It’s Been a While!

“Next, a meeting with the Deputy Minister of the Bern City Enlightenment Propaganda Department is prepared. They’ve already reserved a hotel.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s in an hour.”

“I see, I’ll go down soon.”

Click!

Ernst waved his hand to dismiss the driver and skimmed through the schedule he had handed over once more.

“Meeting with Deputy Minister of Propaganda Management”

“Attendance at Supreme Committee (discussing merger agenda)”

“Holding of Parliamentary Group Meeting”

“Hmm.”

Although he had been busy every day with a mountain of work even before, it felt like his schedule had become twice as hectic since acquiring the newspaper company.

“To think I fell for her instigation, oh my.”

Ernst put on the coat hanging on his chair while shrugging his shoulders and letting out a laugh close to a sigh.

Before he knew it, he had come to operate a media outlet he never imagined. Not a decision made after long deliberation, but due to a proposal made by a girl during a meal.

Even now, when he recalled that moment, he couldn’t believe himself. When had he ever so readily accepted such a proposal?

‘It was the first time I saw such a peculiar one.’

And when was the last time the other party requesting such a deal was a girl who hadn’t yet shed all her childish traits?

“Haha.”

He was really surprised when Yena had diligently prepared documents with research materials in her briefcase. It was a level of quality hard to believe was prepared by a cadet candidate.

‘I’ve lived long enough to see everything.’

Creak!

Ernst got up from his chair after putting on all his clothes. He moved towards the vehicle waiting outside the building.

“Ring ring!”

No, he was about to.

“Hm?”

If only the phone hadn’t rung.

---

“Have you been well?”

“What brings you to call like this?”

I gently raised the corners of my lips at the familiar voice coming through the phone.

The military academy is good in this regard.

To think they provide a telephone in each dormitory room. They must have taken care to manage it well, as it was possible to make calls without having to go to the faculty office if needed.

“What reason would there be other than to inquire about the well-being of ‘President’ Ernst? I just called to ask if you were doing well.”

“Haha, I’m fine here. If there’s a problem, it seems it might be with you… How is life at the military academy?”

“Yes… I’m still doing fine for now.”

The conversation with Ernst after a long time brought me considerable joy.

Are there any difficulties in running the newspaper, how is the internal political situation, what’s the status of the Conservative Party and the Labor Party…

We talked about many things.

Perhaps because it was our first meeting since we promised each other a ‘deal’ and parted, it wasn’t boring as we talked about the events that had happened to each of us in the meantime.

“Hmm… I see. Anyway, from what you’re saying, it seems your life isn’t entirely smooth sailing, but I’m relieved.”

“I’m glad that Party Leader Ernst doesn’t seem to be unwell either.”

“As for me, well, apart from the work piling up like a mountain, there’s no particular problem, haha!”

However, after a brief casual conversation, we got to the main point.

“Anyway, Yena… I think that’s enough, so tell me your real business. No matter how I think about it, you’re not the type to pick up the phone just to worry about my well-being.”

“I’m hurt that you see me that way. Haha.”

With Ernst’s subtle urging, I had no choice. Taking a deep breath, I tapped the mattress on the bed where I was sitting while taking the call and opened my mouth.

“It’s nothing special, I just called to introduce you to a wonderful person. I’m confident they have excellent character that might become a good connection for you, Party Leader.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“I thought you might ask that, so I just mailed something. A gift and a letter are enclosed, and I think you’ll understand sufficiently when you check the contents.”

Weren’t you curious about how to stop the sly officers circling around? This is the method.

“I hope the carefully prepared gift and letter for that person arrived safely. That’s all I ask.”

Regardless of who the other party is, it’s a perfect method to completely foil their wicked schemes while not alienating the military academy.

“Then have a good day.”

“Hm? Hmm… Alright. I still can’t figure you out.”

As long as the necessary data isn’t military secrets, there’s always a way to obtain it.

Click!

I inserted the phone back into its original position while breaking into a wide smile that pinched my cheeks. If they thought I would be stupidly pushed around like the other cadets, they should rightfully pay the price.

“Good work today as well.”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

The cheerful shouts of Gartel and the cadets echoed around the training ground.

It was the usual sight of training at the military academy.

Although I had done something tremendous in Bern and returned to school, and it had been almost three days since my call with Ernst, the classes were no different from before and after I left.

“Ye-Yena. Hello?”

“How can you give such good speeches…”

Of course, this was limited to classes.

“Hi, nice to see you.”

“Ah, please take care of me in the future!”

