Bwoooong!
Londinium’s largest naval harbor.
The blast of a colossal ship’s horn rang out as if tearing the sky apart.
Piercing through the sea fog came the warships that were the pride of the United Kingdom and the Empire.
And above them, a formation of the Imperial Air Force’s 109 fighters roared across the sky.
A parade prepared for the queen.
Waaaaaaaah—!!
The citizens gathered at the harbor let out a cheer in unison.
The anchors dropped at the bows, and an enormous red carpet was unfurled from the deck all the way to the end of the pier.
On either side stood the exiled government’s 1st Infantry Regiment and the troops of the Imperial Army’s Jäger Division, lined up in immaculate formation.
Then, atop the ship’s gangway, a silver-haired woman appeared.
It was Queen Charlotte, dressed in a spotless navy-blue uniform.
The moment she set foot on the pier, Admiral William and the other generals of the United Kingdom all dropped to one knee and paid their respects.
“We greet Your Majesty the Queen! Welcome back to your homeland!”
“Rise, Admiral William. All of you.”
Charlotte slowly took in the scenery of Londinium. Parts of it were scorched and collapsed, but it was unmistakably the beautiful capital she had once ruled.
Charlotte’s gaze passed over the officers lined up in formation and came to rest on me, standing at the very front.
Step, step.
Charlotte walked straight toward me. I clicked my heels together and saluted with crisp precision.
“Imperial Army, Acting Brigadier General Max Jaeger. I greet Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom.”
Charlotte received my salute and smiled calmly. For an instant, life returned to her face, which had been as cold as a wax doll’s.
“I thank you for your welcome, hero, Brigadier General Jaeger.”
‘Analyze status.’
[Name: Charlotte Ophelia of Hanover-Windsor]
[Status: Elation, deep gratitude]
[Emotion: This man ultimately reclaimed Londinium for me. It is a debt I must repay somehow. Because this man is worth it.]
“If not for you, Brigadier General, I would never have set foot on Londinium’s soil again. I am indebted to your devotion and to the blood shed by the Imperial Army.”
“You honor us too greatly, Your Majesty. We merely fulfilled our natural duty as allies.”
At my reply, Charlotte’s gaze softened even further.
“We shall discuss the details at tomorrow’s award ceremony. Please rest well, our hero.”
Charlotte gave a light nod and proceeded toward Londinium Palace.
*
That evening.
A secluded bedroom deep within Londinium Palace.
Charlotte, having just finished her schedule and returned, sat before her vanity with her outerwear removed, dressed comfortably in a silk slip.
Sydney stood behind her, brushing the queen’s silver hair with practiced hands.
“…It truly feels like a dream.”
Charlotte murmured in a dreamy voice.
“Every night while I stayed at the residence on the New Continent, I feared I might never return to this room.”
“Your Majesty. Everything has returned to its proper place now. Please set your worries aside.”
Rustle, rustle.
As Sydney’s hand combed down through her silver hair, Charlotte closed her eyes in pleasure.
A strange atmosphere flowed between them.
“All of this is thanks to you, Sydney. On that harsh battlefield, you bore that heavy burden entirely on your own.”
Charlotte slowly turned her head and gently laid her hand over Sydney’s, which was behind her. Sydney flinched as if startled and tried to pull her hand away, but Charlotte lightly rubbed her cheek against the back of Sydney’s hand, making her stop.
“Especially because you had to work with that Brigadier General Jaeger. You suffered greatly.”
The moment that name left Charlotte’s lips, Sydney’s fingertips stiffened ever so slightly.
“…Your Majesty, Max Jaeger is a terrifying monster, not only in military might, but also in finance, economics, and diplomacy.”
“That’s right. The rising star of the Empire, and a monster. But now, he is also the savior who pulled our United Kingdom out of the mire.”
Charlotte looked up into Sydney’s eyes through the mirror.
“At tomorrow’s ceremony, I will bestow upon him the highest honor our kingdom can give. The order and knighthood, of course, and naturally, we must hand over the colonies and reconstruction rights we promised him.”
“He too will be deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“But that alone is not enough.”
Charlotte’s eyes flashed for an instant.
“Sydney, you know it too, don’t you? That such toys and scraps of paper are far from enough…”
Flinch. Sydney’s body trembled.
“We must form a closer relationship with him.”
Charlotte whispered as she gently stroked Sydney’s hand.
“What do you think, Sydney? Please tell me. What gift would make that Max Jaeger happy?”
Sydney could not bring herself to answer and merely parted her lips.
*
Bang! Paaang!
The next morning. The grand banquet hall of Londinium Palace.
Dozens of camera flashes went off all at once, dyeing my vision white.
“Imperial Army division commander, Acting Brigadier General Max Jaeger! Forward!”
At the master of ceremonies’ call, I stepped onto the red carpet.
Beneath the brilliant chandelier lights, the high-ranking generals of the United Kingdom and the Empire watched me with bated breath.
And at the end of the red carpet, atop the dais.
Queen Charlotte stood holding an ornate ceremonial sword. At her side, as always, was Sydney.
Without hesitation, I knelt on one knee. Charlotte tapped each of my shoulders once with the ceremonial sword.
“To Brigadier General Max Jaeger, the fierce general of the Empire who brought light once more to this kingdom sunk in despair.”
