9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 101 - War

In the end, the Supreme Leader readily accepted the joint investigation team.

“We have not spoken a single word of falsehood, so it will soon be revealed who is guilty! The moment our innocence is proven, those who have persecuted Schufaben will pay the price!”

A joint investigation team was immediately formed.

A team of experts from various nationalities—mages, scholars, police, doctors, soldiers—led by Rubellia’s Chief of Security arrived in Lüdelheim.

Exactly three days after the Supreme Leader’s speech.

Lüdelheim District 1’s temporary investigation headquarters.

While passing through the corridor, I stopped when I felt a sudden chill in front of a door.

“You cannot open that door.”

The investigation team member guiding me turned back and said curtly.

“Is it a room under a spell?”

“Evidence is being stored. If you touch the door, an alarm will sound, so please be careful.”

Evidence.

They must be in there.

The corpses of Hoellope, Etin, Koeller, Schwanz, Loch, Lang, Beed, Bay, and Schlesby.

And the corpses of Cortana soldiers who had invaded the border after being bribed by Schufaben, only to be backstabbed and killed.

‘I shouldn’t have asked.’

I shook my head and followed him.

In the waiting room were the familiar-faced company commander and soldiers, Major Damier, and Captain Himmel.

Bang!

“Long live the Great Supreme Leader!”

“Long live the Supreme Leader.”

They all saluted in unison, so I returned the salute.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

I greeted them in a subdued voice.

“I’m sorry. You’ve seen terrible things because of me. As battalion commander, I take full responsibility.”

“Not at all. It was Cortana’s cowardly surprise attack. How could you apologize for that, Battalion Commander?”

The company commander, whose sun-weathered face made him look forty despite being in his thirties, spoke heavily.

“That’s right!”

“Cheer up, Battalion Commander!”

The soldiers also voiced their agreement loudly.

I wasn’t skilled at reading faces, but I could tell just by looking.

They’d selected and sent out the ones who wouldn’t defect to the investigation team.

Guys who were tough, somewhat clever, and had good instincts. I’d have done the same.

***

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Lucas Redan.”

In the interrogation room sat a stern-looking middle-aged man.

‘Ludovic Herbé.’

I knew him. He’d even attended parties I’d hosted.

“It’s been a while, Sir Herbé.”

When I smiled, his rigid face also softened.

“Indeed, Lord Redan. Or rather, Luca. You’re still called ‘little prince Luca’ in Le Chapen society.”

“How strange. I thought I’d be getting every curse in the book by now.”

“It’s probably arrogance from those who think they know ‘Luca’ well. They’re arbitrarily assuming you were used. Of course, I don’t know how long that will last.”

Ludovic Herbé.

The Queen’s hidden confidant and most trusted aide.

A distant relative of the Queen, he was someone she’d planted in the police organization from the beginning to gain intelligence.

Originally a capable individual, he’d steadily risen through the ranks to finally oversee all of Rubellia’s police.

When I met Ludovic Herbé at Le Chapen’s White Palace and told him I was working with the Queen, his expression didn’t change one bit.

I could see why the Queen had chosen him.

I’d thought of Herbé when writing the letter, but didn’t think the Chief of Security would come personally.

The Queen must have really sharpened her blade.

“Let’s begin.”

Herbé said in a heavy voice, and I nodded.

The investigation was bland.

Though outwardly sharp, it was just repeating memorized words like a parrot.

Herbé questioned me again and again as if trying to find some flaw, and I thoroughly defended against those attacks that weren’t really attacks.

A roundabout conversation.

The Supreme Leader had, meticulously—or perhaps naturally?—already given manuals to the investigation subjects. With expected questions and model answers perfectly included, all we had to do was memorize them.

In the rigid sentences, I could see traces of the “master interrogator” Johann Werner.

‘Johann again. Well, how many people could handle this kind of job?’

The investigation team would probably be furious. It would feel like hitting a steel wall.

The story was too perfectly coordinated to be suspicious, but no matter how deep they dug, no gaps would show.

“You’ve prepared quite well.”

“We’re desperate too.”

I smiled at Herbé’s observation.

This was a rigged game.

