A War Hero With No Regrets

9 – The Uninvited Guest in Black (1)

“Aha.”

Lieutenant John Hops stroked his chin, exclaiming in surprise.

“I had a rough idea, but clearly, the sight in uniform is no joke. Aren’t you bringing your wife from there?”

To this, Lutus Ethan’s new name, Werner Graim, gave no particular response.

He simply organized the relevant documents neatly into his briefcase.

It was hardly a joke worth responding to.

Yet, John persisted in his teasing despite the cold reception.

“Didn’t you work almost all night yesterday? Is the review still not finished?”

“There’s missing information, and a lot has been mixed up, so cross-referencing takes time.”

“Who ever cared about those pieces of paper before?”

Most of the documents contained information about the Eastern Military District’s movements.

Personnel, administration, logistics, operations.

Even detailed personal details of the major officers affiliated with that military district.

At a glance, the volume was immense.

They were so short-staffed in the rear administrative positions that they had entrusted all the information collection and recording to the super quantum computer under the supreme command.

Even after filtering out the information, the amount was still vast and lacked substance.

Despite working through the night to review as much as possible, some parts still needed verification.

The rest would be checked on the helicopter heading to the Eastern Military District.

“Director, you should leave now. The helicopter from the supreme command has just arrived.”

“Understood. I’ll head straight there.”

Upon Lieutenant Dante’s reminder of the imminent departure time, Werner nodded.

He stood in front of a mirror one last time, straightening his tie, then donned a jet-black formal hat.

The silver eagle emblem on the hat gleamed in the sunlight.

“Take good care of the Security Department in my absence.”

“Don’t worry. Otto will handle training the newcomers. I’ll tend to the gardens.”

As Werner lightly patted John’s shoulder, John responded with a playful smile.

A month had passed since the visit from Arthur Filius.

The first mission and order from the Chancellor for the Security Strategy Department was to ascertain the actual situation in the Eastern Military District.

Yet, it essentially was an inspection mission on their own forces, so it couldn’t be treated lightly.

While the Security Strategy Department had a grand title, it was a newly established organization, so its influence within the military was minimal.

So, they approached it thoroughly.

After Werner and Dante personally visited the site to finish geographical and preliminary surveys, Otto even installed listening devices in expected banquet locations.

Local collaborators had already been secured.

They had prepared scenarios to respond to all possible situations.

Everything was meticulously prepared.

However, the primary concern for both Werner and John was not the content of the operation.

“Are you sure it’s okay? Everyone in the empire knows how proud those Easterners are.”

Self-proclaimed noble officers.

The majority affiliated with the Eastern Military District were of the Emperor’s faction.

Historically, the East, predominantly vast plains, was the empire’s center, naturally strengthening the influence of the nobles.

After the disbandment of the old regime, those claiming to be descendants of nobles filled the ranks, expressing loyalty to the royal family.

It’s no wonder the East is known for being old-fashioned, stubborn, and authoritarian.

“That’s why I’m going under a pseudonym as a lieutenant colonel. If a war hero named Lutus Ethan suddenly pops up at the rank of general, it’d be suspicious.”

Only officers of a lieutenant rank and above could attend the upcoming banquet.

As a mere lieutenant or lieutenant colonel, they wouldn’t be considered a significant threat by the Eastern Military District’s power players.

It would be easier to blend in.

“What about Lieutenant Karin?”

As Werner finished his preparations, he inquired.

Although the banquet was for lieutenant-ranked officers, for smooth execution on-site, all attendees could bring one aide.

It would be odd for him, technically a lieutenant colonel, to bring a higher-ranking aide.

Naturally, Karin Mavyn, the lowest-ranked, accompanied him.

Edward, Dante, and Otto, each holding clear roles as weapon manager, information manager, and training manager, respectively, contrasted with Karin.

She was ambiguously positioned as the deputy commander.

While newly appointed officers and senior soldiers did exist at the supreme command,

at this stage, where the organizational structure wasn’t even fully established, what role could a deputy commander play?

She was perfect as an aide.

“I saw her lingering near her private room earlier. She’ll come.”

“No, I’ll go to her.”

It had been nearly half a year since Werner took over as the director of the Security Strategy Department.

Yet, Lieutenant Karin Mavyn was still trapped in her past.

Even though she had shown significant improvement, she had plateaued.

Not only with Werner, but she also barely communicated with Lieutenant John, from her old unit.

Upon hearing the order to accompany him to the Eastern Military District as his aide, she had retreated to her room and didn’t come out.

“…Sigh. Should I go? She might make a mistake at this rate.”

John, her direct superior and commander, clicked his tongue in frustration.

“John, don’t be too hard on her. Don’t you know comradeship and patriotism?”

Werner spat out those words and left the director’s office.

John Hops just pursed his lips awkwardly.

“Karin.”

Werner knocked gently on the door.

No response.

After a brief pause, with a more assertive tone, he reiterated,

“Lieutenant Karin, come out. That’s an order.”

The firmly shut door slowly creaked open.

She stood there, dressed in uniform, clutching a briefcase, head bowed.

From her prepared appearance, it seemed the impending departure was weighing on her.

Werner, having no other choice, grabbed her wrist, pulling her out of the room.

“Ah….”

“Remember, Lieutenant, you’re still a soldier under my jurisdiction. My orders are absolute to you. Understand?”

She still didn’t respond, only nodding slightly.

“Then let’s go. Follow me.”

Werner had a gut feeling that this mission would be quite challenging.

But it was a decision he made.

A decision for the recovery of Karin Mavyn.

Unlike the other four officers who had found their footing and adapted, she was still struggling in this new environment.

She had been somewhat coerced into the ambiguous position of deputy commander.

While she seemed to get better sharing dinners together, she then became entirely stuck in that state.

Even John, who had tried to improve their relationship, had given up.

Werner believed she needed a more concrete change in her environment to shift her attitude.

She would have to stay with the Security Strategy Department as long as she didn’t request a discharge.

Werner glanced back to see Karin still following with her head bowed.

She had hit rock bottom in terms of self-esteem.

No matter how much he tried to boost her spirits, it only made her withdraw further.

He knew this all too well.

A memory from a previous chapter haunted him.

The reason he could stand after such pain was the unwavering trust he felt.

Lieutenant Karin Mavyn must feel the same.

“Loyalty! Lieutenant Colonel Werner Graim, I’ll safely take you to the Eastern Military District!”

“Thank you.”

The journey from the

Forbidden Lake Fortress to the nearest fortress under the Eastern Military District took a whopping three hours, even by helicopter.

Karin, who had been stationary since boarding, soon dozed off, her head against the backrest.

Werner found her quite peculiar.

No matter how tired he was, he could never sleep on a flying helicopter.

Of course, he meticulously reviewed the documents he hadn’t checked yet, and reminded himself of the crucial points to confirm during the banquet.

While also making sure to place Karin in a safe house, separate from the hotel room assigned by the Eastern Military District.

He couldn’t forget to contact the local collaborator before the official banquet.

And above all…

As he tapped and organized the pile of documents, he brushed against the gun holster at his waist.

He could only hope he wouldn’t have to use it.

After all, this operation was merely a reconnaissance mission.