Ch.86Chapter 12. New Life (1)

<Chapter 12. A New Life>

<Video Replay>

News Highlights (The National Gendarmerie Does It Again! Stabilizing Chaos in Hampton Districts 17, 18, and 19! “Jewelry Store Robber” Wanted)

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BEST1

How strong is that commander… Are the National Gendarmerie motorcycle helmets really so fragile they shatter when slammed? Even with all the defense procurement corruption, they shouldn’t be that bad.

BEST2

Phantom Thief Sister. ㅠㅠㅠ. Please marry me♡

BEST3

Comment deleted (Original: This is fake. Originally it showed armed robbers in Hampton with the Gendarmerie chasing and losing them, but that’s all gone and cleverly edited to look like civil unrest in Hampton…)

* * * * *

“What is all this?”

Leticia was greeted at work by reports that made no sense. Fortunately, the intelligence officer gave her a brief summary.

“Did you see the news yesterday? On the elevated road connecting Districts 17 and 18, a woman in tight leather clothes holding grenade launchers in both hands…”

“I saw it.”

Leticia flinched but tried to answer calmly. The intelligence officer seemed to glance at her suspiciously, but probably thought it was just a guilty conscience.

“Things have gotten complicated. You know Cassandra Wilson, right? Senior researcher at the Disease Control Bureau. She was a top surveillance target for the Special Task Force.”

“I know that too.”

“Apparently Cassandra and her gang robbed a jewelry store in the safe zone. They took civilian men and women hostage and escaped in three modified pickup trucks.”

This was information Leticia already knew.

Commander Virginia had blocked all exits except Gate 4. The plan was to cause traffic congestion to trap the gang.

In response, Cassandra’s group blew up the safe zone fence with explosives, and the commander deployed motorcycle patrols from the 8th and 14th Gendarmerie as a contingency.

“But these thieves scattered jewels on the street. You know they’d authorized civilians with automatic rifles for the reconstruction work in Hampton’s outer districts.

Civilians with automatic rifles tried to pour onto the streets, the Gendarmerie tried to stop them, it was complete chaos. Meanwhile, Cassandra’s gang escaped.”

“Because of this pervert in spandex?”

Feeling another pang of guilt, Leticia pointed at the photo—of herself. She was glad she had covered her face. Though she might be imagining it, the intelligence officer seemed to glance at her again.

‘No. I escaped perfectly. Don’t get excited.’

Leticia calmed herself.

In truth, her plan hadn’t ended there. She had prepared for what came after too.

The original plan was to seize Gendarmerie equipment to separate pursuers from civilians, then follow the escaping vehicle alone to arrest “warmonger” Camilla and “important criminal” Cassandra, and rescue the innocent citizen Caesar.

But that brilliant plan had come to nothing.

‘Can a human really scream like that with their bare throat?’

Even if you’d lost your parents’ killer, you wouldn’t scream like that. Virginia’s hate-filled cry had echoed between buildings. It was enough to make her legs go numb with fear.

She wasn’t the only one affected. Even the Gendarmerie soldiers trying to catch her had staggered. In that moment, what allowed Leticia to escape wasn’t the thought of saving Caesar.

It was the desperate feeling that being caught in such shameful attire would be worse than death. But when she finally escaped, she felt a certain thrill.

Like when she accidentally showed Caesar her underwear, or when she strode through the streets with her thighs fully exposed—a sense of liberation, relief, and excitement.

‘So this is what it feels like to commit a crime and escape.’

She was dangerously close to understanding criminals.

“Um, are you alright?” the intelligence officer asked cautiously.

“Huh? Oh, oh, oh! Yes, continue.”

“Anyway, it seems Captain Kamio Minto wants to go with this story. It’s clear the Gendarmerie missed something, but admitting they let Cassandra escape would make things worse.

It would be problematic that a senior Disease Control Bureau researcher took civilians hostage and robbed a jewelry store, and also that the National Gendarmerie was monitoring a Bureau researcher, which enabled quick pursuit.

Of course, the name ‘Cassandra’ wasn’t explicitly mentioned on television. They just called her an ‘important criminal.'”

“The repercussions would be significant. So?”

“So Captain Minto is trying to pin everything on this leather-clad spandex person.”

Leticia’s heart sank.

“…What did you say?”

“The important criminals who split into three vehicles, robbed the store, and scattered jewels on the street—he’s framing it all as if this woman orchestrated everything and revealed herself to ensure her subordinates could escape safely.

You know, like the dynamic of a magical girl vigilante group burning with their own sense of justice, and the police who understand the magical girl but must uphold the law. This spandex woman is the magical girl, and our commander is the police. Plus, she ridiculously called herself Magical Stocking or Smoking or something.”

“Ri-ridiculous?!”

The intelligence officer gave Leticia a blank look.

“Isn’t it? Look at this woman’s figure. Even though we can’t see her face, she’s clearly not a girl. She looks at least in her mid to late twenties. To me, she seems like a delusional person obsessed with heroism. Anyway, our Gendarmerie captain wants to frame it as this woman being the boss, with the commander pursuing her.”

So Virginia was directly tracking her.

“Isn’t he taking too many liberties? Wasn’t this broadcast live?”

“All the live footage has been taken down. Edited versions are being uploaded, and the panelists’ comments are being dubbed over.

These criminals called the studio during the broadcast, right? They’ve added recordings saying they’re acting under the ‘magical girl’s’ instructions.”

“That’s absurd.”

“It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. It’s always worked well.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Why is Captain Kamio going to such lengths? What does he gain from creating this narrative?”

