Ch.114Chapter 15. Dead Man Blues (End) – Part 1 Conclusion

“Again?”

“…More physical contact with other infected people. With someone who has a somewhat different virus. Anyway, if a different strain enters your body, your own virus will become more alert…”

What is she talking about?

No, more importantly, what does she mean by ‘different’ and ‘foreign’?

Cassandra once said that my virus and Camilla’s were almost identical. Which means…

“You don’t mean…?”

“…When you two are doing that every night…even someone like Cassandra…if, if you don’t like it, that’s fine. You don’t need to go ‘that far.’ But, well, you know…”

Could it be that she couldn’t sleep at night and those slight noises at the door were because she was peeping? But there was no time to get an answer.

“Ca-Cassandra is leaving now!”

She jumped up and rushed back to her room.

* * * * *

The mobile phone alarm rang. Virginia checked who sent it and put it away. Then she went about her day as usual.

There was much to attend to.

The nation of Elza would soon enter a quasi-wartime situation. Therefore, there was no longer any need to maintain martial law.

However, since the existing administrative organizations lacked both the ability to overcome this situation and the legal preparations, the central government instructed local governments to form new emergency government systems “in cooperation with the local military.”

It sounded nice to call it an emergency government, but in reality, it meant each region had to fend for itself.

Even in this situation, there was no shortage of people trying to secure positions for themselves. Virginia in particular received more gifts and business cards than usual. They were sent by people who wanted to impress her, born into a noble and powerful family of Römer.

Virginia laid out their business cards across her desk. She meticulously wrote down their names and asset sizes on a list and attended the “Committee for Establishing a New Government.”

“What are your thoughts, Committee Member Virginia?”

Even the chairperson was being cautious. Virginia gladly took the podium.

“I have selected individuals who would make suitable senior advisors and core members of the committee. Here is their list.”

Virginia waved the list she had compiled. Even at a glance, the names were all notoriously infamous individuals. The chairperson asked with an incredulous expression.

“Then for the mayor…”

“Someone honest and innocent, knowledgeable about politics but with no connections to the military would be ideal. Perhaps there’s such a person among the scholars.”

The committee members understood this to mean ‘put a nice figurehead in place and we’ll run everything from below.’

Thinking Virginia was just another opportunist like them, they were greatly troubled and uncomfortable, but they dared not oppose her.

The committee found one intelligent and naive person and installed them as mayor. Virginia placed corrupt, greedy, and wealthy individuals in administrative positions below the mayor.

And then she froze all their assets.

“H-how could you do this?!”

Those who came foaming at the mouth to protest to Virginia were promptly arrested for “illegally entering a military facility.”

More sensible people—those who called ahead or made appointments—were invited to the conference room.

As soon as they entered, journalists blinded them with camera flashes, leaving them dumbfounded. Virginia had requested a press conference.

“Ladies and gentlemen. These are the true patriots of Elza.”

Virginia announced in a clear voice. Someone waved a paper that read ‘This is being broadcast live nationwide.’

“These individuals have expressed their intention to donate their entire fortunes. It was to protect their beloved country and neighbors.”

So she’s stealing our money and now trying to frame it as a ‘donation.’ Flashes went off in the protesters’ minds. But Virginia wasn’t finished.

“However, while we appreciate their sincerity, we must respectfully decline the donation of their assets. The fight against zombies will be long and painful.

We must also preserve strength and resources for recovery. No sensible farmer eats all their seed potatoes just because they’re hungry. Therefore, these people’s assets should be used not for the present, but for the future.”

After freezing their assets, what nonsense is she spouting? The protesters felt like bursting into tears. But seeing the malicious camera flashes and rifle barrels pointed between them, they couldn’t cry.

If anything happened, they would shout ‘Infected!’ and shoot. The National Military Police were very competent at this kind of ‘after-the-fact reporting.’

“Therefore, the Hampton Emergency Government has decided to issue wartime bonds. Even if the emergency government is dissolved, the central government will take over, so there is absolutely no risk of bankruptcy.

Here, these new members of the Hampton Emergency Government are the first prospective buyers of the wartime bonds. Please remember these honorable faces well. Patriotism must be guaranteed. The nation will not forget your devotion.”

In the end, the protesters had to return home dejectedly with “bonds guaranteed by the state with absolutely no risk of bankruptcy.” Virginia was more vicious than they had thought.

“She might as well have just taken it outright! Who would be patriotic if they say they’ll return it if we behave?!”

The newly-minted patriots wailed at home, but that was all. No one wanted to be found as a zombie due to ‘acute infection.’

“Impressive, indeed.”

Captain Camio Minto was very satisfied. Virginia expressed her gratitude with a smile.

“It’s all thanks to you, Captain.”

“No need for modesty! How did you manage to suppress such talent all this time? Your interview skills were extraordinary! The PDs were thanking me, saying you naturally created perfect compositions! By the way, I heard the central broadcasting station wants to do an exclusive interview with you next week. Did you know?”

“I will prepare thoroughly.”

Captain Minto was delighted. He was planning to submit his retirement papers soon. A path to central politics had opened for him.

Virginia returned home after handling all the complicated matters. To her home, which had no furniture but air as heavy as furniture. But today she brought a bottle of “Elza’s Tears” liquor.

