Let’s Make a Deal

I entered the principal’s office thinking that Lustet would probably ask a few questions about this incident.

“Is that child Yena?”

“Yes, she is.”

But what I encountered was a meeting with an unknown man.

“I’m Yena Freud. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Yes, have a seat.”

While I first saluted Lustet respectfully, I couldn’t take my eyes off the man sitting next to the principal, wearing glasses with chains and sporting a pointy beard.

Who is he?

Is he a financial administrator to award the prize money? No, Lustet is being very formal with this man?

Plop─!

I was suddenly dragged here while heading to the training ground, so what’s this situation? I placed my cap on the desk and sat on the sofa, furrowing my brows in confusion until I was fully seated.

“May I speak?”

“Yes, please do.”

Finally, as I sat down completely, the elderly man fumbled around his waist and pulled out a piece of paper.

“Take this.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

And he handed it to me.

It’s a business card.

I could easily tell from the well-cut rectangular shape on the stiff paper. But why is he giving this to me?

[Ernst von Stremann]

(Leader of the Imperial Conservative Party)

I checked the content with uncertainty, but the words written on the paper gave me a shock I hadn’t expected at all.

The leader of the Imperial Conservative Party? And with the surname Stremann, doesn’t this mean he’s Wolf’s father I had previously sorted out?

I’ve messed with quite a big shot.

I expected Wolf to have a huge backing, but I didn’t know its identity would be the figure leading the Imperial Conservative Party.

Isn’t it a party with power second only to the Labor Party and the Imperial Communist Party? Although it’s a minor group compared to the two major parties, it had enough influence for the Prime Minister to pay direct attention.

And such a person came to see me specifically.

“…”

Wondering if he might be seeking revenge, I silently looked up at Ernst, but he shook his hand with a faint smile.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. Our son committed the wrong first, so I bear no ill will. I came to apologize on behalf of the family for the trouble caused to you.”

Ernst, smiling warmly, had a pleasant appearance reminiscent of what one might call a kind-hearted grandfather. It was enough to make a naive first-year quickly lower their guard.

However, I continued to watch him cautiously.

He’s a politician after all.

Even if Ernst truly had a different, finite character from Wolf, it was difficult to trust someone who specializes in hiding their true intentions.

“An apology, you say?”

Nod─

“I heard that despite having 7th grade mana, you worked hard to receive a recommendation from the instructor, and despite some unpleasant incidents, you received a commendation certificate for your tremendous skills in the joint training?”

“Yes, that’s right, but…”

“I almost crushed a flower growing vigorously because I failed to educate my child properly! I couldn’t sit still as I judged this to be a blemish on the Stremann family.”

As Ernst finished speaking, he stood up. Then, without any thought of maintaining appearances, he bowed.

“I’m sorry, Yena.”

When he comes out so formally like this, I had no choice.

“It’s alright. It was resolved well without any casualties, and Wolf received appropriate punishment according to military law.”

Thud─!

In the end, I also followed Ernst, leaving the sofa and grasping the hand he extended while bending his body at a right angle.

This person…

And when our palms overlapped, I realized. That he wants something from me. Isn’t his intention to gain my favor by continuously coming out with a humble attitude obvious?

He’s easing the tense atmosphere before getting to the main point. Otherwise, he could have just given a simple bow and left.

Whatever it is, it means he wants something.

Thanks to the intuition I developed from meeting many political figures in the past and facing the Führer who could be said to be putting his neck on the line, I easily grasped this turbulent current.

Well, it’s fine by me.

Expecting him to have a personality exactly like Wolf’s and even preparing myself,

“So, I was wondering if—”

I listened quietly to Ernst’s following words, thinking “finally.”

“Let me speak from now on.”

But just as I thought the moment to resolve my questions had arrived, Lustet, who had been quietly drinking tea and just listening to the conversation, suddenly cut off Ernst’s words.

“We need to handle this matter as quickly as possible. You know this incident doesn’t only involve Yena, right?”

