Colonel Offray Dunn, the Imperial Bodyguard Brigade Commander, informally “occupied” the General Staff Headquarters.
Major Kamalov, one of the other hunting dogs of the National Guard, led his subordinates to Petrubona Palace.
The guards already stationed at Petrubona Palace were soldiers from the Imperial Bodyguard Brigade involved in the coup.
They opened the entrance without a word when they saw the National Guard personnel, who belonged to the same organization, entering the palace.
Some of them were suspicious about the Special Military Unit of the National Guard rushing into the palace all at once at this time.
However, since they had already been informed by their superiors that the Special Military Unit of the National Guard would be visiting, they did not raise any suspicions unnecessarily.
This was the corruption that occurred when those who were supposed to protect the leader joined forces with those who wanted to harm the leader.
Given that everything had been done swiftly and secretly, and within high-ranking officials, the likelihood of even sergeants or privates rebelling against the coup forces was non-existent.
No, they didn’t even realize that a coup was happening right before their eyes.
“Glory to the Motherland!”
“Hail. Is there anyone else here to see His Royal Highness the Regent, or has His Royal Highness left the palace?”
“No, no one. There has been no visitor from outside the palace since sunset.”
“Good, you’ve worked hard.”
Major Kamalov slowly entered the palace.
A spacious corridor.
The moonlight shone faintly on the garden connected to the corridor inside the palace.
‘He is beyond this.’
It was not to harm him. Without any cause, harming the regent could provoke strong opposition from both citizens and soldiers.
Until just a few months ago, he had been investigating the coup forces alongside Colonel Lannister Kale. The reason he ended up being co-opted by the coup forces was to save the regent from the war’s flames that were approaching their beloved homeland again.
He was a veteran who had experienced the First Quernen War.
As a frontline infantryman in the Central Corps, he witnessed his comrades dying meaninglessly and civilians being brutally massacred.
While some might have stoked their desire for revenge amidst such scenes, Major Kamalov felt a sense of futility.
No matter how happy life was, when war, an unwelcome guest, arrived, no one could escape unhappiness.
Whether it was noble-born individuals, government bureaucrats, ordinary innkeepers, or young girls working in the inn, everyone was equally unhappy in the face of war.
But now, it was clear that Orlando Rus III and General Sony Chepelin were leading a definite state of war preparation.
As the Okhraine Duchy grew stronger, the constraints imposed by the Soviev Empire became increasingly noticeable.
Local provocations were still occurring in the north.
The frequency of friction between the Okhraine Duchy’s border guards and the Soviev Empire’s border guards was also increasing.
As a soldier, he knew that little time remained before the guest of war came to the duchy.
Even if it meant becoming subservient, he had to prevent the war.
Of course, he wasn’t suggesting becoming a vassal state. Rather, given the growing strength of the Okhraine Duchy, there might be opportunities to reach favorable compromises under better conditions.
The Soviev Empire, too, would surely not launch a foolish invasion if the Okhraine Duchy submitted first.
Kamalov truly believed this.
Therefore, he must not harm Orlando Rus III.
For now, he had only participated in the coup for the greater good. He still had the duty to support Orlando Rus III.
That was why he volunteered for the operation to secure and detain the regent.
Only he could ensure the safety of the regent.
To be honest, if the coup forces suddenly turned or if remnants of the Azoff People’s Liberation Front or Strigoic commando units brought in by the coup forces tried to harm the regent…
Kamalov’s g*n would mercilessly aim at them.
Upon arriving in front of the regent’s private room,
the Special Military Unit commander signaled his subordinates to form ranks.
They carried only simple batons and pistols as weapons.
An act of courtesy, after all, they were protecting their highest leader.
“His Royal Highness Orlando Rus!”
After confirming that his subordinates had deployed, Major Kamalov shouted loudly:
“Special Military Unit Commander Major Kamalov! I boldly enter this place to ensure the safety of His Royal Highness!”
Screeching.
The major opened the tightly shut massive door and entered.
But…
“…?!”
The regent was not there.
Only the night breeze blowing through the open terrace doors rustled his hair.
*
The most feared force by the coup forces were undoubtedly the battalions of the Special Response Brigade personally created by Sony Chepelin.
These were practically the elite of Okhraine.
Moreover, for Major Palidkov, the Inspector General of the National Guard, these were unpredictable.
Their composition was different from regular Okhraine military units, and apart from the Southern Corps and Northern Corps, they had rarely conducted joint training.
Thus, the focus had been on quickly suppressing the ‘8th Rapid Assault Magic Infantry Battalion,’ which was relatively well-known externally.
Not only did they operate their own air company, but the battalion was also led by Major Enok Revendale, whom Sony Chepelin trusted most and who had gained tremendous recognition within the military from the previous war.
If they could suppress this battalion in time,
it would be like cutting off Sony Chepelin and Enok Revendale’s arms and legs.
However,
plans never go exactly as intended.
“Where are the surveillance forces? Didn’t I tell you to be extremely cautious with surveillance?!”
“They… They couldn’t notice anything unusual. It’s like the entire battalion vanished overnight…”
“d*mn it!!”
Enok Revendale’s movements around the area to oppose the coup had been known for some time.
From the start, reports coming from Colonel Lannister were always relayed through the Inspector General of the National Guard, Major Palidkov.
So, he had thought they had prepared adequately.
But he hadn’t expected them to move so quickly.
“Contact the Imperial Bodyguard Brigade Commander at the General Staff Headquarters and instruct them to classify the battalions under the Special Response Brigade as rebels. If they report that the locations of all battalions are untraceable, they will have no choice but to comply.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what about communications from Petrubona Palace? With Major Kamalov there, the plan can’t fail…”
At that moment,
another messenger rushed into the Inspector General’s office.
“It’s from Major Kamalov. He says the regent has disappeared!”
“What?!”
“He… He seems to have already left the palace.”
Even when hearing that the location of the Special Response Brigade battalions was unknown, he felt dizzy.
But learning that they had failed to secure the regent, Inspector General Palidkov’s vision went white.
To seize power, the cooperation of the regent was essential.
Even if several key officials from the regent’s cabinet were on our side, the regent’s decision would carry more weight than all of their opinions combined for the people of the duchy.
If, conversely, the regent declared our forces as rebels, controlling the General Staff Headquarters, Petrubona Palace, and the cabinet…
The resistance they would have to face would be insurmountable.
“It must be Enok Revendale. This is his doing!”
Bang!!
Major Palidkov slammed his fist on the desk.
“Under martial law, mobilize all available forces in Kaieff to apprehend Enok Revendale and the regent. Capture anyone wandering around freely!”
All this needed to happen before dawn. After daybreak, the probability of seizing control of the government so swiftly would decrease significantly.
“Mobilize all recruits!”
“Sir, the Inspector General…”
“What else?!”
“I have additional information to report on this matter.”
Major Palidkov’s eyes widened again.
“Communication with the Central Army Training Ground has been severed. Commander Retenharck and his family have also disappeared.”
“Wha—?!”
He jumped out of his seat.
“Contact the Capital Garrison Division and its commander! Instruct the National Guard troops to gather at the Army Training Ground!”
Palidkov felt a chill.
Though called a ‘training ground,’ it was a significant force capable of mobilizing a substantial amount of troops within Kaieff.
If they had been co-opted by Enok Revendale…
The premise that our forces could transition smoothly without serious clashes would fall apart.
And as if to prove his point,
“Commander Retenharck of the Central Army Training Ground orders you! Approach further and we will open fire!!”
