Chapter 19: To the Path of No Return (1)
Summoned, we hurried to the Battalion Commander’s office to find our company commander, Captain Yugi, already there.
“Looks like everyone’s here,” the Battalion Commander observed.
“Indeed,” Captain Yugi affirmed.
The company commander and the Battalion Commander nodded to each other, then turned to face us.
With both my direct superiors present, this had to be a serious matter. I started to feel a bit tense.
“Lieutenant Fonkt and Lieutenant Krimine, reporting as ordered.”
As I delivered the formal report, something I rarely do, the Battalion Commander gave a small nod.
“Thank you for coming. First, I will convey your mission. The three of you, under Captain Yugi, are to assassinate Admiral Terzen of the Imperial Navy’s Southern Fleet.”
An assassination order, just like that. And he’s a top dog in the Navy, no less.
Though surprised, we saluted, and the Battalion Commander gave a wry smile.
“You’ll need an explanation, won’t you?”
“If possible, please,” I said.
As I spoke, Lieutenant Krimine also nodded emphatically. Well, of course she would.
The Battalion Commander leaned back deeply into his chair and folded his arms.
“Actually, assassination orders like this have come down before. But I used my authority to reject them, stating, ‘This battalion does not possess the capability to execute assassination operations.'”
This guy’s incredible. Just how much political clout does he have to pull off something so outrageous?
“I despise assassination. As a method for eliminating political enemies, it’s utterly foolish. I dislike executions too, but at least their legal legitimacy can be secured, so I consider them a lesser evil.”
It’s true; using assassination as a political tool is by no means sound, no matter how you look at it.
In my previous life, I favored assassin characters in games, but it’s precisely because it’s something shady that it’s fun to do in a game.
When I nodded emphatically, the Battalion Commander gave another wry smile.
“However, precisely because it’s a foolish method, if we accept, we can demand a corresponding reward. Specifically, enough authority and manpower to carry out an assassination mission.”
“We could certainly use that.”
Even with the tailing the other day, if we’d had enough personnel, we should have been able to arrest our pursuers. A battalion that only exists on paper with just a few dozen men, including NCOs, can’t mobilize people in situations like these.
The Battalion Commander sighed.
“So, this time, I accepted the order. Besides, Admiral Terzen is a villain of the worst kind, privatizing warships and smuggling illicit drugs. It’s been revealed that Admiral Terzen was the mastermind behind the large-scale illicit drug smuggling operation exposed the other day. He must have profited handsomely.”
Many Imperial military officers, once they reach a certain scale and can freely manage personnel and budgets, start doing whatever they please.
Our Battalion Commander probably isn’t lining his own pockets, but he’s certainly doing things his own way.
“A bit of smuggling might be overlooked as a perk of the office, but with goods like these, it seems he’s incurred the Emperor’s wrath. The Emperor is zealous about eradicating illicit drugs.”
He may be an incompetent Emperor, out of touch with the world and overly fond of executions, but for the most part, his policies are reasonably sound. That’s why everyone still obeys him.
“Therefore, the Emperor ordered Admiral Terzen to appear before an inquiry committee, but the admiral, being cautious, refuses to comply. The Emperor has judged Admiral Terzen to have treasonous intent and has decided on his clandestine elimination.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to mobilize other fleets and blockade the port?”
Don’t make the Army handle the Navy’s problems. No, wait, that kind of thinking is too bureaucratic. I need to be careful.
At that, the Battalion Commander gave a wry smile.
“It seems His Wise Majesty the Emperor harbors distrust towards the Navy itself. He’s concerned that other admirals might side with Admiral Terzen, leading to a large-scale rebellion. The assassination is also because the repercussions of a legal punishment are difficult to predict.”
If the Emperor can’t even trust his own military, it’s over. As I thought, this country doesn’t have much time left.
I let out a light sigh and replied.
“So, the imperial edict came down to us, who are directly under the Imperial Household, is that it?”
