Ch.198Chapter 21. The Art of Deceiving Each Other (10)

The next day.

Ambassador Arthur Minsk came to see Virginia with a flushed face. Looking at Virginia, who appeared even more arrogant than usual, Arthur asked with spittle flying:

“Should I call you Madam President now?”

The tone was aggressive even to ordinary ears. Considering Arthur was a diplomat, it was both a warning and protest that “Minsk is extremely displeased with the coup in Elza.”

“No, Mr. Ambassador. I’d prefer to be called Acting President. Until a democratically elected president emerges, I have a duty to protect citizens’ freedom and maintain order.”

“Ah, so ‘maintaining order’ means confining the perfectly fine president and the entire cabinet to their homes, claiming they’re infected with the Kro virus?”

Despite this clear provocation, Virginia remained as demure as a shy college student.

“The infection is real. If you’re curious, you might want to visit them yourself. Actually, would you like to experience our Disease Control Agency’s ‘advanced medical care’ beforehand? We can check whether you’re infected with the Kro virus, have antibodies, or even your level of resistance. It’s the same examination the former president received.”

“No, I’ll get tested in Minsk! I won’t receive insurance benefits if I get tested in Elza. More importantly, you mentioned a democratically elected president—does that mean you’ll hold an election?”

“Of course. Elections are the flower of liberal democracy. However, elections cannot properly take place when zombies roam the streets and the Kro virus is spreading everywhere. Therefore, the National Gendarmerie’s duty is to establish ‘public safety’ and ‘collective hygiene.’ As I mentioned earlier, I will fulfill that duty very diligently. Though it’s difficult to say with certainty, we should be able to hold normal elections in about three months.”

In other words, Virginia intended to rule as a dictator for at least three months. Arthur fell into momentary contemplation. Elections in three months? Given Elza’s situation—with electricity and water constantly failing and unstable communications—it wouldn’t be surprising if elections weren’t held for six years.

“That’s absurd. How?”

“We’ll restore water supply, stabilize electricity, and maintain the communication network as robustly as possible. To achieve this, it would be better to relocate citizens scattered across regions to the capital area where industrial infrastructure is developed.”

“Are you saying you’ll forcibly relocate citizens?”

This made no sense to Arthur. Everyone knew what Elza had done to maintain its territory. Former National Gendarmerie members even formed illegal vigilante groups to protect their hometowns after returning.

Now Elza’s Acting President was declaring she would gather people from all over Elza to the capital. To Arthur, this seemed little different from declaring civil war.

‘Ah, was the declaration of war aimed at this?’

If rumors spread that Minsk’s army was invading, Elza’s people would naturally flee to the safety of the capital. Having read Virginia’s strategy, Arthur changed his attitude.

“You have quite a task ahead of you, Madam… Acting President. Is there anything Minsk can provide to help?”

Virginia bowed respectfully.

“I won’t forget Minsk’s assistance. I think one military cargo plane would be sufficient. Perhaps two if you prefer. Please send them to Elza Capital International Airport.”

“Oh? May I ask what they would be used for?”

“Well, you and your family, colleagues, and staff will need those planes to return home.”

Arthur’s mouth opened so wide it seemed his jaw might dislocate. This made Virginia hesitate momentarily, and fearing she might appear weak, she stood up with dignity, leaning on the desk.

“And I plan to dispatch the National Gendarmerie to ensure citizens of Robarten can participate in Elza’s presidential election.”

Robarten—Minsk territory with a direct highway to Minsk City.

“Ha. Ha. Heh. Madam Acting President, even a toddler who can read a map would know that’s Minsk territory, not Elza’s!”

“You misunderstand something, Ambassador. Maps don’t determine territories; territories determine maps. The map you’ve seen is incorrect. Adjutant, bring the map we have as a gift for the Ambassador.”

Two officers brought in a scroll as tall as a person. When unrolled, it revealed a map large enough to cover a six-person table.

On this map, there was no Minsk or Römer. Everything was “Elza’s land.”

“The new map.”

“Virginia…! You’re insane! Completely insane! Are you trying to drive the world into war? And do you really think you can survive if all-out war breaks out between Elza and Minsk?”

“Yes. That’s what I think.”

With a motion as natural as pulling a pencil from her pocket, Virginia drew the gun from her side. It was so long it could have been mistaken for a hunting rifle, but it was clearly a revolver—with a drum full of bullets.

“I’ll give you four days. Leave this land with your embassy staff. I’m not sure if your precious Minsk Air Force can avoid zombie bird strikes, but I’ll authorize two transport planes. Moving by land would be extremely dangerous.”

“You’ll regret this.”

Arthur frowned with contempt, as if spitting out grass that had rolled into his mouth. Virginia nodded.

