I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 23: False Smiles ③

Thus the three of us steadily advanced our assassination plan for Admiral Telzen, Commander of the Imperial Navy’s Southern Fleet.

However, only Crimine and I were dedicated full-time to this, so preparations took considerable effort. Captain Yugi had her duties as company commander.

Moving too many personnel risked external detection, and there was the possibility of informants within the battalion. The fewer people who knew the secret, the better.

While just the two of us prepared everything, the season was shifting from early spring toward early summer.

“Hey, if you don’t execute this soon, the higher-ups won’t be satisfied.”

When the battalion commander came to complain, I complained back.

“It can’t be helped. Since we’re working through external channels bypassing military command structure, gathering even one piece of information takes several times longer.”

“Sorry, that’s my inadequacy.”

The battalion commander honestly admitted it. This is what’s good about this person.

“The discord between the Emperor and Admiral Telzen has become known to the Navy, and a strange atmosphere is flowing through the entire Navy. While other admirals are openly criticizing Admiral Telzen, among the captains of other fleets, there seem to be those who sympathize with Admiral Telzen.”

I gave a wry smile.

“The other admirals want to bring down Admiral Telzen. The Navy’s consensus might lean toward Admiral Telzen.”

“You think so too?”

“The Navy has been neglected for many years, and they have antagonism toward the Army and Imperial Household.”

I hear the early Navy officers were mostly suspicious characters who came up from piracy. Now they were all elites who graduated from the Naval Academy, but the atmosphere was apparently different from the Army. The Emperor was, after all, just a “land person.”

The battalion commander placed her hands on my desk. If she sat on it, I’d complain.

Then she brought her face close to mine.

“So, what will you do in this situation?”

“I’ll offer Captain Yugi to Admiral Telzen for free.”

“Hmm?”

I saw her glasses slip for the first time.

“Lieutenant Fonkt, explain this properly step by step.”

How troublesome…

*****

“This is getting troublesome.”

When I muttered involuntarily, the woman beside me tilted her head.

“Did you say something?”

“No, nothing.”

I smiled while picking up a wine bottle.

“Come, drink up.”

“Wow, thank you so much!”

The young woman in a glamorous dress happily tilted her glass.

This was fairly expensive wine—a single bottle exceeded a commoner’s annual income. The taste was certainly good, but considering the price, I couldn’t enjoy it honestly.

But I didn’t show such feelings, pressing my round sunglasses firmly.

“Since we have the opportunity, couldn’t we call two or three more girls? They can just sit here.”

“Wow, you’re really generous, sir!”

No really, if it weren’t for the Ceremonial Battalion’s budget, I could never do this. Just tonight’s expenses equal about my monthly salary.

Of course, I remained composed.

“When one plays, one must play properly. I’d like to pay more for such a fine establishment and lovely ladies.”

“Hehe, you’re making me blush… I’ll go ask then.”

The woman stood up.

I let out a sigh.

This is tough.

Looking around, I could see drunk customers and beautiful women throughout the dimly lit establishment.

I heard such places existed in my previous life too, but I’d never been to one. I thought I’d never go until I died, and indeed I hadn’t.

Yet here I was, having to go after dying. Reincarnation in another world was full of surprises.

Still, this was uncomfortable.

It’s all Captain Yugi’s fault.

[First, let’s spread the scent of money in Admiral Telzen’s territory and wait for them to make contact. Lieutenant Fonkt, you have a clean way of playing, so you’ll become the talk of the town quickly.]

[Eh!? Lieutenant, have you been to those kinds of places!?]

[Of course not!? How could we go on our meager salaries!?]

[But Lieutenant Meinen seemed to go sometimes?]

Seriously, that bastard. But not inviting me even once showed good judgment. He really understood me well.

Captain Yugi gave a wry smile.

[Um, may I continue explaining?]

[Yes, I apologize.]

[Also, please treat Navy NCOs and officers to drinks and become friendly with them. You’re good at getting into people’s pockets, right?]

I’m actually more on the shy side though…

[You’re good at it, right?]

It was a smile that brooked no argument.

Scary.

End flashback. I don’t want to remember anymore.

It’s true that unlike other customers, I haven’t laid a finger on any of the establishment’s girls. I simply appear every night changing bars, pay large sums, and drink quietly.

Incidentally, Second Lieutenant Crimine was standing behind me. We were venturing into the nighttime port town with the setting of “a strange rich man from the Shao Great Dynasty and his attendant.”

Captain Yugi was the “merchandise,” so she was not here. I wanted her here since her fighting skills would be reliable, but it couldn’t be helped.

