9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 124 - Pride and Prejudice (1)

The research facility was excessively clean and businesslike.

‘The only dirty things are the researchers themselves.’

Grimy faces and disheveled hair from staying up for who knows how many nights.

Even now, as we all walked together, there were more than a few researchers struggling to stifle yawns. Only their white coats gleamed under the lights.

‘All this grinding people down for just this?’

If they gave me these personnel, I could put them to much better use. Seriously.

Director Riepen had promised unconditional cooperation, but none of us let our guard down.

In case he tried to pull something, Richard and Hannah stayed outside on standby while the rest of us entered the research facility interior following him, guns drawn. Oscar had taken the rampaging Colin outside.

“The cultivation rooms are just ahead.”

Riepen suddenly stopped walking.

Rooms with signs like ‘Cultivation Room 1’ and ‘Cultivation Room 2’ lined the corridor.

Through the clean glass, I could see containers filled with soil, half-grown canil, and large water tanks hanging from the ceiling.

“Water and nutrients are automatically sprayed by schedule, and researchers check their condition daily. The soil is collected from the Colt Mountains. Since canil depletes the soil significantly, we replace it with fresh soil at least once a week.”

“But they don’t grow well here, do they? Considering you were secretly cultivating them all the way in Cortana.”

Director Riepen turned his lifeless eyes toward me.

“You knew.”

“Well, I hope you won’t underestimate Ossel’s intelligence capabilities.”

“I see.”

He replied as if he had no interest whatsoever in worldly affairs.

“We tried our best to cultivate them in Schufaben as well. But no matter how perfect an environment we created, they were always smaller and had weaker components than wild-harvested canil.”

“Hmm, that’s strange.”

“The most plausible hypothesis currently is that canil is affected by the magic power floating in the air. We’ve been conducting experiments for several months now, injecting canil with magic power at various concentrations.”

“Results?”

“No significant changes yet.”

As we left the cultivation rooms, I gave Johann a meaningful look.

‘You didn’t tell the lieutenant general about this?’

Johann subtly, imperceptibly nodded.

Philip and the Ossels had been dispatched to Cortana primarily to check the mine’s condition.

It seemed the lieutenant general hadn’t received a report that Cortana’s magical energy had run dry. So the research team under him wouldn’t have known either.

‘Ah, but the guys currently in Cortana instead of Philip would know.’

That was Johann’s department to handle.

“This is the manufacturing room. Normally we wear gas masks when entering, but since it’s not currently operating, it’s fine.”

Large chemical containers were visible at a glance. They were completely empty now.

“Very thorough. You didn’t empty it because we were coming, did you? Since when?”

“About a month now. Since the factory was completed. Much larger production and cultivation facilities were built.”

“Right, considering the nationwide demand, this level would be nowhere near enough. But haven’t the research staff ever used canil themselves?”

“We use it occasionally. To endure the research facility’s schedule.”

Riepen pulled out a syringe from his pocket to show us.

“However, we manufacture very high-purity drugs separately and administer them while monitoring physical condition, so addiction and side effects aren’t severe. The effects also appear much faster than the standard version.”

“That would be extremely rare, so you couldn’t distribute it to everyone.”

“Of course.”

Riepen readily acknowledged this.

The research facility tour ended quickly.

Well, there was nothing to examine thoroughly—it was just an interior befitting the name ‘research facility,’ honest in nature. Except for the fact that what was being made there was drugs.

Director Riepen showed us everything without hiding anything and dutifully collected and presented all the research materials.

Before we left, Director Riepen grasped both my hands holding the gun and pleaded awkwardly as if acting.

“Please. I beg you to ensure this laboratory isn’t shut down. We are working to advance national interests under Supreme Leader’s orders.”

Drug production as national interest? It seems like it would harm the country more than help it.

I wanted to snap back with this retort but held back and nodded. I still had things I was curious about.

“One last question. About Colin.”

“That dog. Originally designated as 1387. A specimen with exceptionally outstanding magical sensitivity that received special management. Its high intelligence was the problem. It bit researchers who let their guard down and escaped. Unfortunate. If we could tame it properly and cast magic on it, it could be used as a biological bomb on the battlefield—if you could return it—”

“Hand over those materials too.”