The intelligence officer glanced around furtively and lowered his voice.

“You know the relationship between Commander Virginia and Captain Kamio is uncomfortable in many ways, right?”

“I know.”

Everyone knows Kamio Minto is a stupid, incompetent old man who only covets positions. But Virginia is undeniably a young officer who can’t control her drive for action.

Minto gets a lot of criticism, but Virginia’s actions could also warrant a court-martial.

She was told not to enter human non-protection zones but used personal connections to deploy helicopters, and when she heard the 14th Gendarmerie leadership was decimated, she stormed Hampton City Hall, arrested officials under the mayor, and pushed Minto to declare martial law because “Hampton is in crisis.”

Of course, Leticia likes Virginia. But she doubted whether all those actions would have been possible if Virginia weren’t from the Roemer noble family and if the Helford family didn’t hold the Roemer Senate chairmanship. If Leticia herself had done those things, she might have been shot dead immediately.

“And?”

“Commander Virginia ordered the broadcast station to cut the camera connection. But Captain Minto pushed ahead anyway. Going further, rumors are rampant that he’ll officially assign her the ‘mission to capture the phantom thief hiding somewhere in Hampton.'”

Leticia’s face turned pale. Things were spiraling in an unintended direction. She had only wanted to rescue a man she wanted to get close to, but getting married was proving this difficult.

“…So all of this is to embarrass our commander?”

“That’s part of it.”

“And?”

“This is almost certain—rumors are strong that the 14th Gendarmerie will be disbanded. The surviving officers will face intense investigation.

It’s inexplicable how their leadership and communications network were paralyzed by the Liberation Corps overnight. This suggests there’s an internal spy.

Instead, the 8th Gendarmerie will absorb that organization, personnel, and duties. Our numbers will double.”

“Then…”

“Of course, disbanding and reorganizing units isn’t uncommon. It happened frequently during the war, and there are precedents and procedures, so it will likely be resolved quickly. But there will naturally be gossip.

That’s why Captain Minto plans to put Commander Virginia at the forefront. He’ll have her do more public activities, give her more responsibilities—she has an appealing appearance, after all, and makes quite an impact.”

Leticia barely managed to keep herself from running away. The intelligence officer, oblivious to Leticia’s distress, continued sharing this terrible outlook.

“He’ll expose Commander Virginia to the general public and media to restrict her impulsive actions, and strengthen internal control in Hampton under the pretext of catching the ‘phantom thief.’

Now all of Commander Virginia’s actions will be credited to Captain Minto. Everyone knows who her superior is.”

“…What did the commander say?”

“Well. She said something rather terrifying.”

Leticia gulped nervously. The officer seemed a bit disturbed just recalling it.

“…She said she would cut off this ‘spandex person’s’ limbs, treat them quickly, then throw them in the middle of a human non-protection zone. While keeping them conscious.”

“Hieeeek!”

“That does sound like something the commander would do.”

Unable to contain herself any longer, Leticia stood up.

“I think I need to see the commander.”

“She went to City Hall to discuss unit reorganization.”

Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring. Just then, the phone rang. Leticia answered with trembling hands.

“Hello, this is Leticia.”

– Ah, good, you’re at your desk.

It was Commander Virginia. Her voice sounded a bit hoarse.

– Did you get briefed by the intelligence officer?

“I just did.”

– I’ll be brief since time is short. The merger of the 8th and 14th Gendarmerie has been decided. However, considering the time required for organizational integration, we’ve decided to create a temporary department—a special security team handling public security, investigation, and surveillance.

“…What?”

Anyone could tell this made no sense.

The National Gendarmerie combines military and police functions. In countries like Elsa, it has particularly unchecked authority.

That’s why departments are divided to allow for minimal checks and balances. It’s like a final safety net or conscience.

But integrating “public security, investigation, and surveillance”? That’s essentially saying one person will do everything.

– The Special Security Team will be responsible for Hampton’s internal security and external order maintenance. Internally, it will strengthen order, and externally, it will actively respond to and preemptively strike against the Liberation Corps.

Additionally, two special missions will be assigned: publicly tracking the phantom thief, and secretly arresting Cassandra Wilson. The former issued a public challenge to Elsa and cannot be forgiven, while the latter is a key figure in a classified national project. Use these two missions as a pretext to further strengthen Hampton’s internal order. Finally, congratulations.

Leticia, half thinking ‘I want to go home. I want to talk to Caesar. I should have rescued him then. I wonder if he’s eating now,’ and half trying to understand Virginia’s words, responded a bit late to the unexpected congratulations.

“Con-congratulations…?”

– You’re the Special Security Team leader.

“W-what?!”

– It’s time for your promotion, isn’t it? I recommended you strongly. With your wisdom, experience, courage, and judgment, you’ll catch someone like the spandex person quickly. In fact, if you had been by my side, I don’t think we would have lost her. I really missed having you there.

“Yeees!”

– Congratulations, Security Team Leader.

The call ended. As soon as it did, an email about personnel changes arrived.

“Wow, congratulations on your promotion!”

The intelligence department staff applauded in unison. Non-commissioned officers who knew of Leticia’s hard work even shed a few tears. The shrewd sergeants left, saying they should buy snacks.

Leticia wanted to cry.

‘Caesar. Please take me away. People are telling me to catch myself. What should I do? Please get me out of here.’

Of course, “Caesar” couldn’t hear those words, nor could he help.

He was busy stabbing zombie necks with a long wooden spear.