Lieutenant Colonel Mosley appears to have competent subordinates.
“Lieutenant Colonel Mosley, I still believe we should deliver the supplies as scheduled.”
“Ah, I wish I could. But I’m under pressure from Major General McIntyre.”
“Supplies are short on every front. It’s our job to determine their priority. You know as well as I do, Captain, that we can’t fulfill every supply request from the front lines.”
“I understand. However, we should prioritize the Rose Cross Army’s supply requests. . . . I sympathize with your position, but. . . .”
“Zapp, what do you mean by sympathizing with my position?”
“My apologies. I seem to have jumped to an unwarranted conclusion. My overattentiveness is my flaw. . . .”
My adjutant, Captain Zoan van Zapp, is a capable man who is very attentive, but he tends to be a bit too attentive. I need to rein him in here.
“Stop being overly attentive and do as I instruct.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll excuse myself now.”
My diligent adjutant left the room. As long as I give him a clear policy, Zapp handles all the practical matters.
If he came from a prestigious family, he would have been promoted further. What a shame.
My colleagues say it’s difficult to manage subordinates older than you by more than a decade, but that’s not true.
The key is to show them you have leadership potential. If you can’t control your subordinates who rose through the ranks, it means you lack the leadership qualities to be in charge.
“Quartermaster, I have a communication from your wife. Shall I connect you?”
The secretary’s hologram appeared on my desk and reported.
“Ah, connect me on a secure line.”
The secretary’s image changed to my wife’s. She looked a little worried.
“Honey, did the Marquis’s request go well?”
“Yes, it went well. There were no oversights.”
“Are you sure? We must make that little girl Garum, who hurt the Marquis’s pride, understand her place. You are a member of the Mosley family, even as a son-in-law, so you should understand perfectly. . . .”
“I understand. More importantly, is Josephine doing well?”
“Yes. I’m having the nurse give her milk right now. It’s a shame she’s a girl. It would be better if a boy inherited the family estate. . . .”
“Does it matter if it’s a boy or a girl? She’s still our child. It’s not a problem for a girl to inherit the family estate. There are plenty of examples of female counts. Besides. . . she might have a younger brother, you know?”
I make sure to compose my expression here. Although I wasn’t blessed with noble lineage, I was blessed with good looks and intelligence.
It’s not difficult for me to charm a woman. I’ll even reverse our relationship eventually.
“Oh, you. Please return safely.”
Heh. He’s blushing. No matter how noble their families, all women are the same. I just hope my beloved daughter won’t be like this.
“I’m not on the smelly front lines. I’ll definitely return safely.”
Perhaps I should add a little more emphasis. You’re also important as a safety device to preserve my and my brother’s positions.
Though, after Josephine, of course.
. . . . . . He’s not listening, is he? Lieutenant Colonel Mosley isn’t a bad person. He’s not without his merits.
He’s just not as smart as he thinks he is. People who are only slightly competent tend to mistake themselves for being extremely competent, and the Lieutenant Colonel is no exception.
Princess Stin is the daughter of Marshal Godhardt, said to be the most powerful among the Marshals. She also has a cooperative relationship with the Last Legion, the strongest unit of the Mechanist Army.
Furthermore, the strength of the Rose Cross Army, which achieved a complete victory without letting the Alliance Army’s 10th Division get close, should not be underestimated. It’s unlikely that Princess Stin, only sixteen years old, commanded everything. However, Princess Stin is undoubtedly a commander who doesn’t get in the way of her excellent officers and soldiers. To say the least, she is promising for the future, and while she is worth showing favor to, it is not wise to antagonize her.
Lieutenant Colonel Mosley seems to be using the Rose Cross Army’s supply request, which is for expensive, high-tech, and large quantities of supplies, as an excuse for factional strife, but such excuses are bound to be exposed as lies. Moreover, the Rose Cross Army’s demands are not unreasonable or unfair.
If you think of the army as a ranch, it’s obvious. There are no ranches that treat lame horses and prize horses the same.
He could just lie and say the supplies have already been sent. He might fall out of favor with Marquis McIntyre, but he won’t be divorced and cast out immediately.
I feel the repercussions of this harassment will be costly later. . . . I should really take action.