“I’m learning a lot by watching you from the side!”

What use was it that the content of the classes hadn’t changed and Gartel didn’t show any signs, when outside of classes, I was facing a completely different life.

The children in the class who had been consistently indifferent now showed friendliness as if they had never been otherwise. At least, even if there were still children avoiding me, no one looked down on me.

Indeed, gaining fame changes how you’re treated.

Although I had become at odds with some instructors, considering these aspects, it didn’t seem like such a bad result.

I had risen to become an influential figure in one go.

“You’re spreading it again today, huh?”

“……”

Moreover, the reason this fame became even more beneficial was that its influence wasn’t limited to just me, but also extended to Lina, who was emanating the scent of fresh morning air here, and Erika, who must be somewhere.

“I’m using it well. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you seem to like it.”

“By the way, how’s the research project going? I heard from the senior that you’re preparing something amazing…”

Trudge, trudge!

As Lina approached, the cadets gathered around parted like the Red Sea to the left and right. She didn’t seem to care about the gazes of the other children.

“What exactly are you planning to present on?”

She stared only at my eyes, no, beyond that, just my pupils. It could be seen as a truly great level of interest.

“Are you curious?”

“Yes.”

“I see, you must be curious…”

However, that and talking about the research project are separate matters.

“Unfortunately, it’s a secret.”

“…Pardon?”

Even if Derian and Rommer had looked into it, I didn’t want to unnecessarily reveal content they hadn’t actively mentioned. Besides, even if I told her, I’m not sure she would understand.

Anyway, while the instructors might know, it’s strictly confidential to the cadets. Wouldn’t that make for a bigger impact?

“Well then, good luck.”

“Hm, ah?”

Or maybe I just couldn’t be bothered to tell her. I left Lina, who was rapidly opening and closing her eyelids over her golden eyes, and headed to the cafeteria for a delicious meal.

“Yena, they say there’s carrot soup today!”

“……”

Ah, I take back what I said about a delicious meal.

I think I’ll go to the school store today.

---

“How long has it been since I set foot on this land…”

Ernst stepped forward resolutely while glancing at the balloon of the airship boasting its magnificent presence right behind him.

[Welcome to the Federation]

This sign with such a phrase flickered beside him.

‘It’s been almost a year, hasn’t it.’

Whee!

He tightly closed his coat while caressing the bridge of his nose, which had turned red from the Federation’s characteristically cold weather. It was his first visit to the Federation this year, following last year’s visit for official business.

“Huu, it’s indeed chilly…”

Who would have known that the person Yena mentioned wouldn’t be a Bern citizen? No, who could have expected it to be the remote Federation, not even the Gallian Republic or the British Empire?

He couldn’t have imagined it. That the protagonist she asked to meet would be none other than the Federation, and a high-ranking official at that.

‘She surprises me every time.’

How on earth did a girl with no particular connections get such a network? Even if she obtained it while staying as a cadet candidate, it was still extraordinary.

‘Since she gave me such a contact…’

Crumple, crumple─

Ernst weakly raised the corners of his mouth as he picked up a piece of paper he had carefully kept in his chest pocket.

“Oh, my.”

He knew better than anyone how difficult it would be to obtain such a private contact, even if a cadet candidate somehow became acquainted with a Federation official while going around for training.

Until a few weeks ago, he had been in the position of a father who had sent his son to Astrakhan. That’s why Yena was surprising.

‘Since she shows such sincerity, I can’t help but come.’

In the first place, introducing such a precious connection means she trusts me that much, doesn’t it? Ernst was willing to live up to that expectation.

“Is that the building?”

It’s enough sincerity to call the contact to make an appointment, delegate the newspaper management to lower-level managers, pack up in a day, and fly to the Federation.

Trudge, trudge!

After tightening his coat and walking the streets for about thirty minutes, Ernst hurried his steps as he confirmed the neon sign visible from the corner of his eye.

Creak!

As befitting a restaurant known as a famous eatery in Moscow, the interior also had a splendid atmosphere like the neon sign’s light. Ernst skillfully completed the check-in and moved inside.

“Excuse me…”

“Are you the person who called?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

After such a difficult journey, if it could be called difficult, he finally came face to face with the Federation person.

“I called, but let me introduce myself again. Ernst von Stresemann, I’m the leader of the Conservative Party.”

“Ah, I almost forgot. Serty Gottlaff, I’m in charge of managing the Sevirpol Research Institute. I came out like this because I heard you had an acquaintance with Yena Freud.”

It was a meeting between men surrounding Yena.