When I glanced back, Second Lieutenant Crimine was glaring at me with resentful eyes.

“You’re quite skilled, ‘Master.'”

There was intimidation like countless bayonets pointed at me. What did I even do?

Second Lieutenant Crimine sighed theatrically.

“Have you really never been to places like this?”

“It’s my first time. I’m not interested.”

I tilted my wine glass and took a small sip of the exquisite vintage.

“When enjoying expensive alcohol, it’s best alone. For cheap alcohol, drinking with male friends is good. Either way, beautiful women are unnecessary.”

“Then I can never drink with ‘Master’ for life.”

So she’s aware she’s a beautiful woman. She certainly was pretty though.

I showed a wry smile.

“For drinking with ‘you,’ tea would be good.” (T/N: He’s using ‘omae’ which is informal and can sound rude or confrontational depending on context)

Second Lieutenant Crimine’s face brightened immediately.

“Could that possibly mean, lifelong companio—”

“I hear you’re quite the clingy drunk.”

At that moment, she returned to an extremely sullen expression.

“Ah yes yes. That’s right, I cling.”

So it’s true… The battalion commander’s warning to “be prepared if you drink with Second Lieutenant Crimine” was apparently fact.

I didn’t really want to drink with clingy drunks. My previous workplace had multiple seniors with bad drinking habits, and I eventually became unable to tolerate the smell of alcohol.

I only recovered from that trauma and became fond of drinking again after reincarnation.

I took another small sip of wine. Sweet, aromatic, sliding smoothly down my throat.

“It certainly is delicious.”

I never thought I’d be able to drink such delicious wine in this world with its undeveloped preservation technology and distribution. The outrageous price makes sense.

I wanted to leisurely savor the wine, but the woman from earlier returned.

“I brought all the available girls, is that okay?”

Four… no, five of them. Various ages and appearances, so she really did mobilize everyone.

I smiled thinly while inviting them to the sofa.

“That’s fine. Please sit wherever you like and drink whatever you want.”

“Thank you so much!”

Ah, this reminds me of workplace drinking parties…

Also, Second Lieutenant Crimine, stop glaring at me.

This was all calculated, so please forgive me.

After a while, drunken voices could be heard at the bar’s entrance.

“What do you mean there’s not a single girl available!?”

“Sorry, they’re all with customers already.”

Looking back, a clerk in black was placating some sailor-looking fellows. They had knives and musket pistols at their belts, creating a somewhat dangerous atmosphere.

Since the Navy hires civilian sailors as seamen while they were in civilian clothes, I couldn’t tell if those were seamen. But being armed even when coming to bars suggested they were either military or pirates.

Eventually one of the sailors noticed me.

“Hey, there’s a foreigner over there with five… six… seven attending him.”

I think Second Lieutenant Crimine got counted too.

“What the hell, that’s annoying.”

“Are those Shao people?”

I immediately called out to them.

“You fellows look like sailors—which ship are you on now?”

“Hah? We’re Navy here, Navy!”

Really? Well, if they say they’re Navy, let me try talking to them.

“Want to come over and drink together? Look how many beautiful women there are.”

Even though it’s acting, I hate this kind of thing… Can’t help it since it’s work.

They looked at each other, but eventually came shuffling over.

“You’re dressed weird! Are you Shao people!?”

Their voices were loud. Occupational hazard, maybe.

“Indeed, from the country you call the Shao Great Dynasty. We Shao people call it Shaoyuntasa though. Call me ‘Honest Wong-san.'”

According to Captain Yugi, Shao people didn’t particularly like the Imperial way of referring to them, so I deliberately corrected it.

I made the false name sound similar to my usual alias “Fonkt.” Due to work, false names keep multiplying.

“Well, that’s fine. Come over here and talk with whichever girl you like. I’ll treat you to drinks.”

“Oh, you’re pretty generous!”

I said their voices are loud.

I shifted my sunglasses slightly and showed a wry smile.

“I tried calling as many girls as possible, Shaoyuntasa style, but thinking about it, my ship only has one ‘cannon’ loaded.”

The sailors burst out laughing.

“Hey hey, a ship like that’ll get attacked by pirates!”

“So you’ve got two loaded?”

“Don’t be stupid, but mine’s a siege cannon!” (T/N: Dick jokes)

Crude jokes always work…

Second Lieutenant Crimine was looking at me with complete shock, but I couldn’t blow my cover here, so I waved lightly. Ugh, this is awful—I’ll get nagged persistently later. My stomach was starting to hurt.

I picked up a bottle of molasses rum that sailors love and smiled.

“Then let’s toast to our ‘cannons’ roaring tonight.”

Though I won’t be doing anything.