In truth, when you get down to it, the current situation was tantamount to checkmate for Commander Ramur.
The mage officer who had been directly ordered by the military police captain and sent to the city had failed to return?
Immediately, a report would go up to the battalion commander, who would realize the severity of the situation and contact Lannister Colonel of the national military police.
But if I could persuade him in ‘some way,’ all incidents could be easily buried.
That’s why they were so desperately trying to apprehend me.
“What are you doing?! You scoundrels!!”
One of the guards who seemed to be a senior officer loudly shouted.
“Arrest him immediately!!”
“H, however, Captain….”
People generally care about justification. The guards only follow orders; they wouldn’t know the internal situation anyway.
Suddenly being told to arrest the officer right in front of them, and the officer is resisting while using magic.
To the guards, this order to arrest an officer with no apparent crime is just as bad.
They must be quite confused.
What if I intensify their fear?
I casually swung my hand, throwing a fireball in front of the guards.
Boom!!
“Aaah!!”
With a powerful explosion, dark dust rose. The guards who were slowly advancing jumped back in shock.
“These guys are just too scared for no reason…”
Seeing the scene where his subordinates were instantly suppressed, an officer couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled out his g*n from his side.
“I’ll sh**t if you don’t surrender!”
“Go ahead.”
Even against a gang of thieves and spies from the Soviev Empire, he didn’t flinch.
A mere local city guard threatening with a pistol like that wasn’t enough to scare him.
He couldn’t even sh**t anyway.
Just as I couldn’t use magic recklessly on the guards, they couldn’t really sh**t either.
In a situation where there isn’t a specific suspicion, shooting a proper officer?
Even if it’s just for intimidation, under military law, they could be sentenced to d*ath. If they actually aimed and shot, everyone involved could be hanged.
It’s obviously a blatant ab*se.
Moreover, with so many people watching in the middle of the city, it would be hard to cover up.
Anyway, I’m the one holding the initiative here.
‘Or should I just show the military police badge?’
I could resolve this situation instantly, but the problem was with Commander Ramur.
Such scoundrels are like cockroaches; once they get away, it’s not easy to exterminate them.
If I reveal that I came from the national military police, this news would definitely reach Ramur’s ears.
At the same time, the probability of escape would be very high.
Even in modern times with commercialized communication devices, punishing regional collaborators is difficult.
How much more so now, without proper communication tools?
This is the perfect opportunity to completely eliminate the culprit while Ramur still thinks he has a chance.
Whoosh!
As I deployed another fireball, the man holding the g*n also swallowed hard.
He doesn’t want to be hit by that blazing fireball either, does he?
“What the hell is going on here!!”
Then, a voice full of anger echoed through the street. Hearing this, the officer controlling the scene jumped.
“I’m, I’m sorry, sir! This guy refused to be arrested until the end!!”
“Is that your excuse?!”
Bam! The officer, hit with an iron gauntlet, fell to the ground.
A man in shining armor with a robust build.
Commander Ramur.
He let out a long sigh and looked straight at me, saying:
“Enok Revendale, is that right?”
When I didn’t respond, Ramur tried to coax me with a forced smile.
“Let’s not do this here. Let’s go inside and talk. There’s nothing good in standing off like this.”
“The provocation came from your side first. We were even asked to accompany you to the barracks before, so there’s no need to go again.”
Facing my firm stance, Ramur’s expression distorted.
“No, why is someone who knows better acting like this? If you keep this up, we might have to use force from our side.”
“Go ahead. I’ll face you with all my strength.”
Ramur, judging that persuasion wouldn’t work, chose coercion.
“Even if you’re an external mage officer, this crosses the line. I’m the Commander. In terms of rank, I’m higher than you, a lieutenant!”
…What is he trying to say?
Of course, the military is a strict hierarchy, but the city guard is somewhat different from regular army units.
The rank of lieutenant given to Ramur feels more ceremonial than anything else.
Even with the rank of lieutenant, he has no actual authority over the regular army. In fact, he’s treated as part of the lower organization within the game system.
This situation is akin to the chief of the police battalion demanding proper treatment according to rank for a current army lieutenant.
Quite the smooth talker.
“The city guard only borrows the ranks from the army; we’re not actually part of their organization.”
Feeling cornered, Ramur couldn’t answer further and could only tremble.
I don’t know, go ahead. If you find it unbearable, try to arrest me by force.
“Why are you all gathered here? What are you doing?”
