9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 14 - White Raven Order (3)

After Lucas disappeared around the corner of the alley, Johann opened his mouth with a dry voice.

“Lieutenant Decker.”

“Yes sir!”

“What happened today must absolutely remain confidential.”

“What about the colonel…”

At the hesitant response, he expressionlessly stepped down hard on his injured leg.

“Grhaaah!”

“I’ll consider today’s blunder as if it never happened. Remember that.”

Philip nodded with his face flushed red.

Of course, he’d have to come up with a good excuse for having his gun taken. He let him go and slowly rubbed his temples.

‘Lucas Redan, just how far will you be able to run wild.’

***

“Insane, insane, absolutely insane.”

I held up my finely trembling hands and glared at them. Curses were endlessly spilling from my mouth.

“I almost died.”

I had made an absurd gamble.

After hearing about Ossel and Johann Werner, who had tortured me, from Philip Decker, I felt this was something I had to go and resolve alone.

So I charged straight into that pit of danger and worked my mouth to the bone.

In the end, it became a way to extend my life, but my head was just complicated.

“Do these kinds of tricks really work?”

I had been half-doubtful, but I managed to come out alive quite skillfully.

What was the major thinking? There seemed to be some backstory I didn’t know about, making me feel uneasy.

“And what, descendant of the royal family?”

Who would have thought Lucas had such a secret!

His parents never showed any signs of it. They probably wanted to avoid troublesome matters, or considered it a useless background in this changed world.

“Well, that’s not what matters with Johann right now…”

Having come to work without even time to go home, I glared at the mirror placed on my desk.

My expression wasn’t good to begin with, but now with massive dark circles under my sunken eyes, I looked like someone about to die.

‘Perfect. I needed to build up forces to survive anyway. I’ll think about how to stab them in the back instead of delivering to Ossel later.’

This isn’t self-rationalization.

It’s a cold survival strategy.

***

“What? You negotiated with Ossel? What are you talking about?”

Erika interrogated me with a suppressed angry expression. Though she kept her voice down, she couldn’t hide her sharp demeanor.

I sucked up the coffee loaded with cream through a straw.

This bastard Lucas wasn’t satisfied with just being a chain smoker and alcoholic—he was even a sugar addict.

Though I originally didn’t particularly like sweets, after entering Lucas’s body, whenever I got stressed I began craving chocolate or candy like crazy.

‘Anyway, this bastard consumed everything bad for his body.’

Even as I cursed him inwardly, after quickly emptying a cold coffee cup piled high with whipped cream, my head began to work.

‘They have something like Einspänner here too. Though the name is just cream coffee.’

While I was having useless thoughts, Erika’s cold face suddenly appeared in front of me.

“I’m asking you a question.”

“…Sorry, what did you say?”

The end of summer with scorching sunlight pouring down.

The White Raven Order members who had gathered for the weekend were sitting at an outdoor café.

Camouflage novels were spread out on the table, but no one paid them any attention.

Daniel had chosen this café because street musicians were performing nearby, so quiet voices would be drowned out.

I reached out my hand to pet Colin, who was wearing a collar.

The little guy was sitting obediently on my thigh, watching the people passing by.

“Tell me, what you did, how you did it, one more time.”

Erika spat out each word with a cold expression.

“I said I went to find those guys and negotiated. I told them to raise the White Raven Order appetizingly, and instead of touching us now, they should swallow us later.”

“What the hell…!”

“Erika, calm down.”

Daniel came in as relief pitcher.

“Sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand. Though negotiating was Lucas’s unilateral plan, it was something we agreed to.”

‘We’ meant Daniel, Oscar, and Georg.

That day, Erika and Richard, who would arouse suspicion if they left their positions at the university and hospital respectively, had no choice but to return first.

Oscar and Georg also had livelihoods, but they stayed despite their fatigue, saying they could just run like hell if needed. Daniel, well, was a freelancer taking outside contracts, so it didn’t matter.

