9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 107 - Bullet Sponge (6)

Carlton’s radio station was already occupied.

‘This will make things easier.’

Getting off the carriage, I looked at the radio station with its tense atmosphere and thought to myself.

Honestly, even for a small country, occupying all the major facilities would be impossible with just 2,000 infantry.

At least the radio station was manageable since it was close to the royal castle.

“Long live the Great Supreme Leader!”

Receiving their crisp salutes as I entered, I saw soldiers with guns and staff members trembling as they prepared for the broadcast.

Suddenly, I was reminded of my first radio appearance in Schufaben.

That scriptwriter—what was her name, Sophia Kohl? That bright-eyed young lady was a spearhead of media control, writing scripts praising Kruger according to orders from above.

“Hah……”

Letting out a hollow laugh, I headed toward the broadcasting booth. Right, time to play the dictator. If this could prevent an even greater disaster, I’d do it gladly.

“Captain Himmel, do you know the three elements that inspire trust in people?”

Turning around to ask, Captain Himmel, who had been following me, made a barely noticeable expression of displeasure as if thinking ‘Here we go again.’

“I don’t know.”

“A neat appearance, proper posture. What’s the third one?”

“I don’t know.”

“At least try thinking about it. Fine, I’ll tell you the answer. A wonderful voice! As you know, my face and posture aren’t particularly impressive, but my voice is different, isn’t it?”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Classic Alina Himmel. She could at least flatter me a little, but she’s merciless!”

“I apologize.”

Whatever Captain Himmel thought, I was confident.

When I was Korean, my appearance was utterly ordinary, but I was often told I had an attractive voice. Even though I was tone-deaf.

Lucas Redan’s vocal cords are pretty decent too. Quite resonant, if I do say so. Plus, I practiced breathing and vocalization intensively when charming Rubellia nobles.

Now it’s time for that effort to pay off.

I entered the booth, which felt cold without human warmth, and sat down. Clutching the script I’d hastily scribbled in two hours, I took a deep breath.

Finally, I gestured, and the sound engineer busily worked his hands. Behind him stood a soldier with a gun, watching with frightening eyes.

The broadcast began.

“Dear citizens of Cortana, greetings. This is Military Governor Commander Lucas Redan. As of 10 AM on March 4th, 1903, I have been placed in charge of administrative affairs for the entire territory of Schufaben-controlled Cortana, representing the Schufaben Republic government. My mission is to protect Cortana and help you, the citizens, focus on your livelihoods.

Citizens of Schufaben-controlled Cortana, you are now proud subjects of Supreme Leader Friedrich Kruger. We recognize no borders, no ethnic divisions. Supreme Leader Kruger will draw out Cortana’s potential and show you a strong nation, a prosperous nation unlike anything you have ever experienced.

Citizens, there was a tragic accident two days ago. I deeply regret the pain this has caused many of you. But please be at ease. Now that Cortana has become Schufaben’s good friend and partner, such incidents will not happen again.

Schufaben has built powerful defense capabilities to protect its citizens. Our dragons are ready at any moment to cut through the skies and crush any enemy threats……”

My vision blurred red.

Honestly, this script—drafted with reference to Kruger’s speeches—was clearly garbage that distorted events and presented lies as truth.

But I shook off my self-loathing, put strength in my abdomen, and brought out the most resonant voice I could muster, raising my emotional appeal.

Just for a moment.

Even if just for a brief moment, if they’d put aside thoughts of killing me, that would be enough.

“Citizens, just as all people are equal under God the Father, all citizens are equal under Supreme Leader Kruger. You will continue to enjoy the same freedoms and rights as before. I swear that as long as I serve as commander, unjust oppression and discrimination will not exist.

So please, trust me and help me. I cannot decide everything about Cortana alone. Nor should I. You who have lived on this land know Cortana best.

Honorable representatives and ministers, I trust you will return to the empty parliament building and royal castle. The longer you remain absent, the longer Cortana’s confusion will persist. Please return quickly to assist His Majesty the young King.”

After finishing the speech and looking out the window, the sunset glow was already rippling. I covered my throbbing temples with my hand and slumped my body.

***

“He seems to be backed into a corner.”

Deep night, the president’s office of Redan Company.

In front of Daniel, Erika, Oscar, Georg, Richard, and Namir lay several newspapers and a phonograph.

The front pages of various newspapers were all the same.

Lucas’s speech from a few days ago, a photo of him in military uniform with a solemn expression.

The speech, which took quite a while just to read, certainly had moving elements. That is, if you didn’t know about the disaster that occurred in Cortana.

No, even knowing about it, Lucas Redan—seemingly uninvolved in the horrific war crimes—appeared to be trying somehow to clean up his homeland’s mistakes.

Daniel thought that was probably closer to the truth.

This script and photo weren’t sent by a war correspondent but delivered to each newspaper by Lucas himself.

Georg had gone to pick up the newspaper and overheard the journalists’ conversation, so it was certain.

Recording of the speech was already being distributed, obviously circulated under Lucas’s orders as well.

Given the distance, it would be difficult to directly hear Carlton’s radio broadcast from Lüdelheim. Maybe the ultra-high-power radio used at the Supreme Leader’s residence could pick up such signals.

Anyway, looking at Lucas’s voice in the recording, the implications melted between the lines of his sentences, and his efforts to spread the speech as widely as possible……

“Something dangerous must have happened.”

At Daniel’s words, Erika also nodded lightly.

“I have a bad feeling.”

While this serious conversation was taking place, Namir was grumbling something in Elvish nearby.

“What did he say?”

When Richard kindly asked, Daniel translated.

