Chapter 4 ( Part 2)

OCTOBER 8, UNIFIED YEAR 1926, EVENING,

MOSKVA, THE COMMISSARIAT FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS

In Moskva, the newly built Commissariat for Internal Affairs building had long since turned into a nightless fortress. With the strict blackout, light wasn't pouring out, per se, but still, if you walked by, you would be able to see the officials coming and going inside.

Anyone had to concede that the staff of the Commissariat for Internal Affairs was extraordinarily diligent in keeping up their war efforts compared to most of the Federation's public servants.

To be frank, they were, in a way, the steel-clad vanguard of Communism.

Their efficiency, their self-sacrifice, and their unflagging spirit made them indomitable workers.

Of course, the majority of them were normal humans. But that didn't diminish their drive to work.

And the source of their diligence was… simple fear.

"Comrade Loria! The inspection failed to find any misappropriation, corruption, or improper conduct! Neither were there any reactionary remarks made regarding the inspection itself!"

A Commissariat for Internal Affairs official, wearing an immaculate uniform, read the report. He seemed about to continue when the dull thud of a fist slamming down on the table interrupted him.

He froze as a glare rolled to fix on him, and the room's occupant snapped, "I'm fairly certain I ordered you to expose improper conduct. Let's be clear. You really didn't find anything?"

"N-no, Comrade, we didn't."

Hearing that quivering reply, Loria's expression was sternness incarnate.

Then he pronounced the man's sentence.

"That's fine. Comrade guards, take this fool away. Sabotage during wartime is a crime against the nation."

"Yes, sir!"

"P-please wait! This must be some mistake!"

The man protested as the guards grabbed his arms and began to drag him away, but Loria flatly denied him.

"There's no mistake at all. Your case was a dummy conducted as part of an internal audit of our staff. We had the object of your inspection perform the corrupt act, and we have record of the inspector taking the bribe."

"Wh-wha—?!"

"If you had just reported that… things would have been different, but you accepted the bribe without telling us. That's enough," spat Loria.

He didn't have time for a single pointless action when time was passing moment by moment.

"I'm sure a single punishment will be a better lesson for these idiots than a lecture. Next!"

"Er, Comrade Loria…"

Loria turned a gaze of merciless intensity on his hesitating subordinate. Even with that questioning look, the response was slow in coming.

"What? Let's have it. Hurry up!"'

"It's bad news… about the Queen of the Sea…"

Sensing he wasn't getting anywhere, Loria asked directly. And his expression tensed at the nervously delivered information.

There was probably no way to stop that twinge of emotional fluctuation.

The fact that something had happened to the ship entrusted to them by their precious—yes, in a way precious—"bullet shield" made Loria seethe with rage.

It wasn't clear what the John Bulls were up to, but he and they had come to an agreement. After all their reluctance, he had persuaded them. He had ordered dozens of Federation officials slowing him down to be shot; either that or he threatened and buttered them up to secure them as allies. All of that, and yet…

The supporting sea route that they needed in order to continue the war, a symbol of their joint struggle, had only just been opened.

Though casualties had been taken into account, they were hopeless if they couldn't defend the one boat he ordered them to stake their honor on protecting.

He was sure he provided the necessary units, fighting force, and discretion to get it done.

But they still couldn't do it?

"Those incompetent bastards. What were they doing? Do you have a detailed report?"

If they don't have an excellent reason, I'm going to make the ones responsible regret surviving the mission for as long as they live, Loria swore in his head as he requested the report.

The silver lining for the official who had been asked was that he actually did have the papers with him. If he had blundered by not bringing them… God only knows what his fate would have been.

After all, the word forbearance had been missing from Loria's dictionary for ages.

"Here it is, Comrade Loria… I don't know how they found out, but apparently they sent in a Named mage…"

"…What's that?"

The inept political officer continued making justifications for the report.

But I told them. Apparently, this guy is stuck in the old way of thinking, where mages aren't worth paying attention to. Perhaps he was trying to shift the blame? The report

went on and on about how unfortunate their position had been.

It was a surprise that the man thought he could get away with making excuses like that.

But… Loria was conscious of a stirring in his emotions as he wrestled his irritation down.

Aside from this one garbage political officer, everyone was putting in a splendid effort. "Comrade Loria?"