“That’s right. It wouldn’t do for our battalion, already in an unstable situation due to the ‘Yuo Neville’ matter, to be distrusted by the Emperor like the Navy. If our budget and personnel are cut, I won’t be able to protect you all.”
While somewhat mocking the Emperor, the sad truth of the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion is that we ultimately rely on his authority. If we try to strengthen our position, we inevitably end up aligning with the Emperor’s faction.
But this country really doesn’t have long… What a predicament.
“So this time, in exchange for accepting the assassination order, I demanded an expansion of our authority and forces. We’re assassinating an active-duty Navy admiral, so it’s only natural, right?”
Saying so, the Battalion Commander grinned.
“Our Imperial Ceremonial Battalion will be assigned two infantry platoons, approximately one hundred line infantry. It’s less than a company, but with this many, organized guard duty and patrols will be possible.”
Since we’re a battalion, I’d really like five or six hundred, but we’re not a combat unit, so I can’t complain.
It’s a sufficient number for guarding the battalion headquarters.
Still, this is a drastic reorganization. Where are they going to pull a hundred soldiers from?
My question must have shown on my face, as the Battalion Commander, arms still folded, looked away.
“Well, they’re decommissioned soldiers, actually. Men who were discharged from regular units due to injury or old age. They can’t keep up on a march.”
“Is that going to be alright?”
The Battalion Commander then said nonchalantly.
“They might fall behind in marches or bayonet charges, but we won’t be doing anything like that in our battalion. Our usual duties are guarding the battalion headquarters and carrying out executions by firing squad. Even if we go out, it’s mostly for patrols within the Imperial Capital.”
“Well, that’s true.”
For infantry, the most important things are walking and running, but in our case, as long as they can fire a rifle, that’s good enough.
“We’ll assign one platoon each to the Second and Third Companies. You lieutenants can freely borrow up to four men.”
“That’s helpful. Can we borrow them for this mission as well?”
“You can if necessary. However, don’t expect them to perform like regular soldiers.”
Having four soldiers with fixed-bayonet muskets accompanying us would make a completely different impression on those around us. Work should become easier from now on.
Well, whether it’s four men or fifty, it’s still not enough firepower. Our target is a Navy admiral, after all.
“Also, the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion will now have its own investigative and judicial authority. From now on, there’s no need to consult other departments for every little thing. You can arrest officers up to the rank of lieutenant without question.”
That’s basically a secret police. In this country where a revolution could break out at any moment, we’ve ended up shouldering the dark side of politics.
A chill ran down my spine, but I also understood that we had no other choice. We are the Emperor’s personal executioners. The only thing we can rely on is the Emperor’s authority.
The Battalion Commander looked at me and smiled.
“Well now, I’ve increased your hand of cards as much as I could. Can you eliminate Admiral Terzen with this?”
“I’m not confident, but I suppose we have no choice but to do it. We might cause a bit of a stir, though.”
“I don’t mind. Cleaning up the mess is my job.”
Resting his cheek on his hand on the desk, the Battalion Commander said in a cheerful tone.
“I’ll crush most problems that arise, so just go and reap Admiral Terzen’s life. However, don’t overdo it.”
“I’ve never overdone anything in my life.”
“That’s rich coming from you.”
When the Battalion Commander gave a wry smile, even Captain Yugi chuckled.
“I’ll supervise them, so it’ll be fine, Battalion Commander,” Captain Yugi said.
“You yourself are a cause for concern, but bring these two back safely. They are indispensable personnel to our battalion. And you too, of course.”
“Oh, how delightful,” Captain Yugi chirped.
These superiors of mine seem to be having fun.
Captain Yugi turned back to us and said cheerfully, as if we were going on a picnic.
“Well then, shall we discuss the specifics of how we’re going to do this now?”
“Yes, let’s.”
This looks like it’s going to be a long meeting.