Chapter 19

Why was I stuck sharing an office with a spy from the enemy nation?

I wanted nothing more than to march straight to the Chief of Operations and shout, "This woman is a spy!"

But without proof, I'd just sound like a lunatic.

For now, I had no choice but to act natural.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and reopened the office door.

Lucy gave me a strange look. I shrugged casually.

"The hinge's making a weird noise. Gonna need to call maintenance."

That was the best excuse I could come up with to justify opening and closing the door like a maniac.

I walked back to my desk and sat down, setting a bag of bread on the table like everything was fine.

"So, what's your name?"

Lucy saluted crisply, like a model soldier.

"Second Lieutenant Lucy Emilia, newly assigned as adjutant to the Operations Staff Officer. It's an honor to serve under such a busy and distinguished officer. I will carry out my duties to the best of my ability."

Flawless.

And she used her real name.

Of course, only a handful of people in the Allied Nations even knew Lucy's actual identity. I guess she didn't see the need for a fake one.

Still, no matter how polite or pretty she looked, this woman standing before me—graceful, poised, elegant—was an enemy agent.

Not that I cared all that much about spies.

It's not like I was loyal to the Empire either.

The real issue was that Lucy Emilia, future "Nightmare of the Empire," was now my adjutant.

And I was not mentally prepared to spend my days sitting next to a ticking time bomb.

I need to get rid of her.

Somehow, I had to convince the higher-ups that she was unfit for this job. Whatever it took.

But first… I need a pretext.

Tapping my desk thoughtfully, I racked my brain for an excuse.

Wait—didn't I see a protest gathering outside headquarters earlier?

Perfect.

I could send her on a dangerous assignment and let nature take its course. If she failed, I'd have grounds to request a reassignment.

Suppressing a grin, I acknowledged Lucy's salute.

She shifted into parade rest. I put on my best "stern superior officer" face.

"Alright, Second Lieutenant. You said you're ready to fulfill your duties, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then let's put that to the test. I'm giving you your first mission: disperse the protesters outside."

Lucy hesitated, just for a moment.

"…The protesters, sir?"

"Yes. That unlawful crowd gathered in front of HQ. They didn't even file for a permit with the Imperial Court. We overlooked it at first, but lately, they've been getting bolder."

"Isn't that the military police's responsibility, sir?"

"Any protest in front of HQ is under our jurisdiction as well. Under wartime law, Imperial officers are authorized to suppress unrest within their operational zones."

Lucy nodded, convinced.

"Understood. I'll carry out the mission."

"Good. Report back when it's done."

She paused before leaving.

"Permission to make a request, sir?"

"What is it?"

She pointed at the bread.

…Huh?

Was she threatening me?

Then she added, "Earlier, you mentioned we could share it. May I take one with me?"

Oh. That bread.

"Go ahead."

I slid the bag across the desk, and she grabbed a croissant before heading out.

As soon as the door clicked shut, I let out a long sigh and slumped in my chair.

For now…

I'd taken the first step toward removing her.

Sending her alone into a volatile protest was basically a suicide mission.

No way she could handle it solo.

All I had to do was sit back, wait for her to fail, and then file a complaint.

It wouldn't solve the problem right away, but it was a start.

Feeling mildly relieved, I grabbed some paperwork and got to work. I couldn't just lounge around doing nothing while she was gone.

Halfway through a report—

Bang!

A gunshot cracked through the air outside.

I froze, shoulders stiff.

A terrorist attack? No—too quiet. Too close.

Bang!

Another shot.

My heart dropped.

Don't tell me…

Did Lucy just fire her weapon?

I jumped to my feet.

I can't sit here anymore.

"You arrested all five ringleaders. Good work."

Sergeant Bendelin, one of the military police interrogators, stared at the young woman in front of him as if she were a ghost.

Just minutes earlier, Lucy had walked onto the scene, glanced briefly at the tense standoff between riot police and protesters, and pulled out a revolver.

Then she fired two shots into the air.

The crowd scattered in panic.

Without missing a beat, she requested cooperation from the riot squad and personally took down five ringleaders—all before anyone else had time to react.

The riot police, for the record, barely moved.

They just stood there in stunned silence.

Bendelin still hadn't recovered.

"What… just happened?"

The crowd stirred again as another figure arrived—tall, coat billowing, officer's cap pulled low over sharp eyes.

Captain Daniel Steiner.

He radiated authority and fatigue in equal measure.

"Stand at attention!"

The thirty officers nearby snapped into line.

Daniel's eyes landed on Lucy like a blade.

"Explain."

She saluted sharply and replied without hesitation.

"Per your orders, I dispersed the unlawful assembly. Two warning shots were fired. The protest was neutralized, and the five ringleaders have been apprehended."

Bendelin's eyes lit up.

"Oh! So this was Captain Daniel's doing. That explains it!"

A second lieutenant acting this decisively? Impossible without top orders.

Meanwhile, I was screaming internally.

WHEN did I say anything about firing shots?!

But technically… she hadn't broken any laws.

The wartime security statutes were broad, and she had just barely stayed within the lines.

Instead of scolding her, I silently reached out my hand.

Lucy understood, handing me the revolver.

I opened the cylinder—two bullets gone.

Suppressing the urge to sigh in public, I glanced at her again… and she spoke once more.

"Captain, these individuals violated civil assembly laws and wartime security law. They also attacked soldiers without provocation. They've broken three statutes. If you give the order, I'll execute them on the spot."

For a second, I thought I misheard her.

Didn't these people share her anti-war beliefs?

She wanted to kill her own?

No. On second thought—it made sense.

If she wanted to avoid suspicion, siding completely with the Empire was the smartest move.

What a ruthless woman. Not even a flicker of hesitation.

I wanted to give her a lecture, but too many people were watching.

Civilians were gawking from a distance. Journalists had their cameras out. The riot police and Bendelin were standing stiffly like statues.

So I gave the only answer I could.

"No."

Click.

I closed the cylinder and handed the revolver back to her.

"They're not even worth killing. Sergeant Bendelin."

He snapped to attention.

"Yes, sir!"

"Interrogate them. Find out who's behind this. I want to know exactly what seditious ideas led them to defy the Empire."

"Y-Yes, Captain!"

Shaken, Bendelin barked out orders. His men moved swiftly to restrain the detainees and escort them away.

Watching the chaos unfold, I closed my eyes.

…What the hell just happened?

The plan backfired spectacularly.

The next morning.

I woke up to my alarm, groggy but alive.

I brewed coffee like always, letting the aroma fill the apartment.

Grabbing the newspaper from the doorstep, I returned to the kitchen, sat down, and took a long, comforting sip.

Morning coffee really is the best.

Then I opened the newspaper… and froze.

There it was—right on the front page.

A black-and-white photo of me.

Kneeling beside the five protesters, revolver in hand, inspecting the chamber like I was about to pull the trigger.

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

"Captain Daniel Steiner Arrests Illegal Protest Ringleaders!"

As bad as that headline was, the article was worse.

"Following interrogations by the military police, it was confirmed that three of the five ringleaders were funded by the Allied Nations. Suspicion has now become certainty. Sergeant Bendelin credited Captain Steiner for his swift judgment and exemplary leadership…"

I slowly folded the paper and took another sip of coffee.

It didn't taste nearly as good anymore.

This was a disaster.