Ch.238Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

# “Where There Is No Tiger, the Fox Becomes King”: In a place without tigers, the fox acts as king.

This proverb carries many meanings.

When there are no superiors around, insignificant people strut about with inflated egos, and such individuals tend to transform into tyrants the moment they wear even the smallest armband of authority.

A person’s true worth is revealed from the moment they grasp power. Perhaps it’s talent that never had the chance to bloom, or perhaps it’s their true nature hidden behind a mask.

That’s why people should always know their place.

After all, clothes that don’t fit the body and shoes that don’t fit the feet are burdens one cannot bear.

But what people misunderstand is this:

No matter how many stripes a fox draws on its face,

A fox is ultimately just a fox, and can never become a tiger.

Never.

## Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician in History

The northern region of the Kiyen Empire is an area of conflict comparable to war.

Many nations have united to face demons and monsters that have come from the frozen lands.

The main force in the northern conflict is the Kiyen Imperial Army. The Empire, which has been in opposition to the Demon Realm for hundreds of years, has declared martial law in the north, granting numerous powers to the military.

Therefore, the entity leading the northern conflict is neither the Order’s Inquisition nor the Magic Tower’s armed forces, but the Kiyen Empire’s Ministry of Defense.

Specifically, it’s the Military Government Command, which serves as the martial law headquarters.

I went to see the head of the Military Government Command.

“Commander Mikhail, a visitor has arrived. It’s Mr. Frederick Nostrom, the Abas Defense Attaché to our country.”

When the secretary in military uniform announced my visit with a precise knock, a response came from inside after a slight pause.

The secretary said, “You may enter now, Attaché Nostrom.”

“Spasibo (Thank you).”

I stepped through the door the secretary opened for me. Upon entering the office, I thought the room was smaller than expected.

The office felt much more cramped than when I had seen it before.

I wasn’t sure if it was because of the documents waiting for approval in one corner of the room, or if the room was actually small, but it was quite modest for a general’s quarters.

I turned my head to survey the interior of the office.

Officials with neatly folded hands holding document folders, and behind them, stacks of unsigned papers. Through a small window in the office, the gloomy northern sky was visible.

And with his back to the northern sky, a general sitting at his desk, scribbling with a ballpoint pen.

I set down my briefcase and greeted the general.

“Здравствуйте, Командир Михаи́л (Hello, Commander Mikhail).”

The old man’s gaze lingered on me briefly.

After maintaining silence for about two seconds while staring at me, Military Government Commander Mikhail suddenly opened his mouth and said:

“Рад встрече. Фредерик военный атташе (Nice to meet you, Frederick Military Attaché).”

Commander Mikhail glanced at the imperial military officials.

“You all step outside. I have something to discuss privately.”

*

It had already been five days since the Magic Tower’s magicians, disguised as ordinary citizens, set foot in the black market. Ironically, the magicians who had jumped into the black market to extract the stone to pressure Hormoz found themselves in an awkward situation due to small pebbles rather than the largest stone.

Threats, extortion, looting, assault…

The Magic Tower’s magicians received enthusiastic “welcome greetings” from the criminal organizations of the north (if those minnows could even be called that). Most incidents were limited to threats and extortion, but criminals resorting to violence were gradually appearing.

Based on my experience, it’s best to cut off the sprouts of such people before they bloom.

They might just be common thugs loitering in alleys now, but later they could develop into international criminal organizations with unity and hierarchy.

However, I don’t have the authority to eradicate criminal organizations in the north. This is Kiyen, not Abas.

But I know someone who has the authority to deal with these criminals on my behalf.

Military Government Commander Mikhail silently pointed to a side table occupying one corner of the office. It meant I should sit there.

I went over and sat down, and Commander Mikhail took the head seat.

“It’s been a while, Attaché Frederick.”

Commander Mikhail, occupying the head seat, greeted me in a mid-low tone with almost no pitch variation. It was fluent Abas.

The distinctive Kiyen accent was clearly evident, but even considering that, his Abas conversational ability was quite good. That’s what was written in the internal evaluation report prepared by the Military Intelligence Agency’s overseas department.

