That night, in my private office.
After returning from my private audience with Marshal Ludwig, I reviewed the list of attendants for the diplomatic delegation headed to Londinium.
Given the ominous atmosphere, I had to be thorough about the personnel I took with me.
‘First is….’
Sergeant Hanna Meyer.
That went without saying. Not only did she have [Mana Detection], she was also an aide who was always devoted to me.
Second was Major Elise von Kleist.
My personal physician, who would manage the problem with my mana circuits. On top of that, she had the excellent diplomatic titles of being the young lady of a distinguished count’s family and a medical major. She would serve as nothing less than a lubricant.
Third was Major Seraphina.
She would be in charge of reliable force. She was a capable infantry officer, and her personal combat ability was outstanding as well.
And fourth was Erica.
There were great advantages to taking her along. The symbolism of being the daughter of Marshal Ludwig, the foremost figure in the Imperial Army.
Of course, there were risks too. Erica had that temper of hers.
‘I’ll have to keep her on a short leash in Londinium.’
“The last one is….”
The armored battalion commander, Frederica von Kessel. She would remain behind.
I needed a capable officer to control the battle group while I was away. Frederica was exactly the right person for the job.
*
And the following afternoon.
“So… my name was left off the list, Lieutenant Colonel.”
After hearing the news, Frederica’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“Are you disappointed, Major?”
“Disappointed? That is absurd.”
Frederica answered as if it were nothing at all.
“…I will obey your orders. I will keep the Jaeger Battle Group you have entrusted to me in the finest possible condition.”
She turned to leave the office, only to pause, then looked back at me.
“Um, Lieutenant Colonel. I would like to know if you have any personal time left before your departure.”
“Time? Why do you ask?”
“…I will come to escort you. This evening.”
Her cheeks faintly flushed as she added,
“Before you leave for somewhere far away, I would like to let you feel the wind of Eisenburg.”
*
That evening, in front of the central residence in Eisenburg.
Vroooooom!
A rough exhaust note, ill-suited to the quiet street, struck my eardrums.
What came gliding around the corner and stopped before me was a sleek, streamlined two-door open-top sports car.
“Please get in, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Frederica was sitting in the driver’s seat, dressed in civilian clothes.
A slim silk blouse that flowed softly along the line of her shoulders, and a tight leather skirt. With light leather driving gloves on her hands as she gripped the wheel, she looked every bit the refined young lady.
“…You’re beautiful.”
My true feelings slipped out before I knew it.
“……”
Frederica’s eyes wavered for an instant. There was a strangely bashful air about her.
‘Analyze Status.’
[Name: Frederica von Kessel]
[Status: Pure joy]
[Emotion: This must be the first time he’s seen me in something other than a military uniform… I’m glad. It seems he likes it.]
“…Your eye for detail is as accurate as when you handle machine parts, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Frederica responded, pretending to be cool.
“I have no chance to wear civilian clothes except at times like this. …I’m glad it is to your liking, Lieutenant Colonel.”
The moment I climbed into the passenger seat, Frederica shifted gears roughly.
Screech—vrooom!
The sports car let out a brisk sound and shot into the capital’s night streets.
The cold wind slicing through the night air tousled her ash-gray bobbed hair. The wide avenues of Eisenburg paved in marble, the splendid shopping district lit by gas lamps, and even the riverside road flowing along the outskirts of the imperial palace.
Frederica raced on, skillfully controlling the body of the car with every corner she took. Beneath her short skirt, her snow-white legs moved between the accelerator and brake as she worked the pedals.
“Is it because you’re in the armored branch? You drive well too.”
“I can handle anything that runs on machinery. That is my pride.”
As she said that, she raised the speed even higher. Because the wind made it hard to hear, we naturally spoke in raised voices.
A little over an hour.
After driving along the open roads on the outskirts, I felt as if the stuffiness in my chest had been washed away.
At last, Frederica smoothly turned the wheel and brought the car to a stop on the road in front of the residence where I was staying.
“Has it helped clear your mind?”
“Certainly. It was an unusual experience. Thank you, Major.”
When I opened the passenger door and got out, Frederica rested her arm on the window frame and turned her head. Her upper body naturally leaned toward me.
“Even in your absence, Lieutenant Colonel, the battle group will be prepared without the slightest negligence. I will do my utmost to keep it in perfect condition.”
‘Analyze Status.’
[Name: Frederica von Kessel]
[Status: Pure affection]
Vroom.
