chapter_0140

139 – Traveling by Train is Not Easy

139 – Traveling by Train is Not Easy

After the Palentia branch was apprehended, the Imperial Security Agency achieved unprecedented success in capturing enemy spies.

There were several reasons for this, but the biggest factor was that the capture of the Palentia branch allowed them to secure the encrypted communication system used by the Allied Nations spies.

Having grasped the communication system, the Security Agency naturally began tracing back, and the Allied Nations spies, whose tails had been caught, were arrested or killed by the Security Agency police who raided them unexpectedly.

Some of the arrested spies, in order to survive, released further information, leading the Imperial Security Agency to achieve the remarkable feat of dismantling and searching the Allied Nations’ extensive intelligence network.

From the Allied Nations spies’ point of view, it was as if a nightmare was unfolding.

“God damn it!”

In the basement of a tavern in the small city of Erestiom, a man wearing a woolen beret on his head couldn’t contain his anger and shouted.

“Headquarters has cut off contact! What’s that but abandoning us!”

At the man’s words, about thirty spies groaned or lamented.

While everyone was unable to refute the man’s words, a man wearing a fedora interjected.

“It’s only natural that Headquarters cut off contact. With the Palentia branch raided, our main frequencies and even the encryption codes have all been exposed. They must be eavesdropping. Contacting Headquarters in this state is no different from advertising to the Empire to come and catch us.”

The man wearing the beret looked down at the man sitting in the chair in front of the table.

The leisurely tone unnecessarily provoked his anger, and he was about to lash out, but he had no choice but to shut his mouth when he saw the scar etched across one of his eyes.

This was Temp্রেট, known by the code name Red Baron.

The beret-wearing man was well aware that Temp্রেট was famous for leaving nothing but bloodstains in his wake.

Temp্রেট picked up a glass of liquor and lightly shook it.

“About thirty comrades managed to escape the Security Agency and come here. Well. Everyone is aware that our situation is very fucked up, so I won’t explain it again.”

Temp্রেট tilted his wrist, poured the liquor into his mouth, and put down the glass.

“Tsk. Unfortunately, we are talents who will soon be caught by the Security Agency and tortured or shot. Of course, if we run away, we can live like cockroaches. But if there were guys who wanted to live like that in the first place, they wouldn’t have gathered here, would they?”

Temp্রেট chuckled softly, leaned back in his chair, and put his feet on the table.

It was an arrogant attitude, but no one here pointed out Temp্রেট’s attitude.

“Then there’s only one conclusion. Let’s fight to the death. While we’re fighting, how about killing one more of our great Allied Nations’ enemies? That way, the Allied Nations will treat us like martyrs later, right?”

At Temp্রেট’s jest, a quiet laughter flowed among the spies.

The man wearing the beret didn’t like this atmosphere, but he couldn’t refute it.

He sighed, pulled out a chair, sat down, and looked at Temp্রেট with displeasure.

“So? Do you have a plan to convince us all?”

Temp্রেট, who was looking at the man who had started using honorifics as if he was amused, smirked.

“Why do you think I called you lost puppies here? It’s to give you a chance to become fierce dogs that bite the beast.”

“The beast being?”

“Daniel Steiner. In a few days, that ferocious wolf…”

Temp্রেট, who revealed the name of the beast, smiled brightly enough to reveal his teeth.

“I’ve received news that he’s passing through this Erestiom.”

*

On the day of his appointment as Chief of Staff of the 7th Division on the Eastern Front.

“To be on the train with you, Colonel. It makes me feel like I’m on a trip.”

Frien was showing off her unique bright smile in the military train compartment.

Lucy, who was sitting next to her, was expressionless throughout, making her somehow stand out in contrast.

Daniel, who was sitting across from Frien, said in a dumbfounded tone.

“You’re good at talking about trips. We’re heading to the front lines right now.”

“Of course I know that. I haven’t neglected my training, so don’t worry.”

“…Training? What training are you talking about?”

“Hey. You’re pretending not to know, right? You told me to hone my healing magic.”

“I remember that, but in what way…”

Daniel stopped talking.

Because he saw a subtle darkness in Frien’s smiling face.

“Do you really want to know?”

Even the subdued tone, as if hiding a secret, was the finishing touch.

Daniel, who didn’t have the confidence to face Frien’s darkness, shook his head.

Seeing that, Frien gave a playful smile and got up from her seat.

“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”

As Frien left the compartment, Daniel, relieved, looked at Lucy.

