Ch.389Now to Egypt

* * *

Honestly, if he had shown some remorse, I was planning to just seize some assets and offer protection. But this guy is beyond help.

He doesn’t understand what he did wrong.

“Well, whatever. Before arguing with me, I’ll leave him to the Libyans.”

“Pardon?”

“Since you overthrew the dictator, I’ll let you decide how to deal with this man.”

We need to seize Gaddafi’s assets to help develop Libya.

Once this matter is resolved, nothing else matters.

These people should deliver their own punishment. If I handle it, many might be satisfied initially, but they’ll harbor resentment over time.

“Hang him!”

“Death to the military dictator!”

“We cannot have a leader who only serves his own interests!”

It seems the Libyans have decided to execute Gaddafi.

Apparently, quite a number of people died at Gaddafi’s hands during the investigation.

That makes sense. Even in uncivilized countries, there would be people who resist.

That’s how history works.

Even Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo staged a coup and killed King Yeongyang and his officials. During the Military Revolt of Goryeo, many civil officials were killed.

There’s a limit to leniency.

“No. Please don’t. Save me. Hiiieek!”

This will serve as a good example for Libyans in the future.

It will be a precedent showing that dictators will die. This should make it difficult for anyone to become a dictator.

It would be perfect to bring the Libyan Free Army under the Roman Treaty as well.

We’ll establish a government that can’t embezzle our money.

As I watch quietly, I hear Louise talking with the Libyans.

“They’re asking for a guillotine. What should we do?”

“Where was a guillotine used recently?”

Where was a guillotine used?

I haven’t heard any recent news about it, though maybe I just wasn’t paying attention. At least, I haven’t heard anything.

I have no idea how much the guillotine has been used in this world.

“They executed a French serial killer twenty years ago.”

Of course, it’s France. They don’t fall behind anywhere.

“They killed a French serial killer?”

Hmm, guillotine. I don’t think it’s a bad idea. This is Libyan territory after all. What’s wrong with cutting off the head of someone who shows no remorse?

There’s a need to show how miserable a dictator’s end can be. Yes.

Especially that madman who thinks I’m a dictator—I personally hope he dies.

It’s not a show of abdication; I sincerely want to abdicate, but the feeling of being rejected by the people is frustrating.

This is all because I’m transferring power to the people.

If I think I need to remain as Russia’s “Ana-chan” forever, then this bastard Gaddafi truly has no thoughts of his own.

“Do we have a guillotine?”

“Yes. We brought one just in case.”

Well, who else but the French? They brought everything.

“As expected of France, prepared with a guillotine for occasions like this.”

I’d prefer to avoid things like guillotines, but for someone like him, it can’t be helped.

“It looks a bit barbaric though.”

Well, the guillotine is an unavoidable part of history.

But seeing this, it’s ridiculous how the great powers called Joseon barbaric for beheading people.

Anyway, I think this much is necessary with the guillotine.

“S-save me! Please! I’ll give you anything! Please spare my li—” THUD!

Waaaaaaaaah!

And finally, the guillotine blade fell.

The cheers were so loud from the moment the blade started falling that I couldn’t hear the sound of the head being severed.

Unconsciously, I touched my own neck.

“Hmm. Seeing that makes my neck feel chilly.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Louise tilted her head.

“I saw my parents and siblings being shot by the Bolsheviks with my own eyes.”

Honestly, thinking about that day makes me feel disgusted.

No, suddenly being possessed and seeing such things.

“Y-yes, of course.”

“Life is quite interesting. The head of the man who was begging for his life in front of me just moments ago is now rolling over there.”

In other words, I could have ended up like that if I hadn’t been lucky.

To be precise, I would have been shot, but still, imagine having your head cut off.

How many women had their heads cut off in European history?

Among them were innocent women, and some who went to France for vacation only to be falsely accused and beheaded during the revolution.

Of course, in this case, the crime is clear.

He carried out a great purge, and even if we were willing to overlook that to some extent, he embezzled money from the Roman Treaty. Outside of Tripoli, nothing was done properly.

Moreover, to create a pro-Roman Treaty force, we must help the Libyans regardless of what punishment they decide.

“That’s true.”

“Human life is truly fleeting.”

Thinking about it, I believe this is better.

At least with an immortal body, I won’t end up like that.

Gaddafi. If it weren’t for me, he might have lived well somehow.

Well, that’s the truth. There must be some corrupt people in the Duma too, right?

If I were to expose all such people, it would become a reign of terror, so I don’t interfere. Or perhaps there’s surprisingly no corruption.

After all, isn’t this the country of the saint?

But this bastard is problematic because he’s a military dictator.

“Now, let’s form a government.”

First, officials from the Roman Treaty were dispatched to discuss government formation in Libya.

An interim government was formed with intellectuals among those who executed Gaddafi.

And naturally, the new Libyan government had to be established in a new way.

“It’s right to bring back Your Majesty’s king, but I believe the power should be run by the parliament in the Russian style.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. By checking the king’s power and having political parties that check each other, we can maintain a balance of power.”

The Roman Treaty side offered much advice.

The government needs to be properly established, and capabilities need to be developed for a proper handover.

“Libya is a Roman Treaty partner country, and there’s no country likely to attack Libya, right? Looking at Libya’s current financial state, it seems best to keep only the Free Army as the military for now.”

From any perspective, there isn’t enough funding to build up the military.

Above all, the country is in the process of modernization, so money can’t be spent on weapons.

