Ch.190Chapter 21. The Art of Deceiving Each Other (2)

Leticia’s phone alarm rang. After checking the sender, she frowned deeply. When she saw who it was, it turned out to be from Virginia. The message was commanding in tone, instructing her to call immediately after reading it.

“Can I reply to this?”

Leticia handed over her phone without much reluctance. After I sent a polite and humble text, a call came through shortly after. I ignored it five times before answering on the sixth ring. Of course, I switched to speakerphone so Camilla and Cassandra could hear too.

“Hello?”

“I knew it would be you! You undignified, petty, vulgar, obscene, cheap bastard!”

The reaction was incredible. The three women each stared at me strangely in their own way. It’s a bit unfair. All I said was “Hello?” Well, that aside, I should probably calm down this raging woman on the other end of the line.

“So, are you going to dance or not?”

“How dare you insult a country’s martial law commander like this and think you’ll die peacefully?”

Earlier her voice was frenzied and manic, but now it sounded like she wanted to chew through my flesh, crushing me. Leticia, seemingly quite frightened, whispered to me.

“What on earth did you write to make Virginia go crazy like that?”

“Oh, I just said I’d answer her call if she sent me a video of her dancing. But she called directly? Well, that’s good.”

Camilla made a throat-slitting gesture. It seemed to mean I should stop talking nonsense and focus on the call. Meanwhile, Leticia silently mouthed, “What kind of dance?” Anyway.

“What can you actually do about it?”

“…What did you say?”

“From what I heard on the radio, you seem to be in the capital, so what? What can you do to me from there? Have a hysterical fit over the phone? Or crush your desk corner with your bare hands? Oh, are you planning to hop in a helicopter and blow my head off?”

Camilla raised her fist in a “well done” gesture, Cassandra seemed to approve but was hesitant, and Leticia’s face turned completely pale. She mouthed, “Are you crazy?” But there’s nothing to worry about. Because:

“Ah, it’s fine since Virginia is incompetent. All she’s done so far is strike poses, flip her hair, and show off her strength. Who cares if she’s a martial law commander or corps commander or whatever.”

Camilla clenched both fists in approval. Cassandra turned pale. Leticia’s eyes widened. Only then did I realize I had spoken into the phone what I meant to whisper to Leticia.

But it’s true, isn’t it?

“Hello? Virginia, did you hear that? You’re not hurt, are you? Don’t worry, I wasn’t talking about you. Are you listening? Hey, are you praying?”

“…Watch.”

Damn, she’s spreading her voice in a spine-chilling way.

“Huh? Watch what?”

“Watch carefully. What I am capable of.”

The call ended. I tried calling back, but she didn’t answer.

“Oh my, how scary.”

I pretended to tremble. Breaking the brief silence, Camilla strode over. She hugged me tightly and kissed me deeply. I was quite surprised since Camilla usually didn’t like doing this openly in front of others.

“Um, Camilla?”

“Johan. I’m a bit moved.”

Somehow, her eyes looked similar to when we first “fooled around.”

“Hey, don’t you think that was a bit harsh? I know that voice. It’s the one she uses when she’s truly angry. Virginia will definitely cause a major incident.”

Leticia was stammering, and Cassandra had completely hidden behind her. They must be remembering their harsh experiences with Virginia.

But what could Virginia possibly do?

* * * * *

Virginia seemed to have forgotten how to sit in a chair. She was so excited that her body was out of control. Due to a cramp in her leg, she stood awkwardly bent at the knees with her buttocks pushed back, gripping the desk.

“What… can… I… do… he says?”

Blood rushed to her eyes, nearly bursting the capillaries, but Virginia was too preoccupied to care. The only other time she had received such “treatment” was in her childhood, when she returned to Römer’s residence from her “studies” in Minsk.

“Me? Incompetent?”

She had never heard such words even at home. Incompetent. Incompetent! Even her father had never called her incompetent.

And now, the man who had stolen her adjutant, who had freely moved across her jurisdiction and even dared to escape, was mocking her as incompetent.

“Ha.”

It was absurd. Enough to make her laugh bitterly.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.”

Like a broken automaton repeating a single phrase, fragmented laughter tumbled from Virginia’s mouth.

Knock knock. It was the duty officer. Virginia pressed the bell allowing entry. A soldier with short-cropped hair entered and saluted. Not a native of Elza, but from Römer. A kind of monitor.

“Reporting, ma’am. A military transport plane that departed from Römer will land at Elza Royal Airport in two hours.”

This was the transport her “father” had mentioned. Originally, Virginia was supposed to be on that plane. Even if she returned to Römer in the middle of her mission, the President of Elza could do nothing about it.

He would simply pick up the martial law commander position Virginia abandoned and pass it to someone else. That’s all a puppet government’s president could do.

“What about the other officers?”

The “officers” Virginia referred to were either dispatched from Römer or Elza officers whose “loyalty” had been recognized and granted entry to Römer.

