Chapter 64

* * *

【The Setting Sun of the Tyrant】

I now faced the Duchess Ritreyu, Minshiana. She was confined in the top floor of the tower, which, though somewhat narrow, was luxuriously and comfortably furnished, befitting a noble's prison.

Duchess Ritreyu sat elegantly on the sofa, her legs crossed, and gazed out the window with a smile.

"Surprising that you managed to win over His Majesty. But if you continue this, the empire will collapse, you know?"

Duchess Ritreyu said, smiling as if troubled.

"It is my Fifth Division that has been stopping the relentless southward advance of the Kingdom of Agan. If anything happens to me, the northern defenses will be gone. Have you forgotten that?"

Despite feeling slightly uncomfortable, I responded as formally as possible.

"The Fifth Division is not your personal army. It is the Emperor's army. The Ritreyu family provides the funds, but those are not the personal assets of Duchess Ritreyu. ...Have you forgotten that?"

Feeling somewhat displeased, I ended up retaliating against a captive. I should be ashamed of my own lack of virtue.

The meaning of my words was clear.

Even if the current head, Minshiana, were to meet her end, the Ritreyu family would not disappear.

The previous head is still alive, and there is also Lord Serin. There are always replacements for the head of the family.

But Duchess Ritreyu shrugged at my words.

"You seem to underestimate my influence. I already have twenty thousand elite troops stationed near the imperial direct-controlled territory. They are loyal warriors who would even turn their guns on the Emperor to protect me. Their strength has already been proven by stopping the Agan invasion."

An ordinary imperial noble would tremble at such a threat, but unfortunately, it had no effect on me.

I have a reliable adjutant.

"Our Captain Chrombertz is a former member of the Fifth Division and the one who fought against the Agan army. He knows everything about the Fifth Division's internal affairs."

Of course, I don't know everything.

But this woman doesn't know everything either.

The Duchess and I glared at each other, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

I wanted to extract useful information from her, but she is a liar, so ordinary methods wouldn't work.

Perhaps I should try to shake her a bit.

"I've already captured the Fifth Division's units near the imperial direct-controlled territory. But there aren't twenty thousand of them. A rebellion of this size can be suppressed by the First Division."

When I said this, Duchess Ritreyu smiled thinly for just a moment.

That smile was unsettling. It felt very ominous.

But as I was about to think more about it, Duchess Ritreyu said mockingly,

"Are you planning to engage in battle? Agan will invade. Do you want a repeat of Bruges?"

This is her aim. To use the threat of a neighboring country in domestic political struggles.

To dispel my concerns, I decided to leave for a moment and stood up.

"You should worry about other things. You should look outside the window."

While gazing at the setting sun, I told Duchess Ritreyu the harsh truth.

"That will be the last sunset you see."

* * *

Is this the last sunset I will see? I suddenly thought.

In front of me were the senior officers of the Fifth Division. There were generals, chiefs of staff, and colonels.

I am now in the headquarters of the Fifth Division. My purpose, of course, is to persuade the Fifth Division.

Of course, a mere captain from outside would be useless, so I prepared my trump card.

Duchess Ritreyu.

"Everyone, be cautious and avoid rash actions."

The one speaking firmly to the gathered officers was a doppelganger of Duchess Ritreyu. In other words, Ricoche.

The Sixth Special Task Brigade, which had rescued her from a villa near the capital, had secretly and urgently taken her to the Ritreyu territory.

I joined them, and thus we infiltrated the headquarters of the Fifth Division.

Ricoche continued in a tone and manner identical to Duchess Ritreyu.

"I am heading to the capital, but no matter what happens, you must follow the Emperor's orders. After all, your loyalty is to the imperial family."

The generals were silent.

It was unclear who among them was on Duchess Ritreyu's side. Most were waiting to see which way the wind would blow. Only a few were openly aligned, and even those might have been just for show.

Ricoche's tone grew more forceful.

"I will reflect on my past actions and settle my accounts. Therefore, I will not tolerate any rebellion against the imperial family. This is an order as the head of the Ritreyu family. Understand?"

"...As you command."

The generals bowed their heads.

It was fortunate that the senior officers of the Fifth Division complied so easily. There were likely some who supported Duchess Ritreyu, but their positions and promotions were more important to them.

After the generals left, I smiled at Ricoche.

"I apologize, Your Highness, for putting you in this position again."

"No, this is why I am here."

Ricoche smiled. She looked exactly like Duchess Ritreyu, but there was a warmth in her that put people at ease. A difference in character, perhaps.

Well, with this, the leadership of the Fifth Division is under control. With a direct order from Duchess Ritreyu, they have a legitimate reason to remain neutral.

There might be some who realize that this Duchess Ritreyu is a doppelganger, but if they claim they didn't notice, there will be no problem.

"Let's return to the capital, Your Highness."

"Yes, let's."

According to the official record, Duchess Ritreyu will give a speech to the Fifth Division's officers, urging them to show loyalty to the imperial family, and then return to the capital to be confined.

