9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 121 - Corpse Flower (3)

Johann, who had bowed his head without hesitation, quickly returned to normal.

“Have you thought of a way to kill Lieutenant General Kaiser?”

“A surprise attack won’t work. We’ll have to use this information.”

Johann said while tapping President Brightner’s journal.

“I see, so you want to dig into his back pocket?”

“Right, the lieutenant general isn’t the type of fool who’d let an opportunity like this slip by.”

“Then we need to find the research facility where the canil improvements were made, but how—”

Bang!

At that moment, a gunshot echoed from beyond the wall. Johann and I simultaneously drew our pistols and shot to our feet.

“Take cover!”

Oscar’s voice rang out, followed by the rumbling vibration of crashing sounds.

“They made the first move.”

“Ah shit, we’re screwed.”

I bit my lips while glaring at Johann.

“How did you not notice you had a tail!”

“Foolish. If there had been surveillance, do you think I wouldn’t have noticed? Our relationship must have been exposed long ago.”

“Damn it, let’s get out of—”

Crash!

As I tried to kick down the door and roll out, the thick wooden door burst apart. I got pelted with fragments, my face stinging.

“Hands up.”

A burly man in a black Ossel uniform pointed his gun at us and commanded.

At that eerily low voice, I slowly lowered my gun and raised my hands high above my head.

The scene visible over the man’s shoulder in the top floor corridor was already grim.

About ten sturdy Ossel men and women in uniforms had surrounded Daniel, Erika, Oscar, Richard, and Georg, pointing guns at them.

‘Since they’re not killing immediately, they must have some scheme. Wait, but where did Johann go?’

I couldn’t sense Johann’s presence. The burly Ossel seemed to have the same question, as he pressed his gun barrel against my forehead and asked.

“Where is Lieutenant Colonel Johann Werner.”

“Wh-what do you mean, Lieutenant Colonel Johann Werner.”

I opened my mouth while trembling. If Johann was plotting something, I needed to buy him time.

“The Ossel lieutenant colonel who was having a conversation with you just moments ago.”

“I-I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Suddenly barging in like this, what’s this violence? Are you Ossel? If so, why don’t you state your rank and name! Do you know who I am to act so fearlessly…!”

Thwack!

“Lucas!”

Since I was spouting meaningless words, the burly man struck my shoulder with his gun barrel.

Argh! I couldn’t help but collapse with a scream. I heard Erika cry out in surprise and the sound of someone restraining her.

“Search everywhere.”

As the burly man ground his foot into me while ordering his subordinates, a cold wind suddenly whooshed in from somewhere.

“He escaped.”

When I slightly raised my head, thick curtains were fluttering. He must have opened the window and escaped in the meantime.

“Chase him.”

After sending several Ossel out, the burly man grabbed my collar and pulled me up.

“Ugh!”

“You have somewhere to go with us.”

***

With my eyes covered by a blindfold, I was shoved into a carriage.

‘Ah, I didn’t want to experience this twice.’

I tried to heighten my senses to assess the surrounding situation.

In the carriage, it seemed to be just me, the burly man, and the watching Ossels. Erika and the others appeared to have been dragged elsewhere.

‘They don’t seem like they’ll immediately slit my throat. Should I try to stall for time as much as possible?’

The carriage really ran for quite a while.

It must have taken about thirty or forty minutes. I could sense passing through checkpoints or something similar along the way. They had probably deployed Ossels throughout Lüdelheim to catch Johann.

Finally, the quietly moving carriage stopped, and I had to walk, led by strong hands.

A foul smell reached my nose.

‘They said the new Ossel headquarters is inside a garbage dump.’

I remembered what Johann had told me. He had even made an uncharacteristic joke, saying how fitting it was.

‘Right, it suits them perfectly.’

I could feel the bumpy ground beneath my feet. The lot must be quite large, as I walked until my legs ached.

At some point, I felt light beyond my blindfold as a massive iron door opened with a sound.

Then elevators and stairs, and a cool corridor.

Soft melodies flowed.

Someone removed my blindfold. My eyes stung from the brightness, and after blinking for a moment, I looked around.

This place was similar to the office I had seen when I went to kill Colonel Eric Klein long ago, but it was much simpler and more luxurious.

‘Lieutenant General Leon Kaiser.’