While this standoff continued, another man appeared who looked incredibly similar to Ramur.
It was almost like a copy-paste job, but unlike Ramur, who gave off a commanding presence, he exuded a wild and lawless vibe.
A thick forearm with an alligator tattoo.
He seemed to be a member of the Gabiál crime syndicate, which Rex and Bella mentioned, and he looked like Ramur’s younger brother, whom I heard about in the guard’s barracks.
“Oh~ these useless guards are making things difficult.”
He smiled slightly and put his hand on Ramur’s shoulder. Ramur pushed his hand away with a very displeased look.
“Don’t bother us, you idiot… We can’t get involved anymore. Handle this in your own way.”
“Ha, scary, huh.”
When the thug laughed, burly-looking troublemakers started emerging from among the guards.
“Get lost, you nuisances!”
“You lazy bums…”
Despite being proper law enforcement officers, the guards could only look away even as they were being insulted in front of them.
Perhaps our First Platoon wasn’t a waste after all.
It was truly amazing how public order was maintained decently in the city despite such treatment from those who should be protecting citizens.
“Hey, is this guy the right one?”
After looking me over thoroughly, Ramur’s younger brother asked a subordinate with bandages on his arm.
Ah, that guy.
He was the one I twisted my arm.
“Y, yes! Except for the hair color, he looks exactly the same!”
The subordinate nodded vigorously with a confident look in his eyes.
“Think you can hide by dyeing your hair? Hahaha!”
The thugs burst out laughing.
Actually, it wasn’t because of fear, but rather to avoid unnecessary trouble…
“Can’t be helped if you’re scared. Remember last time when we outnumbered you? Now you’re the ones outnumbered.”
I didn’t bother answering.
“Don’t worry, sir. My brother asked for it to be done as gently as possible. It won’t hurt much.”
Crack, crack.
The Gabiál members approached menacingly, cracking their knuckles.
There’s no other choice but to do this.
“Hmm.”
I sighed and changed the color of the mana emanating from my core.
From red to blue. From fire to water.
Water properties are best for minimizing lethal force.
I thought of a water cannon. Concentrating moisture rapidly, I poured mana onto the head of the approaching thug in front.
Gwaaaah!!
The thug, hit by a water jet strong enough to destroy wooden buildings, was thrown backward and crashed to the floor.
“Gaaah!!”
Rolling on the ground, he ended up at the feet of Ramur’s younger brother.
“What the heck!?”
“d*mn, he’s really using magic? Guys, attack him all at once!”
“Gaaah!!”
Gwaaaah!!
Though it was just a water jet, the compressed torrent was unstoppable.
Ah… This is a ‘water jet.’
A tool praised as a synonym for suppression equipment in modern civilization.
A peacekeeper in armed riots where various pipes and Molotov cocktails fly around.
Give it a try, kids.
*
Lauro was stunned.
Regardless of the bulkiness or thick clothing, physical differences made no difference.
Like a waterfall, anyone touched by the surging water was thrown back like a piece of paper.
The sight of twenty subordinates groaning on the ground after just a few minutes was incomprehensible, even considering they were facing a mage.
“What the hell!?”
For Lauro, dealing with mage officers or non-commissioned officers wasn’t new.
Mage species are inherently arrogant, always looking down on others.
Annoying brats who always think they’re above others.
So, whenever Lauro encountered mages causing trouble in bars or pleasure districts, he would beat them up, even if it meant getting burned all over.
Their magic was limited to simple things like flames or sharp winds.
Once they charged without fear and got punched in the face, even sergeants, lieutenants, majors, and even captains knew better.
They were too embarrassed to report it to their units since civilians would be equally affected by using magic on them.
However, the magic displayed by the mage in front of him was on a different level compared to what he had seen before.
It wasn’t just a few drops of fire or water.
Seeing someone hit by a water jet and thrown into the air was a first. Moreover, he didn’t seem to hesitate at all about casting such powerful spells.
“Ugh… C, Captain. My ribs are broken…”
“d*mn useless scumbags!”
Lauro kicked his suffering subordinate forcefully.
Although it was pitiful, honestly, Lauro himself couldn’t guarantee victory against such reckless magic use.
So, this is how it has to be.
“Brother! Quickly, the g*n! Give me the g*n!!”
Lauro turned around urgently, ready to sh**t him in the head.
“…”
The guards were already running away in the distance. His brother, Ramur, was doing the same.
“sh*t…”
When he needed help earlier, he fled immediately.
