We boarded the luxury vehicles prepared in advance near the station.
"The atmosphere is quite ominous."
However, wherever we went, the shouts of protestors could be heard.
"What do you mean by Santa Barbara!"
"Liberate the colonies! The government should concern itself with workers' rights!"
On the surface, it looked like an ordinary protest by laborers, but I already knew that Federation infiltrators were mixed in at the center of that agitation.
"…To think the capital looks like this. I never imagined the United Kingdom would be in such a state…."
Hanna said disappointedly.
"Lieutenant Colonel, if there are terrorists or assassins among those protestors, they will be difficult to deal with."
Seraphina was voicing a realistic concern.
"It only looks shiny on the outside. Inside, it's festering and on the verge of bursting. So everyone, take extra care for your safety."
I nodded.
""Understood!""
Soon after, the vehicle carrying us broke through the crowd and entered the embassy.
"Back off, imperial absolutist demons!"
"Max Jaeger, the atrocious warmonger who massacred the compatriots of the Republic!"
At the sounds of the protestors' chants coming from behind, I clicked my tongue.
'…This won't be easy.'
*
A few hours later.
The Foreign Ministry building located in the center of Londinium.
As classical music flowed gently, a banquet was held to welcome the diplomatic envoy from the Empire.
Outside was chaotic with protests, but the inside was intact nonetheless.
"Oho, seafood dishes that are hard to see in the Empire."
Foreign Minister Joseph, seeming accustomed to such occasions, quickly began mingling with the United Kingdom dignitaries.
Thanks to that, I could stand in a corner and spend some time alone.
Then, a beautiful voice was heard from behind me.
"Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant Colonel Max Jaeger."
A chilly yet overbearing voice.
When I turned my head, a woman stood there wearing a military uniform coat over a black evening dress. Blonde hair flowing down to her shoulders, lavender-colored pupils.
It was my first time seeing her like this, but I recognized her identity at a glance.
"Director of the Royal Intelligence Bureau, Sydney Wellesley. I saw your name on the delegation list and wished to greet you at least once, Lieutenant Colonel."
She calmly extended her hand.
Such was her skill at disguise that there wasn't a hint of it on the outside—that this woman was the same person as the maid Ellie who had rolled around in my bedroom.
'Her voice is completely different too. Ellie had a much more innocent, coquettish tone.'
I clasped her hand. The stiff texture unique to leather gloves was transmitted to me.
"Yes, I am Max Jaeger. Thank you for your hospitality."
"I've heard you came as His Imperial Majesty's plenipotentiary special envoy."
While exchanging ceremonial greetings, I did some quick mental calculations.
A figure of the Intelligence Bureau Director's caliber had approached me first. Up to this point, it was still possible, but…
'The woman who had been targeting me had stepped forward personally.'
What this means is….
'Status Analysis.'
[Using the skill 'Status Analysis (Lv.3)' on 'Sydney Wellesley'.]
[Name: Sydney Wellesley]
[Status: Feeling a sense of superiority while looking at Max Jaeger, who has not noticed anything at all.]
[Emotion: Of course he doesn't recognize me. He doesn't seem to have any connection to the infiltrators either; did he come purely for a diplomatic mission?]
I narrowed my eyes. She was testing me. Not only regarding her identity, but also whether I had any connections to the infiltrators.
"It's an honor, Director. I never imagined the head of the Royal Intelligence Bureau would extend greetings first to a mere soldier."
"A mere soldier, you say."
Sydney's pupils drew a smooth arc. A cold and elegant smile, 180 degrees different from Maid Ellie.
"If I failed to recognize the war hero who performed the miracle of Rosenheim and secured Soissons and Elancia, I would have to give up my seat as Intelligence Director. Moreover, aren't you the one holding the 'key' to Santa Barbara?"
"You flatter me. I am merely a work crew chief who volunteers for the dirty work."
I naturally let go of the hand I had been holding.
'Shall I see her reaction?'
She's not the only one who can test me.
"By the way, Londinium's hospitality is excellent, if I may say so, except for the protestors standing before history."
A statement that could be taken as rude. But Sydney parried it smoothly.
"The United Kingdom is a nation that respects free expression. I understand it may appear somewhat noisy by Imperial standards."
She showed no sign of being flustered or offended whatsoever.
"Well, that may be. Islands and continents have different standards and cultures, after all."
I pretended to acknowledge it, then cast the next bait.
'Charming Eloquence.'
[Skill 'Charming Eloquence (Lv.3)' is activated.]
"But when it comes to service spirit, I wonder if even the United Kingdom can keep up with the continent's standards."
"…Service, you say?"
"Yes. When I stayed in Elancia, I had a very devoted maid."
She flinched.
Very subtly, Sydney's shoulder stiffened.
[Name: Sydney Wellesley]
[Emotion: Why is this crazy bastard suddenly bringing that up?]
Her Status Analysis window changed rapidly. But on the outside, she maintained her poker face.
"I see. I haven't experienced the Empire's noble culture, so I wouldn't know."
"It's nothing like noble culture. That maid's name was 'Ellie'… At first, she was quite stiff and clumsy, but since I personally instructed her day and night, she became very competent."
I said, lightly swirling a champagne glass.
