“Gathering you all so suddenly isn’t for any other reason.”
When Commander Siegmund finally sat down after the last arrival, Lieutenant Colonel Rankenster, the Inspector General, slowly began to speak.
“Chief Inspector of the National Guard, shall we guess the reason?”
“Given that you only called these four of us and not the heads of other departments, there must be another reason.”
Lieutenant Colonel Paldikov, his hair as white as snow, spoke with a piercing gaze.
“You’re referring to the coup, I presume.”
“That’s right.”
The National Guard could be largely divided into three departments.
First was the Criminal Investigation Bureau, which handled general investigations and military police duties.
Second was the Mobile Corps, a combat unit deployed for special operations or as royal bodyguards.
Lastly, the National Guard Command, where overall decisions for the National Guard were made.
In particular, the National Guard Command had slightly higher authority than the other departments and functioned similarly to the ‘General Staff’ in a typical army organization.
It managed branches scattered across various regions, conducted overall inspections of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Mobile Corps, and led the organization in a clean and upright manner.
Therefore, the Chief Inspector of the National Guard held one of the most important positions within the National Guard,
and served as an aide directly under the command of Major General Siegmund Blakovich.
Colonel Rankenster, as the Inspector General, was also a member of the National Guard Command.
As the colonel said, the four officers gathered here were all closely connected to the ‘coup’.
Colonel Rankenster was ordered by the Chief Inspector of the National Guard to collaborate with Colonel Enok Revendale to root out the coup plotters.
Colonel Kamalov of the Special Military Unit of the National Guard was the one who requested ‘forceful’ support when Colonel Rankenster faced a critical situation.
And the last remaining officer, Colonel Offray Dunn, was a key force in protecting King Orlando Rus III.
“Today, we can clearly see that what we once treated as just an unsettling rumor is now very close at hand.”
In response to Commander Siegmund’s words, Colonel Offray, the commander of the Royal Guard, asked:
“How do you come to that conclusion?”
“The d*ath of Captain Nikolai Hilbert and the arrest of Captain Lune Aire. You don’t think all this is mere coincidence, do you?”
“Of course, I believe these are part of suspicious activities, but surely they are the acts of remnants from the Strigoi or Azoff People’s Liberation Front?”
The commander of the Royal Guard continued:
“Even if the Army General Staff is already keeping a close eye on the Eastern Corps, and it is known that only one division and one cavalry brigade will participate in the parade for His Majesty’s birthday, such circumstances make a coup impossible, don’t you think?”
“I agree.”
Following this, Lieutenant Colonel Paldikov nodded his head.
But Colonel Rankenster, who was directly investigating the coup, thought differently from the other officers.
Certainly, as he had thought moments ago, the occurrence of such events just before a coup would actually lower its success rate.
The military had already uncovered the series of connections between Minister Alberto and the Eastern Corps Commander.
With each event, suspicion within the military towards the Eastern Corps would undoubtedly grow.
But what if all this was a bluff?
What if they deliberately caused incidents to divert the military’s attention elsewhere?
Only the thought that the time for the coup was drawing near, as Commander Siegmund said, came to mind.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. With our Royal Guard and the Capital Defense Division standing firm, it’s impossible with just one infantry division and one cavalry brigade.”
“What if they aren’t the main force behind the coup?”
“What do you mean…”
“For example… our National Guard, perhaps.”
At Commander Siegmund’s words, the meeting room instantly turned cold.
Colonel Rankenster realized that the change in atmosphere was not due to the commander’s incomprehensible statement.
He immediately lowered his hand to draw his pistol. It was lightning fast.
Click!
“—!”
“Inspector General! What is the meaning of this?!”
“Commander Siegmund! I request the immediate arrest of Chief Inspector of the National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Paldikov and Commander of the Royal Guard Lieutenant Colonel Offray Dunn!!”
Only then did Rankenster realize the mistake he had made.
He had assumed that all the operatives of the National Guard had anti-coup tendencies.
Of course.
The reason the coup plotters were stirring up trouble was certainly to protect their own interests, but the reason they put forward publicly was not something so trivial.
‘Stopping the war.’
They genuinely believed that King Orlando Rus III was preparing for war with the Soviev Empire.
It wasn’t entirely wrong.
King Orlando was indeed preparing for war.
He established new units, greatly expanded the army, purchased expensive equipment from abroad, and even built a massive munitions factory in the north.
Could anyone who saw this deny that preparations for war were being made?
However, all of this was for the purpose of preparing for war, not conducting it.
Regardless of whether Ukraine was strong or weak, the Soviev Empire would inevitably invade Ukraine when the time came.
Colonel Enok Revendale’s words were becoming increasingly realistic over time.
A few years ago, during the deployment to the Limansk Arsenal to recover the stolen pearls of the Eighth Paratrooper Mechanized Infantry Battalion,
they brought back solid evidence that the Soviev Empire was creating mutant soldiers.