Like a soccer match with match-fixing.

Still according to script, for now.

***

The joint investigation team moved busily. They interrogated involved parties, examined the scene, tested magical reactions, and performed autopsies on the corpses.

But the more they did, the deeper the mystery became.

In the bodies of the deceased, components of ‘canil,’ a rare poisonous plant native to Cortana, were detected.

On December 31st, Major General Redan and his majors had drinks together, then all climbed the mountain the next day where they encountered Cortana soldiers who had deserted from the border unit.

But why?

Why had they deserted and crossed the mountain, why had they happened to encounter Schufaben forces and engage in combat, and who had poisoned the drinks in the first place?

***

“Today the joint investigation team announced their investigation results. Most of it just reconfirmed known facts, and no evidence of manipulation by our government emerged. However, the investigation team said they couldn’t make a definitive judgment yet…”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“We did nothing wrong, you moron.”

“Ah, but why do they use such difficult words?”

“Because they’d be embarrassed to say it outright!”

“Oh, so those monkeys do have some sense of shame after all, hahaha!”

A dark and spacious basement.

A place where moisture and mold were joined by cigarette smoke and medicinal vapors sticking to your respiratory system, where phrases like “You cheating bastard!” “Check that guy’s sleeves!” “You just palmed a card!” were squawked so fast it was amazing how quickly voices became hoarse.

“So what are they going to do in the end? Their tongues are too long.”

Oscar looked at the cards in his hand, then chuckled at the grumbling from across the table.

“Will there really be a war?”

“Ian, how would we know if you don’t?”

Second Lieutenant Ian Keller.

A dragon pilot in the air force I’d met by chance at a factory a few years ago.

They’d quickly become friends thanks to their shared love of dragons and gambling, and now they were drinking buddies who got along great.

“Well, there’s no standby order yet? The general hasn’t said anything particular either.”

“Deal the cards faster!”

An uncle at the same table grumbled. His cards weren’t going well and he was in a bad mood.

An underground gambling den in the tavern’s basement.

After Redan Tavern went under, Oscar had been a regular here.

When he first came to Lüdelheim, he realized he had a talent for gambling.

Before getting a job at the factory, he’d lived day to day on this.

He didn’t go all-out anymore, but playing cards every night was one of life’s pleasures. Plus earning some side income.

“We have to go to war! We need to crush those Cortana bastards!”

When the uncle threw down his cards and shouted, a bespectacled young man across from him objected.

“I’m against it. I bet the other way.”

Oscar, who had been calculating in his head, suddenly looked at him.

That must be that betting. The extreme odds game of guessing whether war would break out or not. He’d heard about it several times.

“Supreme Leader wants to punish Cortana!”

“Sure, but look how things are going. Rubellia and Pontinell are so focused on surveillance—how can they move the army?”

“What did you hear earlier? The joint investigation team is screwed.”

“Ah well, that’s true. But would they give up just because one investigation team failed? We’re such a scary country, they’d definitely try to stop us. A diplomat can see it.”

The young man pushed up his glasses and spoke smugly.

From the way he acted, he seemed like some university student from a well-off family.

“Anyway, these eggheads…”

“Haha, well, it’s better for me if everyone thinks like you, uncle. My odds get higher.”

“You disloyal bastard! You think His Excellency would give up that easily!”

The uncle’s face turned red as he stood up.

“Hey, watch your words, uncle! I’m as loyal as anyone!”

“Then why are you betting dirty money on such illegal gambling!”

“What do you mean, you’re gambling too right now?”

Oscar watched the increasingly heated fight with interest.

‘Oh, this could get dangerous.’

The moment he thought that.

“That’s enough, isn’t it?”

Ian stood up and slammed the table.

“What, you little runt…”

The uncle who had been looking down at the short Ian gradually quieted down. Thanks to the presence of large muscles visible even through his shirt.

“Actually, it’s getting dangerous. Too much money has poured in.”

“What do you mean?”

When the deflated uncle asked meekly, the young man lowered his voice mysteriously.

“All kinds of people have gotten involved. It’s gotten too big. There was even someone who threw in ten million pelts at once.”

“Ten, ten million!”