"She did anything and everything I told her to do, perfectly. Even managing classified documents and… very intimate nighttime attendance, at that. She was an excellent talent worth teaching, but unfortunately, she lost her life in the chaos of the terror attack."
"……That is truly unfortunate."
Sydney's voice was calm. But her inner self would not be so.
"That is why I have high expectations for tomorrow's negotiations."
I lowered my voice.
"There must surely be smart and devoted talents in the United Kingdom as well, just like Ellie. If we meet someone who understands us, wouldn't things proceed smoothly, whether it's a joint colonial administration or whatever? What do you think, Director?"
[Skill 'Charming Eloquence (Lv.3)' influences the target.]
[Target 'Sydney Wellesley' feels a strange sense of déjà vu and pressure from your attitude.]
The corners of Sydney's eyes trembled. She started to move her lips but stopped, staring into my eyes for a long moment. Even under the pressure of the skill, she did not lose her composure until the end.
[Emotion: This man doesn't know my identity. He's just bringing up dirty talk to show off. Don't waver.]
Sydney thoroughly maintained her mask. She calmly set down the champagne glass she was holding, twisting the corner of her lips.
"So the rumors that the Hero of Rosenheim is a terrible lecher were not mere unfounded gossip, it seems."
An expression filled with contempt.
"To proudly boast of promiscuous bedroom exploits with a dead maid at a diplomatic banquet. Imperial culture is truly… interesting, by the common sense of our United Kingdom."
'She holds up well.'
Despite the skill's success, she looked unfazed. As expected, she was not such an easy woman.
"…Oh dear, I have been rude."
I pretended to bow my head politely. Bringing up such talk at a banquet was, indeed, an enormous breach of etiquette.
"I apologize. It's just… looking into your eyes reminded me of that maid, so I couldn't help myself…. Please take it as nothing more than the lament of a master who lost a precious maid."
"…Yes, you must be deeply preoccupied."
When I apologized properly, Sydney no longer pressed the attack.
"Then, I shall see you at tomorrow's negotiation table. ……It may not be the kind you are hoping for, but the treatment we have prepared will be to your liking."
As if indicating her time was up, she gave a slight bow.
"The diplomatic stage is a place that requires intellect more than vigor. Then please, enjoy a wholesome night in Londinium."
"You as well, Director."
Sydney soon turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Click-clack.
The perfect gait of a lady overflowing with dignity. I gazed blankly at her retreating figure.
Beneath the coat draped over her shoulders, the evening dress hugging the line from her waist swayed in time with her steps.
*
As time passed and the banquet ripened, I felt a sense of dissonance.
I carefully examined the [Minimap] in one corner of my vision. Amidst the white and green dots mixed together, there were things that particularly caught my attention.
'Too many red dots.'
'Red dots' refers to those hostile to me. Relations between the Empire and the United Kingdom were bad, but not to the extent of having this many. That too, inside a diplomatic banquet hall.
Moreover, the movement of the dots was strange. The red dots were not figures dancing in the center, but mixed in among waiters or military policemen.
'And… they're moving to tighten the encirclement around me.'
I naturally turned my gaze toward a passing waiter.
'Status Analysis.'
[Affiliation: United Kingdom of Victoria, Radical Faction]
[Status: Tension, Concealed Weapon]
[Emotion: The signal will drop from outside soon.]
'A signal from outside?'
It was ominous.
'They don't seem to be trying to assault us immediately. Just what are they scheming?'
More information was needed. I immediately closed my eyes and activated a skill.
'Sight Sharing.'
[Skill 'Sight Sharing (Lv.1)' is activated.]
[Receiving visual information from the designated target ('Sydney Wellesley') in real-time.]
Sydney, who had already left the banquet hall by now, was moving very quickly and roughly.
A radio transmission was heard.
[Director! The protestors in Sector 3 have broken through the police cordon!]
[Infiltrators are leading the riot! Support, *static*, we need support!]
"Shut up and maintain the defensive line! Redirect Military Police forces to Sector 5. Defense of the Foreign Ministry and key residences is the top priority. I will go to the scene personally!"
Click.
Sydney racked the slide, chambering a round. Blood-spattered leather gloves, trembling breath, and a loudly wailing siren.
I quietly deactivated the skill.
'It's a bigger mess than I imagined.'
At this level, it wasn't a protest. It was practically a riot.
'What exactly are they after?'
Inside this Foreign Ministry building were not only the core foreign affairs ministers of the United Kingdom, but also our Imperial delegation. If the delegation were to be caught up in a terror attack and lose their lives here?
'Negotiations would be broken off immediately, and it wouldn't be strange for war to break out right away between the United Kingdom and the Empire.'
And for the 'Federation' reds trying to spark a revolution by taking advantage of the chaos within the United Kingdom, there would be no better scenario than that.
Having reached this point, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
'This is no ordinary diplomatic envoy mission.'
The uncertainty that Field Marshal Ludwig had warned about? It far surpassed that level.
This place was a massive power struggle zone where the Federation, the United Kingdom, and the Empire were tangled together.
My men and I had been thrown right into the middle of those lethal gears.
'Grab as much profit for the Empire as possible here?'
What a joke. Surviving myself comes first.
[Skill 'Indomitable Spirit' is active.]
I immediately set down my champagne glass and moved into the crowd. Watching the movements of the red dots through the [Minimap] in one corner of my vision, I searched for my people.