out because of them, but the Bronte family didn’t have any fond feelings either.
With a bitter smile, Lea left the dormitory.
Her steps grew firr, as though she were trying to shake off the ominous premonition that kept creeping up within her.
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