I’ll gather the requested supplies at the collection point and make arrangements so they can be shipped at any time.
Even though her performance is obvious, she calls me by my first name and is a superior officer who doesn’t interfere with my work.
She might not be the best superior officer, but there are plenty worse than her. I should show her at least minimal courtesy. . . . No, this is insurance for myself.
There’s a possibility of a change in plans due to pressure from Marshal Godhardt, and if we can’t deliver the supplies without delay, it could be blamed on me and my subordinates.
“I see. So you intend not to send the supplies until the Rose Cross Army comes begging. It’s true, the recent high-handedness of the Garum faction is becoming unbearable. We should teach them a lesson.”
My brother on the monitor seems somewhat amused.
“But brother, if the front lines collapse, it will be for nothing. We should only go so far in teaching them a lesson.”
“Brother, it’s thanks to Major General McIntyre’s favor that I could become a director of the Rondall Aristocratic Association and you could become the Quartermaster. We should always follow the Major General’s wishes. Please, I don’t want to end up as just a director of the Aristocratic Association. I aim for a higher position.”
I don’t want to end up as just a quartermaster of some local region either. I’m aiming for the position of Chief of Staff of the Quartermaster Corps.
“. . . . . . That’s right. We brothers must obtain the positions and honors befitting our talents.”
“Exactly. We’ve had enough of the sorrow of fallen nobles. The time has come to leap forward.”
“I understand. Then, brother, take care of yourself.”
“You too. Glory to us brothers.”
I ponder for a moment in front of the monitor, the communication cut off. What if I secretly contact the Rose Cross Army and ask for a letter of apology? That would save Major General McIntyre’s face, and we could send the supplies. The arrogant little girl would also learn about military dynamics, and the Rose Cross Army would arrive at the front lines. . . . Not bad.
I believe Major Clifford was the external contact for the Rose Cross Army. . . . Should I try contacting him tomorrow?
I felt a breeze on my neck and looked back. The window should have been closed.
“. . . . . . I had the courtesy to wait until you finished your final conversation with your kin. Be grateful.”
The man in black attire said so with eyes as cold as ice.
“W-Who are you!”
My hand, reaching for the emergency bell on the desk, was held down with tremendous force. Without a moment’s delay, my mouth was covered, and I couldn’t make a sound.
“. . . . . . You picked the wrong opponent to resist. This is what happens when a rat gnaws at the lion’s tail. A natural consequence.”
H-He’s an assassin sent by the Last Legion!? Are they going to kill me just for stopping the supply shipment!
(W-Wait! I’ll send the supplies as scheduled! I’ll send them, so please spare my life! I have a newborn daughter!)
I attempt to negotiate via free-line telepathic communication. Please, anyone, hear me!
(The guards in the ante-room are already dead. No one is listening. So. . . . . . goodbye.)
Something hot rose from my chest. It was. . . . . . my blood.
“Gahh!!”
“Don’t make a sound. It’s grating, isn’t it?”
My throat was slit! I c-can’t make a sound. . . . N-No! I. . . . . I. . . . . here. . . . .
“Still alive. . . . . . Just kidding. I only adjusted it so you wouldn’t die immediately. I’ve had my fill of your pathetic death. . . . . . Die now.”
. . . . . . Ah. . . . . Josephine. . . . . . . .
Several days later, on the day the supplies were prepared at the collection point, the situation changed. My insurance has come in handy.
. . . . . . Humans aren’t as smart as they think.
I am no exception, of course, and I will take this as a lesson for the future.
The repercussions of harassment will be costly later? Such a naive idea. That was the thinking of an office clerk unfamiliar with the battlefield, even if he was a soldier.
Lieutenant Colonel Mosley is dead. No, he was murdered. . . . . . Probably by his own side.
“So you are Captain Zapp, Lieutenant Colonel Mosley’s successor.”
Lieutenant Colonel Mosley was handsome, but this man could be called a peerless beauty. His talent also seems to be on a completely different level than Lieutenant Colonel Mosley’s. That talent includes an aura of authority and dread.
“I am not his successor, but acting in his stead, Colonel Roogetsu.”