Even Colonel Rankenster, who had adapted to most things, was shocked to the point of worrying about it in his dreams.
The reason they were creating mutant soldiers was singular.
War.
Nationalism and expansionism spreading from both East and West were gradually engulfing the world.
However, it always took some time for such ideas to spread among the public.
The Soviev Empire had been planning to reincorporate the country of Ukraine into its territory for a long time.
Would such people really refrain from devouring a compliant Ukraine?
On the contrary, they would likely rejoice at the ease and convenience of devouring it.
“What is this insolence! Put away your g*n, Inspector General!”
“Commander! Issue your orders!”
“This is treason! Attempted m*rder of a superior officer!!”
Despite the two lieutenant colonels’ frantic outbursts, Major General Siegmund Blakovich spoke to them in a chilling voice.
“Why did you do this? How could you betray your homeland?”
“Commander!”
“As of this moment, I am relieving Lieutenant Colonel Paldikov and Lieutenant Colonel Offray Dunn of their positions. Major Kamalov, once the detention of these two individuals is complete, move to Petrobuna Palace and block the entry of the Capital Defense Division.”
Major General Siegmund was always such a person. He never acted without solid evidence.
By saying this much, it meant that the suspicions against Chief Inspector of the National Guard and Commander of the Royal Guard were almost certain.
‘Even the assassination of Captain Nikolai Hilbert… Could it have been our National Guard…’
He was completely fooled.
If his direct superior, who was the head of the investigation against the anti-coup faction, fell,
it meant that all the information he provided had already fallen into the hands of the coup plotters.
‘Cursed…’
Colonel Rankenster clenched his lips in frustration.
At least he managed to stop it in time.
Just as Colonel Rankenster was about to approach the Chief Inspector of the National Guard sitting next to him to arrest him,
Bang—!!
A gunshot echoed. Reacting immediately, he turned his head to see bl**d spurting from Commander Siegmund’s forehead.
Thud.
His head fell onto the table, staining the white documents with bl**d.
Another gunshot rang out.
The pistol in his hand was knocked back by the shock and rolled across the floor.
Instantly incapacitated, he looked at Major Kamalov of the Special Military Unit in disbelief.
“Major Kamalov…?”
“As of this moment, I will urgently detain Inspector General Rankenster for the attempted m*rder of Commander Siegmund Blakovich of the National Guard.”
“Did you too become one of them?!”
Rankenster shouted. The corpse of Commander Siegmund, lying cold, was clearly visible before his eyes.
“If you cooperate and surrender quietly, I promise not to harm you.”
“But… Have Major Bella Meyer and Colonel Enok Revendale already…”
“I’m sorry, but patriotic methods are not always the same.”
Colonel Rankenster’s expression twisted with betrayal. He aimed his pistol at Major Kamalov as he approached.
He activated a device he was holding.
Swish!!
“No!”
A blinding light filled the space instantly, and Major Kamalov pulled the trigger.
Bang, bang!!
In just a few seconds.
As the bright light faded from his vision, there was only a clear bloodstain where Colonel Rankenster had stood.
“Sir, are you alright?!”
Several gunshots were heard, and the Black Hounds of the Special Military Unit, waiting outside, rushed inside simultaneously.
They passed by the miserable remains of Commander Siegmund and approached Major Kamalov.
“Tell the Mage Investigators that Colonel Rankenster used magic to escape after assassinating Commander Siegmund. It seems like an artifact, so track his location immediately.”
“Understood!”
“And as of this moment, the command of the National Guard will be taken over by Lieutenant Colonel Paldikov, the Chief Inspector.”
Despite the unforeseen situation, everything was somehow well managed.
Originally, more time should have been given, but given the circumstances, there was no choice but to proceed with the plan.
Lieutenant Colonel Paldikov brushed off the bloodstains on his clothes and said:
“As Acting Commander of the National Guard, I hereby declare a state of emergency in the capital region of Carayef. Notify the Capital Defense Division and quickly subdue the General Staff. Also, capture Enok Revendale, a person of interest!”
“Understood!!”
The National Guard dispersed from the scene in an instant.
The moon rose.
Now, it was finally the time for the night of the blade.
*
“Cough─!!”
Colonel Rankenster coughed painfully. A terrible burning sensation like tearing through his side.
Holding it with his hand, he felt a hot and damp sensation on his skin.
He had been hit.
He never imagined he would end up using the teleportation artifact that Colonel Enok Revendale had told him to keep.
Still, thanks to this, he managed to save his life and could tell that the National Guard had been completely taken over.
“Hurry, contact… contact…”
Colonel Rankenster got up from his seat without checking where he had landed and tried to move.
“I knew it would turn out like this.”
Until he heard a familiar voice from behind.
Amid the darkness, glowing eyes appeared along with blonde hair.
“We’ll have to go with Plan C.”
Colonel Enok Revendale.
That man seemed to understand the whole situation and nodded calmly.
”