Without their cooperation, it would have been difficult for Virginia to bring all the field army headquarters under her command. Conversely, now that all military authority in Elza had been transferred to her, they had become worthless and even hindered her actions.

They were Römer’s soldiers, not Virginia’s subordinates. Rather, they were troublesome individuals who could openly rebel if ordered by Römer.

“Yes, they’re all gathering at the airport without exception. With their families as well.”

A bitter expression crossed the soldier’s face. Though young, he understood what this meant. They would leave Elza for the relatively safer Römer. At least they believed Römer had fewer zombies than Elza and managed the virus better.

Virginia didn’t miss the soldier’s unease.

“What’s your name, soldier?”

“Mali, ma’am.”

“Do you have family?”

“Yes. My mother, younger brother, and close relatives.”

A hint of pride appeared on Mali’s face. He was probably the head of his household.

“Your family is staying in the capital?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Wait here a moment.”

Virginia took out a blank order form and quickly wrote down a command. It was somewhat strange—she could have printed it from a computer. But when Mali received the order, he was quite confused. It was written in Römer language, not Elza’s, making it difficult for him to read.

“Mali. This is an order.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“I’ll give you an hour to go to the airport with your family. Show this document to the officer corps. They’ll handle the rest.”

“Yes…?”

“Is that how you respond?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Corporal Mali had no time to question anything. He gathered his confused family and all reachable relatives into a car and rushed to the airport. When he showed the document to the guards blocking the entrance, they cleared the way in panic.

And when Mali entered the main hall, he was immediately intimidated.

Numerous stars—field-grade officers—had placed their backpacks or duffel bags on the floor and were enjoying tea. Their families also looked elegant. Mali thought something was seriously wrong, and the other officers felt the same.

“Soldier. How did you get here?”

Lieutenant Redecker, the lowest-ranking among them, approached as their representative. Mali knew he was a “pure-blooded aristocrat” who had come from Römer with Virginia. So he showed him Virginia’s order.

“Commander Virginia ordered me to show this document. But it’s in Römer language, so I…”

Redecker read the order thoroughly and sighed deeply. After scratching his head a couple of times, he returned it with an “oh well” attitude.

“Mali. Listen carefully. Just get on the plane without saying a word until you board. If anything happens, I’ll answer for you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Lieutenant. But…”

“What is it?”

Mali looked back at his anxious family and waved his hand slightly to reassure them. Of course, it was also a small feint to evoke Redecker’s sympathy.

“My mother and brother are very anxious, so could you tell me what this says? I can’t read Römer language…”

Lieutenant Redecker looked worriedly at the soldier who couldn’t have been more than twenty.

“You’ll need to study hard, Mali. It’s difficult for Elza people to live in Römer.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“Commander Virginia has given up her seat for you and your family. Shh! Quiet! You don’t want to waste this opportunity, do you? Don’t tell your family until you land at Römer airport. Understood?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Damn it.”

Though only a lieutenant, Redecker seemed to understand what was happening. The Helford family’s troublemaker was acting impulsively again.

“…You were the commander’s duty officer, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What was her schedule for today?”

“Um… she was supposed to meet with the Minsk ambassador. I told her she needed to board the plane, but she said this was important… Lieutenant?”

Mali wanted to ask why Redecker’s face had turned pale. But Redecker just shook his head. He didn’t want to care about this cursed land anymore. Virginia was certainly an excellent superior, but she was also someone more beautiful when viewed from a distance.

‘Whatever. Let’s just stay quiet. I’m not even part of Elza anymore. What do I care if Virginia provokes the Minsk ambassador or declares war? And even Virginia wouldn’t go that far, right?’

Having made up his mind, Redecker whispered to Mali.

“I’ll say it again, just keep your mouth shut. If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll answer for you. Remember that.”

“Understood, sir.”

* * * * *

Arthur, the Minsk ambassador to Elza, wanted to clean his ears. He must have misheard.

“I’m sorry, I think I misunderstood. I thought I was quite familiar with the Elza language…”

“I said ultimatum.”

Virginia Helford replied in a soft manner, clearly and precisely, not in Elza language but in fluent Minsk. Arthur wanted to smash her head with his teacup. Despite giving her a chance to back out, this crazy woman had actually delivered an ultimatum. So clearly that he couldn’t even pretend to have misheard.

“In one month, we plan to dispatch Elza National Gendarmerie forces to the Robarten region, which your country is illegally occupying. Since it was originally Elza’s territory, it makes sense for Elza’s soldiers to protect it. However, I, and the President, still consider Minsk a friendly nation and do not wish for unnecessary tensions caused by military action.”

It was saying: if you don’t want war, give back the land. Arthur, being a skilled diplomat, responded by hardening his expression. Meanwhile, Virginia elegantly set down her teacup.

“I believe this is peace for our time. Sincerely, I thank you in advance.”