I’m not refuting him, merely stating a fact, but my voice is trembling with nervousness.
Lieutenant Colonel Mosley was quite bold to refuse the demands of such a terrifying man.
My courage is less than half of the Lieutenant Colonel’s. But that’s fine. Rabbits survive precisely because they are timid.
“I see. So, will the supplies to the Rose Cross Army be on time? I imagine there’s some confusion due to what happened to your predecessor. . . .”
“They will be on time. The supplies themselves have already been arranged. At the same time, we are also pursuing the assassin who murdered Lieutenant Colonel Mosley. I myself will be leading the transport and accompanying it to ensure there are no mistakes.”
“Hmm, it’s commendable that the Captain himself is taking command. However, for the Alliance Army to assassinate Lieutenant Colonel Mosley while he was on duty in a supposedly safe rear area is quite something. Shall I also assist in the pursuit?”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Indeed, there’s no point in pursuing now. The assassins have likely already escaped. There’s no need to do anything. . . . . . pointless.”
So the assassin was sent by. . . . . . I’d better not think about it. For now, the priority is to deliver the supplies to the Rose Cross Army without delay.
If I fail, I might end up like Lieutenant Colonel Mosley.
I personally led the transport mission to the Monpasar Army Base.
Relieved, I successfully delivered the supplies to the Monpasar Army Base.
Now I should be able to avoid the same fate as Lieutenant Colonel Mosley.
The containers with the supplies have been placed in the warehouse, and there is still time before the Rose Cross Army arrives.
I’ll rent an official residence at the base and take a nap for a while.
“Captain Zapp, Major Toma, the Grim Reaper who confirmed the supplies, has come to pay his respects.”
I was woken by a call from my secretary. Everyone in the Mechanist Army knows him, but no one has met him. The “Grim Reaper of Annihilation” has come to pay his respects?
There were rumors that he was a publicity stunt by the Mechanist Army, a non-existent person, but his existence has been confirmed.
The Grim Reaper, who was invited by the Rose Cross Army, broke the world record for the highest number of casualties held by a rabid dog.
“Confirming the supplies means he arrived shortly after I went to nap! Why wasn’t I notified!”
That person is a monster who slaughtered 375 soldiers in a single battle! What if I offend him by not going to greet him?
“He said not to wake Major Toma if he was napping. . . .”
Why would you believe such a thing! Don’t you understand military dynamics?
“Bring him to the reception room immediately. And be extremely polite!”
What a blunder from the start. 80% of a person’s impression is made during the first contact. Do you understand how difficult it is to recover from that later?
I quickly ran to the reception room, only tidying my bedhead hair. Fortunately, only the advance party of the Ghost Brigade had arrived; the main body of the Rose Cross Army was not yet here. If I made the Princess wait while I napped, I’d even make the Garum faction my enemy.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Major Toma.”
The masked soldier sitting on the sofa stood up and offered his hand for a handshake. I shook it.
“I have received the supplies. It’s remarkable that there were no losses or delays despite the accident.”
“That is my job to ensure.”
First, Colonel Roogetsu, whose true face inspired awe, and now a terrifying soldier with a skull mask. My nerves are at their breaking point, given I know I am below average.
. . . . . . However, he is surprisingly small. He’s taller than me, a short man, but he’s of average height. I must have imagined a commanding figure because of his image as the Grim Reaper of Annihilation.
“Very good, very good. You are Captain Zoan van Zapp, correct? Is your name from the Tnumian people?”
“Yes, I am Tnumian, but is there a problem?”
“I’ve arranged a banquet to thank you for your efforts in transporting the supplies. Let’s have a drink while we wait for the Princess.”
“Yes! I am humbled by your thoughtful consideration.”
“You don’t need to speak so stiffly. Captain Zapp, I’m not good with formalities.”
Is it some kind of joke that the Grim Reaper with the skull mask is more friendly than Colonel Roogetsu, who showed me his true face?
Either way, I’m saved. The Major doesn’t seem to mind that I didn’t go out to meet him.
Now I need to build a cooperative relationship at the banquet. This man is a key figure in the Rose Cross Army. While I don’t intend to fawn over him, there’s no benefit in making him an enemy.
