Episode 20: To the Point of No Return ②
Captain Yugi spread a map on the conference table in the Battalion Commander’s office.
“Admiral Terzen, in his capacity as Commander of the Southern Fleet, is based in the waters around Zellan Bay, where the Southern Fleet’s home port is located. This area is also a vital trade hub.”
If someone with a fleet in a vital trade hub started smuggling, they’d make a killing, wouldn’t they?
“However, ships move around quite a bit, so no one knows exactly where he is within the bay. He might be aboard his flagship, at the fleet headquarters in the home port, or he might have gone out on another vessel.”
In an era without even aircraft, let alone satellites, a ship’s mobility is practically equivalent to flight. Once they’re out in open waters, they’re impossible to track. He’s a troublesome opponent.
Captain Yugi looked troubled.
“If you could just bring him before me, I’m confident I could snuff out his life in an instant…”
This guy is scary. No, wait, for a company commander of an execution battalion, this is probably how he should be.
I can’t pull off a feat like that, but I might be able to solve my superior’s problem.
“Admiral Terzen is also the ringleader of a smuggling operation. Why don’t we try attacking from that angle?”
“Ah, so should we try smuggling something ourselves? What kind of weapons would be good?”
“No, let’s avoid weapons. They’re bulky, and we’d need a lot of them.”
A single hidden weapon might be enough, but one piece of ordnance is useless.
I debated how to explain it, but it seemed like too much trouble, so I decided to be direct, like a soldier.
“We’ll smuggle the Company Commander.”
“Pardon?”
Captain Yugi stared blankly, his eyes wide.
Behind him, the Battalion Commander was chuckling, clearly amused. It seemed he understood my intentions.
“Excellent. Just as expected from Lieutenant Fonkt. Continue.”
“Yes, Battalion Commander-dono.”
I decided to continue my explanation.
“Now that his illicit drug smuggling has been crushed by the Imperial House, Admiral Terzen must secure a new source of income. Whether he plans to reconcile with the Imperial House or, conversely, stage a rebellion, he’ll need vast sums of money. However, there aren’t many goods more profitable than illicit drugs.”
Jewels and spices would be reasonably profitable, but legal goods offer less appeal. With numerous competitors, market principles come into play. It’s not enough to rake in exorbitant profits.
For Admiral Terzen, who can mobilize a fleet, smuggling illegal goods must be the most “delicious” option.
“When you think of a product that’s illegal to trade in the Orthodox Empire and profitable to smuggle via sea routes, it would have to be humans, wouldn’t it?”
The Battalion Commander nodded.
“True enough. Overland routes take too long, and there’s the risk of escape.”
“Fortunately, the Company Commander is handsome, and his appearance doesn’t betray him as a warrior. If we market him as a different kind of ‘asset,’ we might be able to get close to Admiral Terzen.”
At that, the Company Commander smiled brightly.
“Ah, so you mean I’ll infiltrate his bedchamber as a pleasure slave for night service, is that it?”
Well, that’s essentially it, but all my careful phrasing was completely wasted. I went to such trouble choosing my words.
And more importantly, why does he look so happy about it?
Just then, Lieutenant Krimine interjected.
“Human trafficking is rampant on the black market in the south, so Admiral Terzen might already be involved. I hear ‘goods’ are brought to Zellan Bay from as far as Kardahar and the Great Shao Dynasty.”
What in the world is a young lady of quasi-noble birth doing knowing so much about the southern black market?
I fell into thought.
“In that case, we’ll need to add some value to the ‘product.’ Just being handsome won’t be enough.”
“Just handsome, you say?”
Captain Yugi was gleefully shaking Lieutenant Krimine’s shoulders. I was worried Lieutenant Krimine might get a concussion.
Lieutenant Krimine then added.
“If it’s added value you’re after, I can use makeup to make him look like a princess…”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
“Wait, I’ve never seen you wear makeup.”