“Yes.”

Director Riepen answered with jaded eyes as if he hadn’t expected anything.

***

Before we knew it, dawn was breaking.

Under the brilliant sunlight, the carnage we had wrought during the night was fully revealed.

“Did the conversation end well?”

Richard, who had been kneeling on the ground absorbed in something, greeted us. He seemed to have been continuously caring for the Ossels together with Hannah and the elves.

“How on earth are we going to clean this up……”

I groaned and glanced at Johann.

“Well, it’s not my concern.”

When I grinned, Johann clicked his tongue in annoyance and walked toward the carriage. The horses had been killed by the sniper’s bullets, poor things.

“What are we going to do now?”

Erika asked while removing her mask. Her bob cut, always maintained at the same length, swayed damply with sweat.

“Well, it’s not something I can decide alone. Johann will go to Supreme Leader’s residence. Or get summoned there.”

“If things go well, we’ll get all of Ossel under our control.”

Oscar looked very tired. He was healing by petting the much-improved Colin, who was panting happily again.

“Right. If things go well.”

“They will go well. Among Supreme Leader’s options, killing Lieutenant Colonel Werner would be the worst choice.”

Georg assessed matter-of-factly. I looked at him, now close to my eye level, and chuckled.

“Right. Let’s withdraw here. Thanks, Assad.”

“Keeping Ossel in sight is good for Bletter too.”

Assad replied indifferently. Being an elf, he calculated gains and losses well, making him easy to work with.

‘Everything’s been good so far.’

But why is my heart pounding like this? This unpleasant feeling is irritating. I wish this kind of intuition about unavoidable events would just disappear.

Returning home, I lay blankly on my bed.

My friends had to go to work despite staying up all night causing that chaos, but I was different.

‘What am I right now?’

A puppet following Kruger’s will while somehow trying to find a way to survive.

That’s all.

Why did Kruger call me back to the country? I thought he intended to use me somewhere when resuming the war, but why is he leaving me free to move as I please?

The more I tried to organize my thoughts, the more complicated it became and the worse I felt, so I eventually stopped thinking.

I kept tossing and turning before finally falling asleep. Figuring Daniel or Oscar would wake me when they got off work, I slept like the dead.

But in the end, I was awakened by a stranger’s visit.

***

‘Ah, finally.’

The feeling that what was coming had come.

I don’t remember if I predicted this situation a few hours ago.

But at least when I was led by Supreme Leader’s office officials to the highest room in the floating fortress, that’s exactly how I felt.

I wonder if Johann feels the same. I can feel his body trembling slightly beside me.

“Welcome, Major General Redan, Lieutenant Colonel Werner. It’s been a while for both of you, hasn’t it?”

Kruger, sitting in his large armchair and smiling loftily as always, spoke gently.

Today I don’t see any liquor service, which adds to the ominous feeling.

“How did Lieutenant General Leon Kaiser fare? Did he pass comfortably?”

Johann, standing at attention, glanced at me. Actually, we had roughly coordinated our approach with eye contact on the way here.

Unless Kruger asked Johann something directly, only I would speak. That would be more advantageous.

“He was shot while heavily injected with canil, so he probably died in ecstasy.”

“Ahahahaha!”

When I answered matter-of-factly, Kruger burst into laughter.

“What a blissful death that must have been! Now, what were you planning to report to me? You must have prepared some excuse?”

I put on an expression pure, shameless, and full of loyalty without a trace of shame and shouted loudly.

“Your Excellency! Lieutenant General Kaiser embezzled canil, a national asset, and forcibly administered it to his subordinates! He intentionally distributed drugs that were inferior in condition and purity, rapidly addicting his subordinates and causing them severe side effects!

And by refusing drug supply to anyone who wouldn’t follow his orders, he corrupted dozens of precious human resources that Schufaben had cultivated!

Furthermore, he attacked Lieutenant Colonel Johann Werner and myself, attempting to kill the lieutenant colonel and draw me into his faction!

I judged this as a crime equivalent to treason and executed the lieutenant general on the spot!

