Ch.12Chapter 3. Anyway, It Doesn’t Seem Like My Fault (1)

# Chapter 3. Anyway, It Doesn’t Seem Like My Fault

At the time when Johan was walking through the transmission tower forest. Office of the Commander, 8th National Gendarmerie Special Task Force.

Intelligence Staff Officer Leticia stood at attention. It felt like she had returned to her cadet days, but she couldn’t show any weakness in front of the new Special Task Force Commander.

Moreover, the new commander had stayed up for two nights straight saying, “I need to quickly get a grasp of operations to fix this unsettled atmosphere,” yet still looked as neat and tidy as when she first arrived.

And Leticia? Despite leaving work early and getting a good night’s sleep, her face was flushed red. She had just heard about last night’s incident from the duty officer and had turned the intelligence department upside down.

‘They stole Hut’s bag? If something like that happened, it should have been reported!’

‘B-but the new commander ordered us not to tell you! She opened her eyes *like this*…’

The new commander, who had supposedly stayed up for two nights, was reviewing reports with perfect posture.

Yesterday, she had even sent Leticia home saying, “You must be exhausted from overwork, so go home and rest today. Don’t take any calls.” She had been kind for a Römer, but in the end, she was still an “inevitable Römer.”

‘I see. So this is how you establish discipline among your subordinates, is that it?’

Leticia was from the Elza Autonomous Region. Autonomous in name only—it was actually the eastern part of the divided Elza Republic, under Römer control.

Insulted as “Römer trash” by Elza people and as “second-class citizens” by Römer people, the only way to survive was through education.

So she studied relentlessly and built her physical strength to enter the Eastern Elza Military Academy. She joined the elite training program and graduated with honors, receiving a position as an intelligence officer.

Rising to this position through her own efforts was her pride and the driving force that helped her endure terrible superiors.

When war broke out, she naturally became a soldier of Römer. And now she had become part of the occupying force and ruler of her homeland.

Thanks to that, she no longer got called “Römer trash” to her face. Instead, there were graffiti on her apartment door and windows, though even that disappeared after the zombie outbreak.

‘She’s just an Elza person anyway. What can she do?’

Even doing the same work, she was always discriminated against. Her Römer superiors always stole her achievements.

‘What? Don’t like it? Then resign.’

Leticia acted like a typical Elza person. She doubled her workload. That was the only way—give what must be given, take what must be taken.

In the end, she was right. The old men quickly disappeared, but she continued to be promoted. Now she had become a proper intelligence staff officer. Such a promotion outside of wartime was truly exceptional.

So Leticia didn’t get angry when she heard a new commander was coming.

Although she was disappointed that the new commander came from a noble Römer family, was younger than her but higher in rank, and had a military career completely sealed as confidential, which made her suspicious—she had learned that life was unfair.

And sure enough. After a few days of seemingly smooth sailing, today the commander was trying to establish discipline.

‘A soldier going home before the mission is complete, how very proper. I’ve been up for two nights, but you seem to have slept well? And now you’ve even lost a bag. This is why Elza people…’

That was the kind of scolding she expected to hear.

‘Whether they’re young or old, parachuted appointees are all the same. Noble family background? What good is that? Trash is trash, no matter where it comes from.’

Since things had come to this, Leticia was determined not to show any weakness. Standing at attention like a new recruit was part of that plan.

To avoid petty tactics like ‘Is that how you report to your superior?’

‘…The Hut operation should have gone well.’

Leticia was disappointed. The Hut operation was her plan. Target a weak terrorist to bring down the entire organization at once. But even that plan had gone awry. How could the bag suddenly disappear?

‘Such bad luck, how can it be this bad…’

Leticia wanted to surrender. Just nod and say yes, half-listen, leave, work hard again, drink heavily, and sleep. That was her plan.

Finally, Virginia Helford put down the documents.

“So. Intelligence Officer. What do you think?”

Obviously about the bag seller.

“He is technically skilled, clever, and utterly devious. However, I’ve determined he is not a radical member of the Elza Liberation Movement.”