After washing up, changing into comfortable clothes, and having a glass of Elza’s Tears with some beef jerky as a snack, Virginia finally checked her mobile phone and made a call.

“This is Virginia.”

The other party hung up immediately. A moment later, a call came in with “No Caller ID.” It would certainly be encrypted.

– What on earth are you thinking?

The irritable old man started with a reprimand.

– I told you to stay put, but you’re running wild like an unbridled colt. You of all people should know what happens to a horse that bolts from the track. Do you really feel like you’ve become something?

Instead of answering, Virginia took a sip of Elza’s Tears.

– Now you won’t even answer me!

“I’m listening.”

– I told you to watch your words!

“I’m listening, Senate Chairman.”

– I had no intention of interfering with whatever games you play in Elza. But appearing on broadcasts and disgracing the family! Wasn’t your childish play in the Western Nation enough?

“I’m simply fulfilling my duty.”

– If you’re dead, live like you’re dead!

The call ended. Virginia didn’t even blink. Conversations with her father were always parallel lines that never met. Halford, Chairman of the Römer Senate, her father who had once again succeeded in being re-elected.

But she had already emptied one glass. Buzz. Buzz. Her mobile phone rang again.

“This is Virginia.”

– Miss. This is the Head Butler.

A voice somewhat gentler than before. Virginia gave something close to a smile. If seen from the side, one might not be able to tell if she was smiling or grimacing.

“Ah. Head Butler. The materials I requested?”

– I’ll recite them for you. A whale traversing the sky, a bird with a mouth split to its ears, fog made of human tears…

This was obviously a code. The encryption on the materials the Head Butler had sent in the morning.

What the Head Butler was slowly reciting were verses from a poem passed down through generations in the family, and only those who knew which line and stanza they were from could decrypt the message.

“Good. Thank you.”

But the Head Butler didn’t hang up. Somewhat different from usual. Virginia waited.

– Infections are increasing in Römer as well. Even in the capital, the number of infected is growing. Your father is very uncomfortable about it.

Virginia turned her half-filled glass around as if listening to someone else’s story.

“I see.”

– The situation in the Western Nation is also concerning. There’s intelligence that they’re sending special forces across the border to raid the Cybele Laboratory.

– This was discovered by Römer agents deployed in the Western Nation, and Elza isn’t even aware of it. The attacks are mainly targeting unprotected zones.

“Is that so?”

– So please obey your father. Don’t you feel any pity for him?

Click.

The call ended.

Virginia shook her head once and emptied her glass. She thought about unrolling a yoga mat to stretch her body, but sudden fatigue overwhelmed her, so she didn’t.

Instead, she accessed an app on her mobile phone. After entering complex commands, a communication channel access program for Minsk in the Western Nation appeared.

But it had a slightly different configuration from what Johan, Letitia, and the Elza intelligence department people used. That was because the app itself was a fabrication created by the Eastern Nation.

“Elza is a pig.”

Naively devoured, but then ripping through the predator’s stomach and grunting its way out. Neither the Western Nation’s Minsk nor the Eastern Römer could ultimately consume and digest Elza.

So the Eastern Nation chose a clever method. They hacked the Western Nation Minsk’s communication channels, occupied their resources, and then packaged it as if it were made by Elza’s military before distributing it to Elza’s intelligence department personnel.

It was to identify who in Elza’s intelligence department was distributing what information. Of course, they hadn’t yet moved to make mass arrests.

Such covert information is an asset sufficient just by holding it. Just as she had frozen the assets of the corrupt, just as she had caught the deviations of soldiers living on pride.

Letitia’s bizarre deviation was one of them. Of course, seeing her figure was something Virginia still couldn’t get used to.

The adjutant who normally wore a uniform and carried out her duties meticulously, returning home to make such obscenely lewd expressions and expose body parts… it was embarrassing even when viewed after drinking.

Eyes unfocused and looking upward, tongue slightly protruding, saliva pooling in her half-open mouth. Why did she spill whipped cream and flour batter on her chest, and why send messages like “I made a cake and spilled cream. What should I do?”

“Who on earth is she sending these things to?”

What was peculiar was the recipient. Somehow the code had been modified so that the location couldn’t be traced. All that could be identified was a name: “Caesar.”

“Latex.”

Of course, Virginia knew that Letitia was “that phantom thief.” In fact, there were few people who regularly purchased that kind of rubber outfit.

But after learning that Letitia’s deviations cleverly targeted the blind spots missed by the National Military Police and civil defense personnel, she said nothing special.

The military often uses this kind of training. Counter-intelligence agents infiltrate at night and leave red notes saying “I was here” at the entrances of armories or ammunition depots before escaping.

“So this Caesar person is coming soon.”

Hunting is always enjoyable.

Not just the moment when you take up the gun, but even just imagining what prey you’ll catch tomorrow, how that prey will resist, and how Virginia herself will respond—just the thought brings an unbearable thrill.

Would catching this Caesar person be as fun as catching V? Virginia wondered.

“If only there were one more person as useful as V, I’d want for nothing in this world.”

She lightly flicked the empty glass and muttered.

“…Maybe I should catch and tame him.”

Virginia burst into laughter at her own joke. But her purple eyes gleamed ominously.