The damage caused by the lieutenant general is expected to be enormous! I will accept punishment for insubordination! However, please acknowledge that the lieutenant general dared to plot rebellion against Your Excellency!”

When my detailed explanation ended, my throat hurt as if it would bleed, and tears welled up in my eyes.

Kruger looked at me while resting his chin on his hand at an angle. Is that reaction indicating great interest?

“Lieutenant Colonel Werner?”

“Everything Major General Lucas Redan said is true. It’s all factual, so please consider it carefully, Your Excellency.”

Kruger tapped the armrest of his chair.

“Truth is truth. Cleverly severed half-truths!

The lieutenant general was a traitor. But killing a traitor doesn’t make one entirely a loyal subject.

Don’t you both know this? If you had such overflowing reverence for me, you should have cut off your own heads and offered them!

The leader of the subversive group White Raven Order and one who aided him for personal gain—where could you find greater traitors than these?”

My breath stopped for a moment.

Kruger extended his arm.

“Eve.”

A hook-nosed woman with a cold impression approached and handed him a thick file folder.

However, Kruger didn’t even look at the documents and rattled on fluently.

“From 1901 for about three years, the crimes committed by White Raven Order amount to approximately 150 cases! Of course, excluding those Lieutenant Colonel Werner fabricated to deceive my eyes.

You worked hard to disguise simple crimes as treason, lieutenant colonel! Arresting small fries, interrogating them, and reporting them as White Raven Order members. I can’t even estimate how much you wasted Ossel’s investigative capabilities!”

As Kruger sneered with delight, Johann’s composed face gradually hardened. Mine probably was too.

Only a few simple questions were swirling in my head.

‘Since when? Why?’

Since when did Kruger know I was the leader of White Raven Order, that Johann and I had a collusive relationship?

And why did he leave us alone?

Why is he only revealing this fact now?

‘Lieutenant General Kaiser couldn’t have lied.’

I got confirmation from the lieutenant general’s own mouth yesterday. He said he had thoroughly hidden our relationship.

That was the lieutenant general’s final card. His last move he was going to use if he couldn’t win me over.

Then where did Kruger get that information? Could it be a bluff?

Actually, either way didn’t matter. The problem that had crashed down before my eyes was—

‘Shit, I might really die……’

Today might truly be my—no, our—memorial day.

My hands rapidly grew cold. My legs lost strength, making it hard even to stand. It’s remarkable I didn’t faint on the spot.

“Covering your eyes…… utterly foolish…… the price of abandoning faith is……”

Kruger’s voice grew distant, then close again. Without realizing it, I was suffocating and clawing frantically at my throat.

‘Ah, I can’t do this.’

I must not lose composure. But how? In this situation.

Then something caught my ear.

“Major General Redan, you’ve always wanted to kill me.”

“How did you know?”

A question tinged with laughter popped out of my mouth. Johann quickly stepped on my foot beside me, but I couldn’t even feel the pain.

Kruger didn’t seem displeased—rather, he seemed pleased as he answered leisurely.

“Murderous intent can’t be hidden just by trying to hide it. Did you think I couldn’t distinguish between one consumed by love and one consumed by hatred? When you stand before me, your vision truly narrows! That’s a trait shared equally by hatred and love!”

“Then why.”

I was almost crying with laughter.

“Why did you spare me? Why did you give me power and entrust me with important tasks?”

“Ah, you’re still naive. This world is absurd, and the closer you get to the center of power, the more so!

To answer your question, it’s because you were extremely useful!

Your hatred for me was far more beneficial to national interests than your love would have been. So the medal I gave you wasn’t wasted!”

“……Your Excellency.”

I asked while trembling, tears of fear still covering my face.

“Why are you telling me all of this now?”

Then Kruger slowly stood up. Approaching me without a sound, he looked down at me.

“Don’t you know?”

Someone rushed at me from behind and twisted my arms. When I screamed and collapsed, they mercilessly dragged my body away.

“Your Excellency, I would never……!”

I will never give up.

A gag was shoved in my mouth. A blindfold was put over my eyes. Darkness rushed in.