“Explain.”

At this indifferent response, Leticia was indignant. She wanted to shout, ‘It’s all written in the report, you idiot!’ But like the elite officer she was, she didn’t show her irritation.

“Objectively speaking, the bag carrier ‘Hut’s’ capabilities are excellent. Mini Bell Village is the deepest and most insignificant place among human non-protected zones.

Yet Hut crossed through the human non-protected zone for a whole week to reach that place and didn’t even get infected.

Of course, it’s true that Hut has shown signs of instability recently. Because of that, the Elza Liberation Movement was also keeping an eye on him.

But that was merely ‘concern’ for a long-time comrade-in-arms, not ‘surveillance’ regarding his mission capabilities or potential betrayal. So the probability of them assigning a monitor or tracker is low.”

“Continue.”

“If Hut’s capabilities were truly in question, they would have assigned someone else. But Hans, the branch leader, didn’t do that. He simply gave the job to Hut.

Considering these points, the possibility that the bag seller V is ‘an additional agent dispatched by Hans in case Hut betrays’ is small.”

A moment of silence.

Virginia sighed.

“…If that’s all, I’m rather disappointed.”

For someone claiming disappointment, her face didn’t change at all. It was as if she were discussing something from a completely different world. Though Leticia was boiling inside, she remained calm.

“If there were any deficiencies in my report, I will immediately reinforce…!”

The fact that she didn’t cover her mouth proved she was truly elite. She withstood even when Virginia Helford tilted her head slightly and opened her eyes ‘like this.’

Flowing silver-blonde hair. White skin. Purple eyes that seemed to draw you in the more you looked. Lips like gold in the shadowed window.

Already sharp with her pale eyes, she even wore black lipstick.

She truly looked like a threatening ‘snake.’

‘Who? Virginia Helford? Ah, the White Viper? She’s infamous. They say she’s calmly insane. They say you can’t find a woman that vicious even in the capital.’

‘Did you hear that rumor? When she was young, an assassin released a venomous snake on her, but that little girl bit the snake’s head off and chewed it up. And she even overcame the deadly poison? They say that’s why her skin and hair turned white and her eyes purple.’

Leticia had thought she would just be some ill-tempered noble lady.

But she wasn’t. The opponent before her was truly a ‘viper.’ A predator raised to be a ruler from childhood. A noble who had gained power by devouring her own kind again and again.

Virginia released her grip. Leticia inhaled. The air was welcome.

“Intelligence Officer. Time is our greatest asset. Especially in this moment when the infection is spreading.

So I would prefer if you didn’t recite the report you’ve carefully written. I’m not old enough to forget what I just read. I’m younger than you, aren’t I?”

“I apologize. I will correct this.”

“However, just this once, I’ll overlook it, judging that you’ve developed bad work habits from serving a superior who couldn’t read, let alone understand the flow of the world. And when I asked ‘what do you think,’ I meant for you to tell me your thoughts that weren’t written in this report.”

“…?”

Leticia looked at Virginia with slightly puzzled eyes. Fortunately, the new Special Task Force Commander kindly elaborated.

“New information might have come in after you wrote this. There might be ideas you didn’t think of while writing. Or there might be content you knew but couldn’t write down for fear of backlash.

I’m asking you to tell me the analysis you’ve accumulated through experience that can’t be left in official documents. It doesn’t matter if it’s based on intuition with little evidence.

Tell me all possible possibilities, prospects, scenarios. Even if imagination is added, it’s fine as long as it’s plausible.”

Leticia was surprised. Such things did exist. But they were the kind of things that could get you shot if you said them out loud.

‘But can I really say it? To someone who has internalized filial piety to their family, loyalty to their country, and obedience to the military since childhood?’

Leticia hesitated. Her expression was clearly that of someone suppressing what they wanted to say. Normally she would never have done this, but Virginia looked at her ‘like that,’ and once seen, she couldn’t remain calm.

Fortunately, Virginia didn’t stare at her hesitating subordinate again. Instead, she sneered.