For reference, Lyudmila, who was responsible for Kiyen language interpretation, couldn’t join this meeting. She wasn’t granted permission to attend. Perhaps Commander Mikhail’s use of Abas was out of consideration for me.

I pretended to be surprised and replied in Abas:

“It’s good to see you, Commander. I didn’t know you spoke Abas.”

“I know a little.”

Dismissing small talk with a brief answer, Commander Mikhail opened his mouth in a dry, monotone voice:

“Tea? Coffee?”

“I’ll have tea.”

He picked up the receiver and instructed his secretary to bring two cups of tea. He asked what kind of tea I wanted, and when I said anything would be fine, he ordered black tea.

By the time the refreshments prepared by the secretary were placed on the table, Commander Mikhail, who had returned to the table, began the interview with a businesslike attitude.

“I received a report from my secretary. That the attaché requested a meeting with me.”

“That’s correct, Commander.”

“What business brings you here?”

What a direct manner of speaking.

After hearing from Francesca about conflicts with local minor criminal organizations, I immediately contacted the Military Government Command to schedule a meeting with Commander Mikhail.

No matter that I was Camilla’s colleague and a foreign diplomat, I couldn’t just visit someone of commander rank without an appointment.

Fortunately, Commander Mikhail accepted my meeting request without much difficulty.

“……”

Considering that he had accepted Lucia and Francesca’s requests without asking for reasons or setting conditions when I first visited the Military Government Command, it wasn’t that surprising.

I’m not sure yet whether he’s broad-minded or simply open to everything, but Commander Mikhail is certainly not a narrow-minded old fogey. So it was quite predictable that he wouldn’t refuse my meeting request.

However, I found it somewhat strange that he skipped the customary greetings and went straight to the main point.

In my experience, people who skip pleasantries and get straight to the point fall into two categories:

First, those who simply find it bothersome to converse with me or are too busy to engage in lengthy conversations.

Second, those who deliberately create an oppressive atmosphere to take control of the conversation.

Most people I’ve met belong to the latter category. Especially those in high positions like Mikhail who lead subordinates.

Which category does Mikhail fall into?

Nothing is certain yet, but I decided to find out slowly.

“I’ve come to make a request of you.”

“You have something to ask of me?”

“To be precise, it’s more of a request than a favor.”

The difference between a favor and a request depends on whether it’s absolutely necessary or not.

It’s a subtle difference, but since diplomats can lose their heads if they don’t guard their tongues, I explained to Commander Mikhail in a clear tone:

“Due to certain unfortunate incidents currently occurring in the northern part of the Kiyen Empire, there is great concern among those around us. That’s why I’ve come to urgently request something of Commander Mikhail, who can exercise judicial authority in the north.”

Commander Mikhail asked:

“When you say ‘those around us,’ who exactly are you referring to?”

“Saint Lucia and Administrator Ranieri.”

When Lucia and Francesca’s names were mentioned, Commander Mikhail turned his gaze away and stroked his chin as if contemplating something.

Despite being in charge of the administrative and judicial powers of the entire north and commanding numerous corps and divisions, even Mikhail cannot easily deal with a saint of the Order and a high-ranking official of the Magic Tower’s Secretariat who is also a member of the Ranieri family. Even if those two people are young enough to be his daughters.

Commander Mikhail, who had been silent, removed his hand from the armrest, emerging from his contemplation. Then he nodded and waited as if to say “continue.”

At this point, I decided to drop the pleasantries.

“Commander Mikhail.”

Instead, I went straight to the point, just as he had done.

“Please mobilize the military to eradicate the criminal organizations disrupting order in the north.”

*

The commander’s expression hardened at my request to deploy the military.

Commander Mikhail spoke in fluent Abas, though his pronunciation was marked by a Kiyen accent.

“…Deploy the military to eradicate criminal organizations.”

“……”

“Are you saying this as a diplomat? Or as a soldier?”

It seemed like a question at first glance, but it was certainly not a question.

A diplomat is a public official who resides in a foreign country and engages in diplomatic affairs as a representative of their nation. A soldier is a public official who uses force to protect the country from external invasion.