“You’re right. I do regret.”

“What?”

“That I should have done this much sooner instead of dawdling. But I won’t push you too hard. The ‘tree sap’ whiskey was quite good. While I’m thinking of it, I’d like you to convey my apologies to Noi Sedu. Tell him that while I found his marriage proposal intriguing, I regret that due to limited selection capacity, I cannot accept him.”

Arthur was bewildered—as bewildered as the day he received the administrative order: “You’re being assigned as a diplomat to Elza.” Virginia’s words were strange. He had somewhat expected the marriage rejection, but the reason wasn’t “it’s not time for marriage yet” or “I don’t like you,” but rather “limited selection capacity.”

“W-what do you mean by that…?”

* * * * *

Camilla continued scrolling down with her mouse. Without taking her eyes off the monitor, she elegantly muttered:

“Crazy bitch.”

Even Cassandra, who normally found such language uncomfortable, quietly nodded in agreement. They were looking at a paper newspaper published for the upper class and an internal military newsletter for those who still had internet access.

My face was in that newspaper.

As always, I had planned to tease her a bit and then hang up. But for whatever reason, Virginia started unbuttoning her shirt one by one.

I thought the cleavage was getting a bit risky, but Virginia went one button further. Then she pulled back her National Gendarmerie coat and pressed her shirt against her chest. Her assertive features stood out prominently.

– Want to see?

There was no time to hesitate. It wasn’t that I particularly wanted to see Virginia’s chest—it was for the peace of Elza. Of course, the screen was being recorded along with the audio.

Virginia was hope for Elza’s citizens and a general full of fear and charisma for the military. If a video of her acting coquettishly spread, she could instantly become an object of ridicule.

Either way, it was good for me.

“It’s not free, is it?”

– Let’s do this. I’ll show you my chest, and you show me your face. When I count to three. Simultaneously. Very briefly.

If only she hadn’t spread the gap in her shirt with two fingers, I could have resisted.

“One, two, three.”

Virginia pulled her shirt down, but didn’t throw it off.

I also only pulled my bandana down to just below my lips, not revealing everything.

– I knew it.

“I knew it.”

The conversation ended with both of us giving each other the middle finger.

But they took that momentary glimpse of my face, photoshopped it, and plastered it across the newspaper.

<Breaking News: Acting President Virginia Helford Announces Marriage. Who is the Groom?>

– Acting President Virginia revealed yesterday that she has filed for marriage. During a regular briefing, she… did not disclose detailed identity for confidentiality reasons, but stated that he leads a survivor group in the midwest region and will soon return to the capital with all of them, causing a sensation…

This crazy woman even scanned the marriage registration documents and published them in the newspaper. Of course, mine was forged, but Virginia’s was in her own handwriting. She even took a photo in front of the court reception desk holding the marriage registration form.

The article below seemed much more important.

<Breaking News: Minsk Ambassador Arthur’s Departure Confirmed… Declaration of War Materializing.>

“Married man… a married man… what is this nonsense.”

Cassandra muttered in a daze.

“We need to burn down the courthouse and tear up those documents.”

Camilla seemed to have returned to her Liberation Corps days.

“Tonight’s dinner is delicious married man.”

Leticia had simply lost her mind.

“Please don’t do this. What marriage? I never agreed to this.”

“Does Virginia seem like someone who would ask for others’ opinions?”

“No. That crazy woman wouldn’t.”

“…It might not be what you think.”

I wondered if Leticia had gone crazy again. They say if you turn 180 degrees twice, you end up back where you started—perhaps the same had happened to her?

“What do you mean?”

“Virginia is Römer nobility, right? Marriage means something different to Römer nobility. It’s practically a non-aggression pact. So Virginia has essentially announced to the world that she won’t attack you. In other words…”

She’s telling Minsk, “My husband is here, so shoot and kill him if you want.” Conversely, she’s declaring to us, “If you don’t want all-out war with Minsk, you’d better come to the capital.”

It was a calculated move.

“…What should we do now?”

Camilla collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. I quietly embraced her. She struggled slightly but eventually dug her fingers into my shoulder like a cat.

“I won’t give you to that crazy woman.”

“I wonder what this means in Römer?”

“Huh?”

Surprised, Camilla pulled away from me. I asked again.

“What does this marriage announcement mean in Römer? If marriage has that meaning for Römer nobility, it doesn’t seem like something she could decide unilaterally.”

Leticia answered my question with bewilderment.

“Oh, right. I think my brother told me it’s strongly meant as an alliance between families.”

“We still have internet, right?”

“Um, yes. We do, right?”

“And I’ve recorded all the videos.”

“Yes, no problem.”

Then there’s nothing to worry about.

I sat down at the computer.