“Ah, that’s right. Haha. Then please speak first. I’ll step aside for a moment.”

Perhaps because Lustet, the Eastern Commander-in-Chief, was in a higher position in terms of rank, Ernst left the principal’s office for a moment without saying anything to the principal’s assertion.

Click─!

As the sound of the door closing was heard, only then did Lustet focus his eyes on me and burst out with tightly closed lips.

“I’m sorry, Yena. Party Leader Ernst said he really wanted to see you once, so I arranged this meeting.”

“It’s alright.”

“I pride myself on not being foolish enough to defend my son’s wrongdoings. His apology to you was probably all sincere. So don’t worry.”

Lustet took a sip of the half-empty cup of black tea to wet his throat, and handed over documents piled on one side of the desk.

“The reason I called you urgently is partly because Party Leader Ernst came, but originally it was because of this.”

[Wilhelm Gartel Disciplinary Report]

I twitched my eyebrows upon seeing the title of the document Lustet handed over.

So Gartel is being punished too. I had guessed to some extent. Both Wolf, the perpetrator, and I were candidates in the class he was in charge of.

Anyway, it’s true that Gartel didn’t grasp the situation until Wolf plotted his dirty scheme, so there was nominal management responsibility.

“I’ll just get to the main point briefly. If you want to thoroughly deal with this incident, Gartel will be heavily charged for failing to detect the threat towards a cadet.”

Rustle─!

“As stated here, he’ll probably face not just a pay cut but also promotion restrictions. The higher-ups are viewing this incident seriously, so they won’t mind imposing severe punishment if that’s what’s decided.”

On one of the many pages of the documents Lustet spread out, various charges that could be brought against Gartel were written.

“However, if you want to let this incident pass quietly, Gartel will only have his salary cut for a few months and that’ll be it.”

“…”

“This document is just what the secretary has organized, and nothing has been properly decided yet. Gartel’s treatment will be determined at the committee meeting convened at midnight today.”

I quietly listened to his lengthy words.

By mentioning the two cases where Gartel would be punished face-to-face before the disciplinary committee meeting was held, I could predict the next content even without Lustet explicitly saying it.

“Yena Freud.”

“Yes.”

Thud─

“I want you to quietly bury this incident. For the sake of Gartel, who even wrote you a recommendation letter, for the military, no, for the country, I ask you.”

He placed his interlocked hands on the desk and sharply lit up his eyes.

So this is why he hinted for Ernst to go outside. It’s essentially a scene of solicitation. The moment he gets involved, he becomes an ‘accomplice’, so he must have understood and left.

“I’ll grant any request within the principal’s authority. What do you say, Cadet Yena Freud?”

I took a moment of silence in response to Lustet, who asked while resting his chin on his hand.

I didn’t spout nonsense like “I’m an honest soldier, I don’t commit such corruption.” I could tell from the atmosphere flowing in the principal’s office that this was no joke.

Rustle─

I lowered my head so that my long black hair fell forward, then slowly raised my upper body to face Lustet.

Actually, although I didn’t tell the principal, I was the one who wanted Gartel not to be punished more than anyone else.

Why would I want severe punishment when I can clearly see it will hinder future plans? Having formed a good relationship with him now, there was no benefit in giving Gartel hardship unnecessarily.

If I refuse here, Lustet won’t look favorably on me either.

It would be like rejecting Lustet’s request. From then on, from the principal’s perspective, I would become a troublesome existence, and in extreme thinking, he could turn hostile.

I should accept.

But it’s a shame to do so empty-handed.

“Hmm…”

I needlessly licked my bright red lips and let out a deep hum. If there’s something given, there should be something received, right?

He said anything the principal could give right now was possible. Then, what would be the best compensation to receive at this time?

This is an opportunity.

I need to think carefully.

“…Principal.”

I broke the silence that had continued for about thirty seconds and looked at Lustet.

Thud─

And in a state where I politely placed both hands on my knees like a demure woman, I raised my neck straight.

“Is it possible for you to grant me a leave?”