When we were summoned and hurried to the Battalion Commander’s office, our Company Commander, Captain Yugi, was already there.
「Everyone’s here, I see」
「All assembled」
The Company Commander and the Battalion Commander nodded at each other, then turned to face us.
Two direct superiors, both present—clearly, this was a major matter. I was starting to feel a little tense.
「Second Lieutenant Fonkt, and Second Lieutenant Crimine, reporting as ordered」
I gave the kind of formal report I usually didn’t bother with, and the Battalion Commander gave a small nod.
「Well done. First, I’ll tell you your mission. Captain Yugi, along with three others, are to assassinate Admiral Terzen of the Southern Fleet of the Imperial Navy」
Well, damn. Out of nowhere, we’ve got ourselves an assassination order. And not just anyone—a big shot of the Navy, one of the biggest.
We saluted, still stunned, and the Battalion Commander gave a wry smile.
「You’ll need an explanation, won’t you?」
「If possible, sir, please」
I answered, and Second Lieutenant Crimine was nodding vigorously beside me. Naturally.
The Battalion Commander leaned back deep into his chair and crossed his arms.
「To tell the truth, assassination orders of this type have been coming down for some time. But I used my authority to reject them, insisting, ‘Our Battalion does not possess the ability to conduct assassinations.’」
Incredible. Just how much political pull did this man have to be able to refuse something that outrageous?
「I despise assassinations. As a method of eliminating political opponents, it is the most contemptible. I hate executions as well, but at least they maintain legal legitimacy, so I consider them somewhat less vile」
True enough. Assassination as a political tool is rotten no matter how you look at it.
Back in my previous life, I liked to play assassin characters in games. Precisely because it’s shady business in real life, it’s entertaining in a game.
When I nodded firmly, the Battalion Commander smirked.
「But exactly because it’s such a vile method, accepting it allows me to demand commensurate compensation. To be specific, authority and manpower—enough to conduct such an operation」
「That, we certainly need」
Just the other day, when we were tailed, if we’d had more people, we could have arrested the stalkers. With only a few dozen men, including NCOs, on the rolls of a so-called “Battalion,” we simply didn’t have the bodies to move.
The Battalion Commander sighed.
「So this time, I accepted the order. Admiral Terzen is a villain—privatizing warships, running smuggling of forbidden drugs. That large-scale smuggling ring that was recently busted, it was proven he was the ringleader. He must have made a fortune」
Once officers reach a certain scale of manpower and budget, and can act freely, plenty of them start doing whatever the hell they please.
Our Battalion Commander might not be lining his pockets, but he sure as hell does what he wants.
「A bit of smuggling is usually tolerated as a perk of the job, but the nature of these goods touched the Emperor’s wrath. His Majesty is zealous about eradicating forbidden drugs」
The Emperor may be an out-of-touch dullard who loves executions a little too much, but in broad strokes he rules reasonably. That’s why people go along with him.
「The Emperor summoned Admiral Terzen to an inquest, but Terzen, being cautious, refused to appear. His Majesty judged it an intent to rebel, and decided on quiet elimination」
「In that case, wouldn’t it be simpler to move another fleet and blockade his port?」
Don’t dump Navy business on the Army. Though, I guess that thought was too bureaucratic. I need to be careful.
The Battalion Commander chuckled.
「Our sagacious Emperor harbors deep distrust of the Navy itself. He fears other admirals might side with Terzen, turning it into a large-scale rebellion. Even punishing him legally carries unpredictable repercussions. Thus, assassination」
When an Emperor can’t even trust his own army, the country’s finished. Yeah, this Empire’s on borrowed time.
Suppressing a sigh, I answered.
「So, an imperial edict has fallen upon us, the Ceremonial Battalion」
「Exactly. With the ‘Yuoh Nevilnel’ affair already making things unstable, the Emperor must not suspect our Battalion the way he suspects the Navy. If our budget or personnel are slashed, I won’t be able to protect you」
That’s the sad thing about the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion. We mock the Emperor, but in the end, all we’ve got is his authority to cling to. Strengthening our position inevitably makes us look like Imperial loyalists.
And yet this country is already rotting from within… troublesome indeed.
「So, in exchange for accepting this elimination order, I demanded expanded authority and manpower. Naturally, since we are to assassinate a serving naval admiral」
He grinned.
「Our Ceremonial Battalion will be assigned two platoons of infantry—around a hundred line infantry soldiers. Not even a full company, but enough for organized guard duty and patrols」
For a Battalion, we’d want five or six hundred. But since we’re not a combat unit, we can’t complain.
As guards for Battalion HQ, it’s more than sufficient.
Still, that’s quite a drastic reorganization. Where are they pulling a hundred men from?
Perhaps my doubt showed on my face, because the Battalion Commander turned aside with arms still folded.
「Well, they’re invalids. Men dropped from regular units due to injury or age. They can’t march in campaign columns」
「Is that… all right?」
The Commander replied flatly.
「Maybe they’ll fall behind on marches or bayonet charges. But when do we ever do that? Our duties are HQ guard and firing squads. At most, patrols inside the Capital」
「That’s true」
For infantry, the most important thing is walking and running. For us, as long as they can pull a trigger, they’ll do.
「One platoon to Second Company, one to Third. As lieutenants, you may borrow up to four men at your discretion」
「That helps. Could we use them for this mission?」
「If necessary. But don’t expect the performance of regulars」
Even just four soldiers carrying muskets with bayonets affixed make a world of difference in intimidation. Our jobs will be easier now.
Not that four or even fifty would suffice. Our opponent is a naval admiral.
「Also, the Ceremonial Battalion will have its own investigative and judicial authority. You need not seek approval from other departments. Officers, at least, you may arrest without question」
So we’re basically the secret police now. In a country where revolution could spark any day, we’ve been handed the dirty work of politics.
A chill ran down my spine, but I understood. We’re executioners under the Emperor. All we can rely on is his authority.
The Battalion Commander smiled at me.
「Now, I’ve loaded your hand with as many cards as I could. Can you eliminate Admiral Terzen with this?」
「I’m not confident, but we have no choice. We may cause some noise, however」
「That’s fine. Cleaning up afterward is my job」
Resting his chin in his hand, he spoke in a cheerful tone.
「I’ll cover most of it up. Just harvest Admiral Terzen’s life. But don’t overextend」
「I’ve never overextended in my life」
「Ha. Sure you haven’t」
The Battalion Commander chuckled, and even Captain Yugi stifled a laugh.
「Don’t worry, Commander. I’ll supervise them」
「You’re a liability yourself, but see that you bring these two back alive. They’re indispensable to this Battalion. And of course, so are you」
「Why, how flattering」
My superiors looked altogether too amused.
Captain Yugi turned to us, sounding as if we were about to set out on a picnic.
「Well then, shall we discuss the specifics now?」
「Yes, let’s」
It was going to be a long meeting.