9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 26 - Modern Man's Physical Improvement (1)

‘What is he trying to say now…’

Daniel felt a bit uneasy as Lucas’s eyes began to gleam. He was someone who thoroughly enjoyed dropping bombshell statements, both then and now.

No, back when he was praising the Supreme Leader with various colorful topics, at least there was some consistency. But now that his sole ideological foundation had collapsed, it was honestly hard to predict what he might say.

However, since Lucas had been clearly hinting that he had something to say for the past few days, Daniel decided to just let him be.

“What’s our goal?”

He hadn’t expected such a question to come out in such a suddenly subdued voice.

“What do you mean?”

“Now that I’ve been accepted and everyone’s united, I suppose we can discuss this much. What’s our goal? What’s the White Raven Order’s identity? Are we just voicing opposition to Kruger?”

Perhaps because Lucas suddenly came out with such a resolute and aggressive attitude, the initiative in the conversation began to shift toward him.

“Do you really not know? We gathered because we want to bring Kruger down.”

To Erika’s sharp retort, Lucas asked back listlessly.

“Do you really think that’s possible?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if you believe you can topple Kruger by distributing flyers and making lists. Really, do you think Kruger will crumble from just this much?”

As the atmosphere began to stir at Lucas’s blunt words, Daniel hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

“Lucas, it’s only been three years since I founded the White Raven Order. We still lack people and power, but things will change with time.”

However, Lucas only snorted dismissively.

“When? And how? One wrong move and we’ll all be wiped out—by what means do you plan to grow in size and gain the power to oppose the Supreme Leader?”

By this point, a strange thought crossed Daniel’s mind.

‘Why is he provoking us like this? What are you plotting now, Lucas?’

Until now, he’d been busy befriending the members and sweet-talking Erika and Richard, but seeing how his attitude had completely changed, it seemed he had a new objective.

“Just take me—I got in because I was discovered. What would have happened if I’d been an Ossel agent or an informant?”

“Then what do you want, brother? Either way, it’s dangerous regardless.”

“Right, it’s not like we have tremendous status, so is there a better method than gradually increasing comrades and persuading people?”

Georg argued back and Oscar added his opinion. Then Lucas let out a small scoff.

“You should have killed me.”

“What, that’s… what are you saying?”

Daniel suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu and frowned. He’d heard those exact words before.

“We didn’t kill you and ended up successfully recruiting you as a result, didn’t we?”

“That’s right. But what if I declared right now that I’d inform on you all? If I actually ran to Ossel?”

“We’d have to kill you.”

Richard answered with a grin, but with emotion behind it. As if he really wanted to kill him.

“Right, we’d have to kill. But none of us can do it.”

His eyes gleamed more and more. With a somehow chilling voice.

Daniel recalled that summer night from a few months ago.

That day, he couldn’t kill Lucas. Even though it was just a matter of pulling the trigger, his heart weakened and he couldn’t do it.

Lucas had pointed out that weakness countless times.

‘Ah, now I understand.’

He looked at him with a faint smile.

“Lucas, stop biting your lip.”

“Huh?”

Lucas, who had been chewing his already torn lip until it bled, turned his gaze blankly.

Daniel thought to himself.

Since Lucas had changed, he’d gained a captivating aura.

It wasn’t the kind of charm that attracted the opposite sex.

Even if his face was decent enough, his short stature, hollow gaze, and gloomy atmosphere were actually off-putting factors.

But strangely, when talking with Lucas, one invariably felt satisfied as if bewitched by something.

His excellent eloquence or chameleon-like acting ability to change personality depending on the person were secondary issues.

There was something about him that made you unable to look away, irresistibly dangerous.

That’s why Daniel still couldn’t let go of his strange suspicions about Lucas…

Having continued to observe him, he’d roughly figured out what kind of person the ‘new’ Lucas was.

Always impatient as if being chased by something, anxious, steeling himself daily. Somehow unable to relax due to an obsession that he might die.

“You’ve always bitten your lip when nervous since way back. We all know you’re capable, so instead of trying to dominate, just say what you really want to say.”

“What are you talking about, I don’t have that habit—”

Lucas, who had unconsciously been about to bite his lip again, stopped speaking, let out a hollow laugh, and lowered his hand.

“No, I mean we need to be prepared to kill people.”

“You kept saying similar things. You really do love killing people.”

“……”

Lucas let out a small sigh.

“Ah, sorry. Let me talk properly.”

Everyone’s attention focused on him.

“I want to survive. I don’t want me or any of you to die. I want us to successfully bring down Kruger. For that to happen, let’s all drop the half-hearted attitudes.”

Lucas’s gaze was more piercing and overwhelming than ever before.

‘It’s because he’s sincere.’

He found himself feeling anticipation along with inexplicable fear.

Suddenly the Supreme Leader came to mind.

Wasn’t he called a genius of oratory?

The other three were looking at Lucas somewhat entranced, or perhaps fed up.

“…Alright, friend. You’re right. Yes, it’s painful but all correct observations. They’re things we’ve all been thinking about too. So, present us with the secret to not being half-hearted.”

Oscar, the first to emerge from the silent state, grabbed Lucas’s hand and exclaimed, but he had already returned to his usual sullen expression and shrugged his shoulders.

“That’s something we all need to think about together from now on.”

Sighs and hollow laughs erupted here and there.

“Just kidding. Actually, there is the most urgent task. The hideout.”

“Ah! That. It is important though.”

“But we’re poor.”

Oscar and Georg said.

“Doesn’t Erika have money?”

“That’s not my money.”

As her voice instantly turned cold, Daniel hurriedly waved his hands.

“Lucas, we’d naturally like a place where we can meet comfortably too. If we meet regularly at one shop, it becomes easy to surveil. But if we go to someone’s house, that easily draws neighbors’ suspicions.

The place where you first surveilled us was also an ordinary bar, but there’s no guarantee the owner isn’t a Supreme Leader supporter. He’s kind-hearted enough to give free beer to heartbroken Richard, though.”

“What about abandoned buildings?”

“That’s a place we only visit occasionally for things like initiation ceremonies or very rarely. It’s not ours either, and while it’s easy to come and go since it’s in a remote location, if we’re discovered it would be several times more suspicious.”

“You guys really have no plan.”

Daniel momentarily thought ‘you’re one to talk’ but just shook his head at Lucas’s shameless attitude.

“Then let’s skip the hideout issue for now, and second. We need to set proper goals.”

Lucas looked around at the members seriously again.

“I told you earlier. Our goal is to bring Kruger—”

“Down. I know. That’s why I asked too. Whether you really think that’s possible.”

Oscar tried to argue but was cut off.

“Somehow the conversation keeps going in circles.”

“Listen. What does ‘bringing him down’ even mean in the first place? Making him fall politically? Actually killing him?

And what method will you use? Will you turn the people to our side and start another uprising? Or will you connect with the military and stage a coup? Or will you hire assassins to penetrate the triple surveillance network and slice off his neck?

Or you could seduce the Ossels or the bureaucratic groups who suck up to Kruger, put them in front, gradually steal power, then turn Kruger into a machine that just stamps policy documents.”

The story flowed smoothly without pause. Daniel looked at him with a somewhat incredulous feeling.

‘When did he think this through to this extent?’

Conversely, it would be believable if Lucas had considered the scenarios for Kruger’s downfall to protect him out of burning loyalty.

“Ultimately, which side do you guys want?”

“We’ve discussed it before.”

Oscar, who had been listening intently with a rare serious expression, spoke up.

“We didn’t dig as deep as you. But one thing is certain. Kruger must die.”

“He must die.”

Richard nodded as well.

“But he must die after being judged by the people.”

“Everyone must know his wrongs.”

Erika and Georg added. Lucas finally looked at Daniel.

“Yes, we all agree. Kruger must die. But he must be condemned in the name of the people. There must be no quiet stepping down through political compromise, or other forces taking his life out of lust for power. That would bring about tragedy again.”

Daniel spoke firmly.

Lucas met his eyes. It was the most transparent and clear gaze he’d ever seen, as if asking whether he was truly certain.

When he nodded vigorously, Lucas grinned.

“I see. You need to draw out the people’s will… That’s a difficult goal. Ordinary people don’t even know what they want. In such circumstances, gauging ‘the people’s will’ is something no one can easily do. But beyond that, to make the people follow as the White Raven Order wishes—that’s a breathtakingly grand dream.”

“Are you being sarcastic now?”

To Erika’s reproachful question, Lucas lightly nodded.

“Yes, I’m being sarcastic.”

“Hey…!”

“Sorry. But I didn’t mean it badly. Ultimate goals should always be big.”

Lucas spun his fork in his hand as if lost in thought.

“Bringing down the Supreme Leader by the people’s will. For that, we need to gather the people’s will. How do we gather that will?”

“Aren’t we doing that now?”

Oscar drew a square with both index fingers.

“Propaganda activities, right? Yes, good. We need work to move public opinion. But that alone isn’t enough. No, I should say the foundation work is insufficient from the start. We don’t even know what people think about the Supreme Leader right now. We need to know that before we can do anything.”

“I told you. We’re categorizing supporters.”

“Five people listening here and there isn’t nearly enough. So here’s my proposal. Let’s increase our informants.”

A moment of silence flowed.

“…May I ask what kind of informants you mean? Actually, it’s difficult to discover people’s true thoughts. The more there are, the harder it becomes. That’s why we’ve only been categorizing the most extreme zealous supporters so far.”

When Richard calmly expressed his opinion, Lucas lightly shook his head.

“We don’t need to know exact political leanings—well, should this even be called political leanings? Anyway, we don’t need to know individuals’ exact inclinations. What we need to gather is evidence that can gauge the general trend.

Rumors floating around the streets, crime occurrence frequency, Ossel’s movements, shops where people gather unusually often, things like that. Newspaper articles can’t be left out either. Even within censored articles, you can find a piece or two of truth.

Anyway, the more information the better. No matter how worthless information seems, if it accumulates, it helps read the current of the times.”

Lucas’s words sounded quite sincere. Like someone who had experience handling information.

‘That’s a strangely unfamiliar feeling again.’

Daniel looked around at the members.

“What do you all think? I think it’s quite useful advice.”

“That may be so.”

Erika maintained her characteristically critical attitude.

“But specifically, what are you suggesting we do? You spoke plausibly, but the underlying meaning is just gather information, the more information the better—that’s about it. How are we going to gather it?”

“Smart people should think about it.”

“Who?”

“You.”

Instantly, Erika’s brow furrowed tightly.

“Just kidding, kidding. Record whatever you know. Secretly, of course. Even the most trivial things are fine. I’ll handle newspaper clipping for now. It would look suspicious if someone else did it, but I’ve been collecting all articles about Kruger from before.”

“That’s really creepy.”

“I think so too.”

Lucas readily agreed.

“And it would be good to recruit someone in a position to overhear street rumors well…”

Just as Lucas was about to tap the table with his fork, lost in thought again, Georg suddenly raised his hand.

“I know. Someone like that.”