“…Intelligence Officer Leticia. Have you also become complacent after serving incompetent superiors? I heard you were from the Eastern Elza Military Academy’s elite officer corps, carefully cultivated by Römer, but am I mistaken?”

“No, you’re not.”

“Then what’s with that hesitation? Are you trying to come up with excuses after being called out for not thinking? Or have you judged that I’m no different from my predecessor and are hesitant to report?”

Leticia’s insides boiled again. Pressing her lips tightly, she made a decision.

“I think information has been leaking from our higher echelons.”

Virginia stared blankly at Leticia. Leticia waited.

“And?”

This time, feeling her emotions might truly show, Leticia paused briefly.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”

“Of course not. Because you’re lying.”

“Commander. I must ask you to retract that statement.”

Leticia’s face hardened. She could tolerate being called incompetent. It was something she’d always heard from her previous superiors. She had even grown accustomed to being called a stupid Elza girl.

But a liar?

“I may have submitted incorrect reports due to lack of capability. I may have made wrong inferences with insufficient information. But I pride myself on having served faithfully in any situation. I have never submitted a report knowing it was false.”

“Really?”

For some reason, Virginia’s sneer deepened. Though indignation rose to her throat, Leticia tried not to waver.

“If you’ve judged that I’m not suitable for the intelligence staff position, please issue a personnel order. I will serve loyally in any position. But that doesn’t mean I admit to crimes I haven’t committed. I did not lie.”

Virginia snorted. She even tapped her finger on the desk.

“Of course you’d say that. You’re deceiving even yourself right now. Lies have become so ingrained in you that you don’t even realize you’re lying. I can see it, but you can’t, is that it?”

Bang! Virginia slammed her palm down on the stack of documents.

“All records of your activities, all operation outcomes you’ve participated in, reports you’ve submitted, analysis materials, plans. I read them all last night. I can understand why you successfully completed the next elite officer development program.

Even in the homeland, there are few who devise such proactive, bold, and feasible operations. Yet strangely, they’ve never been implemented. I suppose that’s because old men who hate taking risks were sitting as your superiors?

It’s almost a miracle that the ‘weak link attack’—the proposal to psychologically attack ‘Hut,’ an Elza Liberation Movement terrorist officer who was mentally exhausted—was approved.

It was one of the plans hastily approved because the previous commander was under audit for dereliction of duty and sexual misconduct, trying to show he wasn’t just sitting around doing nothing? He was a terrible man, but you were lucky. In the end, you prevented terrorism.”

Leticia was confused. She couldn’t tell if Virginia was trying to praise her or grabbing her by the collar to push her off a cliff. Virginia continued in a cold voice.

“The military’s basic principles haven’t changed much since wartime. ‘Move according to plan but don’t miss opportunities for achievement. Act boldly, decide courageously, and think wisely.’

The weak link attack plan embodied all of these. If your superior had been a bit more competent, or even just an average level commander, the results would have been much better. I’m not disparaging what you’ve done so far. That would be unfair. You should rather be highly praised.”

‘So what’s the problem?’

If she could, she would have grabbed Virginia by the collar. Virginia picked up a cigarette pack, then threw it back down and brushed back her fallen bangs. In the shadow around her eyes, her purple gaze was eerie.

“But you’re missing something. Something very important and crucial is missing, something that should be there. That’s why I judged that you’re lying to yourself and to me. What do you think it is?”

“I only achieved half the results.”

“No. Not that. Really nothing else?”

Now it felt like being tutored. Like ‘You’re old enough, start thinking with your own head!’

“…I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

“Intelligence Officer.”

Now she was speaking as if coaxing a child.

“Intelligence Officer Leticia. You know I’m not asking to hear that kind of answer. ‘Weak link attack’ meant more to you than that.

It wasn’t just mechanically carrying out orders from above, but a plan you enthusiastically proposed with your own judgment, analysis, and consideration of feasibility. Like all those other valuable plans that were ignored.

But someone with such capabilities has omitted something truly important, something a person should have. I can’t understand how you don’t know this. Do you really not know? Do I have to point everything out?”

