9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 134 - Another World Military Commander (6)

“Is it to your taste?”

“Yes, it’s very delicious.”

“Not too sweet?”

“I really love sweet foods. I heard that Batalland puts plenty of honey or sugar in tea because of the cold weather, but this is the first time I’ve had tea this delicious.”

A little while ago.

When I proposed the deal, the Prime Minister stared at me intently, then casually lifted the teapot and asked.

“Would you like some tea?”

So here we were, having tea time while ignoring the chaos outside. How leisurely.

‘It’s not poisoned, is it.’

I remembered what happened with Lieutenant General Kaiser before. But I’d checked both the teapot and teacup, and the Prime Minister was drinking the same thing, so I felt somewhat at ease.

“You said you came to make a deal.”

While I was savoring the tea, the Prime Minister asked in perfect Rubellia.

“Yes.”

“Why did you come alone, so secretly?”

I looked at the Prime Minister’s youthful face.

‘People in this world are hard to judge by age.’

I’d heard Anton Milov was over sixty, but thanks to magic, he looked like my peer from the outside.

Thanks to that, I could read emotions that an old man would have hidden in his wrinkles, which was good.

“Your Excellency, you already know, aren’t you? I think you even know what kind of proposal I’m going to make.”

The Prime Minister didn’t answer and brought the teacup to his lips to wet them. It was an action to hide his trembling lips.

While he remained silent, I leisurely picked up a cookie and ate it.

Make the other side speak first.

This kind of push and pull might be a luxury right now. But the longer the negotiation dragged on, the more damage there would be for their side alone.

Right now, Orhim’s citizens were practically being held hostage.

The Prime Minister obediently opened his mouth.

“Very well. You’ve probably come to recommend surrender.”

“Of course.”

“Then what can Batalland gain? What benefits are there besides avoiding mass slaughter?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

When I grinned, the Prime Minister’s eyebrows twitched with anger.

“Haha, just kidding. Now would you like to hear the real proposal I brought? It won’t be a loss for Your Excellency either.”

The Prime Minister nodded, and I lowered my voice secretively and whispered.

“Let’s kill the king.”

***

In the quiet office, Anton Milov swallowed a sip of tea.

The tea was still warm. Surprised by the warmth, he looked at the clock and realized only about thirty minutes had passed since brewing the tea.

Such a deal that would go down in history, concluded through back-room talks in just thirty minutes.

‘Was I out of my mind?’

Anton smiled bitterly.

But that was just a joke he was telling himself. He could be confident that he’d approached the negotiation with complete rationality.

His heart had pounded with excitement, but he hadn’t been swayed by it. Armed with cold logic, he’d weighed the possibilities again and again.

“Kill the king…”

Anton spoke those terrifying words aloud.

“Let’s kill the king.”

When Lucas Redan had said that, Anton felt it.

His body, which had been somewhat tense, relaxing comfortably.

At the same time, he realized.

‘From the moment I confirmed this man’s face, I was waiting for those words.’

Finally, he felt that pleasant premonition. The instinct that had brought Anton to this position began stirring again.

“Assassinate the king. Then you’ll have two choices. Frame it as suicide, or frame it as Schufaben’s assassination. Either way, surrender can be packaged as following the king’s final command, or as a patriotic decision made in a chaotic situation.”

Watching Lucas Redan speak so casually without changing expression, Anton almost wanted to laugh.

He was someone who smashed through all the world’s etiquette and rules, trying to push through his will without hesitation.

Anton already knew such a person.

“Indeed, they say master and servant grow alike. You’re the spitting image of Supreme Leader Friedrich Kruger.”

At Anton’s words, Lucas Redan’s eyes grew cold.

“Is that so. What an honor. Though I’ve never once thought such a thing myself. I’d like to ask the reason if there’s time, but now isn’t the moment for that.”

He glanced out the window.

The Prime Minister’s garden with flowers swaying gently was peaceful, but beyond the walls, hell would be breaking loose.

Anton nodded.