“What are you talking about? I wear makeup all the time.”
I had no idea. It’s so natural… No, wait, wait.
“When you were disguised as ‘Yuo Neville,’ you removed your makeup, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
I can’t tell the difference…
As I stood there bewildered, the ladies started whispering.
(Yugi) “See, Lieutenant Krimine? Men are all like this.”
(Krimine) “Ehh~? I thought Lieutenant Fonkt-dono would have noticed.”
(Yugi) “It’s because Lieutenant Krimine’s makeup is so skillful.”
This is uncomfortable.
Having no choice, I apologized frankly.
“My apologies for being dense. Lieutenant Krimine, your features are so naturally well-formed that it seems I couldn’t tell.”
Is this how an apology is supposed to go? I have no idea.
The whispering started again.
(Yugi) “Did you hear that, Battalion Commander-dono?”
(Battalion Commander) “As far as smoothing things over goes, that wasn’t half bad. But don’t let your guard down; he subtly praised her face.”
(Yugi) “Yes, that’s so typical of Lieutenant Fonkt-dono…”
Still uncomfortable.
Lieutenant Krimine turned back to me and smiled brightly.
“Lieutenant Fonkt-dono.”
“Yes?”
“When you say ‘well-formed,’ what specific parts are you referring to?”
Ehh…?
I looked at the Battalion Commander and Captain Yugi for help, but they both had serious expressions and were reading documents. When did those documents even appear?
It seemed I was all alone, so I stared intently at Lieutenant Krimine’s face.
…This is bad.
I find expressions more attractive than facial structure, so I’ve always felt a bit awkward around Lieutenant Krimine, who doesn’t smile much.
If I stare at her face too intently, I feel like she’ll complain, and it’s true that my observation has been lacking.
However, if I don’t navigate this situation skillfully, it could even hinder the mission. Trust with my comrades-in-arms is paramount.
Don’t lose, me. Use your two lifetimes of experience!
“Looking at you properly like this, your eyes are beautiful.”
“R-Really?”
“When you were disguised as ‘Yuo Neville,’ you had mud on your face as a precaution, didn’t you?”
At that time, we’d disguised you by putting a bag over your head, but we’d also camouflaged your face in case someone removed the bag. I remember because I helped.
“You had definitely removed your makeup then, but even so, there was no hiding your beautiful gaze. That’s undoubtedly natural.”
Lieutenant Krimine looked a little restless, glancing up at me.
“Please continue.”
Why is a Second Lieutenant giving orders to a First Lieutenant? Well, we’re colleagues, so I guess this much is fine.
“Also, and this isn’t directly related to your features, but your black hair was so lustrous it was problematic. I had planned to dirty it with ash-laced water and make it messy, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I ended up leaving it as it was. You’d be found out instantly like that.”
Lieutenant Krimine looked surprised.
“Oh, was that the case?”
“I regret doing a half-hearted job, but I don’t regret not doing it. That would have been impossible.”
This kind of softness feels like a fatal flaw for a soldier. Those who hold something more important than the mission cannot accomplish the mission. Or so it might be.
“And, your nape is beautiful. I was surprised the other day when we disguised ourselves as a quasi-noble couple. The high-collared military uniform is fine, but a dress suits you. This also has nothing to do with makeup, though.”
“Nape… dress…”
“Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one who told me to continue.”
Lieutenant Krimine’s bone structure itself is beautiful, so her beauty is concentrated in the areas where her skin is thin. For me, with my fetish for skeletons and muscles, she’s a bit dazzling.
I won’t say it out loud because it would probably be sexual harassment.
Then, Lieutenant Krimine nodded a few times and smiled brightly.
“I forgive you.”
“Thank you.”
I was forgiven.
Immediately, the Battalion Commander cleared his throat with an “Ahem.”
“Are you finally done? Then, move out.”
“Sir!”
The three of us saluted.
…No, really, this kind of exchange isn’t necessary before receiving a mission, is it?