Ch.149Chapter 20. Patriot (1)

# Chapter 20. Patriot

Hampton City Hall Square.

“For the General, present… arms!”

A long, drawn-out command. The military band’s trumpets.

The retirement ceremony for Captain Kamio Minto had concluded. The distinguished guests exchanged pleasantries. It was a gathering of Hampton’s administrators, military personnel, and politicians from the surrounding areas.

“Well, well. The new commander of the 8th Military Police! Or should I call you the Commander of the Central-Southern Integrated Forces now?”

Kamio Minto, dressed in an elegant suit, shook hands with Virginia Helford, the new commander of the 8th Military Police.

“Still just Military Police Commander for now. The official appointment hasn’t arrived yet.”

Virginia thought she had responded as usual, and Kamio was touched. Not a single word like ‘pig,’ ‘trash,’ ‘incompetent old man,’ or ‘sycophant more suited to a cinema seat than a general’s chair’ came out.

Having been so frequently vilified, he almost felt a strange sense of disappointment at Virginia’s civility. Well, he was no longer a soldier but a congressman, so he had little to do with Virginia anymore.

Of course, Kamio himself didn’t see it that way.

“Even an old man knows a thing or two! I’ve always believed the National Military Police should be at the forefront of homeland defense…”

As soon as he launched into his lengthy speech, crow-like figures fluttered over.

When Hampton’s former congressman “progressed to zombification after a long illness and met an inevitable end,” the government held an emergency by-election.

Kamio Minto, no longer interested in power, expressed his desire to use his wisdom and experience for the nation’s development.

Initially, his approval ratings were rock bottom. But Kamio Minto worked hard.

He campaigned by wearing an X-peninsula with red and blue LED bulbs and carrying an AKM rifle, shooting zombies in the streets despite his advanced age.

What really boosted his approval ratings was a radio debate.

During a local TV debate that Kamio wasn’t invited to but all other candidates attended, a “tragic accident” occurred when the announcer suddenly began zombifying and bit everyone.

Thanks to this, Kamio took a commanding lead with overwhelming support from all respondents excluding non-respondents and undecided voters. He successfully entered Congress and, surprisingly, submitted proper legislation.

Militarization of the entire country.

Conversion of all citizens into soldiers.

Unification of all military forces.

Kamio Minto’s bill passed with 140% approval in the Elza Congress and was urgently enacted under presidential approval.

Of course, “converting all citizens into soldiers” didn’t mean forcing perfectly normal company employees to voluntarily enlist in advanced military barracks.

It simply meant designating each company as an individual military unit, assigning command roles according to position, transferring all company assets to the national treasury, and paying salaries equivalent to a private first class.

In a democratic society, freedom of expression exists, and criticism is permitted as long as mutual respect and common sense are maintained. So there were critical voices against these humanitarian measures. Indeed, it’s a natural reaction given everyone’s different circumstances.

But the vast majority of citizens welcomed these measures. After all, there was nowhere to spend money anyway.

All food and supplies were already being distributed through a rationing system, with civil servants and soldiers receiving additional food vouchers. So it was better for everyone to become soldiers and receive equal supplies.

Of course, the military’s size had increased overnight, and the Elza government responded by promoting many capable and competent commanders and granting them considerable discretion.

“Commander of the Central-Southern Integrated Forces. How do you like it?”

Kamio asked in a hushed voice. Virginia nodded lightly.

“This should be sufficient.”

“Then, about what we promised…”

Kamio looked at Virginia with servile eyes. Virginia handed him a small memo from her pocket.

“You can collect it at the Rodau riverside dock in a week.”

It was the latest model of armored vehicle from Eastern Römer, a convertible amphibious vehicle with comfortable seating, powerful horsepower, and spacious interior suitable for daily life. Enough for Kamio Minto himself and his two twenty-year-old mistresses to live comfortably.

But Kamio seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Is that all?”

“This is exactly what we agreed upon initially.”

“Of course, of course. But circumstances have changed since then, haven’t they? That aide of yours, what was her name, Leti something, she was with you, wasn’t she?”