“But shouldn’t there be some scale of military? The country is in turmoil now. African refugees might enter, and securing public safety is urgent.”

“Hmm. How about this? We’ll station part of our treaty forces in your country. Of course, you’ll have to pay for the stationing costs, but it will be much more economical than Libya expanding its own military.”

For Libya, the military was a sensitive issue due to the military dictatorship.

So both building up the military and reducing it were problematic.

The only reassurance was that there would be no foreign invasion.

The chosen method was to pay stationing costs to the treaty forces and keep them in the country.

If even a small treaty force is present, any country that wages war against Libya would be proving they’re fighting against the Roman Treaty.

“I never thought something like the USFK would end up like this.”

Well, it’s not bad for both Libya and us.

Libya thus regained stability.

Now, what remains is Egypt. The bizarre things happening in Egypt. The attempt to secretly take Suez shares.

It’s a bit funny to bring troops for this, but anyway, after seeing Libya being taken down, Egypt will have some reaction.

After all, we’ve shown that the Roman Treaty is not to be messed with.

“By the way, what’s happening on the Egyptian side?”

“They’re trying to cut their losses.”

Beriya, who visited Egypt after Libya, presented a report.

Cutting losses. They probably plan to put all the blame on one person in the middle to cover up everything.

It will likely be the person in charge of the Suez shares, and Egypt might try to slip away.

Indeed, that’s a bit concerning. I don’t like it.

How can I overlook those who do such bizarre things and then try to back out?

“Cutting losses. So they claim they have nothing to do with it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They’re despicable.”

They are despicable indeed. I can’t forgive them either.

If their excuse is plausible, we can’t just interfere, and it’s also problematic if they whine to the United States for help.

Having a clear justification is the issue in the end.

“But if their excuse is plausible, we’ll have to let it go.”

It means they’re scared on their own.

“They say they’ll accept both the investigation team and negotiations.”

Oh, I see. I guess they saw what happened next door.

They’ll cooperate with the investigation team. So please don’t attack.

We can’t waste military expenses by moving troops unnecessarily. Then for now, it’s good to observe Egypt’s actions.

We should continue preparing for an attack just in case.

“Good. Let’s request the Roman Treaty to send an investigation team directly. And let’s examine the current situation in Egypt in detail.”

Originally, there’s no one who doesn’t have a speck of dust when thoroughly investigated.

Really none?

If dust gets in while searching, that’s also dust. No one can prevent that.

So, we need to justly punish Egypt or do whatever is necessary.

Of course, if they truly repent, they won’t lose their heads like Gaddafi.

We can be moderately lenient.

“Yes. I’ll also check if modernization has been implemented.”

It’s money we gave for modernization.

Even the attempt to embezzle the Suez shares, if it was actually a calculated action for various reasons, could be overlooked.

Though they don’t seem like such people.

If they had properly developed the country, I would be willing to overlook it.

But if not, we should just beat them up.

“But was there a need to land in the middle? Couldn’t we have just pushed from Turkey into Egypt?”

That’s right. That’s also an option.

Instead of wasting time landing, we could have thoughtlessly advanced westward from Turkey and pushed both Egypt and Libya.

Above all, there are various complex reasons.

“People tend to panic when caught off guard. And it would be troublesome if we pushed from the side and Libya decided to prepare for defense.”

In fact, as we approached Tripoli, defensive forces began to increase.

Considering this, perhaps we need to consider the worst-case scenario.

Whether such orthodox methods would work is another matter.

“By the way, who is the current leader of Egypt?”

I wonder what the Egyptian leader is doing.

In original history, he was related to the Middle East war.

I’d like to know if it’s the same person.

“The current leader of Egypt is a man named Gamal Abdel Nasser.”

“Gamal Abdel Nasser.”

Is he the one who played a role in the Middle East war?

He was beaten in the Second Arab-Israeli War. Despite that, he reportedly had steady supporters.

Of course, whether he’s the same person I know is another matter.

“Who is he?”

I should know about the leader to better deal with the situation.

“He’s a figure who advocates Pan-Arabism and occasionally confronts Turkey regarding Syria.”

A figure advocating Pan-Arabism. Syria.

Oh, is he trying to take Syria?

I don’t remember clearly, but I heard that Syria and Egypt became one. They formed a union.

I read about it in a humor community when reading about the Middle East war.

“So he confronts others about Syria.”

I didn’t know such a person existed. That’s unusual.

Is he saying he’ll touch our Turkey under the Roman Treaty?

Or it could be lip service for domestic political issues.

“Well, if Egypt claims they’re making efforts…”

“Effort without results is meaningless. Especially for Egypt, where I can clearly sense what they’ve been doing.”

What’s the meaning of effort without results?

Moreover, in Egypt’s case, they’re full of self-interest.

So if I don’t like it, I should punish them.

“From your words, you’ve already investigated, right?”

“It seems less severe than Gaddafi in Tripoli. He doesn’t seem to have done anything deserving death.”

“Is Nasser’s approval rating high?”

The reason pushing troops into Libya was successful was because Libyans had strong antipathy towards military dictatorship.

But conversely, if Nasser has high approval, there’s a possibility they might turn anti-Roman if we enter.

It would be easy to take Egypt.

But if that’s true, it might be difficult to bring in troops.

“Yes. Especially the older generation seems to like President Nasser. At least he didn’t do things like Gaddafi.”

“I see.”

Does this mean there are at least some results?

It seems he didn’t purge like a military dictatorship.

At least he seems to be a figure who can win public support.