"So there aren't any mistakes in this report, hmm?"

Everyone here was endeavoring to their utmost ability, working without wasting any time, and giving their all. For Loria, it was the first time in a while that his eyes popped wide open in admiration of their magnificent professional awareness.

Perhaps because he was reading it after dealing with those other inepts? It was even refreshing.

"N-no, sir. It's the first report, but we did a rough confirmation of the damages!" "That can be investigated later."

They're fighting my fairy, that little imp who attacked Moskva. Teaming up with the Commonwealth and then standing our ground and suffering casualties… is not a bad excuse.

No, more importantly.

"The issue is the enemy who attacked. You're sure it was… the unit that laid its grubby hands on Moskva? The 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion?"

"O-of course! As you say, Comrade Commissar, that is the conclusion the inspection unit on its tracks reached! They guarantee their identification 100 percent."

"Very good. When the documents arrive, make delivering them to me highest priority." "Yes, sir! Right away!"

"You're free to let others take over any other ongoing mission you may have. In any case, I want to know where this unit is."

"I-I'll get to work on it immediately!"

What wonderful news.

We found her. A few losses are piddling trivialities in the face of my genuine love. I'm even moved to pay my hardworking men a bonus like a capitalist. I should probably arrange some extra rations for them.

Although I'm not pleased that we had one fool who misunderstood his role to the last.

"Also, Comrade, take these orders." "Sir?"

"It's orders to execute the incompetent idiot who slandered our hard-fighting comrades. Yes, don't blame the men on the ground. I'd like to send Colonel Mikel a gift, actually. Arrange for the highest-quality drink and cigarettes to be delivered to him."

"Shall we poison him?"

What?! He glared at the man, nearly dizzy with confusion. What the hell is this guy talking about?

"…Comrade, were you not listening to what I said? A gift, I want to send him a gift. Just try and lay a thoughtless hand on Colonel Mikel and his troops—you'll get a comprehensive lesson about what happens when you make me mad."

"Y-yes, sir!"

That was as much as Loria could stomach. He was aware that the Commissariat for Internal Affairs was a gang of useless sadists. He recognized it, and he was taking measures to improve it.

But this was how things stood. Just incorrigible.

He just wanted to sink deep into his exceedingly pure thoughts… but instead he had to endure the faces of these dolts? He truly struggled to understand why.

To repeat, it was unbearable.

The others had gathered that he was angry by the time he waved them off. "All right, everybody out." The moment he said it, they all ran away like fleeing rabbits.

That was so funny that it eased his frustration somewhat.

Which was why he gazed at a photo he pulled out of his desk with a smile.

"Ahhh, my ever so lovely, lovely… little fairy. You're a bit too naughty, but… Well, I'll just be happy we know where you are."

You like playing hide-and-seek, don't you?

"To appear like this just as I was forgetting you, you're quite—quite the tactician! It makes my heart race!"

You like to tease, don't you?

"I'd nearly forgotten my passions, and now you've got me all riled up. Oh, you, you little… This is…"

It's just unbearable.

Swallowing that last comment, Loria thought, entranced, of his beloved fairy.

He did have a mind to blame the troops on the scene for failing to catch her, but his relief that they'd found her was stronger.

He didn't really think a unit of that caliber could shoot his fairy out of the sky.

"On the contrary, they did a great job locating her. Yes, Colonel Mikel, was it? He… truly did a fine job. Considering what he was up against, I can only say he did a fantastic job surviving and bringing the intel back to us. I need him to work hard for me."

How about a game of tag? I'll be It and catch that girl.

"Ahhh, I can't wait. I really, truly can't wait."

Let's play.

"Yes, I need Comrade Colonel Mikel to do his best… So I'll give him and his troops the best support possible and deploy the best reinforcements. Someone who'll make a favorable impression on the Commonwealth would be good."

I'll send her lots of friends.

That lovely jokester fairy. Surely the privilege to have her was his alone, so he was so excited to trap her. He was looking forward to it so much that before he knew it…

"Well, this is no good. Now I'm all hot and bothered, and at my age."

What a bad girl. It just builds up; it's too much—how am I supposed to help it? What a troublemaker she is. To think I'm this excited to push her down.

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