Charlotte declared in a dignified voice.
“I bestow upon you the Knight Grand Cross, the United Kingdom’s highest honor, as well as an honorary knighthood of the kingdom. Rise, Sir Max.”
I slowly rose and pinned the medal the queen offered me to my chest. The weighty golden decoration shone brilliantly atop my Imperial Army uniform.
But it did not end there.
Thud, thud.
The heavy sound of military boots echoed across the marble floor. The air changed at once.
The commander of the Imperial landing forces ascended the dais. Every Imperial Army officer in the banquet hall snapped to attention.
“Max Jaeger.”
The commander’s deep voice resounded through the banquet hall.
“You tore apart the defensive line of the enemy commander Brusilov and led the Londinium recapture operation, which nearly bogged down, to victory. You proved to the world how great His Majesty the Emperor’s army is!”
The commander approached me. His rugged hand came to rest on my shoulder.
“Therefore, with His Majesty the Emperor’s approval, I hereby give the following order, effective immediately.”
Riiip—!
The commander roughly tore the acting rank insignia from my shoulder board.
“Colonel Max Jaeger. No, Brigadier General Max Jaeger. Your acting rank is hereby formally approved. Effective immediately, you are granted the position of full brigadier general of the Imperial Army.”
Clink.
Where the old insignia had fallen away, a gleaming silver rank badge took its place.
It was a single star.
“Brigadier General Max Jaeger! I obey the order!”
I clicked my heels together sharply and raised my hand in salute.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
The banquet hall was engulfed in applause loud enough to make it burst.
“The Empire’s youngest general. That stubborn bastard finally did it.”
“Haha, unbelievable! He’s even younger than my son!”
The Imperial generals burst into hearty laughter. Charlotte and Sydney also smiled brightly, and my subordinates clapped fervently as if it were their own achievement.
“Haha! General! You’re a general! General Jaeger!”
Gunther and the others in my direct unit were waving champagne glasses around without a shred of dignity.
“…Truly, just how far do you intend to climb?”
Seraphina looked at me with a strange expression. Hannah, Elise, and Frederica were also looking up at me with overwhelmed faces.
Far away, by a secluded pillar, Aiden Hunt quietly raised his champagne glass toward me.
‘Cheers.’
I too lightly raised my glass in reply and looked down at the banquet hall pouring endless praise upon me.
A promotion ceremony for a foreign general unfolding in the heart of Londinium Palace.
It was an unprecedented courtesy from the United Kingdom, and a tribute offered to the creditor who had saved Londinium.
*
By the time the lively atmosphere of the banquet hall had ripened.
I secretly slipped out of the party and headed to a VIP reception room deep within the palace.
Creak.
“I have been waiting for you, Sir Max.”
Inside the reception room were only two people: Queen Charlotte and Sydney.
Thud.
Sydney placed a heavy briefcase on the table.
“These are the documents we promised you. Ten-year exclusive rights to the Londinium reconstruction project, lease rights to major colonies and ports, and tax exemptions.”
I took out the documents and quickly skimmed through them. On the last page was the seal of the United Kingdom, along with Queen Charlotte’s handwritten signature.
“I will accept them gratefully. This is an excellent partnership.”
“We have regained Londinium as well, so it is by no means a losing bargain for us.”
I grinned and tucked the documents into the briefcase.
This settles it. I had received proper payment for the blood shed. Now, through Aiden’s hands, these documents would inflate into something worth tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of gold.
“That concludes our official business.”
As I closed the briefcase and spoke, Queen Charlotte took a step closer with an elegant smile.
“Yes. My duties as monarch end here.”
Charlotte slowly reached out and clasped both of my hands. A soft, warm heat was conveyed through them.
“Now, as an individual named Charlotte, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you.”
Charlotte stared directly into my eyes.
“You placed a sword in my hand when I had nothing but despair, and in the end, you returned Londinium to me. I, Charlotte, will never forget your devotion for as long as I live.”
Charlotte’s wax-doll-like face flushed and curved into a gentle smile. Sydney, standing beside her, also bowed her head with rigid posture.
“I speak on behalf of the Intelligence Bureau. Brigadier General Max Jaeger.”
Her voice was trembling faintly.
“Thanks to your command, our agents did not die meaningless deaths, and my homeland was liberated. I offer my deepest gratitude for the support and… devotion of our co-director.”
The hostility and wariness that had once dwelled in her eyes had completely evaporated.
I checked the [Minimap] in the corner of my vision.
‘Green.’
The two women had once been red, the number one targets to be wary of, and then white dots who might stab me in the back at any moment.
Their markers were now finally shining a clear green. Certified by my cheat skill, they had become safe allies.
“Such praise is more than I deserve. I am honored.”
When I gave a brief nod, Charlotte slightly curved the corners of her eyes and clasped my hand a little more tightly.
“Sir Max. I know you must be tired, but… may I ask one more private favor of you?”
“A private favor, you say?”
What else is she trying to squeeze out of me? At my question, Charlotte laughed softly.
“It is nothing political. I simply… want to see it with my own eyes.”
Charlotte’s eyes sparkled faintly.
“I would like to walk through the Londinium I have reclaimed together with you, my savior.”