Virginia’s eyes narrowed. Clear hostility appeared in her violet pupils. But Kamio paid no heed.

“You have many political enemies. You know that, right? I may be inferior to you in leadership, but I know politics well.

Those people, they’ll use even a five-minute tardiness to a meeting to throw you into a pit of humiliation until you take your own life, with their vicious tongues.

And now, the closest aide to the rising star of the Elza National Military Police not only deserted but also stole classified information… I went to great lengths to cover that up. You should appreciate that. Especially regarding her brother and his family.”

Virginia finally clicked her tongue and turned away. She had to acknowledge Kamio’s contribution in this matter.

Leticia’s older brother and sister-in-law were still in Römer territory. They had indeed been investigated because of their sister’s treasonous act, but thanks to Kamio’s active intervention and the efforts of the 8th National Military Police Intelligence agents, they were able to safely overcome the situation.

“Excellent at climbing the ladder, but utterly incompetent at managing subordinates, it seems, Commander Virginia. A commander needs virtue. I succeeded because I had good subordinates like you.”

The people who had gathered around Kamio applauded with a “Wow!”

Virginia blushed and acted embarrassed as they wanted, and joined in the applause. Onlookers thought that even Virginia’s angry expression was captivating, and if they could, they would have asked her to attend tonight’s banquet. Of course, no one was that brave.

“Anyway, our deal has been quite pleasant.”

Kamio left with those words. Virginia silently picked up a silver cup and downed the whiskey in one go. She crumpled the empty cup like paper and threw it to the ground.

‘Traitors get shot.’

Virginia stepped onto the balcony and put a cigarette in her mouth. Under the sky of a dying world, she could see the city where countless people fought to maintain their daily lives.

‘How could she run away like that, infatuated with a single man?’

It was incomprehensible. Thinking about that man made her blood boil.

‘He stole Leticia from me. How dare he take what’s mine!’

Crack.

The stone balcony screamed. Stone dust crumbled from Virginia’s hand. At the same moment, her phone rang. It was a call informing her that she had been appointed Commander of the Central-Southern Integrated Forces, and the appointment letter had just arrived at the temporary integrated headquarters.

“Congratulations, Commander! Now you can oversee all military forces, civilian volunteer corps, and everything from administrative departments to small businesses in the central-southern region of Elza. When would you like to start…”

“I’ll start right now. Gather all the officers. There’s much to do. First, we need to assign jobs to everyone who’s unemployed…”

Tasks that Leticia would have completed long ago. Virginia took a deep breath. She couldn’t afford to destroy her phone when they were becoming scarce.

“How could she go crazy over a single man like that!”

“Excuse me?!”

A confused voice came through, but Virginia roughly hung up.

* * * * *

Leticia put down the binoculars. Her elbows were still resting on the railing, and her waist and hips were still pushed out toward me.

“Yeah, it’s safe. Nothing particularly visible in the vicinity.”

Leticia and I were standing on a highway billboard tower. Even though I said I’d watch the surroundings alone, Leticia had insisted on coming up, and now she was swaying her hips in that position.

“This direction…”

“I told you I can watch alone.”

“There’s something over there.”

I involuntarily groaned. Leticia pushed her hips back, crushing an awkward part of me. In that position, she continued to sway her waist from side to side.

“Looks like about six zombies. They haven’t spotted us yet.”

“Okay, okay, but your hips…”

This doesn’t seem right in such a public place. Of course, it’s true that we’ve all been uncomfortable living in the trailer, and unable to satisfy certain needs. Leticia muttered in a dissatisfied voice.

“Aren’t you too uptight? We’re just at the outskirts of the city. Once we go in, we’ll be busy. Loosen up a bit. Otherwise.”

“Otherwise what?”

“I’ll make you loosen up myself.”

Leticia finally released me and handed over the binoculars. The city was indeed right ahead. As I was thinking about the best approach…

Leticia suddenly turned around and dropped to her knees. Then she unbuckled my belt.

“What, what are you doing?”

“I said you’re too uptight.”