Two Weeks Later

As usual, I arrived at the command office and sat down, my gaze settling on Lucy.

Her silver-white hair cascaded down as she lowered her head, flipping through documents.

With a practiced motion, Lucy tucked her loose strands behind her ear and returned to her work.

Watching the intense focus she displayed while handling tasks, it was clear she was an exceptional adjutant.

Had Lucy been an ordinary aide, I might have complimented her often.

‘But she’s a spy.’

Lucy, standing right in front of me, was someone who could assassinate me at any moment.

Because of that, I had agonized over what to do for quite some time.

Specifically, whether I should report the research logs retrieved from the Kingdom’s lab to the higher-ups.

To cut to the chase—I decided not to report them.

The reason was simple.

Even if I used the logs to claim Lucy was a spy, there was no solid evidence.

From Lucy’s perspective, she could easily brush it off as someone with the same name.

While Lucy wasn’t exactly a common name, it wasn’t rare enough to raise alarms either.

If the situation ended inconclusively like that, I would be the one in danger.

Lucy would undoubtedly suspect that Daniel Steiner had uncovered her identity.

‘That would definitely end in disaster...’

So, until I had irrefutable proof, it was safer to keep the truth about the “Lucy Project” to myself.

Clearing my thoughts, I let out a deliberate cough.

Lucy paused her work and turned to look at me with those red eyes.

Meeting her gaze, I asked,

“The headquarters sent word about dispatching a new garrison commander. Do you know when they’re expected to arrive?”

“Oh. They departed yesterday with minimal escorts, so it should take about a week for them to get here.”

“Minimal escorts? How minimal are we talking about?”

“A single battalion. And that’s after the headquarters already reduced the numbers. For context, the incoming commander requested more troops for long-term occupation, but the request was denied.”

A battalion-sized unit arriving in Nordia within a week?

That meant they had crammed all the troops into transport vehicles and were pushing a forced march.

Was there really a need to hurry that much? I had my doubts, but headquarters must have had their reasons.

Nodding absently, I changed the subject.

“How’s the situation at the frontlines?”

“As you’re already aware, we’ve been winning nonstop. Reports indicate that the Empire now occupies over half of the Kingdom’s territory. The Kingdom has essentially ceased functioning as a state.”

“I see. At this rate, the Emperor’s plan to topple the Kingdom before winter seems likely to succeed.”

“Yes, sir. However, it seems the Kingdom is preparing for a last-ditch defense. They’ve withdrawn their forces and concentrated everything around their capital. As a result, the Imperial forces have also entered a temporary lull.”

So they’d pulled all their troops to defend the capital? That was as good as their final struggle.

Even so, storming a fortified capital would be like attacking a hedgehog—messy and costly.

Most likely, the Empire would offer peace talks disguised as an ultimatum.

I wondered how the Kingdom would respond to that.

‘In the game, they rejected the Empire’s proposal and fought to the bitter end…’

But given how much I had unintentionally altered the situation, I couldn’t predict how things would unfold this time.

Not that it mattered to me.

Once the garrison commander arrived, I would hand over my responsibilities and head back to the capital.

‘First thing I’ll do is get myself a proper drink. No more of this rationed whiskey—I want the real stuff.’

I was daydreaming about the comfortable, luxurious life waiting for me in the capital when—

“—Get out! Get out!”
“—We don’t need filth like you in our beautiful Nordia!”

I flinched at the sudden uproar outside.

Rising from my seat, I walked over to the window.

Down on the main street in front of the command post, at least several hundred citizens were marching with protest signs.

‘…What the hell? Are they finally showing dissatisfaction with the garrison troops?’

Puzzled, I continued watching as Lucy stepped up beside me.

“It’s a protest against the nobility,” she said. “There were rumors it might happen, but I didn’t expect it to escalate.”

“The nobility? Are you saying this is about Nordia’s aristocrats?”

“Yes, sir. After you enacted the Anti-Racial Discrimination Act, tensions between the citizens and the nobles reached their breaking point. It seems today’s protest is the result of that pent-up anger.”

Judging by Lucy’s explanation, the protestors were indeed targeting the nobility.

They passed by the command post and headed elsewhere.

‘What kind of mess did the nobles create for this to explode just two weeks after I implemented that law?’

Frowning, I clasped my hands behind my back.

Then an idea struck me, and I clenched my fist.

‘Isn’t this the perfect chance to lower my evaluation in Nordia?’

Quickly calculating the situation, I turned to Lucy.

“Order the garrison troops to follow the protestors.”

“…The protestors, sir?”

“Yes. Managing protests is part of the garrison’s role. Tell them to suppress any violence that occurs. Use force if necessary.”

Lucy didn’t question my order and responded immediately.

“Understood. I’ll relay your instructions to the garrison right away.”

As Lucy walked off, I returned to the window and smirked.