Before my eyes appeared a large-framed Ossel sitting at a table drinking coffee. His slightly graying blond hair, elegant gestures, and cheerful expression looked quite… likeable.

“Welcome, Sir Redan.”

Lieutenant General Kaiser greeted me in a strange tone that was neither formal nor informal.

I looked at him, then went to sit heavily in the empty seat across from him. An Ossel who appeared to be the lieutenant general’s aide poured coffee into a cup.

“As much sugar as possible.”

At the lieutenant general’s words, the aide grabbed the sugar jar on the table and poured it all into the cup.

‘So he’s even figured out my taste preferences.’

Smelling the rising sweet aroma, I nodded to the aide.

The aide returned to attention with an expressionless face. This must be Major Fabian Lorenz that Johann had mentioned. He said the man was mechanically silent and had stiff movements.

“Quite pleasant to meet you. This is the first time we’re meeting face to face, isn’t it?”

The lieutenant general said with a beaming smile. I casually shrugged my shoulders.

“Please speak informally, Lieutenant General Kaiser. No matter how separately we’re treated, Ossel shares ranks with the military, doesn’t it?”

“Let’s do that then.”

Lieutenant General Kaiser quickly switched to informal speech and sipped his coffee. I followed suit and took a sip. An incredible sweetness struck my mouth.

“Listen to the melody. Just hearing it makes your heart race and blood boil, doesn’t it?”

At Lieutenant General Kaiser’s leisurely question, Major Lorenz flinched.

I gave a perfunctory smile.

The music coming from the gramophone was certainly quite good, but I didn’t have the luxury to pay attention to such things.

“Do you know the meaning contained in this piece?”

“I’m sorry, this is my first time hearing it.”

“Haha! Not very befitting of the Supreme Leader’s loyal retainer.”

The lieutenant general held out a stiff record cover, and I read aloud the introduction written in tiny print.

“Released June 7th, 1903. Composed to inspire the pride of the great Schufabens. To represent the spirit of legendary heroes from ancient tales, featuring a magnificent brass ensemble…”

“Enough, enough.”

The lieutenant general waved his hand.

‘Look at him stalling for time. I won’t even need to try.’

The lieutenant general was also waiting for something, just like me.

“Now shall we talk business?”

Lieutenant General Kaiser finally spoke up after a long while.

“By all means, please go ahead.”

“Good… Major General Redan, you must be curious why I so suddenly dragged you here. Actually, I’ve known for a long time that you’re the head of White Raven Order. And that you’ve been taking orders from Lieutenant Colonel Johann Werner.”

“Ah, is that so.”

An awkward silence flowed.

The lieutenant general seemed to expect me to be surprised.

“Did you guess?”

“Yes. What else could it be?”

“Haha! Aren’t you afraid? You’ve been caught committing tremendous crimes.”

“The world doesn’t run on laws alone.”

The lieutenant general’s eyes sharpened briefly before returning to a warm smile.

“You’re right about that. Major General Redan, I’ve always thought White Raven Order was an absolutely necessary existence for Schufaben.”

“Have you? I’m honored.”

“Hmm, shall we change the music briefly before getting to the main point?”

The lieutenant general hummed cheerfully as he approached the gramophone. While rummaging through records to choose one, the twin pistols on both his hips gleamed threateningly in the magic lamp light.

I picked up the sugar jar to add more to my coffee, only to discover it was empty.

“Sorry, but could you bring some sugar?”

At my request, Major Lorenz brought a new jar from the basket by the window.

“Thank you.”

I poured sugar generously into my cup again. New, tension-filled music began playing in the room.

‘Does he have some kind of obsession with listening to music?’

While I was thinking indifferently, the lieutenant general returned and sat down.

“Now, Major General Redan. My thinking is this: Without visible threats, Ossel cannot survive. What makes those threats most spectacular is White Raven Order. You know this too, don’t you? The Supreme Leader also moved Lieutenant Colonel Werner to stage incidents.”

Last year’s incident where high-ranking officials were kidnapped under White Raven Order’s name for purges and military supply expansion.

I was in Rubellia at that time. I only heard about Johann and Fael’s activities from Hannah after it was over.

How much does the lieutenant general before me know? I casually threw out some bait.