In that situation, having become increasingly anxious, I unilaterally pushed forward, so it was natural that backlash would explode.

To Daniel, Oscar, and Georg who tried to stop me saying it was too dangerous, I forcibly argued “Then is there another way?!” and got half-hearted agreement.

Even when they expressed their intention to accompany me, I blocked them saying it was dangerous and went alone.

To Erika and Richard, who weren’t there, this news would feel like a bolt from the blue.

“You agreed?”

Erika’s eyes darkened.

“Didn’t we decide to listen to everyone’s opinions and decide unanimously when discussing major matters? We promised!”

“But Erika.”

“Were you planning not to follow even this basic rule?”

“It was an emergency situation.”

When Daniel made excuses, she sighed.

“Right, it was an emergency. One caused by that person. If that person hadn’t appeared before us.”

“If you put it that way, it’s my fault for rashly trying to recruit Lucas.”

“Daniel, do you really trust that person? He said he told Ossel to raise us and devour us? That he bought time until then? He calls himself a double agent, but how do we know if he’s really on our side? How do we know what he actually talked about with Ossel!”

Erika’s voice was quiet, but everyone sitting around the table was frozen by her intensity.

I didn’t interrupt and watched the two of them. As I scraped up the sticky cream, the coffee cup soon showed its bottom.

“I trust Lucas. Of course, I’m also confused by this situation. But Lucas risked his life for us. That definitely wasn’t acting. Even if it’s deception, I don’t doubt a friend I’ve decided to trust once. If I hadn’t done that, the White Raven Order wouldn’t have been able to continue existing. No, it wouldn’t have been created at all.”

At that firm and confident voice, an emotion unsuitable for me suddenly welled up.

On the other hand, Erika’s eyes trembled wildly as if she had received a shock.

She was clenching her fists so hard that the backs of her hands turned white, then suddenly whipped her jet-black bob hair and turned her head toward me.

“…It’s only been a few days since you appeared before us, but the White Raven Order is shaking. Being swayed by just one person—you.

I don’t know what kind of person you are or what you’re thinking in doing this. But this one thing is certain. You looked down on and ignored us. From the beginning, it was obvious you treated us like kids playing secret society games.

So, I don’t know if you’re really Ossel’s lackey or what, but even if you’re not, even if you came to do this with good intentions, I can’t trust you. This isn’t the White Raven Order I had in mind. I’m—”

She shot up from her seat and spat out something.

At that moment, a musician blew his trumpet vigorously, drowning out her voice.

But I could read her lips.

‘I’m quitting.’

“This is the end. Daniel, if that person leaves, contact me. Then I’ll consider whether to come back or not.”

She put down money for her drink and turned around without hesitation.

I quietly grabbed the hem of her blouse.

“I know my words sound absurd too. But I swear it’s the truth. I’ll make you all into a powerful force opposing Kruger. Come back anytime.”

Erika’s eyes looking back at me were full of sadness.

“We created the White Raven Order.”

Silence flowed over the table.

Everyone had dumbfounded expressions, but Richard, who hadn’t said a word until now, put down his cup and spoke.

“I’m quitting too.”

“What?! Richard, you too?”

Oscar shouted in surprise, then quickly covered his mouth when passersby glanced over.

Richard had his usual calm lake-like expression.

“I don’t dislike you.”

The pale sea-colored eyes facing me were warm.

“I just think you’re a risk factor. I know you’re capable. But you’re impulsive and unilateral. Erika is right. This isn’t the White Raven Order I had in mind.”

“Brother!”

He ignored Georg’s cry and elegantly extended his hand to shake hands with each member in turn.

“It’s been enjoyable. Take care.”

It was a very cool farewell.

And so the White Raven Order lost two members.

Summer was drawing to a close.

***

“Huhuhu, huhuhuhuk…”

Deep in the night. A spine-chilling sound like a virgin ghost flowed out.