‘I can’t believe this opportunity came just one week before the new commander arrives.’

If the protest turned violent—and it probably would—then the garrison’s suppression efforts would make the citizens realize the troops weren’t their allies but just soldiers of the Empire.

That would shatter the fragile goodwill I had built with the locals.

And headquarters? They’d see it as me ruining months of progress with one bad decision.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, who had pinned his hopes on me, would be sorely disappointed.

With that, I’d be able to step back from frontline operations and enjoy a peaceful life in the capital.

From there, I could focus on finding a way to escape the Empire safely.

‘It’s perfect.’

The incoming garrison commander would have a rough time cleaning up the mess, but that wasn’t my problem.

‘My apologies in advance. But hey, life isn’t supposed to be smooth sailing.’

Grinning wickedly, I leisurely watched the protestors’ march.

*****

The protestors, continuing their march, finally came to a halt in front of a massive mansion.

“Get out! You parasite ruining Nordia!”
“Release my father immediately! He’s already paid off his debt to you!”
“You bastard! Do you even realize you’ve been destroying Nordia?!”

Hearing the commotion, Taramto, the mansion’s owner, emerged into the front yard with his private guards, only to freeze in shock.

Hundreds of citizens, each holding picket signs, were shouting at the top of their lungs.

Among the crowd were even some nobles who had previously advocated for racial equality.

To make matters worse, soldiers of the Empire, clad in black uniforms, were lined up as if protecting the protestors.

“What the hell is this?! Why are they doing this?!”

One of Taramto’s guards stepped forward hesitantly.

“Well, sir... they’re demanding that you release the workers you’ve been keeping as slaves.”

“What? Slaves? I feed and shelter them in exchange for labor! And now these lunatics are demanding I give up my property? They’re no better than robbers!”

To Taramto, the protestors were nothing more than a mob trying to rob him.

After all, with so many starving to death during the war, he firmly believed he was acting within reason by providing food and shelter, even if unpaid.

“Ungrateful bastards! Shoot them all! Once a few of them drop, the rest will scatter like cockroaches!”

“Excuse me, sir? But—”

“Shut up and do as I say!”

Despite their hesitation, the guards raised their rifles toward the crowd.

Seeing this, the other guards also nervously aimed their weapons.

“G-guns!”
“They’re going to shoot us!”

Panic rippled through the protestors, causing them to stumble backward.

At that moment, Lieutenant McCall, commanding the Imperial soldiers, raised a megaphone.

— “I advise you to lower your weapons immediately. Acting Garrison Commander Major Daniel Steiner has declared that no violence of any kind will be tolerated during this protest.”

Taramto’s face twisted in frustration.

Unable to argue back, he stood frozen as McCall’s voice boomed again.

— “If you ignore the commander’s orders and open fire, be aware that violence will be met with violence. We cannot guarantee the safety of either you or your guards.”

Taramto swallowed nervously.

To him, McCall’s words sounded like a death sentence—‘Cross the line, and we’ll kill you.’

‘So the Imperial Army has truly sided with the citizens...?’

After grinding his teeth for a long moment, Taramto had no choice but to surrender.

“...Lower your weapons and release their families.”

“Sir? Are you serious?”

“Yes. There’s no benefit to making enemies of the garrison.”

Reluctantly, the guards lowered their guns, aware they stood no chance against the Imperial troops.

Cheers erupted from the protestors.

“Taramto’s giving in! We’ll see our families again!”
“Taramto, you bastard! Now you know! The garrison is on our side—they’re protecting us!”
“Hail the garrison! Hail Major Daniel Steiner!”

The chants of the citizens filled the streets, echoing in every direction.

Among them stood Hamtal, the leader of the secret organization Black Dawn.

‘Taramto has been brought to his knees…’

Before the war, Taramto had been Nordia’s most prominent noble.

His fortune had been built by lending money to non-whites and then locking them up in his estates and farms under the guise of “working off their debts.”

The exorbitant interest rates made repayment nearly impossible, and the laws had always favored Taramto over his victims.

There had been no way to fight back—until now.

Then Daniel, as the acting garrison commander, had enacted the Anti-Racial Discrimination Act, empowering the citizens.

And today, as if to prove his allegiance, he had sent Imperial soldiers to protect the protestors and prevent Taramto’s guards from opening fire.

There was no longer any room for doubt.

‘Daniel Steiner is no conqueror.’

He was a liberator who had come to free the people from the Kingdom’s oppression.

As the crowd chanted Daniel’s name in celebration, Hamtal quietly took out a radio and pressed the transmit button.

“This is a message to all Black Dawn operatives.”

Pausing briefly, Hamtal spoke again, his voice filled with conviction.

“From this moment forward, we will stand with Major Daniel Steiner.”

It was the birth of Nordia’s hero—recognized by all.