“He says the speech content is unpleasant.”

Truly, Namir felt chills remembering the humans who had pushed into the Great Forest.

“I see. No matter how well you package it, it’s fundamentally still an act of invasion. The angry people will probably target him.”

Namir gasped.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

Though he didn’t completely trust Lucas yet, he was at least a human who cooperated with the elves. Setting that aside, he’d never wanted Lucas to die.

“That’s why he’s doing radio speeches like this, trying to find a way to survive. Don’t worry, Lucas probably has it all planned out.”

Georg spoke confidently.

“We need to do our work.”

“Georg’s right. I’m planning to go retrieve Tan tomorrow. Oscar, want to come with me?”

“I can’t forgive……them.”

He’d been strangely quiet, and now Oscar was trembling with rage while flipping through the newspaper on the sofa.

“O, Oscar?”

His gaze was fixed on a massive dragon photo.

「Heroes who fulfilled our long-cherished dream! Meet the Schufaben Air Force ‘Blue Eagle.’」

Daniel frowned slightly as he read through the article.

Most of it was ordinary content justifying the bombing and glorifying the air force that had committed brutal war crimes, but the final footnote caught his eye.

“Photo shows First Lieutenant Maximilian Fisher and his dragon…… Oscar, is this person by any chance?”

Suddenly, Oscar’s hands clenched with force, and he tore the newspaper to shreds. The burly pilot’s face was crumpled beyond recognition, leaving only the dragon photo intact.

“Yes, that’s my older brother.”

Everyone knew Oscar’s eldest brother was in the air force. They also knew the story of how they’d fallen out while fighting over his best friend, the Silver Dragon Sonya.

“Getting innocent Sonya involved in such cruel work……”

Oscar’s eyes were moistly wet as if tears might fall at any moment. His face was burning red with anger.

“There are many dragons in the Great Desert, urk!”

Erika stepped on Namir’s foot to stop his words.

“Daniel, if airships develop further, won’t dragons not have to go to war?”

“Hmm, probably. It would be best if there were no wars at all. But Oscar, we’re going to get Tan tomorrow—want to come with us?”

However, Oscar shook his head.

“I have something to do.”

Whatever his plan was, it was clear no one could stop him.

***

“As long as I serve as commander, unjust oppression and discrimination will not exist……”

Raising his hand to turn off the phonograph, silence descended in the room.

Golden Dragon Chryseus acted spoiled at his feet. The Supreme Leader petted the dragon’s wings while turning his head.

“I told you, Eve. It would be a good choice.”

“Yes. You are always right, Your Excellency.”

Eve Klose emerged ghost-like from behind the wall.

“However, this speech……”

Eve hesitated slightly before continuing.

“Isn’t it insolent? How dare he declare that he’ll treat them equally on his own authority. It’s clear overreach.”

Kruger, leaning diagonally on his bed, looked at her and replied indifferently.

“What does it matter? As long as he buys time, that’s enough. Redan will return alive. He’s the type who’ll try to grab power by my side somehow. It would be even better if he dies holding out. All the attention and anger will be focused on him.”

“But—”

“Quiet. What about the embassy situation?”

Silencing her with one word, Kruger asked.

“They’re still demanding to meet you daily, issuing condemnation statements. Batalland and the Kashan Principality are considering severing diplomatic relations.”

Kruger snorted.

“Let them do as they please. How much magic stone reserves do we have?”

“At the current pace, six months. If we issue a wartime mobilization order, twelve months is the limit.”

“Sufficient.”

Kruger smiled.

***

The violent backlash I expected didn’t happen.

I thought they’d come charging with cannons the moment the speech ended.

Maybe setting up my office in the royal castle was a stroke of genius. If they tried to kill me, they’d risk assassinating the king as well.

Little by little, representatives and ministers began gathering.

Some came on their own, others were ‘escorted’ by soldiers. Either way, they seemed willing to at least hear what I had to say.

I held a brief meeting with them in the parliament building.

“I’ll need your help a great deal from now on. There are many urgent matters. Let’s start by organizing the structure.”

There weren’t any nobles charging at me with swords and guns shouting ‘Die! You invader!’ as I’d feared.

“Your titles will remain recognized. I’ll preserve your original positions within the military government as much as possible. Think of it simply. The only thing that’s changed is that a conduit—me, the commander—has been added between His Majesty the King and all of you.”

Looking at their various expressions, I smiled thinly.

“Got something to say, Brigadier General Wagner?”

Turning toward the footsteps behind me, I heard something like a sigh—”paha.”

“Commander, this isn’t right.”

I turned around to face Eric Wagner.

“It wasn’t enough that you made equality declarations in your last speech, but today……! Did you see their insolent looks? I understand having to assign them menial tasks, but there’s no need to treat them so well! The Supreme Leader will be displeased. And it will hinder our army’s advance—”

“There is no advance!”

I shouted angrily.

“Did I mishear?”

“Brigadier General, reinforcements aren’t coming. Understand? We have to protect ourselves with these 2,000 men. Cortana may be a small country, but it has a population of 2 million. If we provoke them rashly, we’ll be devoured by that overwhelming number. It’s much more advantageous for us to make them fight among themselves.”

“C-Commander?”

He looked at me with a confused expression.

“No reinforcements! Did His Excellency say that?”

“No, but he’ll probably just tell us to keep waiting until the end.”

I let out a “whew” and calmed my breathing.

“Listen carefully, Brigadier General. I’m going to declare martial law. Establish a military government and strictly prohibit passage to the mines. We can’t stay here long.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Brigadier General Wagner, confused, weakly saluted.