Once we leave here, Ricoche will remove her disguise and never return to being Duchess Ritreyu's doppelganger.

After that, Colonel Altsar will protect her and make her a non-commissioned officer in the military. He will keep her as a secretary.

Even without the disguise, she still resembles Duchess Ritreyu, so she might get into unnecessary trouble. But if she leaves the Ritreyu territory and joins the Sixth Special Task Brigade in uniform, she will be safe.

Just as I was about to guide her to the carriage, a voice called out from behind.

"Captain Chrombertz, or should I say, now a major. You've grown."

This was my old unit. I sighed inwardly but smiled and turned around.

The one who spoke was the deputy commander of the Fifth Division.

A general, of course, and someone far above my rank. He was from a branch of the Ritreyu family and also bore the Ritreyu name.

"Deputy Commander, I apologize for the late greeting. It's an urgent matter."

I saluted, and the old general with white hair raised his hand slightly.

"You're right. No need for formalities. But you were close to Duchess Ritreyu, weren't you?"

This old man is asking uncomfortable questions.

As a deputy commander, he would know that I challenged Duchess Ritreyu at the imperial council and that she wouldn't forgive someone like me.

Without waiting for my response, the deputy commander turned to the fake Duchess Ritreyu.

"Good scent. It's not your usual musk, though."

This guy knows that the real and the doppelganger can be distinguished by perfume. He's realized it's a fake.

But if he wanted to, he could have said "This is a fake" during the speech.

The fact that he didn't means... well, that's what it means.

I gave a slight nod, and Ricoche understood, smiling calmly.

"Yes, this is the scent I should wear."

"I see..."

Ricoche's straightforward admission that "I am a doppelganger" seemed to surprise the deputy commander.

But having climbed to the highest ranks in a den of monsters like the division headquarters, the deputy commander didn't lose his composure.

"I also believe this scent suits the head of the family."

I was surprised. This old man is saying the fake is better.

Then the deputy commander asked the fake Duchess Ritreyu.

"What about the others?"

"Others?"

"Yes. The ten thousand mercenaries you hired should be gathering at the ruins of Verion by now."

What? I've never heard of this.

Nobles sometimes hire mercenaries as servants, but ten thousand is an extraordinary number.

Mercenaries, unlike peasants and artists, don't generate profit. They are a drain on resources and can't plunder at will.

Nobles use mercenaries to adjust their military power and hire only a few. They cut contracts as soon as they are no longer needed.

Hiring ten thousand mercenaries is evidence of an impending military action.

In the current era, with the imperial army, there aren't many independent mercenary groups that sell their military power. Most are just thugs, poorly organized and unable to sustain themselves.

They are no better than bandits, so leaving them unchecked would be dangerous.

Reading my expression, Ricoche immediately asked,

"Recall them immediately."

"We cannot command non-imperial soldiers. They would only follow a direct order from the imperial family, not from a 'representative.'"

Duchess Ritreyu didn't trust Ricoche and had taken measures to prevent the doppelganger from acting on her own. The deputy commander's words suggest this.

The ruins of Verion are near the capital. If the mercenaries attack, it would be disastrous.

But I didn't give up.

The deputy commander must have leaked this information to the doppelganger because he knew how to handle it. As a bargaining chip.

Thinking about it, the absence of a commander is concerning. Mercenaries can handle tactical operations but not strategic ones. A war against the imperial family would require officers with specialized training.

If there is a plan, it must involve that. I asked,

"Who is commanding the mercenaries?"

The deputy commander looked at me intently and then answered quietly.

"The young officers who are currently active, Major Chrombertz. They have been ordered to command the mercenaries in addition to their regular troops. Is that correct, Your Highness?"

"...Yes, that's correct."

Then it's a matter of stopping them.

I smiled.

"Then there's no problem. We have Duchess Ritreyu here, and I'll take care of the rest."

The deputy commander looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze. It was an unpleasant look.

"The Fifth Division can't move lightly. We can't send troops, but can you handle everything?"

"Yes, rest assured."

This deputy commander, who knows so much, must be the top pro-Ritreyu faction member within the Fifth Division. After Duchess Ritreyu's arrest, a wave of reprisals will remove the pro-Ritreyu faction.

That's why he risked leaking information and selling favors without getting his hands dirty.

It's a rather dirty political tactic, but it helps us.

So I responded with my discretion.

"Colonel Altsar holds you in high regard. As a former member of the Fifth Division, I will recommend you again."

Colonel Altsar might become a patron in the future. I conveyed that.

As expected, the deputy commander's expression softened slightly.

"Is that so? It's an honor."

It was a simple response, but it can be considered a deal.

Thanks to the fence-sitters, we received important information, but now we have another troublesome connection.

After greeting the deputy commander, I helped Ricoche into the carriage. The escort was our brigade's cavalry.

"Head straight back to the capital. Colonel Altsar will take care of the rest."

"I am grateful, Major Chrombertz. But what about you?"

I saluted the concerned Ricoche.

"I'll finish the remaining tasks before returning. Get the carriage moving."

I need to extinguish all the sparks.