Frederica lightly set her foot on the accelerator, letting out a soft exhaust note. She leaned out of the car window and beckoned me closer.
“Um, Lieutenant Colonel. One last thing before you leave…”
“What is it?”
Seeing that she seemed to have something left to say, I casually bent at the waist and brought my face closer to the car window.
That was the moment.
Frederica suddenly thrust her upper body out past the window frame.
Chuu.
Soft lips touched my cheek, then pulled away in an instant.
“……!”
An unexpected surprise attack. The faint scent of perfume brushed past the tip of my nose.
“Please return in good health. After all, no one but you can perfectly maintain my beloved steed, Lieutenant Colonel Max.”
Seeing my flustered expression, Frederica’s lips drew an alluring arc.
Screech—vroooooom!
Before I could say anything in reply, Frederica shifted gears without hesitation and pressed the accelerator all the way down.
With a thunderous roar, the two-door open-top sports car shot like an arrow into the dark night streets of the capital.
*
There were more than a few things I had to check before leaving Eisenburg.
Meeting Major Arthur… no, Lieutenant Aiden Hunt was part of that.
When I opened the door to my private study, I saw Arthur scribbling with a pen amid a mountain of documents.
“You’re working hard until late, Lieutenant Aiden.”
“Ah, Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger. You’re here.”
Arthur saluted, then showed me a sheet of paper.
It was the latest ledger, densely packed with numbers.
Arthur explained.
“The ‘Military Modernization Doctrine’ you advocated, Lieutenant Colonel, is functioning to a certain extent. Tank armor and high-output engines for mechanized divisions have passed the design stage, and construction of the new warships has just begun.”
“And the air force?”
“Jet propulsion engines are being pursued as a national project. The important point is…”
Arthur paused for a moment to catch his breath.
“All of this is centered around the companies you secured in advance, Lieutenant Colonel. Thanks to that, even after excluding the 30,000 gold used under the pretext of Republican lobbying and diplomatic operations funds… the current value of your investment assets is approximately 135,000 gold.”
135,000 gold.
It was beyond my expectations.
“An impressive talent, Lieutenant Aiden. To more than double it in the few months I was away in Elancia.”
“I merely…”
‘Analyze Status.’
[Name: Arthur]
[Status: Nervous at Max’s appearance, still experiencing identity confusion.]
[Emotion: …To think I ended up growing the target’s assets like this.]
I chuckled, then looked toward one corner of my vision. On the [Minimap], Arthur was still a white dot, in a neutral state.
He was not hostile to me, but he had not become entirely my ally either.
‘To turn this green….’
Arthur had been dispatched from the United Kingdom to the Empire as an operative meant to monitor me. I had seen through that fact early on and used him in reverse, while the United Kingdom had begun to distrust Arthur.
Thanks to that, Arthur was currently suffering an identity crisis. Caught between the homeland that had abandoned him and the target who, on the contrary, trusted him.
There was only one step left until full recruitment.
I stretched my arm to the side and opened a desk drawer.
Then I took out the document envelope I had prepared in advance.
Tap.
“Open it.”
Arthur’s eyes went wide when he saw the envelope.
“L-Lieutenant Colonel. This is…”
‘Captivating Speech.’
“Lieutenant Aiden. No, the title that suits you now would be Director.”
[Skill ‘Captivating Speech (Lv.3)’ has activated.]
“To be honest, I suspected you at first. When you first came under my command, there were many suspicious points in your record. And at the hotel in Badenburg…”
Arthur’s shoulders flinched.
“…For reasons I do not know, you were even attacked by mysterious assailants.”
“Th-There were unavoidable circumstances regarding that…”
Arthur made a miserable excuse.
But I paid it no mind.
“However, I do not care about your background. To begin with, I myself was born a lowborn orphan with no pedigree.”
In other words, what I meant was this.
“Lieutenant Aiden Hunt, I don’t care what kind of stray dog you were before you came here. I’m saying I will use you for your ability alone.”
Arthur’s eyes grew wider and wider.
“What do you say? Will you play in the big leagues with me? Or… will you live being harassed again by that unidentified force that tormented you?”
Silence flowed between us.
But his hesitation did not last long.
“…I will not disappoint you, Lieutenant Colonel Max.”
I checked the [Minimap].
And I confirmed a vivid green.
‘Okay.’
And just like that, the S-rank asset manager betrayed his homeland and became completely my subordinate.