The uncle’s mouth fell open.

“Who lives where to do that?”

“If I knew, would I be here doing this? Must be some big shot who got involved. Anyway, when it gets that big, now—”

Bang!

The basement iron door burst open with a loud noise. Everyone froze thinking it was a raid, but what entered was a middle-aged man with several fingers missing.

“Weitz is dead!”

He screamed.

“What, what?!”

“Stabbed! His guts were all spilled out! The safe was completely emptied too!”

“Damn it!”

“We’re all fucked!”

Sighs and curses flew everywhere.

“Brother, are you okay…?”

“This… damn… shit…”

When Oscar suddenly turned his head, the young man who had been trembling pale as a sheet was foaming at the mouth and passed out.

***

This was all because of the joint investigation team.

The war betting bubble had grown uncontrollably, and eventually enormous sums totaling over fifty million pelts had been wagered.

When this happened, Weitz, who had originally started the betting, began trembling.

In this insane frenzy, he couldn’t even refuse bets from wild-eyed gamblers.

After agonizing, he ran to his patron and begged,

“Boss! Boss! Save me!”

Lieutenant Colonel Johann Werner looked expressionlessly at the crying and clinging Weitz.

“What about your subordinates?”

“They’re too busy guarding the safe!”

Weitz had originally been just a back-alley thug without big ambitions.

He’d paid protection money to Johann to avoid gambling den raids, and when Johann rose to become Ossel’s second-in-command, he’d trusted that and tried running a big operation.

But it had gotten too big.

The gambling frenzy had swept beyond District 13 to all of Lüdelheim along with the war fever, growing beyond Johann’s control.

“Understood. I’ll send someone.”

“Thank you! Boss!”

Weitz prostrated himself at his feet.

The next day.

Weitz and his subordinates were murdered in broad daylight, and every last penny in the safe was stolen.

The Ossels quickly launched an investigation and rounded up nearby criminal organizations.

After interrogation, they confessed to their crimes and were executed for running gambling dens, robbery, murder, and illegal importation and use of unlicensed firearms.

No one knew where the money the thugs had stolen had gone.

Johann was satisfied that several times more money than the betting payouts had come into his hands.

The ruined gamblers had nowhere to complain.

***

‘So that’s what happened.’

I learned about the war betting collapse through the White Raven Order’s information network.

I should have realized it then.

No, would it have been too late even then?

At least before the organization that murdered Weitz was destroyed, I should have noticed much earlier!

By the time I was chewing my lips until they were almost shredded, Johann entered the hotel room.

“What’s wrong?”

“You bastard! You knew all along!”

I threw a punch with all my might, which he caught far too easily.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“Why didn’t you tell me! You threw in ten million pelts but why didn’t you say there were signs of war!”

My voice cracked harshly.

“Did you really not know this would happen?”

I trembled as I glared at him. Johann was completely calm.

“How far exactly…”

“Don’t get strange ideas. No one can know the military’s movements. It’s just that the Supreme Leader’s will was always clear.”

“Aaaaargh! Aaaah!”

I screamed while clutching my head.

After the joint investigation team’s announcement, Schufaben offered a compromise.

They would severely punish those involved and shake up the unit’s personnel if the threats were withdrawn.

Cortana, which couldn’t keep the problematic unit anyway, readily accepted.

And on March 3rd, 1903.

War broke out.

There was no declaration of war.

Taking advantage of Cortana reorganizing their border units, Schufaben’s air force crossed the vacuum-like border and unleashed merciless bombing.

March 3rd.

That was the day the ‘Continental Conference’ was to be rebuilt.

My final hidden blade.

A massive blow to hit Kruger hard in the back of the head.

The Continental Conference, rebuilt with Rubellia at its center, announced sanctions against Schufaben’s military activities.

But when Prime Minister Bertrand of Rubellia was reading the declaration to reporters, the border region was already in flames.

Simultaneously, Kruger’s declaration of war was delivered across the continent.

“Aaaaargh! You bastard! I’ll tear you apart! Aaaah!”

Johann looked down at me as I wailed with tears of blood.

“…Fool.”

His dry voice scattered like dust.