“I’ve heard your proposal well. But there’s one thing I’m curious about. Why do you think I would assassinate His Majesty? Just because we appear to be in political opposition?”

“No, of course not. To put it simply, it’s because Batalland is currently in crisis, and Your Excellency is a patriot who’s loyal to the nation rather than the king. Moreover, you’re very wise. Wise enough to realize that the king must be abandoned for Batalland to move forward.”

The answer that precisely pierced through his inner thoughts sent chills down his spine.

Anton, thanks to his natural audacity, rarely had his true feelings seen through. But the young man before him casually exposed his secret thoughts one after another.

“…Interesting. Is that your judgment? Or Supreme Leader Kruger’s?”

“My thoughts, of course. While occupying several cities and gathering information about the king and Your Excellency, I began to get a sense of things.

Your Excellency, the ‘revolution’ of 1870 should have succeeded. That failure created Batalland’s current deformed structure.

So it’s not just Your Excellency—the confrontation between king and Prime Minister will continue in this country, and someone will have to step down eventually.

And now is the perfect opportunity for Your Excellency to achieve victory. So, will you seize this opportunity?”

Lucas Redan spoke calmly while looking at him with somehow intense, brooding eyes.

The sound of cannons and smell of blood from thirty years ago.

That passion, that conviction he’d shared with his comrades.

Lucas Redan’s blazing eyes held something that awakened those emotions, and memories that had long turned to ash began burning fiercely again.

Without realizing it, Anton found himself captivated by the words of a young man decades his junior, feeling as if he were under some spell.

But he forced his brain to work and spoke.

“Impressive words. But this is strange. First, if the deal goes through, I understand the benefits Schufaben would gain. You could occupy Batalland using less manpower and resources.

But what about Batalland? The moment we’re occupied, the ‘revolution’ you mentioned becomes meaningless. Where’s the benefit?”

Lucas Redan shook his head.

“Schufaben doesn’t have the power to rule occupied territories for long. It will collapse in a few years at most. You need to make decisions based on that premise.”

“Then conversely, wouldn’t that only benefit Batalland while Schufaben gains nothing?”

“Ah, I forgot to mention this first. This isn’t a deal for Schufaben’s benefit, but for mine. I plan to bring down Supreme Leader Kruger and take his place.”

The young man’s grinning face showed no trace of grand ambition.

‘It’s not that he lacks ambition inside…’

Either he was so good at managing his expression that I couldn’t notice, or the goal of bringing down Kruger was so routine and everyday that it didn’t need to be called an ‘ambition.’

‘Probably both.’

Anton felt chills run down his spine once again.

‘He’s dangerous.’

His instincts cried out.

But his reason said.

This was a deal he absolutely had to accept. Keeping Lucas Redan alive was the right path both for him and for Batalland.

‘Interesting.’

Anton smiled.

Lucas Redan’s activities were an amusing topic of conversation in political circles across the continent, and countless rumors and speculations swirled about him.

He’s Supreme Leader Kruger’s close associate, no he was demoted for falling out of the Supreme Leader’s favor, he’s madly in love with Erika Brightner, he’s Queen Rubellia’s lover, he’s a tremendous playboy with at least five lovers, he’s actually gay, he’s a more upright person than anyone, he’s a cunning fraud, he’s a pacifist, he’s a nationalist who loves only Schufaben, he’s actually a cruel psychopath…

Whether those rumors were true or nonsense, he didn’t know.

But the Lucas Redan that Anton saw could be defined in a single phrase.

‘An eccentric who will change the world.’

He was someone who ran forward looking only ahead. Until his heart burst and he died, he would run and run again to achieve his goals.

The decisive difference between Lucas Redan and similar people Anton had encountered in his life was his perspective.

Lucas Redan looked at the world without being bound by any morals or prejudices.

He could feel it even from their brief conversation.

He would gladly use and be used by such a person.

“Aren’t you afraid? If this conversation leaks to Supreme Leader Kruger.”

“Of course not. The Supreme Leader knows this as well. My relationship with the Supreme Leader is similar to Your Excellency’s relationship with the king. Do you understand somewhat?”