The sunlight filtering through the window naturally fell on Lucy’s silver hair, and her red eyes blinked calmly, filled with vitality in the midst of boredom.

She looked quite peaceful as she sat by the window and admired the scenery outside.

Daniel didn’t want to disturb Lucy, who was enjoying her leisure, but he thought now was the right time, with Frien gone, so he quietly spoke to her.

“Lieutenant. I’d like to have a word with you for a moment.”

Lucy, who was suddenly called, turned to Daniel.

“…What kind of conversation are you referring to?”

“You know that I had time to talk to the Emperor a few days ago. At that time, His Majesty pointed you out and told me not to trust you because you are a suspicious woman.”

This was what Selvia had told Daniel before he left the office.

At the time, Daniel felt a chill down his spine at Selvia’s words, as if she had noticed something.

If Selvia were to completely figure out Lucy’s identity, Daniel would not be safe either.

So, she was saying this as a warning to be careful in the future, but Lucy felt a strange jealousy rather than gratitude.

“It seems that His Majesty has fallen into suspicion. Besides, I’m surprised that he warned the Colonel instead of telling me directly. I’m worried that he’s trying to drive a wedge between us for no reason.”

“Suspicion…”

Daniel was smiling, but he was dumbfounded.

‘You’re an Allied Nations spy, aren’t you?’

It was natural to be flustered because she was making excuses in a strange way.

In the first place, expressing the Emperor’s words as ‘driving a wedge’ is an act of treason.

‘What happened between the two of them? Come to think of it, even at the Christmas banquet…’

It was the moment he remembered that the atmosphere between Lucy and Selvia was unusual.

Screech─

The friction between the wheels and the rails rang loudly, and his body leaned forward.

The seats and windows also rattled violently, causing noise.

“Damn it!”

Daniel, who hurriedly grabbed the table to regain his balance, reached for the revolver at his waist. The same was true for Lucy.

The two of them drew their revolvers without a word and steadied their breathing.

“…Colonel. Could it be a train terrorist attack?”

“That’s unlikely. If it was a simple terrorist attack, the compartment would be riddled with bullets by now.”

However, the possibility could not be completely ruled out.

Soon, the sound of someone running came, and Daniel aimed his revolver at the door.

“Colonel! You have to come out now-”

The Captain, who appeared in front of Daniel, gasped without finishing his words.

He was the company commander of the company in charge of Daniel’s escort.

Daniel, confirming that the other party was an ally, let out a sigh of relief and lowered his revolver.

“Company Commander. What happened?”

“…Yes? Ah. The engineer says the tracks are blocked.”

“I see. Let’s go out and check it out.”

Daniel nodded and stepped out of the compartment with Lucy into the hallway.

“Colonel!”

Then, Frien, who had returned from the bathroom, looked at Daniel with worried eyes.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah.”

Daniel answered curtly and stepped out through the entrance of the train car.

Then, he could see a pile of dirt collapsed on the tracks over there.

‘Landslide?’

As Daniel approached the area in question, the engineer and conductor, who had been standing with their hands behind their backs, turned around and were startled.

“Colonel Daniel!”

“You’ve arrived!”

Daniel, looking at the two men who bowed politely, let out a low breath.

“Engineer. Conductor. What on earth is going on?”

“That is…”

The engineer said somewhat apologetically.

“It seems that a landslide has occurred recently. Judging from the way it has covered the tracks, it will take a few days to clear it. However, we don’t have enough manpower on our own…”

“I’ll lend you my troops. There are quite a few troops who came as escorts. Will that be okay?”

“Oh! If you do that, we’ll be grateful. We’ll be able to handle it quickly.”

“Good. However, my troops, as well as the engineer and the workers on board the train, will need a place to rest for the time being. Is there a town nearby where we can stay?”

The engineer, stroking his chin, nodded as if there was a perfect place.

“There’s a city called Erestiom not far from here. It’s a small city, but it has everything you need, so it would be good to contact them and take a rest there.”

“It’s fortunate that there’s a city nearby. Then, for now…”

While Daniel was talking to the engineer, Lucy was carefully examining the landslide area.

Lucy’s eyes narrowed sharply as she captured the mismatched arrangement of soil and rocks, the abnormal state of vegetation, traces of cracks, and the starting point of the landslide.

‘This is…’

Because it was definitely not a natural phenomenon.

A word from the author (Author’s note)

Thank you for LONDONBOY’s 3 coin donation! I’m glad you’re enjoying it! I’ll keep writing hard! Thank you!

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Thank you always to all the readers!

Have a great day and a fighting week!

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow!