I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 21: False Smiles ①

The assassination of Admiral Telzen, Commander of the Imperial Navy’s Southern Fleet.

This was quite a heavy burden for a mere executioner.

However, it had to be done.

“The materials are certainly well-organized.”

Since Second Lieutenant Criminewas apparently going to do Captain Yugi’s makeup, I was checking documents in my office.

The materials the battalion commander had prepared fell into three main categories.

First was Admiral Telzen’s personal information.

Second covered the Southern Fleet’s scale and capabilities.

The last was the geography of Zelan Bay, the fleet’s base.

Admiral Telzen was a noble officer, but his family were minor lords from the south with low status. In other words, he was a social climber.

He had steadily built up achievements through pirate suppression and smuggling crackdowns, and had also won factional struggles within the Navy to obtain his admiral position.

…Or so it appeared.

“‘The greatest factor in Admiral Telzen’s victory in factional struggles is estimated to be his abundant financial resources’… That would be financial power gained from smuggling.”

So while cracking down on smuggling, he was smuggling himself to make money. He could crush business rivals while building his reputation as a military officer. A cunning man.

The Southern Fleet under his command was currently tasked primarily with maritime patrol duties and suppressing rebellions in the southern islands. Therefore, the fleet was divided into several smaller squadrons that were dispatched to various locations on rotation. Standard peacetime operations.

“Now for Zelan Bay’s geography… detailed numbers are included.”

I read through the materials, then checked the source citations out of habit from my previous life.

“Internal documents from the Army Survey Bureau’s Harbor Management Division?”

Natural enough since the Ceremonial Battalion was part of the Army. Making inquiries to the Navy Survey Bureau would likely reach Admiral Telzen’s ears.

Still, how did they manage to pull classified materials like this? The battalion commander was scary.

“Hmm…”

I felt vaguely uneasy and crossed my arms.

Army and Navy.

Surveying.

“This is a bit concerning.”

Just as I muttered that, the door was knocked and immediately opened.

“I’m coming in, Lieutenant Fonkt.”

“You’re already in… whoa.”

I couldn’t help but cry out at the sight of Captain Yugi.

Well, of course I would. A beautiful dancer in a cheongsam-style dress had descended into this bleak place where people in black military uniforms usually wandered around.

“Is that really Captain Yugi?”

“Can’t you tell from my voice?”

“I can, but the impression is so completely different…”

Captain Yugi’s eyes and lips were emphasized with makeup, making her even more alluring than usual.

Moreover, her long black hair was pinned up and she wore a skin-revealing cheongsam. People who like this sort of thing exist in every world, so apparently the same designs always emerge. I love it too.

The structure unnaturally emphasized her chest, drawing the eye. From there, the gaze was guided to her waistline, then pulled to her thighs through the wickedly high slit.

…This was quite intentional visual guidance.

“Lieutenant, your jaw is completely slack.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine, peering out from behind Captain Yugi, had a proud yet dissatisfied expression. What kind of look is that?

“Second Lieutenant Klimine, did you really do this?”

“Well, yes. When I left home, I had to do my own makeup, so I naturally learned.”

I’d heard that nobles leave makeup and even dressing and bathing to their maids, but as a soldier, Second Lieutenant Criminecouldn’t rely on that.

“Ah, but I don’t usually style hair, so this was improvised. I’ll practice more. As for the outfit, it’s the company commander’s personal clothing, so it’s not my fault.”

“No, it’s wonderful. Really…”

I almost said it was a feast for the eyes, but being a man without openings, I quickly closed my mouth.

However, Captain Yugi was… quite voluptuous. Hard to know where to look, but I observed properly, treating it as part of the mission.

Captain Yugi smiled while swaying her hips.

“Lieutenant Fonkt noticed, but this outfit is designed to guide the gaze from chest to legs. If I attack when the gaze has dropped completely, I can achieve surprise even from directly in front. Also, while I appear unarmed, I’m hiding multiple concealed weapons in this state.”

“I see.”

The explanation wasn’t getting through my head, but my gaze had indeed dropped completely.

I used willpower to raise my gaze and spoke with a composed expression.

“This should certainly make the target lower his guard. I think it’s perfect as a disguise.”

“Then I’m relieved.”

Captain Yugi smiled seductively. Second Lieutenant Criminealso smiled, and the two nodded to each other.

“Well then, now comes the fun part.”

What… did that mean? Today’s work was so surreal that my thinking couldn’t keep up.

Then Second Lieutenant Criminetook my left arm.

“Now let’s disguise you as a slave trader.”

“Me? However…”

Wasn’t that part less important?

I sometimes disguised myself as a civilian, and gaining knowledge as a slave trader seemed more important than fixing up my appearance.

But Captain Yugi took my right arm.

“Since I, your superior, have endured this humiliation and gone this far, Lieutenant Fonkt needs to steel his resolve too.”

Once Captain Yugi, a martial arts expert, seized my dominant arm, escape was impossible. Having been thoroughly drilled in sparring matches before, I believed in not resisting uselessly.

“Please change into this.”

The cloth bundle on the desk was unwrapped with a flutter.

*****

“Do I really need to dress like this?”

I stood confused before a full-length mirror.

Reflected back was an unmistakably suspicious-looking Eastern man.

Just the round sunglasses and black pao made him explosively suspicious, but this pao had dragon embroidery. Where do you even buy something like this?

And Captain Yugi was smiling cheerfully.

“That’s traditional clothing from the Shao Great Dynasty.”

“I see.”

But respectable people don’t wear this, do they?

I pinched the hem of the pao and sighed, but couldn’t disobey a direct superior’s orders.

“Our hair color and facial features resemble those of Shao people, so let’s say we came all the way from the Shao Great Dynasty. Imperial citizens can’t tell the difference with this level of disguise.”

So there really was an Eastern-style country in this world too. Chinese-style rather than Japanese-style, though.

“However, Lieutenant Fonkt’s face looks like a good person no matter what, so we’ll hide it with those dark glasses.”

“Wasn’t there any other way…”

“It’s fine, you look properly villainous now.”

That’s not reassuring.

But Captain Yugi and Second Lieutenant Crimineseemed happy.

“Lieutenant really suits these kinds of outfits too!”

“Yes, they’re truly very becoming.”

I said that’s not reassuring.

“Lieutenant Fonkt, here’s this too.”

When Captain Yugi handed me a fan, I snapped it open with a *sha* and hid the lower half of my face. When given props, I feel compelled to do something interesting with them, but this is probably influence from my previous life.

“How’s this?”

“Whoa… that’s effective…”

While Second Lieutenant Criminepressed her forehead and reeled back, Captain Yugi looked puzzled.

“Imperial men don’t use fans regardless of class, but you seem quite practiced?”

“Something like this can be managed through observation and imitation.”

I deflected safely. Come to think of it, in the Legitimate Empire, only noble ladies use them, so this gesture is uniquely feminine.

However, this confirmed that Eastern culture exists in this world too, and that Captain Yugi was knowledgeable about it. I’d like to ask more about various things.

“Company Commander, since we’re going to disguise ourselves, let’s be thorough. Please tell me more about the Shao Great Dynasty.”

“Yes, that’s fine. I’m surprised though—you seem unexpectedly enthusiastic. Lieutenant Fonkt is so serious that I expected… no, was concerned you’d object.”

What did she just say?

Wasn’t this person treating me like a toy?

Second Lieutenant Criminegiggled.

“Could it be that you like that outfit?”

It’s not exactly like that.

I grinned at this cheeky subordinate who’s always teasing me, smiling wickedly over the fan.

“Perhaps I should sell you off too?”

“Ah… yes…”

It was meant as a light joke, but Second Lieutenant Criminehung her head with a barely audible voice.

Sorry, seems my mischief went too far. In a country where illegal human trafficking actually runs rampant, this joke was malicious. I need to be careful.

When I turned around, Captain Yugi was giving a wry smile.

“You really are a bad man.”

“I apologize, I was thoughtless. I’ll reform.”

“No, don’t reform—do it to me too.”

I don’t understand what this person is saying…

For now, I hid the lower half of my face with the fan and asked Captain Yugi:

“By the way, Company Commander.”

“What is it?”

“There’s something about this mission that concerns me, so I’d like to conduct a light investigation with my ‘public face.'”

“Oh my, then I’ll lend you props again.”

Captain Yugi nodded while smiling unusually broadly.