“Was there such an incident? I merely followed Lieutenant Colonel Werner’s orders. I had no idea the Supreme Leader had commanded it… Surely, His Excellency wouldn’t…”

“You wouldn’t have known. The lieutenant colonel isn’t the type to share such big secrets. Don’t worry. The Supreme Leader knows nothing about your identity. Would I have reported it? Or would the lieutenant colonel? There’s no reason to report it.”

“Because White Raven Order serves as a threat for Ossel.”

“Exactly. Now, Major General. I have something to ask you. Why are you still following the lieutenant colonel?”

“What do you mean?”

I fiddled with my coffee cup as if playing dumb.

“What has the lieutenant colonel given you? He must have just used you like a puppet. Why do you follow such a man? You have far greater rank and influence than the lieutenant colonel.”

I let out a small sigh.

“I owe him a debt. It’s not something I can reveal to others.”

“I see.”

The lieutenant general drank several sips of coffee as if lost in thought. I looked at the clock hanging behind him.

It was already past 2 AM.

How long had I been in this room? About 30 minutes? How long since I drank the coffee…

“Well, the reason isn’t really important anyway.”

The lieutenant general smiled warmly again. I was reminded of Chief Clerk Emil Hoffman.

The first person to push me into the pit of hell after I fell into this world.

He too always wore that same warm, kind-hearted uncle smile.

Disgustingly so.

“Major General Redan, do you understand the current situation?”

“My identity has been exposed, I’ve been captured, and I need to abandon Lieutenant Colonel Werner and cooperate with you, Lieutenant General.”

“Right, you understand well!”

He burst into hearty laughter. His eyes were bloodshot as if blood vessels had burst.

“So I’m asking, do you know where Lieutenant Colonel Werner went?”

I hung my head low.

“I’m sorry. I have no idea at all. Originally, what I knew about him was very little.”

This much was true.

“That would be so. However, Major General Redan, if Lieutenant Colonel Werner is caught…”

Crash!

Suddenly, the coffee cup in the lieutenant general’s hand fell to the floor.

“Li-Lieutenant General?”

Boom!

A muffled explosion came from outside. What perfect timing.

“Lieutenant General, what’s wrong with you? Pull yourself together!”

I caught the collapsing lieutenant general and shook him frantically. The lieutenant general turned his unfocused eyes toward me with a groan.

“What… did you… do…”

His pronunciation was slurred.

“What are you talking about!”

Boom!

Another explosion, a bit closer this time.

“Lo-Lorenz…!”

The lieutenant general called out in a croaking voice. I threw the lieutenant general aside and quickly rolled across the floor.

Bang!

I fired from an almost prone position, and Major Lorenz, who had been rushing toward me, spurted blood. Even with one arm hanging in tatters, he didn’t let out a single scream as I aimed my gun at him again.

Bang! Bang!

Bullets pierced through his leg and abdomen. The major collapsed to the floor like a marionette with cut strings.

Bang!

I shot his head for confirmation and got to my feet. Looking at the lieutenant general, he was foaming at the mouth while desperately fumbling at his empty holster.

I had taken the twin pistols.

“Did you think I was an idiot?”

At my voice, the lieutenant general trembled. No, he couldn’t control his muscle spasms.

“Mixing drugs in the sugar? Didn’t your mother teach you not to play with food?”

“Urgh… ugh…”

The lieutenant general’s eyes rolled back. His pants were getting soaked.

Since he had poured an enormous amount of powdered drug disguised as sugar into the coffee. If I hadn’t pretended to drink it and secretly spat it out, I would have ended up like that too.

When both the lieutenant general and major had looked away from me earlier, I had quickly switched the cups.

“Trying to trick me from where exactly? Do you think I can’t distinguish between the smell of sugar and canil?”

Actually, it was very subtle. I survived because this body was addicted to sweets.

“Tell me. Where is the research facility? No, should I call it a drug manufacturing plant?”

I sat on top of the lieutenant general’s body and asked. However, the lieutenant general was in no condition to answer.

While I was pondering, noise continued outside the room.

Rata-ta-ta-ta-bang!

Boom!

Soon the office door burst open.

“Kaiser…!”

I raised both hands and looked at the masked figures.

“You’re a bit late. I already took care of the lieutenant general.”

The man standing at the front removed his mask. Bright blond hair and blue eyes were revealed.

“Well done.”

Despite the sarcastic words, what was clearly written on Johann’s face was obvious relief.