“I failed to anticipate the unexpected variable. I never thought someone would intercept the bag.”

After answering, Leticia faltered.

Something strange swirled in Virginia’s eyes. Leticia was frightened but couldn’t look away.

It was like hypnosis. A beautiful, swirling small snake slowly turned within those pupils.

But it was far more dangerous. Like a snake flicking its tongue, Virginia whispered.

“Aren’t you angry?”

“…Angry, you say?”

Eyes are the mirror of the soul. Strange colors flowed from Virginia’s eyes. Courage? Wisdom? Greed? No. Madness.

Leticia realized. Those were the eyes of a madwoman. Eyes that should have made her flee the moment she saw them, thinking ‘Ah, this person isn’t normal.’

“You’re really not angry? Do I have to teach you about anger, about rage? I was so furious last night I couldn’t sleep. How heartbroken you must be, how insanely angry you must be about what bastard dared to take what’s yours—even I, just reading the report, feel my blood boiling!”

Virginia slammed her fist on the desk. There was a sound like thunder tearing, and the desk crumpled. The steel desk was dented in the shape of her fist. Blood dripped from her torn hand, but her expression didn’t change.

“C-Commander, y-your hand… w-we should treat it first…”

“‘Angry, you say?’ You don’t even know what that is? And yet what? Honest? You’re asking if you can be honest with me! What nonsense. Absurd!

A ‘smart’ subordinate who gives up without anger when something is taken from them, who has no ambition or desire, claims to speak honestly? You expect me to believe that!

You came to work this morning knowing nothing, heard that everything you’d worked so hard for had been lost, and you stand there stupidly saying ‘hand’? I’m talking about your work, Leticia! I’m talking about your achievements!

Yes, do you enjoy having your things taken away? Do you enjoy living like an Elza slave, bowing down and offering what you’ve cultivated all your life to the strong?”

“No, I don’t!”

Leticia’s large chest heaved. Tears even welled up slightly. Late sorrow that she didn’t know had been suppressed surged. Fearing she might burst if she held it in any longer, she gritted her teeth.

“Intelligence Officer Leticia. Are you an Elza person or a Römer person!”

“I, I am…!”

“Speak up! Don’t mumble!”

“I am a Römer person!”

“Is Römer a master or a slave?”

“A master!”

“Then act like a master!”

Virginia stood up abruptly and slammed both fists on the desk. Finally, the desk legs shattered and flew off, and the crumpled metal plate crashed to the floor.

There was a commotion in the corridor. Spectators had gathered. But no one dared to open the door and enter.

“I don’t care where you were born, what education you received, or even who your parents are! It doesn’t matter if you were once a master or a slave! If you act like a master, even a slave becomes a master. Those who act like slaves don’t deserve to be masters!

Leticia, Intelligence Officer Leticia! Find out. Find out which son of a bitch dared to take your share and tear them apart. Whether they’re from another government agency, a Western spy, just an information broker, or even someone from a homeland senator’s family, don’t worry about anything.

Never again let what’s yours be taken from you while you watch, Leticia! Even if it’s me! Do you understand!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Then go find them! Find them, report back, and bring them before me. I’ll tear them apart with my own hands and throw them to the zombies! Don’t salute, just run out now! Time is of the essence!”

Leticia stormed out, almost kicking the door. The soldiers and officers filling the corridor all stepped back. But none of them dared to speak to Leticia, nor enter to clean up the shattered desk.

“How dare they…”

Virginia looked out the window, roughly lighting a cigarette with her bloodied hand.

‘The bag seller.’

She had already determined who it was.

This was the work of an agent. Whoever interferes with the Gendarmerie, whoever obstructs the sacred mission entrusted by the parliament, she would root them out, no matter who they were.

Agents from another Römer Republic government agency. Bastards trying to steal the Gendarmerie’s achievements.

It was clear. It couldn’t be anyone else. Unless they fell from the sky or sprouted from the ground, it couldn’t be anyone else. How else could they have intercepted the bag based on information reported only to superiors?