What’s important is not “what duties they are assigned,” but “where their qualifications come from.”

A diplomat can handle diplomatic affairs because they have the permission of the state. More precisely, the country that dispatches the diplomat designates that person as a diplomat, and the receiving country permits that person’s appointment.

The same applies to soldiers being able to handle weapons. Since the country needs to be protected from external invasions, the government inevitably nurtures a regular army to prepare for aggression. And the international community recognizes each army’s right to engage in combat so they can legally use force when necessary.

So diplomats and soldiers are essentially people who operate with the recognition of not only their own country but also foreign governments.

That’s why people who engage in diplomacy without diplomatic credentials are treated as frauds, and those who engage in combat without the right to combat are treated as terrorists.

In other words,

“Regardless of what position you’re speaking from, that statement could be interpreted as interference in internal affairs.”

Requesting Commander Mikhail to mobilize the military to eradicate criminal organizations could be seen as interference in internal affairs.

After all, I am a soldier and diplomat of Abas, not a soldier of the Kiyen Empire.

But,

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

I smiled awkwardly, as if that wasn’t my intention.

“I have no intention whatsoever of using my position as an attaché to interfere in the Kiyen Empire’s internal affairs or to exercise authority beyond my jurisdiction with Commander Mikhail. I don’t have such authority in the first place.”

“……”

“I’m merely expressing concern about the activities of disrespectful criminals who are disrupting order in the north and threatening civilians.”

Commander Mikhail spoke:

“You requested this meeting to ask me to arrest those criminals, Attaché Frederick?”

“I judged the matter to be that serious.”

I took a moment to catch my breath before beginning my explanation.

“As you well know, under martial law, the Military Government Command takes over the administrative and judicial powers of the area where martial law has been declared. Therefore, the administrative and judicial powers of the north, where you and I are located, lie with the Military Government Command.”

The Military Government Commander nodded slightly.

“Special situations require special rules. The Imperial government judged that a national emergency had occurred due to the southward movement of demons and monsters, and declared martial law because they determined that the city government and police alone could not maintain daily life and order in the north.”

Therefore,

“In a special situation like this, maintaining order can only be the role of the Military Government Command.”

My argument was simple:

First, the Imperial government judged that the police and internal troops had lost the ability to maintain the north’s security and social safety net.

Second, the Imperial government declared martial law, and the Military Government Command has gradually taken over administrative and judicial powers over several years. For reference, these administrative and judicial powers nominally belong to the city government but are actually held by the Grand Duchess, who is the current Emperor Nikolai VI’s aunt.

Third, in the Imperial government’s judgment, neither the police, internal troops, nor even the Grand Duchess, who is an archmage, have the ability to stabilize the north, and to control the situation in the north, they declared martial law and established the Military Government Command, so naturally, maintaining local security is the role of the Military Government Command.

And the commander of that Military Government Command is Mikhail, sitting right in front of me.

“I believe it is your responsibility, Commander, to restore order here.”

In other words, quickly mobilize the military and catch the criminals. Even the Saint and the Administrator are expressing “concern,” so why hesitate? I phrased these thoughts in a more palatable way.

To this, the Military Government Commander replied:

“How long have you been in the north, Attaché?”

His tone was extremely businesslike and ordinary. It seemed oddly out of place for such a meeting.

“About a month now.”

“I’ve been in the north for five years.”

“……”

“Before being appointed as Military Government Commander, I was the commander of the 138th Guards Motorized Rifle Division, and I came here as the commander of the 43rd Corps before becoming the Military Government Commander.”

The general said:

“You may not know this yet, but when you stay here, there are things you’ll come to know whether you want to or not.”

Starvation, famine, disaster.

Food depletion, soil contamination, transportation network destruction, rear attacks.

Epidemics, quarantine, commander casualties, sudden demon raids.

Natural disasters, overflowing patients, incoming refugees.

Sabotaged railways, uprisings in rear areas.

Followed by live ammunition firing by the military police and internal troops.

And recently, monster swarm attacks through rifts and murder cases surrounding various countries.