‘What’s that?’

Half-asleep as I went downstairs to use the bathroom, my mind snapped awake and I rushed to the kitchen.

I could see wavy brown hair scattered messily over the rough wooden dining table.

It was Daniel.

In a completely drunk state, he was clutching a beer mug and collapsed, spewing tears.

I carefully approached and patted his back.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huhuhuhuk, Erika and Richard left…”

“Don’t be too heartbroken, it’s not because of you.”

“Of course it’s not!”

He jerked up his face covered in tears and snot.

“It’s not because of me, it’s because of you! You!!”

“That’s true.”

After the two left, I repeatedly apologized to the remaining members, but such things couldn’t be consolation.

“But I can’t kick you out now, Lucas, because I don’t know what you might do if you have other intentions!”

“That’s also true.”

I suppressed my sleepiness and listened to Daniel’s drunken honest talk.

After a while, having cried enough to calm down, Daniel looked at me with swollen eyes.

“Let’s persuade Erika and Richard to bring them back.”

“Well, we should.”

“You have to do it.”

“Me?”

“Of course, they left because of you.”

I chuckled and scratched the side of my head.

“It’s a task I’m giving as leader.”

“Well, if those two would just change their minds, nothing could be better.”

“If you fail, I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

“Yeah right.”

Daniel glared at me, but it wasn’t scary at all. Not a trace of killing intent.

“And… thank you, Lucas. For saving our lives.”

It was a voice full of sincerity.

Though he always played the ‘cheerful and light friend’ in front of Lucas, his true self was a serious and delicate young man.

“Nonsense. Go inside and sleep.”

I sent Daniel away and collapsed in front of the dining table.

‘Does he really believe my words? Or is he just naturally optimistic? Well, only someone who looks at the world this positively could make the choice to oppose a dictator.’

In that sense, it was very strange that I, who was neither particularly optimistic nor had convictions, had become involved in such an organization.

‘How did this happen?’

I just wanted to survive.

So I chose the best path in each situation I faced. I just ran toward the side where I could save my life.

So I’m still alive, but somehow the situation feels like it’s getting more and more tangled.

Actually, the bigger problem was that I was tangling my own fate.

Now, to survive again, I had to keep the promise I made with Major Johann Werner. Even if I change my mind later, at least for now.

‘And I should bring back Erika and Richard too.’

It’s already a small organization, so I can’t let them go like this. I also hate having to worry about them as external threat factors.

Of course, I’d have to win over the existing members’ hearts first.

Under the dim kitchen light, I began scribbling letters in my notebook.

While pondering how to grow the White Raven Order to enormous proportions.

***

“I’m going for a walk.”

“You’re so consistent, it’s good to see, Lucas!”

When I first possessed Lucas’s body, I had resolved to jog to improve my terrible physical condition.

But after feeling like I might die doing that, I compromised with walking, and after bringing in Colin, I naturally began doing something between walking and jogging.

“Woof woof!”

As dawn retreated and I came out with a leash in the early morning, Colin excitedly prepared to run.

Of course, being a smart dog, he appropriately adjusted his speed to match mine.

But I could see someone leaning against the wall near our house.

Red hair. A familiar silhouette.

“…Oscar Fisher?”

When I called out reluctantly, he vigorously waved his hand. At least it didn’t look like he had rushed over because something had happened.

“Hello! I came to monitor you.”

“What?”

“I still can’t trust you.”

He grinned broadly.

“I knew you suspected me, but is monitoring really necessary?”

“Ha! What are you talking about? Look, I don’t particularly dislike you, and I don’t think this whole situation is entirely your responsibility. I believe Erika and Richard will come back after taking some time.

But that doesn’t mean I know whether you’re really a good person or not, right? So from today, I’ve decided to closely monitor you.”

His almond-shaped hazelnut-colored eyes shone quite seriously.