Lucas Redan glanced at his pocket watch and continued.

“I’ve said everything I needed to say. What will you do?”

Anton made his decision.

“Let’s make a deal.”

“Thank you. Well then, I’ll be going. Whether it’s ‘assassination’ or ‘suicide,’ we’ll coordinate the story on our end, so just spread the rumors widely.”

He gave a light greeting and stood up, then added with an awkward smile.

“Ah, right. Could you lend me a horse? I don’t think my legs can handle walking to the city gates.”

***

“Eliminate the king.”

Having finished the remaining tea, Anton muttered once more.

He would attempt again what had failed in 1870.

But now he wasn’t a powerless individual army officer.

He was the Prime Minister, second only to the king in this country, with both the leisure to execute sinister schemes and the power to cover up the truth.

Lucas Redan was right.

This was the best way.

A path to achieve both their goals while spilling as little blood as possible.

Finally, Anton moved.

Returning to Joint Chiefs headquarters, he spoke to the Joint Chiefs Chairman’s staff in a heavy voice.

“His Majesty has passed away.”

“Pardon?!”

“What do you mean?!”

“A report just came in that he committed suicide by cutting his own throat. This is the will His Majesty left behind.”

He held out expensive paper stamped with the royal seal.

「I was a failed king.

Blinded by petty quarrels, I failed to prevent foreign invasion and drove countless citizens to their deaths.

The responsibility is too heavy.

Therefore, I end my life here.

I command those who remain. Surrender to Schufaben and save everyone.

Anton, I’m sorry to leave you such a heavy burden.」

It was undoubtedly the king’s handwriting. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs collapsed as if his legs had given out and began wailing.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…!”

Though he belonged to neither the royalist nor nationalist faction, he was an upright and loyal man.

Other staff members, regardless of faction, were also sniffling and wiping away tears.

Whether genuine or ceremonial.

Anton also let a single tear flow down his face as he commanded.

“Raise the white flag…”

Shortly after, large white cloths were hung from the royal palace, Prime Minister’s residence, and parliament building. The members of parliament came out to the square carrying white flags.

The Blue Eagles, who had just annihilated the Batalland air force and begun bombing, stopped their actions for the moment.

Air force commander Captain Belf occupied key facilities and then reported to headquarters.

With the telegraph facilities connecting Cofen and Orhim destroyed, they had no choice but to send a direct messenger. Second Lieutenant Ian Keller volunteered as messenger and soon departed for Cofen.

And watching Ian depart with a small click of his tongue was one Blue Eagle.

“Tsk, what a shame.”

It was First Lieutenant Maximilian Fisher riding a beautiful Silver Dragon.

Anton was at the royal palace.

The place, already controlled by soldiers loyal to Anton, was as solemn and quiet as ever.

Passing through the grand hall that was majestic, massive, and simple in true Batalland classical style, Anton headed to the room where the king had been confined for the past few days.

Anton’s orders had been carried out faithfully—the king had been cleanly turned into a corpse.

Even though he’d entrusted it to someone reliable, for there to be no complications in assassinating the king and forging the will…

This meant there were more people following Anton than the king. But he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

If the king had come to his senses in the first place, citizens wouldn’t have died like today.

He ordered a funeral. The king’s will would be announced at that ceremony. And the parliament’s decision that Anton would temporarily serve as regent to assist the young crown prince.

***

The second flight in a box wasn’t too bad, except for the lingering smell of vomit that hadn’t been cleaned out.

While Ian landed in Cofen and delivered the news, I returned to my room at headquarters.

Shortly after, Deputy Commander Eisler came to report, and I opened the door with a leisurely expression like someone who’d just taken a long nap.

“Long live the Great Supreme Leader! Batalland has finally surrendered, Commander!”

“Long live the Supreme Leader! Well that’s wonderful. All thanks to His Excellency’s benevolence!”

A few days later, on the day we entered Orhim through the burnt forest, I wrote a report to Kruger.

「Batalland Occupation Complete」