Commander Mikhail remained silent without explaining further, but I could hear many stories in that silence.

The Military Government Command must carry out military operations while managing territory comparable to a decent-sized country. And all the successes and failures that arise from this are responsibilities that the Military Government Commander must bear.

To this, Mikhail continued with a calm face:

“I’m not saying I’ll abandon my responsibilities and duties. But with numerous problems piled up at my doorstep, I cannot deploy large-scale forces to catch thugs causing trouble in the background.”

“Why not?”

“A significant number of internal troops have already been deployed to the front lines or are scheduled to be deployed, and while the police and military police are focusing on maintaining order centered around cities, they are barely maintaining security due to the influx of refugees. There’s no room to divert forces.”

He says the number of citizens that the police and military police have to manage is too overwhelming to handle. Since they’re barely maintaining security, naturally, operations to eradicate criminal organizations in the north would be impossible without sufficient forces to deploy.

That would be the case in a normal situation.

“It’s impossible to eradicate all criminal organizations. Regrettably, that’s the reality.”

In response to Commander Mikhail’s words, I added nothing and asked just one question:

“Is the army you command now an occupation force? Or a martial law force?”

The Military Government Commander’s gaze turned to me.

“You are not a governor or garrison commander occupying and managing foreign territory, but a martial law commander. This place where you are is not occupied territory but Imperial territory.”

I opened the briefcase I had brought when entering the office and placed an item on the desk.

It was a can of peaches.

After placing the peach can on the desk, I sat comfortably and met Commander Mikhail’s gaze.

“This can is produced by an Imperial company on Imperial territory. On average, you can buy it for about 3 tachrons at a market or store. Do you know how many tachrons it sells for in the north?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“60 tachrons.”

I knocked over the peach can and pushed it with my hand. It rolled a few centimeters with a clattering sound before suddenly stopping as if it had hit a stone.

That’s because the can was dented. It couldn’t roll properly since it wasn’t a smooth cylinder.

“Normally, dented cans should be discarded, but in the north, they sell for 30 times the price. Even though the expiration date has already passed, people still buy them.”

From my perspective, having entered and exited the northern black market several times for surveillance and investigation, the black market could well be described as the north’s garbage dump.

I mean that literally, not figuratively—it really feels like a garbage dump.

“Moonshine made from toxic plants and fake cigarettes filled with tea leaves in newspaper are openly sold. The tea leaves might even be marijuana for all we know.”

They were selling a single fake cigarette for 250 tachrons. No matter how expensive cigarettes and alcohol are in conflict zones, charging that price for a single cigarette seemed off. And the smell was strangely similar to marijuana.

What’s important is the fact that fake cigarettes suspected of containing marijuana, toxic moonshine, and dented cans are being distributed.

Supply and demand is the solemn logic that explains how economies function.

In other words, the distribution of such items in the black market means that many citizens in the north are seeking these things to get through the day.

And the group that failed to manage and supervise this, creating this mess, is the Military Government Command.

And the person commanding that headquarters is Mikhail.

“Commander Mikhail.”

I tapped the side table with my finger.

“This isn’t happening in the Moritani continent or some far eastern country. This is the reality happening right here in the north, where you and I are.”

“……”

“So if you are not the commander of an occupation force, I believe you know better than anyone what you should do.”

The Military Government Commander asked,

Still in a businesslike, monotone voice without inflection:

“What would you like me to do?”

I closed my eyes gently and murmured in a calm tone:

“Honestly… even I think it’s unreasonable to eradicate all criminal organizations in the north. After all, the northern territory is known to be wider than the eastern part of the Kiyen Empire with its vast farmlands.”

“Then?”

“Instead.”

With the people I’m pointing out:

“Wouldn’t it be no problem to arrest and punish a few individuals?”

“……”

“A small-scale arrest operation wouldn’t require deploying many troops. The burden on the police and military police would be relatively less. Of course, security would improve as well.”

Commander Mikhail continued to stare into space with an impassive, expressionless face.

However, his head was nodding very slightly up and down.

To this, I calmly smiled and concluded:

“It will set a good example.”