I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 47: Ghost Hunt ①

I decided to have Sergeant Decoct and his men, who had just arrived at the fortress, get some light refreshment at the mess hall before departure.

I’d learned at the military academy that it was an officer’s responsibility to feed soldiers proper meals. Not for humanitarian reasons, but to prevent desertion and rebellion—but it was good regardless.

Meanwhile, I held a brief meeting with Second Lieutenant Crimine in our room.

“Detachments from various divisions have been deployed to search for Yuo, but several companies from the Imperial Guards Division seem to be operating in this area.”

Then Second Lieutenant Crimine responded with a straight face:

“Can the Imperial Guards Division actually operate properly outside the capital?”

“They don’t have much expedition capability, but near the capital there’s no problem. They’re also a regular division, so they’re not inferior to other divisions.”

Since the Imperial Guards Division also served as the Imperial Household’s bodyguards, they accompanied provincial inspections too. They definitely weren’t just a ceremonial unit.

However, they hadn’t received training for searching political criminals in locations off the highways, so compared to regular divisions, there was somewhat an impression of them being a pampered urban division.

“But in this case, they’re deployed for political reasons. If the Imperial Guards Division doesn’t move when anti-imperial faction symbols are appearing around the capital, it becomes problematic in various ways.”

“Ah, they’d be suspected of disloyalty?”

Like Navy Admiral Telzen whom we assassinated, being suspected by the Emperor of “maybe this guy is planning rebellion?” was extremely troublesome. It would definitely affect promotion prospects, and depending on circumstances, could result in execution.

I sighed lightly.

“The bigwigs are desperate to demonstrate loyalty to the Imperial Household. When that happens, their subordinate officers and men naturally prioritize demonstrating loyalty above all else.”

When the standard for superior evaluation became the invisible thing called “loyalty,” everyone became obsessed with appealing their loyalty. Visible results weren’t necessary.

“Other divisions are also conducting search operations, but I don’t know how many really want to arrest Yuo.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine looked exasperated.

“Is that okay?”

“It’s not good. When you start worrying about things other than the objective, you can’t achieve the objective…”

I spread out the map.

“Yuo seem to have been working in the capital for about half a year to secure anti-imperial faction unity. But since Navy Admiral Telzen was purged, crackdowns on rebellious elements have become severe throughout the Empire.”

Perhaps gaining strange confidence from the assassination plan we executed, the Emperor apparently decided to take a hard line against those making suspicious moves.

We might have done something unnecessary again.

Well, but it was work…

“As a result, Yuo’s hiding in the capital was exposed, and she apparently decided to escape.”

“I’d like a bit more information about that area.”

“I think so too, but when they say it’s classified…”

Insufficient necessary information was one of the very troublesome things about working in the Imperial military. They apparently didn’t want to give unnecessary information to officers at the lieutenant level.

With Yuo coming and going even inside fortresses, I understood being neurotic about information control.

“Several highways extend from the capital, but they’ve become territorial disputes between divisions, with different units responsible for each highway. Agreements have been made so other divisions’ troops don’t conduct checkpoints or patrols.”

“We were taught at the military academy that tactics involving long extended deployments were bad.”

That’s right.

I answered while scratching my head:

“It’s for political rather than tactical reasons. For example, if someone breaks through an Imperial Guards Division checkpoint and then gets arrested at the next 3rd Army Division checkpoint, the Imperial Guards Division would lose face, right?”

“Ahh… That’s stupid. Such a reason?”

You tell them.

“I think it’s a foolish strategy too, but the bigwigs are desperate. They probably decided on highway-by-highway assignments so they could handle checkpoint breaches internally.”

“Then places where the Ceremonial Battalion is deployed would be prime targets.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine spoke ill of our own battalion without any malice. Well, I agreed with that assessment.

“Actually, Dr. Buho’s checkpoint might as well not exist. Unlike other battalions, having the Ceremonial Battalion conduct checkpoints is meaningless.”

What we were good at was executing dignified executions according to ancient protocols, properly disposing of bodies, and making arrangements with various parties to kill without causing waves.

No one had expertise in searching for political criminals.

Then there was a knock on the room door.

“Lieutenant, Sergeant Decoct and two others reporting.”

“Come in.”

Sergeant Decoct and his men entered looking somewhat healthier. I bet you ate your fill?

I asked him with a light laugh:

“Perfect timing. I wanted to ask you something.”

“What would that be?”

I asked directly:

“Can you forge checkpoint passes with available materials?”

“I can.”

The document forgery specialist answered immediately.

I nodded and explained to avoid misunderstanding:

“I don’t want you to make one, but the fugitive has collaborators. If amateur forgers could make them too, I thought there might be a possibility of breaking through checkpoints. How many days would it take you?”

Sergeant Decoct immediately answered again:

“If I have the necessary materials like signatures and seals to copy, I could make one by evening. If starting from gathering materials, about ten days would be standard.”

“I see, thank you.”

Since passes were only shown and not submitted, they were probably easy to forge. As long as the checker couldn’t detect it, even crude work would have the same effect as genuine passes.

Yuo had been wearing a Ceremonial Battalion uniform. That required cost and time to prepare. If she could arrange that, a pass would probably be simple.

“Hmm…”

Since there was a possibility of breaking through checkpoints, I couldn’t read Yuo’s destination at all. I didn’t know where she planned to escape either, and forcing a search probably wouldn’t produce good results.

Though she didn’t necessarily have forged passes, and she only had Ceremonial Battalion officer uniforms. Since everyone in the Ceremonial Battalion—officers and NCOs—knew each other by sight, wearing such things would be instantly discovered.

“We can assume she won’t pass through Ceremonial Battalion checkpoints.”

“I see?”

Everyone except me looked puzzled, but since there wasn’t time to explain, I omitted it.

If attempting breakthrough with Ceremonial Battalion uniforms and forged passes, she’d probably avoid Imperial Guards Division checkpoints too. The Imperial Guards Division seemed to think of the Ceremonial Battalion as “a disgrace to the Imperial Guards,” so she couldn’t count on smooth passage through Imperial Guards Division checkpoints.

“Imperial Guards Division checkpoints are also excluded.”

“Is… that so?”

Sergeant Decoct and Second Lieutenant Crimine looked at each other puzzled, but I again omitted explanation.

I looked at the map.

“The 3rd Division’s… platoons belonging to Penderltaine Fortress have set up checkpoints front and rear along the highway.”

Since fortresses were placed to defend highways, it was logical for fortress garrison units to create checkpoints along highways.

“Going north from here along the highway enters 2nd Division jurisdiction, but passing through these branch points, you could enter Kavaraf region through only 3rd Division jurisdiction checkpoints…”

I didn’t know what arrangements had been made, but it felt somehow strange. There was just one route allowing escape from the capital through 3rd Division territory.

“Come to think of it, the 3rd Division’s chief of staff is…”

“A son-in-law who married into the Optekoa family that produced many high naval officials. He’s reputed to have advanced through his wife’s family connections despite lacking ability.”

I felt like I was seeing something. Thank you, Second Lieutenant Crimine.

Also, please reduce your output a bit.

I didn’t know if the 3rd Division chief of staff was part of the anti-imperial faction, but there seemed a good possibility of suspicious people in the vicinity.

“Decided. We’ll visit the fortress garrison’s checkpoint. Sergeant Decoct, procure documents. In your specialty way.”

“Here it comes…”

The document forgery master put his hands on his hips while sighing.

“So what do you need?”

How reliable.